[Elder Jake has always had very creative spelling; however, this is more reflective of his thick fingers trying to type fast. I will leave most of this is Jake's original form -- because illustrates part of his crazy charm.]
Hey Buddies!
How is everything? They really dont give you anytiome here, i had to set up my email and now I have very little time to write!
Thank you so much for the package! it wqas awesome! I was very happty to have that stuff, and to get your letters!
I'll get the business out of the way before I run out of time. I would love it if I could get my priesthood line of authority mailed to me, that would be really great to have. Also a four generation pedigree chart. And I would love it if you guys would reply to my emails through DearElder so that I will have more time to type, and I can read your letters before hand. That would be great! I am am also going to reply to the kids letters via snail mail. SJ really needs to write me! She can just use dear elder as well if she wants, but real letters are pretty nice too. Also I want a picture of Joseph Smityh, but one of him being jovial, playing with kids or doin somethin lighter. I already have one of him bein all serious and spiritual ;) Thank you! Also the guys in the distric want some of my cds... so send me some :)
Okay, so the Mish. I love it here! The first week was a touch stressful, but i really learned a ton, both with the language and the the gospel, but also with being a leader. hopefully Ill have time to share some of these stories. the best way Ive heard the this place described is like trying to drink from a firehose. But the spirit abnd the joy here make it worth it. I still pray all the time for strength to make it through and not go crazy in that lil 12 x12 room. With 14 elders and a teacher.
We got 24 new brazilian bound visa waiters this week. My whole district ahd been emailed prior to gettin here to fill out the new visa application and turn it in online, but I wasnt so yesterday i went to the travel office because I hadnt heard anything. (You're not supposed to go there unless you are called down, and they are usually really on top of it). Long story, short i got it figured out, but I will proly be the last member of the district to leave.
Sunday was the best day, I just loved being able to relax and enjoy the spirit. I held ourt first distrct meeting where i was in charge and it was good. Unfortuneatly The speaker, from the branch presidency, spoke for about about 2 hours, when he was only given 30 mins. I was a lil frustrated cause me and my district had so much to do, and he was really blunt and was calling missionaries out for things they were doing wrong, and in not a very polite way. He finished by telling me i had to wear long socks and I had to take the ring off my shoe. i have had that ring on there for 5 years! and its not in the white handbook at all. But I prayed for humility and tried really hard to be Christlike. It was hard, but I was able to look past it and learn from his lesson :) it was a good learning experience, not easy, but i did it,
I dont have much time left but I want you to know I have truely learned to follow the spirit this week, and have several good stories from this, but you only get one :)
I noticed that a few guys from my district had bracelets on, and they are specifically banned in the white handbook. So i prayed to know how to tell these guys. One night whuile i was praying for another missionary, for another reason, I got the promting to go into the bathroom. I was just going to go when i finished my prayer, but i felt l;ike i had to go then. So i went and i ran into Elder J, one of the ones with the bracelt. I asked him about the bracelt and he saisd that his siter had made it for him, with brazilian colors. He told me he knew it was forrbidden, but it was kinda like the ring on my shoe. THe next night while i was praying, i left the ring on his desk and when i woke up i found the bracelet on mine.
BYE!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
First report from the MTC
Received Oct 21, 2009
Mailed Monday, Oct 19, 2009
Hey Family!
The MTC is CRAZY! Amazing but crazy. My handwriting is bad cause I’m writing on my leg as I wait for laundry! and its bad to start with. We will get to email next week. I have little time, so I will hit the big topics.
I have been called as District Leader! It’s a lil overwhelming because the guys in my district are all so great and I have more responsibilities, which means less time to keep up with these guys who so hard, and know so much more than I do in both the language and the gospel/teaching. But I am very grateful for the experience, because I get to interview these great men and learn so much for them!
Companions – They are all so great in my district. Loads of fun, and so smart, and all with such a passion for the gospel and the language. My comp is Elder Jesse Caldwell. He’s about 5’8”, 140 lbs – perfect to use for a bench press. But he is a good guy, from Utah (with 50% of the rest of this place). He is from Brigham City. He is a bit quiet, a lil bit of his hick accent comes out when he speaks Portuguese, but we have fun, and we work hard.
The MTC is a super great place. I love the Spirit, and the great people here, food isn’t too bad! But it doesn’t sit well. Haha. It is great to see all my friends from school. The first person I saw when Pete dropped me off was Noah, my roommate. He was my host and helped me get settled.
I am kinda going crazy here. We spend so much time indoors, in the same classroom. I am truly being tried. Haha, I twitch a lot now. I just pray a lot. I know the Lord can help me get through this, and the Spirit and knowledge we gain here is absolutely invigorating I get so excited. (This makes it harder to sit still. haha) But I love the experience; the trials are far outnumbered by blessings! I only think about the gospel, and the language. That is about it. It’s wonderful.
I was getting a lil’ stressed, but my comp and I were teaching another companionship yesterday and I began bearing pure testimony. The Spirit was so strong and it absolutely made my day. The Lord will help me in all of this!
Language – The language is going okay. We are already praying in Portuguese and bearing testimony. It’s a bit overwhelming at times, especially since I have less time to study, but it’s really awesome to see how far we have come. Tell Kevin and Justin and others to study PMG! [Preach My Gospel]
Visa – The visa situation is crazy. As you know, almost 50 elders came here last Wednesday instead of Brazil. There are tons of other visa waiters here already! My ZL has been have 3 weeks and only 3 people have left. We may be here a while. You can tell the Brazil Elders cause their pants rarely match their one suit coat. We did, however, have one elder from our district get his visa today, and he’ll leave soon. So there’s hope! But I don’t mind being here. Our building is nice and has a colored wall in our room! and new mattresses! and our bathrooms are nice. Our building was just remodeled, finished Tuesday. There are still boxes from the iron and microwave and other stuff in the tras.
Life here is good, I’m loving it. Just missing actually moving, haha.
Tell everyone hi! Have the kids write me. (US mail – email doesn’t come for a while and is limited!) Tell JJ to make sure he practices! SJ needs to write me! Have a wonderful day!
Love, Elder Jake
PS My email will change, not allowed to access gmail.
Mailed Monday, Oct 19, 2009
Hey Family!
The MTC is CRAZY! Amazing but crazy. My handwriting is bad cause I’m writing on my leg as I wait for laundry! and its bad to start with. We will get to email next week. I have little time, so I will hit the big topics.
I have been called as District Leader! It’s a lil overwhelming because the guys in my district are all so great and I have more responsibilities, which means less time to keep up with these guys who so hard, and know so much more than I do in both the language and the gospel/teaching. But I am very grateful for the experience, because I get to interview these great men and learn so much for them!
Companions – They are all so great in my district. Loads of fun, and so smart, and all with such a passion for the gospel and the language. My comp is Elder Jesse Caldwell. He’s about 5’8”, 140 lbs – perfect to use for a bench press. But he is a good guy, from Utah (with 50% of the rest of this place). He is from Brigham City. He is a bit quiet, a lil bit of his hick accent comes out when he speaks Portuguese, but we have fun, and we work hard.
The MTC is a super great place. I love the Spirit, and the great people here, food isn’t too bad! But it doesn’t sit well. Haha. It is great to see all my friends from school. The first person I saw when Pete dropped me off was Noah, my roommate. He was my host and helped me get settled.
I am kinda going crazy here. We spend so much time indoors, in the same classroom. I am truly being tried. Haha, I twitch a lot now. I just pray a lot. I know the Lord can help me get through this, and the Spirit and knowledge we gain here is absolutely invigorating I get so excited. (This makes it harder to sit still. haha) But I love the experience; the trials are far outnumbered by blessings! I only think about the gospel, and the language. That is about it. It’s wonderful.
I was getting a lil’ stressed, but my comp and I were teaching another companionship yesterday and I began bearing pure testimony. The Spirit was so strong and it absolutely made my day. The Lord will help me in all of this!
Language – The language is going okay. We are already praying in Portuguese and bearing testimony. It’s a bit overwhelming at times, especially since I have less time to study, but it’s really awesome to see how far we have come. Tell Kevin and Justin and others to study PMG! [Preach My Gospel]
Visa – The visa situation is crazy. As you know, almost 50 elders came here last Wednesday instead of Brazil. There are tons of other visa waiters here already! My ZL has been have 3 weeks and only 3 people have left. We may be here a while. You can tell the Brazil Elders cause their pants rarely match their one suit coat. We did, however, have one elder from our district get his visa today, and he’ll leave soon. So there’s hope! But I don’t mind being here. Our building is nice and has a colored wall in our room! and new mattresses! and our bathrooms are nice. Our building was just remodeled, finished Tuesday. There are still boxes from the iron and microwave and other stuff in the tras.
Life here is good, I’m loving it. Just missing actually moving, haha.
Tell everyone hi! Have the kids write me. (US mail – email doesn’t come for a while and is limited!) Tell JJ to make sure he practices! SJ needs to write me! Have a wonderful day!
Love, Elder Jake
PS My email will change, not allowed to access gmail.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
He has begun!
Of course, Jake couldn't wear the standard white shirt on his flight. He chose to wear his favorite (and brightest) shirt. He changed to his white shirt after he arrived in SLC where Uncle Aaron and cousin Peter picked him up.
To update those who are unaware, the entire group of American missionaries scheduled to begin at the Brazilian MTC today had been rerouted to the Provo MTC. Originally we have been told he will stay there until the visa comes through. We will have to wait until Jake sends us the first letter to see if there are any changes. We will keep you updated.
Jake's current address is:
Jacob Garner
MTC Mailbox # 309
BRA-SPS 1215
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
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