Time at the MTC slowly Ends

Today is a good day. Today was the first day that it's rained the whole time here at the MTC.  It is my last preparation day here at the MTC. It is also my first time 'Hosting' incoming missionaries--telling them where to go and letting them now that everything is going to be fine (one elder is going to Perth). It was the last time I'd go to the temple for 2 years, and I had a marvelous time (the cafeteria was also very very very good. It feels good to eat something that reminds you of mornings at the counter...and I don't mean cheerios). Today ended my consecration week. But I like to say it didn't. For, I learned stuff this week that I think I'll keep with me for the rest of my mission. For example, I probably wont eat as many sweets. More importantly, I learned stuff at the devotionals that was very insightful in what I need to do to be a better missionary. This week was also the last week being a Zone Leader. I've truly loved the opportunity. I've learned a lot; how to reprove and love, how to be an example always, how to follow the lords plan, how to be hard on yourself and lenient with others, how to listen to the holy ghost. We received 18 new Hungarian missionaries who all have a great desire to serve. I've loved having them ask me questions about everything; I just love helping them. And so, with last minute dry cleaning, final stops to the bookstore and mail-room, and studying as much as I can, I'm ready to go to Albania.

    This week we watched a video of the people speaking....MAN it was fast! I could understand and undisclosed percentage of what they were speaking. One thing that makes me happy is knowing that I'm on the Lords side. I have no regrets here at the MTC. I've been obedient and I know that I'm where the Lord wants me to be. I know that I know the language to the extent possible for me. I feel confident in my reading capabilities and I try to continue to speak it as Consecration week just finished. 

   I have a testimony of testimonies. This week I was asked by a few people to write in departing notebooks my testimony. At first I thought, "what will I write?" But, then I realized that it was a great opportunity to build someone up. I could really say anything I wanted in my writing and it would be with them forever. My note would be unselfish, knowing that I'd never probably see it again, and so, all my thoughts that went through my pen could be directed by the spirit to help the person I was writing testimony to. As I wrote, I felt the spirit, and I felt that what I was writing was true. And so, I say unto you, speak or write the thoughts that God shall surely put into your hearts. Don't be afraid to bear testimony to anyone, or to WRITE a testimony to anyone. Think of old acquaintances, co-workers, old missionary companions, law school chums, dorm buddies, kindergarten playmates, old presidency members, investigators, cousins and grandparents. Written words have much power because they cannot be erased (unless its in pencil or they throw it away). One person I know that is very good at this is Aunt Dianne. I've received over the years cards from her; on my birthday, graduation, and other times. Each one I know was sent with love and I cherish. I know she's told me she cares for me many times, but when it's written it's different. I think she may also get it from her parents who also sent me a package here. It really can make your or someone else's day. I think if the savior were here, he'd write thank you notes and merry Christmas cards (Just think of what the first presidency does for Grandma Bangerter)

   I've learned a lot here at the MTC. Honestly I don't know exactly what, but I think a lot of it is just natural habits and mind set...and language. We only have one investigator now this week named Rafaela. We said goodbye to Mihal last week and it was nice because he accepted a baptismal date. Rafaela is a wife with one daughter who is catholic and goes every week. Mihal is a 'Muslim'. However they both love the lessons because they are new and applicable. The Gospel is for everyone. Every person on earth is a descendant of Adam. I know I love my ancestors, so we need to get everyone to turn their hearts to their fathers, the ancient of days, those men who knew the gospel and would want their descendants to hear it as well. 

  Oh yeah, I ran into Elder Sam Clare here! I don't think I've seen him since we were about 10, but I still recognized him and his Clare smile. It is so fun to run into so many people from many walks of life. I love you all so much. I'm going to miss this rainy beautiful Utah weather, but Albania Here I come!

Love, 

Elder Bangerter

P.S. Ok, these are my travel plans:

Leave SLC for Chicago on Tuesday, April 1 at 10am MDT and arrive 1:15pm MDT. I leave Chigago at 3pm MDT and arrive in Vienna on Wednesday, April 2 at 12:40am MDT. I leave Vienna at 4:45am MDT and arrive in Tirana, Albania at6:20am MDT. In Albania I'll be having a Chinese tootache!

    I guess maybe I speak to you? They haven't told me anything, but if I do I guess it would either be before I leave from SL (10am) or in Chicago (1:15-3pm)

P.P.S. April Fools! I leave on the 2nd

P.P.P.S. Just kidding april fools, its the 1st

P.P.P.P.S. Really it is the first and I'm not kidding, because this is super important

P.P.P.P.P.S Sorry BYU better luck next year, or in two years when I'm back with the rest of our team!

Whistle While you Work

Dear Family,

   This week begins what they call at the MTC "Consecration Week". As a district and personally, we set goals to more fully dedicate ourselves to the work; in a sense paying our tithing on our 10 week stay at the MTC with this one. For example, we are only speaking in Albanian. That's a standard across the MTC. Everybody SYL's during their consecration week (Speak Your Language). Some of my personal goals include 1) no sweets or treats (but only till next Wednesday :) so feel free to send stuff then) 2) I'm wearing only one conservative tie (my ties are all missionary approved, but I get compliments on them all the time...and I want this week to NOT be about me.) 3) taking down all pictures in my room except the one of Christ and the Rich Young Ruler (Again, I love you all, and your'e not distracting in any way[sorry], but I just want to be as focused as possible. They talked a lot about how you give up what means the most to you to show your dedication to the Lord) 4) not reading emails from anyone other than family 5) arriving to all classes 5 minutes early 6) Speaking only Shqip whilst doing all of this! Personally, I'm super excited to see the results of this week.

    One special thing I've come to re-love here at the MTC is music. Like we always say, music skips the mind and goes straight to the heart. I've learned that Heavenly Father touches each of us, through the spirit, in different ways. I'm very grateful that one of the ways for me is through music. First, I've had lots of opportunities to play. Every Sunday I play in sacrament meeting, and I accompanied a couple times for musical numbers. Just a half hour ago I finished accompanying Elder Schramm for the "New Missionaries Devotional" Come Thou Fount. I thorougly enjoyed it! Sister Nally again came up to us and thanked us, and gave me the picture of Dad and her little brother at the LTM. Everybody thinks I know or am related everybody...my excuse, "No, my dad is related to everybody!" Each week I've sung in the choir here. Those meetings are each so special. Our director, Ryan Egget (Isn't there someone who plays for the motab named egget?), is amazing, he tells the greatest stories that go with each song we sing. Honestly, I've had some of the most spiritual experiences in Choir. Yesterday, we sang 'where can I turn for peace" AHHH so good! And then, the closing hymn was 'A Childs Prayer'. I'm grateful for the spirit who talks to me, not only through music, but through tears. Sometimes I wish myself to weep, just so I can have the assurance that I'm feeling the spirit. And so, during that child's prayer, I wept, and I smiled. I was thinking of the subject matter of the talk, the love of our heavenly father for us. I pondered that, and then thought of mom, and the love I feel from here. Thats where the tears hit. Not out of homesickness or sorrow, but just love and appreciation. These continued as I tried to see how our father in heaven loves us more than parents do. It reminded me of when we all sang hark all ye nations the Sunday before I left at the stake center, me and the brothers (mom don't cry) Wow. Music is powerful. It's so powerful that it is what I turn to every morning in the shower, to brighten my day, to start my mind in the right frame...the spirits frame. I whistle, sing "oh what a beautiful morning" as I leave my residence, and "Mr Moon" as I return home. But, the hard part is now singing in Albanian!...but it is still fun.

    I've loved getting to know Elder Squire this week. He is and Elder from Magna who went to Cyprus (didn't grandpa go there, or somewhere close?). He is an athlete. He always has a smile on his face and he is really good at basketball. Yesterday was some hard core ball. The sad part is, he was only half trying and he still makes every 3! I think he is going to play college ball down at Snow. He also is going to Albania.

     Since I am now in a trio, our investigators have changed. And so, our really good investigator, Jonist, was baptized ( I know it's fake, but it still feels really good to know that I found him...fakely), and my other three, Alma and Petrit and Gjerald, also have baptismal dates! The investigators that Elder Outsen and I teach are Mihal and Rafaela. Both are showing interest and love the principles of the restored gospel and the priesthood. It feels really good to teach the same things over and over and over again....cause I know that's what it will be like in the field. Except, they'll be real, and I'll feel a super good connection and love for them.

   My travel plans will arrive here on Friday and We are probably going to leave on April 1. Congrats to the cougars, I hope and pray that we can beat oregon (we shoulda beat them last time) and then wisconsin (them too). And for the record, I picked Wichita St. over Iowa St. in my bracket to take the title (even though we should've beat them both as well) I love you all so much and love hearing the updates. I'd love to see some pictures of the little girls and the two boys. Andrew and Caitlyn, I'll have to send you my bracket for proof and good luck with this last semester, you'll do great bud. Seth, I know I'm on a mission, but I'm still interested in your dating habits...cause I know you have some (Brother Garlick told me) Steven, I hope Seth lets you drive the truck to school cause you have to learn how to drive a stick, I know Joe and I had some fun times driving at 15! Also, remember to get the horseshoe so you can have it with you in high school

Anyway, te dua! Dhe mendoj rreth ju gjithmone. Kujtoni, Perendia ju do, me gjithe zemer e tij. Pafshim!

Love, Elder Bangerter

Looks Good :)

If the Savior Stood Beside Me (Week 6)

Dear Family,

   Thoughts fly through my mind as I try to remember everything that happens here. Again, I thought when I read all of your letters from your missions, that I was understanding what it was like. Well, I know that can't be true because there is no way you can fit everything you feel inside one letter...let alone in 60 minutes. And yet I still found power in all your letters when I was reading them at home. It shows to me that the spirit really can direct our fingers as we type to our families.

    This week I've learned a lot about love. In my study journal, I've made an index in the front that says the different topics contained, and where they are. It has become super helpful to prepare for lessons and such. Out of all the topics I really love all the notes that I've taken on Charity, Love, and Service. 

   Charity is not what we think it is. Often, people couple it with love--rightfully so. However, I was observing in Moroni 7 the things that charity does and doesn't do. I discovered that only one word, kind, had any face value meaning of outwardly helping others. All the other positive effects of Charity-- suffering long, rejoicing in truth, bearing believing and hoping everything, and being perfect--all have to do with changing our relationship with God and truly just changing the inner most parts of ourselves. Steven, I know that right now in your life you have a lot on your plate....and it will get better. I've thought a lot about you and how I loved--and still love--our relationship as brothers. I know that if you develop this sense of Charity--about changing the inside first--then everything else will fall into place. I focus on you because you have not yet served a mission. I know if you learn to master it in your own way, it will make going through High School a lot easier. So...what do we do.

   Well, we must have faith that we can change. We gotta focus on the power of God and that through that power, we can do all things. I think our family motto goes well with bearing, believing, and hoping all things--Enjoy it. Faith truly moves mountains. It is by faith that Nephi and Lehi (sons of Helaman) were freed from prison and all 300 people (who obviously wanted to kill them) around them were converted because they believed! Truly faith has power. I thought I had faith in my life...and I did. But it can grow a WHOLE LOT more. So...what do we do to get that faith.

  Well, we gotta wanna, and this happens when we start acting like it. I've seen that if we just lay back and let ourselves roll with the motions, nothing will really happen. One way I've done this is I've started praying for miracles. Seth gave me this idea. He told of how he would ask the Sisters in his district to look for miracles every day and to then report them to him. Well, I've started to do the same thing, except I report them to the man upstairs (and I don't mean the 3rd floor). For example, one day, unbeknownst to me, I lost my temple checklist from Grandma Bangerter in 19M aka the Gym/Auditorium/2,000 people walk through it after devotionals. I didn't know it was gone until a Sister in my district came to my desk and set it in front of me....and that was just a little one. I've seen missionaries change. I've seen companionships that were...not the best of friends become pretty compatible. Within our own zone we've seen miracles that are just as miraculous as Jesus' miracles in the Bible! I've seen the spirit work on my companion, prompting him to say the right thing at the right time. I've pictured in my mind multiple times the savior sitting in our lesson, council meeting, or classroom and this image has made me want to be that BEST missionary. "If the Savior stood beside me would I do the things I do, would I follow his commandments.....He is always near me though I do not see him there. I know he loves me dearly and I am in his watchful care. SO I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd want to be if I could see the savior standing nigh, watching over me". I've felt the presence of the Holy Ghost in ways that I never have before. The Lord loves his missionaries, and he doesn't want us to fail or falter or feel inadequate. Another miracle I saw was the power of scripture studying. Holy Cow, I know that if we have a REAL question, it really will get answered. I realized, haha, that most of the questions I went to the scriptures with were so simple even a baby could answer it. When I asked those questions, I'd think, "Come on Elder, you already know the answer." And so, I know that when our questions are REAL we can receive real answers, and if we don't have that REAL question...don't worry, just read where you are and I know something will come up. 

   We have about 2-3 more weeks here and its time to roll! I'm working on the language every day, but I know I can do better. I'm so grateful for all the blessings I've received in my education and in church. I'm especially grateful that the spirit can teach languages too! It makes it a lot less daunting. nonetheless...I'm nowhere near I want to be! 

   I love seeing Eliza or Lance von Bracht, or Brother and Sister Sowby or Parrish. All of them give me great comfort to see. 

   Last thought comes from Tuesday Devotional: When you have free time, read the book of mormon (libri i mormonit). Seek ye out of the best books. I know it is great and will do marvels for your day.

Unë di që çdo ditë Perëndia do të tregon dashuria e tij për ne. E Mëndoj për ju, familje time, gjithëmonë. Të lutem, e jep dashuria time të gyshë garlick dhe gyshe bangerter. E dua mëtëcë (MTC). Të dua!

Bir dhe Vëlla juaj,

Elder Bangerter.

Week 5

Dear Family,

   Oh Claire, I am so excited for your little family! I can't believe that when I come home it (I don't know who all knows) will be walking and talking! 

   This week I've seen a lot of growth. Ever since March 1 hit, my shoku and I have the goal of only po flasim vëtëm shqip (Speaking only in Albanian). It can be very difficult at times but we seem to always get what we want to say across. Honestly, now sometimes when I pray I think in Albanian. Weird, I always that that kinda stuff happened in movies! March 1st was our goal because it is one month before we leave to Albania. Speaking of Albania, they are about to have a major change in the history of the church come Saturday and Sunday! They are GETTING A STAKE! The First Stake of Albania. It is so exciting, especially because our teachers are excited about it! The work is moving forward at an awesome speed. I'm excited to get there and help them strengthen a stake!

     Happy Birthday Grandma and Seth! I've thought a lot about both of you this week. I truly am amazed every day about the sacrifices that you both have made to serve missions. I desire to read your mission journals because I know that during a mission is where you see someone develop into the person they will become (I hope that made sense:). 

   Again, I had an amazing experience concerning Grandpa Bangerter...again. I thought I'd learned everything, but I was wrong! Yesterday was the Tuesday Devotional and who do you think spoke? Elder Aidukaitis from Brazil. Oh sa mire! I was so excited because I knew that we have connections in ways I don't even know. His talk was so powerful! Everybody loved his teaching style and the whole time all I could think of was, "He reminds me of Dad." Brothers and Sisters (literally), Dad is Brazilian. He may not look like it but it shows in his personality. He has a way of being so happy, personal, and then touching the personal side of things. Elder Aidukaitis' accent also reminded me of when dad would do his impersonations of Brasilians, and you can imagine how much I liked it (hehe). I loved how he talked about baptizing. He said, "Some people go out and say 'I'm going to plant seeds.' We've been planting seeds for 6,000 years! It's time to harvest! The Field is White!" He talked just like dad does, that baptizing is not hard, and that great promises come from hard work. 

     He also mentioned a scripture from Alma 26 that I call Grandpa Garlick's scripture. Grandpa, I know you said to keep it a secret, but I'm sorry, Elder Aidukaitis found it and decided to tell the entire MTC. But, lets be positive about it. It was probably a good thing. Now I think everyone has the motivation to find "thousands" AFAD.

    However, the most personal part of this was going down to meet him. I shook his hand as he warmly smiled. Every word from his mouth didn't remind me of a foreigner, but more of a friend. I've heard the Brazilian tongue ever since I was little. Listening to him is like hearing Grandma and Sonja just talk and talk! I felt so at home! (Oh ya, I'm going to Albania, not Brazil, whoops. Am I allowed to feel this way towards someone that is not my mission nationality?:) After I met him I was about to walk away when I heard, "Elder Bangerter, is there an Elder Bangerter somewhere?" I turn around and you'd never guess who was yelling my name...President Nally...like MTC President Nally. I again was SHOCKED but warmly approached him. He and Sister Nally took me and my splits-companion (Elder Smoot) to take a picture together. I was still kinda unsure what was going on, but sister Nally let me know, "We're related!" Oh ya, I forgot, we're related to everyone! She is an Eyre...well her mom is. But we talked and talked and talked. Then it turned out that they know Aunt Julie, Uncle Cory, Uncle Grant built their house, Uncle Howard is there Stake President on and on! I was just overcome again and again. THEN, she says, "OH ya my brothers were best friends with your dad." "What?" Turns out, she's a Priday, and her brothers and the twins. She went to american Fork, She was a cavette. It went on and on and I loved every minute of it. I'm sure my pseudo-companion was more shocked then me.

    To continue, who walks in next? Elder and Sister Aidukaitis! Suddenly the conversation turned towards Grandpa and his teachings...I could keep going but I won't. The most important thing I learned was this: God is watching us, he KNOWS us, he places us in the right places at the right time  EVERY time. He knows what makes you happy. For me, its family, connections, nature and cheerios, and Heavenly Father usually works through one of those means to show me he loves me! We need to always be aware that we can be great. We can be a beacon of righteousness. "Consider the Blessed and Happy state of those that keep the commandments of God" I think that describes our family perfectly! We must share that light. Especially all you siblings going out into the east, you MUST be the example. I'm sure each of you felt it on your missions like I do. But you must continue to be Better. 

   Thank you so much for your prayers and continued love you show for me! I love you all so much, I'm so glad I have pictures of all of you to show everyone. I feel as proud as a grandparent!

Love your son and brother,

Elder Bangerter