LDS General Conference
October 2013 Saturday Afternoon Session
Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela
Elder Slavens is the elder standing on the left
From when we took Chancellor to the Mexico City MTC.
Showing posts with label Mexico City CCM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexico City CCM. Show all posts
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Chancellor made it into LDS Church News
http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/63862/Bienvenidos-a-Mexico---Doors-open-for-missionaries-to-attend-the-Mexico-MTC.html
'Bienvenidos a Mexico' - Doors open for missionaries to attend the Mexico MTC
Doors open for missionaries to attend the Mexico MTC
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Elder Gilberto Aguila took a moment from his companionship study to peer across the vast, florid campus of the recently opened Mexico City Missionary Training Center.
This young missionary, just 18-years-old, viewed his surroundings with both a personal appreciation for its past — and a reverent excitement for its future.
"This was my school for three years when it was Benemerito de las Americas," he said. "I graduated just a few weeks ago, I'm part of the last graduating class."
Elder Aguila admitted to mixed feelings when he learned last January that his beloved school would be transitioned into a missionary training center. The academy, he said, was a blessing to all of Mexico for almost half a century.
"But now it looks even more beautiful. Missionaries from around the world are coming here to learn how to share the gospel," he said.
This sacred facility — built on land dedicated by an apostle to become "a great Spanish-speaking cultural center" — has now become a blessing to all the world.
On June 14, Elder Aguila and his fellow classmates participated in the final Benemerito graduation. Just two weeks later, the first class of missionaries began arriving. In that short time, this 90-acre facility, with its existing chapels, administrative offices, dormitories, classrooms, cafeteria and athletic facilities, has been transitioned from a Church-owned high school to an institution of intense language and gospel learning.
About 730 young elders and sisters are studying at the Mexico City MTC. It will eventually accommodate 300 more. Most of the missionaries here are from the United States and Canada and spend six weeks learning Spanish before departing to their respective assignments of service. Some 100 missionaries are from Mexico. They study the missionary lessons for two weeks in the MTC.
MTC President Carl Pratt, an emeritus Seventy and a proud son of Mexico, said the transition from high school to MTC "is practically complete."
Yes, there have been the expected growing pains over the past few weeks, but already this sprawling campus has, perhaps, become the ideal for a bustling yet peaceful home for missionaries preparing for full-time labor.
"I love it here," said Elder Collin Butterfield of West Jordan, Utah. "You can talk to anyone and they will tell you they are excited to be here."
His companion, Elder Chancellor Slavens of San Ramon, Calif., said language training in Mexico City "has given me the opportunity to be immersed in the culture and learn more about the Latino people."
Such an experience, he said, will serve him well as he teaches Spanish-speaking people in the Idaho Twin Falls Mission.
"You get a lot of practice here speaking with the native Mexican missionaries, and it's a lot of fun."
A lot of fun — that's a common sentiment here. Yes, the work is hard and the days are long. Missionaries traditionally enjoyed nine weeks of language study at the MTC. Now they have only six weeks before reporting to their missions.
But despite the rigor, the MTC in Mexico City is a happy place. Smiles are abundant and the missionaries do their best to greet and converse with visitors in their generally limited Spanish.
President Pratt and his wife, Sister Karen Pratt, recently met with a large group of new missionaries who had arrived a day earlier from their respective homes in the United States and Canada.
"Elderes y Hermanas, Bienvenidos a Mexico," said President Pratt. His greeting suggested that Spanish was now the language of choice for the new missionaries — even though many admitted to learning but a few words in high school.
The president then offered a brief history of the storied facility known for decades as "Benemerito."
"This school was established when there were 50,000 members in Mexico. Now there are over a million." With the recent, well-documented surge in young people answering mission calls, the Lord needed this facility for another purpose.
"And you all," he said, "are the beneficiaries of that."
Sister Pratt reminded the missionaries, "You are here at a particularly historic time." She shared a verse of scripture that has come to define the enthusiasm that has accompanied the policy change that allows young men to begin missionary service at age 18 and young women at 19: "Behold, I will hasten my work in its time" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:73).
President Pratt then chronicled the pivotal transition that has taken place on this peaceful stretch of property located inside one of the world's largest and most hectic cities. Transition also defines each young woman and young man studying at this new MTC.
"Now you're involved in the work of the Lord," they were reminded.
The MTC president saluted the missionaries for making the transition from youth to adulthood, from foolishness to wisdom, from sports clothes to missionary attire and from monolingual to bilingual.
He repeated the words of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve: "A mission is a process of obedience training."
When missionaries are obedient to the commandments and the mission rules, they put themselves in a privileged and promised position to receive the blessings of the Lord, said President Pratt.
Missionary work is not always easy, he concluded. There will be tough days marked by tears. "But at the end of your mission, if you have given of yourself in the way the Lord expected, you will weep for joy."
Missionaries here say they are being stretched in ways they did not know possible. The moment-to-moment mantra is "Hable su idioma" (Speak your language.) Even elders and sisters who are just hours removed from their arrival at the MTC are asked to communicate with one another in Spanish. Many share dorm rooms with native Mexican missionaries to offer more opportunities to practice their new skill.
"We have a lot of opportunities to get out of our comfort zone and speak the language," said Sister Kaitlyn Taylor of Saratoga Springs, Utah. "We were teaching by the third day here. You learn to rely on the Spirit."
Sister Emily Blankenship of Kaysville, Utah, said the warmth felt across the MTC helps new missionaries overcome fears and inhibitions.
"Plus the classes are small, so you get a lot of one-on-one time with the instructors," she added.
Visitors here can walk outside, face any direction and spot evidence of a missionary training center functioning at full speed. In one corner, small groups of missionaries gather under shade trees to practice teaching the missionary lessons. In another direction, missionaries find a bench to take in a few minutes of personal scripture study, softly reciting the words of, say, Nephi or Alma, in Spanish. And in the distance, the joyful cries of missionaries can be heard as they enjoy a stress-busting game of basketball, table tennis or outdoor volleyball.
Indeed, one immediately recognizes here the fulfillment of apostolic prophecy. On Nov. 4, 1963, Elder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Benemerito school. His recorded words seemed to transcend the events of that day: "This school for which we are breaking ground today is destined to become a great Spanish-speaking cultural center. Its influence will reach far beyond the valley of Mexico. … It will be felt in all of Latin America, including South America. Hundreds of thousands of people will come here. … This school will prepare men for a better future here on the earth and for eternal life in the world to come."
Astrid Aguilera recently said farewell to a missionary friend, Sister Tania Hernandez.
Like Elder Aguila, Astrid is a recent graduate of Benemerito. She too experienced a mixture of emotions when she learned her school would become an MTC. She loved Benemerito. It provided her an education and helped build her testimony.
But Astrid also recognizes the eternal weight behind Elder Romney's words, spoken a half-century ago.
"This place, this MTC, will help the Church grow," she said, adding she wants to go on a mission when she is 19 and hopes to "return here and do my part."
jswensen@desnews.com
Elder Gilberto Aguila took a moment from his companionship study to peer across the vast, florid campus of the recently opened Mexico City Missionary Training Center.
This young missionary, just 18-years-old, viewed his surroundings with both a personal appreciation for its past — and a reverent excitement for its future.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Mahonri Alvarez Tovar assists Elder Jeff Newbold of South Jordan, Utah, at the computer lab at the Mexico City MTC.
"This was my school for three years when it was Benemerito de las Americas," he said. "I graduated just a few weeks ago, I'm part of the last graduating class."
Elder Aguila admitted to mixed feelings when he learned last January that his beloved school would be transitioned into a missionary training center. The academy, he said, was a blessing to all of Mexico for almost half a century.
"But now it looks even more beautiful. Missionaries from around the world are coming here to learn how to share the gospel," he said.
This sacred facility — built on land dedicated by an apostle to become "a great Spanish-speaking cultural center" — has now become a blessing to all the world.
On June 14, Elder Aguila and his fellow classmates participated in the final Benemerito graduation. Just two weeks later, the first class of missionaries began arriving. In that short time, this 90-acre facility, with its existing chapels, administrative offices, dormitories, classrooms, cafeteria and athletic facilities, has been transitioned from a Church-owned high school to an institution of intense language and gospel learning.
About 730 young elders and sisters are studying at the Mexico City MTC. It will eventually accommodate 300 more. Most of the missionaries here are from the United States and Canada and spend six weeks learning Spanish before departing to their respective assignments of service. Some 100 missionaries are from Mexico. They study the missionary lessons for two weeks in the MTC.
MTC President Carl Pratt, an emeritus Seventy and a proud son of Mexico, said the transition from high school to MTC "is practically complete."
Yes, there have been the expected growing pains over the past few weeks, but already this sprawling campus has, perhaps, become the ideal for a bustling yet peaceful home for missionaries preparing for full-time labor.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Elder Ryan Perry of Sterling Heights, Mich., heft a stack of study materials after checking in at the Mexico City MTC.
His companion, Elder Chancellor Slavens of San Ramon, Calif., said language training in Mexico City "has given me the opportunity to be immersed in the culture and learn more about the Latino people."
Photo by Jason Swensen
Sister Tania Hernandez, left, and Sister Eva Lima stand outside the entrance of the Mexico City MTC. The "B" placed prominently on the mountainside remains a nod to the campus' rich Benemerito history.
"You get a lot of practice here speaking with the native Mexican missionaries, and it's a lot of fun."
A lot of fun — that's a common sentiment here. Yes, the work is hard and the days are long. Missionaries traditionally enjoyed nine weeks of language study at the MTC. Now they have only six weeks before reporting to their missions.
But despite the rigor, the MTC in Mexico City is a happy place. Smiles are abundant and the missionaries do their best to greet and converse with visitors in their generally limited Spanish.
President Pratt and his wife, Sister Karen Pratt, recently met with a large group of new missionaries who had arrived a day earlier from their respective homes in the United States and Canada.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Missionaries study the 3-dimensional map of the Mexico City MTC.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Mexico City MTC President Carl Pratt offers counsel to a group of missionaries who just arrived at the MTC.
The president then offered a brief history of the storied facility known for decades as "Benemerito."
"This school was established when there were 50,000 members in Mexico. Now there are over a million." With the recent, well-documented surge in young people answering mission calls, the Lord needed this facility for another purpose.
"And you all," he said, "are the beneficiaries of that."
Photo by Jason Swensen
Relatives shoot photos and bid farewell to Elder Gilberto Aguila at the entrance of the Mexico City MTC.
President Pratt then chronicled the pivotal transition that has taken place on this peaceful stretch of property located inside one of the world's largest and most hectic cities. Transition also defines each young woman and young man studying at this new MTC.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Elder Dalton Gee of Nephi, Utah, left, and his companion, Elder Ty Dale of Mesa, Ariz., practice teaching a discussion in Spanish to their instructor, Ryan Draper.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Missionaries enjoy the temperate weather at the Mexico City MTC to practice their Spanish and practice training techniques.
The MTC president saluted the missionaries for making the transition from youth to adulthood, from foolishness to wisdom, from sports clothes to missionary attire and from monolingual to bilingual.
He repeated the words of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve: "A mission is a process of obedience training."
When missionaries are obedient to the commandments and the mission rules, they put themselves in a privileged and promised position to receive the blessings of the Lord, said President Pratt.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Elders enjoy a spirited game of basketball at the Mexico City MTC gymnasium.Elders enjoy a spirited game of basketball at the Mexico City MTC gymnasium.
Missionary work is not always easy, he concluded. There will be tough days marked by tears. "But at the end of your mission, if you have given of yourself in the way the Lord expected, you will weep for joy."
Missionaries here say they are being stretched in ways they did not know possible. The moment-to-moment mantra is "Hable su idioma" (Speak your language.) Even elders and sisters who are just hours removed from their arrival at the MTC are asked to communicate with one another in Spanish. Many share dorm rooms with native Mexican missionaries to offer more opportunities to practice their new skill.
"We have a lot of opportunities to get out of our comfort zone and speak the language," said Sister Kaitlyn Taylor of Saratoga Springs, Utah. "We were teaching by the third day here. You learn to rely on the Spirit."
Sister Emily Blankenship of Kaysville, Utah, said the warmth felt across the MTC helps new missionaries overcome fears and inhibitions.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Missionaries stay fit playing outdoor volleyball at the Mexico City MTC.
Visitors here can walk outside, face any direction and spot evidence of a missionary training center functioning at full speed. In one corner, small groups of missionaries gather under shade trees to practice teaching the missionary lessons. In another direction, missionaries find a bench to take in a few minutes of personal scripture study, softly reciting the words of, say, Nephi or Alma, in Spanish. And in the distance, the joyful cries of missionaries can be heard as they enjoy a stress-busting game of basketball, table tennis or outdoor volleyball.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Newly arrived missionaries check in at the Mexico City Missionary Training Center.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Elder Dannen Sparks of Thatcher, Ariz., left, serves the ping-pong ball to his companion, Elder Spencer Evans of Sandy, Utah, at the Mexico City MTC gymnasium.
Indeed, one immediately recognizes here the fulfillment of apostolic prophecy. On Nov. 4, 1963, Elder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Benemerito school. His recorded words seemed to transcend the events of that day: "This school for which we are breaking ground today is destined to become a great Spanish-speaking cultural center. Its influence will reach far beyond the valley of Mexico. … It will be felt in all of Latin America, including South America. Hundreds of thousands of people will come here. … This school will prepare men for a better future here on the earth and for eternal life in the world to come."
Astrid Aguilera recently said farewell to a missionary friend, Sister Tania Hernandez.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Brother Jose Zamora works the cash register at the store located inside the Mexico City MTC.
Like Elder Aguila, Astrid is a recent graduate of Benemerito. She too experienced a mixture of emotions when she learned her school would become an MTC. She loved Benemerito. It provided her an education and helped build her testimony.
But Astrid also recognizes the eternal weight behind Elder Romney's words, spoken a half-century ago.
"This place, this MTC, will help the Church grow," she said, adding she wants to go on a mission when she is 19 and hopes to "return here and do my part."
jswensen@desnews.com
Photo by Jason Swensen
Missionaries gather as districts for classroom study at the Mexico City Missionary Training Center.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Elder Brandon Barbosa of Puelba, Mexico, and his companion, Elder Jesus Ortega of Tampico, Mexico, are among the 100 Mexican nationals studying at the Mexico City MTC.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Elder Nate Crook of South Jordan, far right, and his companion, Elder Brady Daines of Highland, Utah, participate in a role playing teaching exercise with Brother Kozvy Osorio.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Missionaries gather as districts for classroom study at the Mexico City Missionary Training Center.
Photo by Jason Swensen
Sister Chalese Johnson of Ogden, Utah, and her companion, Sister Rebecca Newman of Elk Ridge, Utah, walk back to their dorm room at the Mexico City MTC.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Week 5 Baby, this is it!
ONE WEEK LEFT, YOU GUYS!!
This is so very weird. My time in the CCM is coming to an end in under one week! I'm gonna go teach real people! In the distant land of Idaho! I have no idea what to expect, but I'm getting more and more excited by the day! Things are going well here, but I'm feeling so ready to get out there and do some work! This week my district made a goal to speak in ONLY Spanish until we leave! I actually failed miserably; I'm way too much of a talker to speak as slowly as I need to in Spanish. But I'll get it down eventually!
Today we got the chance to go to the temple!! It was so awesome to see something different for once; I have a pretty hard time with sitting in the same place for 6 weeks straight. But we took a bus out of the iron gates and drove out into the chaotic streets of Mexico City! Quite different from the CCM that I've been chilling in for the past few weeks. It was so great to see all the crazy stackable buildings painted crazy colors - and the TEMPLE! Gosh, what a gorgeous place! There's just such peace the moment you walk onto the grouds that can't be felt anywhere else in the world. And going through the temple in Spanish is something else! We went through the second week I was here and I've noticed that my comprehension of the language has shot up like times a billion. It's awesome seeing the gift of tongues playing a role in each missionarie's life, 'cause I know for a fact I wouldn't be figuring out Spanish without it.
Unfortunately, other than that, nothing has really happened this week! At least nothing really "to write home about", if you'll pardon the expression. Lots and lots of class, lots of Spanish, lots of Spirit, and lots of fun! I'm so excited to get out there and serve the Lord. This is His goespel, and I won't let Him down. I guess I'll end by throwing out some lyrics that have been on my mind recently, by Forgive Durden:
I know I am more than some eager blood.
Not some average bones; I belive in love.
I just wanna prove I deserve this gift.
I can change this world - Baby, this is it!
I love you all and I hope you're having wonderful lives! I'm praying for my friends and family pretty much constantly, so I hope you can feel that little help in your lives! Have an awesome week!!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Slavens
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Week 4 Living la Vida Loca
Bonjour! Or Kohnichiwa! Or something like that.
How is everybody this fine, fine Tuesday?? I'm feeling absolutely swell! I'm feeling more in tune with the spirit and more close to my brother and father in Heaven every single day! This has been a great week. Lots of great experiences and lots of fun! As is typical in the CCM!
So our Latinos companions left this Monday morning, which was a major bummer! Every two weeks a new wave of Latino elderes y hermanas crashes into the CCM and makes a giant fiesta out of the place. I'm telling you, these are some of the loudest people I have ever met! The four Latino Elders who were staying in our room were super crazy. We'd be eating a nice, peaceful lunch or something, and these four Latino guys would run up and suddenly just start yelliong at us in Spanish and dancing and running around and I just don't even know! But it's so fun having this complete change of culture and having to live with these guys! I've learned so much more Spanish from them than I ever could have anywhere else!
The night these guys left was way way cool. There were like 15 Latino elders running around the dorms, making a rucus of the place, as usual, and we decided to go chill with them for a bit. We just sang a bunch of hymns in Spanish and shared memories and experiences and it was really cool having all these people from different backgrounds come together like that! And then the Latinos all ran away saying something about having a surprise for us! So we sat there for 15 minutes like "What?" and they came back with a bunch of jerseys in their hands! These jerseys were from the school that the CCM used to be before it became a CCM, and apparently all these guys went to this school before they came on their missions! They all just graduated like a month or two ago!! I think that's super crazy. So they gave us these jerseys and they're way comfy and I just love those guys. I'm gonna miss them lots.
The food has remained pretty much the same throughout my experience here at the CCM. It's just a bunch of bread for breakfast, some kind of funny meat thing for lunch, and like a sandwich or something for dinner. You know how people tend to put on some weight at the MTC in Provo? Well check this: I've lost 10 POUNDS since being here!! It's absolutely crazy! So I'm hoping I can stick with that loss and do something positive with it. I'm hoping not to just put it all back on when I get back into the states.
Whelp, that's about it for this week! It's been great and I hope you're all having a wonderful time! I'll talk to you in a week! Until then!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Slavens
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Week 3 The days are weeks, and the weeks are days.
¡Batos mios! ¿Como están?
Week three down and out here at the CCM! Holy cow, I'm halfway done here! You know, it's just like they say: here at the MTC, the days are weeks and the weeks are days. I can certainly testify to the truthfulness of that statement. Over 10 hours of class every day feels very, very long. But then a week goes by, then two, and you're just all like "What in the world is going on here?!" This last week has been really great. In fact, just a couple days ago I got myself all worked up and excited because I just realized - I can totally speak Spanish!! I mean, I'm far from fluent, but I totally am able to get my point across and understand others pretty well. The Latino Elders in my dorm are super cool guys. One of them, Elder Salazar, speaks so dang fast, though, that I just wanna die when he talks. But I heard the other day that even the other Latinos on campus don't understand him, so that calms my troubled heart a bit. He kept me and Elder Butterfield up until like midnight the other night describing to us all the different forms and variations of gangsters that like to chill in Mexico. Sounds like a pretty rough living, but to each their own... right? I think I'd rather be a missionary.
Anyway, funny story! Elder Packard, one of the dudes in my district, has this super lucky coin, right? It's some kind of two-pence piece that he's had for like years. If he ever drops it and it lands heads-down, he refuses to touch it until someone else picks it up for him, hence the crazy amount of luck this thing apparently posesses. Well like two days ago, Elder Packard decides to start licking it and stuff because he's super bored in class. And by some crazy stroke of luck (or lack thereof; maybe the coin ain't so lucky after all), he drops it in his mouth and swallows the thing whole!! It got stuck in his throat and he said it hurt somethig aweful. So he ran to the doctor and was told that he needs to eat something quick so that it'll drop into his stomach. So he had some lunch, and for the past couple days, we've all been waiting in constipation. I mean anticipation. He's determined to get it back. I'll keep you updated.
So on Saturday I got to give my first blessing in Spanish! We were doing an activity with another district of Latino Elders and Hermanas, and the guy I was paired up with wasn't really sitting well with the whole thing. Just seemed a little down. So my teacher came over and started wispering with him, and then abruptly turned to me and asked if I would give the kid a blessing! In Spanish, no less! So I was all stressed out 'cause I've only ever given like 4 blessings in my life, and certainly never in Spanish! I asked the poor kid what was wrong and he said the spirit was just gone. He didn't know what to do anymore. So we went into a room where a few of us could do it, and everything just flowed right out of me. I really have no idea what I said, but it's okay, because when I took my hands off of his head, he was just beaming. I've never had an experience like that before, and it was so cool to see the change the spirit can make in the lives of others, not to mention in the lives of missionaries!
Did I mention I'm a zone leader? No, I don't think I did. Yup, Elder Butterfield and I were called as zone leaders like two weeks ago, and it's going really well! It's really cool being able to get to know everyone in the zone and to be able to help them in any way that I can. I really like having that opportunity; it's a huge blessing!
Well I hope that you all have an absolutely fantastic week! Have a little mini prayer for Elder Packard in your heart, he's gonna need it!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Slavens
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Week 2 Gotta dunk 'em all!
¡Hola, mis amigos y mi familia!
As week 2 comes to a close I wanna share with you guys a song that I wrote that conveys my feelings as a missionary. I'm pretty darn proud of it. It's called "Baptism", and it goes along to the tune of the Pokémon Theme Song. Look up a karaeoke version of that songs and sing this as loud as you can, and I guarentee you'll be pumped out of your mind.
I wanna preach the Savior's word
To Gentiles all around.
Across the waters will be heard:
My message so profound.
I will rise, and serve the Lord;
My armor girding me.
The Book of Mormon as my sword,
A MISSIONARY.
(Baptism! Gotta Dunk 'em all!)
My companions and me.
The church is true, you'll see!
(Baptism!)
Ohhhhhh,
We'll save them all,
And fulfill our sacred call!
(Baptism! Gotta dunk 'em all!)
Lord of Hosts!
The gift of the Holy Ghost!
Of my God, I'll gladly boast!
BAPTISM!
(Gotta dunk 'em all!)
GOTTA DUNK 'EM ALL!!
Yeah.
Proscelyting from door to door
The path narrow and straight.
People wonder what's in store,
So they investigate.
Follow me, and join the Son
Who rules in righteous reign.
Into battle, everyone!
We'll use the devil's bane:
BAPTISM! Gotta dunk 'em all!
[Finish chorus]
[Sweet guitar solo]
[Chorus again, with vigor]
BAPTISM!!
So yeah. That popped into my head and I got so excited I almost feinted! It's an interesting thing, because obviously it's totally goofy, but at the same time, it's like a manifestation of my testimony! This is how I feel as a missionary, and I want the world to know it!
Things are going really great here at the CCM; I'm learning so much it's crazy! We're in the class for like 10 hours every day, so each day I've got so much crammed into my brain that it's hard to even comprehend. I really hope I'm retaining most of it! I believe that I am though; the gift of tongues is a real thing, you know. No way I'd be learning as much as I am as fast as I am without the spirit to guide me! We got a new "investigator" this week, named Isaí, who's pretty cool! He actually agreed to be baptized in the first visit, which either means Elder Butterfield and I have some crazy superpowers or something, or they're going easy on us. I'm inclined to believe the latter. But still, we got pretty pumped when he said yes!
It rains here at like exactly 5:00 every single day. I've begun just clipping my umbrella to my belt so that I can be ready for the inevitable downpour that occurs every day. Some missionaries have simply stopped wearing their watches and started gauging the time by the rainfall! That's actually a joke, I'm pretty sure that doesn't ever happen. But I wouldn't be surprised if it did!! We're all starting to lose our minds a little in the abscence of music. The Elders and I sing pretty much everywhere we go, which is pretty fun. And during gym time I just resort to dribbling a basketball at a steady beat and singing along with it. Closest I can get to playing drums! But despite the quiet, it's so awesome being around a bunch of solid, righteous dudes who all work to bring one another up!
I hope you all have an awesome week! I know I will! Talk to you in una semana (one week)!!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Slavens
As week 2 comes to a close I wanna share with you guys a song that I wrote that conveys my feelings as a missionary. I'm pretty darn proud of it. It's called "Baptism", and it goes along to the tune of the Pokémon Theme Song. Look up a karaeoke version of that songs and sing this as loud as you can, and I guarentee you'll be pumped out of your mind.
I wanna preach the Savior's word
To Gentiles all around.
Across the waters will be heard:
My message so profound.
I will rise, and serve the Lord;
My armor girding me.
The Book of Mormon as my sword,
A MISSIONARY.
(Baptism! Gotta Dunk 'em all!)
My companions and me.
The church is true, you'll see!
(Baptism!)
Ohhhhhh,
We'll save them all,
And fulfill our sacred call!
(Baptism! Gotta dunk 'em all!)
Lord of Hosts!
The gift of the Holy Ghost!
Of my God, I'll gladly boast!
BAPTISM!
(Gotta dunk 'em all!)
GOTTA DUNK 'EM ALL!!
Yeah.
Proscelyting from door to door
The path narrow and straight.
People wonder what's in store,
So they investigate.
Follow me, and join the Son
Who rules in righteous reign.
Into battle, everyone!
We'll use the devil's bane:
BAPTISM! Gotta dunk 'em all!
[Finish chorus]
[Sweet guitar solo]
[Chorus again, with vigor]
BAPTISM!!
So yeah. That popped into my head and I got so excited I almost feinted! It's an interesting thing, because obviously it's totally goofy, but at the same time, it's like a manifestation of my testimony! This is how I feel as a missionary, and I want the world to know it!
Things are going really great here at the CCM; I'm learning so much it's crazy! We're in the class for like 10 hours every day, so each day I've got so much crammed into my brain that it's hard to even comprehend. I really hope I'm retaining most of it! I believe that I am though; the gift of tongues is a real thing, you know. No way I'd be learning as much as I am as fast as I am without the spirit to guide me! We got a new "investigator" this week, named Isaí, who's pretty cool! He actually agreed to be baptized in the first visit, which either means Elder Butterfield and I have some crazy superpowers or something, or they're going easy on us. I'm inclined to believe the latter. But still, we got pretty pumped when he said yes!
It rains here at like exactly 5:00 every single day. I've begun just clipping my umbrella to my belt so that I can be ready for the inevitable downpour that occurs every day. Some missionaries have simply stopped wearing their watches and started gauging the time by the rainfall! That's actually a joke, I'm pretty sure that doesn't ever happen. But I wouldn't be surprised if it did!! We're all starting to lose our minds a little in the abscence of music. The Elders and I sing pretty much everywhere we go, which is pretty fun. And during gym time I just resort to dribbling a basketball at a steady beat and singing along with it. Closest I can get to playing drums! But despite the quiet, it's so awesome being around a bunch of solid, righteous dudes who all work to bring one another up!
I hope you all have an awesome week! I know I will! Talk to you in una semana (one week)!!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Slavens
Bus ride to the temple
Mexico City LDS Temple
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Week 1 ONE WEEK DOWN
Well howdy, mis amigos!
Week one done at the CCM, and boy are things going well! Life here in Mexico is a bajillion times better than I ever expected! I`ve felt the spirit stronger than I ever thought possible, and I surprise myself with my abilities in Spanish every dang day!
Day one was a bit of a stresser, 'cause there was a lot of running around to do considering I was almost a day late. But I got on my feet quick enough! Basically, I had to go through all of these steps to get all situated in the CCM on the first day. But because all the American kids were supposed to have shown up already, they didn't speak a lick of English to me! I was thrown right into the fire, I guess you could say.
The CCM is kinda split in two in a way; it's the white kids and the Latinos. Hopefully that didn't sound too bad. It's not that we don't like the Latino missionaries or anything, there's just this giant invisible force field called language that stops us from being able to fully communicate with them. But it's way cool at the same time because over the past week all of the American kids have seen their Spanish skills increase tons and tons, and it's allowed us to start breaking down that wall piece by piece. There are a couple of Latino Elders in my apartment, two of the coolest guys I've met here, and it's getting easier and easier to talk with them as I learn more and more!
My companion is Elder Butterfield, a way cool guy with a super strong spirit. He's into sports and country, basically the opposite of what I'm into, but opposites attract, right? I feel we mesh pretty well, and when we plan our lessons and whatnot I feel like things flow in the right direction! The rest of my district is way cool and we're all getting along super well. Not a complaint out of this guy!
Except for, maybe, the food. It's... un poquito scary, you guys. I feel okay myself, but I've heard some pretty terrifying stories over the past week that have shaken me to the core. On top of that, Elder Butterfield is lactose intolerant. Almost everything we eat here is lactose-based, so that's a lotta fun. I won't go on.
Our "mock investigator" is named Juan, and we've been teaching him about a buncha different stuff about the gospel, including the plan of salvation and the restoration. It's definitely freaky speaking in Spanish 100% of the time during those meetings, but when we have the spirit with us, things flow so well I honestly don't have a single worry! We've found that as long as we remain completely obedient (including the stuff that may seem trivial, like getting to bed on time and stuff like that), that the spirit is way stronger during our discussions with Juan, and Elder Butterfield and I feel like rock stars once we leave the room.
Being in the CCM rather than the MTC has been a huge blessing for me. It's awesome being able to chat with the Latinos and practice my Spanish even when I'm not really doing anything. Also, my past knowledge of Spanish that I learned from school has helped me way more than I thought! I can now say that I no longer regret taking those classes!
Things are going really really well here, and I'm so excited to be serving the Lord on His mission. I hope everybody has an amazing week, and I'll catch ya next Tuesday!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Slavens
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Trenton's song about Chancellor
On the flight home Trenton listened to this song and rewrote the words to make a song for Chancellor.
Gentleman - Said the Whale remake
Gentleman - Said the Whale remake
-----------------------------------
You are a cool and awesome man
With many jobs to do like teach of God
Most of all be my favorite brother
I like you more than Dallin
So I'll write you the longest song describing the feeling that I have for you
I'll cross my fingers that you will come back and you will love me because you know
that I really love you.
that I really love you.
You are the best bro ever
I am inspired by all your awesome skills
Mostly your skill of awesomeness
You do awesome things
You are just the best bro ever
The bro that is my leader and example
I glad I have a bro like you to let me follow and learn for my whole life
You are a nice brother
A young great missionary
A smart and clever man
Learning from you forever
You are a cool and awesome man
A great older brother
A strong and tough man
Never going to forget you
A very good mission man
A great and clever man
A nice and gentle man
Chance Chance Chancellor
I love you Chancellor. You are the best brother ever. I couldn't have asked for a better brother. You rock. I hope you do awesome on your mission and teach many people.
Love,
Trenton
Love,
Trenton
This is Chancellor's cover of the original song
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