Hey Family and Friends
I hope everything is going good back home. Tuesday we had Elder Oaks come and talk to us it was amazing he shared so much knowlegde and his talk was just so inspiring. Yesterday Thanksgiving we had an early morning devotional and Elder Holland came and talked to us at that and his talk was just as amazing we all wrote questions all 2,500 of us missionaries and he answered like 5 questions of all of them and one of them was my question they were anonymous so nobody knew it but me but it was amazing to know that my question was one of the few choosen and when he answered it I felt like we were just having a one on one and he was talking directly to me.
So how was Thanksgiving I hope you remembered to say a pray about everything your thankful for I didnt realize how thankful I was for being able to say all my prayers in the past in English let's just say my prayer took me about 30 min. just because I didnt know how to say what I wanted to say in French. Good thing the Lord can understand broekn/made up French otherwise he would have been very confused. So yesterday at the end of Thanksgiving we had a fireside and we were given time to say what we were thankful for and I had the opprotunity to say what I was thankful for and lets say 1 min wasnt enough even for English. Some of the things I said I was grateful for is first of course my family and how much they mean to me especially not being able to see or communicate with them at all on Thanksgiving I also mentioned how grateful I was for the people that donated money to my mission fund it means alot to me and makes me try even harder knowing that someone else is paying for this. I am also grateful for My Aunts and Uncles that are serving in Armeanea and Kiev and that if they can learn a language that doesnt even make sense then I can sure learn French (Which is going really good) I am also thankful for all of my friends and their influences on me for good and bad for had it not been for the good I wouldnt know what was bad and if not for the bad I wouldnt know the good. and lastly I am thankful for My Savior Jesus Christ who suffered and Died for my sins and knowing that no matter how far astray I was that he never gave up on me and because of his sacrafice I could repent and come back to him.
This next week we start teaching the First lesson in French ALL OF IT! pretty scary but I know as long as I trust in the lord and I am obedient he will help me learn the language and teach by the spirit. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and I would love to hear how everyones Thanksgiving was so drop me a letter on Dearelder.com I always reply but you need to send them to me first because I dont have alot of addresses...Yet... So send me a letter it doesnt even have to be about your Thanksgiving. It can be anything questions or experiences youve had. I love you all and hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving.
Love Elder Van Dyke
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
November 20, 2009
Hey Mom and Dad
I had an amazing spiritual experience so on Wednesday I was in Quarantine which I still am even now Friday morning. Stupid doctor said I looked really tired and asked how much sleep I had I said 4 hours so he told me I needed to stay another day and sleep and he would be back last night and would clear me to leave so I agreed but then he never came back so now I have to wait for him this morning but he doesnt come until like 11 and by then my P-Day is half gone. But anyways so i'm in my room on Virtual Classroom where if your in Isolation you can do a webcam so I can see and hear them and they can see me but my webcam is only for the microphone so the only picture they see of me is my missionary one. It is very interesting but it helps me to stay caught up in my Francais. Well on Wednesdays we have whats called TRC(Training Resource Center)where people come and volunteer time and act as pretend investigators for us. Its really cool and really helps me to prepare. Well since i'm not there it was just the two Sisters who went Soeur Chugg and Soeur Hurst well since TRC is in a different building we got off and I was told to come back on at 5:45pm and so i slept until about 5:30pm and woke up just in time to get ready which really means me crawling out of bed onto the floor putting my pilllow on the seat so I dont get a numb bum:) and then wrapping my blankets around me just like I did back home. Well once we got the Cameras to work(sometimes they can be a bigger pain in the but than they're worth)The two Sisters seemed pretty happy and as our teachers told them what they could improve on I could see their eyes puff up and get watery and what our teachers were saying wasnt harsh at all they were telling them they did a great job and they were giving them pointers on what we could do together(including me)to improve on our teaching skills and really invite the spirit into the lesson and to testify of the truth of our lesson. Well all of a sudden they both just began to cry and the teachers looked at eachother then to me then back at eachother and then the girls. After I saw this I hurried and said a prayer that heavenly father could help me find a scripture or give me a thought of what to say to these two sister missionaries to help them remember your love for them and comfort them and as I finished i quickly skimmed through the scriptures but nothing was really poping out at me and I knew God was going to help me to help them I just needed to have more faith so I prayed again and again began to flip pages like a twilight addict with a new book(thats for you Courtney, Chelsea, and Arielle) and still I couldn't find anything and I knew the Lord was with me I just had to really think about it and as I pondered I pictured Jesus Christ spreading God's love to all the people not by telling them but by showing them God's Love for them. At first I didnt know what the heck it meant so i began reading scriptures again and then I pictured my suit in the closet hanging up name tags and all(yes mom it was hanging up even on hangers) and again I didnt understand but then I put two and two together and before I could think another second I was throwing my pjs on the ground for I knew that God wanted me to go to the Sisters in class and use me as a tool in his hand and show them his love for them. In about 2 min. I was dressed From my suit coat and tie to my Goldtoe socks and my ecco shoes. As I was escaping from Quarantine I remembered how was I going to get back in? My blue card doesnt work on this floor only security and admin. have access as I was thinking I was still walking out of my Isolation room and as I departed from it I almost fell on top of Elder Cook one of the newest members to the Quarantine family :) I told him the story and he agreed to let me back in. So I was off and as I approached the Classroom I had to be quite as not to let the other Francais districts see me because they would blow my cover for sure. So I took the back hall and the door was open enough I could slide in without touching the door as I entered everyone was on there knees and Soeur Roubicek was praying in Francais and to my surprise I was able to understand most of it. As she said a nom de Jesus Christ Amen I said belated AMEN! and the two sisters looked up with big smiles on their faces and the teachers had puzzled looks on theirs, and before anyone could say anything I looked at the two sisters and declared "GOD LOVES YOU! God loves you so much he wanted me to personally come to class and bear witness of it to you. He loves you so much and appreciates your sacrafices you Soeur Chugg for leaving behind your BF Adam and putting your education at BYU Idaho on hold to give him the best 18 months of your life if you will strive to do your best and always remember to ask God for strength and help he will give it to you and you Soeur Hurst even though your neck hurts you dont complain you look for the good in your trails you left behind your BF Mike and after receiving your Associates in Business from SLCC instead of going to U of U to get your bachaleors you chose to come on a mission first and by putting me above all you will be greatly blessed and is grateful for your service even though its only been 3 weeks he knows your trying your best and he promises that if you keep trying your best and you study hard and dont quit He will bless you in all the work that you do now in the Mission field and later in your Business career. Then I felt light headed and had to sit down for a second but I wrote it all in my journal its like 4 pages from jus that day It was a really cool experience for me. Well thats my email hope you like it send it to the family for me because im only allowed to email you and dad. Also tell everyone in the ward to write me I need letters I am sooooo bored without communication with the outside world. I love you soooo much and cant wait to hear from you
Love/ Elder Van Dyke
P.S. send me real food the quarantine food almost killed me but luckily I survived of Chips and %2 Milk
I had an amazing spiritual experience so on Wednesday I was in Quarantine which I still am even now Friday morning. Stupid doctor said I looked really tired and asked how much sleep I had I said 4 hours so he told me I needed to stay another day and sleep and he would be back last night and would clear me to leave so I agreed but then he never came back so now I have to wait for him this morning but he doesnt come until like 11 and by then my P-Day is half gone. But anyways so i'm in my room on Virtual Classroom where if your in Isolation you can do a webcam so I can see and hear them and they can see me but my webcam is only for the microphone so the only picture they see of me is my missionary one. It is very interesting but it helps me to stay caught up in my Francais. Well on Wednesdays we have whats called TRC(Training Resource Center)where people come and volunteer time and act as pretend investigators for us. Its really cool and really helps me to prepare. Well since i'm not there it was just the two Sisters who went Soeur Chugg and Soeur Hurst well since TRC is in a different building we got off and I was told to come back on at 5:45pm and so i slept until about 5:30pm and woke up just in time to get ready which really means me crawling out of bed onto the floor putting my pilllow on the seat so I dont get a numb bum:) and then wrapping my blankets around me just like I did back home. Well once we got the Cameras to work(sometimes they can be a bigger pain in the but than they're worth)The two Sisters seemed pretty happy and as our teachers told them what they could improve on I could see their eyes puff up and get watery and what our teachers were saying wasnt harsh at all they were telling them they did a great job and they were giving them pointers on what we could do together(including me)to improve on our teaching skills and really invite the spirit into the lesson and to testify of the truth of our lesson. Well all of a sudden they both just began to cry and the teachers looked at eachother then to me then back at eachother and then the girls. After I saw this I hurried and said a prayer that heavenly father could help me find a scripture or give me a thought of what to say to these two sister missionaries to help them remember your love for them and comfort them and as I finished i quickly skimmed through the scriptures but nothing was really poping out at me and I knew God was going to help me to help them I just needed to have more faith so I prayed again and again began to flip pages like a twilight addict with a new book(thats for you Courtney, Chelsea, and Arielle) and still I couldn't find anything and I knew the Lord was with me I just had to really think about it and as I pondered I pictured Jesus Christ spreading God's love to all the people not by telling them but by showing them God's Love for them. At first I didnt know what the heck it meant so i began reading scriptures again and then I pictured my suit in the closet hanging up name tags and all(yes mom it was hanging up even on hangers) and again I didnt understand but then I put two and two together and before I could think another second I was throwing my pjs on the ground for I knew that God wanted me to go to the Sisters in class and use me as a tool in his hand and show them his love for them. In about 2 min. I was dressed From my suit coat and tie to my Goldtoe socks and my ecco shoes. As I was escaping from Quarantine I remembered how was I going to get back in? My blue card doesnt work on this floor only security and admin. have access as I was thinking I was still walking out of my Isolation room and as I departed from it I almost fell on top of Elder Cook one of the newest members to the Quarantine family :) I told him the story and he agreed to let me back in. So I was off and as I approached the Classroom I had to be quite as not to let the other Francais districts see me because they would blow my cover for sure. So I took the back hall and the door was open enough I could slide in without touching the door as I entered everyone was on there knees and Soeur Roubicek was praying in Francais and to my surprise I was able to understand most of it. As she said a nom de Jesus Christ Amen I said belated AMEN! and the two sisters looked up with big smiles on their faces and the teachers had puzzled looks on theirs, and before anyone could say anything I looked at the two sisters and declared "GOD LOVES YOU! God loves you so much he wanted me to personally come to class and bear witness of it to you. He loves you so much and appreciates your sacrafices you Soeur Chugg for leaving behind your BF Adam and putting your education at BYU Idaho on hold to give him the best 18 months of your life if you will strive to do your best and always remember to ask God for strength and help he will give it to you and you Soeur Hurst even though your neck hurts you dont complain you look for the good in your trails you left behind your BF Mike and after receiving your Associates in Business from SLCC instead of going to U of U to get your bachaleors you chose to come on a mission first and by putting me above all you will be greatly blessed and is grateful for your service even though its only been 3 weeks he knows your trying your best and he promises that if you keep trying your best and you study hard and dont quit He will bless you in all the work that you do now in the Mission field and later in your Business career. Then I felt light headed and had to sit down for a second but I wrote it all in my journal its like 4 pages from jus that day It was a really cool experience for me. Well thats my email hope you like it send it to the family for me because im only allowed to email you and dad. Also tell everyone in the ward to write me I need letters I am sooooo bored without communication with the outside world. I love you soooo much and cant wait to hear from you
Love/ Elder Van Dyke
P.S. send me real food the quarantine food almost killed me but luckily I survived of Chips and %2 Milk
November 13, 2009
So i forgot to write down my email adress from last time so if you could send me the email address so i can access that one next time that would be greatly appreciated... Any ways here is my letter to everyone... have dustin take a copy of it to the O.G. for any one that would like to read it... Hey everyone!!! the MTC is great its not bad as everyone said it would be. I am having a great time with my companion Elder Williams and my roommates Elder Nufer and Elder Rodriguez they are amazing and so in tune with the spirit. Right now in my district the flu is going around and currently we have 2 Elders and 2 Sisters down but hopefully no one else will get sick. I get bored sometimes so if you get time please feel free to send me letters through Dearelder.com if you need my address ask my parents they would be happy to give it to you. Yesterday we went to this thing called TRC which stands for Teaching Resource Center and what it is, is they put us in simulations with "investigators" and we teach them the first lesson. Its a great experience. My TRC companions are Sister Chugg and Sister Hurst since I am what they call a SOLO missionary which is unusual(suits me best) but what it means is when I came in I was the only French speaking missionary so instead of a french speaking companion I get two french speaking sisters instead. Our first lesson went really well I was an amazing experience even though they are just simulations we can still feel the spirit so strong and it helps me to bear my testimony even better which I absolutly love. When people say you can feel the Spirit everywhere in the MTC they arnt lieing i do feel it everywhere i go here. The food is good the effects of it not so much no matter how much we bless it LoL I miss you all and cant wait to hear
from you. Remembre if you want to write me the best way is Dearelder.com until I get into the field. But since its so hard to get all of your addresses I promise you if you write me I will always reply ALWAYS! I miss you all and if you have any questions about my mission or the MTC or
anything feel free to WRITE ME *hint *hint I love getting mail its the highlight of my day next to bearing testimony and finally being able to pray in French. Anyways i'm running out of time so again I love you all and miss you soooooo much T.T.Y.L.(Talk to you later) P.S. WRITE ME!!!
from you. Remembre if you want to write me the best way is Dearelder.com until I get into the field. But since its so hard to get all of your addresses I promise you if you write me I will always reply ALWAYS! I miss you all and if you have any questions about my mission or the MTC or
anything feel free to WRITE ME *hint *hint I love getting mail its the highlight of my day next to bearing testimony and finally being able to pray in French. Anyways i'm running out of time so again I love you all and miss you soooooo much T.T.Y.L.(Talk to you later) P.S. WRITE ME!!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Mission Call
Elder Joshua VanDyke,
You have been called to the Washington D.C. North Mission where you will speak French.
You have been called to the Washington D.C. North Mission where you will speak French.
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