September 28, 2018 - Guardrails

After I had sent my email last week I realized that the title was kind of misleading. I got excited and switched rails mid-thought. My bad. I'll try and keep my thoughts more organized this time. I was thinking about what to write about today when I saw a little cartoon posted on a door plaque in my residence. I'll link it below. The basic message is that sometimes what we see as a fence, keeping us from something fun, may turn out to be a guardrail saving us from something unfun. This is a major theme here at the MTC, they're always reminding us that we can only have the spirit we need through obedience. Even if we don't understand the reason for following the rules set, obedience to them bring blessings.  

Example: One of the dress codes for the Elders here is that your socks have to match either your shoes or your pants.  As I was writing this email I realized something. I don't think that I wouldn't be able feel the spirit if I wore some bright smiley face socks, but I'm not here to feel the spirit.  The reason I'm here is to invite others to come unto Christ, and my socks shouldn't detract from that message. But again I digress from my topic.

I know that the lord blesses us for our obedience to his commandments. I've felt his love for me, and for my family, and for the people of the Philippines. It's an incredible feeling, being able to love a people I've only ever seen in pictures. But I do love them, and I know that the Lord has prepared them to hear his Gospel. I love you all, thank you for your prayers.

Love,

Elder Chan

PS from James' Mom- Make sure to watch the afternoon session of general conference next Saturday!!

James told us: General Conference is going to be awesome! I'm so excited to hear from our prophets

and receive some new revelations, I don't think I'll be in the MTC though. I was accepted into the

Missionary General Conference Choir...

September 21, 2018 - Holiness to the Lord

Hello Everyone,

It's hard to remember life outside of the MTC. I find myself struggling to remember if there was a life before this. I'm only kind of kidding.  There's so much to process here it takes me about an hour to fall asleep each night, all I have is Cebuano drifting through my head. Not to say that I'm not having the absolute time of my life! Being able to dedicate myself to just one sole purpose, especially one as amazing as the Gathering of Israel, is so incredibly fulfilling. I can feel the Lords hand in everything I do here.  The Cebuano language isn't to difficult to be honest, but the expectations are kind of impossible. If you take into account that most all of us are only 18-19 year old teenagers, and most haven't been away from home for longer than a week, the statistics are staggering. Last Thursday we picked up our language materials. Part of the package was a small book called The Basic Core, comprising about four hundred plus Cebuano words and 50 plus phrases. We were told to memorize all of it in ten days. Tomorrow marks that tenth day.  We've studied almost every hour we've been awake. In line for dinner, while eating dinner, in our residence, walking to class, in the bathroom, all of that probably adds up to less than 50 hours including time in class.  We did it.  I'm not telling you this with pride,  Though I may be pretty smart, I'm not that smart. My point is that the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ, is at the forefront of his work.  He is leading the charge. Leading us forward to the four quarters of the earth. 

Moses 7:62 "...and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem."

I testify of these things. I know that our Savior lives, he loves all his children, and he his preparing their hearts to receive the glory of his gospel. Don't be a afraid to share his glorious and joyful message to all, angels will be with you.

Love, 

Elder Chan

September 14, 2018 - Kamusta!

I hardly had time to breathe when I was dropped off at 12:30 Wednesday. I dropped off my bags in my room and went directly to my classroom. My teacher is Sister Snow and she's nindot! She didn't waste anytime getting right to the language, I didn't hear English from her for the first 15 minutes of class. I met my companion, Elder Bennet, he's nindot as well. My district consists of 2 sets of sisters and 4 sets of Elders. We were in class for a few hours before a quick meeting with all the new missionaries and then dinner from 4:15-5:00. After dinner we had a People and Your Purpose workshop for an hour and then we met our Zone Leaders. I don't remember their names. We have the biggest zone in the MTC, 4 districts and something like 70 missionaries. End Day 1.


Day 2 was closer to a normal schedule. Wake up at 6:30, breakfast and stuff until language study in our classroom at 8:30. Half our district didn't show up, that was kind of funny. Then another People and Your Purpose thing, which was cool. We talked about the importance of knowing and understanding the people we teach. How to do so perfectly with the help of Christ. Lunch. Classroom. And dinner at 5:15. We met our Branch Presidency last night. They went over the MTC rules and missionary conduct and assigned a district leader. Elder Ogden is our district leader, he's nindot!


We went to the temple this morning. And now I think we're going to go workout.


I know that this is the Lords work. It's an important work that we should all be involved in. Scripture power is real, I've felt the strength that it brings into my life and testify that it can bring it into yours as well. I love you all! I'll try and write more next time I just really suck at typing. This took me like 25 minutes to get done.


Love,

Elder Chan

September 12, 2018 - Reporting to the MTC in Provo

Elder Chan was set apart Tuesday evening by our Stake President, Ken Call.  The blessing he gave James was powerful and we all felt the spirit strongly in our home.  James flew out from Pasco early the next morning.  It was an emotional and tearful experience to send out our missionary.  He flew safely to Salt Lake City where our friends, the Bairds, picked him up and then his cousin Kaylee from BYU.  They were able to spend a few hours together before he reported to the MTC at 12:30.  He was able to send a short email home, letting us know that the MTC was big, he thought it was awesome and his companion's name is Elder Bennet.