Wow! I've been here longer, or almost so, than I was in Egypt! Crazy. This week has been yet another excellent week. Though, the days flow together and it is hard to tell the difference from one day to the next. I hope everyone at home is well. I am quite excited because apparently I have 2 packages on the way from my sister Sarah and Jenni. BTW I do want everyone to know, that on Wednesdays I sometimes get letters off before I get Dearelders, so my letters might not have anything to do with Dearelders, but my emails will. I hope that makes sense.
What interesting thing has happened this week? This week feels like it has been relatively unremarkable... The Hungarians finally got their Kichie (young one) A solo elder. He got mobbed by 9 Hungarians today when he arrived. He will be well loved for the next 5 weeks. We do not get young ones.
They are kicking us out of our dorm, I have to pack and unpack again before my trip to Albania! Lame! It is a good thing that Elder Fisher and I keep our room pretty clean. They are going to renovate our dorm, so they are moving us to another one.
Mum asked me how to say something to the extent of I am having a joyful day in Albania. Sot, kam gazim means today, I have joy. They often speak that way. You could also say Sot, Po Gazoj which means today I am rejoicing.
I do want to let everyone know that even though it is hard work here, every day is an excellent day. Everyday I see the had of God in my life. He surely blesses us. I still sleep very poorly here, but by the graces of the Lord I am the only member of the district who has not fallen asleep in class. That isn't to say that I don't get tired, but the Lord gives me strength far beyond my own and propels my mind. Also, as we remain positive the days go flying by even faster, and we continue to grow.
This week we have been SYL'ing (speak your language) but I am terrible at it. Elder Fisher and I try hard, but often after we say something in Albanian we have to then say it in English to each other. I have heard time and time again that I need not fret about the language, that I will get it, especially once out in the field. I am trying to take that to heart, but tomorrow is the first time we have to give a lesson in Albanian, and we are all anxious about it. Hopefully it will go well.
So I am extremely excited for Bradley, Richard, John, Andrew and Matt. Bradley's papers will be in very soon, however I doubt he will be hear before I leave. But by this summer we will see all 5 of them out, that is pretty crazy! The Lord has need of willing men that wear the workers seal!
Once I am in Albania, the mail may arrive at the Mission home in a timely manner, but if I am in any other city (Lushnia, Durres, Shkodur, Vlore, or Elbasan) it may take sometime for the mail to get to me, since someone from the mission home has to bring it to us, or someone from our mission must go retrieve it. I hope the wait is not too long, but the further away the greater time (therefore, Vlorr or Shkodur would take a while)
I have been thinking about going into the field, I am extremely excited about it, I cannot wait for it to be here! I know I won't know much by then, but the language will come! What I need to know is the gospel, so I can teach it simply!
I apologize for the insufficientness of this email. I'll be honest, I am quite confident they will be immensely more interesting once I am in the field. Thank you for all the dearelders and letters. they are truly a blessing in my life. Christ is our savior, I know it to be true. Everyone take care! Next week will be here in a blink!
Love,
Elder Scadden
Elder Scadden
Where's Gregory?
Gregory is now home.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
02/18/09
OK, so what should I write about? I seem to have forgotten everything I wanted to discuss... Yes, time is flying by very fast. Sometimes the days seem to slug on, but once they are finished I look back and think wow, that day just happened! And the weeks just fire by.
Oh! WE GOT TO HEAR FROM ELDER BALLARD YESTERDAY! Talk about a blessing! It was so amazing to hear from an apostle of the Lord! He mainly talked about how we need to be positive and that we need to Hurry. He said the work was moving too slowly, we needed to have the faith to find the individuals the Lord has prepared for us and be willing to teach them. He emphasized: There is NO mission where a missionary cannot baptize. He said that if anyone had told a missionary that they probably wouldn't baptize much if at all on their mission that person was wrong. If we go forward with the faith that the Lord will lead us to those who need to hear the gospel, than it will happen! It was very invigorating because, even though I am going to a "high baptizing" European mission, it really opened my heart up to the idea that I could bring many into the Gospel.
It is amazing just how much the Lord is growing me here. I have recently learned from 1st Nephi something that I had never realized before. In the beginning of 1st Nephi he does not have much faith, but he has a desire to believe and the Lord grants it to him and helps him to believe. Then he bears the testimony that he knows that the he can do whatever the Lord commands him because the Lord will provide a way. Finally, towards the end of 1st Nephi, he has reached a whole new level when he speaks to his brothers and commands them not to touch him else they will wither as a reed, he goes on to say that he could turn the oceans into land if it was the will of the Lord, and that if he, Nephi, would command the waters to be land the Lord would grant it unto him. What amazing growth in faith, from a simple desire, to a will to obey the commands of God, to an understanding that even the most physically impossible task can be accomplished through the Lord. The important thing to know here though is that he did not reach that point of testimony until many years after he began the path. Step by step, we can all come to understand what reliance on the Lord can do in our lives.
Mum asked me if I have service projects other than the RC. Yes, every Monday morning we clean a building, its the same building at the same time every week.
Mum also asked what we missionaries here thought about there being so few of us and so many people in the world. Elder Ballard actually talked about that: So many of the worlds people live in spiritual darkness, total darkness without realizing what the light must feel like. We must go forth to them. There might be a lot of Gods children on the earth, and so few laborers, but we can bring the world the truths of the Gospel!
I am happy and this is absolutely is the Lords work! God be with you all.
Elder Scadden
Oh! WE GOT TO HEAR FROM ELDER BALLARD YESTERDAY! Talk about a blessing! It was so amazing to hear from an apostle of the Lord! He mainly talked about how we need to be positive and that we need to Hurry. He said the work was moving too slowly, we needed to have the faith to find the individuals the Lord has prepared for us and be willing to teach them. He emphasized: There is NO mission where a missionary cannot baptize. He said that if anyone had told a missionary that they probably wouldn't baptize much if at all on their mission that person was wrong. If we go forward with the faith that the Lord will lead us to those who need to hear the gospel, than it will happen! It was very invigorating because, even though I am going to a "high baptizing" European mission, it really opened my heart up to the idea that I could bring many into the Gospel.
It is amazing just how much the Lord is growing me here. I have recently learned from 1st Nephi something that I had never realized before. In the beginning of 1st Nephi he does not have much faith, but he has a desire to believe and the Lord grants it to him and helps him to believe. Then he bears the testimony that he knows that the he can do whatever the Lord commands him because the Lord will provide a way. Finally, towards the end of 1st Nephi, he has reached a whole new level when he speaks to his brothers and commands them not to touch him else they will wither as a reed, he goes on to say that he could turn the oceans into land if it was the will of the Lord, and that if he, Nephi, would command the waters to be land the Lord would grant it unto him. What amazing growth in faith, from a simple desire, to a will to obey the commands of God, to an understanding that even the most physically impossible task can be accomplished through the Lord. The important thing to know here though is that he did not reach that point of testimony until many years after he began the path. Step by step, we can all come to understand what reliance on the Lord can do in our lives.
Mum asked me if I have service projects other than the RC. Yes, every Monday morning we clean a building, its the same building at the same time every week.
Mum also asked what we missionaries here thought about there being so few of us and so many people in the world. Elder Ballard actually talked about that: So many of the worlds people live in spiritual darkness, total darkness without realizing what the light must feel like. We must go forth to them. There might be a lot of Gods children on the earth, and so few laborers, but we can bring the world the truths of the Gospel!
I am happy and this is absolutely is the Lords work! God be with you all.
Elder Scadden
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Hail from the West
It snowed again. Twice or three times. I stopped counting. I have decided that I am not going to live in this place if I can avoid it.
Mum asked me questions she wanted me to answer so here it goes!
What are your Sabbaths like? Do you have the traditional 3 hr block?
No, there is very little that is traditional about schedules here at the MTC. On Sundays we still wake up at 6:15, but we have breakfast at 7. Because I am currently district leader, I have a meeting at 7:30; the rest of the district has personal study in a class room. I join them until 9ish when we elders go to Priesthood meeting. There we receive instruction that you might expect in any normal priesthood meeting. Then we go back to our class rooms for an hour and a half until Lunch and then we have Sacrament meeting. After that, we go to District Meeting, which is essentially Sunday school, but the lessons are on the rotation of the Christ like Attributes. After that we are able to go back to our dorms at 2:30. We are able to change into comfier cloths if we desire. At 4:15 Elder Fisher and Elder Smedley go to Choir practice, while I become Elder Allen’s companion. At 4:30 we go to dinner without them. At 7 is the fireside, which has yet to disappoint me. Then after the fireside we have the option to go see various church films or talks. There are always four choices a week and they change regularly, but they always show either the Testaments or the Prophet of the Restoration, which is good because I deeply enjoy both of those movies. Then we go back to our dorms, plan, and go to bed.
What do you do on your typical Pday?
We wake up at 6:15, and go to psuedoclass at 7. I call it psuedoclass because it exists only to make sure we get up at the normal time. We are allowed to relax more than we usually are in the class room. Then we have breakfast at 8:15, and then back to classroom, and then we leave for the Temple as a Branch at 9:55. It’s a nice pleasant walk and I am always dressed up in heavy winter battle gear, ready to resist the fiery snow and wind darts of the evil winter demons that inhabit this valley. The Temple is always wonderful. Today especially was outstanding. Then at about 12:30 we get out and go print emails, check mail, and grab a bag lunch rather than waste precious time in the cafeteria. The day is then ours until 4, when we start laundry, but it still is ours at that time. They have computers in the laundry room, so that is when I write email, like I am doing right now. That is why Mum and dad are always at the temple when I write. Then we go to dinner at 6, and we have normal class at 6:45. Pday is then over.
Have you been able to go to the Temple yet?
Yes. I greatly enjoy it. This week was the best yet while I have been here. I miss our little Temple.
What is your typical day at the MTC?
There is no typical day, each day have a different schedule. This is the average structure, but there are plenty of exceptions. We wake up at 6:15, shower, shave, and dress. 7 class begins, we open with a song in Albanian and a prayer in Albanian. We sing and pray over 8 times a day. At 8:15 we go to breakfast. At 8:45 class begins again. That goes until 1, when we have lunch. At 1:45, we have class again, until 6. At 6:45 we go back to class, until 9. Then we plan and get ready for bed. On Mondays we have a service assignment at 630, a large group meeting after breakfast where they train us on stuff and gym after dinner. On Tues. we have gym after breakfast, and a devotional after dinner (those devotionals are outstanding, much better than the firesides). Wednesdays are unique. Thursday... hmm I don't remember when we have gym on Thursday, we go to the RC at 1130 and after dinner we have something called the TRC where volunteers come in to be our fake investigators, it is pretty real. Fridays we have gym sometime, Fridays are our longest days it seems. There’s something special about Saturdays, but I can't remember, maybe its just because its before Sundays, which are wonderful days. That is my typical day. Our teachers come in at different time and teach us things. At other times we direct our own teaching. Thank you for asking me to talk about some times, let me know what you want me to talk about next week.
The Lord is helping me out a lot, he is lifting me up when I get down and he strengthens me beyond my own arm. I am very blessed here!! Everyone take care, God be with you!!!
With Love
Elder Scadden
P.S. I am sorley jealous of your beautiful weather. I miss the weather of NC.
Mum asked me questions she wanted me to answer so here it goes!
What are your Sabbaths like? Do you have the traditional 3 hr block?
No, there is very little that is traditional about schedules here at the MTC. On Sundays we still wake up at 6:15, but we have breakfast at 7. Because I am currently district leader, I have a meeting at 7:30; the rest of the district has personal study in a class room. I join them until 9ish when we elders go to Priesthood meeting. There we receive instruction that you might expect in any normal priesthood meeting. Then we go back to our class rooms for an hour and a half until Lunch and then we have Sacrament meeting. After that, we go to District Meeting, which is essentially Sunday school, but the lessons are on the rotation of the Christ like Attributes. After that we are able to go back to our dorms at 2:30. We are able to change into comfier cloths if we desire. At 4:15 Elder Fisher and Elder Smedley go to Choir practice, while I become Elder Allen’s companion. At 4:30 we go to dinner without them. At 7 is the fireside, which has yet to disappoint me. Then after the fireside we have the option to go see various church films or talks. There are always four choices a week and they change regularly, but they always show either the Testaments or the Prophet of the Restoration, which is good because I deeply enjoy both of those movies. Then we go back to our dorms, plan, and go to bed.
What do you do on your typical Pday?
We wake up at 6:15, and go to psuedoclass at 7. I call it psuedoclass because it exists only to make sure we get up at the normal time. We are allowed to relax more than we usually are in the class room. Then we have breakfast at 8:15, and then back to classroom, and then we leave for the Temple as a Branch at 9:55. It’s a nice pleasant walk and I am always dressed up in heavy winter battle gear, ready to resist the fiery snow and wind darts of the evil winter demons that inhabit this valley. The Temple is always wonderful. Today especially was outstanding. Then at about 12:30 we get out and go print emails, check mail, and grab a bag lunch rather than waste precious time in the cafeteria. The day is then ours until 4, when we start laundry, but it still is ours at that time. They have computers in the laundry room, so that is when I write email, like I am doing right now. That is why Mum and dad are always at the temple when I write. Then we go to dinner at 6, and we have normal class at 6:45. Pday is then over.
Have you been able to go to the Temple yet?
Yes. I greatly enjoy it. This week was the best yet while I have been here. I miss our little Temple.
What is your typical day at the MTC?
There is no typical day, each day have a different schedule. This is the average structure, but there are plenty of exceptions. We wake up at 6:15, shower, shave, and dress. 7 class begins, we open with a song in Albanian and a prayer in Albanian. We sing and pray over 8 times a day. At 8:15 we go to breakfast. At 8:45 class begins again. That goes until 1, when we have lunch. At 1:45, we have class again, until 6. At 6:45 we go back to class, until 9. Then we plan and get ready for bed. On Mondays we have a service assignment at 630, a large group meeting after breakfast where they train us on stuff and gym after dinner. On Tues. we have gym after breakfast, and a devotional after dinner (those devotionals are outstanding, much better than the firesides). Wednesdays are unique. Thursday... hmm I don't remember when we have gym on Thursday, we go to the RC at 1130 and after dinner we have something called the TRC where volunteers come in to be our fake investigators, it is pretty real. Fridays we have gym sometime, Fridays are our longest days it seems. There’s something special about Saturdays, but I can't remember, maybe its just because its before Sundays, which are wonderful days. That is my typical day. Our teachers come in at different time and teach us things. At other times we direct our own teaching. Thank you for asking me to talk about some times, let me know what you want me to talk about next week.
The Lord is helping me out a lot, he is lifting me up when I get down and he strengthens me beyond my own arm. I am very blessed here!! Everyone take care, God be with you!!!
With Love
Elder Scadden
P.S. I am sorley jealous of your beautiful weather. I miss the weather of NC.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
2 Weeks Out
Here are some sections taken from Gregory's latest email to his family.
----------------------------------------------------
Chekemie!
Hello from the MTC again. I've been here for 2 weeks now, but it seems like I've been here much longer. At the same time the days go speeding by, I'll probably be out before I think I've even been here. That’s fine with me, though I am having an excellent time. We hear from many inspired people, I have more stories from them than I can easily recount. The food is surviveable, it tends to get relatively repetitive. Fortunately they have a wide selection of cereal, I will never grow tired of cereal.
I hope everyone is doing well back in NC, I am very thankful for the dearelder notes I get. Please keep them coming!
The language remains a challenge, though we are making progress.
Today I had an insight that increased my testimony of continuously reading the Book of Mormon. So, I now know that no matter how many times you read it you will always, always find new understanding and new insight.
God be with you all!!
----------------------------------------------------
Chekemie!
Hello from the MTC again. I've been here for 2 weeks now, but it seems like I've been here much longer. At the same time the days go speeding by, I'll probably be out before I think I've even been here. That’s fine with me, though I am having an excellent time. We hear from many inspired people, I have more stories from them than I can easily recount. The food is surviveable, it tends to get relatively repetitive. Fortunately they have a wide selection of cereal, I will never grow tired of cereal.
I hope everyone is doing well back in NC, I am very thankful for the dearelder notes I get. Please keep them coming!
The language remains a challenge, though we are making progress.
Today I had an insight that increased my testimony of continuously reading the Book of Mormon. So, I now know that no matter how many times you read it you will always, always find new understanding and new insight.
God be with you all!!
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