Last week in the MTC until Honduras!

This week is my last week in the MTC.  I will be going to Honduras in 4 days.  I love the MTC so much, but I am so excited to leave to Honduras and actually do what I was called to do.  I will be going from Salt Lake City to Dallas, from Dallas to Miami, and from Miami to San Pedro Sula.  When I got my flight plans last Friday, my district and I were very excited.  2 of the Elders in my district were called to Spain, but they haven't got their visas yet.  They have been reassigned to Salt Lake City until they get their visas.  We are all very excited to leave and preach the gospel. 

On Tuesday for our MTC devotional Elder Ballard spoke to us.  It is such an amazing spirit when an apostle walks into the room.  It's really cool when all the missionaries stand up for an apostle.  His message was really great and very powerful.  One thing that I really like a lot was when he told us missionaries to be ourselves no matter what, and always smile.  I have been called to Honduras by inspiration, and I have a special purpose there.  The only person that can fulfill my purpose is me, so therefore it is important that I am always myself.  But at the same time I need to be a representative of Jesus Christ because everything that I do represents our Savior.  I sang in the Choir for the devotional like always, and I always feel the spirit during song. 

Speaking of singing and Music, for our sacrament meeting for our branch, 3 other Elders and I sang together and sang Be Still My Soul.  IT was very powerful, and I love singing.  Also when I teach I try to sing a hymn every lesson that has to do with what we taught.  My companion will never join me, so I sing a solo anyways.  Let me tell you... singing hymns during the lesson brings the spirit so strongly, and I cant wait to sing more to my investigators in Honduras. 

Yesterday I had the opportunity to teach "investigators" in front of 250 of the new missionaries (about half).  Every Wednesday the new missionaries come in the MTC, and one of the workshops is missionaries start the beginning part of the lesson, and the the missionaries together teach the investigator (all 250 of them).  My very first day was very cool for me, and I was grateful for the opportunity to help make the difference for the new missionaries.  My companion and I were recommended to teach from our teachers and Branch Presidency.  It was really scary at first because we did the door approach and everything (all in English, which was really weird because I haven't prayed or taught in English since the very first few days).  It was such a great learning experience.  

Overall, I love the MTC, and I am so excited to go to Honduras in 4 days.  I love what I am doing, I love being a missionary, and there is no place on earth that I would rather be than on my mission.  I have never been happier in my life. 

 

Thanks for the prayers and support.

 

Elder Ward

 

"Know what you want, and know how to get it"

"If you are willing to pay the price, nothing is impossible"

 

-Elder Ballard

10 more days until I am in Honduras!

This week has been fantastic.  I have learned and grown so much this week.  On Thursday i found out that I had Bronchitis, and i have been coughing for the past 2 previous weeks.  I went to the BYU health center, and they gave me some drugs.  I stayed in my room all day Friday because i didn't feel to good and i didn't want to get any of my district sick (i already got 2 of them sick).  I asked for a priesthood blessing, and ever since then I have been feeling much better, and the cough is at a low.  Its amazing how powerful the priesthood is.  It was really cool because my whole district stood in on the circle, and my companion and district leader spoke. 

I teach 1-4 lessons each day to my teachers and to others in my district and zone.  every time i teach I feel that my teaching ability and my Spanish is improving so much.  I feel more comfortable and confident with my Spanish every day.  I cant wait to go to Honduras in 10 days when i will be completely surrounded by Spanish, which should help so much.  One of my "investigators" (my teacher acting out one of her old investigators from her mission in Spain), has committed to baptism, and we are holding a mock baptism on Saturday.  My other teacher Hermano Jimenez is from Mexico and served in Mexico.  He speaks really fast, but he has helped me a lot with my Spanish, and i can understand most things he says.  He is such a great teacher, and i learn a lot from him every day.  He is such a great example to me, and i hope that i can be like him. 

This past Sunday I have been called to be District leader.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to lead, especially because my district is so amazing, and I love them so very much.  We are now the oldest district in our zone because last we the older district all left to Argentina.  It was hard to say goodbye because I was very close to them. 

Overall, I love being a missionary so much.  I am grateful for the opportunity i have to be a representative of Jesus Christ and to bear his name on my chest.  I love what I am doing, I love the MTC, I love serving, I love my companion, I love my district, I love being a missionary, and I cant wait to go to Honduras in 10 days.  There is no other place that i would rather be than on my mission, and i have never been happier in my life.

Thanks for all the support, and I love you all very much.

Elder Travus Jay Ward

Elder Holland spoke at Tuesdays devotional, and it was amazing

This week was amazing, maybe the best week i have had so far in the MTC.  I love being a missionary so much, and I have never been happier in my life.  My Spanish is doing a lot better.  I learn the most when I teach my lessons my lessons every day.  it also does help to have a teacher that is from Mexico.  He helps with the pronunciation, and he speaks fast on purpose which actually really helps a lot.  At first i couldn't understand him, but know i can understand most of it at his crazy fast speed.  I am teaching my teachers right now, and they are acting like one of their investigators they had on their mission.  I am teaching Marco and Monica.  Both of them have baptismal dates, but Marco has a problem with Word of Wisdom and Chastity.  The district ahead of us had a mock baptism with their investigators on Saturday.  Even though it wasn't real, i felt the spirit so strong.  I love practicing teaching, but I cant wait to go to Honduras and do the real stuff. 

On Sunday at the end of our fireside we learned a cool version of Called to serve.  On the last verse all the missionaries stood up, and when we all did that it was like a brick wall hitting you in the face.  the spirit is so strong, especially when all the missionaries are together.  the spirit of missionary work is amazing

This Tuesday was by far the best day i have ever had.  That morning was normal and uneventful.  after dinner i went to Choir like always. which is always a lot of fun.  For the Devotional never know who is speaking until they walk in.  Well, Elder Jeffery R Holland walked into the MTC, and we all stood up.  there was a large amount of excitement in the air.  This was the first time we have ever had an apostle at the MTC while i have been here.  It also happens that Elder Holland is my favorite speaker.  His talk was absolutely amazing.  He talks with so much power.  He talked about the importance of missionary work and how much a missionary represents the church in everything that they do.  The thing that hit me the most was for us as missionaries "to give our heart to Christ, and to give him everything".  I am now motivated even more to try to do everything that i can to become the best missionary that i can.  His talk is definitely now my most favorite talk because of how much it means to me, and how much it has already impacted my life. 

There is not other place on the earth that i would rather be than on my mission.  i have never been happier in my life.  I love the MTC very much, but i cant wait to leave in 2.5 weeks to go to Honduras.  I have a strong testimony of this Gospel, and i am so grateful for the opportunity i have to share my testimony to the people in Honduras.  Thanks for all of the support.

 

Elder Ward

 

A scripture that has really impacted my week is Mosiah 26:18.  I am grateful to be a representative of Jesus Christ and to bear his name on my chest. 

I love be a represntative of Jesus Christ

The Provo MTC is amazing.  I love it here so much.  I have never been happier in my life.  Its crazy how fast time has flown, it feels like i just got here.  The days really start to blur together because I am always doing the same thing.  Going to the temple every week is the best part of my week.  I get to feel the spirit very strong, and I get to recharge for the rest of the week.  I also love when all the missionaries get together for firesides and devotionals.  Its such a different an amazing spirit when all the missionaries get together.  The best is when we sing Called To Serve together. My Spanish is coming a long very well.  I teach a lesson to investigators every day, and I feel more and more comfortable with my Spanish.  Granted I still have a lot to learn, but I am can teach simple Gospel lessons.  Simple Gospel lessons are good because then it is easier for the investigator to understand and feel the spirit.  My district and I are getting a long very well, and we always have a lot of fun together.  In our district we have 4 going to Honduras, 4 going to Spain (2 already in the Spain MTC), 3 going to Chile, and 1 going stateside to Tennessee.  we are all very close. 

Anyways, nothing much new has happened.  I am still loving the MTC, and I am still trying to be as positive as i can.  My ankles are doing a lot better, but I still have to wear ankle braces every time I play sports for gym, and I am going to have to wear them for the rest of my mission to be safe.  the last thing I want is another sprained ankle on a walking mission.  Trevor sounds like he is having a lot of fun in the MTC in Guatemala, and I am so happy for him.  I do love the MTC, but I can't wait to leave so I can go to Honduras and preach the Gospel.  I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and I will do whatever it takes to be the best missionary I can and to be a great example.  I am working very hard, and I will try continue to work very hard the rest of my mission. 

Overall, I love what I am doing, I love the MTC, I love being a missionary, and I have never been happier in my life.

 

Thanks for the support.

 

Elder Travis Ward

Photos from the MTC

Elder Ford (left), Elder Combe (Right), Jiro Ramirez (middle)

Elder Thimigg (left), Elder McClennan (Right) 

Elder Folsom (Left), Elder Harding (Right) 

"The Trio" Elder Wride, Elder Lewis, Elder Bookstaber 

Elder Harding (Left - District Leader and roommate) Elder Wride (Right) 

Elder Wride (Preaching), Elder Bookstaber (Center), Elder Stalts (My Companion - Left) 

"Classroom Life" - Elder McClennan (Left), Elder Wride (Right) 

Elder Bookstaber

MTC Life

I am loving the MTC so much.  I have never been happier in my life.  I love what i am doing, i love being a missionary, I love speaking spanish, and i love my companion and district.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission.

The spirit is so strong at the MTC.  The best part of the MTC is the Devotionals, Firesides, singing in the choir, and going to the temple every week.  I especially love meeting together with all the missionaries.  It is such an amazing feeling to have all the missionaries from the MTC together.  The best part is when we all sing Called To Serve together.  I feel my testimony growing every day.

I am very busy at the MTC, and i am always doing something.  I have been teaching two investigators for the past few weeks with my companion Elder Stults.  Their names are Marco and Monica.  It is such a wonderful experience to teach in spanish.  even though I still have a lot to learn in spanish, with a lot of hard work and the help of the holy ghost, we have been able to teach well enough so that they can understand us, feel the spirit, and gain a testimony (the investigators are our teachers acting like one of their investigators they had in the mission field.  Even though they are not "real" missionaries, it is a real teaching experience, and i have been have to learn and grow so much from them).  looking back on my very first week I realized how much I spanish that I have learned.  I feel a lot more comfortable with my spanish, but I know that I still have a lot to learn. 

Yo tengo un fuerte testimonio de este evangelio y sobre Jesucristo (I have a strong testimony of this gospel and about Jesus Christ).  Estoy gracias por la oportunidad servir un misión en Honduras (I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission in Honduras).  Yo sé que el Libro de Mormón es muy importante por conversión de la investigatores y yo sé que el Libro es verdadero (I know that the Book of Mormon es very important for the conversion of the investigators and i know that the book is true).  Yo sé que Jesucristo es mi salvador (I know that Jesus Christ is my savior).  En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amén.

I love being a missionary, and i cant wait to go to Honduras.  Thanks for all of the support

Elder Travis Jay Ward

I love the MTC so much

Being at the MTC is such a wonderful experience.  I am trying to enjoy every moment that i can.  I many cool experiences all the time, and i wish that i could tell you everything. 

My ankles are doing much better.  I can run and jump with a little pain.  I have been playing volleyball the past week, but i have to wear braces on both ankels.  I am actaully very grateful for the trial i had because I grew a lot closer to Heavenly Father.  I know that i will have plenty of trials in my mission, and i cant wait to face them head on.  I know that if i pray, have the spirit with me, work hard, and be positive that i will be able to get through it.  a quote from an amazing MTC devotional says "when you have the holy ghost, you can do anything". 

I have been teaching 2 mock investigators (which are my teachers acting like one of their investigators from their mission).  Even though the person is "not real", the situation is real.  I have learned and grown much from these teaching experiences.  I am also forced to learn spanish faster to communicate with them well enough so that i can teach them the gospel and help them come closer to christ.  My spanish is coming along very well, but i still have much to learn.  I ask for the holy ghost to be with me every day so that i can learn the language faster. 

Trevor left for the Guatamala MTC on tuesday.  These past week i was looking for him everywhere but i could never find him.  I wanted to see him before he left so that i could get a proper goodbye.  on the last day my prayer was answered and i saw him, and we took pictures and exchanged bear hugs. 

This past tuesday the president of BYU Cicil O Samelson spoke on being a good example.  he shared a story about how these two missionaries were such great examples that this lady became interested in the church.  One day she decided to chase them down, but when she got close she heard them talking in a very crude way.  Becasue of their example, she became interested in the church, but then she lost all interest.  This shows that we mush be a good example always, especailly as a missionary.  i compared this story to the quote from the movie "Miracle".  "the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back.  As missionaries we always have the name of Jesus Christ on our chest, and we need to always act in the same manner.

I love the MTC, i love the spirit that is felt here, and i have never been happier in my life. 

Elder Ward

Satan is trying to wear me down, but he is unsucessful

This past week at the MTC has been very eventful.  Last Monday (7/25) I sprained my ankle playing soccer.  I had a priesthood blessing and i felt better the next day.  But on Friday I was playing volleyball (with a brace on my ankle), and I sprained my other ankle, but this time a lot worse.  I couldnt walk, and i had to use crutches.  it is still very bruised, swollen, and painful.  I have no idea why or how I can sprain both my ankles within 5 days.  i dont understand because i play sports all the time and i have never been injured.  I have done a lot more crazier things than soccer and volleyball, and i have never been hurt.  And the the very first week i am at the MTC i sprain both of my ankles.  What are the odds?  But i have been trying to be very positive, smile lots, and laugh often.  I know that there is a reason why i have this trail in my life at this moment, and i will do everything i can to bear this trail well.  I know that if i do so, that i will be blessed.  the scripture in D&C 121 7-9 really explains that and has helped me a lot.  But as of right now, i will be styling with 2 ankle braces the rest of my mission while excersizing. 

Other than that things have been absolutely wonderful.  I love the MTC so much, and i have never been happier in my life.  the spirit is so strong here.  I love my companion, i love my district, and i love my zone.  i have been learning a lot in class, and i have learned a lot of spanish.  since the second day, i have been teaching a real investigator named Jiro Ramerez.  it was very scary at first because i didnt know any spanish, i counldt understand him, and his is from mexico.  through the amazing power of the holy ghost we were able to teach him so that he could understand us, and he committed to baptism.  it was such a wonderful experience, and the spirit was so strong. 

The next day after Jiro committed to baptism, i found out that Jiro was actaully my other teacher, and that his real name is Hermano (Brother) Jimenez.  He has been a member his whole life, he served a mission in mexico, and he is from mexico.  Even though the situation wasnt real, it was real to me.  I taught him as a real investigator even when i had no idea what i was even saying.  I loved him so much, and i prayed for him every day.  from that experience i was able to learn so much.  Hermano Jimenez said that Jiro was real because he taught Jiro on his mission.  the real Jiro is now serving a mission.  the expericne was so wonderful, and i was able to learn so much from it.  Our whole district taught him in our companionships, and after he committed to bpatism we gave him a book of mormon, and sang him a hymn in spanish.  it was such a wonderful spiritual experience that i will never forget. 

Monday was a very tough day for me

My first week at the MTC has been great.  I am not in the same branch, district, or building as Trevor, and I dont get to see him a lot.  

I have been trying to stay very positive and always smile.  Monday was a very tough day for me.  I played soccer for gym time, and I sprained my ankle while playing goal keeper.  It hurt so bad that I cried.  The docter said that it was a bad sprain and that it would take at least 2 weeks to heal.  I was kind of down because i felt very useless and I couldnt do a whole lot. I could barely walk, and it was fun at all.  I asked my district to give me a priesthood blessing, and all 10 of them joined in the circle.  the blessing was powerful, and i felt the spirt very strong.  My ankle still hurt a lot that day, and I could barely go to sleep.  When I woke up the next morning, I felt much better and i could walk on it.  The swelling was way down, and i actaully felt great.  during GYM time i went to the doctor and checked every thing out with him.  He said that he has never seen anything like it, and that I was good to go after I passed some tests and drills for my ankle.  I played volleyball that day and yesterday.  I have a strong testimony on the power of the priesthood, the holy ghost, and faith.  

My Spanish is coming a long very well.  We have been teaching a real investigator named Jiro Ramerez, and his testimony has grown so much over the past few days.  he now has such a strong testimony of the church and the gospel.  after my companion and I gave a simple lesson on the holy ghost and bore simple testimonies in spanish, we challenged him to become baptized, and he excepted.  the spirit was so strong in that meeting, no words can describe.  I know that it was the power of the holy ghost that converted him, and we were just gods instruments in inviting the spirit into his life.  

We have already had a fireside and devotional, and they were both about missionary work, and they were both amazing.  I have been singing with the MTC choir, and I love it.  I can feel the spirit so strongly when I sing.  We sang Come Come Ye Saints at the devotional, and it was so powerful that I cried.     

I love the MTC very much.  it feels great to be a servant of my heavenly father.  I love my companion and district very much.  I do everything with my district.  today we went to the temple to do endowments, and it was wonderful.  we have a lot of fun together.  I will try to send you some pictures.

I have never been happier in my life

I love the MTC very much. I have never been happier in my life.  my district is amazing, and i already love them all very much.  the district is 11 guys, all Spanish speaking.  Elder Stults my companion is going to the same mission as me.  my roommates Elder Folsom and Harding are going to the Honduras mission below me starting with a T.  the other elders are going to Spain and Chile.  we have no sisters in our district, but our teacher Hermana Keleman is wonderful and has taught us a lot.  i am always so so busy here, but i love it very much, and the spirit can be felt everywhere.  i see a lot of people that i knew from BYU.  i have seen both of my BYU roommates, some other guys i knew, and my elders president was the one the picked me up off the curb, and he was my host.  we gave each other a very big hug because i know him very well.  the Spanish is actaully coming along very well, but i still have a lot to learn.  yesterday we had the great opportunity to teach a real investigator in Spanish.  none of us know enough English to really to anything, so we had to memorize and read our lesson.  during the lesson the spirit was very strong and i said some things in Spanish that i had no idea what they meant but i knew that he could understand me.  my testimony is growing stronger each day.  

i think my P day is on Thursdays, because today is a miny pday.  i should be emailing the family every week.  i sent a letter a few days ago, but i dont know if you have received it yet.  i dont have dads email or any of my brothers email, so if you could send them to me or have them email me that would be great.  also you can use DearElder to write me.  if you could can you forward this email to the family.  also ask dad if he understood my letter i gave him on his bed with the addresses.  

the day that we spent with Jeff and Amy was great.  we went to a place called Kneaders for Breakfast/lunch, and they had amazing all you can eat french toast.  then we talked and played games until we had to go, and Amy sent us away with wonderful cookies.  it was so great to see them and spend time with them.  i will make sure to write them.  you can also forward email to them.  

my spanish is coming, and i have to work very hard to learn everything i need to.  i know that if i pray lots and put my faith in the lord that he will be able to help me with my spanish.  i have already taught 2 lessons in spanish to Jiro Ramerez.  i cant really understand him, but i understand enough to answer his questions.  i can give a simple prayer and testimony, and i emphasize simple.  

i have been staying very obiedent and obeying all the rules i can.  i try to be an example becasue some missionaries have a hard time with all the rules.  my companion says that he would rather be home, but i am trying to help him be more excited with my excitment, enthusiasm, and personality.  i feel that our companionship is doing very well, and we are working very hard to learn our spanish.  

i want you to know that i love it here, i love being a missionary, and i love be a representative of Jesucristo.  being a missionary and wearing the name tag is a very special feeling, and it makes me want to be more chirstlike.  i have a strong testimony of prayer.  i have been praying a lot while i am hear.  i try very hard to pray in spanish, and it is a very simple prayer.  but i feel that the more simple my prayer is in spanish, the more sincere it is between my and my heavenly father.  

I love you very much, and i can promise that you will hear from me every week.