May 17, 2011
Halo Semua Orang!
Apa Kabar?? Well things are going well here! We are just keeping busy busy busy! On saturday we taught three lessons in Indonesian which was pretty intense! However it is really helping my ability to hear when we teach like that. It is usally between 20 minutes to an hour of no English at a time! I am feeling pretty comfortable with teaching the Joseph Smith story, and I can almost answer pretty much all of the questions we've been asked by people so far during the lessons.
well, we had another Apostle come and speak to us on tuesday that makes 3 apostles out of the 4 devotionals we've had so far, maybe we will get number 4 tonight! Last week it was Elder Andersen. He spoke about the Merits, Mercy and Grace of the Atonement. It was a very excellent message!
I loved the pictures that Mom sent in her email! Those kids are so adorable!!! Make sure to give all of them a big squeezin from their favorite uncle!!!
And for the record, I am definitely the best Fifa player. There is no doubt about it, and furthermore I am the best Johnson at soccer, which really isn't much to brag about... I think you all would be surprised at how well my abilities are approving, but the real problem is that the shoes I have to play in are too small and thus destroy my feet. Sooo a size 10 and half in some sort of soccer- playable shoe will be one of my first purchases in Indonesia. Apparently every couple of p- days a lot of missionaries will reserve an indoor court for the equivalent of around 12 dollars total and play as long as they want. Sounds pretty fun to me.
But enough about the unimportant stuff! I am sorry that my emails are probably so boring! The weeks are kind of blurring together now and I don't really know what to write about! This past week I have really noticed a huge jump in the level of Indonesian we speak/ are taught during classes, it can be a bit of a headache after awhile, but better have the headache now than later. But the good news is we are on the downslope at the MTC, yet it definitely feels like more of an uphill struggle at times. I am really loving the MTC experience though, Our district has gotten to know another district in our zone, going to Madagascar, really well and the ten of us together definitely have a great time together and we all help eachother out. Three of the missionaries in particular, Elder Muai'i, Elder Fryer, and Elder Wilson have helped me out so much through their example of hard work. They are awesome and it'll be so fun after we've all returned to share experiences because I know they will have some powerful ones.
It always makes me so jealous when missionaries get to leave! We just had two districts leave, going to So Africa, Tennessee and Hawai'i. I don't get jealous because I don't like it here, I just really want to get over to Indonesia and start the real work!!
Well I hope you all know how much i love you and i hope all is going well! I guess I'll just share a little Indo with you all before I end it! It'll be my testimony if you're wondering what I am saying!
Saya tahu bahwa Yesus Kristud hidup! Saya tahu bahwa melalui pendamaian-Nya, kita dapat kembali untuk tinggal dengan Bapa Surgawi kita. Saya tahu bahwa Joseph Smith melihat Allah dan Yesus Kristus di Hutan Kecil dan dia menerjamahkan Kitab Mormon melalui kuasa diberi dia oleh Allah! Saya Tahu Bahwa Gereja ini adalah Gereja Yesus Kristus dan berisi keganapan Injil Yesus Kristus!
Saya Mengasihi semua anda!
Oh yeah, Mikey you big jerk! Write me and tell me what is going on with your life!!!! Love you bro!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
No way has it been a month!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Halo Semua Orang!
Apa Kabar?? Saya Ingin bagi Hal-Hal untuk menjadi Bagus bagi anda!!! Hal-Hal adalah BAGUSLAH di sini!!! Saya mengasihi kerja ini dan saya coba untuk bekerja dengan tekun!!!
iPD translation -
Hello Everyone!
What news? I Want to The Things to be Good for you! Good Things is here! I love this job and I try to work diligently!
Theres a little taste of the language... I dont think google translate works well with Indonesian translation so if it doesnt make sense through that, Dont judge me!
Things really are going excellent here though! We have just been busy busy busy with learning the language and teaching practice!! On friday we tried to go all day without speaking a lot of english... It was not as successful as we'd hoped but we still have a ton of things to learn before we can be expected to do it. On saturday we taught the first lesson completely in Indonesian! It was rough but what we've learned is the best way to teach is simple with lots of testimony in between! It is frustrating at times when we forget words or just dont know how to say what we want to, but things are coming along! Probably the funniest thing was that one of the elders in our district had a pretty bad mix up of words. To say the "fulness of the gospel" is "keganapan Injil". But Instead he said " Kitab Mormon berisi Kegalapan Injil"- The Book of Mormon contains the darkness of the Gospel. We gave him a pretty hard time for that one!!!!
Hmmm let's see, They finally did open the soccer field up! and we got two chances to go out and play and so far I have scored 4 goals. I have enjoyed playing on a team with this elder from Nigeria because we have a good connection as far as passing goes! To the surprise of all of you and myself, I am actually one of the better soccer players in my zone! I think all of the many hours of FIFA soccer have paid off in a high soccer IQ. haha but unfortunately it has been rainy so we haven't gotten to play anymore. I usually just play bball on those days or work out.
The food tastes good, but doesnt make me feel good. I am trying to shed a little weight before we leave, 5 pounds a week, but it is difficult when all I do is sit around most of the day!
As far as mission scripture goes, I have still not decided on one. But I am getting very very close! In fact I have it chosen, just I can't remember exactly which verses I want to use. It is in 2nd Nephi 4 though!!
Well sorry if this was a lame email... I am slowly sinking deeper and deeper into not being able to remember days because they blur together. I guess that's what happens when you've done the same thing every day for the past 4 weeks.
I am Halfway to leaving just about! But I am loving this experience so far, and it has been great to work hard every day and learning this language. I really feel like it is coming along and I know that the Lord has blessed me so greatly!
Saya mengasihi anda!
iPD translation - I love you!
Halo Semua Orang!
Apa Kabar?? Saya Ingin bagi Hal-Hal untuk menjadi Bagus bagi anda!!! Hal-Hal adalah BAGUSLAH di sini!!! Saya mengasihi kerja ini dan saya coba untuk bekerja dengan tekun!!!
iPD translation -
Hello Everyone!
What news? I Want to The Things to be Good for you! Good Things is here! I love this job and I try to work diligently!
Theres a little taste of the language... I dont think google translate works well with Indonesian translation so if it doesnt make sense through that, Dont judge me!
Things really are going excellent here though! We have just been busy busy busy with learning the language and teaching practice!! On friday we tried to go all day without speaking a lot of english... It was not as successful as we'd hoped but we still have a ton of things to learn before we can be expected to do it. On saturday we taught the first lesson completely in Indonesian! It was rough but what we've learned is the best way to teach is simple with lots of testimony in between! It is frustrating at times when we forget words or just dont know how to say what we want to, but things are coming along! Probably the funniest thing was that one of the elders in our district had a pretty bad mix up of words. To say the "fulness of the gospel" is "keganapan Injil". But Instead he said " Kitab Mormon berisi Kegalapan Injil"- The Book of Mormon contains the darkness of the Gospel. We gave him a pretty hard time for that one!!!!
Hmmm let's see, They finally did open the soccer field up! and we got two chances to go out and play and so far I have scored 4 goals. I have enjoyed playing on a team with this elder from Nigeria because we have a good connection as far as passing goes! To the surprise of all of you and myself, I am actually one of the better soccer players in my zone! I think all of the many hours of FIFA soccer have paid off in a high soccer IQ. haha but unfortunately it has been rainy so we haven't gotten to play anymore. I usually just play bball on those days or work out.
The food tastes good, but doesnt make me feel good. I am trying to shed a little weight before we leave, 5 pounds a week, but it is difficult when all I do is sit around most of the day!
As far as mission scripture goes, I have still not decided on one. But I am getting very very close! In fact I have it chosen, just I can't remember exactly which verses I want to use. It is in 2nd Nephi 4 though!!
Well sorry if this was a lame email... I am slowly sinking deeper and deeper into not being able to remember days because they blur together. I guess that's what happens when you've done the same thing every day for the past 4 weeks.
I am Halfway to leaving just about! But I am loving this experience so far, and it has been great to work hard every day and learning this language. I really feel like it is coming along and I know that the Lord has blessed me so greatly!
Saya mengasihi anda!
iPD translation - I love you!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
What?? No Mother's Day Call!!!
I have to admit that I was prepared for the news that Kevin wouldn't be able to call home for Mother's Day. Does it make me happy...no. BUT I totally understand why and will look forward to the call he'll make as he leaves for Indonesia. I am so happy for him and that things are going well. I know he loves me and will be thinking of me on Sunday. The best thing he can do for me as his mother, is do his best and work hard.
I love you Kevin!
Tuesday, May 03,2011
Halo keluarga saya!
It has been one speedy week! Hopefully I can remember all of the good stuff that happened! But first some not so great news, I will not be calling home on sunday for Mother's Day, It is a bummer, I know but I will get to call on or around june 13th before i leave the country!!
Now for a recap of the week!
Elder Oaks spoke to us last tuesday!! It was really awesome. It is always amazing to be in the same room as an apostle and get to hear their words!! He spoke a lot about the importance of teaching people not lessons and to adapt preach my gospel to specific investigators. He basically said that if you are using preach my gospel and teaching the lessons exactly how they are printed you are not doing your job!
That was definitely the highlight of the week for me, so far I have been spoiled as far as the Tuesday night Devotionals go.
Um besides that the week was pretty language heavy! We had to prepare to teach for about 15-20 minutes in indonesian on saturday, and this saturday we are doing the entire restoration lesson in Indonesian! luckily I have memorized the vocabulary for the first 5 principles of the lesson, so I just need to get the last three down this week. I have found that it is more effective to memorize a few words rather than full sentences so I dont teach like a robot... Unfortunately I am still not totally great at hearing and understanding the language so if i am asked a question I just smile and say Ya. or just look at the person and hope they realize they need to repeat slower!
But my language abilities are really coming along quite nicely! Our district is actually going to speak only Indonesian all day on friday so that ought to be an interesting experience!
well Mikey will be excited and pumped to know that there are 4 missionaries going to Jo-burg in my zone!!! The mtc there is full so they had to come here! also we have this awesome nigerian missionary named Elder Odume in our zone going to Hawai'i. I talked soccer with him last night, and unfortunately he is a barcelona fan. But some new elder said that Real Madrid beat them recently so I was pumped. Hopefully they will open up the soccer field so we can go outside and play and he can make me look like a fool. my zone is really awesome though. I have gotten to be really good friends with the 5 missionaries going to madagascar along with my district and two missionaries who left yesterday for mongolia! They are awesome guys for sure!
That is awesome about the BSU players!!! Titus went early!!! Good for them, and that is really crazy about osama! I heard about it a little bit but not the part about us getting some intelligence from it. you will have to keep me informed on that! hopefully it wont mean that al qaeda tries to relocate further east in Indonesia or something... But i'm not too worried about it, Indonesia is full of the
nice muslims that are common throughout the world. There are very few radicals contrary to the the US media's beliefs.
That is great to hear about the baptism in the ward! It sounds like it was an amazing experience. and thats good you are going to feed Elder Zerbe! I told him that if he was serving in your ward I would make sure it happens!
Well I am about out of time already... the 30 minutes just flies by! But I love you all so much and I am loving this opportunity to serve! This Gospel blesses us in so many ways.
Love you all and have an excellent week!
p.s. tell mikey he needs to learn how to brush his teeth. hehehehe
I love you Kevin!
Tuesday, May 03,2011
Halo keluarga saya!
It has been one speedy week! Hopefully I can remember all of the good stuff that happened! But first some not so great news, I will not be calling home on sunday for Mother's Day, It is a bummer, I know but I will get to call on or around june 13th before i leave the country!!
Now for a recap of the week!
Elder Oaks spoke to us last tuesday!! It was really awesome. It is always amazing to be in the same room as an apostle and get to hear their words!! He spoke a lot about the importance of teaching people not lessons and to adapt preach my gospel to specific investigators. He basically said that if you are using preach my gospel and teaching the lessons exactly how they are printed you are not doing your job!
That was definitely the highlight of the week for me, so far I have been spoiled as far as the Tuesday night Devotionals go.
Um besides that the week was pretty language heavy! We had to prepare to teach for about 15-20 minutes in indonesian on saturday, and this saturday we are doing the entire restoration lesson in Indonesian! luckily I have memorized the vocabulary for the first 5 principles of the lesson, so I just need to get the last three down this week. I have found that it is more effective to memorize a few words rather than full sentences so I dont teach like a robot... Unfortunately I am still not totally great at hearing and understanding the language so if i am asked a question I just smile and say Ya. or just look at the person and hope they realize they need to repeat slower!
But my language abilities are really coming along quite nicely! Our district is actually going to speak only Indonesian all day on friday so that ought to be an interesting experience!
well Mikey will be excited and pumped to know that there are 4 missionaries going to Jo-burg in my zone!!! The mtc there is full so they had to come here! also we have this awesome nigerian missionary named Elder Odume in our zone going to Hawai'i. I talked soccer with him last night, and unfortunately he is a barcelona fan. But some new elder said that Real Madrid beat them recently so I was pumped. Hopefully they will open up the soccer field so we can go outside and play and he can make me look like a fool. my zone is really awesome though. I have gotten to be really good friends with the 5 missionaries going to madagascar along with my district and two missionaries who left yesterday for mongolia! They are awesome guys for sure!
That is awesome about the BSU players!!! Titus went early!!! Good for them, and that is really crazy about osama! I heard about it a little bit but not the part about us getting some intelligence from it. you will have to keep me informed on that! hopefully it wont mean that al qaeda tries to relocate further east in Indonesia or something... But i'm not too worried about it, Indonesia is full of the
nice muslims that are common throughout the world. There are very few radicals contrary to the the US media's beliefs.
That is great to hear about the baptism in the ward! It sounds like it was an amazing experience. and thats good you are going to feed Elder Zerbe! I told him that if he was serving in your ward I would make sure it happens!
Well I am about out of time already... the 30 minutes just flies by! But I love you all so much and I am loving this opportunity to serve! This Gospel blesses us in so many ways.
Love you all and have an excellent week!
p.s. tell mikey he needs to learn how to brush his teeth. hehehehe
Sunday, May 1, 2011
2nd Email...No I am not going to number them forever!!!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
well the MTC has switched up all of the missionaries'schedules so my new p day is tuesday! unfortunately I am guessing, well more hoping that you all were planning on emailing me wednesday in anticipation of me checking my email on thursday. If this is not the case and you were just not going to email me at all (mikey) then let me remind you who wrote you an email almost every week of your mission! I am only kidding of course!
Unfortunately I don't really have much to talk about except how bummed I am about this schedule change! we now have service at 615 am on thursday mornings and our gym time is at 630 twice a week. However one upside to the change is the focus is now on giving missionaries as many possible opportunities to teach lessons, so that will be helpful.
This week is going to be very hectic because we have to teach completely in Indonesian on saturday, and to be honest, I am excited for it but very nervous that i am going to have to do all of the speaking. elder Smith is not very comfortable with the language and I am not anywhere near comfortable with it either but if it is anything like our 15 minutes of practice contacting last saturday, he will maybe say two words... He is getting better though, he is just very shy about it.
There was a missionary here from Indonesia!!! His name is Elder Bench and he is serving in the California Arcadia mission. His dad is actually from Burley and his mom is from China and he was born and raised in Surabaya Indonesia. He speaks sooo fast. It is going to be so hard adjusting my ears and actually understanding the language at the speed most indonesians will speak it. But I assume that will just come with time and practice!
One awesome thing that has come about from the schedule change is that Elder Smith and I basically have a new companion. He is a solo missionary right now, meaning he is the only Elder in his language class. He is going to Mesa Arizona doing ASL! he has some disabilities that limit his abilities to speak but he is so awesome! his name is Elder Greer. He is very very smart and very talented. He blew our minds with his abilities to play the piano today, and he is just a hard working kid. He should be leaving for Arizona in a few weeks. The reason he is basically our companion now is that the schedule change put the ASL classes on the same schedule as ours, but his actual roommates no longer share the same schedule as him. He is going to be so great to be around these next few weeks, he is hilarious!
Well Sorry this email is kind of lame! Not much has happened between now and last thursday. Hopefully you all are doing awesome!
Mom and Jeff- I will be mailing you some letters today so be looking for them!
I love you all!
The Church is true!
sampai nanti!
well the MTC has switched up all of the missionaries'schedules so my new p day is tuesday! unfortunately I am guessing, well more hoping that you all were planning on emailing me wednesday in anticipation of me checking my email on thursday. If this is not the case and you were just not going to email me at all (mikey) then let me remind you who wrote you an email almost every week of your mission! I am only kidding of course!
Unfortunately I don't really have much to talk about except how bummed I am about this schedule change! we now have service at 615 am on thursday mornings and our gym time is at 630 twice a week. However one upside to the change is the focus is now on giving missionaries as many possible opportunities to teach lessons, so that will be helpful.
This week is going to be very hectic because we have to teach completely in Indonesian on saturday, and to be honest, I am excited for it but very nervous that i am going to have to do all of the speaking. elder Smith is not very comfortable with the language and I am not anywhere near comfortable with it either but if it is anything like our 15 minutes of practice contacting last saturday, he will maybe say two words... He is getting better though, he is just very shy about it.
There was a missionary here from Indonesia!!! His name is Elder Bench and he is serving in the California Arcadia mission. His dad is actually from Burley and his mom is from China and he was born and raised in Surabaya Indonesia. He speaks sooo fast. It is going to be so hard adjusting my ears and actually understanding the language at the speed most indonesians will speak it. But I assume that will just come with time and practice!
One awesome thing that has come about from the schedule change is that Elder Smith and I basically have a new companion. He is a solo missionary right now, meaning he is the only Elder in his language class. He is going to Mesa Arizona doing ASL! he has some disabilities that limit his abilities to speak but he is so awesome! his name is Elder Greer. He is very very smart and very talented. He blew our minds with his abilities to play the piano today, and he is just a hard working kid. He should be leaving for Arizona in a few weeks. The reason he is basically our companion now is that the schedule change put the ASL classes on the same schedule as ours, but his actual roommates no longer share the same schedule as him. He is going to be so great to be around these next few weeks, he is hilarious!
Well Sorry this email is kind of lame! Not much has happened between now and last thursday. Hopefully you all are doing awesome!
Mom and Jeff- I will be mailing you some letters today so be looking for them!
I love you all!
The Church is true!
sampai nanti!
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