Thursday, January 27, 2011

Week 4

Elder Massey's letter this week... Plus I got a memory card in the mail!  So I'll share some pictures and a couple videos!!  Check out the post just below this weeks letter for all of those!
Ya!!! P-day! Seriously every time Tuesday rolls around I am more than ready for it!
I must admitted this week has been pretty tough. I have been struggling with the language and it is so frustrating! I think I have something, then I have to talk to my teacher in the language and it all goes right out the window!  I'll just sit there and stare because I have no idea what they are saying. Ok maybe an idea but not a good enough one to reply.  We were practicing how to teach people how to pray and we totally messed up.
On a happier note we had another very successful fireside on Sunday night. Stephen Allen who is the managing director of missionary operations spoke to us. it was basically the pep talk we all needed. We had a smaller one from our branch president before hand in Sunday school but this one was better. He would ask us questions like who is struggling, who has thought about going home, who things there language is impossible, ECT. He would ask us to respond by standing up. In case you were wondering I was sitting and standing a lot in that meeting. This talk was a direct answer to my prayers. The night before I had knelt down an poured out my heart in prayer. As I began to cry all my thoughts, feelings, and struggles were given to the Lord. It was probably the most sincere prayer I have ever said. Soon after my prayer I felt so peaceful. I realized that the Lord called me to this mission by inspiration.  Bro. Allen explained to us the amazing process of issuing a mission call.  I also realized more than ever that I couldn't do this alone and that because my call was inspired and revealed to an apostle that the Lord would help me if I would ask. I'm so scared to teach the first discussion in Croatian next week but I'll do my very best and the Lord will help me. That doesn't mean I'll be fluent just that the Lord will help me. Even if that is just helping me have a positive attitude I'll be happy!
This Thursday we have a visitor coming into class and the operations manager at the MTC said, and a quote "this guy is a big deal" I had to refrain from saying ya so is my little brother just ask him! But he is the ambassador to Bosnia! Everyone is all hyped up. He is coming to see how we do things and how we are taught. They say that a large portion of the decision as to if they open Bosnia to the missionaries depends on this visit. So I  have been busy trying to decide on my most conservative tie, they gave specific instructions to wear the most boring tie we have. I got a haircut today and I need to shine my shoes. so ya he is kinda a big deal.
On Wednesday I got to be a host for the new missionaries. It was a pretty cool experience. I saw families crying at it was hard for me not to cry. But we just show them around and make them feel warm and fuzzy about being here in lovely spirit prison :)
Well I think that is about all my lovely family

I got a package!!

Elder Massey sent me his memory card this week so I could download the pictures, erase the card and send it back!  Here are some pictures off of it... Plus a couple Videos! Ü
This is what his New Year's Eve looked like at the MTC!  He says he was in bed by 10:30!

 Elder Massey with his Companion Elder West.  This is their first Temple Trip


Here's his comment to go along with this picture... (we like the U of U, incase you didn't know!)
"When you buy things at the bookstore at the MTC, this is the bag you get... this is NOT OK!"

 Here is their "loot" they got out of the free bin while doing service!  See week 2's letter!


This is one of my personal favorites of the ones he sent home!!  That's our family picture with Phineas!  Elder Massey and our 4 year old watched that show together, so we sent Phineas with him to keep him company!

This is the view out of the class room



Typical...

I asked for this picture... so obedient!

I also asked for this one Ü

I love this one!! Makes the photographer inside me so proud!! 

Elder Massey's comment to this one:
"Looks like prison, huh?!"
Which is funny since he also mentioned that in this weeks letter! Ü

Here's a couple videos he sent too!

  
My son has asked to watch this video like 500 times!  So I thought I'd share!
I love how he counts down in Croatian...



Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Week 3

Well it's Tuesday which means P-Day! Like always temple this morning which was amazing as always! After the session all the people in the class went to breakfast at the temple it was awesome! If was nice to have something other than the food from the cafeteria.  We have all really grown as a class and that helps a lot with the spirit.
This week absolutely flew by. When I thought about the fact that today was going to be Tuesday I was so happy! You have to study so much all week long and come Tuesday I am so ready for a break!
     So you asked if we had heard from an Apostle yet and I got that Dear Elder on Tuesday night after I got back to my room from a devotional by Elder Holland! It was absolutely amazing! He speaks so well and with such a great spirit that I couldn't help but cry with joy that I knew that what he was testifying of was true! I loved it and it was a very uplifting experience! When he speaks he always talks about his mission and tells us all how important it was to him and that we all need to do our best and I always walk out wanting to do better.
     This last Sunday night our devotional was from the new MTC presidency. They are all really cool. The poor MTC president's wife couldn't take her eyes off the TelePrompTer she was so nervous. After that they always have movies you can watch and this week we chose to watch the Joseph Smith movie. I'd seen it before but this time it just hit me so hard! I cried almost the entire time (yes mom just like you probably would). I have come to appreciate Joseph Smith and all the early saints for not giving up so that I can now enjoy the fullness of the gospel!!
     The language is kickin my butt. The TRC where we have to talk to people in the language for like 15 mins about the gospel...ya what a joke I started laughing because the investigator ( our teacher) was trying to tell us something and we had no idea what he was saying. So he just whispers in English "oh whatever just pray". It was hilarious!!
But we are getting better!
Volimete= I Love You all

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Week 2

Dobar Dan!! (Good Day)
I love getting all the mail and it is so fun to be able to tell you about everything that is going on.  sorry if i don't get detailed it's so stressful with this time restraint lol so everyone just do dear elder cause then i can read them during the week and reply this week.

wow so everyone was right make it to Sunday and the time will start to fly by.  it's already p-day again and i have learned so much.  the days are slow but the weeks are fast i know that sound dumb.

so we do this thing called TRC and it's where we go and teach people and they pretend to be investigators it is way cool.  It has helped me so much and i love to see the improvements i make.  you get to know that person and love them and really want them to come unto Christ.  it is such a cool thing.  I also know how to introduce myself, bear my testimony, pray, and make an appointment to return, all in Croatian.  Most of it is just memorized so it doesn't quite mean i can speak but hey i'll take what i can get.
Every Tuesday is Pday and we start out by going to the Temple.  Today Elder West and I did a session again and it was so cool.  We got some names from a lady in Croatia so we are going to start doing those.  It is way fun and great for the district for us to go together.

Every Thursday we do service which means we just go to another building and clean.  I thought it was going to be so boring but it actually turned out to be way fun! Elder West and I volunteered to do the trash and well next to the trash is the "free" bin where people that are moving out put all the stuff they don't have room for and what not.  So the fact that it is next to the trash can may tell you a little bit about what we find in there but this time is was awesome.  It took us like two hours to do our assignment because we got so distracted by the free stuff.  we scored lots of candy, and a whoopie cushion!!! and some notebooks.  it was awesome.

So the other day we had a fireside which we have every Sunday and Tuesday.  Elder west and I had stayed up way late talking so we were both really tired.  So during the meeting he fell asleep and ended up on my shoulder... aaaawwww precious i know.  not so much.  all these elders were looking at me like i was crazy and they aren't far off but he is my companion and he was tired so i just let him sleep.  but then later in the week we had an interview with a member of the branch pres and he took a look at my study journal, just where we take notes and stuff, and he commented on the fact that i didn't have much written about an amazing speaker.  I then had to explain that i couldn't write because my companion was asleep on me.  we all had a good laugh.

idk what else exciting happened... everyday is very long and sssoooo much classroom time.  the spirit is so strong here and i about cry every time we have a meeting or something just cause I'm a baby like that.  but i can't help it the spirit just touches me so much everyday.

Im doing well and i love you all thank you for all the mail.

I love you all!!

Love, Elder Massey

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

First Email from the MTC!

 Here are bits and pieces of the letters he emailed to both his Mom and family as well as my family:

Some of the letter he sent to us:
Bri Jess and Fam

So a little about the language... basically blows my mind.  My new name is Starjesina Massey.  It is something that will definitely take a while to get a hold of.  Probably most likely a whole lot more than 9 weeks.  My leave date from here is Feb 28.

Food better than Mama Leavitt's where?? Is that possible?? It's ok and lots of choices always.  And guess what... ALL THE RUTT BEER I WANT!!
 So ya I'm adjusting alright and trying to get used to not being able to do what I want whenever.

Oh and new years... i drempt of home at 10 30 lol

I love you all sorry I don't have more to say I'm on a time restraint that seriously stresses me out.
Love, Elder Massey

dobvejenia  Means good bye.

Some of the letter sent to his Mom:

Hi Mom and Fam,

Bok=Hi in Croatian

Well I made it to Sunday and Everyone said it will go so fast after this so I'm waiting for that whole pick up the speed part...
So I know I don't usually use all that spiritual language and stuff however... the MTC has already changed me.  The spirit here is always close by and it is so strong!  You know exactly when it leaves and it makes me sad.    Me and my comp have our own room because Heavenly Father knows I need my personal space.  We went and did a session in the Provo Temple today and it was really good.  I love my comp Elder West.  The food is alright but I can't help but compare it to yours and it is not even close to as good as yours.  Biscuits and Gravy this morning... not ok with me.  But on the good side they have Root Beer in the cafeteria!  So as you may have guessed today is my P-day, every Tuesday so I will email then.  The Language let's say "my language" is so much easier.   And something way cool we sang "Armies of Helamen" and I almost started crying because I remembered how we love to sing that.  That almost cry thing happens like everyday.  I see the missionaries from home and that helps a lot.  I talk to Elder Payne like everyday.  One thing that kinda sucks is that we are on the top floor in our room building and our classroom.  God thinks I’m fat or something... I leave the 28th of Feb.   I love you all so much and I'm so thankful for all of you.

Love, Elder Massey

This is a picture that Verlin got on Saturday from Elder Goulding, he's from Hurricane and is serving up at the MTC right now.  He wrote in his email:
"Sister Verlin
Just letting you know that your young man is alive and doing well.
Elder Goulding
"

Photobucket

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Elder Massey's Farewell

Elder Massey's Farewell was on December 26th, I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought it was the best farewell they had ever been too!  It was VERY Eric! Ü
Here are some of the pictures that were taken at the luncheon after wards.
 Everyone enjoyed some yummy soup and each others company...

Sister Stanworth thought the soup tasted SO good, she wanted to wear it home! Ü




















Eric was set apart as a Missionary on Tuesday (Dec 28th) at 6:00 pm.  It was a wonderful meeting, he received a beautiful blessing from our Stake President.
The next morning Elder Massey bored his plane at 9:10am and headed off to the MTC (Missionary Training Center)
Thanks to everyone that came and supported Eric!  He's going to be a GREAT missionary and I know he'll touch the people of Croatia in a special way!
Go get 'em Elder Massey!

Welcome to Elder Massey's Blog!

 My name is Jessica Mandile, for those that don't know me.  Our family is very close to Elder Massey, my husband was one of his Priest Quorum leaders and we grew to love him like he was one of our own.  We like to say, he's our "adopted son"! Ü  Elder Massey has asked me to keep a blog for him with all his letters and pictures from his mission to Slovenia/ Croatia.  I'm excited to be able to keep everyone informed on Elder Massey's journey!  Here's to the beginning of the next TWO years!
 Our family with Elder Massey Ü