Week 3 - MTC

Hola, mis familias! This has been a fantastic week. I have learned and grown a lot. On Thursday last week, we taught our investigator Esteban before entering, we said a prayer and I explained that we tried our best to prepare, and needed Him to cover what we miss. We went in, and we asked how he was doing, and he said "more or less". My companion elder West said "More or less? Why?"  Elder West then got up and started drawing the tree of life on the chalkboard.  I explained it to Esteban for him, and explained that when Lehi partook of the tree of life, he wanted his family to do the same, and connected it with him and his daughter. If he came closer and found the Love of God, he could help his daughter find it as well. Inspiration, I say. He wants us to teach his daughter, and I so wish that this were a real investigator ('tis but my teacher acting as one), because that would be stupendous. On Friday we taught Diego (our other teacher, Hermano Kinghorn) and he kept going to his priest for answers about our church, then coming to us to clarify. At one point Diego said "I don't need any more of the word of God or continuing revelation. He said "I have Jesus, the bible, and baptism. I don't need anything more than that. I asked him if he truly loved God. He said yes. I then said in essence, "Then why settle for the basics? The full truth is here as it was when Jesus was on the earth. On Saturday we thought it would be a good idea to use pamphlets to explain the restoration of the gospel, and it was much more animated than like a conversation. I got a package from my family, and thank you guys so much for that. I love anything I get in the mail. I shared with everyone, and we still have stuff left. On Sunday we had a great sacrament meeting. On Monday we practiced a lot, and for lessons, we're always supposed to leave with a challenge to the investigator, and use future tense Español, such as "Leerá...(will you read)" or "Orará...(will you pray)", and we've been doing that for a while. Hermano Powell, our teacher who plays Esteban, was talking to us and Elder Tuaui asked if he had seen Nacho Libre, and Hermano Powell admitted that he hadn't for 4 years, and élder tuaui was like "Mirará Nacho Libre está noche? (Will you watch nacho libre tonight?)" It was pretty funny. On Tuesday, after the devotional at night, we had a discussion about the gospel, and it was really good. Elder Jarvis said that anytime he bore his testimony of the Savior, he cried. And Elder Hadley explained that his brother died while on a mission, and that his other brother didn't go and he had to serve for him. It was sad, but very inspiring. Also on Tuesday we Alma 29:9 and 13 are my favorite scriptures now. We gave some members some real lessons, and one girl was from Guatemala, the other guy was old and talked really old and cool. I think Elder West and I did well. Today was good. I came to the temple today, as we do on every P-day, and I was really down, and I was like "Okay, temple, it's time to heal me." And towards the end I felt far better. I really am glad that Heavenly Father loves me so much. I am really excited to go out and serve real people and change there lives. Three weeks more! I'm super glad I'm a missionary now. At the Sunday night devotional the speaker, Richard J. Maynes, explained that you need to be "sweetly bold". Also, it's comforting to know that Heavenly Father, even now, is preparing people for when I teach them. In Joseph Smith's journal, he wrote, after misspelling words and starting over a lot, "Oh may God grant that I may be directed in all my thoughts oh bless my servant Amen". I wrote that at the front of my journal. Also, I learned that we don't have the authority to baptize people who are not  converts. Elder Holland said something I think is hilarious. He said 'If you leave your mission early unworthily you better not find me in a dark alleyway"! Hahaha. Also I learned that I need to be bold. If I ask my investigator to pray, and they say "no, how about you do it", and they never pray, then I'll look them in the eye and say "Diego, you need to pray. I'm only here to help you, and I will testify that this message is for you, because you're a child of God. Talk to Him." I'm so glad to serve a mission, and I hope to make the grandest effect I can, not wasting a moment! I love you all!

Week 2 - Provo MTC

HOLA! Como están? I cannot believe what has been going on since I left! I am so glad that you guys have had so many miracles in the Lord. This has been a great week. So, first, from last week, I was writing in my email as I watched my laundry get done in the same room, and I saw someone take their white clothes from a dryer right next to mine, so I checked to see if he was taking my stuff on accident. He wasn't and I was a little embarrassed, so I sat back down and kept typing. Another guy came and got his whites, and I was like "That must be my clothes", but I ignored it that time and kept typing. Then, when I was finished typing, I went to my dryer and couldn't find my clothes. All of my garments and white shirts were gone.  I checked all of the dryers- and washers in case- and couldn't find my whites. I had to go to class, and the next day I went back to the laundry area again. There was a sign that said that if you lost something, go to this room on this floor of this building. I did so, and no one was in there. I came back later and found a lady who refused to look at me, and just looked at the computer the whole time. She said that the sign may say that, but it wasn't actually correct??? She then asked if I had checked the lost and found, and I already did, and she said to go check every dryer. I realized she didn't really want to help, so I left and wore the same garments for 6 days, and I had two pairs of shirts. I ordered more garments and got five more, haha. Then, last night, I found that I had 4 pairs of shirts and 3 garment pairs in my suitcase the whole time! I fear I am as the Jaredites who were cursed to lose everything they lost. So, this was a good week. On that day I was so down on myself because I lost my garments, but that day was good nonetheless.

  
That Thursday we taught Lorenzo for the last time, and we taught persevering to the end, and that baptism isn't the destination, but the path to get on. On Friday I memorized the first vision in Español, along with James 1:5.  We got another teacher that night, named Brother Peery, who did awesome. He just brought the spirit. By the way, my district composes of Elders Hanks, Perkins, Tuau, West (my companion), Stevens, Bateman, and Wallace. They are awesome!  Elder Tuau is an enormous football player, but really the humblest person. And Elder Hanks brings such profound insight to everything he says. 

  
On Saturday, our district was talking, and someone said "When we get to the judgement, God will beg for us to stay." Apparently, and this is interesting, but when the Savior suffered the Atonement, God ran to the edge of Heaven. Even when He was dying on the cross, He asked that His mother be taken care of and promised the thieves next to Him paradise, and asked that the guards killing Him be forgiven. It was always about someone else in every instance. I need to do my best to make it about the investigator every time. Only then will I be successful at all. On Sunday we talked with the district president's wife, who was so kind. She brought to mind how we were prepared before birth to be missionaries, and it made me think about all the ninja missionary stories mom always gave me when I was little. I'm now that ninja missionary. She quoted Moses 7:62, where the "righteous" means the missionaries, and the truth means the Book of Mormon. She wants us to memorize D&C 121:34-46. That night we four roommates (Elders Tuau, Stevens, West, and I) locked ourselves out of our dorm. We had to get the security down with their keys to open it.

On Monday we got a lot done and felt the spirit. I learned to spend time with those who seek the truth. I really don't think I'm a very good missionary, but I know that the Lord will somehow make a mighty tool of me. I love Ammon, when he explained how great a missionary he was, and when chastised for it, he explained it was only of God's power. Elder Hanks said the following. "Testimonies are better than explanations", "Seeking the gift of tongues is seeking the Spirit, not your own wisdom (2 Nephi 9:28-29).  "Language is not a part of our purpose, but we are called to serve in that language to people who speak it." There was a scripture scratched into one of the bathroom stalls, Jeremiah 4:19-21, and at first I thought "Oh someone has a favorite scripture", but read it and take what you will.... or don't. It's potty humor.

 
On Tuesday I memorized 1 Nephi 3:7. We got a lot done and learned a lot. We taught another "investigator" (Hermano Kinghorn), and didn't do as well. We taught real members in Spanish, and they were patient with my imperfections. During exercise time, I've been getting pretty good at 4-square. I love being here on my mission, and I am working hard to be a good missionary.I really really just want to bring the joy that I know exists. Anyway, that was my fantastic and crazy and great week! I love you, family.  I love you guys.

Week 1 - Provo MTC

Hola! So, this week has been the most difficult but amazing week ever. Please, please forgive me for the lack of photos. I lost my camera and didn't take a single picture until I found it... in my satchel pocket... this morning. I made it to grandma and grandma's house safely, and spent the night there. I got to talk to Paisley- Mai, Ben and Kaye, and the first thing Paisley-Mai said when she saw me was "Danno!" I'm so glad she remembers me. We had a great time together, and the next day I left for the MTC. Halfway through the ride, when I talked to mom and dad, I realized that I left my navy blue suit coat at grandma and grandpa's house. Classic Elder Sant, right? I got to the MTC, and some guys took my luggage. I went to a class, and the teacher only spoke Spanish, even when I wasn't sure what she was saying. She told me to do a computer survey, and I wasn't sure how much I was supposed to do.   
I love my district; I am sure it was inspired of God! On the second day we all practiced Spanish, and it was a fun day, but it was so long, as Monday was.

On Friday, we taught our first investigator, and they did not go easy at all hahaha. We had to do it in Spanish. Later someone said that they saw garments on the guy, so he wasn't really an investigator, but it was still tons of fun. We heard this story about this Elder we have who had a turtle he bought for $15, and it one day ran away, and six months later he found it again, sent it to the vet because it wouldn't eat, and then died after choking on the pill he tried to give him... Those are the stories of the elders here...

  
On Friday morning, we went to a service cleaning, and that was a lot of fun. We cleaned the gym building. We learned a lot about missionary work, and got distracted easily because a teacher only comes about every other day so we can self-teach, and we literally have about 10 hours of class. We taught that "investigator", named Lorenzo, and it went really well. That night we had a devotional that was so beautiful. I can't even explain everything I learned, because it's been so much. For a break, 10 minutes every hour, we get a geography lesson where elder Bateman makes up the craziest things but makes it seem real.   

  
On Saturday we walked to the temple, and it was so cool. We found an elder Batman there. It was cool. It was a great experience. We also just had 10 hours of lesson time again, but we also taught Lorenzo. 

  
On Sunday we had a sacrament meeting. I hadn't ever, according to my memory, had such a spiritually uplifting sacrament meeting. Everything was so humble and beautiful. We went to a choir lesson, and it was really good.

  
On Monday we taught Lorenzo, and got him to commit to be "baptized" in two weeks. It's a lot of fun, even though everyone knows he's not an investigator. One thing I can say, and if you get anything out of reading this, understand that no matter how prepared you think you are, you are never really prepared, especially and without a doubt if you don't personally care about and handle well with every need of every specific investigator and person you meet. I love the history of Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah. It takes much of the book of Alma but it's so good. 

  
On Tuesday, we did something pretty cool. So, one of our elders is an engineer, and we were reading the Book of Mormon when Zeezrom tried to convince Amulek to deny God for 6 onties. We found the economic works of the people at the time, and it worked perfectly. This could be complete false doctrine, and it doesn't pertain to our salvation in any way, but we found, if calculations were correct, that 6 onties was about $7,000, and that at the time, they were probably in a time of inflation. It's cool.  

Today we went in the temple and did an endowment session. It was so great. I love the temple. While I do laundry, I am writing this letter. I absolutely love and miss you guys!

Arrived at the MTC

Hey guys, I made it to the MTC, and it was fantastic. I'm having a great time, and my P-day is on Wednesday. I love you guys, and I can't write too much. My companion here is a guy who's also going to Bakersfield Ca

Love,

--

Elder Daniel Jacob Sant

"Go and Do"

About the Mormon missionaries

I'm totally unable to sleep, thinking of the list I made last night of everything we need to accomplish in the next four days.  I thought I would clear my mind with some talking about Mormon missionaries.

Here in Baton Rouge when you say you or your child is on a mission everyone gets super excited!  They've all been on missions, or their kids have or their neighbor or their neighbor's kid.  The thing is Mormon missions are very different.  Here's how:

First of all, the Mormon missionaries all pay their own way.  Daniel has been cutting grass and working at other hard labor jobs all summer.  He did not have time for a full time summer job because we made the choice to him to attend some family events.  Even so, he has worked very hard and never turned down an opportunity.  I guess in short I should say, mormon missionaries are not paid for their work.

Let's talk about the time of missions.  This is another difference.  Mormon missionaries leave home and serve for a full 24 months if they are boys.  TWO YEARS.  They do this voluntarily!  During this time they don't call or skype or text or message or facebook or facetime home or friends.  In fact, they don't even take a cell phone with them.  Daniel isn't even allowed an MP3 player.  We had to find him a CD player, without a radio and speakers.  No headphones for these missionaries! They read and send email once a week on their "preparation days" from a public place, like a library.  They also use a preparation day to wash their clothes, clean their apartments, grocery shop, and send snail mail.  They can usually call or Skype home on Mother's Day and Christmas.

Speaking of social networking, Mormon missionaries also don't date.  That's all.  They aren't even allowed to do more than shake the hand of a person of the opposite sex.

Alone is something Mormon missionaries are not.  They are assigned a companion of the same gender and together they work to bring people closer to Jesus Christ.  They work together all day, in the morning they study the scriptures and the gospel.  They eat their meals together and travel together.  They plan their day together.  They get up at the same time and go to bed at the same time.  When you are a Mormon missionary your companion should always be within eyesight.  Obviously you take care of your bidniz alone, but with that exception, you even sleep in the same bedroom!

How does one become a Mormon missionary?  Well, the first thing they do is prepare themselves by living worthily, such as keeping the Word of Wisdom, paying tithing, being morally clean, and so forth.  There are doctor and dentist appointments (get those wisdom teeth gone!)  When the young adult decides to go, they fill out the paperwork on line, then they have interviews with the Bishop (leader over a local congregation) and Stake President (leader of about nine congregations).  When everything is done it is turned into the LDS Church Headquarters, which is located in Salt Lake City.

The LDS church has Twelve Apostles, just like Jesus did when he was on the earth.  Some of the Twelve Apostles have the assignment to assign missionaries.  My favorite articles about how this works are here, here, and here.  Basically, the prospective missionary has no say or idea about where they will serve, the language they will speak, or when they will leave.  This is a gigantic leap of faith.  And it makes waiting for that big white envelope to arrive in the mail a real test of patience.

I am proud of the kids (and adults - senior couples can go on missions too!)  who decide to put their education, social lives, and jobs on hold and spend time serving the Lord by helping people have a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.   Right now there are about 74,000 Mormon missionaries world-wide.  I hope that if you see one, well, two (companions, remember?) you will give them a drink of ice water and spend some time chatting with them.  That's what they are there for!