WEEK 1 HMTC - Adjusting to Home Missionary Training Center
Hola amigos y familia!
So first off, I'm sorry for writing this a little late because my p-day is actually on Wednesday and I was like "oh my gosh I need to write my email!" Haha so this is my first email! I'll be writing them on Wednesdays from now on.
The MTC has been crazy and hard. It's so much information all at once and every day feels really long. But, I know it's good for me. I've learned so much spanish in just the past week it's insane. I had a small moment where I felt the gift of tongues just a few days ago! The teacher asked me to speak and we were pretending like we were setting a time to meet up. So, I wanted to say "8pm,' but I didn't know how to say the letters "pm" in spanish, so I just let the words come out and I said it correctly in spanish! It's pronounced "ocho pay emay." I know it's just a little thing but it was cool how I'd never known how to pronounce the letters in the spanish alphabet. I've memorized several scripture verses and a lot of passages from Preach my Gospel in Spanish. I am so grateful for the gift of tongues and for this amazing opportunity to do the MTC online.
Well, that's the sum-up for this week! Thank you guys for being a part of my life! I am so pumped to be a missionary and I can't wait to see what the future and the Lord holds for me. Love you all!
-Elder Chamberlain
WEEK 2 HMTC- Home MTC and My Companion
Hola! This has been another week of working every day about 12 - 13 hours a day every day and it's starting to tire me out! I've just been trusting in the Lord as I learn spanish every day and how to teach people. From all my friends who are serving missions as well, I know that the MTC is just the beginning and it's tough and time-consuming, but the real fun starts once you get onto the field. I had another really cool gift of tongues experience this week, which was awesome. I'm memorizing about 50 new spanish words and 5 new phrases a day. Sometimes it gets really tiring and my companion likes to talk a lot so I've had to keep him on track so that my days don't become 14-hour days haha. I've taught lessons to several members from Mexico already and that is my favorite thing to do! Well, as long as they're nice haha.
That's basically it for this past week, so I'm excited for week 3. Love you all!
WEEK 3 HMTC- Halfway Mark for Home MTC
Hola everyone! Wednesday marked the halfway point for my Online MTC! I also got a call yesterday saying that I am going to the Mexican consulate on Monday, and I will be able to fly straight to Mexico after my MTC is over! I am SO excited to actually be able to go to Mexico!
This week has been amazing! I'm starting to get used to these daily habits and I'm starting to reap the benefits of studying every day. Even though I'm nowhere close to being able to have a fluent conversation with a native speaker, I can hold a small conversation and teach some lessons about the Gospel.
Last night I had the opportunity to go shotgun shooting with my ward's priest quorum. I'm so glad I had this opportunity because as far as I know, that could be the last time I get to do a priest activity before my mission.
I love all of you and thank you so much for all the support from you! I'll see you next week!
WEEK 4 HMTC - Mexican Consulate and Receiving Flight Plans
Hola Amigos y familia!
It's already the end of week 4! So, this week was pretty eventful! On monday, I got to drive to Salt Lake City and go through the Mexican Consulate, and I got to see some other missionaries! I saw about 4 other missionaries who are going to my same mission and it was really cool to meet them. I'm also going to be seeing an elder in my district on the flight to Queretaro. So I'm stoked!
I also had the opportunity to give a blessing to my grandma on Monday. It was very special because it was my first blessing ever given to someone. I can't wait to go out and bless the lives of so many others. I also had the opportunity to go have lunch with one of my best friends. It was awesome and I'm gonna miss my friends SO much.
I'm also starting to get used to this missionary thing! Even though I'm busy 24/7, I'm finding that the times that I'm not busy, I try to find something productive to do haha! I'm seriously trusting in the Lord a TON and it's starting to get real! I leave in just 12 days from now! It's crazy. Anyways, I love all of you and please email me! I want to hear from all of you. Love you!
WEEK 5 HMTC - Last Week in the Home MTC
AMIGOS Y FAMILIA!!!
It's literally SO crazy how fast time has gone these past 3 weeks. Time really does fly by when you're serving the Lord and giving Him your all. I've had such an amazing district and my companion and I have gotten along really well. Although there are definitely things that could be better, obviously, I know that God wants me to be out of my comfort zone, because He wants to see me grow.
These past few days have been full of hanging out with family and friends and having some good times, whether it's over the phone or in-person. I've been asking a lot of missionaries for ways that I can find mission-approved music to listen to, because if you know me well, I can't survive a day without having some sort of music to listen to! Haha!
In all seriousness, I'm really nervous about going to Mexico, but I am so excited. I'm going to miss everything about Utah, from the weather, to seeing the beautiful mountains every day. I am also going to miss my family a TON, but I'm extremely grateful that I can FaceTime them once a week now!
Well, I'm off to go pack my bags! And my emails will probably get a little longer because I'll have some real stories to tell that will be more exciting than just sitting in a chair (hopefully). Haha! Well, I love you guys so much! Seriously! And thank you for all the support! By Tuesday night this next week, I'll be in Queretaro, Mexico! Woohoo!
p.s. This is a picture of where I've been hunkering-down in for the past 6 weeks, with notes, books, and snacks, and all.
Blessing to Elder Spencer Chamberlain
From his father, Tom Chamberlain
March 15, 2021
Spencer Michael Chamberlain, by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, I lay my hands upon your head and give you a blessing; a father’s blessing and a blessing of comfort while you embark on this mission for the Church. Spencer, at this time I bless you to ease your mind about some of the anxieties, fears, and feelings that you may have in your heart.
I bless you that you will learn this language, that the language will be sweet to you. That you will study daily for it and that you will find that it’s a comfort for you. I bless you that you will find time to study the gospel, that you will make gospel study a regular part of your day and that you will fall in love with the Book of Mormon and the other scriptures; that you will find meaning in them and you will find that they are useful in your daily life. You will be able to reflect back on those times, what you have learned from the Spirit and you will use those throughout your life as you lead your family and others.
Spencer, I bless you that you will be able to listen to your mission president and that you will be able to love him and his wife and that they will be able to give you counsel and be a blessing in your life as you serve with them. I bless you to repent daily; that you will know that missionary service is not about perfection, but it is about you becoming steadfast and striving each day to do your best. As each day you try that, you will come closer to the feeling of being closer to your Savior, and that you won’t get down on yourself on days when you may not have done your best, but you will pick yourself back up and that you will continue on.
I bless you that you will find people that you love in the areas that you serve. I bless you that you will find them on the streets and in their homes and in the stores, in all places that you go. I bless you that you will look upon these people and not see them as they are, but as they can become. I bless you with that same vision for your companions, that as you seek out the good in your companions and see what is good about them; that you will see their potential and see what God sees in them.
I bless you that you will have patience and kindness and love in your heart as you interact with companions, roommates, and ward members, mission leaders, and so many people . . . that you will find that you love them because God loves them. I bless you to know that the Gospel is true. I bless you to have a burning testimony and that you will be able to share it both in spirit and in the language that you are learning. I bless you to use your music and that your music will transcend any language; that you will be able to bless and testify. The music will have the spirit to convert.
I bless you to find joy in this service. Find joy in teaching. Find joy in talking to others and in sharing, no matter the outcome. Find joy in serving your Heavenly Father.
I bless you with safety, that you will be able to return home safely and that no long-term illness or disease will befall you. I bless you to feel safe and to feel the love of God with you. I bless you to know that you are not alone. That you have family, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, many other family members, ward family, and friends who are praying for you, who want you to do your best. They are pulling, tugging and thinking about you. I bless you to know that they are there to help you and that the spirit is there. You will have help on both sides of the veil as you go throughout your mission and serve Him to the best of your ability.
These blessings, along with the other blessings that your Heavenly Father will give to you throughout this mission that will be useful throughout your life, I bless you with in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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