Week Three 7/12/2016

Alright Kelemen Family,

Week 3. Well now I'm learning Chinese so that's fun. The MTC is still good and I'm learning everyday. Thanks for the letters and package! 

We finally got to go to the temple and it was so nice. Who would have thought that the first time I had not gone to the temple for 2 weeks, since I was 12 would be at the MTC. We went this morning and after helped in the laundry room and then at breakfast there. yum! It was good. Going to the temple was so nice even though I only hadn't gone for a few weeks, it felt like so much longer. We do have the temple in the mission and I was informed that we go every transfer so I'm excited for that. 

Well so much has happened I don't know what to say. Yes mom all 12 of us in our district are going to Taiwan Taipei. How cool is that! We're the only district like that though. Well you remember how I said my district is the best? Well they are, and so are my teachers (really all the other teachers are a little weird.) Well first, I learned that through the hand of God I got put into my district. Someone didn't show up in our district so they moved me into it. How lucky is that!? (I mean it's sad that the elder didn't come but awesome for me because if I was in the other district it would be a lot different.) That being said all my letters and packages are received by the other district so when I remember my address I'll send it to you. Also our district almost got split up!? What the China? We have 12 people and I guess all the other teachers said we we're learning too slowly and not behaving correctly. I don't really know where that came from, especially because we are way less rowdy, and unfocused as the other people in our hall, but whatever. I will say we are a little loud and like to have a good time, but still. I guess they are envious because we have fun. Anyways, our teacher was like 'no way' so they couldn't brake us up.....yes! If it wasn't for her, we'd be gone, nice job sister Lau! 

Well I didn't get Mckay in my zone but Collin is. His room is close by and he's in the same residence as me too. I just saw him and said Hi. It's going good, Chinese is coming slow and we're getting better. Ryan Reynolds and I are tearing it up out here and having a blast. Elder Bird and I made a guitar. Yeah, we made it. I'll send you a picture next week. I'm quite proud. We can actually play songs on it! 

Remember three things this week:

—Remember Christ. in everything keep your sacramental covenant and remember Him. Read of Him, and try and be like him, I promise you this will make life way better.

—Remember the pioneers. Remember the first people in the church. Read about them and think about what they did. Those first saints are amazing.

—Remember Joseph Smith. He was a Prophet of God. He saw what he saw and lived a life to prove it. Think about your testimony of him. He was one of a kind and a great example of giving up your life to serve in God's kingdom. If you want, read Joseph Smith History chapter 1:1-whatever it is. Read it as a family or on your own. Pray to have the Spirit confirm to you that what is said is true and He will. I know you'll feel it whether you already know or if you only believe. Joseph Smith was a Prophet. How cool is that! By this we know everything is true. 

Thanks for everything,

Aaron

Week Two 7/5/16

Ni Hao Jia ting,

How was the family reunion!!!!!??? 

Two weeks down. I'm fluent. I don't know how Spanish was for all of you but I've got Chinese down...not. I pretty much still know nothing. We start teaching again though and this time its an investigator and less active. Cool story! So here at the MTC you are lied to all the time. No one is a real investigator no matter how much you want to believe. Well, one day me and my tongban (companion) were studying on the "bench of revelation" and a girl came and sat on the bench next to us. Immediately, I felt impressed to talk to her, but knowing she was just another "fake" with a gold tag (or whatever those tags are). So I didn't do anything. After a while though she kept looking over and I was like girl, I'd love to talk to you but I'm sorry I'm on a mission so you don't need to be giving me that look. She kept looking though. Again, I felt to talk to her but I couldn't follow the spirit with someone that is a fake investigator, so I didn't. She then turned to us and started talking to us. We then learned that yes she really was investigating the church and was not a member. 

Zac said 2% of those people are real investigators, so I guess we found her. She moved from Mexico and has only been here 2 months. She learned English in these two months. There's hope! Her English was so good! She goes to the place where Julia works to learn English so nice job Ju Moo! Anyways, all her roommates are LDS and she has been taking the lessons from two sets of missionaries at the MTC. The whole time I still thought she was lying though, because I can't believe anything anymore. Well, finally we talked and it was cool. We had to go to class though so I quickly said the Book of Mormon was true and that she should keep going (So stupid, I didn't even bear my testimony). 

Now maybe she got us, and was really fake, but I don't think so. I turned to my tongban after and he said he felt to talk to her too. I learned that I done goofed and I need to listen to the spirit. I'm not going to miss another opportunity like that ever again. 

It's been awesome! I love the MTC! It's a little hard and pushes you a lot, but it is like a spiritual blast everyday. Everyone says their scriptures when they read just come alive now here at the MTC. I agree and feel so happy for those in my district that are experiencing that, some of them for the first time. I'm glad though that I have felt that before, and know that you don't need a spiritual place like to MTC to have a strong relationship with the scriptures. It's pushed all of us —some more than others. It's a change of life and a time of great learning both spiritually and with a language. I guess because I'm used to not being good at things right away, and can except mediocrity from myself, that I don't struggle as much as others. That, and, I don't like to fret. So It's all good in the Hood for me. I just study and pray for the gift of tongues like there's no tomorrow. It's interesting though because I feel like I've changed more in these last two weeks more than at any other time in my life. I thought I knew before what the gospel was but to be honest I had no idea. (I'm going to be so different when I come home).

What else? . . .there's a ton of funny stuff and things that happen but I don't know where to start. Shout out to Zach and whoever made the cake! It was a great birthday, and he was so surprised when he saw the cake on his bed. The last person we were teaching that I talked about last time (super ginger man)....Yep. He became our teacher. And unlike his awkward personality, he is straight fire (like his hair). His lessons are so good! So I got the two best teachers in the world. My other teacher though, is a tie nazi, so I can't wear half of my ties. 

Well keep up the good work and do good things. Claire don't ever go to mission prep. Believe me it will not prepare you for anything. Just live the gospel and read your scriptures everyday. And again don't expect to be taught the language. They don't teach you, you just have to teach yourself, so pray now and find out where you're going so you can study up. Haha thanks for everything. MTC life is good. 

Love Aaron

Alive 6/28/2016

What's up fam,

Well first week in the MTC. Let me just tell you what I've learned: 

1. Sister missionaries are all (or at least in the chinese zone) way better at chinese than anyone else. Literally all of them. 

2. You don't learn the language at the MTC! I mean you kind of do but not really. 

3. There are so many people here. 

4. The MTC is nothing like I expected yet everything I had expected. 

5. Everyone says the same things and gives the same advice..."Don't drink the orange juice", "Your bowels are going to hate you", "Just make it to sunday and you'll be alright." 

6. I was so blessed to be in the district that I am because the other ones don't seem so cool.

7. My camera sucks. 

8. Going to the bathroom is the worst because i have to have my companion come with me and I have the smallest bladder ever! 

9. Everyone in my district is way more spiritual and amazing than me, so Mark and I have it different. 

10. Here at the MTC they just say go, and then you're pretty much on your own

Those are just a few things, I've learned a little bit more too. Like I said my district is super cool. We're all already homies, and really though they are all spiritual bazookas and then I'm just kinda there. There are twelve in my district in the smallest room ever. They pack us in there like sardines. We got so many books, like so many. I saw some spanish elders get there books the first day and their bags were a third of our size. My companion is pretty cool. His name is Elder Cheney. He's from Sandy. He played golf and struggles with Chinese, but who doesn't? He's pretty cool though and  I'm glad I got him. 4 districts of Chinese came in on Wednesday so it wasn't in the cards for McKay and I to be together. I see him every now and again but not as much as I see all the other Chinese people. My teacher is this really short cantonese girl that speaks 3 languages. She's awesome! And like I said we learn a little bit of chinese but mostly they just teach us how to be missionaries or how go teach a lesson. I've taught four lessons in chinese now. Yeah, they were just like hey go teach someone...in chinese. Our investigator Mudaoyou is coming to church with us though and is reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. Everyone else got him to commit to baptism, but we didn't.

I don't really know what to say. We just study A LOT, go into class and get yelled at in chinese and then eat food. Thats my day, plus the spirit is super strong and you learn soooooooo much. PS Character of Christ video is amazing! We're all in the choir so that's cool and ya its all good in the hood. Here is my district for you:

Elder Paxton: Shares a room with me, they used to call him negative Neil, but he tells us he's just realistic. He's also low key competitive.

Elder Bird: The funniest kid. He's from Oklahoma and so werid. And its the best because he and Elder Paxton are companions. He does video diaries at night and is just so funny.

Elder Cheney: My companion. These three are in my room (we only have four) He is kinda like the typical sports kid. Has a lot of Nikes but didn't play any sports except golf. He's awesome though and its fun to have someone athletic during exercise time.

Elder Boyle: He played tennis for Corner Canyon, so I remembered him. He's dope (that's Elder Bird's favorite word) and Super chill.

Elder Carlson: You would never guess but this Elder is sweet. He looks like he's never thinking or moving and kinda down syndrome, but he is not! He's amazing.

Elder Diener: Yes, his name is Diener. He sings, the only boy that went to a year of college and gets a little frustrated with Chinese.

Elder Cooper: From Logan, typical hick kid but is pretty awesome. He's super quiet but when he does talk its like "Whoa".

Elder Kimmel: Our district leader form Orem. Super nice and his eyes get dry so he blinks a lot. He and I are probably the most alike.

Elder Robbins: Runner guy. He's funny, but doesn't say too much.

Sister Calderwell: Like I said she's pretty much fluent in Chinese and has some lovely sass. She's form New York and is a party.

Sister Cooper: She's nice, really good at Chinese and likes my jokes more than sister Calderwell. 

Well, thats my life. I'm just giving you a peak at what I do and who I am with. This place really is cool and like amazing. All the 70 and 12 were here last week for the new mission presidents. I didn't see any of them, but they were all right here! 

Well I love you guys and choose the right. 

Don't sin. That's bad. 

Keep the faith.

Love Aaron