last MTC email (Provo Week 6)

February 18, 2015

Yep, shipping out soon. We leave from Salt Lake City at 11:30, arrive in New York at 5:55 and Leave for Frankfurt at 7:45 arriving at 9:50 in Frankfurt, Feb 25th. Assuming nothing changes of course. I bought a phone card so I can call either before, in between, or both, I'm really not sure yet. I'll call on Dad's phone. Berliners and Frankfurters [Missionaries going to Berlin or Frankfurt Missions] have separate flight plans, they stop in Paris as well I believe.

[Reply to a comment I made to Hayden about me/us needing to respond to invitations from people or Heavenly Father] 

I totally agree, just as much, maybe even more that the people we invite, we need to respond to invitations and come closer to Christ. If you invite someone to pray for an answer about something you've taught there is no way that you can do that powerfully without having experienced the power of prayer yourself. The same with reading assignments, repentance, anything that you help people to do to come closer to Christ you should be doing yourself as a missionary.

Glad that Austin having fun, good reading and playing hard as always :)

I haven't done one on one tutoring or call center actually, I've been able to help out companions a lot and in my last district I taught the lesson on conversational past tense. The teachers sometimes turn to me for confirmation on grammar principles. I've been blessed with the ability to learn and understand language and with a head start in German, it's a cool opportunity to help other missionaries learn. Elder Garcia speaks Spanish as well and I heard that there are a lot of Spanish speakers in Heidelberg or around that area, who knows, he could end up there, tri-lingual skills. It is so cool to watch the missionaries learn and grow, from a slightly outside perspective as pertaining to language. They progress so fast, study hard and have a lot of faith. The analogy of "drinking from a fire hose" language wise is very true. They teach them SO much! An impressive amount sticks, but usually it just hurts they say :) They do well and have great attitudes; everyone is excited to go to Germany.

I got another Journal specifically for setting goals. I set a lot of goals and grow a lot, but often I forget to check back on them and see how I progress/ if I'm accomplishing them well. Memorizing German scriptures. (I sent Taylor a list). Personal scripture study, companionship study, Language study, things to work on in additional study time, fitness goals, Christ-like attributes that I'm working on. Luke 2:52, wisdom (learning goals) stature (physical goals) favor with God (spiritual) and man (social). The "well-rounded square" that we talked about in Sunday school, setting goals within important broad categories. I have learned, am learning, and will continue to learn and grow a lot, there is always so much more! One scripture that I really liked about humbly accepting what you don't know but really knowing what is important is 1 Nephi 11:17 "And I said unto him: I know that [God] loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

Just like Nephi said in that verse, there may be a lot that I do not know, but I do know that God loves his children. (Romans 8:16 "the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.)

Love it! Love the Scriptures and so excited to share this message with the people of Germany! Thank you again for the email and package,

Love,

Elder Blanchard

P.S. Read 3 Nephi 27 for family scripture study this week, let me know how it goes in an email.

Imagining that scene (Provo Week 5)

February 11, 2015

Mom and Dad,

YAY!!! That's awesome to hear about more friends getting mission calls, so exciting. I also see a lot of BYU friends at the MTC, both missionaries and people who work here. - one of cousin Mariah's old room mates. Sorrell Dumas, a BYU friend from German class, people from my singles ward, saw Travis Clark when I was walking back from the temple 2 weeks or so ago. Ashley Elliott and I are in the cafeteria at the same time, and many more. Fun encounters :)

I get my travel itinerary tomorrow and will definitely pick up a calling card, expect details in a coming email :)

The family is staying really busy, keep up the good work, go for a run together of something good like that too. So much busy-ness, doing good things over there.

Yep, so much change! I have a very unique situation, 5 companions, 3 districts and 2 languages. Elder Garcia speaks some Spanish too (didn't grow up speaking but learned in the last two years from his parents and the sister missionaries) so I'm learning a bit of Spanish as well as I help him with his German. It's sweet. He is so awesome, such a strong testimony and great love for the gospel, baptized October 28, 2013. He's a champion. We work hard, teach with the spirit, and have a lot of fun (yes, Austin, I'm having fun).

Elder Prom from my old district was also a pretty recent convert, sister Helmick was about a year ago too. We have a strong group with lots of young, burning testimonies.  

"So many questions and you have so little time to answer. District leader, now Zone Leader, food, exercise, sleep, pictures. Have you tried to upload pictures wifi or other. Did you get the memory stick of stuff from Taylor? Gaining weight or losing? People you know...have you run into Ashley Elliott (Portugal)." [list of questions from Dad]

District leader and zone leader have been good. On the onset of my mission, my attitude about leadership positions was: I hope I don't get called to do those, I'd rather teach/train. If I do though I'll do my best and do so willingly and happily. My attitude now is more: I'll do whatever I'm asked to do, trusting. Striving to be a tool in the Lord's hands and doing whatever I'm asked. The food isn't bad, it actually tastes pretty good. It sticks to the teeth though, so Listerine was an important purchase.

I sleep great! I'm used to the schedule now and it's really good. 7.5-8 hours is more that I got during a lot of high school, just a more packed schedule in the day to go with it. I tried to upload pictures today but struggled, maybe next week. I got to the cannon web site, got onto the account but couldn't figure out the rest. I got the memory stick from Taylor, my weight is the same as when I left (lost at first, gained it back, now maintaining).

I love Christ so much and how the Gospel is centered on him, the Rock and foundation. We have awesome scriptures study personally and as a class, the other day we read 3 Nephi 11, so powerful. Quick part of that:

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

 15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

Imagining that scene is so touching. Christ invites people to feel him physically and feel of his spirit. He invites us all to come unto Him and partake in the peace and happiness that His Gospel offers.

Also, have you read 2 Nephi 31 yet? This is the follow up on that commitment :) Also, I invited Austin to read 1 Nephi 8, draw a picture of Lehi's vision, and send me his picture, maybe a good FHE activity :)

Thank you for the email and love! Keep up the good work,

Love,

Elder Blanchard

SO much change this week (Provo Week 4)

February 4, 2015

Mom and Dad,

To quote Taylor, "are Austin and Emily dead?" [Dad note-Emily and Austin owe Hayden a letter]

Dad is staying really busy with his calling! Lots of analogies for the spartan race, good lesson. Thinking about doing hard things, check out 1 Nephi 20:10, trials making us stronger, refining us!

Lucky Austin, I LOVE COOPER, what fun. The Packs are moving again? It seems like they just barely moved, hope they can stay in the ward, such a good family. 

Emily is a champion, way to go! getting good grades!

Fun with the family, I didn't even realize the super bowl was happening haha, same with ground hog day and MLK day the other week. The days blend together at the MTC- hard studying, eat, sleep, pray (always, prayer is so good) repeat. Temple visits, church, meetings. Oh and I'm a zone leader now in my new zone, so more meetings :) more on that soon.

Hope the beehive activity went well, busy overall between preschool and Dad's work!

That's cool for Talyon, I'm actually getting a Dutch Book of Mormon from someone I met at the MTC, apparently it's REALLY similar to German. [Talyon Perry called to the Belgium/Netherlands Mission-friend from home]

I can't think of anything I need, and the package is a bunch of Finnish stuff from my old friend in my distrikt. (he gave me pmg, scriptures, dictionary, other Finnish things he didn't need cause he already speaks English fluently)

The MTC! SO much change this week. 2 Mondays ago I switched from the international district I was in to the German district, companions with Elder Klingler and Elder Barnhill, fun stuff. I went from being the youngest in my district to being the oldest. The new district is also a lot of fun and they work hard, the type of work is different. Being in the international district and speaking English, we did a lot of scripture study/doctrine and a lot of teaching. In language districts, it seems like there is a lot more time for study on our own time as missionaries (in companionships, personal, as well as language and "additional study") I had a lot of fun with the new group, But, I was just switched to another district. A missionary in another German district went home, so there were two tri-panionships in the zone. The Branch President talked with us about the situation and now I've moved to the other district so that the companionships are normal 2 missionary sets. 3 people together can be fun, but it makes comp study, teaching, and  going places for personal things (restroom, errands, whatever it may be, we go together) a bit harder. So, today I have my first day with the new district, they're a nice group, haven't had any lessons yet because it's p-day, but they seem friendly :) My companion Elder Garcia was baptized about a year ago, he's awesome. He has such a strong testimony, works hard, and doesn't stress about what he doesn't know. He really has faith that he'll be supported as he does his best here and in the mission overall.

We also moved apartments today. The building I was in was converted to a girls building....

no time to finish, off to class!

I love you all! thanks for the updates,

Elder Blanchard