Last Email from the MTC

Well, I am going to keep this email pretty short and sweet. I fly out today! Isn't it crazy? 6 Weeks have passed by so fast! But I have learned and grown so much here. I love everything about it here and the Spirit I felt is so strong. I loved all my teachers and they were such great examples to me. We had a last class for all 3 of them these past few days, and I actually got really sad because this will be the last time I see all of them! They have taught me so much here and I definitely owe a lot of what I know in Tagalog to them.

All the people were so nice and all were great examples! Even though I am not ready to dive into the language, I know what I have been prepared with is how much the lord wanted me to have. I plan to give at least 3 people around the airports a Book of Mormon. I need to teach myself to open my mouth. It's certainly going to be a different experience once I leave and even just go to the airport. But what I have learned is that if you set goals, the Lord will provide a way for you to accomplish these goals. 

We had one last skype TRC with a guy named Anthony last thursday. I still don't know that much Tagalog, but somehow, I managed to do really well! Elder Robert's told me I talked 75% of the time with understandable tagalog, I wasn't trying to take over the conversation but he just let me talk to him, and it really helped me out. Anthony was a returned missionary that served in the Philippines and the stories he had were just so great, I could relate to him really well. 

This last week one of our teacher's told us that sometimes you will have down days and not even know why. This last saturday, I definetely had one. One of my companions was sick and my other companion and I just had no will. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I felt not depressed but I just had no motivation and almost felt like I wanted to cry. I couldn't figure out why. We had to teach an investigator that night to. I was still getting used to the tripanionship and I just knew it was going to be an awful lesson. I was just hoping for the best. Well, we went in, and it ended up being one of the best lessons I have ever taught. We sang, and taught about a 35 minute lesson. Everyone in the tripanionship was able to say what they needed to say to the investigator. I felt the Spirit so strongly. I am thankful that the Lord was able to pick me up and help me when I needed it. There will always be down days, but I just need to fight and do my best! 

The last couple MTC devotionals were so great! One speaker was a managing director for missionaries ( I think) his talk was very relaxed and it made everyone laugh. It was nice to have a speaker who could make everyone bust up laughing. The other speaker was of the seventy and what I liked about his talk was that I can't just love the people, I need to help them. I want to be the person that is "their missionary". I will do my best to love the people, and to learn how to help them. That's what missionaries are all about.

Soon, I will be in a third world country. I have little knowledge about what to expect and I know I will have a culture shock. Growing up in America I had so many priveleges. I am so excited to get a slap in the face about how many privelges I really had and never actually saw. I am so excited to go to my "mother land". It's going to be hard, I already know. But the Lord wants me to grow and that is what I will do. Thank you for everyone who sent me letters, packages, and support at the MTC! It feels so nice to know that you are loved! I hope everyone knows that I love you! I pray for my friends, family, missionaries, teachers, everyone. I want everyone to do their best and stay close to the Lord! Mahal ko kayo!

-Elder Espiritu 

Elder Vincent and I (Elder Vincent is going to benin Africa French speaking!)

My last view of the Utah mountains for awhile

One of my last shots of the beautiful Provo temple

Some sweet name tag shots (courtesy of something my mom asked me to do :)

Elder Odermott and I with Sister Duncan and her companion, I know sister Duncan because we were both on the BYU ballroom team together, she just being a little older than me! Sister Duncan was going to Russia but was recently reassigned to go to Ukraine!

Elder Eisert and I, (we were on Pleasant Grove ballroom team together) he is going to Korea!

Last Stretch at the MTC

Isa more Linggo and I am on a plane to the Philippines! We got our flight plans last Biyernes (Friday) and I can't be more excited! I finally get to go to the country I have been dreaming of going to since I was an anak (child)! I know it's going to be a complete culture shock and super crazy, pero I am handa (prepared) to be shocked! During a district balik-aral (review) someone said that I am going to the "motherland" and it just hit me. I am so excited to leave America for a short time and "come home"!

So a couple of espiritwal mga karanasan (experiences) para sa this week, struggling is how you grow! On Huwebes (Thursday) we had to teach a member via Skype! It was honestly one of the hardest mga karanasan (experiences) I have had at sa MTC so far. The member served in Manilla, pero he spoke way faster than any native Tagalog speaker would ever speak. 

It was the biggest struggle, we did Skype with all the other missionaries Skyping in the room so it was sobrung loud in the room! It was just super hard to understand and I could not form any correct Tagalog phrases in my mouth. I am not going to take this bad though. I know I am still working on it, and it has only been a little over a month. But I will use karanasan nito as a pakakataon (opportunity) to grow. The language will grow through struggle and hardships, and I know that my afflictions shall be but a small moment.

On Martes we got to listen to Elder Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife. Both of their talks  were  great. Sister Clayton gave us Apat (4) pieces of advice, Una) Note ang himala (the miracle), pangalawa) Trust Heaven, pangatlo) Be patient (something I need to constantly work on) Pangapat) live with love. Ano talaga gusto Ko (what I really liked) what she said with her talk was "I hope that even though you work at a flower shop, you can still smell the roses". 

It made me think of my whole life. I have been raised living in a flower shop (or the gospel) so I kind of had roses around me all the time. I regret not trying to smell the roses when I was growing up. For the longest time, it was just a flower that my parents showed me. But now that I know how amazing this gospel and the spirit can be, and I always want to strive to smell the roses. Never forget what the roses smell like,(or the Spirit) because they can bring so much joy and happiness in your life.

I will magbahagi (share) really quickly what Elder Clayton said that I thought was really cool. He gave a quote by president Hinckley and it basically says "this church is either true or it's not." There is no middle ground. There are times where you have to have faith and believe in this church. Either Joseph Smith had a vision, or he did not. It's up to you to believe or not. He showed us a video of how many stakes there are in this church now, and it's roughly 3-4 thousand. 

This church is growing, and the world needs missionaries more than ever. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to be one of the servants of the lord. I am capable of changing so many lives, and the experiences I am able to receive on this mission will bless my life so much. I am so grateful for this gospel and will do my best to be like Christ. Soon I will be able to serve the people of the Philippines. I can't wait!

One last thing, I really really will always love D&C 121:7-9. My district was hit with a pretty hard tragedy, when we figured out that our District leader Elder Harmer, has to go home on an honorable medical release for a little bit. 

The Lord has interesting timing. We are leaving on Wednesday, and he can't even come with us. My heart is deeply saddened over this. He was one of my good friends, and it's hard to see him leave. But I know that God works in strange ways. Maybe this is all about timing. I am so grateful for him and how positive he is taking it. 

So just remember, God gives you trials in your life, everyone is going to get them. When the trial is over, you can grow from it. Please pray for Elder Harmer. I would really appreciate and I am sure he would too. 

I am thankful how supportive the LDS church is and to know that everyone is willing to help each other! Stay faithful to the Lord and He will bless you!

                         

-Elder Espiritu 

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Elder Espiritu leaves the Missionary Training Center on Sept. 28th and arrives in Manila Sept. 30th.

If you'd like to write him one last time while he's still in the MTC, please use DearElder.com

Week 4 in the MTC

It never ceases to amaze me how many times I can feel ang Espiritu dito (the Spirit here). We go through the same motions every day, same schedule, same types of food, same study time, and it get's pretty repetitive. Pero it's okay-lang. Because every repetitive day is just teaching me to become a better misyonero. Every day you can have an opportunity to learn or see something new.

(Elder Christie and I)

Every Sunday we are able to watch a gospel related movie. Dito Linggo (this week) I watched Tatlo bago bahagi (3 new sections) from Meet the Mormons part 2. They were great and had a lot of good messages. The one that I enjoyed the most was a group from Japan by the name of Bless 4. Their music is amazing and dancing too. (I really wanted to look them up after pero I couldn't which made me sad :( That pamilya made me isip tunkol sa pamilya ko (think about my family) It's sobrung mahirap to leave your family. Pero in the movie, so did one of their brothers. He left so much behind to serve the Lord. That gave me so much hope. I am not the only one missing family or random worldy things. Alam ko po na sa pamamigitan ng Diyos ni Jesucristo, malalaman kung ano ginagawa po ako tama. (I know through God and Jesus Christ I will know what I am doing is right). God and Jesus Christ are always there to help you, and the Holy Ghost will testify that to you. 

(Elder Jensen and I)

(A little salsa and queso party in our room)

The mga misyonero and I  dito are extremely blessed dahil (because) we got to hear from Dalawad other apostles of ang Panginoon Jesucristo. Elder M. Russell Ballard came to speak to us this Linggo (Sunday) and I felt ang Espiritu as soon as he walked in the room. 

(Elder Cook and I)

On Martes (Tuesday) We got to listen to Elder Quentin L. Cook. Elder Ballard's message was very makapagyarihan (powerful) yet simple. He told us maraming (many) points which of the ones that hit me were the most started off una (first) with to Learn to Appreciate. We never realize how much we have until we don't have it anymore. Alam ko po na (I know that) I can be ungrateful and I am in for an awakening which I am so excited for. Pangalawa (2nd) What you need to focus on as a missionary is to focus on how people feel, not what they know. The feeling ang Espiritu Santo is mas makapagyarihan at mahalaga. (very powerful and important) Pangatlo (3rd) I always need to stay positive. Just smile every day. Stay spiritually minded. 

(Elder Odermott and I looking at a tiny little speck on the map that is known as the Philippines!)

I was able to give a talk in sacrament meeting in my zone tunkol sa (about) pagsunod (obedience). In sa talk I talked about how technically Laman and Lemuel did all that was asked. But what are they known for? How much they complained. I can relate that to a mission life. If I complain about kung paano marami rules (how many) there are I won't really be able to grow. Pagsunod (obedience) brings blessings.

Exact pagsunod brings mga himala (miracles). Pangapat (4th). I absolutely loved a point he brought up about having a good mission. Sometimes the people in your mission can be mahirap (hard). More specifically a kasama (companion). I will have times where my kasama and I do not get a long, or do not work together. Pero, he told us this. Don't let anyone ruin your mission. They could ruin theirs but don't let anyone ruin yours. It was mas makapagyarihan. 

No one should be able to keep you from having a good mission. It's your mission, and you can choose what to let in. I need to appreciate the mission more. 

Every day is another day to do the Lord's work. I need to remember that. Elder Ballard's talk was very powerful, and I will for certain remember it.

Elder Cook's talk was mainly about the Apat mga mahal (4 loves). Una, Love your companion. Even if they might be driving you crazy, love them. You just have to love them more. Pangalawa, love the people. Swerty po ako dahil (lucky for me because) I am blessed to already love the people of the Philippines. I may not know all of them yet, pero I know that they are all amazing people and I will love them even if they don't love me. Pangatlo, love your mission president. He loves you and already knows who I am. I will love him and I know he is ready for me to come in 2 weeks. I already love him. Pangapat, love the Lord. 

Think of everything He has done for you. He loves you even if you hate Him. He will always love you. So we must love Him. Isn't that what it's all about? We all want to follow Christ's halimbawa (example) and maging like siya (become like Him). 

Every day is another day to learn, and I learn so much every time. It feels like I've been here for months now which I find funny, but I continue to love it! I've been here for a month now! Isn't it crazy? In 2 weeks, I will be in a different country! I can't wait! I will always do my best to represent the Lord Jesus Christ! Have a good week everyone!

-Elder Espiritu

P.S. Letters/Dear Elders and Packages are still mas appreciated! (Very) So if you ever want to send any, don't hesitate! Also Pictures are a thing I really want out here, so if you still have any you want to develop and send me, do it! Salamat! 

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While Elder Espiritu is in the MTC, you can write him using DearElder.com

DearElder prints emails and delivers them to the missionary Monday - Friday. On their site, choose "Write a Missionary" => "Provo MTC"

Elder Joseph Espiritu

Unit #219

Mission Code: PHI-LAOG

Estimated Departure Date: 9/28/16

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(This is what happens when you put an Ex MMA fighter, a tennis player, a ballroom dancer, and a baseball player together. Also something I would want to show my kids when I am old and fatter probably :P )

Week 3 in the MTC

Best thing about making mistakes, is you have so much to learn from them. 

I began to teach two new investigators and I could not find the words to say. It just felt awful as I did it. My Kasama and I nakalimutan (forgot) to even bring in kami ng Aklat Ni Mormon, so we could't even offer it to Nelly. 

It's easy to get discouraged here. Yet I like to take it as an opportunity to grow. Natandaan po ako (I remember) something my brother or sister wrote in their Preach my Gospel in which they put "growth can hurt". I totally agree with that statement. It can hurt, but afterwards you really become a much better tao (person.)

Martes continues to be pabrito araw po ako (my favorite day) dahil (because) we got to nagturo (teach) more volunteers! The isang tao (first person) was a girl who served a mission sa Philippines, at (and) she is studying to be a nurse at UVU! We taught her ang Ebangheylo ni Jesucristo (Gospel of Jesus Christ) and I only had gamitin (to use) about 10% english! 

The second was a Japanese woman born in America who learned Tagalog (she basically was Filipino including Filipino humor :P) and was talaga fun siya! I connected with her dahil she loved to cook Filipino food so I talked tunkol sa (about) nanay ako (mom) and her cooking, so it was a good conversation! My kasama (companion) told about his conversion story to the Aklat ni Mormon, and it made her cry. There's a whole level of him that I haven't even seen yet, and when it comes out, there is a really strong spirit.

Our MTC was extremely privileged to have Elder D. Todd Christofferson and his wife speak to us, which was broadcasted to all the MTC's around the world. I got to sing in the choir which still has around 1500 mga misyonero. Maybe some of my friends at other MTC's saw me, and that is a cool thought! He talked about baptism unto repentance. It's an interesting subject pero I learned a lot from it. It was amazing to see an Apostle of the Lord come and talk to more servants of the Lord. 

So weirdest/coolest thing this week, My district and some others are officially the "older district!" We had a new batch of Filipino missionaries come in this Wednesday and now we are the older example! It was pretty fun to mess with them even though we don't even know that much more. What I do know about the language is that without the Lord, I would not be understanding anything at all. I am thankful for the Lord and super thankful for kaloob ng mga wika. (Gift of Tongues)

Every day I grow in so many ways. I love it more every day I get through. I am so happy in doing the Lord's work. I say this every time pero I talaga mahal siya dito (really love it here). My mga guro (teachers) are sobrung magaling (so awesome) at one of them ito linggo was one of my brother's best friends Brother Christensen! 

They are so helpful here and I will probably miss this place when I leave, even when it gets repetitive. 

Salamat para sa lahat support kayo (thank you for all your support) and please continue to send letters and packages! It would be really awesome to here from more people! Mahal Kita!

-Elder Espiritu

Week 2 in the MTC

So I've decided that Martes (Tuesdays) are one of my absolute favorite days. We have this thing on those days that I just love. It is called Teaching Resource Center (TRC) where you are able to teach actual people who just volunteer to be a person you can teach. They don't act as an investigator, just themselves. I actually really look forward to teaching anyone in general now. I love the Spirit I feel when I do and it helps me improve in teaching and the language. We taught Dalawad (2) people today: a recent Returned Missionary named Tanner, and a S.O.A.R counselor (who actually was a counselor to my sister Aryn) named Jericho. They were both really nice, and we just taught them the first lesson. I wish I would've connected with them more though, dahil (because) it really helps teach better according to their needs.

So this whole week I didn't really get any letters or packages from anyone, and it really kind of made me sad. Finally though on the last couple days I got a big package from my pamilya and for some reasons I got all the letters on one day from them too that should've been sent a couple days ago. I could not have been more masaya when I got it. I decided to use this as a halimbawa (example). Sometimes you have to learn patience, and when you do, you will be rewarded greatly. It's pretty ironic that I did an attribute assessment and got the lowest score on patience. Diyos works in fun ways. :) 

One of the best things that you get to do here is be in choir. Currently the choir here is about 1500-1700 mga miysonero (missionaries) in the choir. To put that in comparison that would be equivalent to putting 5 Mormon Tabernacle Choirs together. Anyways something that really hit me was something the choir teacher said. He likes to include the ebanghelyo when we all practice, and this mensahe was profound. 

"Just the fact that you are a missionary, means you already are one in a million. You don't need to compare yourself to other missionaries. Because in this world, you are so unique. No one else is like you."

After choir we listened to one of the Presidency of the Seventy, Richard J. Maynes. What I loved is he told us "saving just one soul is worth the entire mission." It got me thinking. We reviewed the devotional as a district. It was such a spiritual experience. We talked about lots of things, but what hit me was this. It doesn't matter how many people I baptize. God put me here and then the Philippines specifically. Tao are spiritually prepared to hear my mensahe (message) that I get to bring them. I can't wait for when I get to them. 

That Martes I felt the Spirit so strongly, I almost wanted to cry dahil paano masaya naramdaman po ako.(because of how happy I felt.) mahal po ako ang joy that this ebanghelyo (gospel) brings me. 

I love the Spirit I feel here. I can already feel myself starting to lose myself in the work. Can't wait for what is to come! 

Hope you all can enjoy what I have to say! Salamat for all your mahal at support! (also, letters and packages are still very greatly appreciated) :)))

Love,

Elder Espiritu