Happy Thanksgiving from Elder Athans

Hello all from the great state of Utah

Tudo bem

This week has truely blessed me. Sunday, we heard from Stephen Allen who works at the missisonary department for the church. Then, Tuesday for devotional we had Dallin H. Oaks come, which was amazing. Seeing the apostles in the MTC is neat because they really are not as formal and can say a lot more stuff.

Thanksgiving was good. I am not gonna lie, I do find myself missing dads croissant turkey sandwich. They are way good. But, like Nehemiah I am doing a great work, so I cannot come down. The food was good.
Mom, I have gained about 9 lbs which is really scary to me. Haha, I usually run about 2 miles a day.

Thanksgiving was good. We had a devotional, a fireside, and service project. The devotional speaker brought me close to tears because it was........Jeffrey R. Holland...one of my favorite speakers. He was amazing. The spirit was so strong. I was really touched by a presentation showing the humanitarian services by the church. It answers the question.... yes, i am my brothers keeper. It really did bring me close to tears...which rarely happens.

Well i will add more later....we only get 30 minutes timed to email on P=day. That is why my letters are not longer. I will do my best. I should have more time later in the afternoon. Thanks for the emails.

Peace

Hello from the MTC-11/20/09

Hello family,

Tudo Bem

I have my pday today. I am using half of my internet time to write, and then i will check to see if you wrote me back.

This week has honestly been tough. The hardest part thus far has been having to live with a companion. I am a lot of times very individualistic, so yeah. I have been praying to work on that. It will get better though because I have the lord on my side. If God is for us, then who can be against us?

I like the MTC. It is fun. It really is work. But, the outpouring of the spirit is amazing. Sunday, we got to hear from Sherri Dew. She is very neat and her testimony really helped and gave me some good ideas for study. Tuesday we had Bishop Edgley and his wife speak to us. He spoke about the impact of missionary work. I like the scripture from Isaiah 61:1 because it really defines what missionary work is and who all it helps.

I have not seen Allen yet. I want to. I think it would help you know seeing family and all.

One truth i have learned this week was from one of my districts teachers. His name is Brother Flanigan. He bore powerful testimony of study journals. it totally changed my outlook on studying. He explained it like this. God loves everyone the same; but, he doesn't trust everyone the same. How do we show him that we are worthy of his trust? We write down revelations or promptings from the spirit and act on them. I have noticed as i write down every prompting I recieve and do them that father is willing to bless us with me and we feel of his love. i know that this is truth becuase i can feel the holy ghost testify to me of this truth.

Family thank you so much for your support to me these past 19 years. Pray for me often. especially for patience. I try to remember you guys as much as i can. How is TJ? What is his email? Mom, email me the rest of the families emails. The language is coming well enough. I can pray, testify and write sentences in Portuguese. I can feel the spirit teaching or helping me with the porteuguese language.

There were 700 new missionaries this week. Poor kids, I remember what it was to be like them. Haha, I have tried to help them out as much as i can.

How is the house? Dad, please dont forget to send me pics.

I see a lot of people from EFY and BYUI. infact two people i went to EFY with are in my branch. There are a lot of elders and sisters waiting on visas for brazil. I was taught and I believe this to be true, that father has a plan for us his children. There is a reason that i am in Provo at this time. I dont know why yet but there is. Itis weird to think that Thanksgiving is this week. I am gonna miss being home, but i know i am doing a great work and cannot come down... to quote Nehemiah.

Use Dearelder.com everyday if you can. Tell everyone to. It really helps me and motivates me.

Give Tazie a hug and kiss for me

That is all for now. Eu seu que Jesus Cristo e O Salvador e O filho de Deus.

Te Amo

Oi from Provo 11/14/09

Tudo Bem?

I am doing well. I really am having a great time here in the Provo Missionary Training Center. There really is an abundance of the Lords espirito here. I have some really otimo teachers. I have already learned a lot. I am sorry mother that I would not talk you; but, remember I get blessings for obedience. If I get blessings that means you blessings as well.

I have a pretty awesome companion. His name is Elder McQuivey. He is from Vernal, Utah. He is computer geek so we actaully get along pretty well. I am glad for this time that I get to serve the Lord.

I probably will gain weight. I feel like I already have. I have a big glass of choclate milk every meal. So, I proabably will get fat.

I was asked to serve as the Senior companion. I was in President Wilkson's branch but, however I will be in a new one because the mtc is growing because the visa problems.

I am trying to be the best that I can. I am trying to turn my will over to the Lord.

How is North Carolina?

I have recieved 3 letters. One from Mom, one from Amy and one from a friend from college. This is a pic of my Companion and myself.

I will write you next friday that is my regualar Pday. I ran into Elder Cyrier. and some other elders I went to college with.

Eu Seu que Joseph Smith e um profeta.

All My Love

Elder Athans

P.S. No pics today...I will try to send some. All my Love

The End of an Era: The Zach Athans Story

I enjoyed my days in the youth program at church. I really did. I knew most people in the stake. I felt I was generally wanted at the activities by my peers.

Well, yesterday I think it finally dawned on me that I really am not a youth anymore.

Here is the scenerio.

I get a text and it said paraphrasing a little "Tyler says get your butt over here" (It was the Charlotte South Stake annual Zions camp). I informed the textee that I was out of town. The textee then responds "My bad. I meant to txt a different zach."

Its offical goodbye youth and hello adulthood (even though I have been adult for a year+)

A Bunch of Random Thoughts I feel that need to be expressed in the form of blog

#1--We had stake conference...it was amazing the spirit was just about ready to explode. I kept thinking a lot about my mission during this time. Now that I am in the home stretch I guess you could say, I really am starting to get pumped. People ask me if I scared and I very quickly respond NO. I remind them that fear is the opposite of faith. However, there are a few things that I am nervous (being nervous and being scared are two totally different things) about: being in a new country, eating food in a new country and how my body responds to it, and learning freaking Portuguese. I am ready to leave tho.

#2--When I get back everything will be different. I thought about this when I was at my best friend copes last night. We were talking about how big Cheeks (Presley) had gotten in two years and then how when I get back his 7 month year old be as big as Cheeks who is 2. I really did get to thinking about how different everything will be when I get back. I think things change fast now and everyone is getting married just wait till I am away for two years. Change is good but I must say I will miss being eye witness to it.

#3--If anyone watched to The Office it was amazing...if that was the last one I saw till I got back...I would still be laughing

#4--I was thinking about why I might have been doomed to a four month wait for my mission. Other than the Lord having is timeing for me I know another reason. A while back I prayed about something and I did not listen to the answer. It took a while and I believe that Lord wanted to show me that by following Him the first time...I would not have had to wait 8 months and see that his ways were better from the get go...YOU LIVE AND LEARN

Service and The Book of Mormon

As I was watching and listening to General Conference today, I was deeply touched by two talks. The first was by our beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is a prophet who's theme will be, I believe, all about service to others. He is great example of that just like the Master. His talk inspired me to make it a point each and every day to provide some amount of service to my brothers and sisters. It reminds me of the Boy Scouts of America slogan, "Do a Good Turn Daily" Me being an eagle scout still need to carry on and live those princples. I know Father will be bless us as we do this because a prophet of God has said, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of you God" This is my goal for the upcoming days, weeks and years.





My second impression came from the testimony of Jeffrey R. Holland, who is an apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He bore POWERFUL witness of The Book of Mormon. I think it is important for me because I will soon be baring my witness to the divinity of this book as well. As I was reading in the Book of Mormon this evening a witness came to by the spirit once again testifying of its truthfullness. To all my blog reading sphere (which is not a lot of people) I want all you know that I KNOW the Book of Mormon is real. That is does indeed stand with the Bible in baring witness and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. That Christ did visit his people in the land we now call the Americas. That we organized his church among them as he did with his apostles in Jersalem. That it was preserved through the ages and that Joseph Smith, that hero of mine, did translate it through the gift and power of God. I have a testimony of all the holy scriptures. I know that God speaks. Not that he spake but that He speaks. I have heard his prophets speek this weekend and I know their words to be true. My hope and prayer is that my faith will be like that of the prophets of old as I soon embark on this Mission for my Father. All I can do is to "Search Diligently, Pray Always and be believing and all things shall work together for your good." It is my faith that as I always rely on Father and Jesus Christ they will support in all that I do.






Joseph Smith Jr. Said, "Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad."
Shall we not go on?

Twilight: A Four Month Journey

So, I need to state some facts for the record about Stephanie Meyers Twilight series. I have offically read Twilight. It only took my four months to do so but I did. That is a lot coming from a person that does not read ever ever ever ever ever ever. (You think I had enough evers memoried). I flew back from SLC and the entire plan ride I read Twilight. I actually finished it as well. I will admit it is not half bad. I enjoyed it because I was a nice quick and easy read. Just by admiting these facts I have lost any man point I ever had or will hope to have. Since I have already lost them, here is what I go from Twilight. It is a decent love story. I am a guy; but, I do like a good love story. Hence why "Love Story" by Taylor Swift is one of my favorite songs. I like most people want a happy ending (a Sugarland reference). I believe and will still hold true that Edward Cullen is totally a creeper. I mean he seems like a pretty legit guy but still a creeper. Out of all the characters in the narrative I identify with Bella. It might just because she is the primary character or the narrrative is told from her point of view anyways. I guess I identify with a lot of her same personality traits and such....Holy Crap I will never live this down for admitting this especailly on my my blog. Oh well It is all facts. For the Record...I am already 125 pages into New Moon after only reading it one day. Ta.






P.S. I did get paid 20 bucks for reading the book....and will get 5 dollars for watching the movie.