Week #4

Right into the week.

Tuesday. We sang Lead Kindly Light in choir. Had a devotional, in which my district were ushers, by Elder M. Russell Ballard. Highlights. It's no small thing to be a missionary. If you have a moment of dicouragement, write a letter to Joseph in Liberty Jail to cheer him up. Elder Dangelo gave the opening prayer and hermana Dustin gave the closing prayer. I think you can see that devotional online.

Wednesday. Elder Porter and I went to the doctor because I've been having a really hard time sleeping. Then we hosted again. Then we got to leave mision boundaries to stop by a pharmacy to get me some medecine. Then we taught a great lesson.

Thursday. I played volleyball in Gym and I managed to spike the ball a few times and block it a few times even though I'm 5'7 and have white-boy-hops. (Yes, that is the tecnical term). I went to the counsilors about my sleeping and stress and it really helped me. Then when I got back to the class room everyone was really excited to see me and really welcoming and I felt really loved. I have an amazing district.

Friday. We taught some awesome lessons and at the end of the day some of the members of my district got in a big rubber band war.

Saturday. We learned the two forms of past tense in Spanish.

Sunday. Devotional highlights. The speaker was Stephen B. Allen. He said he once was sitting in while mission calls were being made. The apostle doing it, when one picture came up, said, "I can see his companion in my minds eye. The question is, where is he?" Then they made their way in on the world map until they found the mission. He also said in the talk that Alma and the sons of Mosiah got depressed on their missions and that's ok. He counciled us to never ever ignore an impression of the Spirit.

​Elder Porter and I

​The Elders in our zone

​This is Elder Henrie

​To explain the one above it.
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Week #3

It's been a bit of a rough week, but I carry on.

Tuesday. We started teaching "Ariel" (Just one of our teachers). We had the Tuesday night devotional. Highlights. David F. Evans, (from my notes, not a direct quote) Proselyting is suffering and growing with the people. Trusting God to help you. Being cast out, mocked, and spit upon. Being bound and thrown into prison. All to save some soul. Next was Wendy Nelson, desperation can help you work harder and do more. Then Elder Nelson spoke, he said him, the first presidentcy and all the apostles send their gratitude to us and our families. Keep in touch with our converts because we'll always be heros to them. Ask the missionaries is about us now.

Wednesday. I set the wall sit record in gym with 4:33. We hosted for new missionaries. I then found out my cousin was having some troubles. My district joined with me in prayer for him.

Thursday. I found out my cousin was going to have to go home and it was really hard on me. We taught members. We then talked about how we're like the stripling warriors in class for a bit.

Friday. We were supose to teach twice and both fell through. Then las hermanas got new trc people and Hermana Dustin was super sad that she wouldn't be teaching her person anymore. Me and Elder Porter are going to be giving the guy a card because we'll still be teaching him.

Saturday. I was to class on time. We taught Ariel. We also learned how one of our teachers preposed to his wife. And we learned that he's the oposite of an insomniac and he can't stay awake to save his life.

Sunday. Devotional. It was all about getting to know the new MTC presidentcy. I don't know if I can really share the best part of it for me with you because it was some really personal revelation.

My district is amazing. I think they're the biggest blessing I've seen so far of my mission.

The one in the onesy is 6 foot 6

​ping pong. My companion is using a book of mormon in this picture. It should be noted that he won using the word of God.

This is the whole zone. We got a new district. The new ones are Hermanas Hartley, Dempsy, Runnells, and Wood. Elders Shaeffer, Chandler, and Henrie. That's the new ones left to right.

Letter #2

Samuel has had another fantastic week in the MTC! It gives me peace to know that he is doing so well. To be honest, I miss him a lot. I wish he were still here, but I know that he's happy and that makes me happy. I know that my family will be blessed, as will the people in Argentina, and so will Samuel. Hopefully it will make this all a little easier to take in and handle. In the long run I know it will, but thinking about how long he will be gone makes me wish it could go more quickly.

Anyway, here's Sam's second letter.
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day. We taught Eduardo. We had a devotional, and I was in the choir. The speaker talked about how God has a plan for us and we need to trust that he knows what's best for us.

Wednesday. We taught Eduardo. We taught a new investigator named Javier.

Thursday. We taught Eduardo for the last time and it was an awesome. Hermano Brown, our teacher, asked us where we want to be at the end of our missions.

Friday. Eduardo's real name is Hermano Pemberton and he is actually one of our teachers. In the lesson with Javier that day Elder Porter and I invited him to be baptized. He said he needed to know us and the church better, but possibly in the future. Hermano Brown told us about his life growing up and about his testimony. A lot of the stuff he said reminded me of myself. I love that man.

Saturday. We learned about stress and how to get rid of it from Hermano Pemberton. Then he started interviewing us all to get to know us better. Hermano Brown was sick, so he had to leave early, but that night we practiced door approaches and teaching each other as though we were investigators.

Sunday. We had study time in the morning. Then priesthood, we learned about ordaining people and about growing our faith. After that was a bit more study until sacrament. In sacrament meeting I blessed the bread in Spanish. So, fun fact, in the MTC they choose who's speaking in the meeting that they are speaking in so you are told that you're speaking right before you actually speak. I got to speak. We all get to know the subject the week before so that we can prepare. During my talk a special musical number started in the next room over and it worked perfectly with my talk to bring the spirit. That night we went to choir. we were singing Joseph Smith's First Prayer and the director told us, if ever we were in a meeting and it wasn't going well and we needed the spirit to tell the Joseph Smith story. He said that general authorities have said the spirit will always rush in to confirm the truth of it. Then in the devotional after that they talked about how God works between lessons, more than during them. He had all of the missionaries who were converted to the church within the last two years share their stories and it was really powerful. I love Sundays

​This is our lack of a room number.

This is the in-room-refrigerator.

Las Hermanas en mi district. From left to right. Hermana Arndt (I lied about how to spell her name last time. Sorry, this is right.), Hermana Cluff, Hermana Cardon, and Hermana Dustin.

The Elders in my district. From left to right. Elder Porter, Elder Jensen, Elder Henderson, and me.

This is the whole zone at the temple. The tall one in the back by Elders Porter and Henderson is Elder Duffin. The other two not in the other pictures are Elder Lines, behind Hermana Cluff, and Elder Dangelo, behind Hermana Cardon. Those three are in the intermediate Spanish class and they are their own district.

This was a huge message so I hope it all works out.

Until next week,

Elder Samuel James

Samuel's First Letter

Samuel sent his first email on Monday this week.  He is so happy in the MTC! It is so fun to be able to see the little changes that are already starting to take place. But I guess I'll just add the letter so you can see for yourself.


Hola. So we'll get right into the good stuff. Day 1 the teacher walks into class and I think I hear a total of 10 words in english for him the whole day, and at least 5 of those are the same in spanish and english.

Second day, after being in class all day when we weren't eating, we met our branch presidency and my companion was made district leader. Happy new year.

Day 3, we taught our first lessons in spanish. I had a very strong experience where for all of 5 sentances I spoke fluent spanish... then it was gone.

Day 4, gym and second lessons in spanish. I had a moment with the gift of tongus again, but the lesson was horrid. Yo no hablo espanol.

Fifth day, we had 2 devotionals a temple walk and my district all shared with each other how we were converted to the gospel. Best way to sum up the day. God loves us, the heavens are open, I apsolutly love my district. You'll probably hear that last one in every email while I'm in the MTC.

As for today, I went to the temple first thing, so it's been good.

You probably want to know who all is in my district so I'll tell you. Me and my companion Elder Porter, Elders Jensen and Henderson, Hermanas Cardon and Cluff, and Hermanas Dustin and Ardnt (that's pronounced like aren't. I know you were wondering and I got your back). There's one other district in our zone that is made up a one threesum of Elders Duffin Lines and Dangello. I love them all with all my heart and I feel like I got the best district in the entire world, so to all you other missionaries and future missionaries, be jealous.

Also, my room has no number by the door so I'm pretty sure we're in a broom closet.

Sorry, no pictures this week, but I'll get them in the email next week.

One last thing, if any one wants to send letters or pacages my mission address while I'm in the MTC is

Elder Samuel Cornwell James

FEB09 ARG-RES

2009 N 900 E Unit 123

Provo UT 84602

I won't be able to get pacages in Argentina so if you want to send stuff to me, do it while I'm here. Elder Henderson has already gotten, like, a bazilion letters and a pacage. Elder Porter got a pacage today. Don't feel like you have to write or send stuff, I just wanted to make sure that anyone who wants to write me has my address.

With Love,

Elder Samuel James

And so it Begins.

Samuel entered the missionary training center on December 31, 2014. He is serving in Resistencia, Argentina. As the first in the family to reach missionary age, naturally there has been a lot of tears and worries about him going. And I can happily say, after him being gone for a solid two days, I have only teared up twice. I cannot, however, say the same for our mother. Her momma bear has come out and hopefully with the right amount of honey (for the bear) and prayers (for the momma) she will come to terms with her little boy being out on his own. Regardless of the uncertainty caused by his leaving, we all know he is in the right place and is doing the right thing. Love you Samuel! Best of luck to you on your journey.