July 30, 2013

2 more weeks until winter!

I cannot believe I only have 2 weeks left here at the ccm. It is going by so fast. And I have so much more to learn!

Oh and they just told me that I have to learn 2 languages instead of just one! How crazy is that! We are learning Spanish and the language of the spirit.

Both are absolutely essential in talking to Chileans about the gospel.

Both are coming along just fine thanks for asking (I’m sure you would ask me if this was a face to face conversation)

I am now speaking Spanish 93% of the time.

This week we had an amazing lesson with an investor named Renne. We just explained a little about the restoration and the book of Mormon and what blessing we can receive in this life and in the life to come. The spirit directed me to talk about eternal families so I did and the spirit came upon all of us like a punch in the face. I am so glad for the knowledge that we in this gospel have. I love you family and I am glad that I can be with you forever. I am also so glad that I can help others come to that knowledge. Giving people that hope and knowledge is a wonderful sight to behold.

I want to talk about the atonement a little bit because I have been studying it a lot this week. The more I study and the more I try to comprehend it the more I am just in awe of the love Jesus has for us. And even more so, the love of our Heavenly Father.

It is amazing to me that God knows us perfectly, our faults and our weaknesses and still loves us perfectly. There is nothing about us that he doesn’t know...and he is still willing to love us hear our prayers and help us. He does not condemn us because of our sins, instead he fights for us. He is on our side. He is our advocate (D&C 45: 3-5 I think)

Through the atonement we have hope. We can one day be perfect. But we have to work for that. True we need grace, but we also need action on our parts. "Repentance is hope, and there is no fear in becoming clean" Scott

I have learned that it is so essential to keep looking towards and striving for the lord daily. I need  keep repenting and  keep improving until that day when the Lord my savior will take me by the hand and say to me " well done they good and faithful servant, come into my rest"

Words cannot describe how excited I am for that day.

BUT today is not a day of rest. It is a day of ACTION. And we all need to take action.

I love being a missionary. I don’t like wearing clothes, I don’t like waking up early but that’s not was a missionary is, that just what we do. We are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. And every day we strive to be like him "feeling as he feels, teaching as he taught, and loving as he loves"

I have come to the realization that our lives are miracles. The greatest miracle of all. But just like any other miracle we will not recognize it or realize it until you truly believe and have faith in the one that provided the miracle. Brothers and sisters have faith and see the miracle that is your life.

John 14 is great. It is such a comfort to me that I am not alone. Ever. (I’m not alone ever anyway because I have a companion that follows me EVERYWHERE...but you get the point)

 There are so many great promises and doctrines in that chapter.

"That where I am, there ye may be also"

"I am the way the truth and the light"

"If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it"

"I will not leave you comfortless"

"I am in the father, and he in me, and I in you"

"Peace I leave with you"

 Never forget that the lord is not far away.

Never forget your potential. Alma 26:12 "for in his strength I can do all things"

This week my companion and I sat with some Latinos at lunch... and for somereason they had a particular intrest in me. The thought I was someone famous. First they asked what TV show I was in. I said I wasn’t on TV. They then asked what movie I was in instead. I tried to explain I wasn’t an actor. They then asked me if I was a singer (in a band like one direction) and I said no... My hair isn’t grand enough be in one direction. They concluded that I had to be a model in the strength of youth pamphlet or in the ensign or something. I don’t understand.

I love you all and miss you only a little bit. (I’m really busy)

Just kidding I think about you all the time. Every morning along with whatever they make I have a bowl of fruit loop (Mychal's favorite)

 Every time there is food I don’t like for a meal I think "WHY IS THERE NO FOOD IN THIS HOUSE" quote McKay. (Even though there’s plenty of food)

I see the sister missionaries and think of Taylor. And how marvelous of a missionary she would be. And every time I am having fun I just I just want you there with me.

I think of Cayleb all the time because I act like him. Oh and I climbed a tree.

Love you family!

Some favorite quotes and they could also go on the plaque if you deem it necessary. I don’t care much I’m not going to see it for 2 years.

"Come to the full thrill of the church"--Holland

"I know Christ lives, because I know Him"--Scott

"Tool up"--Nelson

Oh and Taylor I have some advice. Someone asked during a devotional, "What should we do if we hit a speed bump in our language learning?"

Our wise President Pratt (who is a direct descendant of Parley P. Pratt. he’s great) said, "Do what I do when I’m driving, hit the gas and go full speed ahead"

"Curiosity may have killed the cat but it will help you learn Spanish faster"

 Pres. Pratt

And with those words of wisdom I bid you all and good week.

July 23, 2013

(Just to remind everyone, you can mail Elder Stewart letters and care packages AND you can also email him! Send Sayre an email just to tell him hey. Its  sayre.stewart@myldsmail.net)

This Guy.

 

Creeping on  the taco shop

Safety circle.. not sure why but they are all over the ccm campus.. I think they are just in case a sea bear attacks

Latino Elders leaving for their missions! they only have to be there for 2 weeks

Missionary duck face..classic

Temple trip number 2 (got in trouble in this picture because apparently you are not supposed to take a picture with only another girl in it..good thing there was 2 photo bombers...)

HALF WAY DONE! At the CCM

Well there goes another week. Man half way done already? Really; three more weeks until Chile? I CANT WAIT

Yesterday we watched our Latino roommates leave to go out to missions (Elder Gonzalez and Elder Poloma)   the night before they left we stayed up taking with them (later then I should have) and one of them told us his life story and it is amazing.

Elder Gonzalez was born in Mexico but when He was three his parents snuck across the border and ended up in Utah. His parents used to hide from the missionaries (which are pretty understandable for illegal immigrants to hide from men in a suit and tie coming up to your house) but soon accepted the discussions and got baptized. Elder Gonzalez never did though because he was a teenager at the time and wanted to live his life.

One day he got a heavy speeding ticket and the cop asked for his papers... and he didn't have them so he went to jail for three months then they shipped him to Mexico!

This guy’s barely spoke Spanish and he has lived in America his whole life!

Anyway his cell mate for those three months was Mormon (who obviously made some bad choices) and made him go to church classes while in jail. He was converted then. Once shipped to Mexico he lived with a lot of distant family but then moved in with a friend’s family who was LDS. There he decided to go on a mission. And now he is preaching the truth to the world!

It is amazing to see how the lord works through people. Sometimes what seems like a horrible thing turns into a blessing. In America he probably would have never been converted. And he couldn't have gone on a mission because he wasn't a legal citizen. But he feels so privileged and blessed for all of the trials he went through.

Mom thanks so much for that tide pen I have used it countless times (I can’t even count how many times. And I also can’t count very well in Spanish) but the whole ccm thanks you as well because I think the whole place has used it at least one time haha.

During our gym time last week it was raining. Hard. I’m pretty sure it was a hurricane. Everybody was going inside and being boring and I just wasn't going to have that, so a couple of us started a volley ball game outside in the rain. The sand pit was more like a lake and the ball hurt so bad when you hit it because of the mud but it was all worth it. Towards the end of the game it turned into a mud fight and by the end of gym we were all drenched in mud and water.

I’m pretty sure all the mosquitoes in the universe decided to have a house party in my room last night. I put on bug stray but my companion was not as lucky. One of his arms looks like he has chicken pox. I guess one of our roommates kept the door open all night and the smell of our blood attracted mosquitoes from miles. In the morning during their after party in my closet, we had our revenge and massacred them all.

This past week has really been a good one. My faith and testimony in this work has grown so much.

 AND the book of Mormon is true. I know it with all my heart. I want so much for everyone else to know it as well and they can if they just read and ask the lord through prayer, with a sincere heart and real intent, having faith in Christ you can know of the truth. That is a promise. Everyone who is reading this, whether you already have a testimony of the book of Mormon or not. Read it (or read it again)

You have nothing to lose, and an eternity of happiness to gain.

This gospel is true. And it is so wonderful. I have such a stronger relationship with Christ than ever before. He knows me, and I am striving to be like him. And he is not far away from any of us.

I love you and miss you all. But I am also glad to be here...so I don’t know where that put us.

"The purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good, good men better, and change human nature" David o McKay

July 16, 2013

(Sayre gave us the corrected  address to mail letters and/or whatever you want to send him. This is it!)

Here is the address to the ccm. It takes about 5 or so days for mail to come in.

Carr Tenaguca-Chalmita no. 828

Col. Zona Escolar, deleg. G.A. Madero

C.P. 07230, Mexico, D.F. Mexico

Any way I am doing wonderful. Mexico City is awesome. There weather is pretty bi polar though. It was a perfect day, and then in a matter of seconds we have a monster hail storm. People were running, screaming, companion ships split to find shelter... flooding in the streets...pretty much the second coming for 5 minutes. And then it was perfect weather again.

The food here is hard to describe, I feel like I’m stuck in limbo between Mexican food and American, sometimes the food is authentic and delicious...and then the next time we are eating microwaved corn dogs and pudding for breakfast. The worst though is the hot dog potato soup...yes... it is exactly what it sounds like.

As a missionary I have found that I get excited over the weirdest things...oatmeal for breakfast, service projects, Tuesday devotionals, really cool cloud formations. It’s quite bizarre.

I don’t think I have eaten so many melons in my life. Every meal we eat MELONS. I think I’m going crazy. But they are good.

In general ccm life is going great! I love the work, the language is coming but it is still frustrating at times, and my district is great. My companion, Elder Lake is way cool too. He is from bountiful Utah.

Outside of our bedroom window we have a great view of outside the wall. And of a taco shop. I want those tacos so bad. During those days where we have nasty cut up hot dog and potato soup the taco shop tempts me with its fresh aroma. Our plan it to befriend the security guards, that are stationed by the gate and then see if they will get us some.

Our dorm room is very nice. except the bathroom lights, it takes like 10 seconds for them to turn on so at night  I feel like I am in a horror movie when I need to go to the bathroom. For those couple seconds of strobe light terror I feel that someone is going to jump out at me. But then I realize that I’m on a mission and I’m fine.

Because our room is right next to the road all night long cop cars drive by with their sirens on and their lights flashing. Every night it feels like a dance party in my room without any music, but I don’t mind. What I do mind is the fireworks that go on all night. Seriously where do all of these people get so many fireworks? And where can I get them?

More missionaries came in last Tuesday and even more today and tomorrow. This place is getting so crowded. It is really cool so see so many missionaries, but the lunch room can only hold so many.

I met another gymnast! (He is actually sitting next to me as I’m writing this so it would be awkward if he knew I was talking about him haha)

 He trained at AZ flairs in Phx and he has the coolest story

 His junior year he was way good at gymnastics. He made it to nationals and won floor! And NATIONAL. After that he was getting all of these crazy scholarships and the Olympic team even contacted him. They invited him to train with them but he would have to leave home and stop going to school for 2 years. He thought about it and prayed and turned down the Olympic team. His AZ flairs coach was so mad at him that he turned down the team he was kicked out of the gym.

Wow.

He does not regret anything and he is as happy as can be to serve a mission for the Lord.

He is also way smart and loves music. He got accepted into Julliard and is going to go study there after his mission.

 I love you all and I am glad to hear from you. Keep sending me emails. And tell Taylor to write me. Jerk.

It is great to hear that everyone is okay and doing wonderful.

And I am SOO excited for Ryan! I had one tear come out of my eye when I read it... only one...

Stay strong, pray always and never forget the power of truth.

“I know Christ lives, because I know Him" Richard G Scott

 Everyone can email Sayre here! sayre.stewart@myldsmail.net

I bet you thought I forgot to write you... SIKE our p days our Tuesday. Man has it only been a week? It feels like I have been here for sooo long! But in a good way. I’m loving it here in Mexico City, weather is beautiful all the time and this ccm is HUGE... the church has 90 scres of property that is gated off from the world. Our mission president, President Pratt calls it a pocket of heaven in the middle of Mexico City and it really is. . they have a full track, basketball courts inside and out, a full soccer field, a mini forest, full houses (where the leaders and teachers live) a gym, and beach volley ball, and a small  store. It’s awesome. Granted I’m in the classroom the majority of the day learning. I live in dorms on the campus which has a beautiful view of the mountains and the city as well. right now I am only living with 4 guys but tomorrow a set of Latino elders are going to be living with us and I am so excited because that will help my Spanish so much.

So the ccm officially opened a week before I got there, but it only opened to people in Mexico, so we were the first group of missionaries from America to get here. There are only about 100 or so of us gringos and the rest are from Mexico and other parts of south and Central America. Even though half the time I don’t know what anyone is saying I love it. The Latino elders are so much fun.

one night we heard singing, so we went outside and there was a big bunch of elders screaming hymns at the top of their lungs, so I did the only thing I could, I got my Spanish hymn book and ran in the middle of the group and shouted  "que pagina!!!" ( What page?) They all laughed and showed me what song. We ended up singing and messing around passed "quit time" and the mission president drove up to shut us up.. We all scattered and crawled back to our dorms.

The ccm is trying this new thing that they don’t speak any English to us in any of the classes. Seriously, the whole day is 99% Spanish 1% English but it is working I already know so much, the lord is truly helping all of us learn Spanish. There is no way 18 to 20 year olds can pick up Spanish this fast. I am doing so great in Spanish. It is unbelievable how fast it is coming. Truly a blessing.

 I have already taught 3 lessons in Spanish to an investigator names Miguel.  Half the time I don’t know what he is saying so you really have to rely on the lord on what to say next. But it works! If you humble yourself and rely on your faith the lord and work miracles through you. I have already seen it in the short time that I have been here.

My district is great! Even though pretty much every gringo here is from Utah. We have 3 Hermana’s and 7 other elders and we have a blast together. Most of the people in my district are going to Chile too! Except 1 Hermana is going to Ecuador and another to phx Spanish speaking.

After 2 days at the ccm we met our district leader. His name is president De Hoyos and he is such a jolly fellow. Always a smile on his face.. Almost like a young Latino Santa Claus. But we called me in after everyone left and asked if I would be the district leader. WHAT!?! So I am now the district leader for district 5! It is a little bit more pressure but who the Lord calls he qualifies.

I am so sun burnt. My face looks like a tomato. For our gym time we started a game of beach volley ball with the Latino elders and it got crazy intense. I thought I wouldn’t need sun screen but I was wrong, it was all worth it in the end because my team won. No big deal.

 Today we went to the temple in Mexico City and it was awesome. The temple is huge beautiful with all these Aztec designs everywhere. And we did everything in Spanish. I was such a great experience to go through the temple in a different language. Getting there was a nightmare though. It took about 30 min but people in Mexico City drive like MAD MEN. No joke we almost died at least 17 times, I counted.

I miss every one and I love you. I don’t know the address of the ccm but just look it up online. I’m glad to know everyone is doing well and that’s great to hear about western New Mexico!

Please tell everyone they can e mail me on this email. It is not just restricted to family.

This whole mission thing is great. And I am loving every minute of it.

I love you

Keep me posted on family and friends.. I will be able to write more next week but due to email issues I was short some time.