June 29, 2009

I got your package, and enjoyed it very much! thank you. I only get e-mails on p-days, and I can only write on p-days, but I get letters and packages anytime! So keep the letters coming! So Things are going pretty well here....The work is moving foward! We (my companion and I) had this other missionary come and tract with us, and he had his mission extened 30 days, and he is like super cool! He set a baptismal date with this girl on her door step! So we learned alot from him! so We set a baptismal date with another girl yesterday on her doorstep, cause we are that cool! So theres that! It rain here everyday! Because of the heat and the humidity, there are thunderstorms everyday around the same time, and it rains hard!!! like floods the streets in minutes! and since Florida is completely flat, the water has no where to go but in the air again! haha! I miss mountains! but it's cool! Once I make it through this summer, I only have one more to get thruogh! I have been out for a month now!! only 23 more to go! haha! It has gone by super fast! is kewl! Well, no baptisms yet. But There is this super cool family in the ward, and they just barely got active in the church again, and they are super cool. They feed us all the time, and like become a family away from home! so sorry, but you have been replaced! JOKE! haha! but they are super cool. And we might get to go to the temple with them next month when they get sealed, if they get their temple recomends! sweet! huh? well I'm almost out of time! so.....bye! I love you all, and share this with the family! Elder Stander.

Letters???

I have gone a whole week here in florida with out letters! anyways, did you get my last e-mail with the picture of me with pres. and sis. Darrington? cause I sent it. I know I did. Well, been in Florida for a whole week, and have started actual missionary work! It's cool stuff. This week me and my companion (Elder Hansen from Iowa) made 160 contacts, and got 5 new investigators! this week we will be teaching them the first lesson! Oh boy! So theres that. If I have some super cool experiences I will share! I really want some letters! but whatever....take your time. my P-days are monday, and so I will write you then! ok I love you all bye!

Florida. . . . . Here I Am!!!! June 15, 2009

Well, I made it here safetly! The plane ride was intensely awesome! I think you'll be getting a picture of me and the mission president and his wife. Tomorrow we start the actual work! It is now real, at the MTC it hadn't sunk in that I was gone for two years. Now it has, and quite frankly, I'm terrified!! I don't think that talking to you guys on the phone helped either... But nothing I can do about it now. I just have to rely on the Lord, and push foward with faith! Florida is really warm and humid. I t will take some getting use to! Well My P-days are mondays, so I will write you then. I love you and will look foward to any letters or e-mails.

Elder Stander

ps. I think the picture is of me and Bro. adn Sis. Darrington....

Pictures and Letter from Luke - June 12, 2009

Back Row: Elder Peterson, Elder Keele, Elder Stringham, Elder Brown

Middle Row: Elder Carter, Elder Adams, ElderWarner, Elder Stander

Front Row: Elder Wood, Elder Dawson

Our Family at the MTC

Clint, Corgin, Katie, Merri, Luke, Dewey, Jake, Maddie and zygote in Maddie's belly

Dear Mom and Dad,

It's my second P-day & the days go by slow, but the weeks fly by!! So , that's sweet! I've been writing in my journal everyday even when I don't have much to write about.

I got to see Elder Bednar speak!!! for an MTC devotional!! It was sweet!! I am really gaining a pure love for people. . . it's nuts!! Enjoy!

I love you! & I am thankful for everything you've done!

Buh Bye!

ELDER LUKE STANDER

First E-mail

6/9/09

Well it is my second p-day here at the MTC! It has been pretty grand. I have learned sooo much and gained a even stronger testimoney, mostly in Christ Atonement and what it has done not only for me, but all of the human race!!! It is such a great atmosphere here! The food it easy to over-indulde on, and in one day I gained 5 pounds!! Of course I lost those five pounds the next day. I have learned some deep doctrine, and have thuroughly enjoyed it! Brother Bott gave us a lesson on the Plan of Salvation that blew my mind! then Brother Strong gave a priesthood lesson on the main principles of the gopel, but went way into depth! I have really enjoyed being able to attend the Provo Temple everyweek, and have felt the spitit there so strongly! I have enjoyed the letters and support I have recieved from everyone! Thank you!
I leave the MTC, this Monday, so I can no longer recieve the Dear Elders. so thats a bummer. I have alredy got my flight plans! I'm so excited to get to the mission field! Thanks for everything! I love you all! keep me informed with letters and pictures! I will try to write back to all, but can't make any promises!! Peace!

The First Informative Letter - June 2, 2009

I put in bold print what Luke had underlined and try to put it just the way he writes it, bad spelling and all.

Dear Mom and Dad,
Well, we only get to write letters on p-day! So here is my letter. I don't know if you heard, but the MTC is on lock down cause of 17 cases of the swine flu! The missionaries that were supposed to leave this week can't leave till June 13th so they have to stay like an extra two weeks! And the missionaries coming in are to be dropped off, and the parents can't come into the MTC building! It's kind-of intense! Good thing I got here when I did! We will still leave June 15th as far as I know.
The food here is pretty good, but I always over-indulge! I always eat way to much! I'm unna be fat!! ha ha
I have felt the spirit so strongly each day! I am loving it! Sunday was so so great! Priesthood meeting. . . . WOW! I learned that resurrection is actually a priesthood ordinance, and that husbands will resurrect their wives and fathers will resurrect their children!! Also God dwells in glory which is fire that consumeth all unclean things, and through the Atonement we receive glory and we are cleansed so we can dwell with God in Glory & Fire. There is a scripture that mentions it, I think it's in Hebrews, but not that sure. Plus after Christ was resurrected and Mary Magdalene was at the tomb, they embraced and the JST says that Christ said, "Hold me not" rather than "Touch me not" in John 20:17 (Hebrews 12:29 is that other scripture I mentioned) So I found that interesting!
My companion, Elder Lancaster Brown is nice and he is 6'6" tall, so we make quite the sight, I'm sure. Our district has gotten way tight! We all get along pretty well! So that's cool.
So I got Jake's letter, it was good! He bared his testimony and told me I owe him a slap! ha ha
Could you tell all my friends about the dearelder.com cause those are neat!
Thanks.
Love,
Elder Stander

First Letter Home

May 27th, '09

Dear Family,
So the first day was slow, but nice. They told us to write a letter back home tonight, so I am. I am almost more scared of the time here at the MTC, than I am of actual mission field. Here, both me and my companion are clueless and don't know what to expect. In the mission field (from what I understand) you have a Sr. companion that knows the things to do. Its pretty cool how close everyone is. If I can make it through these first couple of days, it should be easier. Some separation anxiety is going on, but its good as long as I don't think about it. I was made Sr. companion for the week, this Sunday me and my companion switch. It seems most of the elders here have girlfriends. . . but still haven't brought up that I have one. Just thought you should know. P-days are on Tuesdays so that is when I'll write letters. . . I don't know my MTC address. . . so. . . yeah. Thanks for everything. I will miss everyone. Tell them hi, and thank you. Hope to get lots of letters from everyone, and pictures too! If someone wants and will, I would appriciate if my MTC address was on my facebook account. I appriciate everything. Stay in touch!

Love,
Elder Stander

P.S. MTC address can be sent to friends. . . I would like some letters from everyone. . . thanks!

I hope they call me on a mission!

Here is how it all went down:

Luke recieved his mission call to the Florida, Orlando Mission. He was pretty excited!

We all went with him to the Idaho Falls Temple when he recieved his endowment. It was a great experience for all of us.
Soon, it came time to say good bye at the MTC on May 27. One last picture with Mom and Dad for two years!

Here he goes into the MTC, the special door for the new missionaries. He looks excited.

Mom pins on his tag and he starts to realize the weight of his decision. After a short orientation meeting, we told him good bye and he went on his way.

We'll keep you posted on what happens next.

(The rest of these posts will be from Luke's letters and emails.)