May 27, 2011

For some inexplicable reason we determined that the best time to do Laundry was not at the time appointed, but rather at 5:30 in the morning before our Temple trip.  Okay maybe we didn't have to vie for washer space, but really, I rather enjoy our Laundry time, I get so much done during that time... whatever though, it's kind of nice having all day open on P-Day.

I've also determined that my meals at the Temple are becoming too much of the same, maybe I should switch up what I get every once in a while, but then again, why would I break something so amazing?  Today was a seafood quiche with hash browns and gravy with some bacon strips and a fruit cake with gravy.  I'm convinced that the gravy at the Temple can go on anything.

Wednesday Steven Wong came to the MTC.  He's going to the Philippines so we get him in our Gym time, that's awesome.  Speaking of gym time, I'm pretty sure people have decided that I'm straight up crazy when it comes to any sort of physical activity.  Crazy not in the fact that I'm particularly good, just that I look like I shouldn't be able to do much, but will still smack that ball out of your hand the second I have a chance.  Few things feel as good as stuffing your muscle-bound 6'1" companion who’s under the delusion that a small guy in the lane means an easy basket.  And sinking a basket from the three-point line with two people blocking you, that feels pretty nice, too.

Tuesday was pretty awesome, we had Elder Nelson come talk to us about obedience and pride.  Sister Nelson spoke first on the importance of exact obedience.  Her main message was that "obedience brings blessings; but exact obedience brings miracles."  There are definitely some rules that we would like to think don't apply to us, but she testified that the rule that we think doesn't apply to us was made especially for us.  If we just work a little bit on taking correction as it comes and never despise an opportunity to grow, we will be endowed with Power and be able to perform miracles we never previously thought were possible (anywhere from knowing what to say in the moment you need to say it, to actually learning another language). 

This week our district is teaching the first lesson in Japanese.  Sonntag and I have been trying to do this since the second week, but it's the first time for the rest of the district so they're freaking out a bit.  With that, I have received an influx of questions concerning Japanese.  Part of me wants to take it as flattering, but other parts of me are a little more hesitant... mainly because I realized that they are relying on me to help them learn this language so that in turn they can help others come unto Christ.  When I realized the magnitude of the people that suddenly became reliant on what I could teach others, it frightened me, and this is but a small portion.  Don't get me wrong, I am super excited to go to Japan and preach the gospel, but the idea of people's eternal salvation on my shoulders...........

I can do it, and so can you.  Be strong and of a good courage, and let no one despise thy youth (not even yourself). I love you all and remember you in my prayers every day.  Let me know how you're doing, I'll try to respond, but it may take a while. 

Do cool things!

Everett 長老

20 May 2011

Today marks exactly one month since arriving at the MTC, how appropriate that it's P-day!
Today Sonntag 長老 and I served as proxies in a sealing session.  That was pretty cool hearing the blessings associated with eternal families and enduring to the end.  The officiator was quite the interesting man, too.  Apparently he lived in Jerusalem for 14 years and speaks English, German, Spanish, and can read Hebrew.  I don't recall ever hearing scriptures being quoted in Hebrew before, that was pretty cool.  One day I kind of just want to sit down with the guy and (as Sonntag 長老 says) talk story with him.  Also, new discovery today at the Temple's cafeteria: fruit cake + sausage gravy = delicious.

So last night was pretty nice, I actually slept through most of the night, which, of course, meant that I was wide awake about an hour before I normally would be.  That's a good thing though because I was able to use the time to talk to another missionary (宣教師）for a while and I was able to read a little more in the scriptures than normal.  Also I've come to the decision that Enos is a pretty cool guy (and I'm not just saying that because of the awesome poster I have of Enos on his way to hunt), and that Shiblon is pretty sweet, too. 

Japanese is going rather well, I've mainly been using class time to either study what I want, or to help other people as they are trying to learn Japanese, and I'm able to somewhat carry on a gospel related conversation.  Also, I recently learned that I can recite the missionary purpose in Japanese in roughly 20 seconds.  First vision.... that still takes me about a minute, but it's getting to be more fluent.  I'm also working on memorizing the articles of faith and have the first 4 down, as well as some simple scriptures (James 1:5; Moses 1:39 etc）

I've also decided that the MTC actively separates English speaking missionaries and Foreign language missionaries; it's super rare that I ever see any missionaries that aren't going out of the country, or at least learning a foreign language.  I did happen to run into Christison 姉妹　(Sister Courtney Christison) and was able to talk to her for a while.  Maybe we'll get to talk more during choir practice.  I've also been running into a bunch of people who were in my Ward at BYU.  In fact, one of them (Alex Gunnerson) just moved onto our floor.  We happened to meet while I was on my way to the shower, it was only a little awkward. 

On Tuesday we heard from Elder Hinckley of the 70.  You may or may not have heard of his father, Gordon, but he was a pretty cool guy.  Elder Hinckley spoke to us on the value and necessity of work.  His wife knows something of what hard work can accomplish; she was the number 1 ranked tennis player in all of Utah and the 7 surrounding states.  She exhorted us all to "do what you are supposed to do, when you are supposed to do it; whether you want to or not."  I'm becoming more and more aware of the wise counsel in this statement.  If a mission is nothing else, it's hard work; and if there's something that I have found out as of late, it's this: the harder the work is, the more satisfying the outcome.  If you're trying to change, and you're not doing anything hard, are you really trying to change? I say unto you nay.  (Also the MTC is making me speak in scripture speak)  Do the work, follow the rules, and never disable your progression. 

In three days our せんぱい　(The missionaries in the group ahead of us) leave for Japan.  At that point we are no longer the "younger" group, but the experienced fogies of the MTC.  I can now say, "I've been here twice as long as you're going to be here, and I'll still be here after you've left".  I'm still deciding how I feel about this.

Anyway, MTC is still awesome, and my district is awesome.  And the spirit that we've been able to feel here is awesome. I challenge all of you who are reading this to pick up a copy of The Book of Mormon and see what it's about.  Whether it's true or not, you can only know by reading.  Don't let you're inhibitions halt you in the search of truth. Good luck and do cool things.

Everett 長老 (chourou)

A Friday the 13th update

Okay, so this time I only have 24 minutes.... game on!

 

Happy Friday the 13th, what a good day to have P-day (you know, the day where I get to visit the Temple and do laundry and all that fun stuff).  Let me start off with this morning... So we went to the temple this morning, awesome, and after our session we saw that the Temple had a cafeteria for patrons.  My companion and I looked at each other and we're like "Hey, we're patrons! Let's go!" so we did.  Holy sausage gravy and quiche that was a delicious idea.  The quiche they had today was mostly made with olives, I don't even like olives and I was still scrounging my plate for every last morsel I could find, and let me tell you what, hashbrowns and sausage gravy is like comfort in your mouth.  Real food every once in a while is awesome.  If the cafeteria there opened up any earlier I would seriously consider going there for breakfast every morning, but I suppose that at least once a week is sufficient for my needs.

 

One important revelation I had this week during class: don't shy away from all that I have done up unto this point, but embrace it and use it for the betterment of all those who I will eventually teach.  Specifically this week I found a connection between my time as an archery teacher and the plan of salvation.  I realized, that in my own little way, I was able to experience stewardship over people, and help them grow and develop, and learn, a little bit, of the joy that Heavenly Father must feel when we finally get something right and just do what he says.  I like stories, I am a story teller of sorts, so whenever I can find a story to relate to gospel principles, I am a happy camper. 

 

This past Tuesday we had Neil L. Anderson come and talk to us about the atonement; which is awesome because that's what our teaching task is this week, to teach the plan of salvation.  We lived with Heavenly Father as spirits before we came to this Earth.  Heavenly Father had a perfected body, and we, as his children, desired to be like him; for that purpose He created this Earth that we may grow and become as He is.  Adam and Eve were the first parents on this Earth, prior to their fall they were perfectly innocent beings, knowing no sickness, sadness, or ills; however, they also knew no joy, happyness, or peace.  "Adam fell that men might be, and Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 25)  The fall gave men the ability to choose how they will conduct their lives.  "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men (Jesus Christ), or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (2 Nephi 2:27)  We have the ability to choose liberty and eternal life, but only through the atonement of Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer.  He gave us the ability to repent of our sins, no matter the weight.  He suffered for all that we have done, and will do, and he will suffer even if we do not repent.  Do not let Christ suffer in vain.  I have a testimony of the peace and joy that this Gospel brings, I have seen it change the lives of every person that I have met here in the MTC, even in 3 weeks the changes that some people have gone through are astounding.  Be strong and of a good courage, for the lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest.

 

3 weeks are down and the wibbly-wobbly timey-whimey vortex that is the MTC continues to blow my mind.  Some days I can't imagine being here for 8 more weeks, and others it seems like time if flying by faster than I can handle.  I just wish my sense of time would pick one pace and stick with it. 

 

Stuck in my head has been "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd" look it up, find a performance, read the words.  Hopefully it will strenthen you as it has strengthened me this week.

 

こんお教会が真実だと知っています。　私たちは完全福音をとうして神様の御許へ戻ることができます。　私はみなさんを愛しています。　がんばりましょう！ (this is my testimony in Japanese)

エベレット長老

Elder Everett

 

May 6, 2011

Ok, so I have 27 minutes with which to compose everything I want to say.... here goes.

 

This week we had the missionaries from Japan come.  There were 30 missionaries from Japan, 14 Elders and 16 Sisters.... I don't think I've ever seen a group composed like it.  My companion and I were excited when the Japanese elders were coming because we have two open beds in our room, so we thought we might get a companionship to room with.  Sadly that wasn't the case, but the room is fine with just the two of us in there.  The Elders are pretty cool, but they don't want to talk in Japanese to the English missionaries, they only want to talk in English.... it's difficult sometimes.

 

Anyway, I had a pretty awesome experience on Thursday.  One of the Japanese sister missionaries got sick and was in the sick bay.  Neither her nor her companion spoke English, so the Nurse came up the 5 flights of stairs to where we learn Japanese and asked if anyone here felt comfortable translating.  I was in the room at the time and an Elder out in the hall (His last name is Everett, too *weird huh*) and was volunteered by his companion, as he was going he was like "hey, let's grab other Everett too."  So I get called over and we go down to the sick bay.  I don't even know how it happened, but I was able to relay the information from the Sister to the doctor and from the doctor to the sister insomuch that we made a plan for the rest of the day and the Sisters knew what they needed to do.  I'm pretty sure I haven't used that many mental faculties in a long time, and if I thought the AP test gave me a lot of pressure..... try having somebody's well being on the table... that was something quite special.

 

This Tuesday's devotional was all about Faith.  I enjoy when people talk on faith, it always seems like a call to action for me.  We learned that faith, in it' purest sense, will naturally lead you to action.  If you believe, I mean truly believe, then you have to act upon what you believe, because if your faith does not lead you to action, it's not really faith, it's just a nice thought.  They quoted Joshua 24:15, which I thoroughly enjoyed. *not that it's on my mission plaque or anything*  "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, whether the Gods which your fathers served, which were on the other side of the flood, or the Gods of the Ammorites in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  If you've known me for a while you know that I work best with deadlines, and what better deadline is there than to choose ye this day?

 

A little bit of sad news, I was informed that they aren't going to let me leave with the group of missionaries 6 weeks ahead of us.  I was told that they didn't have such a system set in place (even though I know of 1 missionary that did it a couple of years ago, and another missionary that is doing it now, but his Sister is a Teacher at the MTC, so apparently he can do that.........)  Well what can you do but continue to learn and grow? I've been able to teach myself most all of my stay at the MTC so far  and I've become much more proficient at reading Japanese.  In fact I'm working on translating the "Family, A Proclamation to the World" from Kanji during my free time.  Also, I got a new toy, a Preach my Gospel in actual Japanese, not the romanized version they gave us here;  I had wanted a legitimate Japanese Preach My Gospel since I came here, but I was told "You're not allowed to learn that here", so I grabbed one that one of the Japanese Elders had thrown out. (works for me)

 

Also this Wednesday, a friend of mine, Brady Miller, came to the MTC.  We lived on the same hallway at BYU, his family lives in Japan and he is going to Vancuver Canada, Korean speaking.  The weird thing is.... He went to High School with my companion.  Did I mention how Elder Sonntag knows everybody? Well he does, and this was the first instance that we knew the same person.  It was a strange, strange thing when we all met at the food line. 

 

I'm trying to think of other things that happened this week, but the MTC is really just a crazy time vortex.  It seems like yesterday that I typed my last post, and now it's weird that I'm typing another.....

 

Oh, and it's awesome that you guys are sending my Mom messages about how you enjoy my comments... but it's really okay to send me messages too  (I got one today from a friend from BYU! That makes 2 so far)

 

Know that I keep all of you in my thoughts everyday and that I pray and hope that you all live your lives to the best of your ability.

 

With much Love,

Everett Chourou

Here's Ben's address until July 4:
  Elder Benjamin Everett
  MTC Box #144
  2005 North 900 East
  Provo, UT  84604

1st Mission Update - 29 Apr 2011

   Well hey there everybody.  So I am now in the MTC, that's pretty cool.  Within the first hour of being dropped off I was in class.  Man I had quite a bit of help to get here today, I got to stay over at a good friends apartment the night before and some friends from BYU came and picked me up with all my luggage from that apartment.  I had 2 years worth of stuff so it's not like I had a ton of luggage..... Thanks a bunch Tanner, Alex, and Andy. 

   I lucked out with my companion here.  He's from a military family so he's lived in many different places, including Japan during his High School years.  We both are able to talk to each other in Japanese often and help each other improve faster than we ever could have otherwise.  6 years of language experience is definitely helpful, and I've had the opportunity to help all of the other missionaries in the district learn Japanese as well.  The MTC is a strange place I have decided.  The days pass like weeks and a week feels like a day. It's way structured here, all of our time is allocated to either studying the scriptures or studying Japanese.  Elder Sanntag (my companion) and I are able to mix the two and expedite our learning process.  

   So far all of the talks that we've heard are pretty amazing.  On Sunday we had one of the MTC directors come and talk to us.  In his previous job he was one of the executive producers for the "Mormon Messages" TV spots.  So he brought those to show us.  Way cool.  However the highlight of that day was the organist.  He is a missionary from Hungary, and he played an amazing opening song.  You could just feel how the entire room wanted to applause, but since it was Sunday we really shouldn't.  When the speaker took the pulpit though he talked directly to the young missionary and asked him if he knew "Go Tell It on A Mountain." He answered that he did and the speaker invited him to play.  The entire first verse of the song is played entirely on the foot pedals, which was amazing, and then once he added in the rest of the keys.... everyone was blown away.  When he finished the entirety of the MTC stood and applauded the AMAZING performance, including all of the speakers that were on the stage.  Nothing I can say can really express how powerful the performance was.

   This past Tuesday (after a snow storm in the morning....yeah a snowstorm in late April) we had Dallin H. Oaks come and talk to us.  I like his way of talking, he essentially talks in bullet points which makes it way easy to take notes.  I got quite a bit of good missionary advice from him and his experience.  What stuck out to me most though is something his wife (who served in Japan) said.  "The Gospel is more than just a nice way to live; it is the reason we live"  I know that each of us are children of a loving Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to become the best we can be.  The reason we live is to become more like him in any way possible, and hopefully, to bring some friends along the way. 

   Yesterday we listened to a talk from Elder Holland that was a couple of years old.  He was talking at the MTC and accidentally improvised his entire speech.  During his introduction he felt impressed to share some of his experience as a missionary, and why to him, his mission is everything.  From the lessons he learned to the time he spent, he told us that the older he became, the more important his mission was to him.  His speech was powerful and bold.  He is not one to beat about the bush, and the doctrines therein where simple and powerful.  Look up "The Miracle of a Mission"

Well, since this is the first post I'll put up what my eventual goals are:

1: Read the Book of Mormon before June.

2: Memorize the first vision and the 13 articles of faith in Japanese

3: Read the Book of Mormon in Japanese before July 4th

4: To actually remember to upkeep Blog posts throughout my mission

 

If any of you are interested in mailing me feel free, and I will write you back.  My address while at the MTC is 

 

Elder Benjamin Everett

MTC Box # 144

2005 North 900 East

Provo, UT 84604

 

And Hey, if any of my friends from the Enloe Ultimate team are reading this, mail me sometime to let me know how you guys are doing.  And definitely keep me up to date as the state tournament approaches. 

 

Also, if someone can let me know how the 11-year old scouts are doing that would be awesome. 

 

Keep doing cool things、

エベレット　長老

Elder Everett

 

みんなが愛している。

 

Making up for lost time V 2.0

      Over the past couple of weeks there seems to have been a pattern that has emerged.  Really, what I need to be doing is finding out how to best situate myself to serve others and lead based off of gospel principles.  We had a speaker come and talk on divine-centered leadership, or leading the way that Savior led.  When it comes to learning how to be divinely centered, you need to first know how to center yourself divinely.  The only way to become centered is through your own personal study and prayer and revelation.  To become centered and lead as Christ did you must try to have the same perception as Christ, and use his live as a road map of sorts.

     A divine centered leader has several attributes that seem to define them:

• They are often in the right place at the right time (usually because they put themselves there)
• Always see the potential in others
• Always prayerful, in any context (praying for the needs of themselves and others, not the wants)
• The divine centered leader is not competitive, but is still firm in their morals
• Is full of love (especially towards those whom it may seem hard to love)
• Values and necessitates obedience.
• Provides for others what they cannot provide for themselves.

     I know that I can work on these attributes in all aspects of my life.  To be a divinely centered leader you do not have to be a church leader or only do so in churchy settings, but you must lead in the home, in work, the community, and especially be divinely centered towards those who don't seem to like you, or even those who you may not have the warmest feelings toward.  The easiest way to love people and to serve and lead them is to really get to know them.  That is why I focus on listening to people and their stories, I always search to know what it is that makes them tick and through my understanding of them know how to respond to their individual situations.

It's not What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) but more like What Would Jesus Have Me Do (WWJHMD).  I don't think that will look as good on a bumper sticker though...

So I'm a bit late....

Man I am so good at keeping up a blog...........

So, it has been a while since my last post, so lets start there.  Personality types.

I took this Myers Briggs Personality examination that was pretty cool apparently I am ISTP meaning Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving.  and got some good insight on really what kind of person I am.  This website really helped me see what type of personality I have and was a little creepy how accurately it described me.  In case you are interested you can learn a bit about my personality type here, and judge for yourself how well you think it describes me. 

     The report I got from the test also let me know what type of job opportunities that fit my personality type.  As I assumed, I am best fitted for fast-paced, constantly active jobs.  They said I would be a good farmer, electrician, or mechanic.  I'm sort of harping on the out-doorsie idea that they talked about, interesting how that fits what I want to do for my career.  I highly encourage you all to take the test, I found a free version of it online (it's not as good as the one that I had to pay money for, but it's still rather comprehensive and lets you know basically what type you are).  You can take the test here... take it I dare you.