Hi Mom,
Tomorrow I leave for the Dominican Republic, its pretty stinkin crazy! I'm
super excited though. I was told from now until I get to Puerto Rico, send letters
via DearElder.com and select the Pouch System, so letters should be free, but
I'm not totally sure. It has been taking 6 or 7 days from the post-marked
date on letters from home to get here, so anything sent in here in the past week
I probably won't get, but I think they will forward it to the CCM in the DR.
Anyway, life is great, and I am getting all packed and ready for the next
adventure. This week has been just as packed as before, lots of Spanish, and
classes and teaching. My companion, Elder Lopez, and I taught the first lesson
again and it was something else - teaching with the Spirit is the only way to
fly. I LOVE IT! I've memorized the 1st Vision in Spanish too, and have been
pushing forward. I live off the letters I've been getting, they are great to
read and to connect to the outside world a little bit.
super excited though. I was told from now until I get to Puerto Rico, send letters
via DearElder.com and select the Pouch System, so letters should be free, but
I'm not totally sure. It has been taking 6 or 7 days from the post-marked
date on letters from home to get here, so anything sent in here in the past week
I probably won't get, but I think they will forward it to the CCM in the DR.
Anyway, life is great, and I am getting all packed and ready for the next
adventure. This week has been just as packed as before, lots of Spanish, and
classes and teaching. My companion, Elder Lopez, and I taught the first lesson
again and it was something else - teaching with the Spirit is the only way to
fly. I LOVE IT! I've memorized the 1st Vision in Spanish too, and have been
pushing forward. I live off the letters I've been getting, they are great to
read and to connect to the outside world a little bit.
Last week, elder Slade received pizza in the mail, and it was still warm, so we had a little party in the basement that night. We have sooooooo much food, it's ridiculous.
Besides eating three times a day, we have boxes of candy and junk food in our
room, boxes. We have to throw it at people and we get more every day. I'm
not sure what people assume about missionaries, but I guess they think there is
a famine of sweets in the land :)
There is a talk by Elder Holland we watched, it was pretty crazy. It was called
"The miracle of missionary work," and ive never seen an apostle so
intense, but it put new emphasis on the need of the work (I just
hope he never comes to visit my mission, jk)
room, boxes. We have to throw it at people and we get more every day. I'm
not sure what people assume about missionaries, but I guess they think there is
a famine of sweets in the land :)
There is a talk by Elder Holland we watched, it was pretty crazy. It was called
"The miracle of missionary work," and ive never seen an apostle so
intense, but it put new emphasis on the need of the work (I just
hope he never comes to visit my mission, jk)
I've also been trying to work a lot on patience this week, and if any
chapter of scripture is better about patience that Alma 26, let me know, because that one is pretty amazing. The Lord tries His servants so that we can be an example and glorify His name. Through patience are we saved, we wait for things to happen in the Lord's time. Pretty Sweet.
Other than that, we've learned what seems like 10 new tenses in Spanish,
and its just crazy how much there is still to go - and its only been 3
weeks!!!!!We've also done a few workshops, like knocking doors and creating
study plans that have really helped. Sunday I was released as District Leader
since I'll be heading out tomorrow - it was sad but liberating at the same
time. I know Elder Keyes will de a great job, he's a smart guy. We also got
two new Zone Leaders, Elder Carter and Elder Watts, and you don't know them,
but if I could be like any missionary companionship, I would want to be like
theirs. They are amazing people who care about everyone and know so strongly
that this is the Word of God, and we have work to perform here. They are
inspiring men, and I hope one day I can be more like them.
Saturday was Game Day # 2, and it went really well teaching the volunteer
"investigators." I got really excited beforehand, like, really
excited, so much so that people were getting really annoyed, but I didnt care,
wanted to share this message and I wanted everyone to know i was excited about it. Our teacher told us we had improved "1000x" from the week before,
so i felt pretty good. That night I had an AppleBeer someone gave me and we
bowled in the hallway, good stuff. It was a lot of fun.
chapter of scripture is better about patience that Alma 26, let me know, because that one is pretty amazing. The Lord tries His servants so that we can be an example and glorify His name. Through patience are we saved, we wait for things to happen in the Lord's time. Pretty Sweet.
Other than that, we've learned what seems like 10 new tenses in Spanish,
and its just crazy how much there is still to go - and its only been 3
weeks!!!!!We've also done a few workshops, like knocking doors and creating
study plans that have really helped. Sunday I was released as District Leader
since I'll be heading out tomorrow - it was sad but liberating at the same
time. I know Elder Keyes will de a great job, he's a smart guy. We also got
two new Zone Leaders, Elder Carter and Elder Watts, and you don't know them,
but if I could be like any missionary companionship, I would want to be like
theirs. They are amazing people who care about everyone and know so strongly
that this is the Word of God, and we have work to perform here. They are
inspiring men, and I hope one day I can be more like them.
Saturday was Game Day # 2, and it went really well teaching the volunteer
"investigators." I got really excited beforehand, like, really
excited, so much so that people were getting really annoyed, but I didnt care,
wanted to share this message and I wanted everyone to know i was excited about it. Our teacher told us we had improved "1000x" from the week before,
so i felt pretty good. That night I had an AppleBeer someone gave me and we
bowled in the hallway, good stuff. It was a lot of fun.
Tuesday night, however, was the night of all nights. We have General Authorites
every tuesday come and speak, almost always one of the Seventy, but I had been praying for an Apostle of the Lord, and sure enough, Elder Dallin H. Oaks came and spoke to us. It was pretty amazing, I've never seen one live like that,
and I was singing in the Mission Choir, so I got to sing for him and all the
cameras did the same thing they do like with MoTab, panning across the
singers, so if they ever show the Devotional on BYUTV, you might see my face :)
He talked about the importance of having the Spirit always. He had had this
message on his mind for over a year, he said it's been pressing on him with
more and more urgency, the need to be partaking of the sacrament every week, and preparing for it prayerfully, preceeding it with repentance, so that the Spirit
may be with us always. He also said every member of the church should have the prayers memorized. Anyway, it was a great talk and I was really excited.
every tuesday come and speak, almost always one of the Seventy, but I had been praying for an Apostle of the Lord, and sure enough, Elder Dallin H. Oaks came and spoke to us. It was pretty amazing, I've never seen one live like that,
and I was singing in the Mission Choir, so I got to sing for him and all the
cameras did the same thing they do like with MoTab, panning across the
singers, so if they ever show the Devotional on BYUTV, you might see my face :)
He talked about the importance of having the Spirit always. He had had this
message on his mind for over a year, he said it's been pressing on him with
more and more urgency, the need to be partaking of the sacrament every week, and preparing for it prayerfully, preceeding it with repentance, so that the Spirit
may be with us always. He also said every member of the church should have the prayers memorized. Anyway, it was a great talk and I was really excited.
So yesterday i started packing, got a haircut,and will be on my way. I met 4
elders from Tonga the other day who are learning english and will being going to
the Oakland, California mission, so if you see any tell them hi. I was also
excited to hear I have a 2nd counsin (is that right?) in my mission right now,
thats pretty crazy. too bad I've never met him. I wonder how that will be.
I've started the second lesson, and I got really cool visual aids laminated , and I can't wait to use them, thought I'd let you know.
Ok, well time is up, in two days, after flying through Chicago and Miami,
I'll be in Santo Domingo eating good food, and doing actual contacting -
its crazy! I'm nervous, but can't wait - I know the Lord is with us.
Thank you for everything, I hope all are well, and I have felt the prayers you
have been offering on my behalf. I miss and love you all, but this is a great
work that I am so glad to be a part of.
Until next week, write some letters :)
Elder Sellers
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