Monday, August 30, 2010

Oops!

It has come to my attention that I never posted Alex's contact info so here it is now!
MTC address
Elder Alex Michael Buchkovich
MTC Mailbox # 174
SPA-BAR 1013
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
Please feel free to write, he will love your letters.

More News

Buenos dias! Well, I guess it's not morning there anymore. How are things? The MTC is great! Although being in Provo for the start of the semester is going to be hard, esp. when the first home football game rolls around! This week has been filled with spiritual enrichment!

On Tuesday the devotional speaker was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. How's that for a first MTC devotional? haha. He as usual gave a power talk that was very motivational. It was super similar to his "Don't you dare go home" talk. But nonetheless it was really good. I was going to share a few points that I liked the best, but I left my notes in the classroom. The main thing I got out of his talk was that as a missionary I am needed in the work and that I should have no regrets when I get home. I just got back from the temple. I LOVE being able to go the temple every week. It is so uplifting to be able to go and receive answers and comfort to my problems in the House of the Lord.

The Spanish is still progressing. Although we're learning so much that it's hard to compute it all. Thus I feel like I'm not learning anything. But I know I am. My French background is still providing difficulties, but there a TON of French-Spanish cognates that make like a lot easier. One of our teachers had to leave us this week. Both he and the other teachers have morning classes at BYU so they couldn't fit our MTC schedule. I really liked the one that has to leave. But it's probably better off because he reminded me a lot of a typical BYU student and really made me miss the Y.

I found out on Thursday that I won't be heading to Madrid on the 7th anymore. My departure time is to be decided. PLEASE PRAY FOR MY VISA! Some elders in my zone just left for the Madrid mission. They were supposed to go to the MTC there too but their visas didnt come until last week. They had been here 8 weeks already so they get to go to the field a week early. I cannot wait to get to the mission field.

Yesterday during lunch I sat by an elder from Barcelona! He's headed to the Ogden mission. He told me Barcelona is the most beautiful city in Europe. It made me super excited! But also a little nervous because I could barely understand him in English....how am i going to understand him in Spanish?!?

About the retainer....turns out I do have it! I don't know how I managed to go 2 weeks without seeing it in my toiletry bag. But yesterday I found out. Boy were my teeth sore this morning, wearing it for the first time in weeks.

Every Sunday evening we get to watch church videos. Yesterday we did a companion exchange. Elder Weaver and I went and watched the First Vision and Kirtland movies. I always feel so proud to be from the Kirtland area when I watch that movie!

Well that's all for now. I still have 10 minutes of email time. So I may send another one later if I think of anything more I want to add.

Love,
Elder Buchkovich

Monday, August 23, 2010

FIRST E-mail

Mi familia y mis amigos,

The MTC is amazing! The Spirit of God aboundeth so much here! I am in a tricpanionship. Mi companeros are Elder Tholen and Elder Taufa. They are both really cool and we all get along well. They're going to Panama. I love my district! All the elders are awesome. Our district is F in zone 16. No one else in my district is going to Spain, but I did meet some elders during dinner the other day who came in on the same day and are scheduled to go to the Spain MTC on the same day, which is Sept. 7. Let's alll have faith that my visa will come on time.

These past few days have been crazy! The first days were super long and exhausting, but now they're starting to speed up. My Spanish is progressing amazingly! (although I have a French accent) The Spirit really does work miracles for the servants of the Lord!!

On Tuesday on my connection flight, I sat by two elders returning home to Utah from one of the New Jersey missions. They were Spanish-speaking, so they gave me tips on learning the language. At the SLC airport I walked the one elder to his family because he was having separation anxiety. The other elder continued on to St. George.

I don't really have many stories to tell since I've only been here a few days. Yesterday during our temple walk, we talked to a member and his daughter. He had seen all the elders walking to the temple so he stopped to show his daughter good examples of guys to date. haha she must have been so mad at him!

I suppose I could bear my testimonio in Spanish. I already have it memorized, although it's at the level of a primary child. Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador. Jose Smith fue en profeta y que esta iglesia es verdadera. El libro de Mormon es verdadero y Tomas S. Monson es un profeta hoy en dia. Y tambien que las familias son eternas y por medio la fe, podemos vencer las pruebas. En el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. I've already improved it. I just typed what I wrote in my journal a few days ago to save time.

Mom please send me my white adidas shoes and the shoe cleaner that should be with them. Those cheap shoes we bought already broke. The heals caved in. I blame Michelle for telling me to run 4 miles that one time a couple weeks ago. haha. Also send my retainer I left it at home! It should be on my nightstand.

I am sorry if my emails and letters home are bad. I can write fine when it's creative writing, but with letters and emails I am terrible at expressing myself and I tend to get random and out of order.

Please forward this to: quijada.2@buckeyemail.osu.edu cami.heroux@gmail.com spacecase8908@aol.com tiggger1246@roadrunner.com seklopp@aol.com NAGYE@umich.edu c.summers.1@hotmail.com AshelyHolt52@hotmail.com apayne1@ashland.edu michelleolson23@gmail.com and all my siblings and other family or friends interested in my emails.

Love,
Elder Buchkovich

News From Alex

We received a letter today from Alex. He was allowed to write and let us know he was safe and sound. He said he would like his mailbox to be less empty. He is in a tripanoniship ( 3 missionaries) and he likes them both. He is learning Spanish already. His branch president is the judge who convicted him of a misdemeanor! He is scheduled to leave on September 7 for the Spain MTC if he gets his Visa so say your prayers please! He said to go to a wbsite called DearElder.com to make his mailbox less empty! It was great to hear from him.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

MTC




Alex is now in the MTC thanks to Jennie. We appreciate her patience and service! I just heard that he left his scriptures in her car so now she has to deal with that too! I can't believe he did that, but then again, I can believe it! Well, I feel much better tonight knowing he is where he is suppose to be as he starts part three of his journey!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Safe and Sound

Elder Buchkovich has arrived safe and sound in Utah and is now under the supervision of his sister-in-law. So, part two of his journey has begun. I am releived that he is with family again until he gets turned over to the care of the Men at the MTC!

Flyimg the Friendly Skies

Elder Buchkovich is on the plane that will take him on the first step of his mission journey. His Dad and I had a bet going to see if he would turn and wave one more time before he disappeared behind the security gate. I thought he would not but his Dad said he would. Sure enough he stretched around the man behind him and waved one last time making his Mom's day but bringing on her tears at the same time. And then he disappeared for two years...it may take me that long to clean up the mess left behind. ( Well ok that is a bit of an exaggeration). Stay tuned for more events to come.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Elder Buchkovich


Alex is now an official missionary of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That means no TV, no internet, no text messages, and no girls, except of course his Mom, for the next two years. It was an exciting day but also a bit sad. He leaves on Tuesday for the MTC in Provo. It was a very spiritual and touching blessing he received from our stake president. His farewell talk this morning at Church was very good. Two of his high school friends and his Grandma were also there, and that made it even more special. The Bishop called on me, his Mom, to bear my testimony at the end of the meeting. I was so caught off guard that my mind went blank for a minute and I did not know what to say. However, I recovered enough to bear my testimony of the gratitude that I have that Alex is going on his mission..

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Mission Call

As many know, Alex got called to the Spain Barcelona Mission. He received his mission call on March 31st. He enters the Provo MTC in a week from tomorrow on August 18th. After 3 weeks, if all goes well with his visa, then he'll head to the Madrid MTC. On this blog I'll post his weekly emails home and his mailing address/area updates.