Jack Kauffman's Mission Blog: July 2014

Hola querida familia! Hello beloved family!

Tomorrow will mark the end of my first week here. It's true that the days go by slow, especially starting out, but I am now wondering where this last week has gone!

The MTC is a very cool place. There is a main campus here where everyone learns everything except for Spanish, and then there is the West Campus where we live (all of the Spanish missionaries). I love that everyone is learning the same language here. Whenever we walk around you just hear people saying 'hola' y 'buenos dias'. Kind of like little Mexico!

Every day we wake up at 6:30 a.m. and go from there. All in all we have 9 hours of class time as a district, which sounds like a lot, but sometimes I wish that there could be more hours in a day! There is so much that I want to read and learn here before I go. Dad, thank you for telling me not to do the 6 week Spanish program. I don't know why but I felt like I was doubting how much Spanish I knew before coming here, and while I'm in no way fluent, I can understand everything our instructor says. I am grateful to all of the awesome teachers I've had over the years who were passionate about Spanish. Now I am just trying to converse more with the Spanish speakers in my district, they always talk really fast. But all I have to say is 'una vez mas' (one more time), and they slow it down for me!

One of my favorite parts about being here, and something that I was unaware of, is the time that we spend together as a district. We have 8 Elderes and 4 Hermanas, and I am learning a lot from them. Elder Zuniga from San Luis, Arizona is our district leader and he is one powerful guy. Every day he tells us that we are going to be great missionaries. The part about him that amazes me is that he can't speak English very well, but he tries so hard to communicate with us. It makes me want to try harder in everything I do!

Elder Valenzuela is my companion, and we work well together, and not just in lessons, he's already a good friend! We've had some good laughs in our apartment with the other Elders here, and we are having a good time together.

We started teaching the first day we arrived here. It sounds kind of crazy, but I like it because I'll be in Argentina in less than a week. I'm learning how real the Spirit is when we go to teach the mock investigators here (just members that are paid to walk around campus and act like investigators). I feel like I've always been decent at knowing what people need, but here the Spirit magnifies it for me so much. Even though the investigators are fake, the Spirit we feel is real because we are speaking the truth!

The vigor to serve that I felt before coming to MTC has carried me a lot during my first week here. It's like I keep feeling someone is telling me that this time as a missionary is going to be so short, so I need to make it count. Every hour I'm trying to do something that's going to help me.

My Spanish is coming along! Sunday I was feeling really down about it, I think just because I know my goal of speaking fluently won't come as quickly as I want it to, but when I pray for help, little things are provided to make me feel okay again. Like even though everyone in my district can speak fluently, they have a hard time writing and reading at times, and it's something that I can help them with! Also I love hearing that I don't sound like a gringo, right now I feel like I have a pure accent, but an accent nonetheless. I'm excited to talk how they do in Neuqu'en! I always speak in Spanish first here, and if I don't know a word I'll say in it English, and that's okay! I'm realizing that's how we learn, and that all I can do is try. I'm only reading in Spanish now, and almost feel guilty doing it in English. It's weird.

The food here isn't bad at all, except today we went to the main campus for lunch after attending the temple and saw how much more variety is there, but what can we do? :) I'm very conscious about what I'm eating for some reason, but that's good because I don't want to get chubby!

Our teachers are funny, Hermanos Rock and Stevenson. Hermano Stevenson served in Phoenix, and knows the Davis and Mckellar family. He said he broke one of Jason's windows once with his bike!

Today, dia de preparacion, P day, has been very nice! We woke up, ate breakfast, and then went to the Temple. And since then we have only washed clothes and now email. It's been a nice break, and I'm excited for tomorrow! I miss everyone a lot, but like I said my mind keeps moving me forward, like I need to give all I have before I can return, it's very cool.

Our first homework assignment here was to memorize our purpose as missionaries, which is quite long, but in essence is 'invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo', bring others unto Christ. Whenever I'm stressed or tired here, I try to remember that. That quite literally this is a time to do something for other people. Hermano Rock taught us that we are here to make sure other people progress, and that we shouldn't get down on ourselves when we can't speak well or say something wrong. Obviously I want and expect progression from myself as a missionary, but that hit me really hard.

I am loving this time! what more can I say. I just want you guys to know that I am happy. Second Nephi 2:25 says that we are to have joy in this life, and that's what I'm going to do, especially on my mission! It will be hard but it will be a time of happiness as I help other people. Please pray that I can continue to learn this language, and that I can fulfill my purpose. Les amo mucho y la proxima ves que escribe estare' en Argentina! I love you all and the next time I write I'll be in Argentina.

Hasta la proxima vez, til next time!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Tonight Jack was set apart by President Wayne Lewis as a full-time missionary, and he is in "lock down" with his family and good friends until he enters the MTC Wednesday morning in Provo, Utah.

Jack spoke in our Sunday Sacrament Meeting and emphasized the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His mission to the world.

Elder Kauffman is scheduled to be in the MTC for three weeks before traveling to Neuquén, Argentina where he will live for the next two years.

Jack can receive letters until approximately 27 July 2014 at the following mailing address:

Elder John Thomas Kauffman
JUL29 ARG-NEU
2023 N. 900 E. Unit 862
Provo, UT 84602

After 27 July 2014, Jack can receive mail at the following international address:

Elder John Thomas Kauffman
Misión Argentina Neuquén
Zapla N 24 – Casilla de Correo 321
8300 Neuquén
Neuquén Argentina

31 July 2014

Arrival in Neuquén

27 July 2014

12 Días en el MTC

22 July 2014

My MTC Experience

16 July 2014

MTC Arrival

Missionary Portrait

14 July 2014

Set Apart as an Elder