May 27, 2013

Enjoying a cup of noodles-- he gets hungry between dinnertime and lights out!

Desk at the MTC and care package with some goodies.

Name tags!!

Top bunk.

May 20, 2013

I hope you're liking my pictures! I try to take as much as I can.

Our devotional last week was with Russell M. Nelson!!!!! It was so awesome. Him & his wife spoke on angels and how they are with us and praying for us to baptize their families.
He also talked about the selected people that we are meant to find. So many of the things he said went directly to my heart. I have had the pleasure of hearing Elder Bednar and now, Russell M. Nelson.

I went to the temple today, and received some revelation from Mosiah 3:19.
before my mission, I had to repent for a lot sins. and I didn't know how to feel.
I didn't know that If I was fully repented, but that chapter testified to me that I AM.
and that serving a mission was the best decision of my life for my own repentance. Life is so much more beautiful.


So many spiritual experiences here. they never stop and my daily journal is getting so full.

Also this week, We had leadership meetings and our branch presidency expressed the love they had for us and how proud they were of the new "zone leaders"
we just received 24 new people in our zone. Some sisters from Germany, an Elder from Brazil. So many cultures here, and we're all learning French.

by the way, the French is hard, but its easy. I can't describe my relationship with it. My gospel French is weirdly good, but my street French is horrid.

WOW, I'm half way through the MTC. Its insane.
anyways, I only get an hour on here so I hope I debriefed you enough on my missionary life.
this is so fun.

Until we meet again,
Elder Castrejon. 

May 13, 2013

My district is now down to only 4. and we are the most united district in our zone.
we get 3 new districts this week who are going to France and Haiti. And I and my companion have to give them a introduction and tour.

My hands are full, and my heart is rejoicing.

There is nothing better than being here.

THE FIELD IS WHITE AND I'M GONNA HARVEST IT IN FRENCH.

Je sais que mon seigneur est vre, je sais que le livre de mormon est la parole de dieu.

Yo se que mi senor vive. Yo se que el libro de mormon is verdadero.

I know that my God lives, and I know the book of mormon is the word of God.

What a blessing it is to know 3 languages. and its only been 2 weeks.

God be with you till we meet again,

Mon ami,

Elder Castrejon.

May 6, 2013

"We have been taught in our youth. 

And we will be the Lord's missionaries 

to bring the world his truth."

(Elder Castrejon's first email from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. posted by Anelieze Castrejon)

Bonjour!

Whats new at the MTC? Um, everything. I have seen Elder Trenton Meline, Elder Evan Benson, and Sister Bethany Lassen already. That's good, God works in mysterious ways. My comp is Elder Hernandez from Las Vegas. He is about 6 foot 1 and Speaks Spanish like me. I am the senior companion for the next 3 weeks, and we have actually been called by our branch president to be the Zone Leaders of our 5 districts. Thanks for praying for me, I really need it as well as all of us here. This experience is really humbling because the gringos speak better French than we do, but I remember I already know 1 more language than them. (tee hee) but, Elder Hernandez and I already gave two lessons to a simulated investigator in all French. We have another lesson tonight with her. We teach by the spirit than the language. We sing in every lesson, its really effective. My companion and I are very alike and very different, but over all my whole district is super united, like a family. 2 Elders are from West Canada, one from AZ, one from Utah, and in the other district we have 1 from Texas, Scotland, and Utah again. I went to the temple today, it was awesome as usual. French is hard, but i can understand it sooooo well. Elder Hernandez has a little harder time understanding it but he practices the terms a lot. Faith is our gasoline.

Tell my family I'm doing great and to just pray that I retain the language terms. The native Elder Arias (who speaks fluent French, Spanish, and English) says I have an amazing french accent, like I'm from Montreal. I don't know but, we'll see as I learn more.

Yes, we're zone leaders, I'm not that great. We have much much MUCH to learn and a lot of responsibility.

I am drowning in the Lords work and I love it.

Until again, Elder Castrejon