Wednesday, September 29, 2010

more of week one

Alright, so there are a few things that I didn't get into the e-mail.  I really wanted to tell you about Elder Hutchinson.  He's is in our branch and he is from Wales.  He has this really cool accent and he reminds us all of the Lucky Charms Leprechaun.  I wanted Jayson to know that I know someone from where he is serving.  Having only 30 minutes for e-mail blows, but write often.  Mail is solace here.  Worth more than gold.  I am so busy here that I can't barely breathe, but I am enjoying every minute of it.  We get to go to the temple today so, I am excited for that. Oh, the first day here I saw Ryan Bills walking by and I was like "Elder Bills."  He then bobbed his head up through a crowd and then saw me.  He ran toward me chanting "oh my gosh, oh my gosh" and picked me up in the biggest hug ever.  I have also seen Elder Petit, Elder Ethan Thompson, Elder Taylor Bullock and Michael for NC(I don't remember his last name)  I know that you guys don't know these guys but my friends will.  Speaking of BYU peeps, I need your addresses.   I love you all!   Have fun and remember Alma 26:12

Love Elder Lapeyrouse

Monday, September 27, 2010

Week One

So, Monday is my p-day. As you should have probably guessed. Life at the MTC...crazy. Who would have thought that i wouldhave actually been good at going to bed at 10:30 and waking up at 6. But its swell. So I remember people telling me how much they hated this place. This place is awesome. we learn so much from classes and already have had multiple teaching opportunities. When you teach a lesson with the Spirit and you and your companion are so in sync, it's pretty much the coolest feeling ever. Which brings me to my companion. Elder Justin Butler from Show-low Arizona. He's on leave from the marine corps and he's real cool. We get along so well. He's extremely outgoing and bold and full of life. Reminds me a lot of friends from back home. My district is also wayy legit. We are all either Micronesia Guam or Marshall Islands missionaries so we are kinda united by the rareity and ambigiousness of our calls rather than most districts where one companion is going to New York and the other to Arizona. There are 12 of us. 6 to Marshall and 6 to Micronesia. elder Butler, is going to Micronesia, like myself. The food here: EXACTLY like the cannon center. Same food, trays, plates, silverware, cups, drink machines, generic cereal, disposal system.....exactly. So I can deal. But it actually seems to taste better because you get sooo hungry during classes. Which reminds me, yesterday was fast Sunday....tramatizing. So suprisingly, there are quite a few realllly cute sister missionaries here. And it's not just me that notices, 3/4's of my district can't figure out why. But alll the same we try to keep a distance so that there is no chance of anything but it's not just mission goggles...they're pretty. Just some food for thought. So its been about 5 days or so that we've been here and it already feels like 2 weeks. The days are just so long and jam packed that you feel like youve been here much longer. My departure date is Oct. 12 and my service ends on the 26th of Spetember in 2012. 2 years and 4 days I guess. Both our teachers have alteregos as investigators and teaching them is real fun. We are taught to read through PMG and understand all of it but don't necessarily teach it. We are told to invite the spirit in and to find out as much about them as possible and answer their questions according to their needs. Know , Feel, Do. (for them) thats what our first meeting is all about figuring out. From there we plan the lessons around there needs and try to emphasize how uch we care for them. And like I said earlier, the Spirit takes over, you find scriptures you wouldnt think of, you're companion and you are in sync, and you really have a heartfelt conversation with the person. It's so exciting and humbling and everything inbetween. After our lesson the other day, elder butler and I walked out and had to hug each other because it was such a good one. We just keep feeding off each others positive energy and continue to grow. We play a lot of volleyball, during gym time. On the field below the Provo temple. Its so weird to see the outside world, because you seriiously dont feel apart of it.  So Ive got about 5 minutes left so I gotta hurry. I wanted to quickly share a thought that was first told to me by Adam while we were hiking before I came in. The Lord has called YOU to be a missionary. NOT your idea of the perfect missionary. Don't change your self because you feel like you aren't enough because otherwise, YOU will never show up in the mission field. He knows your experiences whatever they may be have defined your personality and he has sent that personality to the place it needs to be. Head your call. Don't let your call define you. Never lose sight of who you are. thanks adam. they told us the same in here. Godspeed all and Kia kaha!
 
Any way, Dear elder....amazing. Get everyone to write me, I want to hear from them.
 
Elder Braydon Lapeyrouse
Box #196
Mission code MICR-GUA
Departure Date October 12
 
For those of you who dont't understand Braydons title Section 4 (animal style) it refers to the Doctrine and Covenants Section 4 and animal style means all the way.  Evidently when you order something animal style it means with everything on it so thats how Braydon wants his mission.  Full out with everything on it.