Thursday, July 23, 2009
Email- 7-23-09
> Yo> > This week was great! Like always, right?> My mind can't really retrace back this week because I just barely got our flight plans! You don't know how happy I am.> Today has been good, we had study and breakfast, went to the temple, had lunch, wrote letters, took a 10 minute nap, and went to do laundry. Our DL got our flight plans right before we came to e-mail. So. I leave at 12:50 in the AM on the 4th. I arrive in Atlanta Georgia at 6:30 AM. Then I have a 4 hour layover til 10:00 AM and I leave to Costa Rica. The plans say I get there at 12:10 PM, which would seem to only be a two hour flight but I dont know the time differences. It would be cool if you could find out the differences and actual flight times for me and dearelder me. So yeah that's crazy exciting. > This was the first week with my new, new Companion Elder Munson. It went well and we taught Lesson 2 in Spanish along with the Word of Wisdom. Spanish is going well, but I feel like I only know Gospel spanish though, which might be great or might be terrible for when I get there. I feel like the only way now to progress in the language is being immersed in Speaking because I know the grammar, just need the experience.> The MTC is really dragging on. It's great and all and I appreciate it, but it's getting old. Maybe that is supposed to happen, but I can't wait to do things for real.> I haven't been playing soccer this week becuase I pulled my groin about a week ago. I've put on some pounds without that exercise; I'm like a total of 10 pounds heavier since the beginning.> I forgot to tell you last week that I bought a comb. Yeah, I really bought a comb.I am parting my hair now. Hahaha. It's just that I see the noobs with fohawks and stuff and think low of them, so I decided I should look more respectable and professional.> I would be lying if I told you I still enjoyed the food. But, I'm trying to be positive so that's all I will say about that. But... the skim milk here is bomb. I have had at least 2 cups of skim milk at every meal. Only healthy and real food here besides fruit. I think I have at least 2 or 3 bananas a day too. Im not so excited about rice and beans though. Hopefully I'll learn to love it.> These past days have felt a lot less productive because we have been over everything in Spanish and PME. I need to get some more fake investigators I think so that my study will be more focused. As for LInda nad Elizabeth in the RC, I wasn't able to contact them much after the emails. So they are gone. But we did start to do Spanish outbound calls for Book of Mormons, Joy to the World DVD's etc. That is terrifying, especially becuase I really don't know what they are saying.> That's about all. Thanks for everything!> Miss you all!> > -Harrison AKA Elder Smith> > > > > -> > LOVE YOU!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Email 7-16-09 Subject: yo yo yo
So hey. I now have only 20 minutes to write. A whole lot of stuff went on this week so I'll have to be brief about them.So. First, we lost a teacher. Second, our district switched companionships. They are both related so I'll try to explain well.We have one Elder who is extremely selfish, complains a lot, and causes a lot of grief in the class. Most of the teacher thing was his problem, and the whole companionship thing was his problem. He was in a trio and bashed one both of them and made one of them really want to go home and have no desire to teach or try to learn Spanish. The teacher thing was because this teacher was very opinionated and he didn't like it. He got offended a lot, which was reasonableconsidering some things she said. A couple of time I even sorta debated with her on doctrinal things.. she was wrong a lot of the time. So there as a lot of contention with her and the other Elder. So she eventually got switched out with another teacher this week. He is awesome. Crazy awesome and I have to say I am glad. We will hopefully accelerate in learning. But the whole companionship thing was his problem as well. The elder who was in a tri with him that wanted to go home decided to stay. The president of our branch told him that he could change companionships if that's what it would take to have him stay. So now him and I are companions and thingsare going well. He is actually not too bad at Spanish, I guess the thrashing he took form the one elder really got to him. So I'm really trying to help him out and make him see that he is doing well and needs to be here. But every other companionship got switched around as well. Good switches too. I am very happy with them at least.But the funny/bad thing is that this whole district switcheroonie thing was very serious. I don't think it has happen much if ever at the MTC. That's what they said at least.Maybe they are trying to intimidate the one elder into obedience. Haha he sure needs it.Anyway. That switch happened right before we taught the first lesson in Spanish for the second week. The night before we got switched. So, in the morning we had to teach, and it went super well. I was impressed. My new companion, Elder Munson, used most of his Spanish right with a little help and we taught the lesson well. Oh yeah, the 'investigator' was Islamic. Non Christian, so that was a chore. But it went really well. This week we are prepping for Lesson 2 in Spanish. This will be a doosey. Anyway, I got great letters from Cassidy and Lana. So good to hear from family! I don't think there is much else to say.Things are busy, and the only way for me and some others to progress in Spanish is to speak it as much as possible. We have learned all the necessary grammar things. So all is well. But wo unto him that sayeth all is well. So I will say, most is well.. and some things will always need to be worked on. Love you all. Sorry if this letter seems unorganized, I am very pressed for time! Love love love ya'll. _Elder Smith
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Pictures!
Harrison sent us his card with some pics, so here are a few:)...
Foot Brace
3rd Companion-Elder Orton
First 3 Roomates and Companions
His District
Momma's Boy
Foot Brace
3rd Companion-Elder Orton
First 3 Roomates and Companions
His District
Friday, July 10, 2009
7-9-09 Email-Subject: Spanish & Fireworks
Well well well
Lets think.. is there anything new that has happened... Um k here we go. So this whole past week has been preparatory for teaching Lesson 1 in Spanish in the TRC (the place we teach every week). That was on Tuesday and it went really well. All my conjugations for the past tenses, present, future, conditional, progressives, and stuff all seemed to be right to me, and I didn't have to pause to think about them. My companion is still struggling hard when he speaks. For that TRC visit though we had to also do our 'task' so that we don't only know gospel Spanish. Our task this week was to talk about foods as if we were eating at a restaurant with an investigator. It went really well for me. Communication seems to be alright as long as the person Im talking to isnt talking a million miles an hour. So yeah, that was nice to get over with. That was on the 7th.
Now backtracking in time to the 4th.. They (the MTC presidency I presume) palnned a 'play' of sorts about Lesson 1 for our entertainment on the 4th. I think they told us it was going to be a play so that we wouldnt stay in our rooms and sleep instead.. It was terrible. It was a combo of Lesson 1, reformation, and American/European history. And it wasn't a play at all. They videotaped 'actors' pretending to be Saul/Paul, John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. But the horrible thing is that these actors were in awful costumes and wigs in front of a green screen, AND they tried to make it look like they were looking at the camera and talking to us, but it was obvious that they were reading from line cards off to the side. So instead of making them look like they were tlaking to us, it seemed like they hired blind actors who had googly eyes and couldn't look straight. About every 20 minutes (after each 'actor' finished their monotone dialogue)there would be a roar of laughter from all the 2000 or however many missionaries in the gym becuase of how ridiculous the costumes and wigs were on the next actor. Every time it seemed to get worse. What killed me even more than that is that they started this whole [public] play thing out with a video of oceans, volcanoes, mountains, rivers, plants, fish, and animals.. with a deep harmonic voice reading the story of the creation from Moses in the background. Sound familiar? It was a really uncomfortable 3 hours. At least I got to laugh I guess. And sorry for making you read all that, I just couldn't keep something like that in, wish ya coulda been there to share it.
They made up for their horrid play by letting us watch fireworks that night from Stadium of Fire. Very cool. They started at like 10:20 and our bedtime is 10:30. We got to stay out til like 11:10! I think I got to sleep like at 11:30. It felt like rebellion even though it was allowed.. Oh yeah! Our district is all about obedience though. It really makes a difference too. Makes you really wish all missionaries at the MTC could grow up and get rid of their 'too cool' attitudes and obey. There are a lot of those here it seems. Goof offs with little respect. What can ya do..
What else. Im not district leader anymore! Woot. My four weeks was up so we switched. Such a relief. Um. The two older district both have their flight plans. Crazy crazy. Can't wait to get mine haha.> My life here is pretty boring. Sorry ya'll. I'm making the most of it though. I already told yas but we go to the Referral Center to take live chats and phone calls and yesterday a woman named Linda came onto a chat taht I accepted. She is incredible. She is not a very happy person and hates her job, but is Christian and just needed some help. So I gave her my whole schpeal about how this Gospel and the Book of Mormon can help families, bring peace, through Christ we can get help in any time of trial, etc.. But she was totally receptive. It's awesome and bittersweet to see how God humbles people to make them come to him. I shared Ether 12:27-28 with her and she said she "really needed that". I also taught her to pray and told her that it was literally communication between her and Heavenly Father and that she should let Him know of all the things in the life that she is grateful for and that she loves. I told her to talk to him, to let Him know that she is having a tough time with confidence, with her job, etc. and tell Him that she wants and needs his help. I told her that he really wants her to pray to him every day - every time she feels grateful or feels she needs help with anything. She seemed super grateful.
She was really awesome. I need to email her to get a return appoinment and chat again. She'll be ready for baptism soon :P. There is such great joy in sharing the gospel though.. knowing that I am giving someone something that I know without any doubt will bring them lasting happiness and hope. Love it.
I chilled with Elder Casey Hartle a bit yesterday during my language study hour. We talked a bit in Spanish and I gave him a short testimony. It's awesome seeing so many bro's around this place.
I dont think I have much else to say.
I'll give ya'lls a sample of my personal testimony en Español.
Estoy agradecido por mí Salvador, Jesucristo, y muy agradedico por la oportunidad tengo a servir una misión. Se qué el Libro de Mormón es verdadero y es la palabras de Dios. Lo amo. Amo leerlo y orar sobre las cosas que aprendo. Se qué José Smith fue un profeta y que él restauró el Evangelio y Iglesia que Jesucrito establicó en su vida en la tierra. Se qué el sacerdocio, la autoridad y poder de Dios, está en la tierro hoy. Se qué poseo esta autoridad. Se, sin dudas, qué Jesucristo sufrió en el jardín de Getsemané, y en la cruz por la salvación de la mundo. Etsoy agradecido por Él en mí vida. No se qué donde estaría sin mí Salvador. Amo el Espíritu Santo. Tan mucho ayuda ha venido mediante el Espíritu aquí en la CCM (MTC). Amo mí familia. Madre y Padre, y hermanos, primos, tiós, tias, abuelos y abuelas. Gracas por su tiempo en mí vida. No se si este testimonio fue en grammatica perfecta, pero Yo se qué todos los cosas aquí es verdad. Comparto estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, nuestras Salvador, Amen.
Love you all. This gospel is true.
-Harrison
Fam- sorry, that was a long letter. um but i love you. thanks for everything. write me some dear elders, i think i only got two this week, one from tay and one from mom? correct? and i didnt get any from my friends! gosh. hopefully its jut the USPS sucking like usual, instead of my friends being dumb.
well i love ya'll so much I miss you all.
Lets think.. is there anything new that has happened... Um k here we go. So this whole past week has been preparatory for teaching Lesson 1 in Spanish in the TRC (the place we teach every week). That was on Tuesday and it went really well. All my conjugations for the past tenses, present, future, conditional, progressives, and stuff all seemed to be right to me, and I didn't have to pause to think about them. My companion is still struggling hard when he speaks. For that TRC visit though we had to also do our 'task' so that we don't only know gospel Spanish. Our task this week was to talk about foods as if we were eating at a restaurant with an investigator. It went really well for me. Communication seems to be alright as long as the person Im talking to isnt talking a million miles an hour. So yeah, that was nice to get over with. That was on the 7th.
Now backtracking in time to the 4th.. They (the MTC presidency I presume) palnned a 'play' of sorts about Lesson 1 for our entertainment on the 4th. I think they told us it was going to be a play so that we wouldnt stay in our rooms and sleep instead.. It was terrible. It was a combo of Lesson 1, reformation, and American/European history. And it wasn't a play at all. They videotaped 'actors' pretending to be Saul/Paul, John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. But the horrible thing is that these actors were in awful costumes and wigs in front of a green screen, AND they tried to make it look like they were looking at the camera and talking to us, but it was obvious that they were reading from line cards off to the side. So instead of making them look like they were tlaking to us, it seemed like they hired blind actors who had googly eyes and couldn't look straight. About every 20 minutes (after each 'actor' finished their monotone dialogue)there would be a roar of laughter from all the 2000 or however many missionaries in the gym becuase of how ridiculous the costumes and wigs were on the next actor. Every time it seemed to get worse. What killed me even more than that is that they started this whole [public] play thing out with a video of oceans, volcanoes, mountains, rivers, plants, fish, and animals.. with a deep harmonic voice reading the story of the creation from Moses in the background. Sound familiar? It was a really uncomfortable 3 hours. At least I got to laugh I guess. And sorry for making you read all that, I just couldn't keep something like that in, wish ya coulda been there to share it.
They made up for their horrid play by letting us watch fireworks that night from Stadium of Fire. Very cool. They started at like 10:20 and our bedtime is 10:30. We got to stay out til like 11:10! I think I got to sleep like at 11:30. It felt like rebellion even though it was allowed.. Oh yeah! Our district is all about obedience though. It really makes a difference too. Makes you really wish all missionaries at the MTC could grow up and get rid of their 'too cool' attitudes and obey. There are a lot of those here it seems. Goof offs with little respect. What can ya do..
What else. Im not district leader anymore! Woot. My four weeks was up so we switched. Such a relief. Um. The two older district both have their flight plans. Crazy crazy. Can't wait to get mine haha.> My life here is pretty boring. Sorry ya'll. I'm making the most of it though. I already told yas but we go to the Referral Center to take live chats and phone calls and yesterday a woman named Linda came onto a chat taht I accepted. She is incredible. She is not a very happy person and hates her job, but is Christian and just needed some help. So I gave her my whole schpeal about how this Gospel and the Book of Mormon can help families, bring peace, through Christ we can get help in any time of trial, etc.. But she was totally receptive. It's awesome and bittersweet to see how God humbles people to make them come to him. I shared Ether 12:27-28 with her and she said she "really needed that". I also taught her to pray and told her that it was literally communication between her and Heavenly Father and that she should let Him know of all the things in the life that she is grateful for and that she loves. I told her to talk to him, to let Him know that she is having a tough time with confidence, with her job, etc. and tell Him that she wants and needs his help. I told her that he really wants her to pray to him every day - every time she feels grateful or feels she needs help with anything. She seemed super grateful.
She was really awesome. I need to email her to get a return appoinment and chat again. She'll be ready for baptism soon :P. There is such great joy in sharing the gospel though.. knowing that I am giving someone something that I know without any doubt will bring them lasting happiness and hope. Love it.
I chilled with Elder Casey Hartle a bit yesterday during my language study hour. We talked a bit in Spanish and I gave him a short testimony. It's awesome seeing so many bro's around this place.
I dont think I have much else to say.
I'll give ya'lls a sample of my personal testimony en Español.
Estoy agradecido por mí Salvador, Jesucristo, y muy agradedico por la oportunidad tengo a servir una misión. Se qué el Libro de Mormón es verdadero y es la palabras de Dios. Lo amo. Amo leerlo y orar sobre las cosas que aprendo. Se qué José Smith fue un profeta y que él restauró el Evangelio y Iglesia que Jesucrito establicó en su vida en la tierra. Se qué el sacerdocio, la autoridad y poder de Dios, está en la tierro hoy. Se qué poseo esta autoridad. Se, sin dudas, qué Jesucristo sufrió en el jardín de Getsemané, y en la cruz por la salvación de la mundo. Etsoy agradecido por Él en mí vida. No se qué donde estaría sin mí Salvador. Amo el Espíritu Santo. Tan mucho ayuda ha venido mediante el Espíritu aquí en la CCM (MTC). Amo mí familia. Madre y Padre, y hermanos, primos, tiós, tias, abuelos y abuelas. Gracas por su tiempo en mí vida. No se si este testimonio fue en grammatica perfecta, pero Yo se qué todos los cosas aquí es verdad. Comparto estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, nuestras Salvador, Amen.
Love you all. This gospel is true.
-Harrison
Fam- sorry, that was a long letter. um but i love you. thanks for everything. write me some dear elders, i think i only got two this week, one from tay and one from mom? correct? and i didnt get any from my friends! gosh. hopefully its jut the USPS sucking like usual, instead of my friends being dumb.
well i love ya'll so much I miss you all.
Friday, July 3, 2009
07-02-09 Email-Subject: Semana Cuatro
Hola
Four weeks.. and its still the same things over and over. I really don't know what to write. We have played soccer 5 times now.. and I have had our only goal in 4 of the 5 games. Woot. That's the most exciting thing I can think of.. Haha.
I didn't see the prophetat all, although at our devotional last friday there was Oaks, Holland, Christofferson, Bednar, Anderson, Perry, and I think Scott. So that was really cool. Elder Holland spoke very powerfully about having the Holy Ghost as your third companion. Very cool.
I didnt get to meet my Mission President because of the dang swine flu. Bogus. Just an excuse for Elders to take a day off and nap. :P
As far as teaching goes we are doing better. We were doing a whole lot better in teaching in unity even though I would always have to clear up things or go back to make sure some points made sense, but we are teaching with the spirit and that's what counts. This week we are teaching Lección Uno en Español, that will be interesting... Me talking for half an hour in Spanish. My companion is really struggling with it. We are still having to work a little bit on pronunciation with him, while I get to teach about Apostasy, Priesthood, Christ and the Atonement, and Joseph Smith and the Restoration... all in Spanish. Yeehaw. I am memorizing scriptures and stuff in Spanish like it aint no thang, so thats nice.
A little fun thing, one of our branch counselors has a very unique voice that probly sounds a lot like Ray Romano or Scott, but with their nose plugged. Also add in a little bit of a St George or Parowan accent and you´ve got it. Entonces, I can mimmick it exact and at least once a day i get someone in our zone prodding me to do the Brother Leuwellyn voice. Es muy divertido, ¿no?
I don´t know if ya´ll care but every week we have to do a teaching appointment at the TRC and that´s our main investigator. But we are also supposed to go to the TEC twice a week to teach or do workshops. And on top of that we are supposed to teach at least one teacher in our zone taht pretends to be a progressing investigator. The TRC is where we teach the full lesson no matter what and thats where we are teaching lección una in spanish. At the TEC we mostly get demonstrations and do lesson plan workshops etc. Our progressing teach investigator was Alejandro (Hermano Massey) for the first 3 weeks, but he went to Cali for the summer sooo we didn´t have a teacher for a while. So we went fake contacting yesterday and fake met Felipe (Hermano Peterson) and will be teaching him this Saturday I guess.. maybe in Spanish, who knows.
But yeah Elder Barrett and Elder Tanner Lofgren have left the MTC. Elder Casey Hartle is here and we chat it up everytime we see each other. I guess Elder Nate Sorensen came in yesterday so hopefully I´ll see him a bit.
I am still coughing and breathing heavy. It still sounds like a thunderstorm in my chest, but I feel fine. I just cannot wait to teach real people. I´m starting to get sick of teaching Mormon investigators, but I geuss thats whats best to help. I love yo uall so much. Really everyone. Friends and family, thanks for everything. Thanks Chelsea tooo, you are the best.
Love The wise man of the tribe.
Family-
um um um> Im glad Hunter is alive, thats always good news. Im halfway done and it feels like this is the only life I have lived. Everything before seems like a dream and every day here just blends into the next. Um, mom, I think you can dear elder me while Im in Costa Rica... for free... but I dont know. mething. :P But seriously.
Thats crazy about Daniel. Waht caused it? do we know? Anyways Ill pray for him.
The package was awesome. Ill send home my camera card today. i think i have around like 70.. who konws. Also.. very important.. how can we exchange clothes without having to send the m in a package? I owuld love to send some stuff back and have soem other things here. Like a real shirt that isn´t my cruddiest thing. Ya know? Also, I might send home my silver face shaver. The old black one me and scott got is the best, i use it everyday. all my everything else seems fine. I dont think i´ll need anything extra before I leave, but ill let oyu know.
Scott, Good luck with school and all that. When kyle gets home make a company so I can have a nice job when I come back :P also, i would love your lesson plans... and any study tips, things i should know, etc..
Taylor, so when are you gonna kiss a girl? hopefully soon. How is summer going? do you ahve a job yet? if not, Scott, have dad make him get one. also tay, who is using the car and who gets it when school starts?
Hunter, hows it doing little brother. Hopefully you´re summer is filled with outside things and not xbox.. even though i do miss CoD.
Did any of you see transformers? or harry potter or anything cool? I dont know when they come out but let me know about them :).
Love you all so much.
Four weeks.. and its still the same things over and over. I really don't know what to write. We have played soccer 5 times now.. and I have had our only goal in 4 of the 5 games. Woot. That's the most exciting thing I can think of.. Haha.
I didn't see the prophetat all, although at our devotional last friday there was Oaks, Holland, Christofferson, Bednar, Anderson, Perry, and I think Scott. So that was really cool. Elder Holland spoke very powerfully about having the Holy Ghost as your third companion. Very cool.
I didnt get to meet my Mission President because of the dang swine flu. Bogus. Just an excuse for Elders to take a day off and nap. :P
As far as teaching goes we are doing better. We were doing a whole lot better in teaching in unity even though I would always have to clear up things or go back to make sure some points made sense, but we are teaching with the spirit and that's what counts. This week we are teaching Lección Uno en Español, that will be interesting... Me talking for half an hour in Spanish. My companion is really struggling with it. We are still having to work a little bit on pronunciation with him, while I get to teach about Apostasy, Priesthood, Christ and the Atonement, and Joseph Smith and the Restoration... all in Spanish. Yeehaw. I am memorizing scriptures and stuff in Spanish like it aint no thang, so thats nice.
A little fun thing, one of our branch counselors has a very unique voice that probly sounds a lot like Ray Romano or Scott, but with their nose plugged. Also add in a little bit of a St George or Parowan accent and you´ve got it. Entonces, I can mimmick it exact and at least once a day i get someone in our zone prodding me to do the Brother Leuwellyn voice. Es muy divertido, ¿no?
I don´t know if ya´ll care but every week we have to do a teaching appointment at the TRC and that´s our main investigator. But we are also supposed to go to the TEC twice a week to teach or do workshops. And on top of that we are supposed to teach at least one teacher in our zone taht pretends to be a progressing investigator. The TRC is where we teach the full lesson no matter what and thats where we are teaching lección una in spanish. At the TEC we mostly get demonstrations and do lesson plan workshops etc. Our progressing teach investigator was Alejandro (Hermano Massey) for the first 3 weeks, but he went to Cali for the summer sooo we didn´t have a teacher for a while. So we went fake contacting yesterday and fake met Felipe (Hermano Peterson) and will be teaching him this Saturday I guess.. maybe in Spanish, who knows.
But yeah Elder Barrett and Elder Tanner Lofgren have left the MTC. Elder Casey Hartle is here and we chat it up everytime we see each other. I guess Elder Nate Sorensen came in yesterday so hopefully I´ll see him a bit.
I am still coughing and breathing heavy. It still sounds like a thunderstorm in my chest, but I feel fine. I just cannot wait to teach real people. I´m starting to get sick of teaching Mormon investigators, but I geuss thats whats best to help. I love yo uall so much. Really everyone. Friends and family, thanks for everything. Thanks Chelsea tooo, you are the best.
Love The wise man of the tribe.
Family-
um um um> Im glad Hunter is alive, thats always good news. Im halfway done and it feels like this is the only life I have lived. Everything before seems like a dream and every day here just blends into the next. Um, mom, I think you can dear elder me while Im in Costa Rica... for free... but I dont know. mething. :P But seriously.
Thats crazy about Daniel. Waht caused it? do we know? Anyways Ill pray for him.
The package was awesome. Ill send home my camera card today. i think i have around like 70.. who konws. Also.. very important.. how can we exchange clothes without having to send the m in a package? I owuld love to send some stuff back and have soem other things here. Like a real shirt that isn´t my cruddiest thing. Ya know? Also, I might send home my silver face shaver. The old black one me and scott got is the best, i use it everyday. all my everything else seems fine. I dont think i´ll need anything extra before I leave, but ill let oyu know.
Scott, Good luck with school and all that. When kyle gets home make a company so I can have a nice job when I come back :P also, i would love your lesson plans... and any study tips, things i should know, etc..
Taylor, so when are you gonna kiss a girl? hopefully soon. How is summer going? do you ahve a job yet? if not, Scott, have dad make him get one. also tay, who is using the car and who gets it when school starts?
Hunter, hows it doing little brother. Hopefully you´re summer is filled with outside things and not xbox.. even though i do miss CoD.
Did any of you see transformers? or harry potter or anything cool? I dont know when they come out but let me know about them :).
Love you all so much.
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