4/19/13

                                                                                                                                           4/19/13
                                                                                                                                         Miss you


Mom and Dad
     Sorry I didn't get to email this week.  The computers are wacky at times.  Dad, this language is so hard.  I'm thrown to extremes everyday because sometimes it makes me feel so smart but most times it makes me feel like a 6 year old.  I feel like most things in my life I could practice for a couple minutes and be fairly successful at it, but this Latvian is kicking me right in my ego.  I feel like a child all day long trying to pick out words I know but it is so mind exhausting.  I get frustrated so easily because even just simple rules are mind boggling at times.  My teachers are all so great and when they notice me getting flustered, they pull me aside and talk to me.  My Sister Teacher pulled me out last night and said something that really hit hard.  She said that the Baltic mission Latvian speaking is rated one of the hardest missions in the world and that they send missionaries there who have maybe a little bit more pride that the Lord would want them to have.  He sent me to this mission to teach me what to do when things get hard.  I know this mission call was for me because the Lord wants me to struggle so that I can appreciate and relate to others when they go through things that seem so hard and impossible to accomplish.  These three weeks have taught me that nothing is impossible when you rely on the Lord.  I have (and  still am) learned that the hard way.  There are times, like the start of this letter, where I've felt so discouraged and helpless and SO dumb but I know that Heavenly Father will always comfort you if that's what you seek.  I've learned that the comfort from God comes on His time, not mine.  Which is really hard by the way to come to terms with.  I get so down on myself sometimes because I want to be a nice, useful, shiny tool in the Lord's hands with my Latvian and at this point I feel like a hand-me-down, rusty, broken tool.  I told my teacher (Josh Thompson) about these feelings that I have and he told me something so powerful.  He said the man that learns Latvian on his own like a stud but refuses to rely on the Lord isn't even half the teacher than the man who speaks poor Latvian but learned to rely on the Lord and recognizes his knowledge (regardless of how big or small that is) comes from Heavenly Father's grace alone.
     Mom and Dad I'm trying so hard to learn this crazy language but your prayers are soooooooooo needed.  I know now that as much as I've liked to learn things my way and wing it, I know that's not the way my Father in Heaven would have me live my life.  He's teaching me to be humble and to
recognize that I'm less than Dust without His help in my life...And I'm starting to love that.  It's harder than anything I've ever done before, but it's touched my heart everyday to rely on the Lord.  It's brought me closer to him in ways I'd never be if I didn't choose to serve a mission.  At times the language really gets me down but I'm not going anywhere.  I'd never give up on the Lord's work.  He called me to succeed, not fail.  I believe with all my heart that I need to be here and that these 24 months will shape my eternity.  I love you so much and I'm forever grateful for the love and support I feel through your prayers.  I felt like I needed to send this letter so I hope you receive the reason.  I'll see you soon!  Es Tevi Milu

                                             -Elder Webb

P.S.  I said "Mom and Dad" but you can share this with anyone you'd like.  Thanks for everything.

4/11/2013

Family     Gimeni!

Hey!  Greetings from the MTC!  Elder Webb here.  Sorry about the email today, little bit of a scheduling conflict on my part.  I hope you enjoy the pictures though.  I have been taking SO many.  Oh I hope you enjoy your "Hi Momma Webb" pic haha.  She's a goof but a ton of fun.  Her name is Sister Bezdian and makes me cry laughing every day.  Send her a letter if you feel like it!  My zone here is wicked fun.  We have (here it goes...) Sister Mosreal, Sister Jack, Sister Bates, Sister Stout, Sister Woodland, Sister Orsmby, Sister Cloward, Sister Suttner, Sister Bezdian, Sister Nilson, Sister Blanchard, Elder Martinez, Elder Johansson and Elder Mead and me!  My district has far too much estrogen.  My branch presidency here are alright.  President is a good man who gets distracted very easily, I know what you are thinking...we must get along.  No, jerks haha.  no I am very close with the branch presidency which is way good because I'm here for another 7 weeks.  Brutal, but I love it.  Everyone LOVES my tie collection so eat that haters, cough cough...MOM!  Latvian this week was pretty cool this week.  Honestly it started off pretty rough, but I memorized the entire first vision in flawless Latvian...ha!   It's definitely a little messy at places but I have it memorized none the less.  My teachers consist of Bali Brabazon, Mills, Thompson and Masa Mills.  We all get along very well.  Brali Mills is the man and we're becoming best friends.  I'll definitely talk and hang out with him after the mish.  As far as homesickness goes, its kinda hard to explain.  I miss all of you and love to get/give letters but I know this is where I'm supposed to be so I can't think of being anywhere besides Latvia.  The food here destroys your stomach and the lack of exercise kills me.  Oh!  I am playing volleyball every week though but only for almost an hour each day.  I'm really close to the state side Spanish speaking Elders so I'll have to send you some pictures I've taken.  I hang out with them, my Greeks of course, and the Italians all the time.  My patriarchal blessing told me that I'd make eternal friends on my mission and I can already see those forming.  Alex and Elizabeth!  Get your blessing!  Fast and prepare to get it for as long as you see fit and then get it!  It is so helpful to have a roadmap of your life.  It gives me a sense of direction and fulfillment as I see those things come to pass.  Mom and Dad, you're the best.  Thank you for supporting me while I serve the Lord.  I see Elders that don't have that and it makes me so grateful for our family.  Buzzy!  What up Brotha?  Don't waste as much time with silly video games and movies as I did.  Get outside and accomplish things.  You'll miss high school sports and ultimate Frisbee games when you're on your mission I promise.  Kota and Aspen!  I MISS YOU.  And everyone else that sees this.  Thank you so much for the prayers and support.  You'll never realize how much that has helped me.  Es Tevi Milu!
-Elder Webb

MTC Pictures!

Mom and Dad

SO im back on again and i think ill get on in a couple of hours and send you some pictures if you'd like. This week has been so...different. I had a couple of hard days this week because i wasnt receiving an answer to prayer right away but we had a devotional on tuesday and it told us that God gives us answers when HE see's fit. not our timing but his , and i cant describe how much that helped. i spoke with one of my teachers that i really look up to about it and he helped me by giving some awesome advice. He told me that when you're trying to receive an answer to a question, the Lord doesnt always just give you everything. he told me that i needed to come to Him with what i thought the answer was and to tell Him what i believe and only then would He answer me. I received such an incredible witness to my question that my testimony in prayer has increased ten fold. The language is still coming along pretty well. i memorized the whole first vision in Latvian two days ago and i feel pretty confident about it but i know that it's only through Christ that im starting to learn. MTC is going great still of course. conference was incredible too. so many missionaries that all have the same drive in the same room together, listening to apostles speak was truly awesome. I got so much from it and i hope you did as well back home. My companions and i are getting along so well which is a huge blessing. The Swede is my companion for the most part and we have some great times playing frisbee in the halls of our dorm or shooting those almonds you sent me with our gigantic (probably not approved) slingshot. we are having a blast. Everything at home going alright? im glad to hear that kel is still coming over, i know she loves you guys so much (probably more than me). Thanks a million for the package too, they really really help. It's like Christmas morning when i see that i have a package to get picked up. im not really craving anything but buttered popcorn. weird i know but if you could send me a million bags next time that'd be so good. haha my companions go crazy for american food. they want me to ask you if you could send tootsie rolls, red vines and reese's pieces haha their names are Elder Johansson, Elder Mead, and Elder Martinez. Im doing so good here mom and dad. I know that ive been placed here in the MTC at this time, in this place, with these people. Es Tevi Milu. Ill send some pics soon. Talk to you soon!

   -Elders Vebs

4-4-13

Finally P day! goodness it's been a long week. So ill get on my email every week at about this time just so you know.

 

MTC life is SO great. It's definitely the hardest thing ive ever done but at the same time it is so rewarding. Latvian is the strangest thing ive ever heard and it's the only thing that can make me feel like a genius one minute and a total dummy the next. So about my "companionship". My zone was me and 11 sisters until last night when we got three new greek mission elders who are awesome by the way. I guess Americans cant get visa's to Greece very well so they are all European's. I have one Swede, one very proud Englishman, and one Spaniard. Im considered a "solo" missionary which means im the only elder speaking my language. ill be with the greeks for meals and residence time but other than that i am always with my masa's. The sisters are so much fun here. Ive definitely gained a testimony about God placing in the right time and place for a reason. We all are such great friends. Im already making lifelong friends here and it's only been a week. I realized that i didn't pack any jeans or nice clothes. if you could maybe send a pair of jeans and a nice T Shirt with button up over it. Ask Alex what to send, she know's what i liked. MTC life is basically life in a class room. im in THE SAME BLOODY ROOM FOR 11 HOURS A DAY. tell me how well that matches with my personality. but really life here is so great. ive never felt the spirit more strongly or abundantly than i do while im here. I have three teachers who are all pretty cool. Brali Mills is the best though. if you wanted to send him a friend request on facebook for that'd be great, Anthony Mills. he's a short blond guy. Anyway, Thank you for everything mom. i cant write much today because im already behind schedule but i promise ill write more next week. LOVE YOU

Connor 1st email from MTC

Mom! Mommy! MAMA.

President told us it was alright to email you and let you know that im safe and i still have two arms and two legs. So....kinda weird but i dont have a companion. well i do but it's not exactly orthodox. Right now my companions are three elders that leave for Greece on monday. One's from Russia, one's from Finland, and the other is from England so being the only american is a little strange. what's even more strange is that my real companions (the ones i spend the most time with) are 5 Masa's (sister missionaries). No Worries though! they're great! Masa Woodland, Masa Staut, Masa Ormsby, Masa Cloward, and Sasa(lithuanian) Bates. it's a little weird but there's definitely too much estrogen in the classroom. I should be getting new greek companions this wednesday though. oh! another piece of news is that im already a zone leader in the MTC and ill be district leader on monday....that's a little daunting. the language is going great though. i can already pray in Latvian and i will have taught two lessons in latvian by tonight. Im having a blast though mom and i cant wait to write you for realziez on monday. LOVE you

    -Elders Vebs (that's me in Latvian)