Thank you so much to everyone who has written me this week, it was a pretty busy day, writing all the letters, and getting new companions and what not.. but anyways I received letter's from kaitlin clark, ashley smith, stefani, DeVan, Marissa Sainsburry, Mitch & Nikki (the browns!) Jason Johnson, Jordan Riley, Abby Simmons, and Sarah Madsen.. letters have been written and on the way! And of course Mom and Dad.. your even going to get a letter this week, just because I don't have much time with this email.
Okay so to start off, my old Companions, Elder Neilson and Elder Bjork along with the two sisters in there district left monday morning at 6. This past week has been hard especially since I was able to be present seeing the teachers give them presentations about the Netherlands that they reserve for the last week.. the country is amazing the stories coming out of there is amazing, and I really just can't wait to go. I did see them off, I woke myself up at 5:30 and dropped them off at the travel office where we took pics and man hugged and what not.. yeah I know special ;) so when I send you the letter you'll be able to see a whole bunch of pictures.. Maybe you can post the best ones on the blog or something.. I dunno, but yeah.. so the gym also opened up for the first time on thursday? I dunno something like that, and I was able to play basketball with the elders leaving one time. Pretty interesting expirience.. Three elders who left on monday were on a team (at the MTC it can only be 3v3) and I was waiting to play like everyone else.. well they wouldn't switch up the teams, so it was those three elders (who were semi decent.. knew how to play) against me, my companion elder neilson (never played before.. soccer nut) and this elder named Elder Gouph who is mentally challenged.. so not the fairest of teams, but I didn't mind it was all in the spirit of fun anyways.. first few points however the other team scored were back door cuts to the elder that Elder Gouph was supposed to be guarding.. it was cheap in other words, and when we were on offense, they stuffed and kept stealing the ball from Elder Gouph.. absolutely ticked me off, couldn't believe that they were doing that.. you know its an unspoken rule that you mellow out especially with someone with difficulties, and these elders were exploiting that all to win and feel cool about themselves... well, because of lack of time, I'll just say a fire lit up in me, and it was like I never stopped playing basketball.. I didn't miss a shot from that point on, and I returned the favor to those elders and kept stealing the ball from them.. We won that game and the next game, and the game after that. With both my companion and Elder Gouph both scoring.. It was a great moment.. because the kicker is the next day while I was playing basketball.. I played exactly how I should've been playing.. rusty.. couldn't hit a shot, out of breath all that.. but I really believe honestly that the spirit helped us with those games, to help elder gouph, and to humble those elders.. that's what I thought.. and maybe I'm just overanalyzing it.. but still a pretty cool story nevertheless..
So had some pretty interesting days... had some issues with my "teaching partner" that we had to work out.. but things are doing okay now.. it's good she has some companions again, her new companion is a sister from sweeden who is serving in denmark.. having that european friend will help her out a lot.. I'm doing great, really making a lot of new friends, and actually before I came here, met my new rooming buddies.. don't know anything about them.. just took there picture while they were coming in, so they prolly think I'm a nut, but it's all good, I'll keep you posted =)
So one more cool expirience I'll share before my time runs out,
I got my first calling.. it's not a district leader, or a zone leader or any of those traditional ones you might think of.. I was called to be the music coordinator... yeah... I know.. I was shocked, my responsibilities are I get to pick the songs each week for sacrament meeting, and find a chorister and what not.. crazy huh.. never been musically talented in my life, never been in choir or anything and now I have a music calling.. it's actually really cool, because for the longest time all summer, I've just been thinking how powerful music can be, how much I feel the spirit when I listen to certain songs.. songs such as "praise to the man", "a poor wayfaring man of grief" and what not.. that's why I wanted to pick my songs for my farewell because I wanted to hear certain ones, and talk about the power and testimony that these songs give.. well anyways fast and testimony meeting was this last sunday, and as I was sitting there, I had this sudden impression to go bear my testiomony.. not about the normal things but about the testimony i've been building about hymns.. and how there a testimony to us.. I've felt that feeling before, and I haven't acted on it before.. but as I was sitting there, I decided why not.. I mean I never gave my testimony in my home ward I never felt comfortable doing it.. but I did it.. and as I was up there, words filled my mouth and I gave the testimony that was in my heart about hymns.. it was amazing.. when I was done and I sat down, I had such an amazing feeling of peace.. it wasn't because I bore my testimony I believe, it was because I followed the prompting of the spirit.. and that's what was so cool and amazing and memorable to me.. time is really running down and I'm typing crazy fast, but just wanted to share that with you.. hope it made sense, hope it all made sense!!!!!
Ik hou van jullie!
Tot ziens!!
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Week 2
Week 2!
Goedemiddag mijn familie!!
Second P-day, oh wow this day couldn't come fast enough! My collega Elder Nielson doesn't like these days very much, but I enjoy them because you can just relax.. thanks to all the letters, I've responded to everyone I recieved one from (with the exception from Dad, and mom.. you get emails =)) So Kim, Tiffani, DeVan, Chris, and Abby are the letters I sent out.. if anyone sent me a letter.. didn't get it.. sorry..
But okay life at the MTC is still going great.. felt like earlier in the week I hit a wall with the language.. I mean I started off pretty quick, with the prayer, testimony and contacting but I didn't feel like I was progressing.. but I worked through it.. tried harder, improved what I could say, and I feel (not great) but definitely better about the whole language thing.. it's insane, we did our second trc on monday, and were just contacting in dutch and what not.. nothing too big, and we get invited in to talk a little more.. sister kraemer goes off and almost teaches the entire first lesson in dutch.. it's disgusting, but really cool.. my comprehension is definitely better now because she can hold these conversations with people.. ha ha actually she would have taught the entire thing, but I kinda blew it for her, after she had read a scripture about one church, and what not, I piped in (because I was excited to be able to talk) Mogen wij onze booschap terugkomen? Which means can we come back later.. oh well.. she forgave me.. I told her I panicked =)
Cool thing happened today though during lunch, last week during P-day we met this sister who's going to Guatamala on her mission, and she was excited to meet us because she had a friend from the netherlands who she had talked about the gospel with. She gave him a dutch BoM and everything. She didn't have his address with her so we gave her our info and what not.. but she never left us his address. So today we run into her again, and she told us that she had been trying to think of a way to get us the info without it being an "letter to a Elder" so she had it all ready and everything. So I have my first referral as a missionary ;)
Sunday night we have firesides, and it was just great. The talk was by a former mission president in Chicago and he spoke on obedience and everything and that was good. Took good notes, just forgot them otherwise I'd share them with you =P but the beginning we had a musical number by a few elders going all over the place and they did the hymn "Praise to the Man" The best version of the song I have ever heard.. and well since it's my favorite hymn it was extra neat.
Last night on Tuesday we have firesides, and a member of the 1st quorum of the seventy spoke to us.. it was really good also, took great notes again ;) You'd be proud of my organizational skillz i'm developing ha ha, actually everytime I do something I think of a better way to do it, so I'm still kinda in the process of trying how to organize stuff like scriptures and what not.. My scriptures I brought are kind of a mess with how much I've been marking them, and trying to figure out how to organize all that data.. I'm thinking I may want new ones by the time I leave.. because it really is a mess.. I'll worry about that later..
Oh also sunday night got to watch the Testaments, really great to watch that again, I was bothered with my lack of ability to really explain about the atonement, so I went in with a prayer that I'd be able to write my own personal testimony about the atonement, and throught the course of the movie I wrote 3-4 pages worth of stuff.. it was wonderful.. next TRC were teaching about the Plan of Salvation..
This email is all over the place.. just another thing to add on my "need to organize" list.. ummm.. yeah okay so food. Food here is pretty good.. not going to lie, I can easily see how someone can get fat while being here.. luckily for me I haven't been gorging myself, and only usually take one helping of the main meals.. there have been exceptions, like when they had raviolli.. or when I'm craving something but for the most part I'm doing really good at not getting fat!! Every meal, breakfast, lunch, and dinner since I've been here I've had at least 1 glass of Chocolate milk.. kinda my own unique tradition.. don't know why.. but I started out doing it, and I'm going to keep doing it.. thought I'd just share that with you all =)
So my companions and the sisters going to the netherlands have gotten there travel plans, they leave monday at like 6.. they fly into atlanta and then to brussels.. i've been told that's the standard route for missionary's to take going to the netherlands.. so that's prolly what I'm going to be doing.. Don't know what's going to happen on monday when the leave, haven't been told anything, don't know if there just going to let me room by myself for a few days til' wednesday or if there going to make me move.. then move back.. I do know however that whoever my new companions are it'll only last 3 weeks because I will get new dutch companions when the come in three weeks.. so three different sets of companions while I'm here.. pretty crazy huh!
Thanks for the packages of food, don't prolly need any more oreos.. or doughnuts or that sort of thing.. don't have any time to eat them and when I'm back in the room, I don't feel like eating them... but thanks!! The elders on the floor have enjoyed them.. Did really like the crackers and cheese though!! You can keep that coming for as long as you want ;) okay.. well.. I'm prolly leaving stuff out.. but I can't think of anything else to write.. so hope you enjoyed the pics.. just wanted to let you know what's it like here.. and oh.. can't remember how to charge my camera if you could dearelder that to me dad taht would be wonderful =)
Ik hou van jullie!!
Tot Ziens!!
Ik weet dat de kerk waar is!
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Goedemiddag mijn familie!!
Second P-day, oh wow this day couldn't come fast enough! My collega Elder Nielson doesn't like these days very much, but I enjoy them because you can just relax.. thanks to all the letters, I've responded to everyone I recieved one from (with the exception from Dad, and mom.. you get emails =)) So Kim, Tiffani, DeVan, Chris, and Abby are the letters I sent out.. if anyone sent me a letter.. didn't get it.. sorry..
But okay life at the MTC is still going great.. felt like earlier in the week I hit a wall with the language.. I mean I started off pretty quick, with the prayer, testimony and contacting but I didn't feel like I was progressing.. but I worked through it.. tried harder, improved what I could say, and I feel (not great) but definitely better about the whole language thing.. it's insane, we did our second trc on monday, and were just contacting in dutch and what not.. nothing too big, and we get invited in to talk a little more.. sister kraemer goes off and almost teaches the entire first lesson in dutch.. it's disgusting, but really cool.. my comprehension is definitely better now because she can hold these conversations with people.. ha ha actually she would have taught the entire thing, but I kinda blew it for her, after she had read a scripture about one church, and what not, I piped in (because I was excited to be able to talk) Mogen wij onze booschap terugkomen? Which means can we come back later.. oh well.. she forgave me.. I told her I panicked =)
Cool thing happened today though during lunch, last week during P-day we met this sister who's going to Guatamala on her mission, and she was excited to meet us because she had a friend from the netherlands who she had talked about the gospel with. She gave him a dutch BoM and everything. She didn't have his address with her so we gave her our info and what not.. but she never left us his address. So today we run into her again, and she told us that she had been trying to think of a way to get us the info without it being an "letter to a Elder" so she had it all ready and everything. So I have my first referral as a missionary ;)
Sunday night we have firesides, and it was just great. The talk was by a former mission president in Chicago and he spoke on obedience and everything and that was good. Took good notes, just forgot them otherwise I'd share them with you =P but the beginning we had a musical number by a few elders going all over the place and they did the hymn "Praise to the Man" The best version of the song I have ever heard.. and well since it's my favorite hymn it was extra neat.
Last night on Tuesday we have firesides, and a member of the 1st quorum of the seventy spoke to us.. it was really good also, took great notes again ;) You'd be proud of my organizational skillz i'm developing ha ha, actually everytime I do something I think of a better way to do it, so I'm still kinda in the process of trying how to organize stuff like scriptures and what not.. My scriptures I brought are kind of a mess with how much I've been marking them, and trying to figure out how to organize all that data.. I'm thinking I may want new ones by the time I leave.. because it really is a mess.. I'll worry about that later..
Oh also sunday night got to watch the Testaments, really great to watch that again, I was bothered with my lack of ability to really explain about the atonement, so I went in with a prayer that I'd be able to write my own personal testimony about the atonement, and throught the course of the movie I wrote 3-4 pages worth of stuff.. it was wonderful.. next TRC were teaching about the Plan of Salvation..
This email is all over the place.. just another thing to add on my "need to organize" list.. ummm.. yeah okay so food. Food here is pretty good.. not going to lie, I can easily see how someone can get fat while being here.. luckily for me I haven't been gorging myself, and only usually take one helping of the main meals.. there have been exceptions, like when they had raviolli.. or when I'm craving something but for the most part I'm doing really good at not getting fat!! Every meal, breakfast, lunch, and dinner since I've been here I've had at least 1 glass of Chocolate milk.. kinda my own unique tradition.. don't know why.. but I started out doing it, and I'm going to keep doing it.. thought I'd just share that with you all =)
So my companions and the sisters going to the netherlands have gotten there travel plans, they leave monday at like 6.. they fly into atlanta and then to brussels.. i've been told that's the standard route for missionary's to take going to the netherlands.. so that's prolly what I'm going to be doing.. Don't know what's going to happen on monday when the leave, haven't been told anything, don't know if there just going to let me room by myself for a few days til' wednesday or if there going to make me move.. then move back.. I do know however that whoever my new companions are it'll only last 3 weeks because I will get new dutch companions when the come in three weeks.. so three different sets of companions while I'm here.. pretty crazy huh!
Thanks for the packages of food, don't prolly need any more oreos.. or doughnuts or that sort of thing.. don't have any time to eat them and when I'm back in the room, I don't feel like eating them... but thanks!! The elders on the floor have enjoyed them.. Did really like the crackers and cheese though!! You can keep that coming for as long as you want ;) okay.. well.. I'm prolly leaving stuff out.. but I can't think of anything else to write.. so hope you enjoyed the pics.. just wanted to let you know what's it like here.. and oh.. can't remember how to charge my camera if you could dearelder that to me dad taht would be wonderful =)
Ik hou van jullie!!
Tot Ziens!!
Ik weet dat de kerk waar is!
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
First week
Dag! Familie!
Hope everyone is doing well. It's great to finally be able to write this email! Just like I hoped it wouldn't my p-day came at the last possible day I could have it! So much to say, so little time.. well I guess I'll start off with how my situation is. Upon leaving you guys at the MTC, I waited in line and what not and then as I was checking in I got pulled off to this "special line" I was informed that I was a "solo" elder meaning I was the only elder coming into my mission.. yeah.. kinda through me off.. I have never heard of a solo elder before.. so it's been pretty interesting =) But it gets better, there is also a sister who is going to my mission that came in with me.. but she's the only sister so.. two solo's make up our little class. Her name is Sister Kraemer and she is from Hungary, but was born in Belgium so is a belgium citizen. She speaks Hungarian, English, French and Spanish and since she's lived in belgium for a time, she picks up Dutch like crazy! She's a recent convert to the church, joined about 3 or 4 years ago, and it's been pretty interesting talking to her and what not. Since her and I are the only two in the class, we teach together, and we do companion study together.. and in a sense she's my class companion.. but since Elders and sisters aren't allowed to be called companions, we are technically "teaching partners". Odd situation, in fact when I got here the teachers, and the branch president didn't really know how the situation was going to work. But I got put with two Elders going to Netherlands, and they leave in two weeks now. There names are Elder Bjork and Elder neilson. Both from Utah, both have great personality's and both have been very helpful in helping me get used to the MTC. I'm looking at this whole solo thing as a blessing, since I got paired up with and didn't have to figure out for myself what to do, where things are and what not. And so Elder Bjork and Elder Neilson are my companions in all things outside of class, and are my companions so I"ll refer to them as such. So yeah pretty unique situation, everyone I've talked to has never seen anything like this before. Makes me feel all special inside ;) However since my companions are going to be gone in a couple weeks, no one knows whats going to happen.. I'll be the only Elder in the whole MTC learning Dutch for a period of 3 weeks til' the next batch of "Dutchees" (our term for ourselves) comes in.. so who knows who my companions will be.. maybe danish elders. But I'll let everyone know about that when we get there!
As for the MTC itself, the first 3-4 days were the longest I have ever expirenced in my life. I haven't felt home sick at all (sorry nikki, don't know what you felt when you left =P ) but I have never expireinced a schedule where there was just all work and no relaxing time! It's study, class, eat, study, class eat, study, study, study, then go to bed. It's insane, and the first few days were really long like I said. But once Monday hit, I didn't have to go to any more "new missionary" meetings or what not, so the days have started to become less long.. I am having a blast here, my companions are great, we have great times especially at night, however don't worry I'm very aware of getting to bed on time! Class with teachers is my favorite thing here at the MTC, my two teachers, Bro. Jestice and Bro. Bond are great guys and great teachers, being in a class with only one other person, and one who picks up languages really fast is definitely helping out my learning of the dutch language. I started saying prayers in dutch on my second day, and also bear my testimony the second third day ish.. Rosetta Stone definitely helped, I wish I kept up with it the last few weeks before I left. But yeah, since this is the 7th day, already taught in the TRC.. that was interesting.. never thought teaching would be so hard with a companion.. especially a sister! But were getting better, and were helping each other out a lot.. I mean were both in the same boat and all.. the best is getting all the weird stares as people walk by our classroom and it's only me and her in there.. ha ha it crazy, and I'll let you guys know more about things especially as I get better at writing these email things! I really appreciate all the letters.. I lied earlier I guess, because I love going with my companions to get the mail, and then receiving letters and packages. Thanks to Dawn for sending me the cookies, there a big hit with all the missionary's on my floor =) I lost her address, so I couldn't write her a thank you, but if you could tell her that would be greatly appreciated.. Oh just let you know how things work district wise, were in the older dutch missionary's district.. two elders (my companions) and two sisters (her companions) Sister Perry and Sister Ence.. all really great, and really helpful.. I know because of there kindness and help is why I haven't felt any homesickness.. but doesn't meanI don't miss you all!!
Dear elder is a great site, you can write emails to me and I recieve them in the form of a letter in the mailbox.. and it's the next day delivery.. I reccommend that too all my friends ands sisters.. but only while I"m in the MTC.. okay.. I'm leaving a lot out I know.. but oh yeah had a fireside last night, it was a brother richards, former member of the second quorum of the seventies, it was an amazing talk, and they played a clip of Elder Holland, and what Elder Holland spoke about was why is missionary work so hard.. I mean it's the truth so why aren't people flocking to the baptismal font.. well it's because salvation isn't easy.. the atonement wasn't easy for the savior, so how can we just expect salvation to be easy for ourselves.. we all have to go through a trials and like it says in James chapter 1 verse 22 we have to be doers of the work and not hearers.. I guess that's my main thing I want to leave you all with.. Make sure you always remember that trials in our lives are necessary, and that we will never have to go through what the savior did..
bu
tot ziens
Hope everyone is doing well. It's great to finally be able to write this email! Just like I hoped it wouldn't my p-day came at the last possible day I could have it! So much to say, so little time.. well I guess I'll start off with how my situation is. Upon leaving you guys at the MTC, I waited in line and what not and then as I was checking in I got pulled off to this "special line" I was informed that I was a "solo" elder meaning I was the only elder coming into my mission.. yeah.. kinda through me off.. I have never heard of a solo elder before.. so it's been pretty interesting =) But it gets better, there is also a sister who is going to my mission that came in with me.. but she's the only sister so.. two solo's make up our little class. Her name is Sister Kraemer and she is from Hungary, but was born in Belgium so is a belgium citizen. She speaks Hungarian, English, French and Spanish and since she's lived in belgium for a time, she picks up Dutch like crazy! She's a recent convert to the church, joined about 3 or 4 years ago, and it's been pretty interesting talking to her and what not. Since her and I are the only two in the class, we teach together, and we do companion study together.. and in a sense she's my class companion.. but since Elders and sisters aren't allowed to be called companions, we are technically "teaching partners". Odd situation, in fact when I got here the teachers, and the branch president didn't really know how the situation was going to work. But I got put with two Elders going to Netherlands, and they leave in two weeks now. There names are Elder Bjork and Elder neilson. Both from Utah, both have great personality's and both have been very helpful in helping me get used to the MTC. I'm looking at this whole solo thing as a blessing, since I got paired up with and didn't have to figure out for myself what to do, where things are and what not. And so Elder Bjork and Elder Neilson are my companions in all things outside of class, and are my companions so I"ll refer to them as such. So yeah pretty unique situation, everyone I've talked to has never seen anything like this before. Makes me feel all special inside ;) However since my companions are going to be gone in a couple weeks, no one knows whats going to happen.. I'll be the only Elder in the whole MTC learning Dutch for a period of 3 weeks til' the next batch of "Dutchees" (our term for ourselves) comes in.. so who knows who my companions will be.. maybe danish elders. But I'll let everyone know about that when we get there!
As for the MTC itself, the first 3-4 days were the longest I have ever expirenced in my life. I haven't felt home sick at all (sorry nikki, don't know what you felt when you left =P ) but I have never expireinced a schedule where there was just all work and no relaxing time! It's study, class, eat, study, class eat, study, study, study, then go to bed. It's insane, and the first few days were really long like I said. But once Monday hit, I didn't have to go to any more "new missionary" meetings or what not, so the days have started to become less long.. I am having a blast here, my companions are great, we have great times especially at night, however don't worry I'm very aware of getting to bed on time! Class with teachers is my favorite thing here at the MTC, my two teachers, Bro. Jestice and Bro. Bond are great guys and great teachers, being in a class with only one other person, and one who picks up languages really fast is definitely helping out my learning of the dutch language. I started saying prayers in dutch on my second day, and also bear my testimony the second third day ish.. Rosetta Stone definitely helped, I wish I kept up with it the last few weeks before I left. But yeah, since this is the 7th day, already taught in the TRC.. that was interesting.. never thought teaching would be so hard with a companion.. especially a sister! But were getting better, and were helping each other out a lot.. I mean were both in the same boat and all.. the best is getting all the weird stares as people walk by our classroom and it's only me and her in there.. ha ha it crazy, and I'll let you guys know more about things especially as I get better at writing these email things! I really appreciate all the letters.. I lied earlier I guess, because I love going with my companions to get the mail, and then receiving letters and packages. Thanks to Dawn for sending me the cookies, there a big hit with all the missionary's on my floor =) I lost her address, so I couldn't write her a thank you, but if you could tell her that would be greatly appreciated.. Oh just let you know how things work district wise, were in the older dutch missionary's district.. two elders (my companions) and two sisters (her companions) Sister Perry and Sister Ence.. all really great, and really helpful.. I know because of there kindness and help is why I haven't felt any homesickness.. but doesn't meanI don't miss you all!!
Dear elder is a great site, you can write emails to me and I recieve them in the form of a letter in the mailbox.. and it's the next day delivery.. I reccommend that too all my friends ands sisters.. but only while I"m in the MTC.. okay.. I'm leaving a lot out I know.. but oh yeah had a fireside last night, it was a brother richards, former member of the second quorum of the seventies, it was an amazing talk, and they played a clip of Elder Holland, and what Elder Holland spoke about was why is missionary work so hard.. I mean it's the truth so why aren't people flocking to the baptismal font.. well it's because salvation isn't easy.. the atonement wasn't easy for the savior, so how can we just expect salvation to be easy for ourselves.. we all have to go through a trials and like it says in James chapter 1 verse 22 we have to be doers of the work and not hearers.. I guess that's my main thing I want to leave you all with.. Make sure you always remember that trials in our lives are necessary, and that we will never have to go through what the savior did..
bu
tot ziens
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Facebook farewell...
Last time on facebook for a couple years, just wanted to say thank you to all my friends and family. You all have helped me be who I am today. Appreciate all the support I've received, means a lot. My mission blog which will have my weekly updates/emails is..
http://josephvaughnmohrman.blogspot.com/
All my addresses ...are there, anyone who writes me I will always write back.. Definitely know this church is true! And.. God be with you til' we meet again ;)
-Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Jacob 6:12
http://josephvaughnmohrman.blogspot.com/
All my addresses ...are there, anyone who writes me I will always write back.. Definitely know this church is true! And.. God be with you til' we meet again ;)
-Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Jacob 6:12
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