4 May 2016
Hello there,
Well, I've made it. I've eaten the equivalent of one meal, I realize I've been awake for nine hours already and I'm starting to feel it, and I have another nine hours before I get to go to sleep. I don't think I would have it any other way, honestly. The MTC here is very refreshing here, and everyone keeps on telling me "welcome to the MTC". I like it a lot, and I'm glad I'm out here. The flight was fun and I met several missionaries in the Salt Lake City airport, both going to the MTC and coming home. That's all I have to say for now, but I'll be back.
- Elder Plautz
11 May 2016
Hello all!
So I should clarify a few points,
1) My mission experience starts with me in Provo Utah, where I will spend three weeks training to learn how to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is at what's called the MTC, the "Missionary Training Center".
2) It takes all the good aspects of high school and drops all the bad ones. Everyone here is incredibly friendly and helpful. It has greatest cafeteria I've ever been too.
3) There are six of us that dorm together, boys and girls to their own building. There are ten of us in a class, and the ten of us are called District 44-C. There are five companionships, three sets of elders (boys), and two sets of sister (girls). My companion's name is Elder Penman. Boys take the title of "elder", and girls take "sister"
4) I send this email to a lot of people who are of my faith and who are not, so I'll do my best to help explain things as I go along.
It feels an awful lot like what college should feel like, except there is absolutely no negative thought here. There is so much love for one another, so much hope that everyone will succeed. I really like it here. I can not imagine any better place to be right now, no better service to provide to anyone.
I spend a lot of time learning necessary material on how to effectively teach, which is one part learning the material, but also even more importantly is learning to teach by the Holy Spirit. We pray a lot around here that we might have the Spirit so we can teach more effectively. Teaching the Gospel is not like teaching a class. We often teach only one or two people at a time, so it becomes imperative that we learn their individual needs.
We have long, long days, but it feels wonderful. I'm glad to be out here. I miss all of you, but I know that I'll be back before not too long.
I don't have much time to write, only an hour a week, so we'll see how this goes, but please write me anyway, it helps boost my morale up when I know that people want to chat with me.
Please keep me in your prayers, it's a difficult work, but it's so fulfilling. I'll catch you all next time, take care out there!
- Elder Plautz
18 May 2016
There is so much I enjoy about the MTC, and practically nothing to worry about, unless you worry about being separated from your family for two years. I do not worry about that part. I dearly love my family, and I love all of you, my friends, but sometimes it's easy to forget about that all because they keep us all so very busy around here. I love it. My ability to teach with my companion the Doctrine of Christ is improving, and it shows with investigators, people who are interested in learning more about our faith. Sometimes people have deep questions of the soul that we try to help answer, or sometimes they just have a basic curiosity about what we believe. In either case our sole purpose is to help people draw closer to Jesus Christ.
One of the first things we try "teaching" is building up the faith to pray. Prayer is essential. If there is one thing I could emphasize right now, is to try and pray in honesty the questions of your heart and soul. God answers prayers, he's answered mine before and I'm not particularly special, so I have no doubt that He will answer yours too.
I'm so grateful that I'm out here, so grateful that I've had the opportunity to meet the people I have. I feel the love from y'all. I really appreciate it. Keep me in your prayers y'all, don't forget to write me, it's always fun to open up my inbox and see the love. Anyways, I'll catch you next time. Take care out there.
- Elder Plautz
24 May 2016
Hello all,
I am here in Rancho Cucamonga, obviously It's really pretty and nice here. The weather is very mild and pleasant and everything is wonderful. My P-day is Monday again, so my next real email won't be until a week from yesterday. Travel from Utah to CA was smooth and pleasant despite a very late bus driver. I got to ride a train. I enjoyed that.
If you want to send me a package send it to 6541 Woodruff Place, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701. Because of theft any and all packages are sent here to the mission office, to be picked up by my respective Zone Leader.
The way the Assistants explained the process of receiving a package was confusing, but basically send it a week and a half in advance. The address is the same for all written letters, they just forward them.
I love you all, and keep the written love coming. I've entered the field now and am excited.
I'll catch you all later, - Elder Plautz
(Picture: Here are the missionaries that have entered the field with me)
31 May 2016 (to the family)
President Hobbs is a very impressive man, unfortunately I only get one transfer with him. Sister Hobbs equally is wonderful, and quick to offer Claratin for cough. President has a sense of humor that's a bit of the dry side but respectful nevertheless. My trainer is this stud of a fella named Elder Smith, from Ogden Utah. He's been out 21 months, likely he'll train me and then go home. This first week has been, shall I say, uneventful, yet eventful. President likes to whitewash train, so here in Ontario CA, Centennial Ward, Centennial B Area we are brand new missionaries, with a brand new ward, with very few people to teach. We've gone tracting quite a bit actually, and only about an hour ago have I taught first actual lesson with an investigator (the lesson was weird a little, he's Roman Catholic, but a firm belief in the Book of Mormon and many of our beliefs, but caught on some deep doctrinal issues that people shouldn't get caught on. I helped clarify the matter of eternal progression), but the pool is growing. Companion tells me that we actually have more people to teach than most areas. I did get a bike, I do like it, and I do ride it a bit. I had to coerce my companion a little the first time. We also have a car, a small area, and like 900 miles, though we were left with 50 because the elders before us are a little silly...
The weather this week has been very pleasant actually. People keep on saying that it's very strange and atypical, something to do with the El Nino I think. I love how flat and dry it is here, it makes biking a breeze. I do have a persistent cough though, something with a post nasal drip because of how dry it here. I think I'll really have to invest into cough meds and such.
I like the ward, it's small like Morehead, but it's wonderful.
Anyways, I'll get back to you later, maybe I'll send more info in a little bit if I forgot anything. I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Elder Plautz
31 May 2016
Hello all,
I have arrived in California. Last week I wasn't able to email because the busy week was busy and my Monday was cut. By the way, now I check my emails on Monday instead of Wednesday. The mission out here covers a lot of land, including Rancho Cucamonga itself, Ontario (in CA, not Canada, duh), Diamond Bar, Chino, and all the way in the northern part it has Apple Valley, Barstow, and Fort Irwin, for those of you familiar with California. Within the mission it is divided into Zones, and then into Districts, and then into Areas, with each Zone holding two or three Districts, and a District holding four or five Areas, each area being assigned a companionship of Elders or Sisters. I am in the Centennial B Area, in Ontario, here training with Elder Smith (He's the one in the picture). He's from Ogden, Utah and has been out for 21 months. Missions are divide also into six week spans called transfers. I will train for two transfers, and then he will go home. Then I will no longer be in training, which is something I guess, he's pretty cool, I like it out here.
Speaking of liking it out here, it's not humid and it's really flat so biking isn't a problem, then again we largely drive a car from one destination or neighborhood to another. We don't have many people to teach, what we call investigators, which then requires us to just go out and start talking to people we see on the street. It can be difficult because many people are Catholic, and aren't fond of evening listening to us for a second. It's a little daunting, but maybe somebody down the street is willing to listen, so we continue. We've found a bit of success in these past two days, in finding people who are interested so I'm a little more excited to start the word of helping people come closer to Christ.
Anyways, that's all for now. I'll catch you next time. Keep writing me please :)
- Elder Plautz
6 June 2016
Hello again friends and family,
Time can be a little deceptive out here. Days can pass by without notice, but if you take a moment to examine it all times comes to grinding halt. They tell missionaries "to forget yourself and go to work". This is a valuable piece of advice, not so much because I think I'm all that, because I'm not and being a full-time missionary has a way of bringing you to your knees, but because when the work becomes slow and difficult you can remind yourself that it's not about you. It's never about you. It's about serving the Lord and doing so with all your "heart, might, mind, and strength".
Success out here can be measure in several ways, by how many people you baptize, by how many pamphlets you give to people, or by how many people you have the opportunity to share the Gospel with. Realistically it should only be measured by how obedient you are. "Obedience brings blessings, strict obedience brings miracles". I haven't seen any miracles, not any big ones at least. My definition of a miracle is when someone is decent enough to let us talk to them for a minute or more. The Lord is providing me an opportunity to build my faith and trust in him this "part" of my mission, any maybe I'll be learning this lesson in this specific way for awhile to come, nevertheless, the Lord is my light.
We go door to door a lot, or walk around the street and try to start up conversation out of nowhere. Some of you may think that me being me that this should be easy. It is not. Religion has turned into such a hot topic that once they recognize who we are, based on the name badge that all missionaries where, they want nothing to with us. I can talk to people just fine, or so I thought before I came out here. Out here walking up to strangers and randomly talking about religion is difficult, but my faith is stronger than my doubts. I will try anyways.
I read a letter that was written by a father to his son, describing how on his mission his trainer (the missionary who spent the first three months with him) "feared no man". This guy was an amazing Italian who served in England in the 80s. This guy would just start talking with whoever, and had unstoppable faith. It's my resolution to have the determination of this particular missionary who would just do.
It's been a blast this week, maybe a bit slow, but fun. My companion has been out for awhile, so he knows how to keep things rolling. By the way, if you feel so inclined to hand write me, or send me a package, of which I highly recommend, the address is 6541 Woodruff Place, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91701. Packages should be sent well in advance, normally at least two weeks prior to your intended arrival date. Anyways that's all for now. Keep the love rolling and the prayers fervent. I'll catch you all next time. I love y'all.
- Elder Plautz
#1) This is where I stand next to thee California Street
#2) This is a fun "poem" thing that is constantly being written by my roommates, oh by the way, I live with the Zone Leaders, and they are a lot of fun.
