Pumpkin Trevor

Heyyyyy!

 

First of all, thank you so much to friends and family that have sent packages, letters, etc. They make my day! I will try my best to write everyone back but just know that I'm very busy. Love you all!

 

Happy Birthday Mom! I decided that I was going to write YOU for your birthday. Others can read it too, but this letter is mostly for you. I hate to say it but usually I write down a few things that I want to say but I didn't have time to do that this week. So, I'm just going to have to wing it. I guess first of all I'll just talk about how much I love you. Last night I was reading yours and Dad's letters to me and an overwhelming feeling of love came over me. Love from Heavenly Father, and from the Savior, but most of all I felt love for and from you and Dad. I think that one thing that a mission really does is allows you to love people with greater capacity. It's strange to think that I could love you and our family even more when I'm gone but this is the case. I kept having this impression, "Trevor, I love you, and that's why I gave you the parents that you have." I love you so much, Mom. I know that I would not be here today if it weren't for you, so just remember that YOU have had a big part in my mission as well. I'm so glad that I am serving a mission and I hope that I can repay you in some small way for all that you've done and will continue to do for me.

 

So, tomorrow is the official one month mark. I cant believe that I've already been here for that long. Time is flying. All is well here, and I'm glad to hear that things are going well at home. I had the biggest smile on my face as I read about "Pumpkin Trevor" in Collin's, Dad's, and your letter. I love that girl! (Note for those who don't know what I'm talking about: Ava carved a pumpkin with my dad and decided to name him Trevor "so we wouldn't miss him".  She really went to extra efforts to include "Pumpkin Trevor" in our FHE, family prayers, etc.)  There was one night this week where I was sitting there feeling really tired and even a little sad for some reason. I can't remember why but I started to go though the big stack of pictures that Ava and other cousins had drawn for me. I hung them all up on my wall and looked at each one. Though most of them just looked like little scribbles with random symbols, something hit me. Little children truly do have the pure love of Christ. In fact, it is probably most easy for them to demonstrate and understand. If you ever pay attention to what Ava draws, it's mostly hearts, names, animals, and people. I'm pretty sure that she draws things that matter most to her, and if that's the case, she is full of love (hence the billions of hearts). She has so much love for the people in her life, and she knows that everything on this earth is from her Heavenly Father and is grateful. Anyways, I'm rambling, but it really made me happy. We would all do well to follow the example of little children. Tell Ava and Aubrey that they make me so happy. :)

 

So guess what? Elder Richard G. Scott came and spoke to us this week for devotional. That means two apostles in a row!!! How crazy is that? Must mean that missionary work is a big priority for the Lord right now. It was a truly amazing and spiritual talk. He talked a lot about recognizing and following the Spirit. I think I'm going to make a copy of the paper that he gave all of us and send it home because it has lots of good points about the Spirit. He also invoked a protective blessing on the sister missionaries and the gift of tongues upon all those that were learning a language as an apostle of Jesus Christ. It was pretty amazing.

 

So I witnessed a small miracle in the TRC on Tuesday. We aren't supposed to teach in Spanish until this next Tuesday, but we decided that we wanted to try anyways. We go in there and we have a native Spanish speaker. I could barely understand him. I said a quick prayer pleading for the Lord's help. Even though it had flaws, we taught the whole second lesson in Spanish. I know that the Lord has the ability to help us do things that we wouldn't usually be able to do (especially if we're about his work). It was a pretty neat experience. There have been a lot of other small miracles every day and so many uplifting experiences. Nothing new really, but I'm still loving being a missionary. I'm so excited to get out in the field and start teaching the people of Nicaragua. It's gonna be here before I know it too!

 

Well, a couple things changed. More elders went off to the field from our zone. This was kind of sad since they were starting to become really good friends, but we were happy for them. We got a few new ones in our zone and they're all great guys. We convinced two elders going to Chicago that Elder Amis (in my zone) went there before on a mission but that he had to come home. We explained that someone was trying to mug him and his companion. The mugger dropped his gun, and Elder Amis picked it up and shot and killed the robber. It was perfectly acted out. Elder Amis was shining his shoes in the back of his room with only his desk light lighting up his face. Seriously, he could've gotten an academy award for it. We told them it was just a story pretty soon after but it was hilarious. They were terrified to be in the same hall as a cold-blooded killer. What else....it snowed! Which means, (which i had no idea of), that elders HAVE to wear a suit all the time. Which means I wear one of two pairs of suit pants and the same jacket every day. Oh well, have to be obedient right?

 

I'm not sure if I really have a challenge except for this. Tell everyone in the family to try to love each other even more than they do. I'm starting to realize more and more how crucial families are in the Plan of Salvation. I have such a great love for everyone in our family and I'm so glad that we have the gospel.

 

Well Mom, I need to go now because Elder Durrant needs to use some of my time to e-mail something to his family, but I love you so much. I'm sending you a little birthday present today so it should get there soon. :) Thank you for being such an amazing mother, and for teaching me so much about this gospel and for being the perfect example of love for me. I hope that you have the best birthday ever and I hope to keep hearing from everyone in the fam.

 

Love your son,

 

Elder Trevor Ward

Guess What?!

Hola mi familia! Como estan?

 

Man, this week flew by again.  I look forward to getting to write all of you so much.  I hate to admit it, but I think all of these letters are going to start sounding the same. I can't even really remember what I told you in the last one.  Thanks for all your letters and support though I really, really do appreciate it. Letters in the MTC are like manna from heaven. Mom, thanks for sending another package with a sweater and cookies and stuff. The cookies were soooooo good, and the sweater is perfect. And yes, I can send packages home before I leave so I'll probably be doing that.

Guess what?! Elder Nelson, as in the apostle, came to speak to us for Tuesday devotional. It was amazing! It was definitely an answer to my prayers too. Honestly, the initial excitement of being a missionary has started to wear off and its getting a little harder to truly enjoy the work every day. I was feeling a little stressed out about all the things that it takes to be a good missionary, and I was praying hard that I could change my attitude to be happy about what I was doing. Elder Nelson didn't give us some crazy secret to missionary work or anything. He basically just got up there and said, "each one of us knows who they are and what God wants them to do..." Then he basically just went on to talk about how we do what we do because we follow the Savior, Jesus Christ, and we are to establish His church on the earth.  His talk was so simple, yet so powerful. It made me realize that the gospel, and even being a missionary, is such a simple thing.  Really there is a lot that goes into being a missionary but the most important part is that I have been called to help bring people unto Christ by faith, repentance, baptism, recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. He also promised us that we will be prayed for every week by the First Presidency and millions of people around the world every day. That really hit me, because we can feel those prayers. Thanks to all thsoe that pray for the missionaries.  He also promised us a couple of times that we will be safe on our missions, safer than anyone we know back home. Soooo...don't worry about my safety because you're the ones in danger! haha. I loved Ava's story about being excited to be baptized.  The amazing thing about the gospel is that even a 4 year old can understand it and have love for the Savior.

This week I was really impressed by a couple of verses in the Bible. In Luke 2 it talks about when Christ was young and when He was in the temple teaching. His parents find him there and he says, "wist ye not that I must be about my fathers business?" I know you know this family, but I felt impressed to share this with you. I know without a doubt that this is where I'm supposed to be.  Elder Nelson also promised us multiple times that our families will be so blessed for what we are doing. I hope that I can serve the Lord to my fullest capacity so that you can recieve those blessings.

This week, like every week, we went and taught at the TRC. For some reason, I just didn't feel super good about it after just because things didn't go as smoothly as I had liked. My teacher was doing an evaluation with us after because they watch the lessons on camera. He told me that it really doesn't matter how you felt, you just commited one of them (there were two investigators) to baptism. He said yes because he felt the spirit! It was a good reminder that it doesn't matter how well I thought I did, but whether or not I invited that person unto Christ.

Another little miracle... last night we were supposed to teach another class in our district and our teacher only gave us about a 10 minute heads up. We had talked a lot earlier that day about how we really need to work hard on spanish and SYL (speak your language) all the time. I said, "Elder Durrant, we're doing the lesson in Spanish." I was scared that it was going to be horrible, but I know that because we've been working hard and praying even harder for the Lord's help that He helped us to give a simple version of Lesson 2 in Spanish. Sure, there were definitely flaws, but I could feel the Spirit so strong and I think our fellow missionaries could too.

We got some new elders in our zone!!! Man, it feels good to not be the fresh meat. The sisters left for the Guatemala MTC this week so now we only have 6 elders in our district/classroom. Its kind of weird!

Funny stories for the week. Elder Durrant has this alarm clock that looks exactly like a Razor cell phone. A member of our branch presidency (who is a pretty cool brother) came to our residence halls at night. I took the "cell phone/alarm clock" and started talking in the hall.  I said, "hey babe, whats up?" and paused..."yeah the mtc is great but I miss you so much too." When he saw me I think he just about had a heart attack. It was great but we all laughed and he said, "you got me good, Elder, but too bad I have the real thing right here!" Everyone went ohhhhh!!!! when he pulled out his Razor cell phone.

Another funny story. There's a well kept sercret in the MTC. They're called Narnia Holes. In everyone's dressser they have a little hole in the top that people put random objects and pass alongs in. It's super cool! So we go into the new elders' rooms last night and look, and I start taking all this random stuff out; soap, flip flops, etc.  I'm like, why would someone put this in here? Turns out I was reaching all the way down into the elder's top drawer.

The weeks are FLYING here. It's crazy! We talked to an elder from Mexico that had only been here for 4 days who was learning English. It was nuts! It reminds me that I have a long way to go before I get out of here.

Thanks for keeping me updated on things at home. Man I sure do miss those FHEs with the ghost story and Ava getting upset and hiding under the piano. By the way, everyone thinks Ava is the best artist in the world. I have a sweeeet collage in my room of pictures from Ava and cousins. They remind me that God truly does love us because he sent us families. I love you all so much family and I hope you know that I pray for you every day, in Spanish. Keep choosing the right! By the way, how has having charity and doing missionary work been going? (Following up on commitments is the most important part :)

Challenge for this week: Read about the Savior and his life in the scriptures (there's TONS in the topical guide), and strive to live like He did. It's tough, I know, but it is the way to true happiness. We have something amazing in our lives and we should never ever, ever take it for granted. I love you so much and keep telling me about home, drawing pictures, whatever!

 

Con mucho amor,

 

Elder Ward

Time's flying in the MTC!!

Mi familia!!!!!
By the beard of Zeus, it's P-day again!!! Man its crazy how time flies in the MTC.  I'm stoked that I get to write again, but not so stoked that my brain has to explode for the fastest 30 minutes of my life.  I'll try to write the important stuff.  I never know if I should just tell you about what is going on with me or respond to your letters, but here it goes.  By the way, I can only write letters on P-day and, believe it or not, P-days are super busy.  Thanks for all the letters and stuff though, I really do appreciate them.  They make my day!
Dad:  Sorry to hear that work is a little slow right now.  I'm teaching an "investigator" tonight who is worried about providing for his family because he doesn't have a lot of work.  We are going to share Jacob 2:18-19 with him.  (I'm not trying to criticize or anything, but remember where your priorities are:).  It's pretty easy to stay focused on what's important on a mission and it's amazing how much joy I have being here.  It's strange how the things we usually make the least amount of time for are the things that bring us the most happiness.  I loved what you said in your letter, "I'm trying to act when I feel moved to do something, even if it is kind of awkward."  That is exactly what missionary work feels like!  It's the awkward things that we are most blessed for it seems like.  By the way, there is a whole district going to Cochabamba, Bolivia, in my zone.  They're all great guys and I tell them that they are in for a great mission from what my dad tells me.
Mom:  (After all the thank yous for the things sent to him and requests for additional items needed like socks, sweatshirt, another notebook, and snickerdoodles, he writes...) You mentioned after seeing a Nicaraguan news clip, that you had the impression that I will feel a great love for the people of Nicaragua.  Honestly, I feel like I already do.  When it gets really hard to stay cooped up in a classroom all day, I know I am doing this for them.  I'm so excited to be able to get out in the field and bring everyone I meet the best thing that they could ever have.  Actually, more like help them realize it for themselves.  You also said in your letter, "if we are obedient and diligent in our callings, responsibilities and stewardships, life is going to bring us great joy even though the road may be hard at times."  I know that is so true.  It's amazing because everyone in this world wants to be happy, it is why we exist (2 Nephi 2:25), but a very, very small percentage know where to find it.  One of my new favorite scriptures is Mark 8:35.  I know that serving others is a huge part of that happiness.
WEEKLY CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE:  Forget about yourself and focus on the Lord and others.  I promise that you will have a great week.
Connor and Collin:  BROSKIS!!!!  What's up Nephi and Sam?  Thanks for your letters.  I loved them!  Connor, just as you know that I should be here, I also know that I should be.  I also know that it's where both of you should be very soon.  Look forward to it because it's the greatest thing ever!  On to important stuff...I'm glad that you're keeping the jersey alive.  I best be hearing about you sporting the colors soon.  Hall of Fame=GENIUS!!  Collin, I loved hearing about you wanting to help your friend.  Don't have a lot of time to give a ton of advice now, but here is one of my favorite quotes from my MTC teacher; "If they can FEEL your love, you can NEVER be too bold."  For now, follow the Spirit and ask Heavenly Father for guidance.
Aubrey and Ava:  My two lovely sisters!  Thanks for the letters Aub.  I really did love them.  I hate to say this, but they won't let me wear the bracelet you made me in the MTC.  Psh!  That's so cool that you're singing in church for the primary program.  I've grown to love the hymns in the MTC even more than I did before.  I loved the story about you and Ava watching the Testaments movie and you teaching her about Jesus.  You both are so sweet spirited and keep being a good example to Ava.  She looks up to you a lot.  AVA!  I love hearing goofy stories about you!  I told everyone in my district and every gosh darn missionary I see that you are praying for them!  Mom said that you want me to come home soon.  I say, "I'LL GET THERE WHEN I GET THERE!!!!"  Please send me some more pictures soon.:)
About me, gosh, I dunno.  I'm still soooo happy and I still love being a missionary.  I've learned way to much in one week to write down in one e-mail.  Like I mentioned before it can be tedious sitting in class all day, but it's always worth it.  I love learning as much as we do in one day.  Oh yeah, believe it or not, the volleyball here ain't half bad.  I know that it's time to serve the Lord and not play volleyball, but it's kind of my release here at the MTC.  Sometimes we have gym with the "polys" and they all pretty much invented volleyball.  Everything feels like its rolling pretty good now.  I feel a lot more comfortable with Spanish (what I know so far) and I'm getting more used to talking to people in Spanish.  It was hilarious the other day...I fell asleep for like 5 minutes (don't worry-it was the only time) when I was doing this Spanish learning thing on the computer.  Elders Galvan and Waite from my district came in, cranked the volume on my headphones, and played an audio flashcard that said "VIVIR".  In my sleep, I slowly raised my head up and repeated "VIIIVVVIIIRRRR".  Spanish, man, it gets in your head!
I'm so glad that you all are reading the scriptures everyday.  It is SOOO important and I know that it's the most important thing that you'll do all day.  Keep it up!  There have been so many instances this week where I've been teaching, some of them in Spanish, where I've felt the spirit so strong.  I'm starting to realize more and more that I'm just an instrument in the Lord's hands as a missionary.  Whatever happens is what He wants.   I just have to be well tuned.  Where, when, how, and why He is going to use me is completely up to Him.  I challenge you all to do the same.
Wow, I actually have two minutes left and now I don't know what to talk about.  Well, how about this.  Do missionary work.  It's super duper important!  Be bold about proclaiming the gospel.  We want other people to have what makes us the most happy in our lives.  One thing that I've learned so much about is that this work is focused all around the investigator.  First show love for friends and neighbors, and then teach them principles of the gospel that are applicable to their exact needs.  If you're living righteously, then I promise the Lord will help you!
I love you soooooo much family and I hope to hear from you soon!!!
Love, Elder Ward  

1st Letter-Finally!

Hey family!  I miss you soooo much! Thanks so much for the letters that you sent me and thanks Aubrey and Ava for the pictures.  They made me smile so much and it was so good to hear how everyone is doing. I hope I will have time to write grandmas and grandpas, aunt Karla and her kids, and Sister Reese (Dell'oso), but if not thanks so much for the support and I'll write soon!
Wow, I do have a bunch of stuff to tell you! Oh yeah, P-days are on Thursday.  I'm doing so great!  This is the happiest time in my life thus far.  There is so much joy that comes from preaching the gospel and I feel my testimony growing exponentially every day!  D&C 18:15 talks about the joys of missionary work and "how great shall be your joy in the kingdom of your father" and I haven't even taught a real investigator yet!  I love the MTC!  There is such a strong spirit here all the time and I'm sure if there is one place that the Lord smiles on often, it is where his missionaries are.  The first few days were kind of crazy, but I still loved them.  Now that we're on a schedule the days go by fast.  I feel like there isn't enough time to do everything in the day.  It's been good to see lots of friends like Cody, Chandler, Jake McGlothin, Hermana Nelson, etc.
I love my companion!  He is awesome!  His name is Elder Durrant and he's from some made up town in Idaho called Kuna.  We don't have a ton in common but we get along really well.  I know that the Lord puts companions together for a reason and I know that he has strengths that I don't.  He works REALLY hard, which I love.  That's probably the biggest thing we have in common besides our testimonies.  He grew up on a farm and is sort of a cowboy so he knows how to work.  We do say "Bring it on" and added "Cowboy up" in the mirror every morning.  Good thing I worked with Carl this summer, right?:)
My district is great!  We all love each other a lot already and we have a lot of fun, more fun than most districts.  We are so blessed to have hermanas for 3 weeks too.  They are going to Guatemala and the Peru MTC in two weeks but they truly are great examples and are so inspiring.  PS-nobody told me there would be cute sisters in the MTC.  Don't worry, I'm not flirting with them or anything.
I have learned so much in the past week.  My perspective on missionary work has already changed.  I know the Lord has helped me so much this past week with everything and I thank you for your prayers (especially Ava's) :).  I feel them and I feel the Lord's help.  For example, Spanish.  There have been some things that we're expected to learn that seem impossible to do in such a fast time, but as I pray, study, and work hard I am able to do them.  Like my favorite scripture says "in His strength I can do all things".  I can comfortably pray, contact, get to know someone, and bear testimony in Spanish.  Yesterday, I memorized the first vision in Spanish as well.  Just remember family that you can do great things with the Lord's help.
Mom and Dad, you were right in assuming that I'm in class most of the time.  We also have companion, personal, and language study everyday.  It's a busy schedule and can be tough, but I really love it.  I feel like I have so much to learn about the gospel and missionary work!  We went to the TRC on Tuesday where you teach mock investigators, and it was a really cool experience.  I felt the Spirit so strong and once again felt the Lord's hand in our teaching.  One thing I've learned most about is loving the investigator.  The WHY of why do missionary work.  We should teach the gospel because we love our investigators and want to share the best blessing we have with them.  Anyways, in the TRC we asked our investigator if he thought there was a God and he said yes because of the joy that his children bring to him.  I then related how much joy comes from families with the story of how happy I was when I received letters from my wonderful little sisters.  That really pulled at my heart strings and I think it pulled at his too.
CONFERENCE.  Ahh man it was so good!  Maybe its just because I'm a missionary and EVERY talk and song seemed to apply to me, but it seemed better than ever.  How did you like the MTC priesthood choir? Wish I could've been in it!  There was something definitely special about sitting in a room with thousands of missionaries for conference.  When President Monson walked into the conference center I received a powerful witness that he is a prophet of God.  We are SO blessed to have prophets on this earth today, more than we even know.  Where would we be without them?

Arriving at the MTC

So I bought a jet pilot pen the  day I got here and its already out of ink. WOW!  I took about 30 pages of notes from conference.  I'm not going to tell you all of my favorite talks, but what I will say though is follow the prophets!!! I liked what Elder Costa said about how the prophet's words are God's priority.  They should be our priorities.  I promise you that as you all go back and study them and strive to be 100% obedient you will be so blessed and happy.  That is one of our main goals here in the MTC, 100% obedience. I feel those blessings already.  And...the prophet talked about missionary work first!!!!
I loved Elder Holland's talk.  It made me think of you a lot mom and dad.  Thank you so much for sacrificing to raise me and for being great parents. I love you.
Most of all I challenge you, family, to do missionary work! Its hard but the hardest things in life are the ones that bring us the most joy.  I'm learning that here a lot.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! Keep writing because I appreciate the letters so much.  Know that I'm happy and the Lord watches over me and you.  Follow the prophets and be happy! We are so blessed in this life.
Testifico que el Evangelio de Jesucristo is verdadero y trae felicidad.
Love, Elder Ward