¡HOLA MI FAMILIA!

HOLLAA MI FAMILIA!!!
This week was crazy! Its my last week here in the Provo MTC!! I got my flight plans this week and I'm headed to the Mexico City CCM (MTC) and I'm super excited but also really nervous. Apparently everyone gets sick there is just a matter of how sick you will get! I'm just so happy I have the opportunity to be out here doing the Lords work. 
I was actually pretty stressed out this week. We started a program called TRC its basically teaching an investigator in Spanish the lessons. They tell the missionaries that they aren't members but they cant fool me, I know a member of the church when I see one there is a certain light about them anyway, I started those this week. Some missionaries are convinced that these are actually investigators its really funny. They're so hard. so hard. My companion and I taught a guy named Fernando. He is from chili and he came down to Utah to learn English. We taught him about Christ's ministry on the Earth, The Great Apostasy, The Restoration, The Book of Mormon, and the Plan of Salvation or Plan of Happiness. When I say we taught I meant I taught. My companion doesn't know any Spanish... Its so hard to teach in Spanish for 30 minutes everyday to someone who doesn't know anything when your companion is trying to look every word up in the dictionary. Its was hard and we had an investigator that is known to be a stick in the mud trying to make it hard for the new missionaries. It was stressful because he would speak so fast. I am learning so much and hes actually a nice guy. I am learning to keep things very simple to allow the spirit to be there. In my first two lessons it was really hard to feel the spirit because I was scrambling in my Spanish. The third lesson though was something special. I felt like things flowed and I actually felt the spirit and I think Fernando did too. After my first lesson I wanted to cry honestly but I didn't. I felt like I sucked at being a missionary and Fernando was really confused and my companion was like "That was really good" when the whole lesson sucked he just didn't know what was going on bless his heart lol.
If y'all remember the story of Nephi and his bow I was reading about that this week and it hit me in a way that it had not before. If you remember Nephi's bow was the source of his families food and only way to feed their families. When Nephi breaks his bow his family is angered and very upset with him especially his brothers. Their entire well being was set on this bow and when it broke it was as if there was no hope. This was a chance for the Lord to humble Nephi and his family. Their food wasn't coming from the bow and it wasn't coming from Nephi. Their salvation was in the Lords hand from the beginning. The Lord had given them their food and the opportunities to hunt and have animals placed in their path. This was kinda what happened to me this week. I feel as if my bow broke. I was getting upset with myself wondering why I sucked. Then I realized I needed to humble myself. Nothing is in my control. I could say the perfect words and do the perfect things but its the spirit that converts. I needed to forget about myself and realize the Lord will provide away as long as we have faith in him. A good missionary is not one that memorizes the lessons or memorizes good phrases its one that has faith and can speak from the spirit. It was a huge eye opener this week and I am sooo pumped to get in the field. Its important to take advantage of the spirit and take every opportunity when directed to do so. Have the spirit to be with you and allow others to recognize it and feel of the happiness. I am nothing without Him and I have never been so happy!!!
I leave early on Tuesday and I'm nervous because apparently the teachers at the Mexico MTC are just learning english. So we are committing to full Spanish now this week. My P-Day might change too I am not sure but I love to see emails from everyone I love you all soooo much. NO ONE TOLD ME BYU BEAT WISCONSIN!! That's the work!! I miss golf so much I have dreamt about it probably 6 times since I have been here. Oh well not important. HAHAHHA get this everyone they're recruiting a bunch of missionaries to sing for General conference and because I'm district leader I had to turn in forms for my district. Anyway I decided to fill on out because why the heck not ya know... Anyway I said I was in choir in like middle school and that I have a great smile and that if you don't pick me then pick the people in my district because they're actually good at singing and... I didn't get picked but 5 people from my district did and its awesome so look for them on TV I'm so happy for them lol.Sorry Idk If I have very many pics this week I was kinda busy.
Love you all like crazzyyyyy!!1 <3333333

Here are some pics of my with my flight plans!! The other pic is fiesta Friday, we all throw in a bunch of crap and celebrate that the next day is P day and we tell a bunch of stories lol it's actually really fun even though it sounds like we are in middle school.
Love y'all!!

Provo MTC Week 2

THIS WEEK FLEW BY!!!
I miss you all so much I can't even put it all into words. So much has happened I'll try to get through everything! 
I'm thinking about everyone at home right now and my prayers are with everyone especially the McCubbins and Hinis families. I loved both so dearly. Through the crazy week I just can't help but fall to my knees and pray for everyone in the Keller 2nd ward and for my family. I love you so much and even more than I, Christ is there, along with his spirit I know it.
I got a notification in the beginning of the week that I would be traveling to Salt Lake to get my visa for Mexico. It was so cool to be a missionary when outside of the MTC I met so many people on the trains even a lady from Puerto Rico. She didn't speak any English and I tried to talk a little with her in Spanish. Although I'm a little rusty I asked her about her family and journey and she was just smiling the whole time it was awesome. I could only really tell her basic stuff like I was from Texas serving a mission to go to Mexico and that I was away from my family for two years to invite people unto Christ. She was the sweetest old lady and gave me a hug. I could basically tell her that God loved her and that I loved the Church I knew the message was true and then I had to leave lol.

LOOK WHO I RAN INTO AT THE VISA OFFICE IN SALT LAKE CITY!!?? WHAT?! Dear Bishop Pierce <3

I got my Visa and returned back to the travel Offices at the CCM (Misssionary Training Center) and they told me there was a good chance that I would be transferred to the Mexico City MTC for three weeks on October 2nd!!!!! I was so happy the Provo MTC has been awesome and it's awesome but I might get the best of both world and be completely immersed in the language and get to experience both!

Elder Neil L. Anderson from the quorum of the twelve came and spoke to us..... Only in Provo. One of the most spiritual, tender experiences I have ever experienced. Absolutely unbelievable. An apostle of the Lord walked into the room as everyone arose. All of the missionaries (2,000 approximately) started to sing Hope of Israel. It sounded as if more than just the missionaries were singing but the spirit was so strong and the veil between earth and heaven was so very thin and it felt as if angels were singing with us. I didn't see one face without tears it felt like. He talked about temple and through them we can have eternal families. My testimony has been strengthened so much about temples having the opportunity to serve in the temple for the few weeks before coming to the MTC. Through this gospel and temples we can help others find true joy and happiness even through trial and hardships. I am out here because I know this church is true and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ. I know the happiness it has brought my family and I want everyone to know too. I wish I would've done more before my mission to spread his word.
I looked in the mirror the other day where there is a picture of Christ in the background. I saw myself standing tall with his name on my left pocket as I stand as a disciple of Jesus Christ I could not help but feel He is with me and through Him I can be the best missionary I can. A tear fell down my face and I have never had some much fire and want to share the gospel ever in my whole life. I love you all so much and I pray for you every night. The MTC is awesome but I'm ready for Mexico.
My companion and I are so different and he is having a hard time learning the language. He is such a hard worker though he studies more than anyone even when he's not supposed to be, but it just seems like it's not coming for him. I love him, but its hard to teach when he can only say "Soy California" lol. We are getting through it though.
I hope I took a few pictures but Idk if I have that many.

Work as a district leader got really hard and stressful this week. I am trying to model the example my sister Baylie gave me while on her mission about being exactly obedient. Which makes the job seem even harder. I have so many scriptures I could share but I don't have enough time to share them all with you. I suggest reading the Book of Mormon again with a specific question or topic and reading it with that in mind. It has changed my life. I hope to have thousands of BoMs with different questions in each. Read 3 Nephi Chapter 11, 12, 13 again when Christ is testifying in the Americas.
The food here is so bad for me I try and workout everyday but its a lot while trying to focus on the needs of all the Elders and Sisters in my district.
Spanish is coming along I think I'm getting better, but ironically right when I think I'm getting better I realize I don't know anything and that there is no way I'm going to learn this language and I just have to study harder.

I've always struggled with patience and staying patient with others so I think that's why the Lord gave me my companion. I love him but we are so different and I don't think he likes being companions with me because he says he doesn't want to do extra things with me because I'm the district leader not him and that's not his assignment but I just have to drag him sometimes when he doesn't want to. I'm working on coming to agreements more with him. Still good and fun out here. I have this Elder in my district his name is Elder Nate and he's so funny we are like best friends. I'm trying to be less "me" because most people think my humor is more rude than funny. But that's why I have Elder Nate.
Miss all my friends and my ward in Texas. Stay strong and find hope. Through Him we can get through anything.

--
-Elder Benjamin Jeppesen

PS-Shout out- Happy Birthday Leah!

Week 1- Missionary Training Center

FAMILY AND MOM AND FRIENDS-

Wow... I don't even know where to begin, this week has been so crazy. I cannot even believe I am a missionary! I love you all soo much and miss you all so much especially you mom. DAD, Baylie and Nolan- love you all. 

So I've been here a few days getting to know my district and zone. My zone leaders are so awesome. I am so excited to keep being a missionary. After a bunch of classes and meeting with our branch president and Zone leaders I was assigned to be the district leader. I sooo happy to serve the missionaries and just love them. I don't know them all super well but I already love them so much. I thought I was nervous before but now that I am the district leader I am so nervous. I have really tried to better rely on Christ through this whole process because there is no way I will be able to get through my mission on my own. 
I am now getting to understand what it means to be a missionary. To invite others to come unto Christ and Help them to receive the restored gospel. I am learning so much on how to forget about myself and turn to the Lord and I've never felt better. Recently, before coming out on the mission everything has been directed towards me "my farewell talk," "my farewell,' "my mission call". If there is one thing I've realized, it's that this is the Lord's work and people have been prepared to hear him through the spirit, and that I am merely just a vessel. I didn't even know I could love the people in Villahermosa so much without even meeting them yet, it is incredible. I know I'm supposed to be here and give myself up for the next two years.

My zone is crazy Elder Huhem from Southlake is in my zone and that's pretty cool. It is so crazy in our dorm and it is a ton of fun. My companion is Elder Reynoso. He's such a good guy with a sincere heart I love him. We are so different though, wayyyyyy different. hahaha. He is from California. He competes in super smash bro's tournaments on the Wii and makes quite a bit of money at it too. LOL He has a good testimony and we are working to mesh our personalities as best as we can. I haven't really met anyone that is like me here but it's cool and I love them because we are all out here to do the same thing. 

Classes are super cool. My district is awesome. There are 8 elders and 2 Hermanas. My Spanish is getting so much better. I gave the first discussion and prayed in Spanish yesterday. I'm working just the hardest I can to learn the language and it's actually really fun. (Thanks Señora Morales)

I miss golf so much, and playing with Nolan, and rounds on the simulator. 

The food here is so bad for me so I've been trying to eat really healthy. It's all Cannon center food.

My bed is okay. I feel like I never really get sleep but its okay.

I still miss home a lot, and my life back at home, but I know it'll be okay. I love you all so much.

here are some pics

Shout out to Sister Jurecka, I am putting the laundry bag you gave me to good use! 
Don't forget to read your scriptures and pray

I got a Supreme bottle of nail polish remover for my white elephant gift hahaha
Most of these are random 

oh ya and DEE I love you so much I'm gonna try and make a google drive with all the pics

I'M HERE

I made it to the MTC!! It was a requirement to let y'all know that I'm okay!! Love you guys SOOOO much. It's awesome here and I am super excited!!
K
bye <3
-Elder Benjamin Jeppesen