I'm Goin' In! (PHILIPPINES: MONDAY)

August 24, 2013, from the MTC, Provo, Utah

 Well, my time has come.  The MTC has been amazing but I’m ready to get out of here. I’m not perfect, especially at Tagalog, but my fire is lit and ready to shine and guide others to the warmth.  This week’s inspirational quote was from a member of my branch Presidency, Brother Heiner.  He said, "The fire isn’t to warm the house, the fire is to to warm the person. So if you are cold, move closer to the fire."  If you are struggling or are cold, move closer to the fire (God)!  He will warm as we put faith in him!  And then our warmth will warm others!  Anyways....

 This last week has been incredible.  So much emotion!  My mind is running crazy!!!  The mission still seems so unreal, but I’m afraid I’ve had it easy for too long and that’s about to change.... Fast.

 This week was very eventful.  One thing I’ve left out of my letters is how important music is and how easily it commands the Spirit into the room, it’s incredible!  We sing so much here!  You sing as you walk, sing in class, sing in your head, sing as you practice teaching investigators.  Music is incredible.  I have been brought to tears so many times by it.  Although I wasn’t blessed with amazing musical talent, I’m grateful for those who have and are so willing to share.  From singing performances to piano and harp performances, my soul has been pierced by the Spirit.  I love music.  I remember looking at my Dad at church after musical performances and seeing him cry and thinking to myself about how weird and how embarrassing that is.  I’ve learned otherwise and I wish I could’ve learned the importance of music earlier in my life. 

 Also!  There are so many disabled kids here, it’s astounding!  I’ve been brought to tears many times as I see Daniel in these kids here.  I was standing in line for food and began talking to one of the handicapped kids to find out he had been here at the MTC for 2 years and left this weekend!  I was amazed and talked to him for a while to find out more.  I guess he works as one of those people you can chat with on mormon.org, along with answering questions online and building up all the new online missionary resources!  Missionary work is truly incredible, and everyone can participate!  I have no doubt Daniel will be able to serve a mission someday.

 Brother Matt Smith sent me a bunch of ties from the Philippines that he got there when he was on a mission, so thanks for that and shout out to him!  I’ve kept in touch with Elder Shane Brown a lot, who’s actually in my mission...sounds like he’s been preparing for me to come!  Haha, he sends me Dear Elders, most of which I can’t understand, but I use my teachers as translators.  I’m so excited to see him.  So weird how I’ll be in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a random island, yet I will know someone from home.... I’m not complaining, I’ll take it.

 This will be my last e-mail before I go to the Philippines, so I’ll wrap things up well.  The MTC is amazing.  There’s no other place as spiritual besides the temple.  I’ve learned so much here and I still am learning more and more daily!  Serving a mission is so hard.  I cry myself to sleep, I miss home, I’m stressed and overwhelmed, I don’t feel good enough, I’m not learning the language, I keep hearing how Jesse is surfing and Kate is running with the team and I get so jealous, the list goes on.  A mission is HARD, and at times I just want to give up.  Yet I’m happier than I’ve ever been.  How is that possible?  It’s because I am serving others more than myself.  My relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has grown so strong.  There’s something about this work that brings peace no matter how hard it is.  Some days are easy, and some are absolutely terrible, but in the end I realize it’s not about me.  It’s about the children of God who are lost, who need me.  I’m a soft South Orange County kid who’s had it easy his whole life.  It’s been a challenge to adjust to having to work so hard and not having everything be about me and go my way.  It’s been the greatest experience of my life and I’m just starting.  I’m excited to go to the Philippines because I know it will be hard!  It will test my faith and will humble me no doubt, but that can only make me stronger as I overcome my struggles.  THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!  I love my life right now.  Don’t get me wrong, I miss everything about home, but what I’m doing is so much more important.  My cross country coach, Coach Clemons, was such an influence in my life.  I wish he knew how much he taught me and how much it’s helped me out here.  I messed around and liked to have fun (like I do here) but I know when it’s time to work.  My personality and his clashed a lot, and at times I hated him, but in the end he was a role model for me.  He always taught us that when your legs give out, when your lungs are dead, and you feel there’s no hope left, that’s when you go.  Once you break through that point, your body can unleash it’s true strength.  That’s so evident here and will be throughout my mission.  I’ve had 4 years of training, I’m ready for the worst of the worst. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be ok!  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write me though haha, it means write me more.  ;)

 I’m ready to get eaten alive, get so sick I’m bed ridden for weeks, eat the nastiest food ever, walk until my legs fall off, get soaking wet and sweat to death, wipe with my hand or poop my pants, and be a minority.  You all have contributed to preparing me for this, and I’m so thankful for all you’ve done.  I’ve never been so scared in my life, but I can’t wait either. I don’t know when I’ll be able to e-mail again, but I love you all!  Please keep in touch! 

Elder Moncur

The Philippines ain't too far!

Max's new address as of August 26, 2013:

Elder Max Benjamin Moncur

Philippines Legaspi Mission

LDS Chapel Rizal Street

Poblacion, Draga

Albay

Philippines

Run!

August 17, 2013

from the MTC, Provo, Utah

 Kumusta po kayo pamilya at mga kaibigan!  So basically this has been the best week ever, so let me cut to the good stuff.  So!  Elder Smith and Claridge, 2 of the members of my district are in choir.  They practice every Sunday night, so after practice they came back more excited than usual.  We all were wondering why they were so excited, so we asked and they told us that the Tuesday Night Devotional was going to be special.... as in a high-up authority of the church was coming to speak!  Elder Miller and I were so stoked, so we planned to go an hour and a half early so we could get good seats!  So Tuesday night comes along and after dinner we go to the gate where we exit the MTC and walk over to the Marriott Center, where BYU basketball games are played.  Other people started to congregate at the fence and Elder Miller and I began to think that we had wasted our time.  They finally opened the gate and everyone went running out!  It was crazy!  So what do I do?  Well, what I do best of course, RUN!  People stopped running after a bit but kept up a fast speed walk.  I was not going to be in the back, though.  Remember, my companion is 5' 2", meaning he has short legs.  Man did I give those things a work out that day.  I really pushed Elder Miller to keep up, but it worked out because we wanted good seats bad enough.  We made our way to the front of the pack of Olympic speed walkers, I mean missionaries, when we finally arrived at the Marriott Center.  We began walking down the steps to lower seats in the stands when an older man directed us towards the floor.... NO FLIPPIN’ WAY.  We looked down and saw 3 rows of seats for about no more than 60 people.  Elder Miller and I were really trippin’ out now!  We ended up getting in the second row on these soft floor seats, while everyone else had to stay up in the stands.  So far the race over was worth it.  We were hearing many rumors of who it was going to be, but still no for sure speaker was told yet.  The choir is singing, the organ’s playing, when all of a sudden a picture of Richard G. Scott is projected up onto the screen.... WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A LIVING APOSTLE, RICHARD G. SCOTT SPEAK TO US.  Everyone was in such shock!  It was awesome!  So he finally came in to speak and it was the greatest talk ever, the Spirit was just so strong.  If I learned one thing from that, it has got to be that God has put us here to succeed.  No matter how tough the going gets, he has a way for us to make it, he wants the best for us, and he will make it possible if we have faith.  Through prayer, God will help us through our faith and humility.  It was awesome.  I will never forget that moment.  Not only was it an amazing talk though, but it was an answer to my prayers.  I have still been struggling with Tagalog, and I pray diligently for help.  I began to feel overwhelmed and hopeless because it wasn’t coming any easier or faster.  However, while Richard G. Scott was speaking, I totally heard what I needed.  He said "With the apostolic authority that I hold, I bestow upon those learning a new language with the gift of tongues."  I know I had heard before that I would have that on my mission, but hearing it that way totally helped me.  I know that Richard G. Scott is an apostle of God and that he has a true knowledge and love for our Savior.  I know I could trust him, because the Spirit confirmed it to me in my heart.  Along with that sacred blessing, he spoke many uplifting words throughout his talk.  It really helped me out. 

 My teacher Brother Moffat is getting married next week, so he’s done teaching us.  Since yesterday was his last day, we had a "man talk" which is basically just to get you pumped and warn you for what’s to come in the Philippines.  He’s so inspirational it’s ridiculous.  He’s also hilarious.  One of the things he told us was that no matter what, you are just not that Guapo (handsome), because I guess Filipino girls love white missionaries and will try to distract us but we need to remember who we are and why we’re there.  He also said the only time missionaries get into trouble is when they aren’t doing missionary work (duh)!  And the key to success is the less you focus on yourself, the more blessings you receive.  I think I’m ready to go to the Philippines now!  Ish.  Besides that, our teachers made a deal with us that if we make the whole mission without pooping ourselves, they will take us to a fancy restaurant when we’re back.... Huh, I’m nervous!

 All in all, this week was good.  From shower choirs with Elders Poulton, Van Boerum, Nelson, and Schwalbe, to pulling my hip flexor in basketball, and running a 4:59 mile without being in shape, I’m happy.  This lifestyle is hard but it’s so worth it.  Monday we said farewell to 2 older districts, which was really hard since we’re the oldest now and they were the districts that accepted us in, but I know they’re doing greater things now.  Elder Baylon was the best.  He changed my life.  If it weren’t for him, I would not have transitioned into the MTC as well.  I wish he knew the impact he had on me. 

 And guess what?!  Friday (yesterday) we got our flight plans!  It’s official and that much more real that I’ll be leaving in 8 days!  We have over 30 hours of traveling (20 on plane, 10 on bus) as we fly from Salt Lake to LAX to Tokyo, and then finally to Manila, Philippines where we take the longest bus ride down to Legaspi.  You could say I’m bursting with excitement!

 This MTC experience has truly been amazing.  While you all are doing as you please, I’m in full dedication to being a missionary, smack in the middle of summer!  Do I wish I could be training with my team, surfing, and hanging with my friends and family?  Of course!  But I wouldn’t trade this opportunity for anything!  I’ve learned more about myself here than I have almost in my entire life!  I’ve learned to listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and how to pray and receive answers.  If anything, I’vd learned to put others first.  That was my goal, to develop a Christ-like love and care for others more than myself.  It has made my life seem so much more important.  I’m not here to do as I want.  Obviously I need to enjoy myself, but I’m here to bless others’ lives.  Not only on my mission, but even after!  And when you do that, you’re happier than you ever are when you’re doing what you want!  It’s incredible!  I love this gospel.  I know it’s true.  I’m so thankful to be blessed to be a part of it and now give back to the world.  This is the best thing anyone could do with their life.  Be missionaries always and strive to serve others and I know you’ll be blessed. 

 I love you all so much.  Thanks for the e-mails and letters, it really means a lot.  Feel free to write me again, as long as you send it by Wednesday, otherwise I won’t get it for awhile.  And feel free to still send pictures so I can remember you all.  It's nice to see part of home every once in a while.  Thanks for keeping in touch and up to date!

Mga Duece (Dueces)!

Brother Moffat's Last Day

Teacher Brother Moffat

Barneys Home Made Dry (wet) Cleaning

Spiderman they call me

Don't ask

Brother Spreng
(Flippin' hilarious)

Goodbye Sister Garcia 

Elder Baylon

My Hot Kasama

Elder Kauer

Bye Sister and Mom
(Sister Vanfleet and Sister Jones) 

Ano ba?!  (What the?!)

Teach me how to creep, teach me, teach me how to creep....

Bye Baller Crew with a hint of Baby Mills

(Elder Rindlasbacher, Holdoway, Baylon, Barney, and Espinoza)

Bye Spoza (Elder Espinoza)

Bye Zone Leader
Elder Martin

Elder Daniel's face he makes for everything

Elder Bean from San Clemente

Temple Hand Stands

Bye older district
I LOVE ELDER BAYLON! ;(

Elder Poulton (6' 5") and Elder Miller (5' 2")

Days Feel Like Weeks, Weeks Feel Like Days

August 10, 2013 from the MTC, Provo, Utah

It's now more evident than ever that the days feel like weeks yet somehow the weeks are like days.  I can’t believe it has been a month!  So what’s the rundown?!  Let me tell you, because it’s been great!  So last Saturday after I e-mailed, we had something called TRC.  TRC is when we teach someone who speaks Tagalog, but they aren’t playing any roles.  They just act themselves and we’re just supposed to talk to them.  However, the older guys told us not to prepare because it’s just supposed to be a conversation and you have got to find out what they need to hear.  WORST THING EVER!  We aren’t anywhere good enough at Tagalog to not prepare and just talk.  Elder Miller and I were struggling so bad (thankfully he’s a genius and speaks very good)!  Our lady we taught was old and chill though so it was nice.  She was understanding and forgiving, but she definitely laughed a lot.  It was a good time but I felt so dumb, oh well!  I’ll be better prepared for tonight when we do it again!

Sunday was our first fast Sunday here which was pretty cool.  I woke up sick which was a bust but I still fasted!  Nothing really went on that day because our whole district was wiped and since we didn’t have breakfast or lunch, we were supposed to just study.  That didn’t work out too well.  We all ended up passing out on whatever we were reading.  The Sunday Night Devotional was so sick.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks’ daughter, who is a world class violinist, spoke and played about 6 songs on the violin throughout her talk.  So spiritual.  Our gifts are given to us to bless and share with others, and she truly made that evident.  Afterwards she had her four kids perform too, it was amazing!  She had 3 daughters, one on the violin, one on the piano and the last on the cello, and a son who played a classical guitar.  They ranged from age 6-12 and they were soooooo good!  I loved it!  Later that night we watched Elder Bednar speak on the Characteristics of Christ.  Most inspiring talk I’ve heard.  It really made me realize what I’m here to do and I need to just give up myself and care about others over myself.  The days blurred the rest of the week.

“What are the Odds”, a game I’ve started here has really spread.... So many people are playing now!  It’s hilarious.  So what you do is you say “What are the odds you do this,” and the person gives you a number.  You go “1, 2,” and then instead of 3, you say any number between one and the number the person said.  If you say the same number, the person has to do it.  It’s gotten pretty funny at times.  Like Monday night we set up chairs for the Tuesday night devotional in the gym.  There was this Sister missionary really getting into it and was making ridiculously funny facial expressions.  We were all laughing and so I asked Elder Green, a guy in my district, "What are the odds you go tell her you like her facial expressions?" and he says 15.  I was like ok, I got this, he’s going to say 7!  I say 1, 2, and seven and he said seven too!  It was so funny, all the guys were dying and he was just like “wow I hate you.”  But he had to do it!  So he took the walk of shame and embarrassment over to her and told her.  Immediately her face turned red and I was dying of laughter.  Of course we laugh loud enough for her to hear and she looks over at us and we laugh harder.  It was good stuff.  Every time she walks by it’s so awkward but she leaves Monday so its all good! 

Tuesday morning was the worst.  I woke up so sick.  My throat burned, my eyes were so watery, and I couldn’t breathe out my nose.  I was suffering and couldn’t focus, and finally I just knelt down and prayed to feel better.... Almost immediately I felt better, it was amazing!  It’s so cool to see God’s hand in my life as I serve Him.  Tuesday Night’s Devotional wasn’t anything special on the spiritual side, but I really learned a lot.  Sister Jensen talked about some cool stuff that really inspired me.  She said that the Savior gave his all for us and the Gospel, so we should too.  She also said she mourns for those who don’t know of the blessings and joy that come from Christ’s redemption for our sins.  After, I was really thinking about that, and it really is sad people don’t know they have a loving Heavenly Father who loves them and who is willing to forgive us if we make the effort.  Brother Jensen taught some great ways to enhance studying the scriptures, but one thing that really spoke to me was that we teach to learn.  It’s so true!  As I’m out here trying to help others, I am being blessed with ever increasing knowledge!  This opportunity to serve a mission is so amazing, I can’t even describe.  I wish everyone could experience what I am here right now. 

The schedule here is rigorous and repetitive, so we tend to get bored here.  One night I was eating a banana and my friend was drinking Sprite.... I thought "hey, there’s a 2 banana and Sprite challenge!" So of course, I get 2 bananas and 5 bottles of Sprite with Elder Nelson and last night we went into the bathroom, with the whole floor watching and taking video, to conquer this challenge.  Probably not the best idea, but it’s too late now.  So we start eating the bananas.  Nelson doesn’t even like bananas and I was already gagging trying to eat them too fast, so things already looked like they were going to be good (or bad for us).  We start chugging the Sprites and almost immediately our stomachs begin to hurt.  Now for those of you who don’t know what this challenge does, something about the bananas and Sprite mixing quickly isn’t good and it makes you start to throw up a lot.... So our stomachs start hurting and we’re burping a lot, but nothing’s coming out!  Everyone’s telling us to keep chugging, but it was so hard because our stomachs just hurt and we were about to pop.  To make things short.... We ended up not even throwing up a lot.  Nelson had to gag himself to get something out at first and then he started to puke a little, but for me it just wasn’t happening!  Finally I got a little out after jumping around (it looked and felt like beef Strogonoff coming out, sorry for the deets).  Honestly, dumbest thing ever though.  It was a big let down and everyone left Nelson and I in pain in the bathroom.  Nelson was lucky because he was able to make himself barf.  I must have a strong stomach or something because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get myself to barf.  So here I am, a day later writing this, still in pain and sick.  Moral of the story:  Don’t be stupid.

Work hard but have fun doing it.  This motto is pretty evident here.  We found this huge rolling laundry bin and were trying to think of what we could do with it.  Of course I end up being the one put inside to be pushed into random people’s rooms and then jump out from under the clothes.  It was a good time and worth it, we scared some guys and even made one guy really mad which was scary but I’m still alive so I guess it’s all good.  Then we ended up turning these bins over and playing soccer in them.  We’re crafty.

It was so nice to have more friends come in!  I saw Trevor Rushton and Michael Higham this past week.  We didn’t have much time to talk because they both had class to be to, but it’s encouraging to have brothers join you in the work.  Of course I still have Riley Jones here who I see often and Sarah Darby.  She’s the best.  Whenever I’m feeling lonely she manages to appear and we talk and she always uplifts me.  She’s been such a blessing to me here and she doesn’t even know it!  That’s a true disciple of Christ.

The oldest district in the zone is leaving Monday so now my district will be the oldest.  It’s so weird to think but also so sad.  Those who really embraced us are now leaving and we’ll be on our own.  Some of these guys and girls I’ve really gotten close to and it’s going to be a hard goodbye.  Elder Baylon especially, man is that guy great.  We have the same personalities, we love to have fun but know when to tone it down.  He’s a brother, I love him and I feel like I’ve known him my whole life though it’s only been a week. 

Elder Claridge’s mom sent us Nerf Guns and tons of food so we’ve been enjoying ourselves every night.  Last night, after the banana thing we had a district sleep over although many of us are sick (We brought our mattresses into one room.  Crowded but so fun!).  Elder Relf flung his sandal off his foot at a light and shattered it on accident.  All in all, I love life.

The language is so tough.  This past week I was so over whelmed.  I’m falling behind every day and I’ve stressed myself out.  We teach fake investigators every day and I say nothing or just read my notes because I just can’t remember anything!  Elder Miller saves me, without him I’d be dead!  He’s a stud at the language. It’s so hard seeing everyone progress on new stuff when I’m working on week one basics.  Don’t expect me to tell you much in Tagalog cause I can’t.  Don’t worry though, because I’m not letting this get me down!  I know I’m in the Lord’s service and he will help me as I put in the effort.  I may be the worst at the language but I contribute in other ways.  I do what the Lord needs me too.  I’ve been praying for help a lot though and in my scripture reading I came across the scripture that says God gives us trials to humble us and after we endure will he make those weak things strong unto us.  I know this is true and that my struggles are part of a plan so I have no need to worry.

Thanks everyone for keeping me updated and especially to those who write or e-mail me.  So many times has something that one of you have said been an answer to my prayers.  I love you all so much and thanks for the support.

And here’s a basic testimony in Tagalog for all ya:

Alam ko po na totoo po ang Simbahan ni Jesucristo ng mga Banal sa mga Huling Araw at ng ebanghelyo.  Alam ko po na totoo po ang Aklat ni Mormon.  Alam ko po na Mahalaga po ang panalangin.  Alam ko po na tagapaligtas po si Jesucristo.  Alam ko po na Buhay po ang tagapagligtas at perpekto po ang Manunubos.  Alam ko po na mahal po tayo ng Diyos.  Sa pangalan ni Jesucristo, Amen.

A tired fast Sunday morning

Banana Sprite Challenge

District Bonding

Don't ask

With Elder Rushton

Half Way Done Here

August 3, 2013 from the MTC, Provo, Utah

Wait what?  I’m half way done here.... Where has all the time gone?!  I swear just a few days ago it was my first Saturday here and I was complaining about how miserably long the days are with all the guys in my district, and now all of a sudden I'm 3 (tatlo) weeks in!  Flippin insane!  This week has definitely been a good one.  So many good byes, so many spiritual experiences, it’s just perfect.  I love life.  I still can’t believe a month ago I was home doing what I wanted when I could’ve been out doing what the Lord wanted!  This is way better!  It’s definitely been the most difficult time of my life but every single second is worth it!

So, turns out I have sort of become an entertainer in a way.  We’re in our class more than we sleep, but a lot of that time is also alone without a teacher.  When you study this much your brain dies.  I made the analogy that our brains are like eggs here.  They’re nurtured very well but every morning they get picked up nice and early and are cracked open, fried, and then left to cool down.... I hope that gets across how unpleasant so much learning can be.  I don’t know how, but it's still so fun!  The physical toll isn’t the best but you’re just always so happy here!  At least I am....  Like I said though, they nurture us well here.  Almost too good.... I swear I’m going to get fat here!  Being a runner and having always eaten what I wanted isn’t a good thing, because here I still eat what I want but I can’t run or workout as much and I put on weight!  For the most part everyone that I’ve talked to here has put on some poundage.  For me it was 7 pounds, weighing me in at 146, but I guess that’s below average for my height so I’m not stressin yet.  I’ve definitely cut back on the food and am trying to get a morning and nightly workout routine in too.

Since Elder Fulivai and Jones left, it’s been pretty different here, but all hope wasn’t lost cause I still have Elder Baylon!  This guy keeps me sane, he’s such good stress relief aside from my class.  He’s someone I can joke around with and be comfortable with, especially since he’s from California.  He and the rest of the older districts got their flight plans yesterday though.  I can’t believe next Monday (Lunes) I’m going to have to say another goodbye!  Once they’re gone, my district’s all alone as top dog and then we’re out of here.... Insanity.

The language hasn’t been treating me too well lately.  I struggled with French in high school.  I took 4 years of it and I feel like I didn’t maintain any of it, but coming into learning Tagalog I knew it was going to be tough.  French actually made sense and had similar words, but Tagalog is just so different.... Don’t worry though!  I’m all good!  I may be the slowest at learning in my class but I’m excelling in other areas!  My district helps me out a lot and there’s no sense of embarrassment.  We’re all here for the same purpose and we all want what’s best for each other!  I know the Lord blesses me and has called me to learn this language and to teach in it so as I do my part he will do his.  When you think about it, it really is crazy how fast us “mga missioneros”  (Wow, it’s so weird to consider myself a missionary.  I still look at everyone else here and think "oh, that’s cool! Missionaries!" and then I realize, oh wait....) learn the languages here!  The Lord truly does have a hand in our lives.

Like I said in my last letter, I befriended the jolliest Tongan in the world, Elder Fulivai, and another one of the older guys, Elder Jones.  Their flight was later in the day on Monday so we got to hang with them longer than the others, but the goodbye wasn’t pretty.  They made me feel at home when I felt lost and alone and losing my "brothers" was so difficult!  I know they are already killing it out in the field though.  Speaking of being in the field, I can’t comprehend how crazy it is that Elder Morgan is already out preaching the good word!  My best friend in the daily service of our God.  I love it.  It’s sad because him, Elder Sale, Elder Knecht, and Elder Calkins are all gone now!  Like half my friends out in the field killin it already, I’m so jealous!  However, I finally saw Graham!  Any doubts or worries that kid had were definitely forgotten and thrown away ‘cause when I saw him he was the happiest kid alive!  Unfortunately, he too leaves before me.... But I’ve seen other beautiful faces like Elder Bean from San Clemente, Elder Donahoo from Dana, I think he said, and the lovely Elder Jones and Elder Gentry.  It’s nice having other friends who have to be here as long as me since they’re learning a new language.  I keep getting excited ‘cause I know all my friends are leaving (for their missions) soon too, but then I realize they’re all going to foreign MTC's.... Pity (like the fat jellyfish says in Finding Nemo).  Sister Darby and I have talked a bit too, though.  It’s nice knowing a girl from home.  Craziest thing ever too!  On the way to the temple I saw more friends!  Clay Coleman and Wyatt and Travis Corbin!  I’m walking to the temple and look at this parked car and thought "hey, Clay had the car" and then "wow, the kid inside looks like Clay" when all of a sudden those 3 guys jumped out!  I sprinted over and kind of caused a big scene but I jumped into their arms and embraced in one of the best hugs ever.  Man, those guys are awesome.  It was so nice to see them, it really brought me peace.

My zone is crazy and we have lots of fun. We draw hilarious pictures on the chalk board of our teachers, we play dodgeball in the halls, and we even have a yo-yo gang.  So Thug.  Some of the guys got their first haircuts here too.  It’s ridiculous.  The ladies do not cut hair right at all haha, man did Elder Green look hilarious....

It rained one day this week, too which was amazing since it’s so blazing hot everyday.  Being in church clothes all day is not fun.

Another quick thing about Tagalog.... This language is so whack I swear!  Solbang means OK, but also means to be high on drugs.... There are so many multiple meaning words that have a good and a bad meaning.  I don’t get it hahahaha.

We had some great devotionals this week too along with amazing district testimonies.  Our Tuesday night devotional was so inspiring!  It got me pumped!  Afterwards I was just ready to get to the Philippines already!  But a few things that I wanted to share from it:  What you do on your mission or with missionary work will echo through the eternities.  If you think about it, one person brought to the gospel.... Think of all the lives they will change including their ancestors and posterity.  Preach My Gospel was designed beyond the veil and put together here.  Ding Dang, so much more important to me now.  Missionaries are like diamonds in black powder.... Think about it.  "You need to brand the name of Christ on your heart"  So true because as I do I will receive blessings and my work will be so much more effective and important to me, I can literally feel my Savior’s love as I do this.  And really anyone can do this.  I promise you, because I’m experiencing new changes daily, that as you do, your love and the love from Christ will be far greater.  Please, build a friendship with Jesus.

And last.... I think this is crazy.... For years they have been talking about changing the mission age.  The First Presidency kept saying is wasn’t time though.  Finally, as told in in the October General Conference, the age was to be lowered.  We weren’t ready to be sent at 18 and 19 until now.... I am part of the first generation who God knew was ready to go out at a younger age.  It’s so cool to think.  It makes what I am doing so much more important and personal.  I love my mission.  I love my Heavenly Father and I know He loves me.  I know He sent His Son to Earth so we may return and live in His presence.  Also, thanks for the letters and emails, it means so much to hear from you!  And sorry if you get any weird letters from "me" or people in my district.  If you get mail, the guys get the address and write letters to them, so be careful.  There’s also this tradition where everyone in the district writes each other’s girlfriends (most have girlfriends, weird) but I didn’t have anyone so I used Sarah P. as my victim ‘cause I knew she could handle the creepiness and would take it as a joke.... At least I hope.  So sorry!  Us Elders get bored at night and on P-Days and when we aren’t studying we mess with each other!

My inspiration here is Alma 29: 1-2, 16! So good! 

Lastly, the other day in class Brother Moffet, one of my language teachers got super intensely spiritual.  He had us all bear testimony and say why we’re on missions and what we want to get from it.  Most of us said we wanted to prepare to be fathers or to gain a love for the Filipino people we will be serving.  Don’t worry, I’m not thinking about love or marriage, but what he said really spoke to me.  He said "Falling in love is so great because you always have someone to love and serve more than yourself."  (He gets married on the 24th, 2 days before we leave to the Philippines.)  I thought that was so cool.  I hope I can develop that type of love for the Filipinos, one that allows me to care about their needs more than myself.  Thanks for keeping updated and I love you all.  Until next Saturday, Mga Duece (Dueces).

Clay and the Corbin Twins

District on Second Temple Walk

Sister Manukailea!  My Californian Sister
"I'm gonna Maliwop you!"

Sister Perkins
(Mia!  She looks like Tinkerbell from those fairy movies we watched!)

All the guys with Elder Fulivai <3

Elder Jones Straight Thuggin

One Month to the Philippines

July 27, 2013 from the MTC, Provo, Utah
KUMUSTA PO KAYO!  Saturday is my P-Day and I wake up at 4:30 to get laundry done and then sleep after.  It’s fantastic (as Nacho Libre would say. It’s crazy once you can’t watch movies or listen to music or anything, how much random quotes will pop into your head.)  Anyways!  So yesterday marked that I have exactly a month left in the MTC!  It doesn’t sound like very little but to me it is, I feel like I’ve come such a long way!  It’s only been 11 days here, but if you were in the MTC, I think you would feel for me.  The days seem ridiculously long, like no joke, you are in your classroom more than you are in your bed!  The chairs we sit in are the most uncomfortable things ever and the little desk is super small and slanted so everything is always sliding off.  BUT, nevertheless, I love this place.  The chairs are the only flaws.  It would help to have a little nicer chairs to sit in since we’re in them all day, but I don’t mind being in class all day one bit!  The teachers are so cool (besides you don’t understand them most of the time.  They speak mostly in Tagalog which forces us to try to understand them and helps us learn the language faster.)!  They are all super inspiring and just really help you to be better!  Then all the missionaries are all so nice and fun for the most part!  I have met so many people here who have embraced me so well here, many of who are getting shipped off to wherever they were called to and it’s really sad because my heart has swollen with love for them so fast and they have become brothers and sisters to me!  Like Elder Fulivai!  He’s this BIG Tongan guy with the biggest, happiest personality you will ever meet.  We have our own handshake which ends with manly Tongan kisses (touching right cheeks to each other), it’s pretty sick.  But he’s like the life of our Philippines Tagalog district, and he leaves Monday!  I don’t know what we’re supposed to do without him along with about 10 of the other Elders and Sisters I have gotten close with.  The work will roll on, it’ll just be a little different and hard to get use to without these great souls.

I saw Elder Parker Gentry however, who came in Wednesday.  I have yet to see Graham though.  I finally saw Zak for the first time but I knew it would probably be the last so it was really hard for me to say goodbye.  I can’t believe I’m supposed to live without that guy for 2 years when he’s had my back since I was 7!  But yes we saw Sister Kinnison here because her son spoke with his uncle at one of our devotionals.   Also on Sunday we go on Temple walks and as I walk up the grass towards the temple I run into Chandler Lattin and Joey Zambrano!  It was so weird and surprising to see them but it was also really fun and comforting!  I guess they had come to see John Calkins since he left Tuesday or something and were lucky to run into me too!  I scored some Hi-chews from them so it was a double win.

This week has flown by though.  It’s weird, the days are long but the weeks fly by!  So much goes on and I can hardly remember anything!  But I do know I have the best companion, he’s so ridiculous.  Were constantly making each other laugh!  Yes mom, his mom is the one that joined that blog thing!  Ha, he does all these different dances and has the largest vocabulary of anyone I have ever met!  He’s just an overall good guy and I love him.  We’ve also been playing basketball during gym time.  It's like the best part of the day since you’ve basically been sitting all day!  But the sitting is all worth it cause the things I learn here are just amazing.

I also finished the Book of Mormon here!  I spent so much time reading, everyone here thought I was crazy!  I just couldn’t stop!  I was discovering so many things and the Spirit kept testifying to me the truthfulness of what I was reading.  It was a definite testimony builder and a confidence booster in what I was doing.

While I’m here at the MTC I have very limited computer time though, so if you want to communicate I recommend writing me!  (I leave the MTC August 26.)  It’s awesome to hear from you all and I enjoy writing back!  If you don’t want to write me at least e-mail me your address so I can share the many things that happen that have reminded me of you certain individuals.  I cannot explain how much of a blessing you all were in my life!  I sincerely love every one of you.

Elder Moncur

My district

Chandler and Joey

Temple walk

Provo Temple with companion Elder Miller

Desk in the MTC
Elder Moncur asked Mom to send snacks
because they starve between meals...
Mom did not send all of those snacks.

The First and the Last

The first and last time Max and Zak saw each other in MTC;
 at a meeting on July 23, 2013.