First P-Day - Elder Cordon, ESL for you!!

Well, this is it! I'm not even really sure where to begin so I guess I'll begin from the start. I was kind of sad to leave everyone but that went away after about the first fifty steps. Then the car left the parking lot and it seemed like the same sort of feeling I would get with Footlocker. You miss your family but there is so much else occupying your mind that family is far from your mind. No homesickness yet. I hope we can keep it that way. Since that first day I've already seen James Gilbert, Chris Harden, Elder Alves, along with some other kids from Woods Cross like McKay Woodwell and such.

Right after I was given my badge and a massive yellow bag of books and language materials I was taken to my classroom where my district was at. Plot twist, I'm speaking English! In the MTC that is. All of our teaching is in English because my district is with the Elders and Sisters that speak English as a second language (but already speak it) and are going to the field in two weeks (most of them speaking English but a few in their native tongue). Apparently its pretty rare for an American to be put in this district. The people in my district are awesome, Elder Souza is from Manaus, Brazil and learned all of his amazing English through listening to music. He is also my companion. Elder Ho is companions with Elder Falute. Elder Ho is from Vietnam, his parents were converted to the church when he was eight and learned about the gospel in Australia. He has lived in the US since he was 16 and went to school and BYU. He worked at the MTC in fact in a curto prazo before he actually came on his mission. Elder Falute is from Samoa. He's a great guy but he sometimes gets distracted by the elder Samoans on our floor and forgets to stick with Elder Ho. Elder Souza is going to Fort Lauderdale, speaking Portuguese, Elder Ho is going to Santa Rosa, California speaking Vietnamese, Elder Falute is going to Billings, Montana speaking English. We also have two sisters. Sister Rocha from Campinas, Brazil going to Fort Lauderdale English speaking, and Sister Sanjaa from Mongolia going to Billings, Montana speaking English.

So far the schedule of things has been weird. We don't really know enough about where we should be going and sometimes our teachers and zone leaders don't really explain about what we should be doing and are relaxed about things which is a bit frustrating to me. Usually we figure things out though and its fine. So far each day has been different which is probably what makes things confusing. Our first day was, well, our first day, second day was different from the first in the fact that it was the second day, and the third day, today, is P-day so, so far nothing has been the same in scheduling but that doesn't stop me and my companion from attempting to plan out the day each night.

Our first night we were able to go as a large missionary group to a group role play with some 'investigators' and we could raise our hand and ask questions or tell statements. The first two investigators were all over the board topic wise. The last one was great though and we were really able to figure out what he needed and managed to keep the entire group focused on a single topic without straying. That first night I don't think I slept at all. I kept looking at my watch every twenty minutes until three in the morning and several times after that.

I was able to go to President Packer's funeral broadcast today with the rest of the MTC which was great to hear. One of my favorite things in there was what Elder Ballard said, "He wore out his life in the service of his Savior, the Lord." It made me think about how I want to serve my mission. I would love that statement to be true for me, that Elder Cordon wore out his two years in the service of his Savior, the Lord. I learned that we need to live as we teach. We need to teach by example. How can you invite others to Christ if you yourself have not trusted and turned to the Lord yourself? How can you expect a missionary to follow the rules of you do not?

More things I've learned over the past three days:

We need to be able to effectively communicate with the investigator to teach why they need the gospel.

Christ taught in parables, so we likewise need to find ways to make the gospel simple to understand through analogies.

Personal testimonies bring the spirit and are powerful. Never underestimate the power of your testimony.

While teaching, don't forget your purpose. Why are you there? To talk? No, to invite them to come unto Christ.

It is more honorable to be trusted than loved. Hence, "many are called but few are chosen." That first sentence helped me understand that scripture so much more. The Lord can love everyone, but to be trusted by the Lord, that is something.

Teaching is not talking, listen to your companion and your investigator. Hear what they are saying.

Also, last night I became Zone Leader. Ya, it was a shock. We went in to have a district meeting with our branch presidents and they assigned my companion to be senior companion and district leader and me as Zone Leader. They told us this comes into affect Sunday but gave us tons of things to study, prepare, and memorize. We have a ton to get done before Sunday but he promised us that the Lord will expand our time if we work effectively and we will find the time we need to get everything done. We still aren't really sure what our roles will entail but there will be a leadership training this Sunday. Also, Elder Souza is in charge of getting the mail for our district so we get that lunch and dinner time.

Well, its been great so far, the days are long. I can see why people just want to leave. Its my third day and I feel like I've been here forever. I can't wait to get to the field.

I think that's all for now. I know the church is true, I feel like my testimony is big but it keeps getting bigger and bigger. The level and speed of learning at the MTC if you are willing to listen is huge. I love it but also can't wait until I can go to Portugal.

I love you all, good to hear what you all have been up to! Even when its really common things. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANNER!! I can't get you anything so sorry.

Thanks so much! Love you!

Dallin

Sorry, it's Elder Cordon now.