Hey! plan on forwarding this again...thanks!
Today is the last day at the mtc for a few of us. Like you know we leave at 5
in the morning, go on a plane for some 26 hours...and arrive in AFIRCA! frick!
insane stuff i think. haha. I'm pretty excited for it...as you already know.
Bad news for my companion elder Ledek. he might have to get surgery on his
ankle..i explain it more in my letter mom, it's on the way. but yeah
he's not coming with us
on tuesday. there will be 3 of us going now.
You'll understand later...i dont have time right now. but yeah...sucks for
him. haha. I'll miss him...
The mtc was a good experience. i learned a lot and really strengthened my
testimony. it's weird to think that i might be teaching people in south
africa lessons in like 3 days. it doesn't seem real and i dont feel ready.
but i guess the best way to do it is to just dive right into it and start.
I'm assuming that's how it'll be.
If you guys wanna know anything just ask..i'm so wise now when it comes to
the scriptures. haha. i'm totally kidding. i wish. ask me in 2 years and
i'll probably give you a better answer.
Cape Town is seriously the farthest away from Ogden that i could have gone.
It's so awesome. Yesterday at our farewell devotional or fireside or
whatever they announced where all the departing elders were going and when it
was our turn we stood
up and some kid turned around and was like "i'm
sorry" we were like uh...don't act like you know anything about south
africa. cape town is like a vacation. i'm going to be on a vacation for 2
years. yeah when they called his mission and he had to stand up with other
elders guess where he was going...Utah. HA! yeah we definitely said that we were
sorry for him. haha. south africa or utah...you take your pick. I'm just so
stoked for it and i know it'll be a great experience for me. feel free to
email me from now on. Hopefully i'll be able to check that blog in a couple
days. who knows...i'll keep ya posted and i love you guys! Thanks!
-Your wonderful son/brother!
o yeah dont plan on coming by the airport..i hope you already knew that. i can
call you before i leave...i think.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Date Unknown- After October 2 is all I know...
Hey!
So I recieved my travel information the other day. There are a total of 4 of us going to Cape Town. We leave on the 14th of Octoboer at 3:30 am, we leave the MTC at 5am to make it to the airport. After we leave slc at 8:30am we will arrive at JFK around 3pm, from there it looks like we probably going to be rushing because our flight out of NYC leaves at 3:55pm. We hop on that flight and go straight to SA cape town. Our arrival time is 3:55pm so with the time change I think its a 7 hour flight. It should be a good 18 hours or something, maybe not that long, but yeah...well get there on the 15th of oct. good stuff.
As for our baggage I have some good news. Since we dont fly S.Africa arilines, I shouldnt have to worry about the whole 2 suitcase thing. We fly Delta the whole way there and we are able to check 2 bags. Each weighing 50lbs for free. As well as a 40lb carry on. charges will happen if my check bags are more obviously. Its 150$ for bags to 70 pounds and 300$ for bages 71-100lbs. I shouldnt have to worry about it tho I dont think. My shoulder bag will have to count as my carry on so no worries.
Other than that I think thats all thats new. Im half way done with the MTC! Yay! Its not too bad tho haha. Conference has been good because we get an excuse to not have class and more time to write letters and chill. Its nice. Just starting the plan of salvation so I gotta study up! Taught in the TRC again twice yesterday. Me and Elder Ledek are really getting good at teaching lesson#1. We are happy with how it went.
Then we had the Referral Center after dinner. This is where people call after they see a commercial to either find out about us, or oder a video, bible, etc. Our job yesterday was to call people and make sure they got what they wanted, offer something else, bear testimony, and ask if the missionaries could come teach them mroe about a subject. Getting referrals and sending missionaries is really the goal of the RC. AS a district I think we got like 7 or 8 referrals. We thought that was pretty good. Its hard tho cuz most of the time they dont even want to talk to you. but its a good experience haha. Then just class and stuff.
Oh yeah my 2 roomies keep getting pies, cinnomon rolls, donuts from the parents. You can order online and theyll just ship it out here. Your welcome to try that( Duh cory- do you think we are all made of money?! Sheesh- whats up with the one uping at the MTC- I think its called "keepn up with the Jones?!" JK :)) If not I guess ill just eat more of theirs. Actually whatever gets sent we always share anyways...so no worries just thought id let you know.
Alright well thanks for the letters everyone. Jessica I wish I could have gone to the concert last week. I was thinking about it that day. but im glad you had a good time. Im jealous. Whitney thanks for writing, mom and Layne I cant believe you bought that camper thing! Thats lame, but cool I guess. Remember Im a boy on a mission - dont worry about the toys! Amber and dad thanks for writing I always appreciate it/ Tell everyone Hi for me. Raegan quit being a slacker...JK. But yeah thanks all. Keep em coming cuz I wont be here much longer.
Hope everyone enjoyed conference with will be the first one where ive watched every session- yay! Well uh....I cant think of anything else to write so...Love you- Thanks!
Elder Devenney
So I recieved my travel information the other day. There are a total of 4 of us going to Cape Town. We leave on the 14th of Octoboer at 3:30 am, we leave the MTC at 5am to make it to the airport. After we leave slc at 8:30am we will arrive at JFK around 3pm, from there it looks like we probably going to be rushing because our flight out of NYC leaves at 3:55pm. We hop on that flight and go straight to SA cape town. Our arrival time is 3:55pm so with the time change I think its a 7 hour flight. It should be a good 18 hours or something, maybe not that long, but yeah...well get there on the 15th of oct. good stuff.
As for our baggage I have some good news. Since we dont fly S.Africa arilines, I shouldnt have to worry about the whole 2 suitcase thing. We fly Delta the whole way there and we are able to check 2 bags. Each weighing 50lbs for free. As well as a 40lb carry on. charges will happen if my check bags are more obviously. Its 150$ for bags to 70 pounds and 300$ for bages 71-100lbs. I shouldnt have to worry about it tho I dont think. My shoulder bag will have to count as my carry on so no worries.
Other than that I think thats all thats new. Im half way done with the MTC! Yay! Its not too bad tho haha. Conference has been good because we get an excuse to not have class and more time to write letters and chill. Its nice. Just starting the plan of salvation so I gotta study up! Taught in the TRC again twice yesterday. Me and Elder Ledek are really getting good at teaching lesson#1. We are happy with how it went.
Then we had the Referral Center after dinner. This is where people call after they see a commercial to either find out about us, or oder a video, bible, etc. Our job yesterday was to call people and make sure they got what they wanted, offer something else, bear testimony, and ask if the missionaries could come teach them mroe about a subject. Getting referrals and sending missionaries is really the goal of the RC. AS a district I think we got like 7 or 8 referrals. We thought that was pretty good. Its hard tho cuz most of the time they dont even want to talk to you. but its a good experience haha. Then just class and stuff.
Oh yeah my 2 roomies keep getting pies, cinnomon rolls, donuts from the parents. You can order online and theyll just ship it out here. Your welcome to try that( Duh cory- do you think we are all made of money?! Sheesh- whats up with the one uping at the MTC- I think its called "keepn up with the Jones?!" JK :)) If not I guess ill just eat more of theirs. Actually whatever gets sent we always share anyways...so no worries just thought id let you know.
Alright well thanks for the letters everyone. Jessica I wish I could have gone to the concert last week. I was thinking about it that day. but im glad you had a good time. Im jealous. Whitney thanks for writing, mom and Layne I cant believe you bought that camper thing! Thats lame, but cool I guess. Remember Im a boy on a mission - dont worry about the toys! Amber and dad thanks for writing I always appreciate it/ Tell everyone Hi for me. Raegan quit being a slacker...JK. But yeah thanks all. Keep em coming cuz I wont be here much longer.
Hope everyone enjoyed conference with will be the first one where ive watched every session- yay! Well uh....I cant think of anything else to write so...Love you- Thanks!
Elder Devenney
October 2
Family,
So as I sit here on my p day while doing luandry theres just something so much more difficult about doing it here than at home. As if I dont know how to do laundry all my life, theres something about the MTC where all the pressure is on. A little mistake can ruin all of your clothes....that would really suck. So thanks for teaching me mom! Ill have to wait a half hour and see if it worked or not...kinda scared I wont lie! haha
I think I wrote you a letter yesterday but I have some more time to write so I figured I would. Thanks for sending the package yesterday and just so you know I almost laughted at it...haha you guys are soooo funny let me tell ya. Nah I appreciate it so thanks. Keep encouraging people to write me. I dont like being lame knowking I do have family very capable of writing me, at least while im at the MTC, Ill understand it will be harder when Im in SA.
Lets see...hows that blog coming along? Does it even look good?( HA cory doesnt even know the hours I labor here....) Ill try and take some pics and send you some. I really dont have all that many opportunities to, but Ill try to more. so uh hows the dog? Anything new going on?
Things here are good, nothing too exciting. We are finally on our pday like I said, we got up and went to the temple at like 6am- it was WAY early. But good of course. temple food is so much better than the MTC food. even tho it costs money, its worth it.
Ok well Im a busy guy doing laundry and I need to change stuff...things are good here, Thanks, Love you!
Elder Devenney
PS: oh yeah, all my roommates want a laundry bag like mine.!
So as I sit here on my p day while doing luandry theres just something so much more difficult about doing it here than at home. As if I dont know how to do laundry all my life, theres something about the MTC where all the pressure is on. A little mistake can ruin all of your clothes....that would really suck. So thanks for teaching me mom! Ill have to wait a half hour and see if it worked or not...kinda scared I wont lie! haha
I think I wrote you a letter yesterday but I have some more time to write so I figured I would. Thanks for sending the package yesterday and just so you know I almost laughted at it...haha you guys are soooo funny let me tell ya. Nah I appreciate it so thanks. Keep encouraging people to write me. I dont like being lame knowking I do have family very capable of writing me, at least while im at the MTC, Ill understand it will be harder when Im in SA.
Lets see...hows that blog coming along? Does it even look good?( HA cory doesnt even know the hours I labor here....) Ill try and take some pics and send you some. I really dont have all that many opportunities to, but Ill try to more. so uh hows the dog? Anything new going on?
Things here are good, nothing too exciting. We are finally on our pday like I said, we got up and went to the temple at like 6am- it was WAY early. But good of course. temple food is so much better than the MTC food. even tho it costs money, its worth it.
Ok well Im a busy guy doing laundry and I need to change stuff...things are good here, Thanks, Love you!
Elder Devenney
PS: oh yeah, all my roommates want a laundry bag like mine.!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Amber here
Cory! I know you wont get this till you read your blog upon your return, but hello??!!! Wheres MY personal mail?? Afterall I am taking chunks of my life to post your letters on the blog and all I get is a shout out from the letter?! Lame.
Love you!
A
Love you!
A
Oct 1 2008
Mom and Family,
Thank you so much for the letters you been sending! Jess, Amber, Dad you are all so Great! I really apreeciate it. Mail is what we look forward to, besides gym time of course. haha. Weve been playing a bit of volleyball during gym, and its awesome. I wont lie though its pretty difficult to play when half of the kids here seem like theyve never played before. No joke. Its pretty sad but still fun.
So yesterday we had tuesday deveotional and had elder Garn of the quorem of the seventy and his wife talk, it was good from what I remember. you dont get a lot of sleep here especially when your companion snores way loud and talks in his sleep! we bought him some of those snore things that cover your nose or whatever...help spread the nostrils to help not snore...it hlpes some. but hes good. Its just the other 3 of us that have to suffer.
So along the lines of what elder garn was talking about was aot of D&C section 4..."the field is white already to harvest" we as missionaries need to be unified in what we do. there are people ready to hear our message(especially in SA) but yeah lots of other good info goo...
So my companion and I taught lesson #1 to an investigator today( pretend) she was a sweet old lady that acted as if she was of the baptist faith and wanted to learn about the church. Me and Elder Ledek did way good we thought. Bettern than expected for sure. It was a little sketchy at first but by the end we really got things moving and taught by the spirit the best we could. The more practice and times we teach the more comfortable well be at it. But yeah..it was a cool experience for sure.
So lets see what else? I cant really remember what i said the other day. Ive been here for a week- yay! Its weird wondering what everyone else is doing because im so busy all the time. sometimes forget there is life outside the MTC.
Oh Yeah! I saw Nicole like on my third day here. Im sure youve seen the pic on her phone. It was so random and kinda funny. But still cool that I saw her.
Well the church is great! ha! MTC is doing good! haha, Elder Devenney wouldnt mind some packages of goodies while he is here...just so you know. Trevors mom already sent me some treats so hurry and catch up mom and dad!!
Ill write again soon...
Hello All...
Elder Devenney
Thank you so much for the letters you been sending! Jess, Amber, Dad you are all so Great! I really apreeciate it. Mail is what we look forward to, besides gym time of course. haha. Weve been playing a bit of volleyball during gym, and its awesome. I wont lie though its pretty difficult to play when half of the kids here seem like theyve never played before. No joke. Its pretty sad but still fun.
So yesterday we had tuesday deveotional and had elder Garn of the quorem of the seventy and his wife talk, it was good from what I remember. you dont get a lot of sleep here especially when your companion snores way loud and talks in his sleep! we bought him some of those snore things that cover your nose or whatever...help spread the nostrils to help not snore...it hlpes some. but hes good. Its just the other 3 of us that have to suffer.
So along the lines of what elder garn was talking about was aot of D&C section 4..."the field is white already to harvest" we as missionaries need to be unified in what we do. there are people ready to hear our message(especially in SA) but yeah lots of other good info goo...
So my companion and I taught lesson #1 to an investigator today( pretend) she was a sweet old lady that acted as if she was of the baptist faith and wanted to learn about the church. Me and Elder Ledek did way good we thought. Bettern than expected for sure. It was a little sketchy at first but by the end we really got things moving and taught by the spirit the best we could. The more practice and times we teach the more comfortable well be at it. But yeah..it was a cool experience for sure.
So lets see what else? I cant really remember what i said the other day. Ive been here for a week- yay! Its weird wondering what everyone else is doing because im so busy all the time. sometimes forget there is life outside the MTC.
Oh Yeah! I saw Nicole like on my third day here. Im sure youve seen the pic on her phone. It was so random and kinda funny. But still cool that I saw her.
Well the church is great! ha! MTC is doing good! haha, Elder Devenney wouldnt mind some packages of goodies while he is here...just so you know. Trevors mom already sent me some treats so hurry and catch up mom and dad!!
Ill write again soon...
Hello All...
Elder Devenney
Sept 29th
I guess I havent really written you guys back for a few days now, so I Figured I would now. I have some extra down time because we just finished a service project.
Well as i sit here listening to music with my other 3 roommates, I just wanted to reassure you guys that im good. things arent the easiest, and I havent even been here a week. Im excited to no longer be the new elders cuz that sucks to be honest. Being newbs is pretty lame and it takes a while to figure everything out. My district is very cool. there are 8 of us all together. We take things serious at times but laugh so much. We have to have a little bit of fun while being here ya know? Yesterday was fast sunday and we had good meeting s and devotionals. They all had really good speakers and talked about a lot of good stuff. the main focus yesterday was about our companions and how necessary it is that we never lose eachother. Its been good that me and Elder Ledek have gotten along. hes pretty chill and we have a lot in common. Everyday for the most part we have large group meetings and class. We usually have 3 classes throughout the day that are around 2-3 hours long. then we have personal and companion study in between. WEll get like 45 minutes of gym time each day except saturday, that will be nice. on friday we played some sand volleyball. Some of the kids in our district arent very good...but its still fun. On saturday we have class for like 12 hours - no joke, its crazy. for extra time we try to walk around and teach other elders about the first discussion. This includes our heavenly fathers families, apostasy, the restoration, Christs ministry, Bof Mormon, prayer, etc. Its going good, and Elder Ledek and I are getting it down the more we teach. Tomorrow, is our first TRC where we have to teach an investigator lesson #1. Its not a real investigator, but yeah hsould be intense, but good practice. Well get to watch oursleves after and see where we didnt do very well and what areas we can improve on.
The food is actually pretty good I think...although some might say otherwise.
So I think prayer is becoming a big part of my life as Im in the MTC. I think Im having the most sincere prayers Ive ever had and its been great. I really need my heavenly fathers help while being here. I need help to learn, apply, and teach these different principals. We seriously pray so often and I can really feel the difference.
I just finished the Book of Mormon again and I started into the PGP. I have to say that Moroni has to be my favorite section of the BOM. It gives so much and is straight forward. Im pretty sure I marked up like half his book. haha.
Its way good...well Ill probably write you again here soon...Please send some letters, and tell others to do the same....Thanks!
Love you!
Elder Devenney
Well as i sit here listening to music with my other 3 roommates, I just wanted to reassure you guys that im good. things arent the easiest, and I havent even been here a week. Im excited to no longer be the new elders cuz that sucks to be honest. Being newbs is pretty lame and it takes a while to figure everything out. My district is very cool. there are 8 of us all together. We take things serious at times but laugh so much. We have to have a little bit of fun while being here ya know? Yesterday was fast sunday and we had good meeting s and devotionals. They all had really good speakers and talked about a lot of good stuff. the main focus yesterday was about our companions and how necessary it is that we never lose eachother. Its been good that me and Elder Ledek have gotten along. hes pretty chill and we have a lot in common. Everyday for the most part we have large group meetings and class. We usually have 3 classes throughout the day that are around 2-3 hours long. then we have personal and companion study in between. WEll get like 45 minutes of gym time each day except saturday, that will be nice. on friday we played some sand volleyball. Some of the kids in our district arent very good...but its still fun. On saturday we have class for like 12 hours - no joke, its crazy. for extra time we try to walk around and teach other elders about the first discussion. This includes our heavenly fathers families, apostasy, the restoration, Christs ministry, Bof Mormon, prayer, etc. Its going good, and Elder Ledek and I are getting it down the more we teach. Tomorrow, is our first TRC where we have to teach an investigator lesson #1. Its not a real investigator, but yeah hsould be intense, but good practice. Well get to watch oursleves after and see where we didnt do very well and what areas we can improve on.
The food is actually pretty good I think...although some might say otherwise.
So I think prayer is becoming a big part of my life as Im in the MTC. I think Im having the most sincere prayers Ive ever had and its been great. I really need my heavenly fathers help while being here. I need help to learn, apply, and teach these different principals. We seriously pray so often and I can really feel the difference.
I just finished the Book of Mormon again and I started into the PGP. I have to say that Moroni has to be my favorite section of the BOM. It gives so much and is straight forward. Im pretty sure I marked up like half his book. haha.
Its way good...well Ill probably write you again here soon...Please send some letters, and tell others to do the same....Thanks!
Love you!
Elder Devenney
Friday, October 3, 2008
First emailed letter
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 2:08 PM
Hey i hope this works...i kinda forgot the letter that has everyone's emailin it so...yeah i have whitney's right next to me...and i guessed mom's,hope it works. Well whit i know you'll get this at least so if you couldforward this to everyone that would be great!I'm sitting here with a large crowd around me while doing some laundry.I'm happy to say that it was a success...from what i can
tell. i didnt messup any of my shirts...although i will have to use my lint roller on my pantsbecuase of a certain towel i put in with it...yeah bad idea. The MTC has been pretty good so far. I'm assuming you've all been ableto look at my letters that i send home, or on the blog that i hope amber iskeeping up with. I havent looked at it, and idunno if i'll be able to, but isure hope it looks good. I've been here for more than a week now and i haveto say the first week is a little rough. There's a lot to do and a lot tolearn, but if i just go with the flow like i did, then it's thursday alreadyand that seems crazy. every day since sunday went by so fast. which is great.when we first got here everyone would be like "just make it to sunday andyou'll be ok" haha. It was the truth tho. Now i get to say that to allthe new kids that came in yesterday...haha. Those poor souls...So my companion and i
(Elder Ledek) have been really hittin it off well.He's from orem and played soccer at UVU for those of you that dont knowalready. I'll send some pics of us hopefully soon...I just gotta starttaking more. Went to the Temple this morning...had to get up at like 545 for it..but it wasworth it. Temple food is much better than MTC food. That's all i have tosay about that. My roommates like to keep our room nice and cool all the time,like as low as the the therm will let us. So i stole my comps blanket for thepast week to keep warm. and last night i had to sleep with a hoodie on. Andsometimes i even have to sleep completely under my covers. but we turned it upbecuase i've felt like i'm getting sick and it sucks...my throat hurts.ya know when you can feel it coming??? yeah that's how it is. So i'vejust been eating those throat things all day. I just hope it doesnt get worse. Idont wanna get sick
here...As for teachings and things like that...We have the RC and the TRC. The TRC iswhere we actually get to teach investigators lessons. it's pretty intense.and we had our first one on tuesday. it went really good we thought...alwaysroom for improvement. Bringing in scriptures and things to make the messagebetter. The key is always bearing testimony, teaching by the spirit, and makingcommitments, then following up. And obviously just knowing the informationi'm going to teach. Study study study a lot. then teach later on in theafternoon. That's what all our classes are on. We usually have class 3 hourstwice a day. then eating in between and study time, personal and companionstudy. then little sleep...haha. Nah it's not too bad. it may sound brutalbut right now it's getting better. It's not bad, i just cant wait to getoutta here. South Africa will be awesome.Next week we'll be learning and
teaching Lesson 2 which is the plan ofsalvation. So i'll keep ya posted on what that's all about and how itgoes. Sorry if this doesnt make a lot of sense...i'm being timed here and idont want it to stop before i send it. Thanks for everything! I'll keepwriting letters and keep on sending them please! Email just once a week and idont have a lot of time to reply! just wanted to let you know how i'm doing again. Love you all!
Elder Devenney
Hey i hope this works...i kinda forgot the letter that has everyone's emailin it so...yeah i have whitney's right next to me...and i guessed mom's,hope it works. Well whit i know you'll get this at least so if you couldforward this to everyone that would be great!I'm sitting here with a large crowd around me while doing some laundry.I'm happy to say that it was a success...from what i can
tell. i didnt messup any of my shirts...although i will have to use my lint roller on my pantsbecuase of a certain towel i put in with it...yeah bad idea. The MTC has been pretty good so far. I'm assuming you've all been ableto look at my letters that i send home, or on the blog that i hope amber iskeeping up with. I havent looked at it, and idunno if i'll be able to, but isure hope it looks good. I've been here for more than a week now and i haveto say the first week is a little rough. There's a lot to do and a lot tolearn, but if i just go with the flow like i did, then it's thursday alreadyand that seems crazy. every day since sunday went by so fast. which is great.when we first got here everyone would be like "just make it to sunday andyou'll be ok" haha. It was the truth tho. Now i get to say that to allthe new kids that came in yesterday...haha. Those poor souls...So my companion and i
(Elder Ledek) have been really hittin it off well.He's from orem and played soccer at UVU for those of you that dont knowalready. I'll send some pics of us hopefully soon...I just gotta starttaking more. Went to the Temple this morning...had to get up at like 545 for it..but it wasworth it. Temple food is much better than MTC food. That's all i have tosay about that. My roommates like to keep our room nice and cool all the time,like as low as the the therm will let us. So i stole my comps blanket for thepast week to keep warm. and last night i had to sleep with a hoodie on. Andsometimes i even have to sleep completely under my covers. but we turned it upbecuase i've felt like i'm getting sick and it sucks...my throat hurts.ya know when you can feel it coming??? yeah that's how it is. So i'vejust been eating those throat things all day. I just hope it doesnt get worse. Idont wanna get sick
here...As for teachings and things like that...We have the RC and the TRC. The TRC iswhere we actually get to teach investigators lessons. it's pretty intense.and we had our first one on tuesday. it went really good we thought...alwaysroom for improvement. Bringing in scriptures and things to make the messagebetter. The key is always bearing testimony, teaching by the spirit, and makingcommitments, then following up. And obviously just knowing the informationi'm going to teach. Study study study a lot. then teach later on in theafternoon. That's what all our classes are on. We usually have class 3 hourstwice a day. then eating in between and study time, personal and companionstudy. then little sleep...haha. Nah it's not too bad. it may sound brutalbut right now it's getting better. It's not bad, i just cant wait to getoutta here. South Africa will be awesome.Next week we'll be learning and
teaching Lesson 2 which is the plan ofsalvation. So i'll keep ya posted on what that's all about and how itgoes. Sorry if this doesnt make a lot of sense...i'm being timed here and idont want it to stop before i send it. Thanks for everything! I'll keepwriting letters and keep on sending them please! Email just once a week and idont have a lot of time to reply! just wanted to let you know how i'm doing again. Love you all!
Elder Devenney
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