Week 4 - October 6, 2011

Well, today was the day. I have been able to see my breath when we go outside. Hahaha. Today and yesterday have been rainy and gray, and I've loved it! When we were walking up to the temple this morning, the mountains right behind the temple were covered half way up with clouds! Which is nuts, since those mountains really aren't very tall! Also, there was snow way up at the top of the mountains. Everyone says it'll be gone tomorrow, and that we won't get any down on campus for a few weeks yet. Thank goodness. Hahah. Hermana S, who is from Provo, said that the trees on the MTC campus will all turn colors soon, since the weather has cooled off. Exciting!

We did sealings in the temple today, which was a cool experience. I had no idea how any of that worked, so it was fun to be in there.

Who liked Conference? I sure did! We all were gathered in the giant auditorium for Conference, and we watched all of the sessions. On Saturday night the boys got to see the Priesthood Session, and while we were there the sisters watched the RS Broadcast from last week. Everything was so good, wasn't it? Priesthood was especially great. Elder Holland sure got fired up, but he was pretty inspirational too.

Conference also made me think about the missionaries that taught Dad. Do they know how much good they did when they were teaching him? I mean, three kids all through the temple, one served a mission, one on a mission. Lots of ramifications there. They tell us that pretty often here, to remember that even though you don't know for sure which lives or how many you touched, it's a big deal. A really big deal. I think about that a lot here. What would we all be doing right now if those guys hadn't visited with Dad? Crazy, huh?

I like my new companion, Elder M. No one is perfect, but there isn't much to complain about. His Spanish has improved, even in the week that I've been with him, so that's cool. Teaching can be frustrating. I feel like they give us the tools, like Preach My Gospel, and all sorts of grammar books, but then don't give us very specific instruction on how to use them. I guess that's what makes us good missionaries, is figuring out how to be better teachers through study. Sometimes (or a lot of the time) that is really rough. When our spirits are down, our teachers almost always have a really good scripture to share with us, and they make us feel better. So at first we're mad at them for not giving us all of the answers right away, and then we love them for making us feel better about it all. It's sometimes a rough cycle, but generally it ends up being really good. I'm even understanding more of the scriptures in Spanish, which is exciting! Haha. Also, I was really frustrated with my Spanish, but after I felt the Spirit for the first time while someone was talking in it I decided I was doing okay, and that it would be just fine.
 

I won't lie, I got the best language to learn. I've met people going to Hungary, Finland, Houston TX Vietnamese speaking, Sacramento CA Hmong speaking (Google it, I had no idea it even existed. Also, he told me it's spelled like that. Haha), lost of Russian speakers, Croatian, etc, etc. Yeah, Spanish is the best. I remember Kendall said his dad thought Spanish is the eternal language. I laughed. But Hermano J says, "Español el el idioma del dioses," which is "Spanish is the language of the gods." Hahaha. I'm pretty excited to be fluent someday and be able to yack with Kyle and Tanner.
 

We've had some really good devotionals lately. One was by Chad Lewis, a former BYU football player and retired NFL player. No one in our family would know who he is, but some people were really excited he was here. Haha. Anyway, he talked about meeting with veterans of the Iraq War. They all hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, which is a big deal. Lots of them had physical impairments, like busted eyes, or amputated legs. It made us thankful for our health and abilities. He talked about how hard they worked to get to the top of the mountain, and that we have to work hard to help others up and down this giant mountain of life. It was pretty cool.
 

I don't know what else to say. Things are going well. It's weird that my time in Provo is almost half over. Crazy, huh!? Anyway, I love you all! Thanks for everything!

Much love,
Zac

Week 3 - September 29, 2011

What? Where does the time go? Three weeks here is really deceiving. I guess the whole mission is like this though, so it's no wonder people say it flies by. I'm already one-third one with my time at the MTC! And there's still so much to learn!

Everything here is going well. I had a better week this week than last week. My companions left last night and are probably arriving in the Dominican Republic within the next hour or two if they aren't already there. Another member of our district, Elder D left for the DR too, so our district is down to 7. It seems so small now! We're sad their gone. Even though I got really irritated with both of my companions yesterday, by the time they left it was really sad to see them off. They'll do awesome stuff though, and Elder G is such a hard worker that I know his Spanish is going to explode the second he gets down there. He is easily the most improved out of anyone over the course of our three weeks here. Now all four of us Elders in the district are going stateside, two to Las Vegas East Mission, one to Albuquerque, NM, and me to KY. Two Sisters are going to Cordoba, Argentina, and one Sister is going to San Francisco/Oakland Temple Visitors Center.

My new companion is Elder M, from New Jersey. He's super nice. He and the two other Elders in our district moved down into my room because it was bigger and had more desk space. Haha. We went to the scheduling office a few days ago and asked if the three guys could moved down to my room because it's way better than the one they were in before, and they said it wasn't a problem! The squeaky wheel gets the grease, right? Plus, I didn't have to move any of my stuff, which was an awesome bonus. I am kind of dreading having to pack in 6 weeks though. Watching the other Elders do it made it look super terrible. I hope I can pack as nicely as Dad did for me. Hahaha.

I'm learning a lot everyday. Sometimes it's frustrating, because we're never told exactly what to teach our progressing investigators. We need to find out what their needs are, what will help them, and what will help them feel the Spirit and build their faith. Right now we're teaching Juan Carlos and Ivan (separately). They are a new challenge because they aren't very receptive and aren't good at commitments. Just prepping us for the real world I guess, even if it makes planning and teaching a little stressful sometimes.

My Spanish is coming along. Mom, I liked that scripture you sent me (Ether 12:27). Just a few days before I had gone to a fireside, and the speaker talked about how we have to let God take care of everything. I don't ask for help very well, so that's something I'm still working on, but I have seen my Spanish really improve as I've worked hard, but also asked for help and had the faith that Spanish is what I need to study. I gave one of my teachers a high five after I read a verse in the Book of Mormon that had grammar that we just learned in it! Haha. On a side note, reading the scriptures in Spanish is tough business. That is something I can't really do right now. Preach My Gospel is way easier, but that is frustrating sometimes too. It's pretty common for everyone to have their English scriptures, PMG, dictionary on their desk, along with their Spanish scriptures, Predicad Mi Evangelio, and other language books. Haha.

The weather here is great. Mornings are a little bit cold, but we always go outside for gym period because of how great it is. The trees on the mountain are really starting to change, and I'm so excited about it! I'm way less excited about potential snow we could get before I leave, and other terrible cold weather situations. Haha. But it's good practice for Kentucky I guess.

I guess I don't have much else. It's hard to know what I have and haven't told y'all. I know I need to be here though, so I keep on pushing through! I'm glad y'all are doing well! Thanks for everything!

Love,
Zac

Week 2 - September 22, 2011

Hey everyone!

Well, we just got back from a session at the temple. I didn't get lost this time after my session, so that's good. Haha. It was a really good session. I thought I had lost my white handkerchief with my white initials, but I found it last night in my luggage! Kyle told me you'd keep finding things in your suitcases and that it would feel like Christmas when you did. So true! It's going to be and adventure to repack everything though. At least I have a few weeks before that happens.

My companions got their visas and itineraries, so the leave on the 29th for the Dominican Republic. They're freaking out a little bit about the Spanish, but that'll be so cool to jump right into it all.

Spanish has been coming along. It's hard sometimes, but I almost always understand the jist of what my teachers are saying. I have to ask them to go slower or repeat, but I can see the improvements that I've made since I've been here, so that's good. Remember Victor? He was our progressing investigator the first week? He's actually Hermano J, our second teacher. He's really cool, and Hermano W has really grown on all of us. Tanner actually had them as teacher when he was here a few weeks ago. I'm in the exact same classroom he was in and everything! Now we're teaching two new progressing investigators separately, Juan Carlos and Ivan. Teaching is so frustrating because I know what I want to say, but often times can't really say it. But it's a crazy good exercise, because we're already getting acquainted with extending commitments, helping them keep the commitments, and building their faith with them.

Russell M. Nelson spoke to us on Tuesday night at our devotional. That's the third apostle in a row for Tuesday devotional (only the second that I've been here for), and apparently that's really unusual. He talked about the Book of Mormon and the new issue of the Ensign (which, might I add, is very good). We were all given a copy in preparation for his visit, and we all held them up for him when he asked if we had received our copies. It was cool to see the whole auditorium hold them up. He talked about how important the Book of Mormon is, and the intense history behind getting it printed here, in Britain, in Salt Lake, etc, and how it is the most important tool we have to help others in our purpose as missionaries. Our purpose, in case you didn't know, is: Invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo al ayudarlas a reciban el Evangelio restaurado mediate la fe en Jesucristo y Su expiacion, el arrepentimiento, el bautismo, la recepcion del don del Espiritu Santo, y perseverar hasta el fin. That's just about the only thing I have memorized in Spanish, but it says: Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end.

I'm out of time, but I'm doing well. Things are hard sometimes, but mostly I'm learning and growing all the time! Thanks for all your love! You're the best!

Love,

Elder Zac

Week 1 - September 15, 2011

Hi everyone! 

Has it really only been a week? Each day is so packed that it seems like we accomplish two days worth of work in just 16 hours or so.

Moving into the Intermediate class has definitely been a tender mercy from God. My district is so amazing, and though it's hard sometimes to be spoken to in words that make absolutely no sense, I'm learning a lot, and we've really bonded. It's clear that not every district enjoys each other's company like we do. We always play sand volleyball up at the field across from the temple during gym time. We aren't good (it's bad if I'm one of the best athletes out there!), but we laugh a lot and get closer all the time.

I told you about Elder E, right? My companion? Well, he got bumped up from Beginning Spanish on day two. Now he's in Advanced Spanish because he's so good. He was born in Mexico, but raised in Canada, so his English and Spanish are both great. We miss seeing him since he's moved, but he's still in our Branch, so that's good. I'm companions with Elders G and M again. We all have different personalities, but manage to get by really well. G is from Centerville UT, just an hour north of here. He just graduated high school, so he's kind of a goober sometimes, but he works really hard because he's a lot slower at Spanish than most of the district. He's a lot of fun. Elder M is from north Phoenix (he went to Thunderbird HS, I've never heard of it). He's 6'5"!!! He is a little strange, but he's also working really hard to learn Spanish and be a good missionary. If their visas come in they'll leave me in 2 weeks for the MTC in the Dominican Republic. I don't know what they'd do with me after that, because I'll be the only one left in the room! There is one other Elder in our district going to the MTC down there too, so I'll probably be put with that Elder that gets left hanging.

We taught Victor 5 lessons in the first 7 days. It's amazing that you really start to love this person and want them to accept the truth the first time you visit them! I know Victor is just a character played by a BYU student, but all of the companionship's in our district really focused on how we could impact his life. Through our broken Spanish we tried our best to teach him the gospel and how him that we care about him. They always tell us here that we "teach people, not lessons," which is some of the best advice I think I've gotten. Ultimately we asked him to be baptized at the end of the last lesson. He said he wasn't ready to commit, but wants us to keep coming back. He also hasn't been to church yet, so that was a pretty realistic answer from our pretend investigator. Victor is actually our second teacher, and now that we've had 5 lessons with him, he and Hermano W, my other teacher, will be teaching us Spanish and Preach My Gospel from here on out.

We went to the temple today. The Provo temple is kind of weird... a bunch of the hallways are curved because they're along the outside wall, so you can't ever really see what's around the corner. I kind of got lost after my session today. Hahaha. But the Celestial room was wicked cool (no natural light though, which I thought was atypical). Seriously, it was so nice in there. I guess all Celestial rooms are nice, but still...

I'm learning a lot, and am having a good time. Things really couldn't have worked out any better than they have considering I'm leaving the nest for the first time to go out on this big adventure. None of that is my doing, either. The Spirit is always around this place, even if I don't realize it. I know the Holy Ghost has already directed my fake lessons with Victor, so I look forward to experiencing that more, and I've got 103 more weeks to let that happen!

You guys are the best. Thanks for everything! I love you!

Zac

Email from September 10, 2011

Hey everyone!
 

Well, today is my third full day. We have a half-Pday today, so we're doing laundry right now. Expect my letters to be on Thursdays, because that's when my real Pday is. Also, I wrote a letter to you guys the first night. I hope you get it today!

Anyway, things here are good! It's crazy being busy every single minute of every single day, but I think that's really good for kids that haven't ever lived away (I can't think too much about you guys because I'm so busy), but also because that's what real mission life is! The curbside Elder that helped me was so nice, and that immediately made me feel a lot better about being here. Also, that one suitcase with the bum wheels? So bad. So. Bad. But I don't know if it's worth getting a new one since the next time I use it I'll barely need to roll it anywhere.

So, the curbside Elder took me to my room and then to my classroom. I met my companion, Elder S. He's going to my mission! He's way cool, and I knew right away that I'd like him. However... my teachers thought that I was good enough at Spanish to move up to the Intermediate class from Beginning! Crazy! So I got new companions and moved rooms so I could be in Intermediate Spanish. My comps were Elders Mand G. They're nice. It's hard to do things in a group of 3 sometimes, but I wasn't companions with them for long, because another Elder, Elder E, moved up from Beginning too! Now he and I are companions, and the four of us share a room. This all happened by the beginning of the second day, so it was really a whirlwind for the first 18 hours or so (and 8 of those were sleeping!).

Spanish is good. It's really intense, and the first day gave me a crazy panic attack. Like, I wanted to go back to beginner, I wanted to go somewhere English speaking, everything. But I'm pushing through, and it's really getting so much better, even with one day of studying and some encouragement from my companion, district, and my Patriarchal blessing.

We try really hard to only speak the language (which doesn't really happen... ever.). My teacher knows a lot about Espanol, and he served in Peru and Bolivia (two countries because of visa complications). We have already taught our progressing investigator, Victor, twice. He is very nice, and he and his wife are expecting their first kid. We taught him about the Apostasy and Restoration, as well as extended and invitation to read and pray about José Smith to know if all of it is good and true. The Spanish with him is rough, but he is so nice when we ask him, "mas despacio, por favor." (More slowly, please.)

The Spirit really helps direct my Spanish and makes me feel comfortable(ish) as we talk in class and with Victor. It's exciting to be around people that are enthusiastic about the Gospel and about Spanish. My district is really great, and I'm having a lot of fun getting to know them. We're from all over, a lot of us are going to different places. There are four of us in the district that are going somewhere inside the US. Two to Vegas East, and one to Albuquerque. Three are going to the Dominican Republic, and they leave in 3 weeks for the MTC in that country. That would be kinda scary!

I've run into Ali Hayes, from the Institute, and Brette Hoyt. It was really fun to see faces I knew! I haven't seen Shane yet, so I think I might have to get his address from you guys and send it on to him, since he leaves next week.

It's still a tiny bit overwhelming but I'm getting campus, my Spanish is progressing, and I already really want to help Victor find what's missing in his life!

God is so good. He's helping me feel comfortable here, and is helping me learn more and more all the time. I'm excited to keep becoming a better person and a better missionary. I was reading the White Handbook today, and it referenced Doctrine and Covenants, section 11. It made me really excited about everything. :)

I appreciate all of your love! Getting 6 cards was super tender, even if it made me look like a Mama's Boy. Hahahaha. I loved it though. Keep the letters coming! I already love getting mail, and I haven't even gotten that much!

You guys are the best! I love you!

Zac
(aka, Elder Baker)

The Beginnings

Zac made it to the MTC this week.  He flew up a day early with Mom and Dad and spent some time in Salt Lake City.  They were able to attend a session in the Salt Lake Temple, visit the Visitors Center, and tour the Conference Center.

Mom and Dad just received their first letter and wanted to share part of it.

09/07/2011

"Things here are good.  I got checked into my class.  I met my comp, Elder S, and he's going to my mission!  But... my Spanish teacher thought my Spanish was too good for the Beginning class.  I had a quick conversation with a language coordinator in Spanish and he bumped me up to Intermediate!  Scary!  But really cool too.  I got a new room assignment and companions.  They are Elders G and M.  They're cool.

Things here run like clockwork.  How is it that the church is so good at organization?  It's unreal.  We've had some orientations, some teaching seminars, a good dinner, etc.  So much, so fast.  But everyone that's been here for a while makes it look so easy, so there's hope for me.  After all, it was just the first day."

Gila Valley Temple

Now Elder Baker

Made it to Salt Lake City

 

Temple Square

Almost There

It's sort of weird to think about my last trip to Costco, my last movie, my last party... It's a little sad. Okay, a lot sad. Dropping what was your normal life for upwards of 19 years is a little intense. But I was thinking about it tonight, and I'm about to have a whole lot of firsts.

For the first time I am: moving out, becoming bilingual, experiencing a different part of the country, doing something that can impact the lives of others, and giving my life over to God. When you think about it that way, it's amazingly refreshing. I try not to think about it in too much detail, just because it can get a little overwhelming, but I am so excited to go do something better with my life.

This is what God wants, and I like to think that pushing through all of these minor panic attacks I'm having will show him that I'm willing to do this if I can get a little help along the way. Knowing Him, I'll get more than enough help.