Alex's last week at the Spain MTC!

Hola familia!!!!!!! 

How are all of you???  Well, this week was awesome!!! It was full of amazing experiences with the spirit and the people!!  Since I am a visa waiter (just because we still need our residence things for Spain) we have no schedule, so we get to go to the park.... a lot!! We get a lot of time to talk to people and teach them.  This isn't TRC anymore!! This is the real deal!!  This past week we got to go 5 times to the park. Best experiences ever!!! I love going out and actually talking to real people who need help.  Since we get to go out a lot, Elder johnson and my goals are very large and very challenging, but with the Lords help and with his guidence we accomplished those goals.  I am always on the move and talking to everyone with that in mind.  I know the Lord wants me to always talk to everyone. I am telling you what, we contact a lot! Our goals have been above 20-25 contacts a visit, which is kinda hard to do in an hour. 

So two stories.  First was with Elder Johnson.  We get out of the metro, and this random guy comes running at us saying  "I want that book!!! "We talked and got his info and gave him "the book" and gave a quick lesson.  He was so excited that he found us.  He was saying he had been waiting for awhile at that stop because he knew he would find us there.  It was so awesome how the Lord works.  Then we get to the park and met with a middle aged man.  He wasn't from Spain, but he needed help.  He works in Madrid.  He has a family and is just having a really hard time.  We talked for about 20min about the plan of salvation and the Book of Mormon and how it can help him.  So we had about 30 min left and we had only talked to about 10 people tops.  Our goal that day was 22 contacts.  Personally, I didn't care if we got to our goal.  I saw 2 people that really were excited to see us and to hear our message. I felt that was a good day, but I wanted to get our goal.  Also we had a goal to plant at least 9 Book of Mormons and get 3 referrals.  We walk, talk, and people are not listening.  They just didn't want anything from us, until we met with 3 college age kids.   They were very nice, and we taught them and got all of their info and placed 3 Book of Mormons.  At that time we are about to leave and 2 more of their friends came over and wanted a Book of Mormon also.  We were so amazed!! 5 people all at once!  We taught them and they all wanted to hear more about everything.  So good!!! Well it was time to leave and as we go back, we talk to more people and get rejected and accepted.  As we left, I felt I should talk to these 2 men.  I wasn't sure why, but I did.  We placed 2 Book of Mormons and got their info! How cool is that! All in all, we placed 10 Book of Mormons and got 7 referrals, all in about 1hr! The Lord really helped Elder Johnson and me out a lot.  Without the Lord, we would have only had a little success.  Without him we wouldn't have anything. 

Second story, I go on splits with an elder from Mexico, Elder Barragan (I think I spelled that wrong) So we go to the park just ready to rip this place up! We were so ready and I could feel the Spirit with us at all times.  I just felt good and and I was ready to serve!  Well we did light that place up! We placed 13 Book of Mormons.  People wanted to read and wanted to know right now.  In the last 2 weeks I have been here, my companions and I have placed 36 Book of Mormons.  It was a really good experience for me because I saw how much the Lord helps out.  I saw that because of this little experience.  So our  last park day was not so good.  It was good that we talked to a lot of people, but they didn't really like us that much.  They said get out of this area, go home, and some words I am not sure what they mean.  I saw that this isn't my work, it's the work of the Lord.  Dad thank you for sending me that letter.  It was at the perfect time because I was having a rough day with wrapping my head around this and you just helped me out a lot. Thank you!!  I love Spain!  The people are very nice... well sometimes... we get yelled at a lot by some people.  All I say is "Hello, we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints"  around half way through, I usually either get, ohhh who's that I'm interested.... orrrrrr You all are sinners... get out of here... or my personal favorite... the hand in your face!!  hahahah I just hand them some info and a pass along card and I go on my way... Most people don't even want a card.. they say it's not right for them.  I just walk off and say have a nice day and Elder Johnson does too.  We both learned how to laugh it off and say, well lets go to the next one.  It is sad to say that most people are like the second response.  The work here is picking up, but there is still a lot of people who just don't want anything from us.  That's why I talk to everyone, because you just don't know who is like that.  Young people, older people, a random mom, they all can be like that, but I still love them with all of my heart.  I pray every day that the people that I talk to will listen just for a little bit. 

 

Well things here are doing good!! I have some news for you all.... I will be going to the City Hall tomorrow to get my visa stuff taken care of.... and I might be leaving for the field tomorrow also!!!! After all the things!!! Actually, everyone is leaving tomorrow.  I was held back from the group with some elders that couldn't go to city hall today.  I am not sure why, they just said that I needed to.  That is fine with me because I get a full Pday to pack and get ready to leave tomorrow!! so good!! Well I am way excited to meet my trainer and get into the swing of things.  I am so ready!  I have been ready since I first entered into the MTC in Provo. 

 

I love you all so much and I am so excited for you Mom that you finally got to see MITTTTT!!!!! I am soo excited for you and Dad!!! Hey, blessings of having 2 missionaries out at once ;) hahahaha Well I need to go.

 

 

Love your son, brother, and brother in-law.

 

Elder Laubaugh!!!

 

Light it up Everyone!!!!

Spain MTC

Hola!!!!!!!!!!  Well this week has been very different for me, but in a good way!  First off, I would like to say that my companion is so awesome.  Elder Johnson and I knew each other back in Provo, and now we will be companions until the field.  We have been working a lot on getting used to the schedule and the work here. It’s been great!

Well, let's see here, Spain... IS AWESOME!!!  I love it here!! It´s winter now, but there's no snow.  It’s in the mid 50´s every single day!!! Love it!!!  At the MTC here, we are allowed to wear short sleeved shirts and no suit coat so it’s really nice. So good news moment - we get to go to this huge park and talk to everyone. It is so nice.  Elder Hooper and I (we switch companions at the park so we can learn from others how they do things) walked for a good hour and we didn’t hit the same road twice.  This place is huge and has these 80-foot tall bronze statues. It’s so beautiful and ohhhh I love it here!!  Well, at the park, we just tore it apart!! Every person I saw, I talked to.... yes they might have ignored us or said some things to us but oh well.   Our goals were to talk to at least 15 people and have a good conversation about the church, plant at least 2 BofM and get at least 2 referrals.  Well we blew that out of the water!! We planted 5 BofM, talked to 25 people and sorry to say no referrals but we did get a couple to say they wanted to know more so we gave them the number.  We loved it!!  We did this all in an hour by the way.  It was so much fun.  But, with that said, it was also really hard and sad.  Yes, I got laughed at, shut out, and I think maybe cussed at... I’m not sure…but it hurt because I want people to have the joy that I have... they just need to listen for a couple of minutes and they can go on their way.. but, no.. they just look at you and that's it.  We talk and we get no response and we hand them something and they just say that’s not for me and walk away.  Oh well, it’s the mission.  Not everyone will listen but the people who do will be blessed for it. 

I do speak a lot of Spanish.  I also speak a lot of English.  Many people at the park are from London, France, and even America. They’re from all over since its a tourist spot.  When I speak in English, it’s really getting hard.  I think in Spanish a lot so I can get better at speaking it so my mind is all over the place!!!  I still speak but it’s just a little hard.  With speaking now the subject, I just want you to all know that my stutter is coming back a little bit.  I slow down and breath, but that doesn’t seem to work as much.  I calm down and really try to think on what I need to say but that doesn’t help that much.  But the Lord is always with me and has really helped me out a lot with it.  But yeah, so I am really doing well and don’t think that I am having a hard time.  Dad warned that it might happen.  I have such a great joy to say and Satan just doesn’t want me to say it.  I just will pray harder and longer for help.  Well things are all good on this end!

The food here at the MTC is okay... not the best of what I have been hearing about, but it’s actual real food...like the shrimp... still have the heads on them.. hahaha and the meat.. actually has bone in it..  but at least it´s real :)  (Oh Alex, heaven forbid you have fresh seafood and meat at the MTC, what a hard life you live)

Well, the teachers here are so good!! Most of them speak English and Spanish but with us, totally Spanish!! haaha but it´s all good! I understand 60% since it´s really fast and the lisp is very strong!! (When he spoke to my mom and dad, Alex said that he was told that in Spain they form their words and it sounds like a lisp to us.  He said that they warned him that it will take him a good month when he returns home to not lisp when he speaks!)  Well another quick story…I was on the Metro going to the park a couple days ago.  We were just going down the row talking to everyone.  Well we planted 3 BofM and got one referral and then at the park we planted 4 more BofM! It was such a good day.  We were talking with everyone, just the way I like it!!  Spain needs me a lot.  Some elders don’t want to interrupt someone’s convo with someone, so I bust in and do it for them!!! They all are like... no don’t do that.... I´m like... ahhh our message is a little more important on what to do today…so I just go in there and light it up!!! :)  I love talking to people and I just want everyone to know what I have :) 

Well I love you all so very much!! Yes mom I would like my card back. I already bought another one so I will send my other one when I get enough to send back so just send it back when you get done and I’ll send the other one.  I love you all so much and I can’t wait to hear from you all soon!!! I miss you all!! I love you!! I’ll make sure to make each letter nice and good for you all!!

Oh and the Madrid temple is by the MTC and it is beautiful!!  I have already done 2 sessions in it. It is very nice, but not as big inside, but I love to go!

I love you all so much!!!

Love your favorite missionary in Spain!

Elder Laubaugh :)

Oh by the way, I will be in this MTC till the 15 or 16 of March because of residence things we need to do, esta bien!! 

the flight to spain!!!!

Hello all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am in SPAIN!!!!!!! Well, I get some time to write you all and say that I am here safe and sound.  I would first like to say that I loved talking to you all and hearing your voices!! I got really home-sick but I am all better because I have some great news.  After I got off the phone with mom and dad I walked over to see Elder Bagley.  I see these 2 girls going to the Spain gate.  I told myself that I need to teach them.  As I get on the plane and get to my seat and guess what... it was the same girls I saw!!  So I pulled out my Book of Mormon in both Spanish and English and start reading.  Both of them look over and ask what I was reading, it looked different to them.  I soon find out that they were speaking Portuguese.  Both of them were about 24, both are un-married and I found out about what they believe in and so on. Well the Lord blessed me again and they could speak English too!!  I taught them in English about the Book of Mormon and most of the first lesson.  It was so cool because i was solo! Elder bagley was down a couple of rows and i was just sitting there with an elder a couple seats beside me.  The best part about this is that they have never heard of our church.  It was a great time to ask them questions and to have them ask me questions.  All in all I taught them for at least 2 hours.  This wasn´t just me talking... they took the Spanish Book of Mormon and started reading it!! They asked all of these questions about Joseph Smith and about the prophets and what not.  They were really interested in it.  So about an hour into it they handed back my book but nope I said I wanted them to have it.  They were shocked I said that, but they took it.  I asked them if they could read later on Moroni 10 and they did right at that moment I asked them to.  I committed them to read some more and to pray about the message and about what they have read.  It was a great moment!  Later on around 1-2am, they asked if I could sign it and if I could write a message about what I had said to them. I did and they were so happy. I could really feel the spirit so strong!  So yeah, that was my flight to Spain!! I told you all that I wanted to hit the ground running, and I am!  The MTC here is great and really small.  There are about 50 elders and sisters.  We have Russians, Italians, and a lot of people from Spain!  Oh and by the way, the flight was horrible... I couldn´t sleep! I tried to but I couldn´t... so, I just read and wrote in my journal for about 5 hours.  Oh and here's another story.  On the plane after everyone wakes up it´s around 630 or 7ish... the 2 girls start to ask some more questions...  I love making people happy! It is the best part and that is what got me through that flight.  Seeing two people that have never ever heard of our church wanting to hear more and more that they stayed up till about 3 or 4ish talking about it with me... and then asking more when they got up!  It was one of the best experience yet!  When I was about to leave, I left them with mormon.org card and some other little cards and I said if they wanted to hear more that there should be Elders like me near them.  They of course said they would be searching for them. 

I love you all so much and I loved that flight.  Yes it was long, but now I know why the Lord held me back for a couple of weeks for that flight.  Because he knew that I wanted to teach... any other person would have just left it at giving the BOM but I went deeper and commited them to read it, to contact the Elders and to pray about the things they have heard and read.   I love my mission family.... I love it so much!!

The MTC here is great!  the food is all home made and yes I ate a lot because I was starving!!!! I had like a dinner thing at 8ish at night and a roll in the morning so I was very hungry, but didn't go overboard.  We do have a lot of freedom here.  It is a lot about trust here.  The new president is really nice.  Sorry for being all over the place I just have a lot to say!!  We get to go out on our Pday and go to the park and go shopping and go to the Real Madrid stadium if we want to!!! ahhhh yeahhh!! 

Well I am alll out of time!! I love you all and Spain is going and is already being torn up!! I light it up every day for you alll!!!!  I love you all so much and thank you again for all that you have done for me!!!!

 

 

Love your son and brother,

 

Elder Alex Laubaugh

 

 

ps.  thank you for the ties and the candy Mandy and David!! It really means a lot to me!! I love you and miss you all!!!

last MTC letter!!

Ok, well sorry for any spelling errors I'm typing fast :) 

This week was very good!  So good that it went by in a blink of an eye!!!  First off,  I wanted to thank you all for the letters!. Jana, thank you for the candy :)  Yes i did share and everyone loved it :)  Thank you lots Jana!!  This week focused on the theme of being bold.  It is so important for this work.  I have had many good conversations/talks that have really helped me understand what being bold is.  To sum all of the things I have learned, I will tell you what my teacher told me.  On Wednesday night he told me part of being bold is following every prompting of the spirit.  He told me it might sound easy, but when the spirit prompts you to say something really out there, it'll be hard.  He also told me something very important to me, and it really affected me.  He told me that I have been "given the authority to step deeper into peoples lives", meaning that I might need to ask some questions that people wouldn't normally ask, to find out more about them.  It was really interesting to hear that I have been given the authority to do that.  With all this said to me, I made a goal to be bold, to get myself out there.  I also made it a goal to follow every prompting that I get from the spirit.  

Well this week, mom, you would be very proud of me :) First off, I am a part of the MTC choir.  It's by choice.  I just go to a couple practices and then sing on Tuesday night at devo.  I like it :)  Also, drum roll please :D  I was the chorister for Sacrament meeting this Sunday.  I might add this was in Spanish and I feel I did well.  Spanish hymns are just a tad bit different.  Not all the songs translate.  But yes mom, I still remember how to lead :) Also dad, you will be proud because I have to prepare a 5 min talk in Spanish for Sacrament meeting.  I haven't had to use mine because they haven't called on me, but just to let you know :)  I have a feeling that I will be called this Sunday.  As you all know, I had a meeting with the CONSUL FROM SPAIN.

I'M LEAVING ON WEDNESDAY FOR SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!! I AM SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW!!! OHHHH AND ELDER BAGLEY IS TOOOOO!!!!  So I will be calling you mom and dad at around 4 my time to tell you my plans.  Just to let you all know, I will be flying out of Salt Lake City on Wednesday Feb. 29.  I will be leaving the MTC at 6 to go to the SLC airport.  Then I will be flying to Altanta GA  and then on to Spain!!!!!!  I will fill you in when I call you Mom and Dad :)  I am so excited and it is here!!!  Can you all believe it!!  Yes, I am very emotional right now.... meaning i can't stop shaking :P  But I am okay.  I am ready and I know that the Lord will bless me :)  I love you all so much!!! Also Mitch, I might be sending a package to you.  I have some long sleeved white shirts and maybe some other things that I don't need.  I love you all so much and I can't wait to call... I know that I said that before like 100000 times but it is so true.. I was born and raised in a family that prepared me to serve here :) I love you all.... oh and just to let you all know, the consul was LDS.  He said he went on a mission and so on... and he spoke English.. so good!!!  I will be sending my camera card tomorrow.  I need to take a picture with my teachers tonight.  Sorry for the delay.  I will be buying a travel on bag and I already bought another camera card :) Love you!!!

Te amo!!! (means i love you-more personal)

Elder Alex Lee Laubaugh

Alex's latest letter!

Hola!!! Como Estan???  

I am doing well over here!! The weather has been all over the place! Warm one day then cold the next then snowing!!  But all is well :) 

Things here have been really good.  I have been learning a lot more Spanish.  The good news on the VISA is that they send them out and let us know in the beginning and at the end of the month.  So around this week or next week, I should hear from the travel office!  If it doesn't come in, then oh well!!  It's what the Lord wants for me.  The district is getting really excited yet really sad for us leaving soon.  We have all grown to really love each other :)  It's awesome what the MTC can do!  Just to let you all know, I should be leaving the MTC in about 16 days! Crazy huh!! 

As I look at the past month and a half, I can see a lot of growth in myself.  One of the biggest things is I have already developed a love for the people of Spain.  We had a lesson/fireside about this type of thing.  It really helped me out.  I haven't been to Spain, but I already love the people.  I can't wait to go there and teach them the Gospel.  Elder Bagley and I have set a goal.  At the airport we will hand out 2 Books of Mormon....  each :)  I bought a Spanish and an English one for it :)  I really want to hit the ground running.  I don't care what people think of me.  I am here to preach and teach the Gospel!  That actually leads right into a moment I had with my teacher, Hermano Hardy.  It was very spiritual for me because it was a question I had  on my mind for awhile.  We were talking about about not being afraid to speak up and not being afraid to preach the gospel and say hi.  Well, I have no problem with that, but there was still a little part of me that was thinking what will they think of me.  During our lesson he started talking about speaking up and not being afraid and it really helped me out because I am afraid.  But I can't be afraid to preach and teach the gospel because I know it is true.  It was a really good moment for me.  I made a goal to tell each and every person I meet about the gospel even if it's only a hi and we are missionaries type of thing.

Well my week has been good.  Nothing really happening.  We just finished our grammer this week.  We have 3 books that we learn from and we just finished them! Now it is time to review and really get to know everything. 

I just wanted to say thank you all for the letters.  I have been a little home-sick.  One day I got all this mail from Jana, Mom and Dad, Mitch, and Mandy.  I started to tear up a bit. It has been hard, I'm not gonna lie, but I am pushing on!  Thank you all for supporting me and I miss you all as well!  I love you all so much and I will get out some more letters to you all.  I will be sending out pictures soon. I will be taking some more this week and then sending them out around next week to mom and dad! I love you!!! 

Oh gosh I can't believe i forgot to put this in.  I had the best experience in our lesson with Marcela.  Toward the end of our lesson, I have a prompting to bear my testimony,  so I did.  The awesome part was words just came to me, words I didn't know I knew.  Well, I said them and they all made sense to her.  When I talked with Elder Bagley, he said he didn't know what I was saying, but it made sense to her.  hahahah :)  Awesome huh!?  The Lord really does bless his missionaries :)

Love your son and brother,

Elder Alex Laubaugh!

Another great week at the MTC!

Hello Alll!!!! How is everyone doing!!!!  Well, I am doing great over at the MTC :)  I will dive right into my week. Things are going so good!!  It has definitely become hard!!! I was giong through a rough week... well... a really rough week.  I thought I was doing well in Spanish.  I was understanding what people said to me and I was talking and everything was going strong.... or so I thought..  Then it took a turn for the worse.  For about 3 lessons I went blank. Meaning, I couldn't speak a lick of Spanish. Just a basic testimony not even my usual one.  It was really rough.  I was doing fine before, but during the lesson, I would go blank.  I couldn't speak.  It was so weird!! I would practice and practice but no matter what, I couln't speak or understand.  I got really frustrated. I was praying harder and longer for help, but nothing came.  After our 3rd lesson of me blanking and not being able to do anything, I prayed, really hard and long.  It was a very low moment of my week.  I just didn't know what to do at the time.  I only knew how to pray for help.  So, I did, and the Lord blessed me.  Our next lesson, words came to me.  I didn't know what I was saying, but Renato seemed to understand what I was saying.  We asked if he had questions, but he said no each time.  I really needed that moment.  That was a blessing from the Lord to help me a long the way.  Right after the lesson, I prayed and thanked the Lord for that great experience and for that blessing.  It was a great moment :)  Like Hermano Patino said to me, we all have peaks and valleys.  I can tell I will have a lot of those, but they make us stronger.  I am actually grateful for the expierence.  I learned a lot from it :) 

Well things are good our here!!!  It is a little more than 3 weeks till we leave!! Crazy huh?!?!  I'll probably go somewhere else for a little bit, but I don't care! I am still doing the Lord's work!

Another moment at TRC I wanted to tell you about is that we taught a lady that went to Spain on her mission! After our lesson, I asked her if we could ask her some questions about Spain and some tips we should know about going there.  She told us a lot about the people and the food and the little things Elder Bagley and I should know.  She was so nice and she was just so excited for us to go and to have a lot of fun.  She said her visa took a long time.  She went to Washington D.C. South for 4 months then to Spain.  She said that's really rare, but it can happen.  Well that is about it over here.  Thank you all for the letters and I can't wait to hear from you all!  I love hearing from everyone :)  I know I was horrible at writing you Mitch, Mandy and Jana... but I really like to hear from you.  I just miss you all so much, but I am doing the Lord's work. 

 

I love you all and I hope you all do well over this next week!! 

 

Love,

 

Elder Alex Laubaugh :)

Alex's latest letter!

Well this past week was great!!!! The spirit was so strong and powerful!!!  I am so excited to tell you all.  First off our lessons are going good - both teaching and our class lessons.  I have been learning many new words, phrases, and teaching points.  I really had a breakthrough moment a couple days ago.  In class on Wednesday, we were getting ready for our language study.  Our teacher, Hermano Hardy, asked how our Spanish was doing.... in Spanish :P I spoke up and said it was ok but I wished it was better.  It feels as if I have been here a lot longer than just a month.  We all said our feelings on it then he said some very powerful words to me.  He said "You are not meant to learn the language in the MTC.  That's what the field is for.  Dont worry about it.  The MTC is meant for learning how to follow the spirit."  I am not sure why, but it just hit me then.  It was really important for me to hear that and it was nice hearing it from Hermano Hardy.  He told me that the MTC teaches a very small amount.  It teaches the tenses past, present, future, and major wards you need to know and how to say important things. He told me that he learned a lot of his Spanish in the field like all the rest.

Well on another note, Tuesday night was amazing!!!!  Since it was the 50th anniversary of the MTC Elder Nelson and Elder Holland spoke!! Elder Nelson was the main speaker, but wow, what a night!!! Also there were many 70's in the crowed.  They said many inspiring words that really hit me hard.  I still can't get over it! Elder Holland spoke more about his love for us and the great work we are doing. He said a lot to the effect that we are a part of history, not as a whole, but individually.  It was a wow moment.  Elder Nelson spoke about the history of the MTC.  And how the first one was a language learning center for missionaries going to Argentina.  Sorry for the small points.  I'll send some more info on the talks later.

Well it sounds like everything is going good on your end.  Thank you all so much!! I love getting letters and hearing all about your week and the fun stuff that is happening. 

Dad-  Thank you for Invictus.  I shared it with the district and they all loved it!  They are very wise words. :) Thank you for always sending me those great words of wisdom.  And yes, I did cry a little when I read it for the first time.  It just reminded me of all of my past track meets and going to track meets to see Mitch and Mandy. 

Mom-  Thank you  for the MITT update!  I love hearing how he's doing! Please send more!  I love how you send me Jana's letters :) I love hearing hows she's doing!! :)

Mitch Rochelle and baby B- thank you again for the package! The cookies and candy were great!! Everyone loved them :) I sent a letter yesterday so you will get it soon :)

David Mandy+1 and toothless- I hope all is well with the baby! I hope you both are doing well too!! I can't wait to hear from you!

Jana-  I sent a letter a little bit ago so you should get it soon!  It seems like everything is going really good in GERMANY!!!

I love you all so much!!! I miss you too, but I am doing the Lord's work and I know he will bless me for it.  I am so thankful for you all and I love all the support.  The MTC is getting harder but I am pushing on.  The Lord has blessed me with a great family that cares, loves, and supports me.  Thank you.  I now see why a mission is so great.  Even one month in, I see a lot of blessings that the Lord has given me. 

Love your Son or Brother,

Elder Alex Laubaugh