The final countdown.....

Dear friends and family,

We got our travel plans!!!  I am finally getting out of here.  We leave the morning of the 7th and have to report at the travel office at 5:00 am.  We are so excited and are partying tonight.  We finished all the grammar as of this week and so the rest of the time here we are just practicing and learning words trying to get ready for the field.  We teach 3-5 lessons a day and are juggling 5 investigators at the same time.  Life here in the MTC is pretty crazy, you eat 3 big meals a day and for the rest of the 13 hours you spend learning or teaching.  It’s amazing all the stuff we are learning and at the speed we are learning it. And the weight we are all gaining....

Last week we got to host and I was one of the three missionaries with a walkie-talkie, that's right, I used technology.  "I love technology, but not as much as you, you see, always and forever...." you have no idea how many times I heard that line... or said it.  I go to direct traffic in this big neon green jacket and I bet you guys can just picture how fun that was.  I have some mean dancing skills.  We get to host again this week and this week I get to actually be able to usher people around and show them what’s up.  I’m very excited for that, especially because no one has told me if Landen got his visa or not so I might be able to host him.

I did sealings again last week which are always a good thing.  And we played soccer like every day for gym, which is always a plus because it gets me out and moving around.  But it is starting to get super duper cold this week, like freezing cold, but I leave soon so whatever!

The days here just still seem to be all the same.  So I don’t feel like I have a whole lot to say.  With our investigators, we set 2 more baptismal dates with the two new ones and baptize one tomorrow.  By the end of the MTC we will have completely finished teaching 4 “Investigators”.  My companion and I are doing awesome.  They have even started using us to counsel some of the newer missionaries on how to get over problems with your companion and just loving them.  I was talking to one guy specifically and I felt impressed to say a few things and he and his companion have been inseparable ever since.  “For the Holy Ghost will carry your message to the hearts of men” is definitly not a joke.

Oh, one really cool thing that happened is that this week we have been working on how to teach people, not lessons, which basically means we listen for the people’s needs and teach according to the promptings of the Spirit.  Well in TRC this week we taught one of the teachers here, which my first impression was... great, a teacher who is just going to see how bad our teaching in Spanish is.  But we taught a very good lesson on receiving revelation through prayer, and the Spirit prompted us to talk about going to the temple and praying in the celestial room with his wife when making big decisions.  I said something like “I know it’s hard for newly married couples to make all the biggest decisions in life and to know they are making the right decision according to what the lord wants” or something like that, which I really have no idea about, and challenged him to go to the temple with his wife more.  Afterwards we got the ``Feedback`` letter, and it was 2 pages long, he said that it was exactly what he needed to hear and thanked us for listening to the spirit. He made a commitment to make an appointment to go to the temple this week with his wife, and was going to spend 2 hours out or around the temple every week from now on.  He said it was an amazing lesson.

Well that’s pretty much my week.  Thanks for all of the letters.

Love you,

Elder Stewart

Dari - I actually never realized that our mail box is 249. I told everyone in our district and they were like, ”Oh yeah, that’s totally sweet!”  We never realized it because we only sing out of the Spanish hymnbook now.  We looked up 249 in the Spanish Hymnbook and the song is not as nearly as cool.  Glad things are doing well, 100 patients that’s Chalado!  Did they find someone to ``Try`` to replace me yet?  I wouldn’t know because Steve doesn’t right me.  How are Jamie and Ryan?  Oh and I guess John to.  Stay awesome rock star.

Abby - Haha I can already tell before I open your letter that it’s going to say "Sorry I haven't been so good at writing this week, but I’ll be better next week."  It’s funny, but awesome.  Thanks for writing me this week.  Congrats on your part and I know you’ll be able to play a real good crazy evil lady, haha jk. Keep up the good work on your calling and remember that the Lord doesn’t call anyone to work they can’t handle.  Keep it up.  I don’t know if we do anything for Halloween this week, but I’ll let you know when that time comes.

Jared - Como le va? Jeffe.  I’m pretty sure they got the word "Jeffe" from the English word "Jared" but I could be wrong.  Thanks for the letter this week, I laughed when I read that you weren’t prepared for the talk in primary.  It seems like Abby is rubbing off on you. JK.  Dad always has had the best jokes, I feel like I would have beat him to that one though. haha.  Love you Su fletcha de Luz hermano.

Grandma Stewart - Hey the cookies arrived in good shape be it doesn't really matter either way because we eat them anyway.  And they still taste oh so good.  Thanks for the letter this week.  I really have been working on that charity thing to have the pure love of Christ.  But I’ll get there.  It’s great to hear that Grandpa is doing a little better and is gaining some strength back.  Hopefully my prayers are helping…haha.  Thanks for the Jesus scripture and quote, it’s now in "The Book of Stewart".  Just wanted to say since I can’t call you and sing, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, you look like a monkey....... ANNNNDDDD you smell like one to.  Love you Grandma and Grandpa so much.

Grandma Jill - Wow is everyone ok? It sounds like you have had a few scares going on back there.  I hope everything is alright. Tell Grandpa and Grandma I love them for me.  That kind of thing is very scary.  Ah and I bet it’s just because Catlin can’t handle the awesomeness of living in California.  I would have thought she could have but you know how it is.  How are she and her new bf?  Has it changed in the last 2 weeks?  I leave so soon and I’m so excited to get out of here and hit up New Mexico in 2 weeks.  Sorry I don’t have a whole lot to say this week.  Love ya!

42 Days in the MTC.....

Hey Friends and Family,

42 days in the MTC, 124 meals in the cafeteria, 6 pounds gained, 100 lessons taught, and countless amounts of fun times. I really have grown to love my time at the MTC.  As of Monday our district became the oldest one in the zone y we will be the big dogs for the next 3 weeks.  It hard to think that I’m going to be in the field in 3 weeks, y it’s kind of scary pero exciting at the same time.  It will be the real deal, with real people, y real situations.  We got a new batch of newbies this week y they are a pretty cool group of Elders.  It’s exciting to have them all come y ask me questions about Spanish o the gospel.  Having Landen Barr as a best friend over the last 6 years has deprived me of experiences where people are asking me about those 2 particular topics.  Next week we get new Elders as well y my district are hosts next week.  Everyone is excited to be able to show the nuevo missionaries around y I get to be one of the Elders that direct traffic.

Last P-day I had the oppertunidad to do sealings, which really just means I was able to be a witness o stand as a proxy for a child. Man is the spirit strong in the sealing room. Being a witness is probably one of my most favorito parts now of the temple. When he says "In front of God, Angels, and these Witnesses" I have rarely felt something that powerful. Temple marriage really is a "Forever", "Eternity", "Till the Ends of Time" thing. I’m so thankful to be sealed to my amazing family.

After the temple the Elders also hold a "Man Party" where we make stuff out of cardboard and other materials that we acquire or are sent to us. (It really is kind of like a stamping night where we talk all week about how great it is going to be y what we are making this week y then no one ends up showing up and it’s just me, my companion, and Elder franks) oh well. Last week we made some really cool scripture cases. I’ll send some pictures this week when my parents get my SD card back.

This week we started to learn a grammar principle preterit vs. imperfect tense and man is it difficult.  We spent 2 days with 4 different teachers teaching this one concept to the class.  It’s difficult because there are not 2 different tenses for the past in English but for some reason Spanish feels the need to have multiple tenses.

The zone has played a lot of soccer the last week and usually it is all the Elders going to Argentina and Paraguay vs. the State Side missions.  There are a few Elders who are actually pretty good on their team and the big game this week ended in a 6-6 tie.  Every time they scored they would chant "Argentina or Paraguay" and lift the person up and stuff.  Our team did the same but with "USA".  I’m glad I was the one that got to experience that 5 times out of the six. :)

We had Richard G. Scott come this week, which was an amazing experience, and he talked about the importance of having your life be guided by the Spirit always.  In between, of course, he threw in a bunch of references to not "Hanging out" like "Hanging out is Idleness in Flocks" and how right when we got off our missions we needed to find our eternal companion.  But that’s still forever away.  I got from the devotional that I can’t ever doubt myself.  Someone who holds the power of God (The Priesthood), the power that he used to make the universe, world, and all mankind, especially one who is set apart to preach his gospel, should never ever doubt himself. The possibilities are limitless with Faith.

We always have testimony meetings after the Tuesday night devotionals and I know I have probably said this before, but there are some truly powerful missionaries going to New Mexico.  In that meeting, with just 9 people, I have heard such strong testimonies from the Elders of the district.  It’s unbelievable.  We started to be investigators for each other and one of the newer districts and it’s so funny to pretend to be an investigator.  It’s a great learning experience at seeing what it is like to have someone teach you from a different point of view.

I had an opportunity yesterday to talk to an Elder from the new district about companionship problems he has been having.  The zone leaders came to me specifically because of the "Experience" I had in overcoming hardships with a companion.  It really was a neat experience to kind of review how Elder Bailey and I got past our problems with each other and stuff.  After the opening prayer that we said though, I don’t remember a single word I said, and we talked for an entire hour.  The spirit is a powerful thing and it’s a shame that I’m only now realizing how to use it in my teaching.  It would have saved me a lot of hardship and stuff if I would have learned this a few years ago.

Anyway, thanks everyone who wrote this week.

Cory- Man it’s so true. It is such an amazing feeling to always have someone guiding my actions and what I say when I need it.  But, yeah the DJing gigs sound like they would be a blast.  Is it very hard to DJ?  I mean I did it for 19 years, but it just came naturally from birth, but is it that hard to work? Ha-ha But I’m glad that you are choosing you girls wisely and that you recognize that a girl that does those kinds of things is not worth your time at all.  Yes it is important to help her with her problems and stuff, but I know you would never fall into that thing.  Just make sure you careful.  I wouldn’t want to have to come back and get you into shape ;).  Keep the dating pool open and live it up.  College can be a lot of fun, single (as long as you date the right girls).  Just have fun.  Thanks for your letters every week.  It’s always great to hear from my best bud.  I miss chilling with you man.  You’re a beast.  Until next week.

Jared Stewart - Hola, Como Esta?  I would write my whole letter in Spanish but I don’t know how to do the accents on here and I only have 30 mins.  Thanks for the letters little man, you are officially leading my class in best little brothers.  No one got 3 letters from their brother this week and they are all super jealous.  I’m glad you had a good birthday and I wish I was there.  I bet I would solve your puzzle box so quickly and get all your money muhahaha.  And the book!  AMAZING!  I bet Abby and Emily where super jealous of your awesome gift.  You will have to tell me how the book is.  I am sorry to inform you that I have no idea in the world what an "abacus" is, but it sounds pretty interesting.  Congrats on the Arrow of Light.  I got mine too, so that makes us, "....Arrow.... of... Light.... Brothers?"  Anyway, I’m super proud of your determination in Scouts.  Keep it up.  I want to come build robots too!  Lucky pants.  That sounds like a ton of fun and you MUST, MUST send pictures of your robot smashing people around. There is a great white shark at the aquarium?  Why did you not tell me earlier!  I want to see!  The movie X-Men is a good movie and it is so not fair that Mom let you watch it.  When I was your age, Mom still only let me watch movies like "Wonderpets" and "Arthur", so count your blessings.  I WANT TO SEE DALLIN PLAYING JUST DANCE.  Mom and Dad have my SD card there so take a video with the camera and send me a video of him playing just dance, that’s probably the most amazing thing I have ever heard.  Oh and with the Shark Bank.  Alright, well I don’t have any time left but when I send home a hand written letter, there might be more to say.  I love you man and I want you to read your scriptures every day.  Keep up the letter thing so that the rest of my class can stay jealous. 

Week 6: Shout Outs

Jill McDonald – Hey Grandma!  Don’t worry about wasting time!  On my mission, I now wish I would have wasted my time better before my mission.  So remember:

“When you have time to waste, waste it well.” – Elder Stewart (2011 DearElder address)

Ha!  Hadley is so cute, I’m glad you had the opportunity to drive down to Vegas and it sounds like you had fun.  It would be easy to convince Grandpa to get some new furnaces.  You seem to be very good at that.  That would be awesome for you to go on a Temple mission.  Elder Ballard came and told us that senior couples are highly sought for.  They also lowered the price of housing, making missions easier.  Thanks for letting me know about Beckett.  Maybe, now, I will be able to get some sleep tonight.  Haha

Kristen – Kristen! I’m doing just fine.  I am starting to finally enjoy being here in the MTC.  That’s awesome to hear about Avery.  Has she said anything that makes sense yet?  Wow, the experience with Miguel must have been amazing.  Seeing the progress with investigators (even though right now the ones we teach are not real) is such an amazing feeling.  I am so happy about your temple date.  Since your letter, I studied temple marriage a little bit more and I think D&C 132:18-20 and especially 20, is one of the most amazing scriptures in the world.  Who would not want that?  Anyway, it’s always great to get letters from you.  I love you and continue to pray for you.

Emily – Hey Em!  It’s nice to hear from you.  Just tell Mom it’s alright if you don’t want to write, but knowing how much you like facebook, you could just jump on and shoot me a quick one.  Stress can be a very powerful tool, if used correctly.  I learned here at the MTC that we can channel stress into determination and study so much better.  I keep looking for Sonhee, but have not seen her.  Are you sure that she came to the Provo MTC?  Why do you have a bunch of freshman following you around?  I thought the dance team was always so cool to dance at the football games.  Don’t worry; I don’t think anyone goes to the PG football games to actually watch them.  I just always went to talk and meet people.  I know this sounds so repetitive and dumb, but I regret not reading my scriptures by myself everyday in high school.  If you do, you will see the way you can handle stress better.

Brother Heywood – Hey, thanks for your letter.  Like always, I had to re-read it 3 times to begin to understand it; but I’m sure that will come with time.  I do still feel smarter every time you write something and I read it.  I will continue to read this letter and let you know when I start actually realizing how to change into a humility suit and keep you updated.  The criterion for success though is something I understand.  I have been really working on the four points.  I totally agree that Elder Holland has given the most amazing talks lately.  The boldness and fire he puts in his words bring the Spirit in stronger than most testimonies I’ve heard.  And that is what I remember most about you.  Oh and BTW, I was teaching the class this week and made an Elder read in his Nephi voice.  It’s the new “thing” now.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see it in New Mexico soon.

Thanks again for your letters.  They really make my day.

Love,

Elder Stewart

Week 6: MTC highlights

Hey friends and family,


Another week gone at the MTC and I am finding myself down to the last 4 weeks here.  At first I wanted nothing more than to leave this place and go to the field but to be honest it’s not too bad.  And it is really nice to get all the letters, pictures, and packages from all of you.


This week we had an awesome Sunday full of meetings and classes.  I was also made the new District Leader today for the rest of our time here in the MTC.  It’s nice to have the power but what really makes me feel successful is when my district is happy.  We had a fireside about tithing.... yes tithing. An hour and a half of listening to tithing.  It wasn’t bad, but it just wasn't a super awesome topic to hear about, the best part was that I now have some good scriptures to use for my tithing lessons.


Elder Bailey and I have had a very good week this week in terms of our friendship and as a result we have seen major improvement in our lessons.  We taught Esteban this week who we haven’t had a whole lot of success with but after planning and having a good week with Bailey, we finally where able to commit him to baptism.  It’s so great to finally start having success with some of our investigators.  The trick to getting along with someone else is 1. To look for things you love in the person and just stick to it and 2. stop thinking about ways they can change to make the relationship better, and just change yourself, it’s so much easier.


What’s amazing about being here is that every Tuesday you get humbled again and again. Julie Beck came to the MTC and was the speaker for this week’s devotional, and her talk was very different than what we are used to, she talked about temple marriage.  Even though it was pretty hard to follow, it seems like she sparked a little something and started a train of thought for everyone in the district that lead to inspiration.  Every Tuesday night after the devotional we have testimony meeting and it is the best part of every week because the spirit is at its strongest.  The testimonies of the people are so strong that it’s no wonder why we all used to have such a rough time.  Satan is working hard to tear them down.


On Wednesday there was almost a problem in the district.  Because Elder Bailey has a really bad back that has been hurting him lately, I let him use "Sheryl" (this nice reclining chair I acquired in week 4) to help his back.  But in order for him to sit in it we needed to move the desks.  So this worked for about 2 weeks until someone sat in our desks while the chair wasn’t there and saw how much room there was.  So at dinner I started getting grilled about it and instead of making a big deal about it I told them we would talk about it later.  Then when we left dinner early, I went and moved all the desks over and got rid of my own space.  As a District Leader, I am called to serve my district.  As long as my district is happy and my companion is not in pain, that will be my measure of success.  More space doesn’t mean anything in the long run.


We got a new district this week, which is always a highlight of the week.  There is one Elder from Tonga that speaks almost no English.  Most of them don't speak any Spanish at all, so I’m eager to start helping them figure it out. The oldest district is leaving in 4 days.  That will make us the big dogs of the Zone for the rest of the time here at the MTC.  I guess it’s now time to start being the examples to all the other districts.


Yesterday, they made all of the Elders in our building move to a new building.  So yes in week 5 I had to pack up all my stuff and move to a whole new building.  To top it all off, 2 of the districts in our zone are not even on our floor, so it is going to be more challenging to get to know them. But the nice thing is we don’t have to be in a room with six elders like the rest of the MTC and the room is right next to the showers and the ironing board.  It is a little hot in the room, but because of my persuasive powers I have acquired 4 fans in the last 5 weeks here.  At night it sounds like a helicopter in our room.  Since I like noise when I sleep, I sleep like a total rock now and it only takes me like 3 mins to fall asleep.  My whole room is jealous.  It sucks still being the only one that has to shave my caveman beard every morning. Every guy in my district makes fun of me for it, but I guess I kind of don't mind. Anyway, it’s time for the temple.


Love you all, 


Elder Stewart

Week 5 Shout Outs

Landen - I hope you know that Cory’s mom wrote me before you, and no one in your family has still written.  Which is really no big deal, but out here time goes by so slowly that it feels like I have been here for a year.  You will see what it is like in about a month?  If you come here to Provo, I could have a week with you here.  Being this close to BYU is nice, pero, I wish the football field was closer, only because I wish I could have heard the game of the year.  I heard about the win against Utah State.  BYU is finally realizing that Jake Heaps belongs on the bench.   General Conference was awesome!  The Spirit is so much stronger as I am closer to God right now than I ever have been.  Here in the MTC, the Portugays and the Spanish speakers are constantly in a “friendly war”.  I am so happy we are friends and your example has been a big part on getting me out here (Even if you are a BYU Portugays speaker).  Hopefully I will see you in a month.

Cory – Hey!  Coming out here I expected that I would be bugged with my Comp, whether he was crazy or not.  You know how I am when I’m around someone for too long, but I never thought my Comp would really be nuts. But, it’s all good.  I’m trying to have Christlike love this week and have gotten somewhat closer.  Bien hecho on getting the record label, that’s super exciting.  I bet your making bank.  Let me know what happens at those events that you’re playing at.  It’s good you are staying busy and still had time to write me.  How is that one girl in the Tuesday night class?  You never told me.  Recorda leer en su escrituras mucho.  Encontro que cuando yo leo mis escrituras ha bendicido mi vida en muchos maneras.  Le amo y me gusto siendo su amigo.  Talk to you soon

Abby – Hey!  Don’t worry about not getting around to writing me this week.  I know how busy it can get.  Choir is alright, but I just go because the choir directors are super nice and funny.  They make singing fun, go figure.  Let me know how the play goes!  I bet you will get an amazing part.  Congrats on the calling!  Do everything you can do to fulfill that calling and you will be amazed with the blessings.

Grandma Jill – Homework was crazy last week?  What happened to the easy year?  Don’t stress too much about it. J  I know you’re doing well as usual.  What is the “Major” Expo?  I miss those pups.  Are they still growing and getting a little big?  Mid-terms this week!  Ah I remember what it was like to be doing that.  I’m so glad I don’t have to worry about it.  Just know that you are in my super-long prayers every night and hopefully you are being blessed because of it.  I miss you Grandma and I love when you write me.

Grandpa Stewart – Hey!  I was so glad to get your letter this week.  How are you doing?  Has your appetite come back yet?  Just eat lots of cookies and you’ll be good.  Which reminds me… I am overdue for a new shipment.   I really enjoyed the history of my family.  I didn’t know any of that stuff and I was surprised to find out that they joined the church 11 years after Joseph restored it.  That’s awesome.  And the part where William Lyle Stewart was good at keeping a diary.  It’s so hard to remember.  I am keeping a journal here every day, but it is hard to write long entries in it.  Anyway, I love you and am grateful for the letter.

Caitlin – Caitlin!  I love getting your letters, they are always so funny.  I know what you mean about wanting a guy that makes you want to not date other guys….but with girls.  You will definitely have to send me his credentials so that he can be approved.  I really like how you are now reading the Book of Mormon.  I do something like that now, but it’s harder to because I’m reading in Spanish.  Oh, and don’t worry, I only know religious vocabulary.  So I can carry on a conversation about Christ or the Book of Mormon for hours, but I can’t have any other conversations about anything for 5 mins.  I loved the quote and totally agree with the immediate gratification thing.  I use my patriarchal blessing for that.  I’m glad you are feeling blessings from me being here.  Love you Cait.

Thanks for the letters.  They really make my day.

Love,

Elder Stewart

MTC Highlights: Week 5

Friends and Family,

Week 5 is here and marks the halfway point here at the MTC.  Last week has been pretty good.  Last week we went to the temple and I was able to do an endowment name for one of Elder Schultz ancestors.  Some how it makes the whole experience better when you do a session from a card you brought.  I was so happy to have the opportunity.

Ok so I had a lot of questions about how general conference is in the MTC and I would have to say it’s amazing.  Before here, I always kind of treat General Conference lightly, especially when women or Seventies speak.  But since I feel closer to the spirit than I ever have been, I realized you don't have to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve or even the Prophet to give an amazing talk.  I mean I sometimes even wrote more notes for them than anyone else.  Some of my favorites where L. Whitney Clayton, Ian S. Ardrean, Keith B. McMullin, Wadell, and also many of the Quorum of the Twelve, but that is expected.  But my favorite of all time was Holland's in Priesthood session. There is just something about that man that I love, and I think part of that reason is he reminds me of Bro. Heywood.  My favorite part of his talk was that "Satan does not have the power to take a life, but he does have the power to bind peoples lounges.  By stopping the work from progressing, Satan is doing much more damage than if he could have taken a life.  NOW is the time to not let yourself involuntarily bind your tongues and to speak out not just against evil, but be a voice of light and truth in the decreasing moral standards of this day."  He really made us in the MTC feel proud to be here and "On the front lines" of the battle that is waging.  It gives me a bigger drive to arm myself with as much as I can here so I can do damage out in the field.

Sunday night we had Chad Lewis come and speak to us for the fireside.  Even though he played for BYU football, it was still exciting to see that we were going listen to a young guy for a change (No offense to the old guys out there).  He and his wife told a bunch of amazing stories about sports and how they related to the gospel.  He told a story about a time when he climbed this mountain in Africa with a bunch of injured soldiers from Iraq and how difficult and hard getting to the top was and only by listening to their guide were they able to climb at the right speed, not get lost, and survive up there.  It’s just like us needing Christ to lead us up the mountain to reach the top of the next life.

My companion... what a character.  I started off this week on not so good terms with him as usual.  It wasn't until Tuesday night when we had a General Authority come and talk that things started to turn around.  What was funny is that he seemed to have a solid topic of getting to know your Savior during his whole talk, but then he had 2 side comments right in the middle out of nowhere that seemed to be directed right at me. (And idk if he actually said this or if I was just getting real strong revelation) but he said "The biggest problem you will have on your mission that will effect how you feel the spirit in your lessons is with your companion" and "I know you think that if you just focus on your studies and the language that you will be the most prepared missionary you can be, but you can't.  God paired you up with your companion here in the MTC because he knows what will make the both of you the most effective you can be.  If you learn the lessons you are supposed to."  Then that night my Branch President came and had a little interview with me and said he was receiving inspiration that he needed to talk to me.  It worried me a little because this never happens.  But we went in there and he told me that "I was strong and steadfast, and that I was the only missionary in the district that could have been put with E. Bailey."  He just thanked me for being so strong and made me feel pretty good about myself and said there was a point in the last week where Bailey was considering going home, not necessarily because of me, but stuff was happing at home and he still was slow with the language.  Since then, I have strived harder than I ever have in my life to have "Christlike love", including praying every time I pray to have love for my companion.  Every morning and every night we say prayer together and read the Book of Mormon.  I give him a hug and tell him I love him 5 times a day, which I know sounds like I should be going to San Fran, but the last 3 days have been a miracle from God.  We have gotten so much closer, and now we laugh and have a good time and can finally feel the spirit through our lessons again.  Now we just have to work on the Spanish part.

You’ll be happy to hear that I am still way ahead of the class in the language and work hard every day to stay that way. I love you all so much especially my Mom and Dad for everything you do. Keep the letters coming.

-Love Elder Stewart

Week 4 "Shout Outs" and Pictures

Aunt Erin – Thanks for the letter you sent me, it was an awesome surprise.  30! How does it feel being married to an old man?  Ha Jk.  Bummer how he suspected something because that was an ingenious plan.  I would love to see pictures.  I love being able to go to the temple every week.  The Provo temple is so beautiful.  I can’t wait to see Sylvie when I get back.  It’s good to hear that she is crawling around a growing quick

Sister Jones – Hey!  Thanks so much for the letter!  Glad you got the hang of dearelder.  How is the family?  Wow, your friend moved back to New Mexico?  That’s interesting; did he love the climate or some other reason?  Today my companion did some temple work for one of his ancestors that I think is related to the Chief as well.  I don’t know if that makes him related to you.  Anyway, since you’re the queen of recipes, you should send me some good ones to use out here.

Grandma Stewart – Hey!  How’s it going?  I didn’t know that he was a heart surgeon or that he operated on Grandma.  That’s so cool.  I’m so glad you had fun in Newport and that the weather was nice.  I do not remember what that temple looks like, but I remember how beautiful it was.  Of course you’ll be able to see the “Book of Stewart”.  For one, it might be added to the back of D&C and if not, it has your last name too.  Thanks for the quote.  I wrote it down in my “quote journal”.  I’ll make sure I don’t miss that revelation.

Thanks again for the letters.  I really appreciate them.  They brighten my days.

Love,

Elder Stewart

MTC Highlights Week 4

Friends and Family,

Now I see why they say time goes by quickly here in the MTC.  Now that I am on my 4th week here it feels like yesterday that I just go here, but maybe it’s just because we got newbies on Wednesday and now its great not being the youngest district.  Anyway this week has had a lot of ups and downs.

 One upside is that we had temple day after I finished my laundry and email time last week.  We ate at the temple cafeteria which was the best decision I have ever made because the food there is amazing... and cheap.  Then we had an amazing session.  I also was able to finish 1st Nephi this week in my Spanish Book of Mormon which was sort of difficult but as our vocabulary improves each day it gets easier and easier.

 Then we had fast Sunday. Fast Sundays here are pretty good except for the fact that we don’t eat.  We have MTC conference instead of our normal meetings.  This is 2 hours of hearing from the presidency and youth speakers.  But the best part of fast Sunday is the dinner.  It’s always the MTC best on fast Sundays.

The biggest problems I have been having this week though is with my companion.  Starting Monday he has had this weird pain in the lower right side of his abdomen.  So as everyone went to class, I had to stay back with him and then go to the doctor’s office.  This wasn’t too bad except we spent two hours in the clinic services.  When he came out I was like “ok, cool, let’s go”.... nope.  We then had to be driven to the BYU emergency hospital and spent another 2 hours there as they did a bunch of crazy tests on him.  After he came back out, I was like “sweet!  Let’s go to class”.... nope.  They gave him this medicine that made it so he had to stay home in the dorm for the rest of the day.  We went that whole day without doing anything or speaking any Spanish.  Well.... the next morning, we got up and went and did our service project and he seemed to be doing just fine, he jumped off the top bunk of his bed and got dressed and showered and everything.  But when it was time to go to class, he said we need to go back to the doctors. So we went back and ended up sitting in the waiting room for 2 and a half hours waiting.   When he came out, I found out that no one knows what is wrong with him. So they sent us off campus again to an imaging place to get a scan of his stomach.  And guess what... more waiting.  Try 3 and a half hours more.  So after waiting, we find out that everything looks... normal.  The funny thing is that when he is in the dorm or just with the guys he acts like nothing is wrong... but when he is around the hermanas he can barely even talk and is on the verge of tears.  The doctor thinks it’s just because he is getting a lack of sleep.  So they gave him sleeping pills. And guess what, he still can’t get to sleep.  I don’t know how that is possible.  Two days without speaking Spanish has literally affected how we both speak it, but he seems to be back to ground zero.  I plan and teach every lesson by myself and I have no idea how to deal with it.  I have the teachers trying to help me and I pray every night on how to help him but nothing is working.

 I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m doing amazing.  I got a commitment to be baptized from one of our investigators this week to be baptized on the 14th of October.  You should have seen the victory dance I did... especially because we where the first ones to get a baptismal commitment.  Other than that my Spanish is still improving everyday and I’m staying ahead of the class.  For some reason I feel like I am getting behind when people are starting to catch up.  But that’s just me.

 Last Tuesday we had an amazing speaker come.  His opening statement was, "Sisters, before you marry a man make sure he is a RM, then call his mission president and ask him what kind of missionary he was. If the mission president says he was a "great missionary", dump him because you want someone who was an exceptional one.  Elders, make sure you are an exceptional one" - that’s when I knew it was going to be a good one.  My favorite part of his talk though is when he said, "If you decide you don’t want to share the gospel, it’s because you don't know Christ well enough.  If you feel like going home early, it’s because you don’t know Christ.  Unless you are thinking about Christ and trying to strive to be like him everyday all day, it’s because you don’t KNOW Christ well enough."  I made it a personal goal from then on to KNOW Christ.  In my study journal I have a section in the back of "Things that I know about Christ" and I write something there every time I read a scripture or Ensign or talk that teaches me something about Christ.  It’s amazing how my attitude has changed since.  I suggest to you that you do the same. And if you find some good ones, email me a short letter about it.  It doesn’t even have to be a letter.  Just a scripture and how it is a quality of Christ.

Keep the letters coming please!  I love to hear from you guys, especially when things are this rough with my comps.  Anyway love you guys.

- Love,

Elder Stewart