A United District

October 27th, 2015

Hey everyone.

The MTC is getting better and better every day. Our district is very united and we're all friends. I'm so glad Heavenly Father blessed me with a good district. Their names are Elder Rollins, Thorley, Taylor, Galván, Griffith, Gaylord and Davis. Elder Thorley is the only one in our district going to Lyon and not Paris. And Elder Galván is going Spanish speaking like me.

I finished teaching my first MTC investigator earlier last week. He was pretty easy on us. Then yesterday, we taught Frère Adams who was role-playing as an investigator he had on his mission. He was hard to teach because he had a bad attitude with us and we didn't know where to go with the lesson. It'll be an interesting learning experience. We have a great bond with both of our teachers. Frère Pistorius seemed a bit cold at the beginning, but he's made us laugh a lot. 

Apparently someone big is going to come speak at the devotional tonight, so I'm looking forward to that. 

This last week has definitely gone by faster than the first week. Every day gets better and French is getting more awesome. We learn so much here. I've learned a lot in just a little bit of time. I don't understand why they send out missionaries in 2 weeks or less because this is the best university of higher learning besides the temple. 

I can't believe Mexico beat Germany in U-17!! That's great! Sí se puede!!!!

I'm glad I don't have to suffer watching the 49ers have a bad season. How is the UEFA Champions League? Did PSG beat Real Madrid? 

Thanks for all you love and I will talk with you again in a week.

Elder Carlos Enrique Aburto

27 de Octubre de 2015

Hola a todos:

Las cosas aquí en el CCM se ponen cada vez mejor, nuestro distrito es muy unido y todos nos llevamos bien. Estoy muy contento de que nuestro Padre Celestial me haya bendecido con un buen distrito. Los demás élderes son Rollins, Thorley, Taylor, Galván, Griffith, Gaylord y Davis. El élder Thorley es el único del distrito que irá a Lyon y no a París, mientras que el élder Galván servirá en español como yo.

La semana pasada terminé de enseñar a mi primer investigador, y se portó muy bien con nosotros. Ayer le enseñamos a Frère Adams que se puso en el papel de un investigador que él tuvo en la misión. Así que nos costó mucho trabajo enseñarle porque asumió una actitud negativa (como la de su investigador) y llegamos a un punto en el que no sabíamos qué hacer. Creo que será una experiencia interesante. Con los maestros tenemos una buena relación. Frère Pistorius en un principio parecía que era medio seco, pero últimamente nos ha hecho reír mucho. 

Tengo entendido que alguien importante vendrá a hablar al devocional de hoy en la noche, así que ya tengo ganas de saber quién será.

La semana pasada se me fue mucho más rápido que la primera. La cosa se pone mejor cada día y el francés cada vez me gusta más. En este lugar se aprende mucho, siento que he aprendido muchísimo en poco tiempo. No entiendo por qué algunos misioneros sólo están aquí dos semanas o menos, porque creo que ésta, aparte de templo, es la mejor institución de educación superior.

¡No puedo creer que la sub 17 de México le ganó a Alemania! ¡Qué buena onda! ¡¡¡¡Sí se puede!!!!

Qué bueno que no tendré que sufrir viendo a los 49es tener una mala temporada. ¿Cómo está la UEFA Champions League? ¿Cómo quedaron el PSG y el Real Madrid? 

Gracias por todo su amor y por ahí les escribo la próxima semana.

Élder Carlos Enrique Aburto

First Week at the MTC

October 20th, 2015

Hi everyone! I am doing awesome. The MTC is nothing of what I expected it to be. I am in the same classroom for about 6-8 hours a day to learn French and study the gospel. I've already taught a role-playing investigator 3 times in French. It was hard to understand him in French the first time, but now I can understand a lot of what he says. His name is Charles and he is really nice. 

I have two French teachers, our main one is Frère (brother) Pistorius, he's not related to Oscar Pistorius which is a good thing, and he served his mission in Montreal, Canada, French-speaking. He only got back a couple years ago and he's getting married soon. He's really nice and he is a good teacher so far.

My other teacher is Frère Adams, who is from San Francisco, and he served in the France Paris Mission, so he has the accent I expect to have when I come back. He's crazy and energetic. I'm really excited to get to know my teachers more and learn from them in the next five weeks. 

Time has felt very different than any time I've experienced. The days feel long but they don't feel heavy. Time doesn't exist here. It's a good thing because I learn so much in just one day. I'm actually kind of looking forward to being here for six weeks because it'll feel like six months, so I'll be able to learn the language better and learn more in less time.

On Sunday night, Chad Lewis spoke for us at the devotional. He played as a tight-end for BYU and went to the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in the early 2000's. Him and his wife gave strong testimonies of missionary work and the blessings it can have for everyone. During the devotional, Chad had Steve Young's nephew bear his testimony in Mandarin Chinese to show us the power of the gift of tongues. Then Chad had Taysom Hill walk up to the pulpit in crutches and bear his testimony about the work we've signed up for as missionaries. I respect Taysom more now after he bore his testimony.

My district is more than anything I could have asked for. I'm so thankful that God blessed me with such. We all have a good relationship with each other. There's one elder named Elder Griffith from North Carolina so he has a southern accent. There's another Elder named Elder Davis from Tooele, Utah. He is the funniest person I've met. He's funny because he's so innocent and he just says random things out loud out of context, but he doesn't know they're out of context. But he is just so hilarious. He makes our day every single time.

Life is awesome at the MTC. It looks like I'll survive happy and well.

Strength and Honor.

Sincerely,

Elder Carlos Enrique Aburto

I know it's early, but Happy Birthday, mom! Thanks for being such a good parent and always teaching me the way to happiness. Thank you for dealing with me for 18 years. Papi is so lucky to have you as a wife. I love you guys so much!

P.S. Can you guys walk Tule once a week to 400 South for me, thanks. And keep sending me scores, also, when the time comes, who won the World Series? Go Pumas and El Tri and Sí Se Puede!!!!!!

With love, your hijo,

Elder Carlos Enrique Aburto

Mi primera semana en el CCM

20 de octubre de 2015

¡Hola a todos! Me está yendo bien a todo dar. El CCM no es nada de lo que me esperaba. Me la paso en el mismo salón de 6 a 8 horas al día estudiando francés y el Evangelio. Ya le he dado tres lecciones en francés a un muchacho que la hace de investigador.  La primera vez me costó mucho entenderle, pero ahora entiendo bastante de lo que dice. Se llama Charles y es buena onda.

Tengo dos maestros de francés: el mero mero se llama Frère (hermano) Pistorius, no tiene parentesco con Oscar Pistorius, lo cual es bueno, e hizo la misión en Montreal, Canadá, hablando francés. Regresó hace como dos años y se está preparando para casarse, es buena onda y hasta el momento me gusta cómo enseña.

El otro maestro se llama Frère Adams, es de San Francisco y sirvió en la misión Francia Paris, así que habla con un acento que espero tener cuando regrese. Es medio loco y está lleno de energía, pero siento emoción por conocer mejor a mis maestros y aprender de ellos en las siguientes cinco semanas.

Aquí el tiempo lo he sentido como nunca antes en mi vida. Los días se sienten largos pero no pesados; es como si el tiempo estuviera detenido, lo cual es bueno porque siento que en un solo día se aprende muchísimo. De hecho me agrada la idea de estar aquí seis semanas porque se van a sentir como seis meses y así podré aprender mejor el idioma y en general aprender más en menos tiempo.

El sábado en la noche tuvimos un devocional con Chad Lewis. Él jugó en BYU de ala cerrada y fue al Super Bowl con los Carneros de San Luis y con las Águilas de Filadelfia a principios de la década de 2000. Junto con su esposa dio un testimonio muy potente de la obra misional y de las bendiciones que hay para todos en ella. En un momento de la reunión, Chad le pidió al sobrino de Steve Young que diera su testimonio en chino mandarín para ejemplificar el poder del don de lenguas.  Luego le pidió a Taysom Hill (el mariscal de campo de BYU que está lesionado) que subiera al púlpito en muletas para dar su testimonio de la clase de obra en la que nos hemos metido como misioneros. Después de escuchar su testimonio, siento más respeto por Taysom.

Mi distrito es mucho más de lo que hubiera imaginado. Estoy tan agradecido que Dios me haya bendecido con eso. Todos nos llevamos muy bien entre nosotros. Hay un élder que se apellida Griffith que es de Carolina del Norte y tiene un acento del sureste bien chistoso. Hay otro que se llama élder Davis que es de Tooele, Utah y es la persona más chistosa que he conocido. Lo más chistoso es que sumamente inocente y de repente dice unas cosas que no tienen que ver absolutamente con nada, y la cosa es que ni siquiera se da cuenta. Es chistosísimo y siempre nos alegra el día.

La vida es a todo dar aquí en el CCM, y pues parece que sobreviviré felizmente.

Fuerza y honor.

Afectuosamente,

Élder Carlos Enrique Aburto

Sé que es pronto pero, ¡feliz cumpleaños, mami! Gracias por ser tan buena mamá y por enseñarme el camino a la felicidad. Gracias por aguantarme 18 años, mi papá es muy afortunado de tenerte como esposa. ¡Los quiero mucho!

P.S. ¿Podrían llevar a caminar a Tule una vez por semana a la 400 Sur? Gracias. Sigan mandándome los resultados de los juegos y cuando ya se sepa, díganme quién ganó la Serie Mundial. ¡Arriba Pumas y El Tri, y sí se puede!

Con amor, su hijo,

Élder Carlos Enrique Aburto

Hello from the MTC

October 15th, 2015

Dear Mami, Papi, Lena, and everyone,

I  am alive. The MTC is awesome. I just met my zone leaders last night and they seem pretty cool. The food is ok. My French teacher is awesome. Today has been long but good. I'm so happy to finally be able to wear the plaque. Life is great and I'll tell you more on Tuesday. See you later!

Elder Carlos Enrique Aburto


15 de octubre de 2015

Queridos Mami, Papi, Lena y todos:

Estoy vivo.  El CCM es increíble. Anoche conocí a mis líderes de zona y son muy buenas personas. La comida es muy rica. Mi profesor de francés es sensacional. Hoy ha sido un buen día. Me da gozo el hecho de finalmente ponerme la placa de misionero. Todo va muy bien y les contaré más el martes. ¡Hasta luego!

Élder Carlos Enrique Aburto

First Day at the MTC

October 14th, 2015

With Tule at home

At a French restaurant before leaving

My Farewell Talk

Prophets, Seers, and Revelators

September 27th, 2015

Introduction

The first paragraph in the first lesson in Preach My Gospel says the following:

“God is our Heavenly Father. We are His children. He has a body of flesh and bone that is glorified and perfected. He loves us. He weeps with us when we suffer and rejoices when we do what is right. He wants to communicate with us…”

How does God communicate with us and how does he show his love for us?

Let's read in Exodus 3:7-12: “And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows ... Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.  And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?  And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.”

So in this passage of scripture, we learn that God watches over us, and He cares about us, and He calls upon a chosen mortal to speak in behalf of Him for us.  And that’s why we follow the prophet, because we  believe his words to be God's words.

But what if God asks us to do something that we feel uncomfortable doing or what if we feel like he asks too much of us?

“We heed prophetic word even when it may seem unreasonable, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. According to the world’s standards, following the prophet may be unpopular, politically incorrect, or socially unacceptable. But following the prophet is always right.” -Carol F. McConkie

Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

I ordered a pair of shoes that didn’t fit me well. They were very tight and they were uncomfortable to wear and I eventually returned them for a better size. Sometimes we think that following the Prophet is like having a pair of shoes that it fits other people great and we feel that it's too big on us or to tight and makes us feel uncomfortable and we feel like taking it off. But I know that if we follow the word of God in Faith, over time the shoe will get more comfortable and the more we will want to put it on and keep it on. And if we feel like the task is to big for us, he can provide us with the ability to complete it.

As Nephi said: “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7).

Satan does not want there to be truth. He wants to destroy all truth there is, no matter how long it takes. In the Book of Mormon, Samuel the Lamanite was shot at with physical arrows, but nowadays the prophets are shot at with spiritual arrows. Satan attacks and tries to discredit the Prophets. He knows they are true prophets, but unfortunately he gets some of us to fall in his trap. but the result is the same today as it was back in the Book of Mormon times, the opposition can attack all he wants, but he can never change the truthfulness of God’s message for us.

2 Nephi 33:2-4: “But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.  But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

How blessed are we to have Living Prophets, Seers and Revelators today to guide us and show us the way to get back to our father in heaven.”

President Monson said: “Despite any health challenges that may come to us, despite any weakness in body or mind, we serve to the best of our ability. I assure you that the Church is in good hands. The system set up for the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve [Apostles] assures [us] that it will always be in good hands and that, come what may, there is no need to worry or to fear. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, whom we follow, whom we worship, and whom we serve, is ever at the helm.”

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