June 27, 2014

Dearest Alls, My visa has come so I should be leaving on Tuesday, super early in the morning. I'm not totally sure of all the travel information, but I probably have some long flying ahead. My two companions headed out to the field already, so I have a temporary one for this week. His name is Elder Carter from South Carolina. He is going to some French speaking island called New Calidonia but has to serve in Salt Lake until his visa gets here. Good guy. This week was a good one. There is a mission president seminar going on so I got to meet my new mission president and his wife. President and Sister Ulrich. He is really nice and so engaged to get a lot done out there. It was honestly a little overwhelming to meet them. They know what missionary work is but I still don't really understand it, so I imagine they will rope me in real fast. I kind of got stressed out about how much they want to impact me while I serve, knowing my authority/independence complex, but I think they will be awesome. I can tell President Ulrich knows a lot. With all the new mission presidents every apostle and the Prophet have been here. Elder Christofferson spoke to us on Tuesday, with Elder Ballard, Oaks, Nielsen, Bednar, and Anderson also at the meeting. They kept one building super tight on security with everyone in there. The missionaries didn't get to see all the General Authorities like the mission presidents. I guess because everything I write I have already experienced, everything seems like it should be so boring to you, but that can't be true because you don't know it happened or whatever. My MTC teachers were really awesome, I learned a lot from them. I am excited to head out to the field and figure out what it's really like to be a missionary. I can tell it will be hard in new ways and rewarding in new ways. It's so nice to not have to care about anything else while I'm here. It's just like this little journey of growth and development. I am really curious as to who my trainer will be. I've decided I can't bank on him being able to help me with all my questions, so I try to learn independence quickly. I don't think Chinese will be a struggle for very long. I've taught a few lessons here. It's pretty spotty and tough because I don't know what to say all the time in English, let alone in Mandarin. It will be cool when I can't tell the difference between speaking English and Chinese, if that ever happens. I've kind of heard that Mandarin elders are usually among the busiest in the mission. My mission president is really going to be big on using family history for contacting. It's kind of a new approach the church is using to use the spirit of Elijah as a converting tool. So by that I need stories to share! Mail 'em on over :) I don't know how this will be with teaching Chinese students, I will have to see. I wonder how much of a bubble it is like ASL was for Scott. It must be growing, though. I can't wait to share the Gospel with Chinese people. Things make sense to them I think in a very cool way that will probably teach me a lot. There is a series called the District that followed missionaries around in California. They taught a Chinese man and it got me so excited. I will have to explain every term so well, and teach everything so simply I think. That will be good to understand the doctrine of Christ in such a core way, though. MTC days are good, they are kind of slowing down now that we don't really have a class. Most only are in the Fast Track for two weeks, but with my mission's transfer schedule I have this awkward limbo week. I anticipate the field with so little understanding of what's ahead, but above all my testimony has grown of how much God cares for us and how much He will direct every aspect of our lives if we let Him. The Spirit is so essential as a missionary, you are practically incapable without it. This is a good reminder for when I come home to always seek out that divine companionship even when life is easy. I don't have a whole lot to say about the MTC. It is cool with all the foreign missionaries in my zone from all around. I get to practice Chinese on that note, which is nice. Today I will go to the temple for the fourth time. Once a week is a lot haha Love you all and tell me what is most interesting to hear about, Elder Webb

June 20, 2014

Dear All, Well I have like no time to write. The MTC has real investigators, it's really cool. We're teaching a southern black lady named Luwanna. I have so much to learn about teaching and about Chinese. I am beginning to see how you can be a lazy missionary. The choice is clearly drawn between becoming a messenger of God and merely going through a mission. It's so worth it to give everything so people can come to know Christ and I can't wait to let them! The MTC is fine, the food is getting old though. I love my companions. They are so energetic and we learn together. Sorry about the short email. Love, Elder Webb

6/13/14 First Letter

Dearest Loved Ones, DRUM ROLL PLEEEEAAASE!!!! I am now Elder Webb. There is so much to tell you all. My biggest two realizations is that I am the exact same person I came out as and that missions are just a lot of self-motivated hard work with an amazing goal ahead. I wish I could remember everything I've thought and felt since I've been here to share it; I will do my best! The initial reception was warm and the MTC is NOT anything to worry about. They treat you nicely and the food, rooming, etc. is all fine. I was way nervous about it unnecessarily. They did this cool thing with pretend investigators sharing their stories to show how missionaries need to be people first who share the Gospel, not problem fixers or preachy. This stressed me out a little bit because people will have such real problems and I feel inadequate to help them. Thursday gave me my peaceful realization. Missionaries are truly endowed with power and if I work as hard as I can here, I will be a vessel to answer the questions and say the things I cannot do on my own. And then in Mandarin :) Speaking of that, I WILL FLY TO ENGLAND JULY 1!!! They put me on the advanced language thing, so I got a new district and what not today. So my classroom stuff will be in English with a bunch of internationals or bilinguals and I have to self-study Mandarin with a tutor. I am so excited, though nerves will soon come, you wait. I have a lot of Chinese learning to do! My companion was from West Point, Utah. He will be a very humble and amazing missionary in California Riverside. The two others in my dorm were from Michigan, different parts, and will go to Manchester. I can't believe two others are Chinese speaking to England with me in the MTC. I like them both and am excited to work with them, once they know Chinese hahaha. So my new companions are Elder Bryan Brown from Holladay going to Montreal (he already knows French as good as my Chinese) and Elder Thiago Fanfa from Brazil going to Salt Lake. They are like model elders already, so no hard companions yet haha. I will be with them for two weeks. My Mandarin district was a little bitter I was leaving early I think, but I can tell them how it goes at least in the field. It's weird to be here. I sometimes look at myself in the mirror and almost laugh of joy and surrealism that I am wearing the tag now; it's not real yet. The days here are SO long and tiring. I feel like I've been here a month. I am so happy I am not going to be here for nine weeks, even if the field rushes in like raging water of trial and difficulty. It would be a long time. I think the hardest thing about the MTC for me is that it feels like regulated faith. I understand why it is that way and I can still learn so much, but I'm glad to leave a little early after working hard here. I feel like Alta put tags on and walked into the MTC. There are so many stories and personalities. I am not jealous of how some elders have responded; I pray they find strength in the confusion and overwhelming nature of missionary work initially. I certainly need to. It's so weird how young the sisters are. It's hard to explain but I don't like interacting with them haha. So I will email on Fridays and my new mailing address is the same but change AUG 12 to JUL 1 and change Unit 2 to Unit 73 or whatever. It might just be "2" but change it to "73." I think there is something like "Dear Elder" where you can write me without actually mailing a letter, I don't know. Thank you all for your advice that I got before coming. It has helped me be excited for what is ahead and dive in now. I know I am truly a representative of Christ and it has almost brought tears to my eyes thinking about that on several occasions. This really is my life now and I anticipate trying to enjoy every moment of it. The work is incredible and the things I have learned so far are really all I have to start with, so thank you all for what you taught me. Anyone coming out soon, remember that you come out with what you have and know and are, so make sure you are happy with that. It's funny to have to stop saying "guys" and other goofiness. I am already becoming dorky, things are funny to me that should not be funny. I love you all so much and I will be coming home from this a better version of myself, I can tell you that already. It's so funny how everything is versus what I thought it would be. Sorry if this letter is uber long, but I bet you all loved it. I love you all and know the Lord is sustaining me in every minute of this. I hope you can find the same in your own lives. Wow, this is all so crazy! Love, Elder Webb