September 17, 2015/Week 2/Elder Tristan Stevens

 

Hello Everybody!

 The MTC is a place that is full of amazing experiences to have. I have learned so much in the 2 weeks I have been here. Being asked to be District Leader on day 2 was a shocker and very stressful. I had just met all these new people and now I am supposed to be their leader and make sure all of them are doing okay throughout the day and the fact that they look to me as an example in hard times has made me feel inadequate at times. I quickly learned that the most effective way to serve people is to find a love for them and to pray for patience with them. I have a Choro (elder) in my district that is a linguistics major and man...there are a lot of stories just from that intro there alone. He corrects my English all the time which is fine by me and he always is strongly opinionated about things. He is very good at Japanese and that has helped the district a lot. I am not very good at Japanese and I struggle my way through the lessons with investigators but I can promise that the language of the Spirit will always be stronger than the Language of Japanese. The spirit will teach things that you dont even say but yet the investigator feels it and as long as I am prepared and worthy to bring the spirit then I feel like the lesson was a success.

 

 As I have been District Leader I realized the importance of Prayer. Everynight in my personal prayer I find myself relying on the Lord to help me find guidance for the District. I pray for every person in my District individually and pray for what I think they might need at that time. Its hard to know exactly what to pray for but just acting on that prompting to pray for them has allowed me to have a stronger love for them and serving them has been a great blessing. Carr Choro (Elder Carr) the linguistics major really wants to be Zone Leader. The current ZL's are leaving on Monday and he is campaigning hard for that position and constantly asking to be interviewed and always sharing scriptures and speaking a lot of Japanese when the Branch Presidency is around. I havent understood that fully. I wondered why would you want that responsibility on top of learning Japanese and teaching lessons and eating MTC food and all of that going on. A quote was shared in the Devotional..."when the desire becomes greater than the title, that is when you become a powerful missionary endowed with power" I learned that whether you are an AP or a junior companion you are a servant of the Lord and if you have a strong desire and dont worry about what position you are in the "food chain" or line of authority you will be powerful. 

 One final thing there is this Brazilian guy in my zone and he wants to play me in soccer like everyday and today I get to play him because its P Day. If I meg him first he has to do 70 pull ups and call me the Dom Ching King and he said if he beats me he gets to call me Stevens Shimai (Sister Stevens) and I do 70 pull ups....but I mean....I have some good soccer tricks up my sleeve so we will see how that goes....but if I was a betting man I would bet that soon he will be calling me the king haha just kidding....but really though... Love you all and thanks for the encouragement. A mission isnt just 2 years of your life serving as the Lord. It is a lifelong calling we can all strive to be. We dont need to name tag to represent the Lord. Just serve always and do your best and he is Proud. 

-Stevens Choro

September 10, 2015-Elder Tristan Stevens

[Mom's note: Well, Tristan did not send a general email to the group so I will update you with the short emails we got from him on Sept. 10, his P Day.

Just started my load of laundry. I wont go to the temple until either later this morning or in the afternoon. The language is okay, still tough but I work hard to keep busy. My companion is Elder Dibble. He is 6'8" and we get along well. Except he doesnt believe that Stockton and Malone are the best duo the NBA has seen. His argument is Pippen and Jordan but I dont think they are close because they werent like a duo they were just two good players on a team together. During gym time he didnt believe I had moves in the post down low and I smoked him with my fake shots. We have similar goals and interests so its good that we get along and work hard together. As district leader I take care of my district. I pray every morning and night for the members of my district and pray for specific needs that they have so my prayers have become much longer. I have leadership training I think twice a week and one district meeting on Sundays where I conduct and assign members of my district to teach a lesson. I have weekly reports to my branch president that include things like companion problems or health problems but yeah its not too much in the mtc, just a load of stress since day 2. I enjoy just food and snacks because the food is so gross compared to the stuff at home. I am pretty sure I have lost weight and thats not good. I had the opportunity to give Elder Dibble a blessing when he got super sick with a cold and the next day he was fine. I have gained a strong testimony of many things but one thing I have come to learn is that a mission isnt what determines if you make it to the celestial kingdom or anything like that, and a testimony isnt enough either. True conversion to this Gospel, His Atonement, and living day by day with that in mind is what allows us to use the atonement to make it back. I will continue to work hard and stay busy. I sent a letter home, you should get it today or tomorrow. The Dear Elders are nice thanks for those. Love you.

He did play ball, but he is 6'8" and super uncoordinated so its not hard to beat him. Parry Choro is from Salem he is athletic and social and a cool guy. Roley Choro is from Virginia he is super quiet and doesnt really talk at all and he does karate during gym. Carr Choro is a linguistics major and a mini uncle michael but a lot more like I am holier than thou mentality and Abarca Choro is just i cant read him he is from texas and all he did before his mission was party and stuff and watch anime for 24/7.  I have seen mckay and colton and they are fine. I played soccer today and it was fun but not that fun cause no one  is even good. My MTC teacher is cool I guess. He tells us stories about Japan. We heard from Bishop Causse and the Provo Temple President and they were both good. I have taken a lot of notes. I am working hard.

 Stevens Choro

September 6, 2015

 Highlights got my license in Japan you can't smile so gave my best mad
face picture. Next is a pic with Hakodate district and finally is my
MTC group that came to Japan with me.  That's about it all the new
missionaries came this week so we were super busy, but me and elder
owada got out and saw some good success this week we visited a NA and
we did some housing and some phone missionary work made 2 appointments
to call and talk about the gospel with people during that time as
well!! But that is the week hope you all have a great week and i will
talk to you all next week!!

                                   My District Group and the group I came with from the MTC

                                                                    
                                                 

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September 4, 2015

[Mom's note: As you know Tristan went into the Provo MTC on Wed., Sept. 2. We received this short email from him today, Friday, Sept. 4th]

Herro Family,

Everything is okay I guess, I havent really ate much I feel like I lost weight but its okay. Have a fun week. I am district leader on day 2. Crazy. Thursday is my P Day bigger email then. Miss you guys so much.... Its hard but I will fight back and do my best to work hard

Elder Stevens

August 27,  2015


whoah... There it is the one year mark kinda its on wednesday or thursday I don't know but it is transfer week again which means super busy, I got my transfer call yesterday, I will be staying in Honbu as recorder and my companion Elder Hishii will be transferring. My new companion will be Elder Owada he is from Tokyo he was in my apartment when I was in Hakodate so I am pretty excited because I love him:) I will also be the District Leader for the Moiwa district I will have 8 members our ZLs, STL and 3 new missionaries both the ZLs and STL are all training new missionaries so there are a lot of young missionaries and a lot of really good veteran missionaries, just a bit nervous for that but it should be okay:) Don't have a lot of time this P=day to email but that is basically what is happening I will let you guys know more specifics next week! Love you all have a great week!!