LEAVING EARLY!!!

This week was a good one! 

On Sunday we were given the exciting news that some of us will be leaving for the Manila MTC on September 3rd! 10 DAYS!! I'm super excited because things in the MTC get super repetitive and I'm ready to shake things up a bit. The reason we are going early is because there are so many Philippines missionaries and only a certain number of visas can be accepted at a time, so lucky people like me get to go a couple of weeks early. We'll spend an extra week at the Manila MTC, so I'll be there for 12 days! Meaning in about 3 weeks I'll be in the field!!! 

On Saturdays, instead of having a night class, we have it in the morning instead, so we have a lot of time to chill in the evening. My district and I started a weekly "Family Home Evening" on Saturday nights, where we get our studies done early and for the last hour of chill time, we sit in a circle out on the grass - and thanks to my awesome sister and parents who hooked me up with an ipod nano and a speaker full of hundreds of church songs - we jam out to some spiritual songs and eat a lot of snacks and talk! Haha it's seriously the best time and it reminds me of talking to my friends and family, because that has been what my district has become to me. They're seriously so awesome!

On Tuesday Elder Christofferson came to the MTC and talked about the recent statement made from President Nelson that we are not "Mormons" or "LDS", but members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He emphasized that this is not a name change, but a course correction on previous mistakes. He also said that President Nelson received revelation that the Lord is not pleased with us for not addressing ourselves correctly, regarding The Church. This makes perfect since to me, because I don't wear Mormon's name over my heart everyday, but rather the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It was also cool because I was probably about 20 feet to the left of Elder Christofferson, front row, as he addressed this vital message.

Wednesday was a great day because ELDER MURDOCK came! Hahaha... I was so happy and eager to see him because I talked to this super cool guy in the branch presidency who happens to have lived in Kaysville. He told me there was another elder from Kaysville coming, and then I told him that he's one of my best friends. I asked him where he will be staying, and it turned out that he is in my hall! It was so good to see Jake and talk to him!!

I miss you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Wolferts

PICS:

Goodbye to Elder Jensen :-/

Elder Murdock!!!

Elder Linton needed to get a new retainer, so we got to go into the "real world" and get SLUSHIES!

Elders from Davis High School!

MTC LIVIN'

Each day here seems to go by kind of slow, but then when I look back at things it seems like last p-day was only a couple days ago! I finally consider myself fully adjusted to the MTC. This week my companion Elder Linton and I have really become best friends! We both told each other that there's no one in the district that we'd rather have as companions! Which is saying something because my district is so awesome! We're all super close and love to laugh with each other! 

A couple funny stories that happened this week: There's this super funny elder who's Samoan named Elder Kamiti! This guy is a nut job haha! He's got all these nerf guns he brought and he'll always find opportunities to shoot you with them! He doesn't speak very good English, but we love him and he is so funny to talk to. Anyways, one night while we're getting ready for bed, he pops his head in our door and points at me and says, "Can I pop back?" At the moment my back could use a good crack, so I agreed. He ends up doing this 5 minute massage on my back and then tells me to breathe in, and then when he says breathe out, he pushes down on my back and the LOUDEST series of cracks follow. Everyone who was watching was like "Oooohhh... Dang! are you alright?!" But it felt so good haha! 

Also this same Elder and another Samoan Elder came into our room last night and jumped up on Elder Browning's bed, who rooms with us, and together they sandwich hugged him! He was like, "Get off me!" and they were both like, "Whhaattt, do you not like oreos?" Hahaha... I was laughing super hard and my companion got a vid of it!

Now time for the spiritual stuff! On Wednesday we were reading about how the Gospel Blesses Families in PMG. We read it as a district in class and it is stuff that I've heard a bunch, but never in my life have I felt the spirit testify of the truth of it as it did when we read that short passage. I kept looking back at the words trying to see if there was something that I hadn't picked up the first time, but it was all fairly basic things that I've been taught all my life. While I was overwhelmed with the spirit, I couldn't help but think that this was going to be a life changing concept to the people of the Philippines, as it's clearly already changed my life. I love this gospel and there is no other place on Earth that the Lord would rather have me be.

Love you guys! Love reading your emails! Thanks for all the support!

Elder Trevin Wolferts

Pics: I finally got a camera! Soo this is only 2 days worth so I'll have more next week!

1. Finally, a really good breakfast in the temple cafeteria!

2. Temple trip with Elder Linton

3. Elder Kaden Argyle

4. Davis High School Elders!! Elder Grant and Elder Hinton

NINE DAYS IN!

Hello everyone!! The days of this past week seemed to go by so much faster than the first couple days I was here. I finally have an established missionary schedule and I'm finally breaking out of my bad habits of going to bed late and sleeping in as opposed to the new daily schedule as a missionary, where I'm the first one in bed around 10ish and I get up at 6:30 every morning. 

This week has been a crazy one, but a good one! On Sunday Dallin H Oaks daughter, who is a world class violinist, came to the MTC to perform some spiritual songs with her family -- each plays a different instrument. She also talked to us about overcoming adversary and relying on the Lord. It was super inspiring! Every Sunday night at the MTC we watch a different spiritual video and on Sunday, we watched "Character of Christ" a Christmas hour long talk that Elder Bednar gave at the Provo MTC a couple years ago. Watching it was life changing for me. Holy cow, never have I ever heard a better talk that struck me as hard as this one. He shared examples of how Christ turned outward to help others in the hardest times of his life when the natural man would undoubtedly turn inward and think about himself. He also shared stories of people who have demonstrated this same Christ like love. I'm not sure if it's on YouTube or anything, but if you get the chance you should listen to at least some of it!

Every Tuesday there's a devotional with a special guest and this week it was the General Relief Society President, Jean B Bingham. She talked about patterns in real life and then compared them to patterns in the scriptures such as the pride cycle. I thought it was a good talk, but then after we had a discussion with our district and it was POWERFUL. Somehow people got talking about why they decided to go on a mission and what they are sacrificing to go. One guy said his friend died a couple weeks before his arrival date and he didn't know if he wanted to go on a mission, but he felt as though his friend told him through the Spirit that he has to go. Another guy, who's actually super funny and chill, said his biggest fear about the mission isn't the language or disease, but that his bulimic sister, who's only 15, might take her life because she suffers with severe depression and has verbally talked about suicide multiple times. We testified to him of the Savior's love for him and his little sister and then when we said the prayer, we prayed for one thing and one thing only, and that was that his little sister would be okay and would feel Christ's love for her. 

My district is awesome and everyone has become such good friends with each other. One day I did the thing where you flick your wrist and your finger to make a snapping sound, and then everyone started trying it. Now whenever they see me, they show me how much they've improved (although, usually I hear nothing but the wooshing sound it makes from flicking them so fast and no snapping sound, haha. I'll keep you guys updated on their progress ;) 

Alsooo my companion is way cool! He's 6 foot 4, Tongan, and super funny. We get along really well. BUT he still hasn't sent back his phone haha... we both keep forgetting. He took the battery out and it's only a flip phone but still he should send it back! 

I miss you all so much! I'm super sad that I don't get to see you guys for the next 2 years, BUT I know without a doubt that the Lord would not want me any other place on Earth! This is the true church and the field is white in the Philippines! I can't wait to testify to them of my love for my Savior.

 If you ever want to make my day at the MTC :) my MTC mailing address is:

Elder Trevin Shaun Wolferts

SEP19 PHI-SAN

2005 N 900 E Unit 240

Provo UT 84602

Or there's also this super cool thing where you can send a letter to me through dearelder.com! 

Love and miss you all!

 

Missionary Life Adjustment

Kumusta po kayo?! How's it going? These past couple days have been really long, but the spirit has been so strong! Right when you get dropped off at the MTC, they give you zero time to unpack your things and get settled, but rather throw you straight into a Tagalog lesson. At the time, I was pleading for the transition from Kaysville Utah life to MTC life to slow down, but as I look back on it now it was helpful to get immediately involved in the work to drown out the thoughts of missing family and friends.

My companion is from Saratoga Springs, Utah and he's a really cool guy. He's 6 foot 4 and is a little shy. He gave me a good laugh when right after the opening orientation, he whispered to me and said, "Elder, I made a huge mistake". Confused and curious, I asked him what he did wrong and when we got to a place where only I could hear him, he told me that during the orientation he felt a buzz in his pocket. He felt it and sure enough he still had his phone with him! I told him he should send it back as soon as possible and let someone know and they wouldn't be mad at him as long as he lets them know what's going on. Once we got back to our residence halls he took out the battery and put it at the bottom of his suitcase. He told me he just wouldn't tell anyone and it would be our little secret. Last night we met the branch presidency and while they were talking to us about obeying with exactness, I felt a impressed to tell my companion that he needs to send the phone home even if he knows he won't use it. I promised him that if he sends the phone home that he will be more in tune with the Spirit and will have a feeling of relief. I'm hoping he sends his phone back today, but I guess we'll have to see.

Tagalog has been really hard to learn, but I'm willing to put in the necessary effort to learn the language, and I have faith that the gift of tongues will help me as I stumble through the process of learning a new language. I'm excited for my new adventures as a representative for my loving Savior, Jesus Christ. I know the church is true and this gospel will completely change people's lives, as it has already changed mine. 

Let me know how you guys are doing! I'd love to hear from you!

Elder Wolferts

My companion here at the MTC

An animated video of the "cell phone incident". Produced and created by Jackson Argyle.

My roommates

My good friend, Austin Grant and I are both going to serve in the San Pablo mission.

Great to run into Elder Kaden Argyle

The Time Has Come...

August 1, 2018

The day I've been preparing my whole life for is finally here! I report to the Provo MTC at 1:15 p.m.

My bags are packed.

Heading to the Provo MTC.

My last meal with my family.

My incredible sisters

Sharing a last pizza together

I love to see the temple...

Just 10 minutes before I report to the MTC

I love my family. I am sad my brother, Nathan couldn't  be with us.

Time to say goodbye...

See you all in two years!

Smiling through their tears.

Called to Serve!

I received my call to serve in the Philippines San Pablo mission, speaking Tagalog on April 5, 2018. I couldn't be more excited and eager to be a witness for Jesus Christ and serve the Filipino people.

Soon after receiving my call, I found out that I am one of 14 friends from Davis High and my immediate area that are called to the Philippines, reporting at the MTC during July and August of 2018. My family hosted a get together and photo opportunity for those of us going to serve as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in one of 22 of the various misions in the Philippines. 11 of us were able to come together and get excited to serve our missions and pose for this picture.

May 20, 2018