September 27, 2011

This week has been awesome, lots of cool experiences, I wish I could tell you guys everything that has happened but I'll try just highlight a few things. first of all thank you so much family for the emails, they are really inspiring and make me want to try harder as a missionary, I am so blessed to have such amazing support coming from home. I have met missionaries here with hardly any and I know that I am truly blessed.

Well, last saturday we all packed onto some tour buses and headed off to our respective areas of Lima for the day. We broke off into groups of about 20 and met at chapels all over the city. We got some instructions, a map, and a member of the local ward to help us out with directions, and went off to teach inactive members, and invite them to come to church the next day. One of the best experiences so far. It was amazing actually teaching REAL people! Talking to them about the importance of the sacrament and feeling the spirit, reading the scriptures with them and feeling the spirit, I loved it. It really made me with I was going to that ward the next day and see if they were going to come. The member we were with said that they most likely would, so that gave me hope. It made me even more excited for the mission field, but also more determined to learn the language. I was able to communicate simply, and elder arteaga encouraged me to handle the lesson a couple of times, and all in all it was great.

The area we were in was probably one of the poorest places in Lima. It was really an eye opener. I think living in saipan has helped me see humble circumstances in my life, but we was some really really humble homes on saturday, poverty can be a sad thing, Yet you see these people who have nothing and yet are the happiest in the world. It really makes you look at your own life and see what you have, and how grateful you are. But anyways! that was only one saturday, and one area, and I hear chiclayo is a lot different in a few ways, I'll be sure to let you know how,....in four weeks of course haha. I got to pet a monkey!! not like thats a big deal or anything haha. One guy along the street had it as a pet! I know, you guys are all jealous.

I would also like to mention that after reading some of my emails and noticing how much I need to correct what I type. I have come to the conclusion that as my spanish improves, my english gets worse, so I would like to apologize in advance for that :)

I am really enjoying the CCM here in Lima. It is an amazing place to learn and grow, just like an MTC should be. we've all gotten to become really good friends with our latino companions, and it will be sad to see them go in a few days. But we know they will be stellar missionaries. (elder Arteaga says "hi" by the way, we were asked to help the latinos learn how to bear their testimony and pray in english while they were here, so thats been pretty fun, a little taste of trying to preach the gospel in a different language for them haha)

Our teachers here are also super great, I've had the opportunity to become good friends with one of the teachers here, who I also beleive could be one of the three nephite, because of how spriritual and stellar he is. We have had a few really cool experiences teaching him as an "investigator', One thing I learned in the provo mtc, is that the spirit roleplays too. I was a little skeptic at first about teaching our teachers like they are investigators but the spirit tesitifies of truth, and when you talk and teach about truth the spirit is there.

Thank you so much family for all that you do. For being awesome missionaries and good examples to those around you. I love hearing about your missionary experiences, they really are so important. I love you all so much and I am so thankful that I could be here in Peru on a mission. I know I havent been out that long and I havent even been in the field but It has changed my life. I love you all

Take care!

Elder Lonsdale

September 21, 2011

Today was the first time it really hit us new missionaries, we are in south america, because today we went to the temple and ventured off into the "world'. Crowded bus, crazy drivers, palm trees, it was awesome! I couldnt stop smiling all the way to the temple. Im sure I looked like the gringo tourist missionary.

I am really enjoying the CCM here in Lima. The first few days were a little hard, doing the 'new mtc' thing again pulled us out of our comfort zone a bit but thats alright, we're getting used to that. Its a whole lot smaller, approx 120 missionaries, and a lot different from provo. We pretty much have two companions, one Latino, and one Norte Americano(as we're called). we usually split up with our latino companions and switch to our other companions to go to class, but other than that we are usually with our latino companions. which is great, we learn so much when we spend time with our latino companions. spanish is coming along, faster than if we were still in provo i think. Just being around it all the time and trying to communicate and listening to our companions really helps. elder arteaga is great and is always patient. I can finally say that I know how our korean homestay students felt now, because i pretty much am one haha. You just have to be humble enough to say "I dont understand", right?

Other than that things are good, Our mtc president is almost as new as us actually, because he had to fill in for the other president who recently got really sick and had to go home, and he actually passed away last week which is sad. But the new president is great, he is a former naval officer so he has laid down the law haha, he keeps us in line which teaches us to be obedient.

The food here is different, but I like different so thats good for me, not so good for some of the other elders who have lived in idaho their whole life haha, its just entertaining to see what kind of wierd juice they have in the mornings and who will drink the nastiest one haha. The campus is small but super pretty, they really keep it looking fancy. they have a huge turf soccer field which is awesome and keeps all the super talented latinos entertained, along with us poser north americans haha.

After one of the first firesides this north american elder comes up to me and says hi and stuff, and i didnt really know who he was until he said, "remember me from facebook?" it was Will Wilson! haha we had a cool little reunion.(even though we've never actually met in person.

Here we actually get to have to opportunity to go out and proselyte in the city! so we are all stoked for that.

Our district is singing a song tonight at the fireside so we'll have to pull something together. I have to say, It was probably a funny sight seeing me conduct music for the first time at the mtc, missionaries arent primary children haha.

This week has been good, the time has started to go by quicker and I am trying to make sure I use all my time wisely here when studying the gospel and the language. me and my north american companion were talking about it and we were like, where else in the world would you find young men from different parts of the planet, who dont speak the same language, come and work together and be friends. the church is true! The church is the same all over the world. We are all Gods children and we as missionaries have to be able to see that. I love this gospel and am so grateful for the oppurtunity to share it.

Love you

Elder Lonsdale

September 15, 2011

Alright! So I am officially here in Peru! Everything went according to plan and they wanted all of us to write back to our families and let them know that we are alive and safe. It was awesome to be able to talk to you guys on the phone from the airport! Im so blessed to have such an awesome family.

Well, we had about 30 of us missionaries on the plane for peru, scattered all over the place, but we all made it. On the 6 hour flight from atlanta to Peru, our group of missionaries we were fortunate enough to have two friendly peruvian ladies sit next to us and who were more than willing to help us out with our spanish and tell us all about peru. By the time we got to the CCM and were getting into bed it was about 2am, and as we feared, we were all up by 630 getting ready for the crazy day that still isnt over haha. We met our native companions (the "latins" they are called) who, for the most part speak 0% which is awesome, yet frustrating at times, because you are standing there looking/ feeling like an idiot when they are trying to talk to you, but for now, the whole "smile and nod" technique has helped me feel a bit better about myself.

One of the first things that happened this morning was........haircuts! sorry, i meant to say BUZZCUTS. Yup, we are all pretty much bald now. We look like a munch of marines in suits, which is a pretty funny sight. I feel like there is more hair on my face when I wake up in the morning than on my head haha,

But things are good, the campus is a whole lot smaller but really nice and upkept, we often see monkeys hopping through the campus .....ok, i made that up, but it adds to the mental picture. Im sad to inform you that I havent been able to see much of peru yet but from what i've seen, lima is really pretty, it reminds me a lot of saipan, only a little cooler because they are coming out of their winter right now.

All in all, things are great. The spanish task ahead is a little overwhelming but I know it will come, patience is key.

So here I am, in Peru! Im excited to be starting the next chapter of my mtc experience. Thanks for all your love and support!

Love you all

Elder Lonsdale

PS. They wanted us to tell you that you shouldnt send packages here to the mtc, and you should always include my mission name on any letters you might send, just so ya know!

September 13, 2011

Hola!

First and foremost, thanks for the package mom/family!!!! It was awesome, I felt so special, I was like "yup, my family loves me so much they sent a package from canada!" well, kinda, you know what I mean. I almost made myself sick from eating all those treats, especially that....wait,...whats it called again?,.....chocolate? yeah I that stuff. But it was great I really apreciated it, along with the other elders on my floor, they did the whole "whoa! canadian candy!" and I was able to share some of canada with a fellow canadian in my zone.

It has come! tomorrrow morning at 6am we leave for peru! We are super excited, there are 3 elders from my district including me and my companion, and one sister missionary, so the four of us are heading off tomorrow. We fly to Atlanta first, then from atlanta to Lima, I think we will probably get into lima at about 11:30 pm, so it will be a long day but an exciting one. OH, and I think I will be able to call home at one point, unfortunatley I am not quite sure when, so just go about your normal schedule and if I catch someone at home thats great, if not, I will just leave a message.....in spanish.....or a jamaican accent.....

Oh yeah and also, the mail room here in provo is closed on mon, tues, and wed of this week because they are moving to another building, so I apologize if anybody sent "dear elder"s from since saturday because I wont be able to get them!

One thing that I did not expect to happen my three weeks here was attachment, I have really grown to care about the elders in my district and I love the teachers here. In a way its a good thing that I'm only here for three weeks, I cant imagine what 6 MORE weeks would do haha.

This past sunday was a really great experience, most of what was talked about was focused on the events of 9/11. For our sunday fireside the mtc mission president got up and spoke and he talked about how even though it happened in america it affected the whole world, and how our message can help the world in so many ways. We then got to watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's spoken word presentation on the anniversary of 9/11 and that was amazing and really uplifting. Oh Motab, always helping us feel the spirit.

So on friday we had a district goal to go alllllllll day only speaking spanish (in what little spanish we know).....and by noon, we had pretty much failed miserably and realized we know less than we thought haha. But it was a good experience and a nice teaser for our experience in peru haha.

But there is another experience that I thought was worthy of the email home, forgive me if it isnt uplifting, but we(six elders in my district) were on our way up to a computer lab in one of the buildings here and we decided to take the elevator, and one of the missionaries decided to start jumping up and down to mess with the elevator and make it rattle, which, then caused the elevator to stop and shut down in between two floors. yup, we got stuck in the elevator for almost 40 minutes. Don't get me wrong, it was actually pretty funny. we had a good time :)

since I first saw the heningers last week I have actually seen them about 30 other times haha. But they left for romania yesterday morning. It was really good to see them and see familiar faces every once in a while, they are going to do amazing things in romania.

Well, thanks so much for all your support. It really means a lot. I have really enjoyed my time here at the mtc, and am so grateful for how my testimony has grown so much. Seeing the Lord's hand in my life and what the gospel has blessed me with makes me want to go out and share the gospel so much more. The atonement is so real, I know because I have used it in my life, and it can not only help us repent but it can help us become to best versions of ourselves. Im off to start another adventure in a different country and I know that if we rely on the Lord, ALL things are possible.

Love

Elder Lonsdale

September 5, 2010

Well, its week two here at the mtc, and Im loving it. But its weird to think that I´m more than halfway done my time here, My estimated departure date for the Peru mtc (CCM) is September 14th. (I think...) Me and a few other elders in my district are super excited to be going, and speaking for myself, a little nervous haha. Im a little anxious thinking about how in one week I´m going to have to use what little spanish I have learned in the past few weeks and put it into full force in a new country, in a new mtc. But we just have to rely on the Lord, and have faith in the missionary porgram that we will do well in the Peru CCM. "there is no growth in comfort, and no comfort in growth" right mom? :) But Im actually one of the only missionaries in the 4 of us that are going in my district that has my visa for sure. (Thank goodness for being candian) so every other elder is stressing about if theirs will come in time or not, so I guess we'll see!

So, for those who don't know, every tuesday we have a devotional here at the mtc, and we never know who is speaking until they enter and sit on the stand. So last week for our first tuesday we were all sitting and waiting in the auditorium when someone in the mtc presidency stands up and just lets us know that: "in the mtc we only stand in meetings when asked to do so, or special occasions, say....when a member of the quorum of the twelve enters the room......" So sure enough, a few minutes later elder Jeffrey R. Holland enters the room. What a amazing experience, Hearing an apostle of the Lord come into a room and speak directly to the missionaries here at the mtc. He gave one of the best talks I've ever heard, and it changed the lives of many of the missionaries here at the mtc. The spirit was so strong as he talk to us about how we, as missionaries, are, along with the prophet, the most prayed for individuals in the world, and how that can give is so much strength and courage to endure all things we encouter on our missions. I'd love to write down his entire talk for you guys but alas, time is limited :)

We also get to go to the temple on tuesdays. I love the temple, although you might be in a different place, in a different temple, the spirit of temples is the same. They truly are the Houses of God and should be one of the highest goals for everybody.

Oh yeah! Funny story. So me and my companion were walking (actually on our way over here to type this letter) and we saw that a meeting of some sort was going on in one of the chapels, so we (being curious teenage elders) (ok, more-so me, being nosy) peeked through one of the windows and saw that a bunch of senior missionaries were in there recieving some training. So, not really thinking much of it, we were about to walk away when I noticed two familiar faces in the chairs next to the door. And guess who it was? Brother and Sister Heninger! I was able to get their attention and they stepped out of their meeting and we had a nice little reunion :) I love them, and am so grateful for the role they have played in our lives. They are going to be amazing missionaries.

Well, we dont really get mail on the weekends and yesterday was labour day....so I wont be able to recieve mail until this afternoon. Sorry if you sent something and I havent gotten it yet! But I Did write a whole swack of letters last week and I heard it takes like about 8 or so days for them to arrive in alberta. ( There's actually an elder in my zone, Elder Olson from Lacombe, who I became friends with and we were able to make some connections through mutual friends which was cool. And he said it takes just over a week for letters to arrive.....if they arrive haha. I've never been the best at the whole "letter" thing, but I'm sure i'll learn fast :)

Thanks again for all the letters and the support from you guys, I love you all very much and am so thankful that I have a family who is 110% in support of me and my mission. I am so grateful I could be serving. Each day I learn more about the gospel and have a deeper desire to share it with the world. Jesus Christ is truly our Saviour, and He lives. My testimony is pretty simple, and even simpler in spanish but I know the church is the restored church.

Love you

Elder Lonsdale

August 23, 2011

Buenos Dias familia!

Well, here I am at the MTC, alive, and always wearing a white shirt. Thankfully there werent any problems getting here. I arrived at about 10:30 and was taken to a temporary room to stay the night with a few other new elders that were in the same boat. The next day was our orientation and stuff, we got our nametags which was a real turning point in our mindset, we all pretty much realized 'its official, we are missionaries!' yeah, we all had a small bonding moment because of our shared excitement.

Honestly, the MTC is a great place, but a little different than what I expected,....well, not really I guess, it just requires some getting used to. I also believe it makes you a little wierd. You see the missionaries that have been here for like 7 or 8 weeks and you can tell haha. But I can understand that, already from day 2 I felt like I wanted to get outta here and be in the field already, but thats just not how it works, right? i know a lot of guys who say they "very much dislike" the MTC, and i can see where they are coming from...but from what ive learned so far and what we have been taught, the MTC is so important in helping us become the best missionaries we can be.

Last night we talked about how, 'the difference between the skilled and the unskilled is the fundamentals." It really sets the basis for the rest of our missions, how we act here has a pretty good reflection on how we act in the mission field. alright, saying that, i realize that I have yet to go to the mission field and a lot of missionaries might not agree with me lol, thats just what im telling myself to try and stay focused :)

And not to mention the language! Holy. i have learned so much in this past week. (along with gospel study) it has been nonstop learning, eating, thinking, breathing, and talking spanish. Ok, more like spanglish, but we are doing our best! We are making good progress but at times the learning curve ahead can be a little overwhelming, but we just have to trust the Lord and work extra hard.

I am SO thankful for the Hernandez family and what they taught me before I left, I'm sure I would have felt pretty stressed the first day, but because I wasnt starting from complete scratch I felt pretty good. As we guessed it, almost all of the Elders in my district have a good head start in spanish, but working all together and helping each other out really helps close the gap. The first teacher comes in and doesnt speak a word of english to us, its all part of the new curriculum where the teachers speak almost entirely in spanish, which is great, because it helps us learn the language faster by being immersed in it, I think.....but two days after arriving, we were required to teach an "investigator" (a teacher here at the mtc) a missionary discussion, yup. that was pretty interesting, haha but a super cool experience. it just reinforces the truth that it is the spirit that testifies and touches people's hearts, not missionaries.

Alright, so my companion's name is Elder Bird, he is a great guy from Massachusetts(sp?) (thats ok, he doesnt know how to spell it either). He is dedicated to being a great missionary. He just has the habbit of falling alseep in class, the sleeping schedule is something to get used to. i guess you could say he just isnt an 'early...bird'.... ha...ha.. ok....i know Jocelyn is laughing.

Actually, I think thats the one thing that I has been the most difficult to get used to: having a companion. I didnt think much of it before, but spending every day 24/7 with somebody is hard! I mean, for me, I enjoy being my myself, going and exploring, especially in a new place like the MTC, but you have this elder you gotta stay with all the time haha. I know its for many important reasons but they are not...well...YOU. they dont think or do what you do, they are a whole different person! haha i know that sounds dumb, but its just taken some getting used to. things are all good now, he has a history of spanish and so he helps me out a lot.

I got to make some connections with people from Alberta which was pretty sweet! Me and elder cameron lund were able to be reunited once again, and he left for Romania yesterday which is exciting but just furthers the desire to go out into the field, haha.

One thing that I thought was funny but I realized I need to stop doing is spontaneously beat-boxing. That might sound weird but its just a funny habit that i never really knew about until I arrived here. just thought I would share :)

Thats awesome to hear that the stake conference program went well! And when it makes my heart swell with the good kind of pride to hear that the primary kids sounded great too :)

I was reading in 3 nephi 17 about the day the Saviour came and it make me think of Laura and her song at stake conference, i know she did amazing :)

Thanks to EVERYone who has sent me a "dear elder' letter, i have loved each one of them. it really is a great program, we get them the same day, and the support you guys give is really appreciated.

Well, I love you all, I am so grateful that I could be out on my mission, serving the Lord and teaching the message of the restored gospel. Take care!

Elder Lonsdale