Monday, August 26, 2013

First week in the mission field

We traveled to my area with the zone leaders who actually lived in the same flat as mine, but they got kicked out because the land lord only wanted two people to live there, so we had to help them pack up and move out. It took five hours to get to the chapel in London, where we met the mission president, and our companions. Then it was another two hours to my area. We didn't get to do any proselyting on the first day though because we had to help the ZL's move out, and then I unpacked, we planned and then I went to bed.
We have already had pasta twice. I loved the b-day card, but it was a little embarrassing because we are having district p-day, so all of the district elders and sisters are here, so when I clicked on the link it started playing.
I actually had chinese food on friday, but the family who fed us was acually from peru, and they speak spanish as a first language. We are teaching a spanish family as well. They were introduced to us through the family that fed us on Friday
It's nice, my first b-day on the mission is on a p-day, we are eating breakfast at members house, and I get to wear jeans for most of the day! On top of that we had some really good spaghetti with the zone leaders on sunday. My companion made it for us. He is the district leader.

The attached picture is of the meal I had on saturday night with the spanish investigating family that we are teaching. The father made it. It is a traditional spanish meal, and we ate it the traditional way, straight out of the pan! It is hard to teach the family, because I don't know spanish, but Elder Mannucci speaks in Italian, and they can understand most of what he says.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

First Day in the mission field

I have been assigned to the Hamble River area. My new companion is Elder Mannucci. He is Italian, and he loves pasta. This is the view from my new flat. The photos were taken from the balcony.

I worked cleaning up my Flat and helping previous elders pack up their stuff. so I haven't gotten any real experience yet, this is my first day.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

One week in the MTC

We were visited by Elder Ballard of the quorum of the twelve apostles on the first day. And by both Elder Holland and Elder Nelson on the second day, I got to shake both of their hands, but not Elder Ballards. THREE APOSTLES IN TWO DAYS!!! It was awesome.

The arch way looks so much cooler in real life, because the temple spire is right in the middle, but you can't see it in the photo. Elder Romney is the one in the photo. We had a pagent that we walked in singing at the end of. 
 
The food is great, we had hamburgers an fries for lunch yesterday, and some really good salmon for dinner, so I have already had fish & chips. I am uploading some photos from the plane, and the MTC.  My MTC companion is Elder Romney, and yes he is related to Mitt Romney. He is his fourth-cousin, but he has never met him. He was born in the US, but lived in Mexico. So he has dual citizenship and speaks both spanish and english fluently, without an accent.
 
Roomate name tags at the MTC
Elder Green is from Lehi, Utah and he had an awesome sort-of faux-hawk style hair swept to the side, kind of like I used to do mine. He just got it cut and came into the computer room here at the MTC. it is really short, and weird to see. Elder White is his MTC companion, he is from England and he has the proper "posh" accent. I always think of Harry Potter when he talks. He really knows his stuff, and he is good at talking about the gospel. Our MTC district is Nephi, and our leader Elder De Beer. Elder De Beer is from South Africa. His accent is very fun to listen to and he is a pretty goofy guy. He knows when to be serious though. He jokes about how Africa doesn't have food and planes and stuff. He is white, like Karissa except with bleach blonde hair. It is funny because there are two other Elders from places in Africa and they are both black and don't speak English well at all. Elder De Beer is fluent in English. The other two Elders from Africa tell him that he is not from Africa because his skin is white. They joke around quite a bit it is pretty funny. Elder White likes the same kind of music as me which is typical of someone who lives in England. He thinks I'm one of the coolest  Americans he has met.
 


Elder Romney is in the middle with Elder Brown.
 
 
Here at the MTC, the days are long. We seem to be in the district classroom forever. We exercise for an hour each day. So far we have done regular work outs, played basketball, Rugby, football (soccer), volleyball, and Ping-Pong. We do this around the world Ping-Pong, where we run around the table counterclockwise and take turns hitting the ball. We have played with about six people at the same time. The Elders that told us about it have gotten up to 20 or so on the same table. the rules are the same as regular Ping-Pong, but after two faults, you are out. when you get down to only two people left playing, you stay on one side of the table instead of running around, and you have to spin after every hit. At about 2:00 in he afternoon, I am ready for bed, but I have to push through until 9:30 before I can go up to get ready for bed. My throat is still a little soar, but not as bad.
 
Once I got off, in Minneapolis I was with a group of other missionaries for the rest of the time, so it wasn't a problem. The Amsterdam airport is massive. we had to get from one side to the other in about two hours, and I think it took about 45 minutes to get to our gate. 
 
It has only rained a little since I got here, but it doesn't matter because while we are at the MTC we don't go outside a whole lot. I just got back from the store, ASDA, which is like Europe's Walmart partner. Just bought some sour patch kids and some body wash. I ran out of the stuff I brought this morning, so it was perfect timing. I bought the sour patch kids because Elder White who is from England said that they don't sell them here because he had never had them. When he first said that I almost cried, but turns out he was wrong! 
More pictures while at MTC.


 
 
 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The Beginning of a Missionary's Life.

Dailen was called to the London South mission in England, and reported to the MTC in Preston.
 

     We put Dailen (Elder Brown) on the air plane Wednesday morning (August 7th 2013) for his mission.  What a mixture of emotions. I already miss him but so happy for him to be doing the Lords work.  I want to share a tender mercy of the Lord- when Dailen got his plane tickets they did not show what gates he needed to be at to board the other flights. This was of great concern for us because Dailen has never flown before.  We did what we could before hand showing him maps of all the airports.  And for the Salt Lake airport we figured out he would get off in the basic same area that he would board the next plane which we told him. This one was a big concern since he only had 39 minutes before the next flight left.  After saying good bye and him not having a phone with him, We got online and found out that they had finally posted what gates he would need to be at but there was no way of telling him this.  Within a minute of us being so concerned over this, Jenny's best friend Myndi texted her and told her that she was on the same flight as Dailen, two rows in front of him! Our hearts leaped with joy we texted her with the information he needed and a few minutes before they got off the plane he knew where he was supposed to be and she showed him where to go.  I am so grateful for a Loving Heavenly Father that cares about worried parents.



We tracked his plane all day long, and received an email from him to let us know that he arrived safely at the MTC and has two roommates, Elder White and Elder Green. yes you read that correctly! Brown White and Green in one room :)
His P-Days are on Wednesdays- so we will hear more from him then.