Second Week at the MTC

 

The MTC seriously gets better and better every day. There is always so
much going on, so you're always busy. This week has been so much fun
though. I’m doing amazing though, my companions are like my best
friends and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone. It seems like every day
you have an amazing spiritual experience. Yesterday, Gary E. Stevenson,
the presiding Bishop came and talked to us about the Spirit of
Christmas and at one point he was talking about how we need to have on
the whole armor of god and he literally pulled out a legit sword when
he was talking about the sword of truth and it was so crazy. I’ve been
opening the gifts slowly except for the stocking and fudge because I
knew it was fudge in that box and I couldn't wait. I'm super excited
for tomorrow though because we are going to have one of the General
Authorities come and talk to us and I seriously hope it’s going to be the
prophet. How cool would that be!

Keep sending letters too; they help me get through the week. You can
give out my address if you want ha-ha. The more letters the better. Tell
the twins that they are my favorite because of the letters they sent
me I loved them so much! They made me smile like x100000000!

I almost forgot! We got a new teacher and his name is Fratello Duersch
and he is the coolest teacher ever. I love him. He teaches us and then
he pretends to be an investigator and then we go and teach him. Our
lesson with him on Monday went so amazing. Me and my companions barely
talked about. We all followed the spirit and it was so amazing. We all
said things that we didn’t know how to say and we talked about things
we never knew how to talk about. I honestly thought he was going to
cry mid-lesson that’s how amazing it was. I want all my lessons with
investigators to go like that one. Also, I’m starting to figure out that
I need to help a lot of the people in my district. I’m getting the
language really fast and a lot of them are struggling and having a
hard time with it and I need to be there to help them. It helps them
to be less stressed and it makes me feel good knowing I’m doing so much
already to help people before I go out on my mission!

Tomorrow I will call you all from 3:15 to 3:45 and I’ll call you on
dad’s cell. Oh and that’s MST. So be ready. Other than that I’ll try to
send letters as much as I can! I’ll send pictures soon. Love you all.
CIAO!!!

Anziano Yskes


Elder Moraes and I

 

The Provo Temple - I seriously love this camera

 

 

Me being Awesome

 

 

Our District's Nativity Scene that we drew

 

 

Anziano Martin and I

 

 



Elder Smith from North Carolina and I

First Week at the MTC

It felt weird at first being at the MTC but everyone here is so nice
and amazing. The people I'm here with are the best. Our little branch
is all the people going to Rome and Milan and everyone in it is
becoming so close. I also have two companions. Anziano Martin and
Anziano Moraes. Martin is from Provo and he is the perfect stereotype
of a Mormon Provo boy but I love him he’s so great and he is our
district leader but he and I talk a lot about how to help the district
I'm like the VP ha-ha and then it’s my other companion Anziano Moraes.
he’s the best he is from the southern part of Brazil. His English is
getting so much better and he just started coming out of his shell. he
is one of the funniest guys I know he’s so awesome. We room together
with two other missionaries and they all love the tree you
sent. Derrick left Monday for Tucson and yeah I did get to see him. We
took pictures and sat together at meals and everything. I got to say
goodbye to him so it was all good. He said he loves it in Tucson.
Sorry about your fall though. I hope you're doing better. Oh and I
just got back from the temple! Every week our branch gets to go to the
temple and do a session so we did that today and it was so amazing.
The MTC is one of the best blessings spiritually and temporally in my
life. Yesterday we had Per G. Malm of the seventy come and talk to us
about being missionaries and being 100% missionaries. He also said
something that struck me. He said that being a missionary is NOT a
sacrifice. That didn't really make sense to me because for me it
seemed like a huge sacrifice but I read a scripture in Alma 26 and
Ammon is talking and he says that when he went to the Lamanites the
greatest blessing that he could have received is the blessing to bring
the salvation of thousands of souls. That's when it hit me. One of the
greatest blessings I can ever receive is the ability to bring people
unto eternal salvation. I don't know of many greater blessings. So a
mission isn't a sacrifice it’s a privilege and I'm so luck to be going
on one of the greatest missions in the world. Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MOM I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!  Thought I would forget didn't you. Well I
didn't. I hope everything is going amazing in Michigan. I send all my
love to the whole family! Love you all and ciao!!

Anziano,

Yskes

p.s. check out my photography skills, and the picture with all the
people is my district

 

Provo Temple

 

Official Name Tag

 

 

Anziano Yskes and Elder Deyarmond looking very missionary like

 

 

Italian Missionary Selfie

 

Anziano Martin, Moraes and Yskes

 

Missionaries heading to Italy next month

 

The Big Day - Entering the MTC

Prior to entering the MTC we took some pictures in front of the Provo Temple.  It was a beautiful 55 degree sunny day.  Almost too sunny for pictures.  We enjoyed having this extra time with Zach since the "drop off" was just that.  Pull up to the curb, unload luggage, and get a special escort into the MTC. Hugs and kisses were exchanged and we said our final good byes for two years.

 

 

Yep.. you're being kicked out...lovingly

 

 

 

 

Your mission awaits.

Saying Farewell to Friends

Here are a few pictures of Zach with friends just prior to entering the Missionary Training Center.

 

Zach and Tristen

 

Zach and Macee

 

 

Ryan and Tyler Robinson with Zach at the Mormon Tabernacle

 

Riding to the MTC with his Bro Tyler

 

Kamber, Zach, Britney and Tyler at the Wilkinson Center, BYU

 

Savanna and Zach at BYU

 

Sporting sunglasses and the "Y"

 

I love you bro!

 

 

This is where we will be on our snowboards 3 years from now!

 

Craziness!

 

Missionary Farewell for Zach and Derrick

On Sunday, November 30th many friends and family were given the opportunity to say farewell to Zach and Derrick. Derrick Deyarmond is one of Zach's best friends who went to Hamilton High School and was part of our congregation at church. He will enter the Missionary Training Center December 3rd, a week before Zach and will be serving his mission in Tucson, Arizona.

Many friends and family showed up for church that morning and were able to enjoy a talk during sacrament meeting by both Zach and Derrick. The topic of their talks was the blessings of fasting. After church most of the congregation stayed for a linger longer potluck. It was nice to have that time to mingle and say some final farewells for two years. All were encouraged to write a few words of inspiration to both Zach and Derrick to carry with them.

A special thank you to all that attended and shared their love and inspiration!

Blog Creation

Zach will soon become Elder Yskes when he enters the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on December 10, 2014.  For those of you unfamiliar with our church, Elder is not a new name for Zach, but simply a title.  Anziano is "Elder" in Italian, hence the reference on the blog.

This blog has been created for family and friends to connect with him while he is on his mission. Weekly letters and pictures from Zach will be posted on this site for you to enjoy. He would love any letters or packages you might wish to send, especially over Christmas while in the MTC.  He will leave the MTC for Rome on January 20, 2015 and spend the remaining 2 years of his mission in beautiful southern Italy. We are looking forward to sharing this incredible journey and know he will be a fabulous missionary.