Week #4 - The MTC is getting to be slow

I am so excited to hear Jayden and all of these young men getting ready to get out into the field. They are doing a great thing and will learn very well. I have met a couple of missionaries going to the mission in the Philippines and they are some cool people. 

Mom, I don’t think that you struggle because we are good kids. I think that everyone struggles and that God knows that you are strong enough to triumph in them I believe that God must pull us down so that He can build us up. Joseph Smith told that to someone over a stick pull vs a man that clearly was stronger than him. 

I don’t think that we can record it but I know that travel orders come this Friday. 

I would like some cashews like from Costco. Chips are really good. I have a lot of treats still though. I do still want an extra shirt though for Gym. Oh mom if you can make something like the pink bag that Elder Smith has then I would love it because it makes taking laundry so easy. I will send a picture too. No new Elders in our district it kinda works in a way that when a district ships out a new one comes in behind them. so there won’t be any new Dutchies until we leave. Me and Elder smith are getting along really well. I think that our last dispute was just me in my head. It was alright though. We worked it out. I will have some stuff for you though. to send home Its so funny because now that everyone else is gone we have the most decorated room. Elder smith made sure that we used every streamer that we got and every banner. We found some extra flags and hung those up too so we have so much stuff on our walls. It feels kinda like at home. We did clean up really good though because we had a new elder move in with us because he was in with the swedes but doesn’t leave till this upcoming Monday. I have been doing well although I want out. I want to be in the field. I think that it will be so much better because it won't be repetitive. 

The MTC is getting to be slow. Me and my district sang in the devotional for everyone on Sunday half in Dutch and English. It was so great. Never knew I could sing. I miss all of you and time isn’t necessarily flying for me. The days seem like weeks and the weeks seem like days. I have to remind myself that I am on the Lords time now and that I have a job to do. I have to be obedient and try my hardest to stay focused on the work.  I miss you all. I can’t wait to get into the field though.

I have had some incredible experiences here already. It was so cool the night I was set apart during the prayer I could see in my mind armor being built upon me. It was some really cool armor too. I can't get rid of the image in my mind. I wish that I could draw because I have this really powerful image in my head. The cool thing was is last night after our devotional back in our classroom I looked over and the other 4 elders in my district and I could see similar armor on them and I have this image stuck with me that we were all in throne-like chairs and all had similar armor on and you can’t see faces but I know that they were the elders with me now. 

The food is terrible here and it screws with your poop. I have been adjusting very well and the language has come so far. I love it so much. I have taught 4 lessons to an "investigator" in Dutch which is super good for just being here a week. It is so hard and I have such a hard time with being exhausted. I struggle in some of the large meetings to stay awake. I miss you all

Elder Jardine

My District at Sunset near the Provo Temple Fountain

Provo Temple reflection pool

Dutch Commanders in God's Army

We love going to the Temple

I liked this, See our shadows, Awesome

Mom & Mikey sent me Jesus Sandals

Elder Smith's Laundry Bag

Elder Jardine's room decorated for a Happy Birthday

Elder Jardine

Birthday Decorations

Sound Check

Elder Jardine and Elder Soloman, getting ready to sing

This is the Auditorium we sung in. a bit scary

Week #3 - Happy Birthday!!!, I am not alone!

This week was an interesting turn of events. On Saturday and Sunday I truly started to feel alone. The day started with me and my companion having a disagreement and it was really hard for me because I haven’t really disagreed until then. It got better towards the end of day but still I shut down and had a lot of time to think because I reverted to my quiet self that is off in the corner alone and thinking. I had some really hard thoughts too but I think that it was to show me that god can really show us what our weaknesses are. I had a Coaching-Missionary Study thing which is a one on one talk with a teacher. I came to a conclusion on why I am so afraid of feeling alone. That is because It’s the one thing that I can’t beat. I can figure out how to overcome any trial and have always been able to pull my head out of the water except for this. I think that God gave me this one weakness because That way he can show me that I do really need to rely on him that I can’t do it all on my own. But that he blesses me with strength that I am not needy. or needing of blessing so that I can fulfill his purpose in all of my relationships. I feel closer to him that I ever have been and I know that with everyone I meet God needs me to fulfill and specific purpose with them. Whether it be family friends or investigators. But god has shown me that I am not alone in the fight against Satan and His Angels. That he has my back and that I should not feel alone. Mom I am ok just so you know.  We had some really good lessons today and so that everyone knows I do speak pretty good Dutch. I can give most of all the lessons in Dutch. I am not fluent but I have learned so much. I think that it is so cool that I can show investigators that I love them and that I love my Heavenly Father. I think that This week I won’t have to feel alone unless I don’t remember that God has my back and that this trial is mine to keep and that is always going to be my think to deal with I have to just remember.  We had a really good devotional last night and had a great time opening my birthday package. I think that it was the funniest night yet. The devotional has been pretty sweet and we learned that sometimes when challenging someone to read the BoM that we need to read with them and be their reading buddy I really do think that is why we understand what we do growing up because someone read with us, read with me. I am sorry that I don’t write everyone hand written letters but I have to take the little extra time and write which is close to 15-30 minutes a day and it is hard to hand write so many people. I love all the letters because that is the best part of the day is getting mail. I really enjoy seeing what everyone has written and it does mean a lot to me even though I may not be able to respond.  The biggest thing that I have noticed while being here. Is that God listens. But We must also listen. Since I am here I am doing his work and I constantly feel the spirit and what God wants me to do. God listens and he answers. I have prayed so much more often and sometimes Its weird because I probably have prayed in Dutch more than English already because I don’t remember praying all to often in English. So when I want to be more specific all my head can think is in Dutch. We say so many Dutch prayers. because in class and different things in church and priesthood meetings we basically pray in Dutch and talk in our own languages. It is so cool how much I can speak in Dutch If I believe in myself and think in Dutch. I love it the language is a silly language and that makes it fun. I hope that all of you out there can take a moment and listen to your heavenly father and ask like we are told in the scriptures.  I am doing good. Me and my companion get along and the MTC food is kinda terrible. so yeah know you all know so you don’t have to ask the prequestions that everyone has.  To everyone at home. I love all of you and wish success upon you all. Thank you so much for all the support that you give me I wouldn't be who I am without it. Dankeje vell Love ELDER JARDINE Tout Zines

Oh I was also called to be the Sacrament coordinator so basically make sure sacrament gets taken care of and my Colega is the Chorister so he makes sure the music is ready and E. Isaksen was made District leader and E. Soloman went from DL to Zone Leader

Writing Home, Elder Jardine & Elder Isaksan

Elder Smith, Elder Isaksan, Elder Jardine

Elder Smith, Elder, Elder Isaksan, Elder Jardine

Elder Smith (black glasses), Elder Isaksan (green glasses), Elder Jardine (red glasses)

Happy Birthday Elder Jardine, Nice Decorations Mom