week# 64 -- lots of training and conferences this last week

Hello.

This week has also been a pretty packed one as well because our mission president was pretty much here all week long and we had a couple things that we had to do while he was here in Alto Hospicio!

Tuesday we had conference pretty much all day long. We had a conference with the zone in Iquique and with our zone with president. He talked a lot about suffering with joy and how we will come across times in the mission that are hard as well as in life and that we just have to always have joy even when we are in rough times. Suffer with joy! We also talked a lot about our savior and the importance that he has in our lives first. It was a really good conference that we had! I missed parts of it though being zone leader you have to make sure that everything is going well and have to prepare lunch for everyone and stuff like that so I missed out on a couple parts of the conference. Also Tuesday at night when we got back to our sector we found a family that we started to teach. They are pretty catholic but they´re nice. There are a ton of catholic´s here in Chile!

Then Wednesday was a pretty normal day. In the morning we planned out a zone attack in a sector that needed help finding new people to teach. So we all went there to go work in their sector and find new people to baptize! I went out and worked with Elder Wheelwright from Utah. He´s pretty cool and we found a few people to help out the sector of Las Americas! Then from there Wednesday was a normal day of just working and having meetings with out branch leaders.

Thursday we had interviews with President. He told me that I need to smile more and not look so serious lol. Better start smiling then 😁 But President is super cool! He´s awesome! Then we had companion exchange for the day and I went to work in Pozo Al Monte which is a small city outside of Alto Hospicio like 30 mins away. There are 2 elders there working. It´s a pretty cool but pretty small city. It was super windy there as well. I went and worked with Elder Schmid from Arizona. He´s got little time in the mission but he was fun to work with. As a leader you always have to give the example and give the other missionaries the vision of what they need to do and their purpose as a missionary. Especially the newer missionaries. It´s always good being able to go and work with other missionaries!

Friday I honestly don´t remember what happened.........................

Saturday we had a super important meeting with our mission president and every branch president and the distrct president and all the leaders from here in Alto Hospicio. A lot of the leaders had a ton of questions and stuff that was happening with all the new changes that have been happening here in the mission with the new mission president and with the changes of everything. It was funny, president told them "Here are the Zone Leaders to answer all of your questions". So we had to answer a lot of questions that they asked us. A lot of the questions were about the asistence that people need to be baptized and a few other things about the investigators and stuff like that. But then at the end with like 30 mins remaining president took the time and pretty much just roasted everyone lol. It was super good. I got to see president is action and in his fullness. I felt like I was trasfigurated in his presence when he started to talk. It was really really cool. But the good thing is that the leaders want to do what it right and they were willing to listen and get rid of their doubts that they had and clear a few things up. There were so many different things that happened in this meeting that I could just sit and talk about but I don´t really have the time to do so but it was really good and I also learned a lot from President. Also after the meeting we talked for like a minute and told us that he loves meetings like that because he knows the church and how it works and everything and knows how to control things and roast people lol. It was super good. He also asked us a question that really touched me a lot as well. He asked us "What is the main objective as a mission president?" We told him to baptize or something like that but his answer was a lot different than I thought. He told us "My main objective is to save you guys"(you guys as in the missionaries). President is super awesome!

Then Sunday we had district conference which is stake conference but it´s not a stake yet. President also talked there, president is super powerful! But the conference was pretty good. All the missionaries had to watch it from a different room on the television because it was packed that there wasn´t room for everyone to sit so all the missionaries went out and we watched it from the tv that they had setup with the camera in the sacrament room. Then from there it was pretty much just a normal day of working. We went out with Brother Marcos at night. He took us around a couple places around his house to visit people that the missionaries used to pass by or people that he knew around there. He knows a ton of people! We seriously found a ton of new people to start teaching thanks to Marcos! He is super awesome! I wish that all the members were like that!!

And that was pretty much my week just another week here in the field working in the lords vineyard!

Yeah our area has a lot of less actives! I feel like in every single area around the world there are a lot of less actives. Especially here in Chile there are a ton. Like for example there are like 850 members in the system and only like 110 go to church lol so there are a lot of less actives here. And that is only in our sector! But we have to start working a lot more with the less actives and then we will have more baptisms!

No we didn´t break the beds tossing them out the window lol. We had a couple people below that caught them as we handed it to them from the second floor. I probably got a good 10 new ties lol. They are actually really nice ties. They are skinny ties which I didn´t have a lot of before. I actually really like skinny ties. They look a lot better!

That´s awesome that you were able to confirm this Sunday!! Keep it up! Share the gospel with everyone!  Remember that no one can be saved, only through covenants like baptism! There are a lot of people that listen to the message of the gospel but only listening to the gospel won´t save them. It is those who take the steps to baptism! I´ve had to confirm quite a few people in my mission! It´s a really cool experience and it´s awesome that you were able to do so! Now your goal is to baptize someone!!

I have no clue... maybe my hair is getting lighter because of the sun. It could also be because I haven´t been using gel now. I don´t really like using gel now. I just put my hair up with water then just let it go pretty much. Maybe it could be that but I have no clue.

Well I´ve got to get going! Thanks for everything and for always keeping me updated with things! Love you guys a ton! Good luck in everything this week! Hope you have a great week!! I should have a pretty chill week I hope! Maybe some baptisms as well!

Love
Elder Newkirk

Pics: Elder Howe and Elder Gali! I was in the MTC with them. They are from my group!

Week #5 Leaving in 4 days to Chile!

Yeah Esteban is the best and I'll definitely miss him.

Yeah I got the care package last week. It was orange crush and the Pringles. I also got a huge package from Grandma/pa Newkirk. I'm set for the rest of the time here in the CCM, which is only 4 more days. Some people receive some things, but I definitely get more than others. Thank you everyone who sent me a package I really appreciate it.

The Book of Mormon is easily my favorite book. I finished reading it last Sunday and I always learn so much from reading it. I can't wait to start reading it again with a question in my mind the whole time while reading it. I have learned so much while here at the CCM. One devotional that we listened to in our class that was like 30 minutes long was called Why 1820 by Hyrum Smith. He gave a devotional to why the Church was restored in 1820 and how perfectly the timing was for everything to happen. I thought I knew why 1820 but after watching this devotional I learned so much more and I would recommend watching it when you have 30 minutes. Another devotional we heard this week was from the President of the CCM President Tenorio. He talked about specific prayers and how we can make prayer super specific and ask for things to the tee. He shared a lot of different experiences he had about using specific prayers and some of the stories were really cool. 

Now for some funny things that I learned this week in the scriptures. In Helaman 10:16-17, Nephi receives the ability to pretty much teleport. In Alma 31:36, Alma just starts high fiving people and giving them the Spirit. And one last thing is in 2 Kings 2:23-25. This is just some crazy story in the Bible that we were all laughing at. There is so many crazy things that just happen everywhere in the scriptures.

So I received my flight information and I do leave on the 8th. Our flight leaves at 7:30pm to Santiago. We get into Santiago at about 6:30am with the time change. Then from Santiago we have a flight at 9:30 to go to Antofagasta. Then we arrive in Antofagasta at 11:30. So there is going to be some crazy jet lag after. I honestly have no clue how they do it when I get to Antofagasta but I guess I'll find out when I get there. All I know is that we fly in with everyone. We fly to Santiago with all the missionaries going to Chile. So there is a good 20-25 of us on the flight to Santiago. Then from Santiago we all split up into what mission we are going to. There are 9 of us going to Antofagasta and leaving on Monday and I get to be the travel leader for the missionaries going to Antofagasta. So pretty much just make sure everyone gets to Antofagasta. But it should be a lot of fun and I can't wait to leave. Another thing about leaving is that right after I leave Elder Oaks is coming to the CCM that Sunday which is such a bummer. It would have been really cool to learn from an Apostle of God and I wish he was coming this Sunday instead.

Well next time you'll hear from me is in Chile. I'm not sure if I'll be able to call you or not I haven't heard anything about being able to. Love you guys a lot! 

Love 

Elder Newkirk

 Also here is a picture of all of me and my companions JuMex bottles. JuMex is a really good drink here and I'm in love with them.

This is the gym here at the CCM

Week #4 Time flies in the CCM

Everything's going well here at the CCM! Learning is going great, I'm learning so much and so fast. Every week the Spanish gets better and better. I can understand Spanish really well and I can have conversations. It is definitely getting easier as the weeks go on but I know when I get to Chile it will be completely different. I can do pretty much everything in Spanish that I need to do. I can pray, share testimony, and teach lessons. But there is still sooo much that I still need to learn though, still a lot of words to learn and a ton of grammar. The gift of tongues is definitely real, but I have learned it isn't a gift that happens all the time when you want it to. You have to prepare yourself and do all that you can then that is when the Holy Ghost steps in and helps.

It doesn't feel like the CCM is that ginormous. Everything is pretty close to where we sleep except for out casa is the furthest casa away from absolutely everything. It is in the back corner of the CCM. But there isn't a ton of walking and the shoes are fine. I've been just wearing my slip on shoes because it is more work to tie my shoes. 

Geez Golden State is on there way to beating the Bulls amazing record. That would be awesome if they did. That's awesome that the Thunder are also doing really well. Hopefully they'll keep it up and maybe take that championship away from the Warriors. Wow I'm surprised that the Jazz still suck, I thought they would be doing better than the Warriors haha. That's cool that Denver made it to the super bowl, has Manning been playing? Should be a good game. 

I haven't gotten your care package yet from you guys. It will probably be here tomorrow or by the latest Monday because they are closed on the weekends. Also Grandma N sent me an email saying that she ordered me some things as well. Thanks!

I really don't know what I want. The only thing that I'm wishing that I brought was a sweatshirt because it is pretty cold today in Mexico City and I only have shorts and short sleeve shirts. But I'll probably just buy a cool one once I get to Chile. 

So actually Esteban sent us the pictures that I think he posted on his Instagram so I'll be sending those to you guys. But his Instagram is Estebannava if you want to look at his Instagram. 

Elder Newkirk's district and Esteban Nava

Elder Newkirk's district and Esteban Nava

There are so many spiritual experience that happen here all the time. This is the perfect place to grow your testimony and learn so much to be ready for the field. Sunday's are definitely the best spiritual days here at the CCM. There are many different devotional and classes which are all super amazing. Sunday's are like the spiritual paycheck for the week. Like this Sunday we listened to a devotional given by Elder Holland at the Provo MTC a few years ago. He talked about how much you need to know as a missionary and how much you need to prepare. It made me want to just sit and read scriptures and stuff all day, but there just isn't time. His talk made me want to work even harder as a missionary and to do all that I can to be ready to help any investigator that I meet. Also throughout the CCM I have been reading the Book of Mormon. I started reading it a couple weeks ago and I'm already in 3 Nephi. This has been the fastest the I have read the scriptures and I absolutely love reading the scriptures now. Almost every spare opportunity of studying that I get I am reading the Book of Mormon. We also heard a devotional given by Elder Bednar a couple weeks ago in which he challenged us to get a simple paperback Book of Mormon and read it with one question in your mind. As you read it you mark scriptures that apply to your question that you have. He said that if you start doing this now by the time that we are his age that we will have a bookshelf full of just Book of Mormons that have been marked for specific questions. After I have finished reading just normally I'm going to try and start doing this. I already and a paperback Book of Mormon ready to go. But I have learned so much here and am constantly learning more each and every day. I love it here but I'm also just ready to leave and go out to the field.

It's so crazy how fast time flys. This is my second to last P-day here at the CCM. I only have one more full week before I leave to Chile. I can't wait to get out there and actually become a missionary and teach people. It seriously has felt like I haven't even been here that long but when I think about last week or something it felt like forever ago. Like last week I went to the temple but when I think back to it, it felt like I went a month ago. Time here is crazy and makes no sense. But I absolutely love every second of it!

Yo se que la Iglesia es verdadero. Se que José Smith fue una profeta de Dios. Se que el Libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios. I would keep going but I am almost out of time and I have to send pictures and email a couple people back. Love you guys so much!

Love

Elder Newkirk

Week #3 Visit to the Mexico City Temple

Haha nice Spanish. Definitely not like being in it day in and day out. It's kind of been getting easier but still pretty hard. Once I get to Chile Ill have to pretty much relearn the Spanish and adapt to how they speak. 

I was able to go to the temple today! It is such a beautiful temple and the rooms inside were huge. All of the temple stuff is free for missionaries so that was nice. We were able to listen to the session in English but after the video it was all in Spanish, which was pretty hard but really cool to do. No matter what temple you go to, you get the same feeling every time. It was really cool being able to actually leave the MTC. The temple in only like 10 miles away but takes like an hour to get there because of all the cars and traffic. I got some really good pictures while at the temple though.

I also got a haircut at the haircut place today. The haircuts are free but you dont have any choice with you hair. You walk in sit down and they start cutting your hair to mission standards. I was nervous at first because you know how I am with my hair, but  it was actually really good. Not going to lie probably one of the best haircuts that Ive gotten. The lady that did my hair did a really good job and definitely knows how to cut hair. 

So we have Estebans instagram but it is currently in the casa so Ill have to send it to you guys in a little in a separate email but ill get it to you. So what I think that Esteban does it just find a new group of missionaries to be friends with when his old missionary friends leave and we just happened to be that new group of missionaries. But hes been gone most of this week for some reason so he hasnt really made anything for us but its all good.

Sucks to hear that the Seahawks lost last week. I have one question about the sports world. How are the Warriors doing? When I left they were like 20 something-1 so how are they doing now? Still destroying the league?

I definitely enjoyed those Krispy Kremes that you sent me and was able to share them. I took a picture of the box because it was pretty cool and send it to you guys. But I dont have a picture of me "enjoying" them. If I did I would totally send it.

We are in class like all day long. about 12 hours every single day except P days and Sundays. Our schedule is packed every hour of every day as well, so constant work. Just the same old same old sports. Soccer, basketball, volleyball, whatever. We have actually been playing some soccer with the Latinos which has been a ton of fun. They actually left this Monday though so we havent played this week with any Latinos but I did get a picture with them that Ill be sending as well. But we sometimes play some sports with the Hermanas it just has to be non contact sports, but it doesnt happen a lot. And yeah we do pretty much everything as a district which is pretty cool.

Good luck this weekend with cheer Hailey! Hopefully you and your team will do well, and by do well I mean take first place. Have fun this weekend, wish I was there with you guys or I was there so I could watch Calvin.

Anyways love and miss you all as well.

Love 

Elder Newkirk

Playing soccer with the Latinos! Looks fun!

Box of Krispy Kreme's we ordered for Jordan

Mexico City Temple

Elder Newkirk in front of Mexico City Temple

Angel Moroni with the plates

Elder Newkirk, Elder Wild and Elder Jennings

Elder Newkirk and his district

Week #2

Yeah I got your guys carepackage. Thanks for the beef jerky! It was gone by the end of the day though. Things are still going good, the language is getting there. I can understand Spanish really well but speaking it is still hard, it's hard to think of words on the spot. We got 2 new "investigators" this week that we have been teaching and they have been going well. I still use notes while teaching but it is definitely getting better.

Sounds like I am missing out on some good football games. Wish I could watch them. Hopefully the Seahawks win this weekend. Go Hawks!

Companionship is going good, Elder Wild is crazy good at Spanish and totally carries the lessons. We mess around a lot and have a lot of fun. In our casa there are a ton of other Elders that we always hang out with at night. They were thinking of moving all the mattresses out in the living room area but hopefully that doesn't happen.

Haha funny thing that you asked about Esteban. Yesterday during dinner he told us to save some room. After we ate he took us back in the kitchen and gave us some snicker doodles with strawberry ice cream in the middle, which was amazing. Esteban wants to take a picture with me and my companions and post it to his instagram so I will have to learn what his instagram is and tell you guys.

The blog is perfectly fine, I saw it and it looks good to me. 

So I am not totally sure when I leave the MTC. I know I either leave Feburary 8, 9, or 10th. I dont think we learn our flight schedule until like the week before we leave or something like that. I am thinking that I leave on the 9th but im not 100% sure. Im pretty sure that we fly to Santiago first, which is like an 11 hour flight, then we fly to Antofagasta. We go to Santiago first to apply for those temporary visa. I wouldnt send anything to the MTC down here because it takes way too long and I dont want the package to show up when I have already left. It has happened multiple times where the missionary leaves and the package shows up like the next day. But that one service is really good and works, I got your package on Monday and I got the letter on Tuesday. 

Getting up in the morning hasnt been a problem at all, there hasnt been one morning where ive struggled to get up. But we listen to that alarm clock song every single morning which is getting annoying but its funny. But yeah getting up has been really easy and good. The only thing is, is that we have to be ready and out the door by 7 which doesnt give us a lot of time to get ready.

The devotional this Tuesday was actually a live broadcast from the Provo MTC. Elder Anderson of the 12 spoke to us which was really cool. He talked about how missionaries need to teach the doctrine of Christ and how important it is to remember that you represent Christ. It was a really good talk but I don't have my notes on me. And yes I have been writing in my journal every night, dont worry.

So the other night I had one of the most crazy experiences and will probably be the best experience here at the MTC. So some backstory first. So on Sunday after one of our meetings we were on our way to class. One of the old Elders was driving by in his Golf Cart, Im not sure if he was called to serve in the MTC or if he is a missionary or what. But he offered us a ride along with 2 other missionaries. It was really funny and cool he drove us right on the sidewalks, right to our classroom. Then we didnt really think of it much. But this Tuesday one of the missionaries that rode with us (Elder Howard) in the golf cart had to stay with us for the night because the rest of his district left and he left on Wednesday. So while we were moving his luggage from the Dorms all the way to our casa the same Elder offered us a ride in his golf cart with the luggage. When we got to our casa he asked if he could come in and share something with us. So we went in and sat in the living room area. He said that he felt the impression to give us a ride and share some stories with us. He shared three stories and a scripture with us. Everything tied together so well and the Spirit was so strong. I dont have time to share all the three stories but the scripture that he shared with us was D&C 84 (colon, cant figure out where the colon is on a spanish keyboard) 88. The scripture talks about how the Lord will always be with us on our right side, on our left, and in our heart and angels all around you. While he was speaking I felt these angels and it was something that Ive never felt before. The feeling that I had is so hard to explain but it was really cool. I know that the Lord is always with me and angels are all around me at all times and that I will always be protected. But what are the odds of us running into him again in his golf cart and with the same missionaries that he gave a ride on Sunday.

Ive actually heard some things about my new mission president that will be coming in this June. I have heard that he is awesome and a really cool guy. So I cant wait to meet him as well as meeting the Daltons.

If so me and Trenton might be leaving out to the field about the same week or really close which is awesome. But ill definitely have to email him.

Well I love you guys so much and miss all of you! 

Love,

Elder Newkirk

Note by Jason --

**** If you would like to send a care package that will usually get delivered next day to Jordan, this is the service we've used and it's great! Also you can send letters through this site as well.

http://www.mtcmexicocarepackage.com/home.html

Here are his photos from this week as well. We are anxious to learn about the box on his head...lol