Hola everyone! Life here is good. I was released as district leader this last Sunday. What a relief. I have a new respect for young mens leaders. I honestly felt like I was babysitting deacons, rather than leading missionaries. It's all good though. I love my district. There isn't anything really new this week. I only have four weeks left here! I will have the oppertunity to watch General Confrence of course. Bad part is I have to watch it in the gym with two thousand other missonaries. it gets hot fast. I will have five sessions of that. I'm excited though, I will be paying attention better than I ever have before in my life.
Today me and my companion, and another companionship went to the temple. We did sealings. They spilt the four of us up, my companionship went to the big sealing room while the other went to one of the small ones. When we finished, the elders in the other room said they did a bunch of "Ahlborn" names, or something that sounds like it. They were from Austria they think. I was kinda bummed I didn't get to hear them. Also after the temple I went and got a hair cut. The girl cuttin my hair is from Mapleton she went to springville high graduated 08, and she is best friends with the girl that I got in that car wreck with. I would say its a small world, I dont think being ten miles away from your house and meeting someone you know counts as a small world. Sometimes I forget that I'm still pretty much home. The view from my class room window looks out on south provo, springville and spanishfork, down to the windmills by the canyon. It's cool to look at it all at night, but no worries, it doesn't make me home sick.
The highlight of the week would probably be Aunt Raine's package. She is pretty much my favorite right now :) The spirtual highlight of my week was when I was teaching our teachers Investigator profile "Erica". Erica is from Mexico living in Texas. She Is a grandmother. She has a son in prision. She loves reading the Book of Mormon. Me and my companion have been teaching her for a while. Two weeks when we taught her it didn't go so well. at the beginning of the lesson she said she had a friend that said "Joseph Smith was a bad man, he was a thief and had more than one wife". This threw us off and our lesson didn't go so well. This week me and my companion studied and prayed about this question and answered it well. Best part was when we were explaining the spirit was totally there. I felt like I went into Spritual overdrive. Needless to say it went very well, and she will be getting baptised next week.
I'm doing well, life is good, I just cannot wait to get out in the field!!
Elder Ahlborn
Honduras
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 22, 2011
Quetal everyone!! How is life out in the real world. It's funny to hear from all my friends, they have all these tests and other things, and all I have to do is worry about others, not myself. It's the best! I hope you all had an enjoyable St. Patricks day. Here at the MTC everyone wore green ties and at dinner we got green cookies. That's how we do it here jajajaja.
If anyone is interested, I can get Honduras or anyother mission shirt here. It has the state or national flage on a white whirt. It has the nations moto bellow the flag, and a bunch of facts about the country above the flag. The shirts are Nine bucks each, kinda pricey for a shirt. Just send me the money and your shirt size and I will get that to you ASAP.
This week at the MTC was pretty crazy. Last Saturday, when we were playing volleyball in gym. There is an Italian missionary here that played highschool and College vollyball. He is pretty good which isn't to great for the rest of us. He went up for a spike, and drilled Sister Dutton in the face. Sister Dutton is a Hermana in my zone, she is pretty cool. She is about five foot with a firey personality. Some of the Elders don't quite like her because of it. I don't mind her one bit. Anyways when she got hit, I could tell something was wrong. For three days she went about like she was fine. She had gotten a pretty bad concussion because the ball had hit her right in the temple. They took her to the ER a few days ago because they thought her brain might be bleeding a bit. No worries, she is fine, there was a bit of bleeding but its healing. The best part of this story though, is that the Docter prescribed her "Loratab". It has a crazy effect on her, I think it's because she is so small. This whole week she has been doing and saying the crazyiest stuff. If you knew her you would know that she doesn't do that. The first time I saw her after she took her medication, she was wearing on of those fake glasses things that has the moustache and fake noes on it. She was jumping around like a bunny too hahaha. She kept telling me thank for the get better card, when I never gave her one. She then told me that I was the best Vollyball player she had ever seen, except the kid that spiked it in her face! Then she would just laugh for no reason. It's pretty much like our zone has had a four year old in it. hahaha I love it.
Alright something spiritual. This week, me and my companion have been teaching "mario". He is acutally our teacher, Hermano zivic, but he pretends to be mario. It's the whole "real play" thing I wrote about a few emails ago. We picked up on the second lesson where the other missionaries in our district had left off. We taught him half of the second lesson up to the Atonement. We then challenged him to Baptism. He said he wasn't ready. I was pretty devastated, even though it wasn't even real. Two days later we taught him the second half of that lesson. The spirit was there so much better, My Compaion and I taught with the power of the Holy Ghost. At the end we both bore our testimonies and challenged him again. This time he was like yes, I feel that this is so right. I can't even describe how I felt. It was amazing, and I know a real baptism commintent will feel even more amazing. I can't wait to get out there and serve the people of hounduras!
As you know, my district changed last week. We have nine elders and no sisters. Things can get pretty crazy sometimes. One of my favorite elders, Elder Polamalu, Troy Polamalu from the Pittsburg steelers younger cousin (he has the pictures to prove it, Troy actually went to his farewell,) has been having a hard time. He is Samoan, and this last week one of his Polynesian friends insulted by his compainon. That is a big no no. This Poly elder had enough and litterally almost killed his companion. That isn't an understatment either. Luckily Elder Palomalu was there with all of his other samoan friends to hold this kid back. The companion didn't get hurt, but this poly elder broke a piano bench in half. crazy right?
Some elders in my district almost got in a fight with another companion ship in our class hall. It was over something dumb. One of my elders took like a foam butt pad from there room when they weren't here. Another Elder returned it when they came back, but anouther mouthy kid blamed him for taking it. That offended my elder. He almost punched the kid in the face. Elder Polamalu almost jumped in too. You don't mess with anyone that elder Pola malu loves. I got inbetween everyone and fixed it. Problem averted, it was a close one though. hopefully things get better.
Im doing fine. Im sleeping well and eating a bit too well. I have gained 7 pounds since i have been here. No worries though ill work it off :)
I love you all and hope life is good.
Elder Ahlborn
If anyone is interested, I can get Honduras or anyother mission shirt here. It has the state or national flage on a white whirt. It has the nations moto bellow the flag, and a bunch of facts about the country above the flag. The shirts are Nine bucks each, kinda pricey for a shirt. Just send me the money and your shirt size and I will get that to you ASAP.
This week at the MTC was pretty crazy. Last Saturday, when we were playing volleyball in gym. There is an Italian missionary here that played highschool and College vollyball. He is pretty good which isn't to great for the rest of us. He went up for a spike, and drilled Sister Dutton in the face. Sister Dutton is a Hermana in my zone, she is pretty cool. She is about five foot with a firey personality. Some of the Elders don't quite like her because of it. I don't mind her one bit. Anyways when she got hit, I could tell something was wrong. For three days she went about like she was fine. She had gotten a pretty bad concussion because the ball had hit her right in the temple. They took her to the ER a few days ago because they thought her brain might be bleeding a bit. No worries, she is fine, there was a bit of bleeding but its healing. The best part of this story though, is that the Docter prescribed her "Loratab". It has a crazy effect on her, I think it's because she is so small. This whole week she has been doing and saying the crazyiest stuff. If you knew her you would know that she doesn't do that. The first time I saw her after she took her medication, she was wearing on of those fake glasses things that has the moustache and fake noes on it. She was jumping around like a bunny too hahaha. She kept telling me thank for the get better card, when I never gave her one. She then told me that I was the best Vollyball player she had ever seen, except the kid that spiked it in her face! Then she would just laugh for no reason. It's pretty much like our zone has had a four year old in it. hahaha I love it.
Alright something spiritual. This week, me and my companion have been teaching "mario". He is acutally our teacher, Hermano zivic, but he pretends to be mario. It's the whole "real play" thing I wrote about a few emails ago. We picked up on the second lesson where the other missionaries in our district had left off. We taught him half of the second lesson up to the Atonement. We then challenged him to Baptism. He said he wasn't ready. I was pretty devastated, even though it wasn't even real. Two days later we taught him the second half of that lesson. The spirit was there so much better, My Compaion and I taught with the power of the Holy Ghost. At the end we both bore our testimonies and challenged him again. This time he was like yes, I feel that this is so right. I can't even describe how I felt. It was amazing, and I know a real baptism commintent will feel even more amazing. I can't wait to get out there and serve the people of hounduras!
As you know, my district changed last week. We have nine elders and no sisters. Things can get pretty crazy sometimes. One of my favorite elders, Elder Polamalu, Troy Polamalu from the Pittsburg steelers younger cousin (he has the pictures to prove it, Troy actually went to his farewell,) has been having a hard time. He is Samoan, and this last week one of his Polynesian friends insulted by his compainon. That is a big no no. This Poly elder had enough and litterally almost killed his companion. That isn't an understatment either. Luckily Elder Palomalu was there with all of his other samoan friends to hold this kid back. The companion didn't get hurt, but this poly elder broke a piano bench in half. crazy right?
Some elders in my district almost got in a fight with another companion ship in our class hall. It was over something dumb. One of my elders took like a foam butt pad from there room when they weren't here. Another Elder returned it when they came back, but anouther mouthy kid blamed him for taking it. That offended my elder. He almost punched the kid in the face. Elder Polamalu almost jumped in too. You don't mess with anyone that elder Pola malu loves. I got inbetween everyone and fixed it. Problem averted, it was a close one though. hopefully things get better.
Im doing fine. Im sleeping well and eating a bit too well. I have gained 7 pounds since i have been here. No worries though ill work it off :)
I love you all and hope life is good.
Elder Ahlborn
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Kickin it in the MTC!!! March 15, 2011
Hola everyone!! Como estan? How is it in the real world? I have been hearing about an earthquake/tsunami in Japan? How are the missionaries there? I heard BYU lost? I'm not sure. I also think March Madness is this week? Jajajaja (hahaha In spanish) I shouldn't be worrying about worldly things I know, just curious.
Life is very good. I really do enjoy being here. I am learing quite a bit. In spanish we are learing about how to conjugate verbs in all the different ways. It's dumb because I learned all of this in highschool spanish, but I don't remember it very well. It's a good review. I also learned about direct and indirect object pronouns. I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around it, but I'm not worried. The lord will bless.
I am also learning about the the second lesson, the Plan of Salvation. It's not that I don't know it, it's just that I don't know how to teach it simply enough to someone who has never heard it before. It's kind of hard, but I think its easier than the first lesson. Again though, I'm not worried. If I work hard I know the lord will bless me.
So my district, 42-C will be no more after today. The two sisters in my district will be leaving to the Gutaemala MTC. The three sisters in district 42-D will be going there as well. They leave tonigh at six. Tomorrow they will be combining the remaining two districts, the four elders, including me, with the five elders in the other district. We are all sad that our sisters are leaving. We will have new teachers and be moving class rooms. The good/ bad part of this is that we are all really good friends. Other Elders and I are worried that we will have a hard time staying on task. It will be hard without sisters there to keep us in line. Sister Missionaries bring a special spirit to everything.
I'll still be District Leader of this new combined district. It will be my job to keep everyone on task. I'm a bit worried. It's funny to think thought that this is the hardest thing I will have to deal with, when people out in the real world have much bigger problems than me.
I heard from my mission President last week. He sent me a letter that had like five international stamps on it. He said that I will probably be serving half of my mission in the city, and the other half in the mountain country. I'm super excited! These next five weeks better go fast!
From last tuesday to yesterday, I didn't get one letter. Not trying to make anyone feel bad, but you know who you are. It's cool, I forgive you all, jajajaja! Thanks goodness for my favorite aunt, Aunt Lisa. She sent me a package full of home made goodies. Everyone loves the treats, actually me and the three other elders in my room ate everything in like two days. Big thanks to Aunt Lisa, you are the best!! For the rest of you, its a new week, you can still redeem yourself :).
I love you all!! I want you to know that I have an unshakable testimony that this gospel is true. I'm so grateful to be out here on a mission, to be serving the Lord. I know I'm in your prayers, know that you are in mine as well.
Love,
Elder Ahlborn
Life is very good. I really do enjoy being here. I am learing quite a bit. In spanish we are learing about how to conjugate verbs in all the different ways. It's dumb because I learned all of this in highschool spanish, but I don't remember it very well. It's a good review. I also learned about direct and indirect object pronouns. I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around it, but I'm not worried. The lord will bless.
I am also learning about the the second lesson, the Plan of Salvation. It's not that I don't know it, it's just that I don't know how to teach it simply enough to someone who has never heard it before. It's kind of hard, but I think its easier than the first lesson. Again though, I'm not worried. If I work hard I know the lord will bless me.
So my district, 42-C will be no more after today. The two sisters in my district will be leaving to the Gutaemala MTC. The three sisters in district 42-D will be going there as well. They leave tonigh at six. Tomorrow they will be combining the remaining two districts, the four elders, including me, with the five elders in the other district. We are all sad that our sisters are leaving. We will have new teachers and be moving class rooms. The good/ bad part of this is that we are all really good friends. Other Elders and I are worried that we will have a hard time staying on task. It will be hard without sisters there to keep us in line. Sister Missionaries bring a special spirit to everything.
I'll still be District Leader of this new combined district. It will be my job to keep everyone on task. I'm a bit worried. It's funny to think thought that this is the hardest thing I will have to deal with, when people out in the real world have much bigger problems than me.
I heard from my mission President last week. He sent me a letter that had like five international stamps on it. He said that I will probably be serving half of my mission in the city, and the other half in the mountain country. I'm super excited! These next five weeks better go fast!
From last tuesday to yesterday, I didn't get one letter. Not trying to make anyone feel bad, but you know who you are. It's cool, I forgive you all, jajajaja! Thanks goodness for my favorite aunt, Aunt Lisa. She sent me a package full of home made goodies. Everyone loves the treats, actually me and the three other elders in my room ate everything in like two days. Big thanks to Aunt Lisa, you are the best!! For the rest of you, its a new week, you can still redeem yourself :).
I love you all!! I want you to know that I have an unshakable testimony that this gospel is true. I'm so grateful to be out here on a mission, to be serving the Lord. I know I'm in your prayers, know that you are in mine as well.
Love,
Elder Ahlborn
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
week three everyone!!
I am loving the MTC!! Thanks you to everyone who has written me, and a special thanks to those who sent me packages. I have tons of candy and pop!! Things have been kind of tough this last week. My first companion ended up going home:( That was a hard day. I have an awesome new companion named Elder Johnson. He is a quite kid from Moab Utah. We are pretty similiar.
I bore my testimony this Sunday in Sacrament meeting. I know I told you all I could do it in spanish, but it's hard to express what I feel in Spanish. Sadly it was in english. I will be working on that this week. I am busy all day, it's good though. I'm learing so much. I have one of the best teachers at the MTC. Hermano Ashby is from Arizona. He got off his mission in spain six months ago, he is married and is going to BYU. Hermano Stevensen is a local, He went to Argentina on his mission. He has been back for two years I think. I look up to both of them.
I love being district leader now! I was kind of stressed about it at first I enjoy it now. There are only three companionships in my district, four elders and two hermanas. The hermanas leave next Tuesday for the Gutamala MTC. It's going to be a sad day for my district. Sister missionaries contribute so much. They keep the elders in line too haha. The reason they will be missed is well maybe not for there spirit. One of the Hermanas, Hermana Washburn is probably one of the cutest girls I have ever seen. All the elders trip over themselves when shes around, its kinda funny. Don't worry though, I'm not distracted, she is really just like a sister to me:)
The food seems like its getting worse. Some days are just better than others I guess. I'm surving though. All the snacks you all have sent make it easier. So keep sending them please!!!!
Last Saturday was my first time In the TRC, or teaching resource center. They have voulenteers come in and you teach them. Because I'm spanish speaking, for the first few weeks ill do simple spanish tasks and then teach a whole lesson in english. Then it's all in spanish after week six. Im nervous and excited!! Elder Johnson has a hard time teaching. He gets really really nervous. It can be frusturating at times, but I love the guy and pray for him everyday. I also pray for patientce too:)
I love you all! I hope to hear from any of you soon please feel free to write me whenever any of you like. I can't write you back until Tuesday, but I can get and read your letters everyday.
Sincerely,
Elder Ahlborn
I bore my testimony this Sunday in Sacrament meeting. I know I told you all I could do it in spanish, but it's hard to express what I feel in Spanish. Sadly it was in english. I will be working on that this week. I am busy all day, it's good though. I'm learing so much. I have one of the best teachers at the MTC. Hermano Ashby is from Arizona. He got off his mission in spain six months ago, he is married and is going to BYU. Hermano Stevensen is a local, He went to Argentina on his mission. He has been back for two years I think. I look up to both of them.
I love being district leader now! I was kind of stressed about it at first I enjoy it now. There are only three companionships in my district, four elders and two hermanas. The hermanas leave next Tuesday for the Gutamala MTC. It's going to be a sad day for my district. Sister missionaries contribute so much. They keep the elders in line too haha. The reason they will be missed is well maybe not for there spirit. One of the Hermanas, Hermana Washburn is probably one of the cutest girls I have ever seen. All the elders trip over themselves when shes around, its kinda funny. Don't worry though, I'm not distracted, she is really just like a sister to me:)
The food seems like its getting worse. Some days are just better than others I guess. I'm surving though. All the snacks you all have sent make it easier. So keep sending them please!!!!
Last Saturday was my first time In the TRC, or teaching resource center. They have voulenteers come in and you teach them. Because I'm spanish speaking, for the first few weeks ill do simple spanish tasks and then teach a whole lesson in english. Then it's all in spanish after week six. Im nervous and excited!! Elder Johnson has a hard time teaching. He gets really really nervous. It can be frusturating at times, but I love the guy and pray for him everyday. I also pray for patientce too:)
I love you all! I hope to hear from any of you soon please feel free to write me whenever any of you like. I can't write you back until Tuesday, but I can get and read your letters everyday.
Sincerely,
Elder Ahlborn
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Hey everyone!! I survived the first week!!
It's my first p-day!! I'm so glad too, I have had a ton to do. This week has been pretty tough, I wasn't home sick or anything, it's just hard to adjust here. I love it though!! The spirit is litterally everywhere. My companions name is Elder Brett Evrill. He is from South Jordan. He is 20, but he is a way cool guy. I'm glad he is my Comp. The spanish is coming along all right, I can currently bear my testimony, and say a prayer in spanish. We have also reviwed my whole first year of spanish in highschool in just one day! I understand it suprisingly well though. When I need to remeber a word it just comes to my mind. The food here is alright. Sometimes its good and sometimes its not so good. The orange juice is fine I promise! My p-day is on tuesday, so if you want me to write you back fast send letters on saturday or monday, or even before. I'm so excited to get out and teach in Honduras. I don't know if I can wait the nine weeks here.
On thursday I was made district president. It's not as cool as it sounds. I'm in charge of five elders and two hermanas (sisters in spanish). I just call on people to say the prayer, conduct, get the mail, and attended a special meeting on sunday. Also on Thursday We met our Branch presidency, which here at the MTC is equivalent to a bishopric. President Larson is the Branch president he is a fourth grade teacher, and he looks like it! Even his had writing screams teacher! his first counsler is a guy from Salmon Idaho which is awesome cause we talk about rafting, but I dont know his name sadly. His second counsler is Brother Sanchez. He is from Nevada, he has been a Mission president. They are all amazing men, espically President Larson. We met on sunday and just talked about everything. I truly know that he was called of God to be here helping the missionaries. No worries everyone, I'm in good hands.
We will be teaching on saturday in english. I'm so excited, it's like football. You practice all week, then you have a game at the end. The teaching is called TRC. A voulenteer comes in and you just teach them with what you have learned. They call it "role play", or "real play". I can't wait!!
I'm excited to learn and grow. I feel like I have grown so so much just being here for a week. I love you all, I hope to hear from any of you! It's so awesome getting letters here. They are what get you through the long days. Packages are good too :) my mail box number is 213, ask my mom for the details. I better go, they only give you a half hour on the computer. I love you all!!
Sincerely,
Elder Ahlborn
On thursday I was made district president. It's not as cool as it sounds. I'm in charge of five elders and two hermanas (sisters in spanish). I just call on people to say the prayer, conduct, get the mail, and attended a special meeting on sunday. Also on Thursday We met our Branch presidency, which here at the MTC is equivalent to a bishopric. President Larson is the Branch president he is a fourth grade teacher, and he looks like it! Even his had writing screams teacher! his first counsler is a guy from Salmon Idaho which is awesome cause we talk about rafting, but I dont know his name sadly. His second counsler is Brother Sanchez. He is from Nevada, he has been a Mission president. They are all amazing men, espically President Larson. We met on sunday and just talked about everything. I truly know that he was called of God to be here helping the missionaries. No worries everyone, I'm in good hands.
We will be teaching on saturday in english. I'm so excited, it's like football. You practice all week, then you have a game at the end. The teaching is called TRC. A voulenteer comes in and you just teach them with what you have learned. They call it "role play", or "real play". I can't wait!!
I'm excited to learn and grow. I feel like I have grown so so much just being here for a week. I love you all, I hope to hear from any of you! It's so awesome getting letters here. They are what get you through the long days. Packages are good too :) my mail box number is 213, ask my mom for the details. I better go, they only give you a half hour on the computer. I love you all!!
Sincerely,
Elder Ahlborn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)