October 8, 2015

Good News and General Conference

Konichiwa minasan こにちわみなさん

I hope that everyone enjoyed Gen Conf as much as I did.  I wish it would have lasted a little longer.  I just couldn't get enough.  I watched all 5 sessions in the gym here at the MTC and the spirit was unreal.  Especially though the hymns that were played.  After "How Firm a Foundation" was played I was misty eyed and I looked around at all the other Elder's in my District and Zone and were too so I didn't feel as bad that I was crying a little bit during a hymn.

I want to talk about the talk given by Elder Durrant (I think) about ponderizing, memorizing, and engraining a scripture into your mind.  I had never really thought about doing that before and now I am all for it.  I encourage all of you that read this email to do the same thing.

I choose Alma 36:3 3 "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

 

This has really been the scripture that has helped me the most in these last couple days because of my foot.  I know that if I put my trust in the Lord, I will be lifted and shown the path of what I am supposed to follow in order to learn and grow as a better person and missionary.  I know I have more things to learn here in the MTC before the people of Japan can hear the wonderful message of the gospel in Japan.

The other talk that was just amazing (there isn't another word for it) was Elder Holland's talks about Mothers.  I was sitting there and I was, ok this doesn't apply to me, I'm not a mother I don't have any kids.  I decided to listen anyway.  It was one of the best talks that I've heard in a very long time.  It's very true that they are second to the Lord in how much he loves each and every single one of His children, is the love that our moms have for us.  I could write more but I want everyone to read Holland's talk once more and or listen to it.  I love you MOM!!!   Don't worry Dad, I still love you too.

 I got my Katakana name tags too, so that's pretty sweet.

Just remember to have a good week with a positive attitude.  Always remember your Father in Heaven and your parents, especially your mom, loves you with all of their hearts.

sayonara  さよなら

Elder Halverson, Elder Walker and Elder Brooks

BTown Strong

 

 

New Tags

Note:

"Cubbies are taking it all just because of the Back to the Future movie.  It was predicted, so it is destined to happen."

On leaving with his group Monday: "No, I forgot to add that...I have to stay another two weeks, then fly out.  The worry was that I would break it there and then have to come back for surgery.  I have a follow up appointment on the 21st to be cleared to fly out.  It is all good.  I'm just like the old fashioned missionaries that had to stay for 12 weeks.  I'll be better at nihongo after this anyway."

 

Learning from the Doctor, he wouldn't be cleared to fly:  "When I got the news, I was really sad.  In fact, I started to cry a little bit just because I wanted to go to Japan so bad and get out of here.  But I think I've come to terms with it and I know that it's for the better.  No matter how hard it might be.  The foot is tender, I still have to use the boot.  I have to be very cautious.  The Doc did say that I had made great progress.  It was just a precaution. "

Seeing Larsen Brooks:  "I see him quite often around the MTC. Unfortunately, we are not in the same building."

Will he be alone at the MTC after Monday?:  "There is another Elder with a medical condition that has to stay here in the MTC longer.  He and I will probably be companions for the two weeks I have to stay."

I gave away all of your hoodies:  "Funny Mom, very funny."



 

October 1, 2015

Life at the MTC and Cold Cereal

So the update on my foot is this:  Yesterday I went to the outside world to visit the doctor for a follow up appointment.  I got another x-ray and it showed that I am making really great progress on the healing of my foot.  The x-ray showed that the bones in my foot are starting to reattach.  He said that I am right on track, maybe even a little ahead of schedule.  I still can not walk on it, but I have another check up a week from today to see if I'll be cleared to go to Japan when scheduled.  Also it's interesting thing that I might be cleared to walk onto the plane in a walking boot. Ha Ha That will be a sight.  If I'm not cleared I'll be delayed just a week to do some rehab and then fly to Japan most likely by myself.  Flyin' solo.

 This week has been really good.  Yesterday my comp and I got to Skype a 日本人 (Japanese person) and basically have FHE with him.  We shared with him a message about family and then he told us that he was preparing to serve a mission.  We talked with him about how much fun it is to serve and how he should be really excited to serve the people where ever he goes.  He was a really cool person and he also told us that the Japanese people are waiting for us to get there and share with them the message of Jesus Christ.  All of this has got my really excited for Japan, especially this story that my teacher, Crandall Kyodai, shared with us about Japan.

He said that on his mission he was able to be apart of the rededication of the Japan Tokyo South Mission (日本南電動某）In the exact spot that the nation of Japan was dedicated for missionary work back on August 12, 1901. (the same day I came to the MTC)  In the dedicatory prayer, Heber J. Grant said that Japan would be the example and gateway for all missionary work in the world.  Especially the Asian countries.  Sixty years later Hugh B. Brown said in an address to missionaries that in their life time they would see a person of Asian decent become an Apostle of the lord.  I'd like to add that Holland said in a talk one time, God really does love his people in Asian countries, because if he didn't he wouldn't have made so many of them. haha  This conference is special because its been 100 years since 3 apostles have passed away in between conferences.  I know you're not supposed to make bets on who will be called, but I really bank on the fact that it will be someone of Asian decent.  I am just really excited for this years conference.

Funny story from this week is that the elders in my district decided to do the tower challenge.  Which is to eat all of the cereal in the tower in one sitting.  We did it.

 

Notes:

The devotionals are really quite amazing honestly.  We get a General Authority every Tuesday and sometimes on Sunday as well.  I learn a lot that i write down in my journals.

 

When I pressed him to take a disposable phone to the airport.  " It's just cause I want to be obedient.  Because they have asked me to not have a phone at the airport.  It will work out when the time rolls around.  We will cross that bridge when it comes."

"I like speaking Japanese.  IDK what it is but it is awesome."

 

 

Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 10:51 AM

NO FEAR

I want to tell a little story to start this letter off about the importance of not having fear in your heart.  Fear is one the of the devil's most powerful tools he can use against anyone in this world.  On Monday I was feeling good with the language.  I was feeling I could communicate well with my 求道者 （investigators) with just about anything gospel related. With the exception that I had to look up a word every now and then.  So I was feeling pretty good about myself.  Then my 先生（teacher) started to speak in straight Japanese about his classes he was taking and he wanted a life again because school had started for him.  He was talking so fast and about something I had completely no idea about.  I was just thinking if this is how NIhonjin (日本人, Japanese People) talk then I'm in for a rough ride.  After that I was feeling like "How in the world am i going to do this"?  I was trying to study Japanese as hard as I could and I felt as if I couldn't learn anything if my life depended on it.  Then a sister in my district said, "Why don't you try to study something you want to that isn't Japanese related for just a short while then continue with Japanese".

I opened up to D&C 67: 1-3  the chapter heading read the Lord hears the prayers of his elders.  I then just started to pray that my fears and inadequacies would be lifted and I could continue to learn the Japanese without these feelings.  I continued to read on and in verses 1-4 it says"

1 Behold and hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together, whose prayers I have heard, and whose hearts I know, and whose desires have come up before me.

 2 Behold and lo, mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in mine hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give.

3 Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive.

4 And now I, the Lord, give unto you a testimony of the truth of these commandments which are lying before you.

After I read that I felt like I could get up and run around because I was so happy.  But I didn't because of my foot.  The rest of the day was a good one, I no longer had the "dark cloud" over my head.

I just want to tell you that the Lord does hear your prayers and he will answer them after trials of faith.  Also nothing is impossible with God if you have faith!

 Speaking about faith, which is also a key component in learning Japanese, Ether 12 is a great chapter about faith.  All over in the B.o.M. it talks about trails of faith and through the power of the Holy Ghost they could accomplish many and great things.  But in Ether 12, it gives a list of examples of these great things being done after the incredible trail of faith.

12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.

Then it goes on latter to say

13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.

 14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

 15 Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.

16 Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.

Really just long story, but continue in faith.  The Lord has a plan for all of us.  When we left His presence in heaven, He showed us the path and said I'll see you at the end of the road but He didn't leave us alone.  He gave us the Holy Ghost to guide us down the path and we need to have faith thru our trials that we will be guided and make it to the end of the path.  CONTINUE IN FAITH, all will be well with the world.  Also, Thank you both, the Dahl's and Halverson's for all the food!

さようなら ー ハルバソン 長老

Notes from Pam: 

Elder Halverson 

- goes back to the doctor on September 30th and is hoping to be able to put weight on his foot. 

"the foot feels great, I don't feel much pain at all.  I'm so incredibly anxious for the 30th when I can get it off and walk around maybe. The 5th metatarsal at the top is broken."

- sent a list of items he needs taken care of before departing for Sendai.  I take that as a good sign that they are planning on him leaving with his group. 

- can't work out.  At the MTC, the gym is in the basement and they do not have elevators.  

- had been attending choir practice, but stopped because there was no room for his legs, boot and scooter.  "Yea choir is hard to go to because of the foot and also the uncomfortable seats and no leg room.  Every so often I do go choir."

- took the picture at the temple.  "I did take that photo, probably the best photo I've taken in my whole life!" haha

- Syd's hair color.  "What why??????"

- cleaning out his room.  "It depends on what stuff it is haha.  Can't throw it all way until I say so!"

Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 10:51 AM

Birthday Week

It was my birthday this week and it was really fun.  The sisters in my district decided to decorate the room with all sorts of stuff they found around the MTC.  There were tons of candy and all sorts of different decorations and such. It was really fun.  They sang "Happy Birthday" to me as I scooted into the classroom, but sadly they were somehow not allowed to decorate the room so I had about 15 minutes of birthday here.  Oh also, thanks for the cake, Mom!  Even though it said "ELDER HAVLERSON" on it, it was still a really oishii cake.  And that night I had another 15 minute birthday eating cake before we had to go to bed.  #MissionLife

I got transferred to another comp. My 3rd comp in 5 weeks at the MTC.  Nearly everyone at the MTC only has 1 comp the whole time... well I've had three. The new one is named Elder Hogan. He is from Virginia and he is the guy who got the 35 on the ACT. And he loves to sing a lot... and he isn't the best at singing. So right now I want to say I'm sorry for my singing because I now realize that bad singing isn't the best when its nonstop, ha ha. I still love Elder Hogan though. He is a really cool guy and yet again I've got something to learn from this new comp

Now for the Minor news:

On Friday last week, I broke my foot playing basketball.  It is a 5th metatarsal bone that I broke.  I have gym the first thing in the morning so we woke up early to get there and start playing.  So we got there and we said the prayer and I went over to start playing. We were playing elimination and I missed my first shot and ran to go get it. I jumped up for the lay up and came down and landed on my old comps foot.  Rolled my ankle and it continued to roll and I felt a pop in my foot.  ha ha pretty awesome right? Not.  I got to the doctor and they x-rayed my foot and tell me i cracked it at the head of the bone which is really fortunate because its only a 5-6 week recovery.  He also said I might be able to walk around with a brace after a check up on the 30th of September.  So now I have a scooter and I scoot around everywhere at the MTC.  The weird/cool/unfortunate/fortunate thing is that I broke it with 5 weeks left so more than likely I'll be in a boot right up until I leave for Japan on the 12th of October.  

BEN FOWERS, I think I have the same type of injury that you had just before baseball. I look just like you with the scooter and foot in a boot.

I set a goal for myself that I will walk onto the plane on October 12th, so I am doing all that I can.  Including having faith in Heavenly Father that I will be able to fulfill his plan for me, whether it be by working in the vineyard (MTC) a little longer and then receiving my penny for the work and not complaining that I didn't get it sooner, because its all a part of the plan to have me be more prepared to finally go to Japan.  Going to Japan is the penny we all get. It's just the difference of how long I have to work to get the penny.  Just like in Jacob 5, the parable of the vineyard.  We watched a video about the parable of the vineyard and it really showed me that we need to have patience in what we do and have faith in Heavenly Father.

'Til next week. Love you all 

Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 1:01 PM

This week has been a series of ups and downs. Probably the biggest thing I realized was humility was a huge part of being a missionary. Monday we have a thing called a TRC, which is basically like FHE, and all day I had been feeling pretty good with the language. I went into the first of two TRCs and I couldn't say anything. It felt as if I had my tongue tied and was unable to say anything. It was awful really. Thankfully, the guy we were teaching was a really nice guy and was helping us when we were both obviously struggling. I left that lesson just thinking, "This sucks. I can never learn the language and speak from the heart."  I was really kinda in the dumps. We went into the second one and my teacher told me how he loved this guy and he is one of his favorite people he had ever met. My comp and I went into the lesson and we are still trying to speak to him in Japanese and it was still a struggle. Then he stopped us and started to teach us. Normally, we are supposed to teach the people by the spirit, but this wasn't the case. This guy was teaching us through the spirit. Turns out, this guy is a return missionary that went to Sapporo and now he teaches Japanese at BYU. He started to talk about how we should never really worry too much about the language even though it's going to be hard. He told us about how Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love us so dearly and to never forget that fact because he will never stop loving us. This whole time he was speaking Japanese and I could understand him. It was definitely an amazing thing to have the spirit teach us and testify to me the importance of God's love and what he does for us on a daily basis.

Sorry for the shortness of this email. I forgot to draft one this week and this story has been the only thing that has stuck out to me all week. Just wanted to let you know that I love you all and remember to read the scriptures and pray always.

ミチャル T ハルバソン Mitchell T Halverson

Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 11:15 AM

THANK YOU MOM FOR THE KEYBOARD!!!! It makes everything easier to do on my iPad - notes, emails, everything. Thank you so much for this. And sorry if there are a lot of spelling errors in this email because I'm writing it with my keyboard and my hands are a little to big for the small keys haha, but its all good. Thanks again!! It really is a blessing.

It has been an average week for me here. I'm getting into the swing of things here at the MTC. I don't know why some people hate the MTC so much. It's really kinda nice here. You don't have to worry about anything really. All the food is free. Although the food is becoming less and less appetizing. You can only have enough mass produced meals everyday. For example, I loved biscuits and gravy at home and now I can not stand it here. Especially cause they serve it every morning and the biscuits are nearly rock hard. I'm pretty sure that they make them and let them sit in the open for hours on end so the biscuits become rocks. But when Sunday rolls around the food here is amazing, only because all of the branch presidency from all the zones here at the MTC. Sundays are still the best because of the good food, the temple walk, relaxed, sacrament, Sunday night Devo, and we get to watch a movie (usually a member of the Quorum of the Twelve gives a talk). Not an actual movie, it would be nice however to watch a disney movie or Star Wars.

BTW, when my district and I have down time we usually talk about Star Wars and how excited we are for Star Wars 7. And we all changed our names on our iPads to Star Wars characters names.

Our Senpai left for Japan early Monday morning which was really sad because I was just starting to get close with all of those amazing elders and sisters. Luckly some are going to Sendai. When we were saying good bye the ones going to Sendai just kept saying see you in 6 weeks. Now it's really quite quiet in the residence halls. But on a brighter note there is no longer a big line for the showers anymore. Which is a blessing and a half, because you get to take longer showers without anyone waiting on you to finish. The other Japanese zone that we share the residence hall (they are going to Nagoya and Kobe) got 40!! 40 Kohai (newbies basically) and they are all going to Nagoya and Kobe. I asked one of my sensai how many people where in his zone when he was a missionary (which was just 3 years ago) and their were 6 maybe 7 total missionaries in his district and maybe 30 missionaries in his zone. To compare, there are 35 of us missionaries when the Senpai left for Japan and before, we had close to 70 missionaries. That is absolutely insane. We were double his mission in total numbers. The lord is really hastening his work on the Asian continent, especially in Japan.

In Jacob 5, my sensei made the allegory to the prophet (servant) continually asking for more time in the Vineyard to see if the crops and branches would grow after being grafted and such. Then the servant finally asks his master (the lord) for more strength or help in his vineyard. The prophet finally asked for help instead of more time here on the earth. The second coming is near and prophets have been asking for more time to do his work on the earth. And about 3 years ago Thomas S. Monson finally asked for more help here on the earth. and that is when the Lord instructed him to make the missionary age change and give every missionary iPads so that the work can be hastened on the earth. Since the age change, missionary numbers have spiked from about 55,000 to nearly 90,000 missionaries out in the field. I was reading in D&C and at the end of every chapter it kept saying that "Behold I come Quickly. Even so. Amen." It is an amazing time to be a missionary and I am more than excited to finally go to Nihon.

The MTC is great because of the experiences you can have here that you can never have really at any other place in the world. On Tuesday, DALLIN H OAKS came to the MTC and spoke to us about the importance of PMG. It was broadcasted to all the other MTCs in the world. I'm going to send you my notes from the Devo. I've never typed so fast in my life, hahaha. I was writing down everything he was saying basically. At the end of the Devo, when he stood up, we all stood up and he waved to the whole crowd, everyone waved back. But it was honestly like he was waving at just me. Probably one of the coolest and most spiritual experiences I have ever been a part of. Well, 'til next week, love you
all!!!!

Thu, Aug 27, 2015 at 12:48 PM

Interesting story to start off this email. I keep on seeing people that I recognize and strangely enough the majority of the kids I see look like max. Hahah there are like 15 kids that look like max here at the MTC. Um there are a few kids that look like Easter island heads or handsome squidward hahaha it makes my day a little bit when I see those missionaries.

All the other missionaries in my district are getting sick and I'm the lone survivor. Which was really nice because me and another elder from my district were able to get one on one with the teacher for like 3 hours, it was really nice because I really need sentence structure with my sensei. It's just a process to learn this language, I might come the next day or the day after that. The MTC is a Petri dish, there are illnesses that have been swimming around here since the 80's.

On Tuesday, all the other missionaries from Bountiful that came in on the same day as me left for their missions.... Kinda sad but that's all good haha I need all the time I can et to learn this language. I'm starting to like the MTC. It's not as bad as most people make it sound, added bonus is that my district is the best.. Every morning we go play bball in the gym. It's the best and don't worry I'm still studying a whole lot!!

Oh btw I got transferred which is very rare in the MTC. My new companion couldn't stand his old one or something them there was a switch and now my new companion is elder packer from Draper, UT. I like him because we can relate with just about anything cause we played the sports same sports in high school. It's really nice because we both plan the lesson and ideas and Japanese are a lot easier to plan and teach the lesson. The gift of tongues is a real thing in can understand and talk in Japanese when we teach the lessons to our "investigators." It's great stuff.

Funny story of the week, during the devotional some elder airdropped Elder Fono (an elder on my district) some Katy perry, Taylor swift, and b.o.b songs! And a couple times during the week he asked Siri to read the note! HAha if you want a good laugh copy and paste a song from the Internet and put it in a note, then have Siri read it to you. It is the best stress reliever in the MTC.

Missionaries are doctors of the soul:
When we go to teach people we don't want to throw all this information our investigators, we need to cater to there needs. Become friends with the person, Ask questions to get to know the Just like a doctor! Doctors don't just go in and take one look and say you need to take this drug twice a day and the visit lasts five minutes, the doctor will cater to those needs of the patient/investigator saying where does it hurt, how bad does it hurt, and then prescribes mess to the patient after figuring out what is really needed. Thank you for all the letter and food haha the people in my district have really enjoyed them!! Thanks again! Two cool phrases I learned from the senpi (missionaries that have been
here longer)

My District

me and my new companion with junichi who is from Nihon
(Japan)that helps us with the language and teaching the nihonjin
(Japanese people)

Bakuhatsu shitte kudasai - please explode
Painto de kataku iku - go hard in the paint