Week 4 Provo MTC

YooooooooOOOOooOOO!

 I've learned so much this week. Lot's about Tagalog but mostly other stuff. The scriptures are so amazing. I've learned so much about the Gospel. The scriptures are so much better, when you study them for the benefit of others. The Spirit is always so so strong here at the MTC. Within the past week I've received a deeper witness from God through the Holy Spirit about Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon.

Alam ko po na totoo ang Aklat ni Mormon, at, Magpatotoo po ako na totoo propeta ni Joseph Smith! 

Well, nothin super out of the ordinary in the last week. Lots of hard work and study. Were all itchin to get the Philippines haha. Only about two and a half weeks until we depart to Manila. We will spend 5 days in the Manila MTC before we go to our Mission areas. 

Yeaaaaahhhhhh.

Week 3 Provo MTC

 This was the longest and shortest week of my life. It's hard work like I said, and learning Tagalog is so hard and teaching in Tagalog is a whole other kind of hard!  Those elders in the pics left for the Philippines on Thursday. They are going to Naga and Legazpi missions. I miss those guys, the 2 white guys were the zone leaders and they were so funny and were a great example to me! The Spirit is so, so strong here. I've never felt the spirit so often in my life. 

 I'm really developing a love for the scriptures. We usually only get an hour a day for set personal study time, AND ITS NOT ENOUGH. I wish I could have like 3 hours of personal study time. I'm finding so many cool and uplifting scriptures and I feel like Nephi! I found my new favorite scripture for the time being- Mosiah 3:19. So powerful. 

President Russel M Nelson spoke to us on Tuesday so that was cool! 

K peace out 

Magandang Umaga!

Magtagumpay po kayo sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya kay Jesucristo!

Week 2 Provo MTC

Well guys this week flew by...Tagalog is getting really hard. But its fun at the same time. The work load here at the MTC is nuts, especially when you are learning such a difficult language. I started to get really stressed yesterday and the day before, but we had a lesson on stress management yesterday and I feel much better now! We have to start teaching investigators in Tagalog without using scripts hahahahahahah so kinda scary. I've really been making an effort to learn the doctrine in English super well, which will make turning it into Tagalog much much easier.  My English is already starting to get all messed up and I can't spell anymore. Everything in Tagalog is spelled like it sounds.  We listened to a talk by Elder Bednar on Sunday that is only available in the MTC. It's called "The Attributes of Christ." Life changing talk.

The days are starting to blend together, it's amazing how time flies when you are being productive.  I love the zone. There are some awesome guys in the zone and they inspire me so much! I am really starting to get into a groove and I feel good about my thoughts and feelings and my attitude.  We have 42 new missionaries coming into our zone next week, all Philippines :I crazy.  We will be in charge of them pretty soon.  

Well so like yah, that's this week. My testimony is getting stronger and I am gaining a whole new understanding on what it means to rely on the Lord.

Live by the Spirit, Rely on the Lord, Be humble, we are the dust of the earth. 

Ingat, Magandang Umaga!

-Elder Andersen

 

 

Week 1 Provo MTC

Dis is Fun...Pamilya! Kumusta po kayo! MABUTI (MY BOOTY) hahahahahahahahaha. Mabuti tubig (good water).  Well Tagalog is hard. But so fun. We are only three days in and I can already notice the The Spirit and the Gift of Tongues blessing us!  My companion is Elder Langevelde. He is from Ogden! Very cool and very obedient and very determined.  We are both going to Laoag!  The first day in the MTC was nuts! After I was assigned residencies and I got all my stuff, I had my first class, and it was Tagalog. HAHAHAHAHA as soon as I walked in the door, the teacher Brother Cobb just started babbling at me in Tagalog and obviously I had no idea what was going on! After awhile I started to catch to words like mabuti (good) and opo (yes) and hindi (no) and I learned how to say Kumusta po kayo (how are you) and Mabuti po ako (I am good.)  but that's about all I gathered from day one.

The MTC food is pretty sub par. The whole zone is complaining about it and we all have gas :D  So after Thursday I decided to eat the healthiest food possible. So it's not that bad and I have my secret juice so I'm good;)

Well in case you were wondering, I have not cried yet, but we will see.

I love our zone! The whole zone is going to the Philippines, and all the missionaries who have been here longer than us noobies are always so excited and comforting. They give us advice all the time. This is very hard but so fun at the same time. I can already feel myself stretching and growing all the time. 

Well, Ingat para ngayon! (Goodbye for now)

Bye Gabe...

Gabe entered the MTC Wednesday July 22, 2015.

The last goodbyes....

Andersen and Engemann Boys 

Just outside the MTC...

last good brotherly hug

Nothing better than having a good fake cry...The tears just wouldn't come. Gabe was thrilled.

He'd rather laugh than cry any day and so we did...

He was so excited to get his mission started. 

From here on out, all the posts will be directly from Gabe's letters home. Should be fun!

Last Few Days...

Gabe was set apart as an Elder to be a Missionary on Monday July 20, 2015.  My Mom, Craig, Dad, Shelby, Cathy, Mathis, Kari, Maximo, Ethan, Lily, Olivia, Hartman and I were all there. Gabe was set apart by President Ricks.

The blessing was so amazing and I know it will be a strength to Gabe as he serves.
A last goodbye hug with grandma.

For his last St. George meal Gabe picked Five Guys for a good old Hamburger 

 

 

Then we headed up North to spend our last day together as a family in SLC at Temple Square. We spent all Tuesday walking around these beautiful grounds and Gabe had the opportunity to talk with several Filipino missionaries that were serving there. He loved it!

Uhhh, long story, but there's a baby bunny in that stroller not an actual baby.

Then we had a huge party at The Brick Oven with family and friends. I forgot to get pictures of everyone, but here's a few that closed the place down with us...

Good Times.

Gabe's Farewell...

Gabe's farewell was Sunday July 19, 2015. Family and friends came from near and far to hear him speak. He did such a good job. It had all the elements of a good talk! Humor, Love, Humility, and a good strong Testimony. He had us all laughing and crying.

It was beautiful.

Loved hanging out at the house after with all of our family and friends eating tons of good food.

Gabe's friends...Shane, Joey, and Logan (who is hidden behind Joey.) Shane is going to South Africa, Logan is going to Russia, and Joey is going to the Marshall Islands on their missions. All are leaving in the next month or so. It's so awesome to see all of these valiant young men get ready to go and serve the Lord.  William is also on the couch with that awesome hair! He'll be going in a couple of years somewhere cool.

 Gabe, Jack, Mathis, Hartman and Grandma Kathy (like mother like son ) hehe!

Uncle Shelb had a long week at scout camp then drove 11 hours to be here for Gabe, so we let him sleep and sleep and sleeeeeeep.

Grandpa Craig and Gabe

Uncle Mathis and Gabe

Hart, Grandma Kathy and Gabe

 Ethan, Branden Campbell, and Gabe.   (Yep from Neon Trees) We love him

 and we Love the awesome Campbell family.

There are more pics, I just need to find them. Stay tuned!