Thursday, March 25, 2010

Another week

Hola mi familia,
This past week has been pretty good. No complaints. I got an awesome package on Saturday. Had cookies, caramel brownies, and all kinds of other good stuff. I loved it! Thanks guys!!! Oh and just so you know, everyone agrees that the brownies are by far the best.
One the more miserable side of things, this crazy bipolar weather up here has given me a nasty head cold that I've been fighting for the past couple days. Oh and one of the elders in the other companionship that shares our room (his name is Elder Hemple), contracted pneumonia. Fun stuff. But hopefully, it should get better. Not sure though. We don't get weather forecasts here, or any news for that matter. Last week, when one of the elders in my district got mailed a copy of the current (well not so current now) standings in the NCAA tournament, it was all that anyone in the zone talked about all night. Until 10:30 that is.
As for that Colombian missionary that I met, he is headed to Washington DC. He was called to speak Spanish, but I guess that when they call you to serve in the US and you don't speak English, they have you learn it.
Not much more to say for the broadcast email. Umm...Fast Sunday is this coming Sunday because we have General Conference in a week and a half. I can honestly say I have never been so totally psyched for General Conference in my life. Sadly, we won't get to sing because the MTC choir sang last conference. Ah well, it is still really exciting that in a week and a half we get to hear the prophet, apostles, seventies, oh I just can't wait!!! It is going to be so awesome. I want you all to commit to watch all of the sessions. And take good notes. Not of what is said, but of what the Spirit says to you as you listen. I've started doing that lately in a little book that I take with me everywhere. It is probably one of the greatest faith and testimony building things I've done in a long time.
Well that's about it for now.
Till next week,
Elder Rallison

PS- read verse three of the hymn "How Gentle God's Commands". It's amazing to me the lessons that can be learned from music. DyC 25:12.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

From the MTC -about halfway through

Hola!
So I got the package. Thanks!!! Of all the stuff, the picture was by far my favorite. Followed 'closely' by the razor. The consensus among the distinct is that the warheads are the best, but that's probably my number three. Thanks again. I like it all a lot.
Wow, as of today I've been in the MTC for a total of four weeks. It seems like I've been here so much longer. Everyday seems to take ages, but before you know it it's P-day or Sunday again. I've learned and grown so much over the past few weeks, I can't hardly believe it. There isn't really much to report on the day to day basis, but overall, it's just good.
Last night we had Elder Quentin L Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve speak to us for Tuesday devotional. It was a phenomenal talk. He talked on the importance of teaching with the power of the holy ghost and committing people to change. It was inspiring. I took good notes and will probably have more to say in my letters. Towards the end of the talk he closed with a blessing for us. That the work that we do would bless those we serve in the field, and bless those at home. That we would be blessed, that our children would be blessed, and that our children's children will be blessed by me having served a mission. Wow.
Ah here we are. My notes from Sunday. Two cool things. One, we sang the primary song "We'll Bring the World His Truth" at the Sunday night devotional. The other, well...as far as I know I'm still the only missionary here at the MTC going to Colombia. But, while on the temple walk, I met an Elder from Colombia. How cool is that! His name was Elder Salatzar (I think that's how it was spelled) and he's from Burrcamanga. Only got to talk to him for a few minutes, but it was really cool.
Well...I think that's about it. Sorry, I forgot to bring my journal this time, and ergo don't have all my notes. If I come up with anything more I'll add it to next week's letter.
Love you all,
-Elder Gabriel Rallison

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

From the CCM

Hola all,
To begin, thanks for the package mi familia!!! I loved (and continue to love) it. You guys are so awesome.
Life here is going on as usual. Nothing really new to report. After the initial novelty wears off the MTC starts to get kind of old. But it's still good. I'm learning a lot and am going to be doing a role play tonight where we will be talking with people on a bus (in Spanish) and then teaching the Plan of Salvation (in English). So excited for that. Love the chances to learn and to grow that we get here. Yesterday we learned subjunctive. Past and Present. Noun, adverb, and adjective clauses. In less than 2 hours. Only in the MTC.
Other than that, my companion and my district are doing fine (other than a sore throat for my comp), I'll try to send pictures of the district sometime if I can. The weather here is really annoying. One day it will be sunny and warm, the next, snowing. What's up with that? Ah well. I'll live. But I definitely would not want to live her long term. I really wish I had more to say than this pathetic excuse for an email, but that's about it. Just lots of learning, both of Spanish and of the gospel. There is no place (other than actually in Colombia) that I'd rather be right now. I'm so excited to serve and to share the message of this restored gospel with the people of Colombia.
Lots of love,
Elder Rallison

Thursday, March 4, 2010

2nd week CCM (ccm is spanish for mtc)

This week has gone by so fast. I can hardly believe it's already P-day again. Not much seems to have happened though. I've learned a ton of Spanish and I get to go teach at the TRC again tonight. We will be doing door to door contacting in Spanish and then we will teach the first lesson, the Restoration, in Spanish. SO EXCITED!!!

In other news, had a great fireside last night, Bishop Edgely of the Presiding Bishopric. Talked about success and how often it will be seen in the years down the road, and not always right away. And guess who said the closing prayer...Elder (Shane) Larson. LOL. It was very funny. It's like, wait a second, I know that Elder! :D

I still don't really like the food here. I really miss my own cooking now. And yes, Seth is right. It gives everyone really bad gas. But other than that, life is good. My companion and my district are great, we all get along really well. And my zone leaders are awesome. Two more different guys could not be found. That's probably why they make such great companions. Elder Downs played college football for Wyoming. He's white as can be, 6'5", and really smart and competitive. Elder Tipa is from American Samoa. Yes, he is Samoan and about a head shorter than I am. Great personality, he's everyone's best friend. Yeah, they're pretty much awesome. And there is nothing like walking out into the hall and seeing a dozen guys in lava lavas doing the Hakka. Now that's cool.

With the Spanish, I'm whizzing along. Already covered present, future, conditional, preterit, imperfect, past and future conditional, and now I'm starting on passive voice. Memorizing lots of vocab and already have the missionary purpose in Spanish. I love this language and can't wait to share the message of the Restored Gospel in Spanish.

It sounds like you guys have had a lot going on lately. Sad Eli couldn't go camping, but it sounds like he had a lot of fun anyway. Got a message from Lyric. Glad she hasn't wrecked the car (yet). I wish her luck on the learning how to drive. Maybe this time around Dad won't be quite as uptight.

I hope everyone at home is feeling better now. That cold bug seems to have hit the family hard. Yes, I am receiving all the Dear Elders. Mail is manna from heaven for missionaries. No joke. Best thing in the world. After packages. :)

Love to all my family and all my friends. Buenos suerte in todos cosas.

-Elder Rallison
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Missionary Purpose (in Spanish)
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Invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo a fin de que reciban el Evangelio resurado mediante: la fe in Jesucristo y su expacion, el arrepentamiente, el bautismo, la recepcion del don del Espiritu Santo, y el perseverar hasta al fin.