July 29, 2009

(Email from Trevor to his mom)

Momma!

Thanks for the e-mail! If you could let everyone know about DearElder.com, that is a great way to send me typed letters (the word for that in spanish, by the way, is cartas. Mail is correo). I don't have a whole lot of time on the computer so I prefer e-mail to not be the main way of communication. The system here kicks me off after exactly 30 minutes. I'll have to figure out how to print e-mails so I can log off and not use my time while I read the letters.

I'm glad to hear the family is doing well and that you and the rest of the family got to see so many relatives! I'm sorry that I couldn't be there but I have to say there is no place I'd rather be than here (except for perhaps Chile hehe). I'm sorry to hear about Grandma's condition, but as I've been reading in the scriptures diligently the past few weeks I've learned and re-learned a lot about God's plan for all of us and I don't fear for her at all. I know she'll be in good hands once her time on this earth is finished. It is always sad to think of the passing of a loved one, but we can have comfort in the knowledge, as you said, of an afterlife where we will all be able to live as one happy family with our Heavenly Father. Tengo que decir que estudiando el evangelio en español es muy bien para mi testimonio. Puedo expresarme como no pude antes de mi misión. Estoy agradecido por mi llamamiento misional y todo que puedo hacer y tener por eso. Es bien que quiere practicar su español, es la idioma mejor del mundo! Le amo con todo me corazón y también para la oportunidad para servir nuestro Señor. That should give you a little spanish to read! Well, I'd better go. My time on the computer is just about up. I love you very much and look forward to hearing from you more!

-Elder Vincent

PS. Make sure everyone knows about DearElder.com. I do NOT want e-mail to be the main form of communication because of the time restriction. Thank you!

Trevor sent this as a second email:

Ok, so I found out how to print e-mails and such here. So if family members wish to email me, they can. Please let my friends and other family members know about DearElder.com, though. Ok, I'm going for real this time. I only have 2 minutes left! Ahhh! Love you!

-Elder Trevor Vincent

July 22, 2009

(Letter from Trevor to the Vincent family)

Let me just start off by saying THANK YOU for all the packages you have sent me. It's been great to get some lovin' from home (even though I am going to have to share some of those cookies to get them all eaten before they dry out!) I may be sending the temple bag home as it is likely that I won't be going to the temple on my mission, it's too far away from my mission and there's only one temple in Chile (it's in Santiago and it is GORGEOUS. Look at some pictures). Thanks for the tape recorder and extra garments, those will really come in handy. If you could also keep sending me stamps that would be great - I picked up a package of about 100 envelopes in the bookstore the other day so I think I'll be set for my MTC stay in that area. I haven't really been getting any mail so far, so it's good to hear about all the goings on in the family. I did hear from Jasmine and Sara McGhie though, so that was good. Has anyone gotten in contact with Brenda for me? I would really like to hear from her, the first letter is always the hardest to write it seems, but I'm hoping that my friends will all get better and sending me letters as I am not able to send them emails (I may just send some emails out as reminders to write me - nothing too personal).

It's good to hear that you have been refocusing your spiritual goals; being here in the MTC has made me realize how much I was missing out on. Granted, I don't think I would choose to live by all the missionary rules and timelines in regular life, but I am learning some important concepts that I plan to apply in my life when I return home. The temple truly is the greatest place to be on earth, I went there this morning with my district and I learned and felt things that I never had before. We have one temple day a week (Wednesday mornings) which I am very much looking forward to. As far as seeing me on the exercise field goes, I would love to see you and Alexis, but if I did it would be EXTREMELY brief. My branch president said that if anyone we know does come to see us while we're on the field we're supposed to keep it under 30 seconds. So I think that would be pretty tough, but I would love to see little Alexis again before heading out. We'll just have to decide more about that later.

(personal notes to family)

Dad, just keep my address for the MTC in my facebook status for awhile - I'm sure more of my friends will be able to see it there. I haven't gotten too many letters yet, so hopefully that will help get the process started. Last night we had a fireside with an amazing speaker - Elder Kolipoki! Brother Jon Groberg whose mission experience formed the basis for the movie "The Other Side of Heaven". He was an amazing speaker and it was really neat to actually see, in real life, one of those missionaries we always hear amazing stories about.

Well, I'm just about out of time for this week (there's an actual timer on the email and it automatically shuts the email down after exactly 30 mintes). I do have more time to read actual letters than email so it would be great if you could send me your messages in a letter and then I can either reply through email or snail mail - it just depends on how much time I have and such. Usually I will have enough time to read and reply through email, so feel free to send me emails. I love you all and look forward to hearing from you!

-Elder Trevor Vincent

July 19, 2009

Dear Family,

I am having such an incredible time out here serving the Lord. I have only been here a few days and it is truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Admittedly, the first day was a little rough, but since then I have been getting along with all the elders in my district and having been feeling the spirit all day every day (except for perhaps the sudden shock of a shower turning from enjoyable warm to scream-out-loud cold, but I'm sure there's a reason for that . . . right). My companion's name is Elder Harper and we get along really well -- I think we'll make a great companionship. My days begin at 6:30 and are filled with gospel study, language-learning (including testifying to complete strangers in Spanish), and lots of other great spiritually enriching activities, (with a few short food breaks thrown in there somewhere). About the food, - it is actually not too bad. At orientation they told us we could have all that we wanted, which is great. . . . except for the fact that we get a fraction of the time we need to eat how much we want! But its great, I am loving it here.

Mom, thanks for the treats, it was great to get a package. All the elders are getting multiple letters a day, so its nice to know there are people out there that still love me. Cami, thank you for your letter, it helped me through the first night and uplifted my spirits. (personal note here not included). (more notes about shots, and medical stuff)

Well, I should get to bed -- I have an early morning. . . . every . . . day . . . but I love it :). I love you all very much and look forward to your letters very much!!

Esta iglesia es la iglesia de Jesucristo y doy las gracias cada dia que puedo servir nuestro Salvador! Ustedes amo con todo mi corazon. Hasta luego! (This church is the church of Jesus Christ and every day I give thanks that I may serve our Savior! I love you guys with all my heart. Until then!)

Con amor (with love),

Elder Trevor Vincent (as Elder Harpes likes to pronunce, Elder Beencent)

Doy los abrozos del mente a todos! (I give everyone mental hugs!)

Called to Serve

*I, Jasmine (Trevor's older sister), have been asked to keep this blog updated for Trevor while he is on his mission. I will do my best to keep it up to date with accurate information. I'm so proud of my little brother!*

Trevor has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Chile, Concepcion mission.

Trevor entered the MTC yesterday, Wednesday, July 15. Here is an account of the day from his mother:

Okay. Trevor's safely in the MTC. One really nice thing is that his cousin Alex Vincent teaches French there, and he called us just before we left and wanted to see Trevor there. So he met us in the upper parking lot and rode curbside with us, and escorted Trevor in! His missionaries were hosting today, so it worked out perfectly. Cami and I were sniffly on the way home. Now she's gone to a friend's house for distraction. I think I'll go tidy up my sewing room and maybe get into a project. I've moved my entire week's teaching to tomorrow, so that'll be 9:30-3:00 then. I need to enjoy today!

Trevor's such a wonderful young man. He's so quiet, but he was feeling pretty good to move on and out. I went down to this Chilean restaurant next to Day's Market and brought home some lunch, but he only ate a few bites. I'm glad he had someone he knew to greet him at the MTC! This was certainly different than sending Justin from the airport. I think it's good that they've done away with the long, drawn-out cryfest and the missionaries can get right in and settled and, probalby, to work.

I'm going to run a package down to UPS so he'll get some goodies and a note from me today or tomorrow. I told Trevor that the best thing to do is to stay busy, so that's just what I'm going to do.

Good luck, Trevor! We're all proud of him. I think (according to his address) he ships out to Chile on September 14. More info on that as I get updated.