Thats it! Pun-cakes is cancelled!

(Elder Slade)

To the best Friends and Family a person could hope for,

This has been a crazy week, and there's a lot I could tell you, but I'll try to keep it short. It feels like a month has gone by, not a week. So first, Thursday night last week I was called to be the district leader of our district in the MTC! It seems crazy, because I thought that if I ever became the district leader it would be when I had 6 months left on my mission or something like that, but my second day I was called. At times I feel a little overwhelmed, but the Lord is definitely helping support me at times. I love my district! We have 6 Elders and 4 Sisters. We have laughed so hard at times, and we learn so much from each other. It's crazy to me how in just one week you can get so close to a group of people.

Our days spent at the MTC are strictly scheduled with two 3 hour class periods in the morning and in the afternoon, along with workshops every other day or so, and lots of study time.In class we mainly focus on how to teach and the lesson material themselves. We also teach lessons every other day where we teach a nonmember, or a member who's an actor and pretends to be a nonmember. This week, Elder Lavold and I have been teaching a woman named Laura. We love teaching her! I love it at the MTC as well, and feels so good to know that I am going about doing the Lord's work!

My title comes from a breakfast where we had pancakes and Elder Lavold had the idea to do pun-cakes, where you try to think of as many puns as possible (I love Elder Lavold!). I thought it was a great idea, and gave a few puns. However when a sister in our district found out, Sister Hayes, she must have spouted 10-15 puns in a row, with almost no stop. Elder Lavold was speechless, and did not how to respond by this amazing display of wit and punnery. I guess you could say he was tongue-"tied" (you get it! Because we were wearing ties! Lol). Eventually he just said "That's it! Pun-cakes is cancelled!".

Anyways, thanks for your prayers and support. I unfortunately am not allowed to search things online, so my potato jokes will be pretty lame and a little bit familiar. but...

What do you call a potato that is trying to find inner peace?

A medi-tator!

Pictures:

1. The best district ever!!

2. A giant bag of sour patch kids Elder Lavold got. (What kind of person opens bags from the middle! You just can't do that! He claimed it was like opening a tissue box. *shaking my head*)

3. Elder Lavold and I in front of a beautiful mural (there's so much beautiful art in the MTC)

4. Us on the roof, with the temple in the background.

5. Me pointing at my mission.

To the best Friends and Family a person could hope for,

This has been a crazy week, and there's a lot I could tell you, but I'll try to keep it short. It feels like a month has gone by, not a week. So first, Thursday night last week I was called to be the district leader of our district in the MTC! It seems crazy, because I thought that if I ever became the district leader it would be when I had 6 months left on my mission or something like that, but my second day I was called. At times I feel a little overwhelmed, but the Lord is definitely helping support me at times. I love my district! We have 6 Elders and 4 Sisters. We have laughed so hard at times, and we learn so much from each other. It's crazy to me how in just one week you can get so close to a group of people.

Our days spent at the MTC are strictly scheduled with two 3 hour class periods in the morning and in the afternoon, along with workshops every other day or so, and lots of study time.In class we mainly focus on how to teach and the lesson material themselves. We also teach lessons every other day where we teach a nonmember, or a member who's an actor and pretends to be a nonmember. This week, Elder Lavold and I have been teaching a woman named Laura. We love teaching her! I love it at the MTC as well, and feels so good to know that I am going about doing the Lord's work!

My title comes from a breakfast where we had pancakes and Elder Lavold had the idea to do pun-cakes, where you try to think of as many puns as possible (I love Elder Lavold!). I thought it was a great idea, and gave a few puns. However when a sister in our district found out, Sister Hayes, she must have spouted 10-15 puns in a row, with almost no stop. Elder Lavold was speechless, and did not how to respond by this amazing display of wit and punnery. I guess you could say he was tongue-"tied" (you get it! Because we were wearing ties! Lol). Eventually he just said "That's it! Pun-cakes is cancelled!".

Anyways, thanks for your prayers and support. I unfortunately am not allowed to search things online, so my potato jokes will be pretty lame and a little bit familiar. but...

What do you call a potato that is trying to find inner peace?

A medi-tator!

Pictures:

1. The best district ever!!

2. A giant bag of sour patch kids Elder Lavold got. (What kind of person opens bags from the middle! You just can't do that! He claimed it was like opening a tissue box. *shaking my head*)

3. Elder Lavold and I in front of a beautiful mural (there's so much beautiful art in the MTC)

4. Us on the roof, with the temple in the background.

5. Me pointing at my mission.

Somebody done stole our ladders

(Elder Slade)

Hey everybody! I arrived at the MTC safely. My preparation day, when I'll be able to send emails, while in the MTC, is on Thursday. Yesterday was a little overwhelming, with lots of new information and rules about the MTC. However, I am loving it so far! I'm excited to be learning, and getting prepared for the field.

My companion is Elder Lavold, from Mesa Arizona. He's pretty cool! I'm excited to be able to work with him. The title is something I said last night, as when we got to our room, someone had "pranked" us by stacking all the chairs, and moving the ladders to the bunk bed to the room next door. It was pretty funny.

This morning, there was a devotional broadcasted from the Lima Peru MTC where Jeffrey R Holland, one of the 12 apostles in our church, spoke to us. His talk was soooo amazing! I felt invigorated and energized, which is a common side effect of his talks. Those who have heard him speak, probably know what I mean. He talked about what serving a mission faithfully can do for you the rest of your life, along with the importance of obedience and the Book of Mormon. During it, I just felt a strong gratitude and love for God for calling me on my mission, and being willing to serve. I feel so much joy from choosing to come here! God bless you, and stay fresh!

Someone told me that my joke last week was pretty cheesy, but let me just say, potatoes taste better with cheese in my opinion. ;)

Pictures:

MTC campus 

Beautiful of the mountains (The picture doesn't do it justice) 

Elder Lavold and I

MY NAME TAG!!! 

My Companion is going to kill me

(Sister Slade)

We got transfer calls on Saturday. Both Sister Jelderks and I are staying. So this is how I die. 3 areas, 13 transfers, 12 companions. As the little einsteins would say, "Start the countdown!" It's so weird to only have 6 weeks left. It feels like yesterday that I was in Central Park as baby Sister Slade.  

This week was a week of completed goals. At the beginning of my mission I had a goal to read the entire standard works studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On Thursday I accomplished my goal. It really is amazing to see how the Gospel ties into everything and really is the center of everything we believe. My testimony of the Gospel has grown so much as I've read the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. I also successfully went 21 days without sugar. Our mission was doing a fit challenge where if every missionary in our stake did the challenge for 20 days then we would get an extra pday. Everyone did it so we get an extra pday on wednesday. Yay! goals are a really interesting thing. I've come to learn that they are a reflection of our faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we have faith in Him we realize that we can become better so we set goals in the act of trying to be better. It doesn't matter so much if we reach the goal as long as we tried and improved. It's in the trying where the atonement makes up the difference.

Not too much happened this week. Either my weeks are super exciting or very boring. I wish they were more exciting for all of your sakes.

God is good!

Sister Slade

pictures:

1-2. At the restore they had about 50 shower curtains donated and we had to take them all to the back but didn't have a cart to use.

3-4. the member who came with us to Johana's lesson brought her little boy that is the same age as Johana's daughter and they were so cute together.

5-9. At the animal shelter there was a cat they had us work with that didn't like people. By the end of 1.5 hours she was taking a nap on me. The worker said they'd never had anyone be able to even touch her. I'm a cat whisperer.

Goodbye Humacao

(Hermana Ellsworth)

Humacao has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. I have seen the hand of God work miracles in the people here and I will always look back on this time with fond memories and a stronger testimony of the blessings of God for his children. It was a short time of only 2 transfers but it was full of Miracles.

Julian, Ian, y Liliana in our last lesson with them :) They have changes my life and watch Julian be the next general authority at the age of 13.

The Youngs who live out here. We are eating in a restaurant where the church building used to be when Hno. Young served his mission here in Puerto Rico. They help so much with the mission work . I love them so much and they are wonderful examples to me about consecrating their lives for the Lord and doing so with so much style.

Fuimos para comer como un districto después... Wait... english... We went and got sushi. Goodbye hermana Plumb.

This is pinchofongo. SO GOOD

Christie has blessed my life by helping me know that God still heals people of every sickness and problem

Jaileen is the best person in the world and my new big sister. Sorry Paige. you have been replaced.

BUT HERE I COME TRUJILLO ALTO!!!!!

I AM SOEXCITED!!

January 28th 2020

(Elder Petersen)

So this week was an interesting one. To start out this week on Monday we had a ministering visit with a member and in that visit she told us about this friend of hers that was expressing interest in the church. So we talked to her about that for a while and then we went our separate ways. Then on Wednesday we had an early dinner with a packed night of member visits. On Thursday we huddled with our Senior couple the Waldners and discussed with them what we were doing in their stake as well as going over what they are doing in the stake as well. After that we went to service at a service run free family center. That was pretty interesting but all that we really did there was clean toys and count puzzle pieces. Then on Friday we had zone conference which took up a everything from 8 am to 4 pm basically. It was a very interesting zone conference where we learned how to better make the time that we are stuck in doors more affective. Then on Saturday we had our first lesson with a YSA age lady by the name of Hannah. She was a referral from some sisters up in Pennsylvania because one of those Sisters is Hannah's best friend. But the lesson went really well and our next lesson with her is tomorrow! Then yesterday we got a text from this YSA lady whom I talked about in the beginning saying that she had asked her friend if she wanted to meet with the Missionaries and she said yes!!! So that was my week.

Have a great week,

Sincerely Elder Petersen

Hey Mom!

(Elder Slade)

Hey! I arrived at the MTC safely. I'm in my first class now, and they told us to email home. Our P day is Thursday, so you'll probably receive another email from me tomorrow. My companion is Elder Lavold from Mesa Arizona.

2 Days Away!!

(Elder Slade)

To the best Friends and Family a person could hope for,

If you couldn't tell from the title, I have only two days left until I leave for the MTC!! I am super excited and can't wait to get out there! I've looked forward to this time in my life for many years growing up. I've always planned and wanted to go on a mission, and it is finally here! Some may wonder why I am willing to do this. I am foregoing time spent with family and friends and school and many other things, for two entire years. I will not get paid for this service, but volunteer for it with my own free will. Some may think that is a little bizarre or crazy. So for my first email, I wish to address why I am choosing to serve a mission. This reason is best represented in a verse from the Book of Mormon:

Alma 30:34

And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren?

To sum it up, the reason I am going is because of joy! The knowledge and truth that have received from this gospel has brought me much joy. To know where we were before this life; to know where we are going; to know the purpose of our lives here on earth; to know that I can live with my family forever; to know where I can turn in times of stress, sorrow, and sadness and receive comfort and peace in return; to be guided in making all of my decisions in my life; to know that I am never alone; to know that it is possible to be forgiven and to change and become better people; and to know that there is a way to eternal happiness and joy after we die. All of these blessings bring me peace and joy in my life, and that is why I am choosing to serve a mission. The gospel brings me joy, and to be able to bring that joy to my brothers and sisters in Idaho, and rejoice with them in receiving this knowledge is payment enough for my service. I know some of you on this email list do not believe the way I do, and I do not ask you to believe what I do, but this is the reason I am serving a mission.

Thank you for wanting to hear from me each week. If you know of someone who might want to also receive these emails, have them email me, and I will put them on the next email. Or, if you have been linked in this email by mistake, and no longer want to receive these emails :( that's alright and just let me know.

My mailing address while in the MTC is:

Elder Gabriel Ronald Slade

02-12 | ID-IF

2005 N 900 East, Unit #103

Provo UT  84602

United States

Please do not send me a dead fish or something like that, but if you need to send me something in the next few weeks before I arrive in the mission field (hint: my favorite candy is Reese's peanut butter cups! Lol, you don't need to send me anything.), this is the address to send it to!

P.S.  Each email I'll try to send something funny or and interesting fact about Idaho or potatoes, so...

What do you call a potato that's reluctant to jump into boiling water?

A hesi-tater! Ha, that's funny right there!