Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Photo of Brent's companion. He is the one on the left, Starshi Nestman.

Week 3 at the MTC (Onward and Upward)

Greetings Everyone!

This week marks roughly my halfway point of being in the MTC. Not that anyone else is counting, but I certainly am. There are great things to be done here at the MTC, but I'm so ready to hit the field and dig into the real work.

This week has been great, much like last week. I've been rather sick with a combination cold/flu/something that's kept me awake at night and put me through two boxes of tissues and some cold meds. But, despite the opposing circumstances, all of which have been very significant since it's hard to study without sleeping because you can't really breathe very well, I want you all to know that by being committed to the service you are engaged in, you will be blessed. I know I have - I haven't stopped working and studying, and the blessings I have reaped have been incredible. When it says in the scriptures that magnifying priesthood callings will bring the renewing of the body, it's not kidding. Otherwise this week wouldn't have been worth writing about to anybody. So, let's begin.

I'll start off with the man I've talked to in the RC on the phone about the gospel. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to speak with him since, but I did get to leave a message with him and will be calling him back on wednesday. I leave my testimony with him every time I call, and I know that he will be blessed if he'll exercise his fath. I know that because I've had that same experience. It's incredible how our personal experiences can remind us of things we see in others.

Now for the fun parts. First off, over the last few days I've had little to no resistance in speaking jen Cesky. Nada. As necessary, I can break out sentences to describe things both about the gospel and about what's going on. There are many things to learn yet, but each grammar principle we cover opens up new doors of communication. As far as the grammar cases go, I don't have them memorized yet, but from hearing, practicing, and reading the charts, and with promptings from the Spirit, when I trust myself in what I'm saying I come out alright. There are many areas to improve in still, but I'm confident that next week when we sit down to teach about the Restoration in Czech it will be without too much difficulty. I'm already prepping for that lesson, and have the First Vision story down in Czech by heart. I like it more in Czech than english, because the words like "exceedingly" and "This is my beloved son" come across much better ("Przhevyshuyicy" and "Toto yay moy milovany syn!", phoenetically spelled-ish) in my opinion. Nejoblibenjeshi slova for sure. :P

The last lesson we taught at the TRC was great. The language portion went well, and when it came down to teach we were well prepared to talk about pre-earth life and why we're here on earth. The girl from the Czech Republic listened attentively, and all present seemed to learn and grow from what we had to say. I was exceptionally excited when not only did everyone accept a challenge to read and pray about the book of mormon (reading 3 Ne 27, specifically), but when Hana asked about what happens after death. She was genuinely curious, too! It was so cool, and I just got incredibly excited. "We've only got five minutes, but I promise next week we'll have something ready for you!" Ahh! It's so great to be a missionary. I could do this forever! Even when things get hard and I get spat on or thrown rocks at or have doors slammed in my face, or whatever happens, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I'm out teaching people is absolutely true! I know it, and I'm so excited to help everyone around me realize that it's true to, to "Call them to a rememberance" of the things they used to know. That's what's so great, is that everyone already accepted this plan and the Truth - we just need to remind them of their decision and help them make commitments here in faith. So great to be here!

My companion and I continue to learn and grow from each other. We've all given a few blessings to each other for different reasons, and on sunday we'll be teaching our district as well as a member of the mission presidency. I'm extremely excited to teach, and love it when I get chances to do so. I think that's the selfish part about this work, for me, is that I've always gotten a great excitement from teaching anything I know to be true, and when I sit down and help to empower people with my testimony and with the spirit,, it's that same excitement times 100. Hmmmm...So great! Màm Rad MTC!

Apart from those experiences, the language, and everything else, things have been remarkably well. I still love getting letters from people! If my family hasn't posted my address to my blog yet, I hope they do soon. Our district is amazing - I actually asked the Branch President about that in an interview with I had with him on sunday, because we all feel we've been incredibly blessed with the people in our district. Any MTC district with worthy missionaries will be made of the finest stuff, but I know that our district is of peculiar testimony and faith. Being with them always makes me happy, and it will be sad to leave them all behind when the time comes to fly in two weeks. Even so, that will be when the real adventures begin.

I hope all is going well at home! You're all in my prayers, and I know that you'll all be blessed as you follow our Savior and strive to become more like him. As one of his servant's upon the Earth, I testify that I Know that Jesus is the Christ, that Truth has been restored, and that by coming unto him in faith we can all discover for ourselves the supreme joy and happiness that comes through dedicated service to our Lord, Master, and Redeemer.

With Love,
Starsi Anderson

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Week 3 at the MTC

Hello Everyone!

It's been an incredible week this week! I can't begin to describe to you what happens when you apply yourself and seek righteous desires with faith. I'll start with the TRC and move on from there.

The TRC (Teaching Resource Center) is a culmination of all our activites during the week. We have a language and a teaching segment where we speak 100% Czech doing different tasks (like contacting, testifying, praying, talking about families and interests, etc.), and then teach a full on lesson to simulated investigators. There is a storyline we follow from our binders and we try to teach to the needs of the people that are being simulated for us. It's a great opportunity to iron out the kinks in our personal performance in a safe environment (reminds me a lot of the space center, except they don't give you a rewind button).

Well, I bring up the TRC not because of an experience that happened during a simulated interview, but because of an *investigator* that we have to teach. Her name is Hana, and she is actually from the Czech Republic. She's an exchange student going to American Fork High School. She's also a catholic, but is very curious about what we have to teach. So, she came to the TRC to, at the very least, help two aspiring missionaries try to teach her the Truth and figure out how to better teach when it becomes "real." After getting over the excitement/anxiety of actually teaching a real investigator, we dived into a lesson geared towards her concerns about what we believe, what sets us apart, baptism, why we're here, and what our Savior did for us. The lesson was somewhat comprehensive but served as a great introduction to what we believe. She said she's coming back soon (not sure if this week or next week), and we're both very excited to continue teaching her. I've actually started memorizing the First Vision in Czech so that, when we get to that material, we'll be able to convey the meaning of the message we have without any question of comprehension or understanding. That, and it will also serve as a form of testimony on how True what we have to share is. It's so incredibly exciting, I can't even begin to tell you!

The second great blessing of this week came at the Referral Center. It's a call center where people phone in after commercials, requesting bibles or books of mormon or DVD's, ask questions, and then a few weeks later we call back to verify they got their materials. At the same time, we're encouraged to talk about the Restored gospel, answer their questions, and even teach them. Yesterday was the first day we were allowed to take inbound calls (People making their first contact with the church, for whatever reason, but usually just to order something free). A man came on the line and before I could introduce myself, he wanted to make sure I understood he didn't want to get anything. No books, no DVDs or pamphlets. He needed someone to talk to about his questions about God. He believed in Christ, but never really read the bible. He had a copy of the Book of Mormon and some LDS friends, and he felt like he was missing something in his life. For a second, I paused and looked to make sure that a teacher wasn't faking me out on the other line. But, this man was a true-to-life seeker of our Savior. I guess the field really is white, already to harvest, no matter where you are - even at the MTC. Anyway, after a 30 minute conversation, answering his questions and addressing his concerns, I set up a return appointment over the phone with him. He's committed to prayer and reading the Book of Mormon, and I encouraged him to attend Church on sunday, too. He would have had missionaries or gone to Church by now, but he is very shy and gets anxious in crowded places. I'm so fortunate to have had these opportunities this week, and I'm feeling a combination of excitement, weight, and inadequacy as I teach these people. Although I know I've been taught and prepared for many years to share the gospel, actually doing it is a very humbling experience, and one begins to realize how crucial it is that he be exactly obedient, and constantly focusing himself on how he can better convey the message of the Truth to anyone he contacts. Both unexpected opportunity (like the TRC investigator that we weren't aware of until the last minute) and fortuous happinstance (like the man who called looking for answers) would have resulted in absolute disaster, had I not been prepared and worthy of the spirit. I can't begin to express how critical having the spirit is to being a great anything in this world. Without it, we may think we're great, but you're just scratching the surface of the possibilities you have before you. Whereas men fail when they rely on themselves, "with God, all things are possible."

Well, other than these two incredible experiences this week, things have been pretty routine. I haven't gained any weight yet, and the food's pretty good (even though it is a "child of the cannon center" as has been said by many-a brilliant mind). The teaching staff are incredible, and the resources and systems they have here are all so perfectly timed and ordered that I can't begin to imagine how they have the logistics of this place set up. Inner workings of the kingdom that no one realizes are there, but are most certainly critical to effective progress.

Thank you all for your letters, love, prayers, and support. And letters. I love getting letters. Every day I get a letter, I go to bed with an even bigger smile on my face. So, keep writing. I strive to write back to everyone, too, so don't expect to not have an answer.

Good luck with everything you're doing, and know that through prayer and becoming like our Savior (Get a copy of Preach my Gospel, study and apply the sections in Chapter 6 - you'll be a much better person because of it - I promise) you can unlock incredible blessings that will both inspire and delight. The Truth is beautiful, and I hope we all seek to learn more about It every day of our lives.

Love,
Starsi Anderson

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Week 2 at the MTC

It has been said by many a missionary that the weeks are days and the days are weeks at the MTC. Tis true, tis true. It seems like just yesterday that we went to the temple and got a new district of elders. Turns out that was last week and we're coming around for another week at the MTC.

I'm running short on eMail time, unfortunately. Not much has changed apart from the testimony, understanding of my relationship with Christ and our Father in Heaven, the Language (cases rock, by the way), and the rapidity which information is delivered and asimilated by everyone in the district. We all have such a powerful faith in the gospel that we move through topics and study very quickly. My companion, Starsi Nestman, and I have come to understand and love each other more. The next 9 weeks are looking very exciting, bright, and hopeful.

Now for the important message: I want you all to know something I realized this morning after going to the temple and when studying the scriptures. I was talking to Sister Reese, the only sister going to the Czech replublic this transfer, and suddenly realized that by committing ourselves completely to the service of The Master, we are emulating him. I can't stress enough (in the 50 seconds I have left writing this) how important it is that we become like him. My sacrifice of time isn't about me anymore. It's all about the people in the country. I'm spending my time for them.

Spend time studying chapter six of Preach My Gospel. Family home evening, as a couple, anything! Just do it and emulate the savior.

Love you all,

Starsi Anderson

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

More of Brent in the MTC

Day 5
Hello Everyone!

This is my first letter home to everyone from the MTC. I've been here for almost one week, and it's a blast. I just can't believe how fast things go, but how much work we cram into a single day. In four days of classroom instruction, we've learned to pronounce Czech, can pray, bear testimony, and meet with people. All in Czech. Not to mention all the vocabulary. Wow. I had no idea it was going to come at me this fast, but it's very exciting having so much to learn and grow from.

My spolechnik (companion), Starshi Nestman, is from South Jordan. He swam state in High School and is absolutely hilarious. I learn a lot from him every day, and I think I've been a positive influence on him as well. It's already second nature to call everyone by their proper title, and it's a great comfort having someone to struggle through the language/learning with.

It's very neat being two of the three Czech missionaries at the MTC, too. The third is a sister missionary, Sestra Reese, who has the best sense of humor. In all the stress and pressure to learn a language and become comfortable teaching the Truth to anyone we meet, it's great having Sestra Reese and Starshi Nestman around to take off the pressure.

I've taken some pictures that will (hopefully) get home soon. Still trying to figure that one out. In the mean time, I hope you all have a great time and I'll be writing again soon. I'm only allowed to email family, so send any letters you may have for me to:

Elder Brent Anderson
MTC Mailbox #88
CZE-PRA 0406
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Everything's going well here, the food's great, the people are wonderful, and the Spirit permeates everything. No other environment in the world would be able to foster such progress in such a variety of people, and It's perfect that the MTC has been perfected over the years to where you can become a finely tuned instrument for the cause of proclaiming the Truth to everybody.

Chao! (It's a shame, you can't spell things in czech properly on this keyboard. That has a letter that doesn't exist in english in it.)
Starshi Anderson

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Brent's First Letter!

Day 1
Dear Family and friends,
Greetings from the MTC! I love it here already. Im starting to feel everything else slip away as I dive into the study and preparation. We're oriented, had dinner, met leaders, and are ready to dive into the work. It's exciting being here, and I'm looking forward to learning the language and digging into the 'How' behind missionary work.
At the same time, It's not going to be a walk in the park. This schedule is rigorous and will definitely keep me moving while I prepare to head out.
My companion is GREAT! His name is Christopher Nestman, he's from South Jordan, and he's way over the top about anything. Lot's of smiles, laughs, and good humor. He's a great comlement to me and I'm looking forward to working with him. Love you all, keep me posted, and expect another letter soon.

Love,
Elder Starší Anderson
(Star - Shee)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Brent's MTC Address

Hello everyone,

Brent is now an official full time missionary! After many hugs and tears, he gave us his address which we can use to send him letters, packages, etc.

ELDER BRENT JOHN ANDERSON
MTC Mailbox # 88
CZE-PRA 0406
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

He will be leaving the MTC sometime around April 6th, and when he does, I'll be sure to post his mission address.

Ciao!