Dear Mom & Dad
Yeah life's been much better in the MTC. I feel the Spirit often and I don't let anything bring me down for too long. My favorite times here are: when we have a teacher, Devotionals, the Temple (I had to miss the Temple today because of my new favorite thing - choir!) Hopefully Dad got my email so you probably already know I'm singing in the Priesthood Session. That Elder Tate's a stud. I just found out something incredible a few minutes ago: Elder Tate's act of charity has made it possible for BOTH of us to be in the choir! Incredible! He told me that a DVD of Priesthood can be purchased several months after so keep your eyes open for that! It's really an amazing thing that I have the opportunity to sing in conference. I missed the survey for it cuz I companion-exchanged with Elder Jensen so he could finish eating. Then the choir teacher himself told me I couldn't be in the choir cuz I didn't have enough experience. But despite all that I'm in the choir with both Elder Tate and Elder Jensen! Amazing! Oh Rosie. That rascal. Does that mean I was the one who kept her straight? I thought Dad was the dog disciplinarian. (Did I spell that right? I've never written that word before.) So tell me more about tis blog! Are you typing up my letters or are you copying the images into the computer? cuz if you're doing that I think I'd better work on my handwriting. Speaking of which: don't worry Dad I can read both yours and Moms letters just fine. I really do appreciate a good old hand-written letter. Oh - I only get to be on the computer for 30 minutes so I'd rather you stick with letters. If you do email me just don't write an epistle cuz I'll need that short chunk of time for my epistle. I don't remember any one's emails besides Dad's msn & gmail, so if you'd like to email my email to people like G&G or Ginger & Dave etc. that's be awesome! I think the Hawkins wanted to hear from me too. Hey thanks for the sky money! And seriously, Mom, Dad, I LOVE hearing from you and reading about what's happening back home. I am getting slightly claustrophobic and not just because Elder Kemp;s the sportsman type and lacks a personal bubble. Chiste (joke) except not really. Hey Elder Kemp's a good guy. He has a strong testimony and he's here for the right reasons. Oh man I loved reading about the music world in your letter Dad. Here they call anything non-Mormon "Babylon." I thought it was a funny joke until I realized it wasn't. Mormon nerds. Don't worry though I waste very little time. I try hard to devote all my time to the Lord. Studying with a purpose is the way to go. I've been working hard on Lesson 2 with Elder Kemp this week. 2 Nephi chapter 2 is where it's at! So....tell me about "Babylon"! Any good movies? It's weird being cut off from the news. Anything drastic happened? I don't miss the music of "Babylon" as much as I thought I would. The only time I really have to think about life prior to the MTC is when I'm in my room back at the Residence. Yeah they don't call them dorms here. Cuz apparently "dorms" suggest "Babylon" as well. Yeah pretty much the MTC is the City of Enoch. Or at least it thinks it is. I've met all sorts of people here. There's this Canadian in my District - Hermana (sister) Grahn - and she says "aboot" all the time. It's awesome! Well I think my laundry's almost done. No wait - its aboot done. well I LOVE YOU!
Love
Elder Tyler Lewis
P.S. I'm excited for that package you're sending me! Hey could you send me my line of authority? I don't know if I brought it or not. Love You!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
September 25th Letter to Hannah
Dear Hannanh,
Como esta? (how are you?) Como esat mi perro? (How is my dog?) That's funny Rosie's being a rebel. Thanks for the picture! I put it in the scrapbook Ginger gave me. That's cool about Cody's bug collection. Hey you should tell Cody to write me sometime.
Yesterday I chewed gum for the first time since I got here. Missionaries aren't supposed to chew gum except when they're in their rooms. I've been eating lots of salads: pizza salads, Greek salads, Strawberry-spinach salads...I haven't gained any weight still.
Things are pretty much the same. Still learning Spanish. Still reading scriptures and practicing teaching people about the gospel.
YES you can have whatever candy I've stashed away. I have enough candy here so I don't miss it.
Hey so I'm probably going to be int the choir for General Conference! Cool huh? It's for the Priesthood Session though so you won't get to see me at home on the T.V.
Yo amo usted! (I LOVE YOU!)
La iglesia de Jesucristu es verdadero y Jose Smith fue una profecta de Dios.
Love
Elder Tyler Lewis
Como esta? (how are you?) Como esat mi perro? (How is my dog?) That's funny Rosie's being a rebel. Thanks for the picture! I put it in the scrapbook Ginger gave me. That's cool about Cody's bug collection. Hey you should tell Cody to write me sometime.
Yesterday I chewed gum for the first time since I got here. Missionaries aren't supposed to chew gum except when they're in their rooms. I've been eating lots of salads: pizza salads, Greek salads, Strawberry-spinach salads...I haven't gained any weight still.
Things are pretty much the same. Still learning Spanish. Still reading scriptures and practicing teaching people about the gospel.
YES you can have whatever candy I've stashed away. I have enough candy here so I don't miss it.
Hey so I'm probably going to be int the choir for General Conference! Cool huh? It's for the Priesthood Session though so you won't get to see me at home on the T.V.
Yo amo usted! (I LOVE YOU!)
La iglesia de Jesucristu es verdadero y Jose Smith fue una profecta de Dios.
Love
Elder Tyler Lewis
Thursday, September 25, 2008
September 25th, 2008 (Email)
Hey I have an email account now!
My P-Day is on Thursdays. It looks like I'm going to be in the missionary choir for the Priesthood Session of Conference so look out for me! I missed the chance to take the survey for the choir but Elder Tate made it and he'd already had the opportunity to be in the choir and he wanted to give someone else the opportunity so I jumped on that and now it seems very likely that i'm going to be able to be a part of that so that's awesome! Elder Tate's a really nice guy. I feel kind of guilty but hey if he's willing to give that up i'm willing to take it. I had to miss the temple today so that i could attend choir practice. Sacrifice. It'll be worth it though. It's a once in a lifetime sorta deal.
I got a Dear Elder from Justin a few days ago. He told me that when he left the "Empty Sea" he felt like he didn't know any Romanian but within a month he was speaking fluently. Spanish isn't wearing me down to bad. I feel like i'm learning it at a sufficient pace. The R.C. (Referral Center) is probably my new favorite thing at the MTC. It's where the missionaries get to take orders for free Book of Mormons (NOT Books of Mormon!) and Bibles and church DVDs and follow up and see if people have received their orders and ask their opinions and challenge them to pray and all that fun stuff. We tend to get lots of calls from people from the South. That's always fun.
Elder Kemp and I are teaching the 2nd lesson at the TRC now. I don't remember what TRC stands for but it's the place where we go to practice teaching the lessons to volunteers. First we have to contact the people in Spanish and say stuff like "Como esta? Tenemos un mensaje acerca de la iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los ultimos dias! Se que la iglesia es verdadera y Jose Smith fue un profeta moderna y tambien Thomas S Monson es un profeta moderna hoy. Cree en Dios? Yo tambien! Se que Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial y somos El hijos." Anyway... Yeah then after that we teach the people in English cuz we don't know the lessons in Spanish well enough to sound intelligent. Well Elder Kemp probably does. He took 4 years of Spanish before he came here. But I don't. Yet. It'll come.
Well the Devotionals here are amazing. First Pres. Uchtdorf, then Elder Hinckley, then Elder Jensen from the Presidency of the 70. All the talks were amazing. After Devotionals on Sundays we get to watch movies. Last Sunday I watched the Joseph Smith movie. That's the 2nd time I've seen that. I love it. Yesterday a bunch of new Elders came into our zone and I saw in their faces an all too familiar expression. Deer in the headlights sorta thing. I'm used to the MTC now. I'm going with the flow of things. Six more weeks until i REALLY get to start! I can't wait.
Well I hope all's well at home. Please keep updating me on what's going on I LOVE hearing about what you've been doing! And yes I do miss mowing the lawn. Going from 5 lawns a week to none ever is really a drastic lifestyle change. I still haven't gained any weight. None at all. I am a rare case here. I don't remember anybody's email adresses so feel free to forward this or post it on the blog or whatever! Tell the grandparents I'd love to hear from them!
Much love!
Elder Tyler Lewis
My P-Day is on Thursdays. It looks like I'm going to be in the missionary choir for the Priesthood Session of Conference so look out for me! I missed the chance to take the survey for the choir but Elder Tate made it and he'd already had the opportunity to be in the choir and he wanted to give someone else the opportunity so I jumped on that and now it seems very likely that i'm going to be able to be a part of that so that's awesome! Elder Tate's a really nice guy. I feel kind of guilty but hey if he's willing to give that up i'm willing to take it. I had to miss the temple today so that i could attend choir practice. Sacrifice. It'll be worth it though. It's a once in a lifetime sorta deal.
I got a Dear Elder from Justin a few days ago. He told me that when he left the "Empty Sea" he felt like he didn't know any Romanian but within a month he was speaking fluently. Spanish isn't wearing me down to bad. I feel like i'm learning it at a sufficient pace. The R.C. (Referral Center) is probably my new favorite thing at the MTC. It's where the missionaries get to take orders for free Book of Mormons (NOT Books of Mormon!) and Bibles and church DVDs and follow up and see if people have received their orders and ask their opinions and challenge them to pray and all that fun stuff. We tend to get lots of calls from people from the South. That's always fun.
Elder Kemp and I are teaching the 2nd lesson at the TRC now. I don't remember what TRC stands for but it's the place where we go to practice teaching the lessons to volunteers. First we have to contact the people in Spanish and say stuff like "Como esta? Tenemos un mensaje acerca de la iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los ultimos dias! Se que la iglesia es verdadera y Jose Smith fue un profeta moderna y tambien Thomas S Monson es un profeta moderna hoy. Cree en Dios? Yo tambien! Se que Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial y somos El hijos." Anyway... Yeah then after that we teach the people in English cuz we don't know the lessons in Spanish well enough to sound intelligent. Well Elder Kemp probably does. He took 4 years of Spanish before he came here. But I don't. Yet. It'll come.
Well the Devotionals here are amazing. First Pres. Uchtdorf, then Elder Hinckley, then Elder Jensen from the Presidency of the 70. All the talks were amazing. After Devotionals on Sundays we get to watch movies. Last Sunday I watched the Joseph Smith movie. That's the 2nd time I've seen that. I love it. Yesterday a bunch of new Elders came into our zone and I saw in their faces an all too familiar expression. Deer in the headlights sorta thing. I'm used to the MTC now. I'm going with the flow of things. Six more weeks until i REALLY get to start! I can't wait.
Well I hope all's well at home. Please keep updating me on what's going on I LOVE hearing about what you've been doing! And yes I do miss mowing the lawn. Going from 5 lawns a week to none ever is really a drastic lifestyle change. I still haven't gained any weight. None at all. I am a rare case here. I don't remember anybody's email adresses so feel free to forward this or post it on the blog or whatever! Tell the grandparents I'd love to hear from them!
Much love!
Elder Tyler Lewis
Sunday, September 21, 2008
September 18th, 2008
Mom & Dad
THANKS for the doughnuts and the sky money! You're the best!
Things are going better. I've had a cold all week but I'm better now. Half of my day cold meds are already gone because I decided it was necessary to pill up so the cold wouldn't distract me from working. My companion and I are on better terms now. He still argues a lot with everybody but Sis. Hinckley (daughter-in-law of prophet) gave a talk about being a good companion and it made him feel bad and he apologized to me for the way he's acted. Elder Kemp is from Hartford Connecticut. He's half Vietnamese and he likes to freestyle rap a lot.
I had to get Hepatitis shots and a Tetanus shot. I don't think I spelled those correctly. My English is going to crap now that I can speak a bunch of espanol. I still have to get 2 more shots. 1 in the MTC and 1 on the field. I don't know what those are but oh well. No biggie.
I've been eating lots of salads because they serve LOTS of chicken here. I haven't drank the orange juice. And yes, the coke is caffeine-free. I'll deal. Laundry's fine. It's really hot in here but the washers and dryers are easy to work.
I think it'd be a good idea to have you send me my retainer. I wake up with aching teeth sometimes. I think it's the weird tongue-pushing think I do in my sleep.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Beatles Love!
So the companionship Kemp and I share a room with is Elders Darbro and Clark. Darbro's going to Long Beach. He's from Texas and he also used to be in the army. But they're not typical army people by any means. They're cool.
Speaking of Texas this Elder Williams person in my zone can bench-press me. I'm the smallest guy in my zone. I'm also known as the Elder with the amazing ties. I let the zone leader wear my sunburst orange tie and it pretty much made his day.
Hey parents guess what?! I use a planner! Every day! It's becoming my new way to release my OCD tendencies. Our teachers (Bro. Pack & Tidwell) are crazy about planning. They get after us a lot about it.
I don't need a Spanish dictionary cuz I got a free one. Plus a free Spanish BoM and Santa Biblia. I've memorized the first vision and almost half of D&C 4 in Spanish.
Keep writing please! I LOVE hearing from you!
I Love You!
Love Elder Tyler Lewis
P.S. I weighed myself 125 lbs with shoes on after a meal. No gain!
BTW: No Email still. Not much free time for that but I'll email you when it happens.
THANKS for the doughnuts and the sky money! You're the best!
Things are going better. I've had a cold all week but I'm better now. Half of my day cold meds are already gone because I decided it was necessary to pill up so the cold wouldn't distract me from working. My companion and I are on better terms now. He still argues a lot with everybody but Sis. Hinckley (daughter-in-law of prophet) gave a talk about being a good companion and it made him feel bad and he apologized to me for the way he's acted. Elder Kemp is from Hartford Connecticut. He's half Vietnamese and he likes to freestyle rap a lot.
I had to get Hepatitis shots and a Tetanus shot. I don't think I spelled those correctly. My English is going to crap now that I can speak a bunch of espanol. I still have to get 2 more shots. 1 in the MTC and 1 on the field. I don't know what those are but oh well. No biggie.
I've been eating lots of salads because they serve LOTS of chicken here. I haven't drank the orange juice. And yes, the coke is caffeine-free. I'll deal. Laundry's fine. It's really hot in here but the washers and dryers are easy to work.
I think it'd be a good idea to have you send me my retainer. I wake up with aching teeth sometimes. I think it's the weird tongue-pushing think I do in my sleep.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Beatles Love!
So the companionship Kemp and I share a room with is Elders Darbro and Clark. Darbro's going to Long Beach. He's from Texas and he also used to be in the army. But they're not typical army people by any means. They're cool.
Speaking of Texas this Elder Williams person in my zone can bench-press me. I'm the smallest guy in my zone. I'm also known as the Elder with the amazing ties. I let the zone leader wear my sunburst orange tie and it pretty much made his day.
Hey parents guess what?! I use a planner! Every day! It's becoming my new way to release my OCD tendencies. Our teachers (Bro. Pack & Tidwell) are crazy about planning. They get after us a lot about it.
I don't need a Spanish dictionary cuz I got a free one. Plus a free Spanish BoM and Santa Biblia. I've memorized the first vision and almost half of D&C 4 in Spanish.
Keep writing please! I LOVE hearing from you!
I Love You!
Love Elder Tyler Lewis
P.S. I weighed myself 125 lbs with shoes on after a meal. No gain!
BTW: No Email still. Not much free time for that but I'll email you when it happens.
September 18th Letter to Hannah
Dear Hannah
Hey hermanita! (That's Spanish for little sister.) Thanks for the letter I LOVED it! Please keep writing me!
I'm doing my wash right now. Its really hot in the washroom and it smells like soap. Yesterday I got to talk on the phone with people who were calling for free Book of Mormons. I talked with a lady from Alabama and a man from Peurto Rico. Neither of them wanted missionaries to come visit them :( but both of them wanted to have a Book of Mormon mailed to them. :)
Lately I've been eating a lot of salads here. The other Elders keep telling me to eat more because I'm pretty much the smallest missionary in my zone. This one Elder from Texas bench-pressed me (he lifted me up over his head like a weight.)
President Gordan B. Hinckley's son came and spoke at the devotional on Sunday. That was pretty cool.
The other Elders in my zone REALLY like my ties. The Zone Leader asked if he could wear my sunburst orange tie for a day and I let him. He was so happy about that. And another guy gave me two cool ties for one of my cool ties.
The food still makes me really gassy, but not near as gassy as my companion Elder Kemp. He EXPLODES!
Well I hope you're having fun at home! I'm glad you're still building forts. Give Rosie a hug and a kiss for me! I miss you and I LOVE YOU!
Love
(Elder) Tyler Lewis
Hey hermanita! (That's Spanish for little sister.) Thanks for the letter I LOVED it! Please keep writing me!
I'm doing my wash right now. Its really hot in the washroom and it smells like soap. Yesterday I got to talk on the phone with people who were calling for free Book of Mormons. I talked with a lady from Alabama and a man from Peurto Rico. Neither of them wanted missionaries to come visit them :( but both of them wanted to have a Book of Mormon mailed to them. :)
Lately I've been eating a lot of salads here. The other Elders keep telling me to eat more because I'm pretty much the smallest missionary in my zone. This one Elder from Texas bench-pressed me (he lifted me up over his head like a weight.)
President Gordan B. Hinckley's son came and spoke at the devotional on Sunday. That was pretty cool.
The other Elders in my zone REALLY like my ties. The Zone Leader asked if he could wear my sunburst orange tie for a day and I let him. He was so happy about that. And another guy gave me two cool ties for one of my cool ties.
The food still makes me really gassy, but not near as gassy as my companion Elder Kemp. He EXPLODES!
Well I hope you're having fun at home! I'm glad you're still building forts. Give Rosie a hug and a kiss for me! I miss you and I LOVE YOU!
Love
(Elder) Tyler Lewis
Sunday, September 14, 2008
September 11th, 2008
Mom & Dad
The MTC has been challenging. I've felt the spirit so much since I've got here but I've gone through this roller coaster of discouragement and encouragement. I'm trying to relax and stop stressing but sometimes I feel overwhelmed. my companion often acts like the work is a burden and I've had to tell him a couple of times that his negativity is making me miserable. I've prayed a lot about it and I'm trying to have the positive attitude ("positude") I need to teach this gospel right. I've gone through emotions of inadequacy and lots of stress. Today's been better though. It's P-Day and I've been to the temple and that helped a lot. I'm sorry if I sound sad I'm just trying to figure out how to be positive with some of the negative atmosphere I sometimes encounter. I know this is where I need to be and I know I can do this if I have an eye single to the glory of God. Mom thank you so much for the letter you left with me and Dad thanks so much for the advice you gave me before I left. You both helped me get through this first week.
Guess What?! Pres. Uchtdorf spoke at the devotional! He's so amazing and he brought such a strong spirit with him. He's passionate about missionary work.
The Spanish is happening at my own pace. Problem is my companion has taken 4 years of Spanish and I kind of feel like he's trying to drag me along at a pace I can't work with. I really don't want to judge Elder Kemp but we've got to work together POSITIVELY. I HATE negativity! It stresses me out. My eye's been twitching! It never does that!
Well I don't want this to be a letter of venting but I rely on you and love you so much and I really need some advice.
The food isn't terrible. I think I might be gaining weight. Thanks for the Coke post card that made me chuckle! I hope Las Vegas is/was fun.
Don't get me wrong I'm not completely hating the MTC. There are some aspects and many people who are full of the enthusiasm & positivity that should come from the gospel of the Lord. This work shouldn't be a burden it should be full of joyful preparation.
Hey by the way can you send me a copy of the Cleon Skousen talk "The Meaning of the Atonement?" I saved it on one of the computers. Oh and I read somewhere that I could get some of my $$ back from the vaccinations if I sent you this form I've enclosed.
Anyhow I love love love you! You are my best friends and I know that you support me and love me. I know that Christ lives and I know this Church is true.
Love Elder Lewis
PS - no email account yet.
The MTC has been challenging. I've felt the spirit so much since I've got here but I've gone through this roller coaster of discouragement and encouragement. I'm trying to relax and stop stressing but sometimes I feel overwhelmed. my companion often acts like the work is a burden and I've had to tell him a couple of times that his negativity is making me miserable. I've prayed a lot about it and I'm trying to have the positive attitude ("positude") I need to teach this gospel right. I've gone through emotions of inadequacy and lots of stress. Today's been better though. It's P-Day and I've been to the temple and that helped a lot. I'm sorry if I sound sad I'm just trying to figure out how to be positive with some of the negative atmosphere I sometimes encounter. I know this is where I need to be and I know I can do this if I have an eye single to the glory of God. Mom thank you so much for the letter you left with me and Dad thanks so much for the advice you gave me before I left. You both helped me get through this first week.
Guess What?! Pres. Uchtdorf spoke at the devotional! He's so amazing and he brought such a strong spirit with him. He's passionate about missionary work.
The Spanish is happening at my own pace. Problem is my companion has taken 4 years of Spanish and I kind of feel like he's trying to drag me along at a pace I can't work with. I really don't want to judge Elder Kemp but we've got to work together POSITIVELY. I HATE negativity! It stresses me out. My eye's been twitching! It never does that!
Well I don't want this to be a letter of venting but I rely on you and love you so much and I really need some advice.
The food isn't terrible. I think I might be gaining weight. Thanks for the Coke post card that made me chuckle! I hope Las Vegas is/was fun.
Don't get me wrong I'm not completely hating the MTC. There are some aspects and many people who are full of the enthusiasm & positivity that should come from the gospel of the Lord. This work shouldn't be a burden it should be full of joyful preparation.
Hey by the way can you send me a copy of the Cleon Skousen talk "The Meaning of the Atonement?" I saved it on one of the computers. Oh and I read somewhere that I could get some of my $$ back from the vaccinations if I sent you this form I've enclosed.
Anyhow I love love love you! You are my best friends and I know that you support me and love me. I know that Christ lives and I know this Church is true.
Love Elder Lewis
PS - no email account yet.
September 11th Letter to Hannah
Hannah
I miss you and I love you SO MUCH! You are my best friend and you fill my life with happiness. How's Rosie doing? How's school? How are you?
The MTC is a place full of work and study. There are lots of people who are really excited about teaching the gospel. There's LOTS of food and it does make us fart a lot.
I went to the temple this morning and it was great! I feel the Holy Ghost so much at the temple. The Holy Ghost is also very strong here at the MTC.
I can pray and bear my testimony in Spanish now. How cool is that? I haven't had a lot of time to read the scriptures because my companion doesn't exactly believe in personal study (which is wrong and frustrating) but when I do get a chance to read them I feel peaceful and happy. I hope you learn to love the scriptures if you haven't already.
I hope you know that you have the best parents EVER and they're there to help you and to be your friends. They've always helped me through concerns and they've always made me feel good about life and I know they'll help you just the same.
I love you Hannah and I want you to make the best of these 2 years.
Love Elder Lewis
I miss you and I love you SO MUCH! You are my best friend and you fill my life with happiness. How's Rosie doing? How's school? How are you?
The MTC is a place full of work and study. There are lots of people who are really excited about teaching the gospel. There's LOTS of food and it does make us fart a lot.
I went to the temple this morning and it was great! I feel the Holy Ghost so much at the temple. The Holy Ghost is also very strong here at the MTC.
I can pray and bear my testimony in Spanish now. How cool is that? I haven't had a lot of time to read the scriptures because my companion doesn't exactly believe in personal study (which is wrong and frustrating) but when I do get a chance to read them I feel peaceful and happy. I hope you learn to love the scriptures if you haven't already.
I hope you know that you have the best parents EVER and they're there to help you and to be your friends. They've always helped me through concerns and they've always made me feel good about life and I know they'll help you just the same.
I love you Hannah and I want you to make the best of these 2 years.
Love Elder Lewis
September 3rd, 2008
Family!All is good. The first couple of hours were tough but now I'm pretty much situated and I'm fine. I'm exhausted. My companion is Elder Kemp and he's awesome. He's really easy going and nice. We'll get along great. Me's my senior companion for now. Half way through the MTC we'll switch. My zone's awesome. People are outgoing and happy. I had to get 3 shots ($154 debit, oh well) I'm way excited for these next two years. I'm DEFINITELY going to be busy. I hope you're all doing good!
I Love You, Mom, Dad, Hannah!!!
Tyler
