Hey Everyone!

This week has been great at the MTC and apparently at home. This week was the Mission Presidents Seminar at the MTC, where 1/3 of the Mission Presidents are swapped out and they come for 5 intense days of training here. Because their job is so crucial they get trained by the best. That means that this week, the entire Quorum of the Twelve, and the First Presidency were at the MTC. On Friday, we had a special devotional meeting with Dallin H. Oaks as the speaker. And sitting on the stand were Elders Nelson, Scott, Bednar, Cook, Christofferson, Anderson, and Holland. It was so cool! I got to sit in about the 10th row, and when they left, they walked within 15 feet of us. It was quite an experience. We also saw Richard G. Scott in the Bookstore one day. He is really short! Haha it was suprising how short he was. Maybe like 5' 6" or possibly 5' 7" So that was great.

And then, on Sunday night, we always have a fireside with either a member of the Seventy or another General Authority. This Sunday it was the Managing Director of the Church Mission Department. He told us about the new Mormon.org, and all they are doing with the internet to aid in missionary work. Basically they want members to create a profile for people to read, so that the world can see that even though we're Mormon, we're not a bunch of weirdos. Ok, maybe we are, but we're still people. The tagline is going to be something like: "My name is Scot Stobbe. I am a father of 7. I'm a Mormon." or something like that. The website will go live on Dad's birthday, the 7th, but I think you can create your profile before. They want everyone who can to do it, and It is going to help the missionary effort, so I would strongly encourage anyone who reads this to do it! You may have to go LDS.org first and click on the "New Mormon.org" link to get to the right one. Gracias!

As far as day to day MTC life, I am getting better at Spanish, and as long as we talk slow, I can have simple conversations in Spanish. We have learned most of the general Spanish rules now. From now on, I think it will be a lot of the more complex rules, and a LOT of vocab.

Willy!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you can read this! I am so excited for you to get here. I thought of a place we can meet. Every Sunday, we do a Temple Walk, so at 4:30 this Sunday, see if you can meet me by the main doors of the Temple...... and I'll say hi, or something. Anyway I'm so excited for you to get here and experience this amazing campus.

Can someone tell Chris Miller that I love him and I'm praying for him. I know how much he wants to be out doing the work.

Thank you all so much for the notes, and packages, and letters. It's quite nice to get them. I will try to be good about writing individuals.

Mark, the Address I got for Kelsey was wrong, they sent the letter back. Maybe you can "DearElder" it to me again, just to be sure? Thanks buddy.

Dad, I will be working at the temple sometime late next month. I won't disclose the actual day.

Well my time is almost up. I will talk to you all later.

I love you all so much!

--

Elder Scot Daniel Stobbe Jr

Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission

Scoty's letter from thursday...

T.R.C. stands for Teaching Resource Center. It's where practice with "mock"
investigators. I don't know if I told you that we don't get to do the
referral center (online and phone) part of the MTC. Missionaries get called
to that mission now if they have certain restrictions. I think I will
get to go work at the Temple for our next P-day. At least that's the rumor I
heard from a counselor in our Branch Presidency. I'm not really
sure what I should record on my recorder, maybe you can "DearElder" me some
ideas? I will speak some Spanish for you. Let Mom read this next
part: Mom, I have some bad news. I know how to do laundry, and cook, and
kind of how to iron clothes, but the thing I never learned was to how sew a
button, and one of my buttons already came off! Uh oh! haha I think there is
a place here that will teach me, but I guess it's just one of those things I
never learned. Here at the bookstore they sell this Cleaning Stick for
collars called...... "White Collar" I'm not sure how much it costs, but I
saw someone use it and it worked really well. I might get some of that for
my collars. Unless you already have something you can give me. We have
4 Sisters (Hermanas) in our district, and it always reminds me of you. You
must have been so far ahead of the Elders when you were here. They really do
know more than us. One of the Hermanas in my district turned 22 today, and
our teacher is only 21! It's kind of strange, even though he already served
his mission and has all that experience. Anyway, I'm so grateful for
Sisters who choose to serve, because they help us so much. I'm sure you were
a blessing to the Anzianos in your district. Speaking of Anzianos and
Sorellas, there is an Italian speaking zone on our floor, and I always stop
them to talk to them and tell them my parents served there. It's so cool to
imagine you guys at that age (this age) learning at this same campus. I am
so grateful for that example. I love you both so much. When we have
interviews with our Branch Presidency they always ask if we have good
support at home, and I love getting to say that I couldn't have more support
than I do! I am so grateful for that. I know that this is where I should be
and that you both are 100% behind me. That is a great motivator. I
continue to strive to serve worthy of all the support and help I and We have
been given. I love you both so much, and I hope to hear from you soon!

--
Elder Scot Daniel Stobbe Jr
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission

JUST IN...

Hello, Everybody Who Reads This

OK, so since life in the MTC doesn't change too much, I will try and pick out some interesting/new things to write about.

I have seen Brian Winmill quite a few times since being here. He left for Cebu on Monday. I got to see him and say goodbye on Sunday night, so that was cool. I see Colton (I think his last name is Ashby) a few times a week. He is Chris and James' friend. If they read this, they'll know who I'm talking about. He is going to Brazil, and is on my same floor for classes. I have also seen Xander Hulme a few times. And I saw a Sister (Sister Brown? maybe) who used to work at the Plasma Center. She is going to serve in Honolulu, Hawaii with Matt.

This week all of the new mission presidents are coming to the MTC. They switch out 1/3 of them once a year. So there will be over 100 mission presidents and their wives here. Mine is one of them, so hopefully I will get a chance to meet him while he's here.

I will send my recorder home with some recordings on it soon. I'm not exactly sure what to record, other than me speaking some Spanish, so any suggestions would be helpful.

We have been continuing to learn Spanish and the Gospel. We did the T.R.C. again yesterday, teaching the 2nd Lesson. It went really well. I sort of blanked on the Spanish part, but the Lesson went really well.

Speaking of Spanish, I had an experience I want to share with you all: On Friday, I was working on memorizing Section 4 of the Doctrine and Covenants in Spanish. Normally I can memorize pretty well, even in Spanish, but one verse was giving me a lot of trouble. I worked on it for almost an hour on Friday night, and again Saturday morning. I had said a prayer Friday night, and was thinking about it in the morning. I was studying from a little notebook, and my Spanish Scriptures. As I was still struggling along, I had a thought come into my mind. "Translate It." So I opened my English scriptures to Section 4 and read verse 2, which was the problem verse. I had learned most of the vocabulary for this verse, and when I read it in English, I knew it almost instantly in Spanish. I could read along and translate as I was going, and after that, I had it down. In the 7th Article of Faith, it says "We believe in the gift of tongues....interpretation of tongues, and so forth." And I know that as a Missionary, I have been promised the gift of tongues. This was a great experience for me to realize that I do have that right, and that as long as I am faithful, and I can rely on that.

I love the feeling of the MTC, there truly is no place like it on earth. Where over 2,000 people are working 7 days a week for such an important, common goal, and have the guidance if the Spirit constantly.

I love everyone, and I will be writing some letters today. The Temple is closed, so we have 3 hours of extra free time today. I wish we could be going to the Temple, but at least I will have time to write people.

Thanks for all the packages, notes, letters, and treats!

--

Elder Scot Daniel Stobbe Jr
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission

Week 2 in the MTC

Hello everyone,

MTC life has pretty much leveled out, with the same routine every day. It's nice, because we spend at least 12 straight hours each day studying the Gospel and the language.

Last Tuesday, We had Robert D. Hales come and speak to us, which was so amazing! He talked about being obedient as a missionary and as members of the Church.

We had another lesson with a "mock" investigator on Monday, which was really helpful. We did the first part, including introducing, getting to eachother, and asking if she wanted to hear the message, in Spanish. Then we taught the 1st Lesson in English.

Soon we won't be the new missionaries in our zone anymore. We are getting a new district tomorrow. I can't believe I have been here long enough to have new missionaries coming in. Summer, you mentioned in you letter that it seems like I have been gone forever, and at the same time, barely any time at all. I know what you mean. It's a strange feeling here, with all the days running together. Sometimes we can't even remember what we had for dinner the night before.

We got to go the Temple today, which was great because I missed last week. One of the Elders in our district and I forgot our recommends last time, so we had to go back and get them. But he couldn't find his, and I couldn't leave him, so we just walked around the Temple and took pictures.

We have gym for 50 minutes 5 times a week. There is a track, and some free weights, and a big gym floor with volleyball nets and basketball hoops. We can also play soccer, frisbee, kickball, or volleyball up on the Missionary Field. It is weird to play up there because I passed it almost everyday and saw the missionaries, and now I'm one of them! I get to play basketball almost every day. We have played beach volleyball (sand volleyball), with our district once, and we are trying to do it again, but it keeps raining. And then today, when it's nice and sunny, we have P-Day and no gym.

I have really enjoyed getting letters, notes and packages from everyone. Thank you so much! It is so nice to get mail. Summer gave me some paper, envelopes, and stamps, so I will try to send some real snail mail to people. Can someone get me Matt, Rob, Chris, Lincoln, and Derek's addresses along with the other addresses I asked for. And if it's not too much trouble for someone to copy the Prina Profile blog posts, and Elder Miller's emails onto DearElder.com and send those to me, that would be great. I think I have missed the last 3 weeks. Gracias!

I miss everyone, but not as much as I love being here. I think about the boys and Ellie every night, and a few nights ago, I had a dream that Ellie was Kyler's age! Which she will be when I get back. I love getting the notes and drawings from the kids!

Sheyene, I love your little note on my package. I miss you so much.

To all my Sisters, Brother(s-in-law), Friends, and sobrinos (spanish for nieces and nephews), I love you!

Mom and Dad, I love you too and I am so grateful to have yours, and everyone's support while I am here serving. Thank You

(If there are typos, please excuse me. I have barely enough time to write this, much less spell check it.)

--
Elder Scot Daniel Stobbe Jr
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission

Saying Farewell

The day Elder Stobbe went into the MTC, we ate and he got FREE LUNCH at one of his favorite restaurants! (Wingers) Then it was time to say farewell for 2 years:( Sorry I didnt get good ones of everyone hugging him...

The whole gang

farewell to Ellie

Jessie

Kyler

Ethan

Hunter

Shered

Shalet

Summer

Martha

Mom

and Dad. It was a bitter-sweet day. We love Elder stobbe!!!

Dont forget to look at his 2nd letter on the post below...

A word from Elder Stobbe again

Hey!

We get to email twice a week in our zone, because we do service that cuts into our preparation day time. So I am emailing you again!

I am having a great time here. I love Spanish. And our whole zone is so nice and always helps us with how to say stuff (Como se dice?) and where things are. New missionaries came in yesterday so we are no longer the newest. It was funny to see them walking around with awed looks on their faces, because I know that's how I looked a week ago.

I'm sure there are other things I need, but I am blanking on them right now.

I read a quote from President Packer this morning that I wanted to share with you both, (especially dad):

"The Authority of the Priesthood comes from ordination, The Power of the Priesthood comes from Righteousness"

(I paraphrased a little bit.)

I thought this was a great reminder that we can't just get baptized, and all the other ordinances we do, and then coast. It's a constant struggle to stay on the straight and narrow path.

I forgot something else! On Tuesday, Robert D. Hales came and spoke to us for our devotional. It was amazing. He spoke about Obedience and Righteousness, which are key to missionary work. It was such a wonderful experience to have concentrated preaching from an Apostle of the Lord.

I am writing in my journal every day, and following the sleep schedule to a "T".

Tell everyone that I love them, and I pray for our family every morning and every night.

I want you both to know how much I love you and how grateful I am for the example you set for me my whole life.

I pray the Lord's richest blessings upon you.

Scot Stobbe

Scoty's "Closed House"

The Sunday before Scoty left for the MTC, we had a big dinner for family and friends after church. Scoty put this sign on the door for when the guests arrived! haha

some of the guys preparing food

some of the girls preparing food

cute nephews

Love it

Ethan and Kyler playing. Never realizing their scoty boy would be leaving them for 2 years!:(

The family in Summer and Wills back yard where we had the "closed house"

The proud parents

Best shot of the day (scoty and I)

2nd best shot of the day haha (will and scoty)

Best friends

Write Elder Stobbe!!!

You can write and send Elder Stobbe a hand delivered letter in minutes right from your house! (if you have internet) It will get to him in the MTC THAT VERY DAY if you submit it by 12:00 pm!
Go to www.dearelder.com and click on "write a letter" then follow the instructions. Its so easy and cool! His address is on the left side of this blog but to help you fill out the information:

MTC box #: 299

Mission Code: ARG-BAS

Estimated MTC Departure date: 08/03

First week in the MTC!

Hola las Familias y Amigos,

Well, it's been one week in the MTC, and already it seems like home. I thought it would take a lot more adjusting, but it hasn't been bad. I'll just give you a rundown of my missionary life first.

We wake up at 6:20 AM most mornings. Sometimes we get to sleep in until 6:30! I thought that this was going to be the hardest part, but I have been able to do it so far! Most likely, it is because I have something that I really want to get up for. After showering and getting ready, we have study time until breakfast. I never thought I could get anything done before breakfast, much less before 7:45. The studying has been going really well. The basics of Spanish are not hard, but it's about to get harder I think. I have memorized a few different things in Spanish, like the Missionary Purpose (see Preach My Gospel, "My Purpose") and some gospel principles. Teaching the gospel is a different matter. You can't just know the material, you have to know how to teach and you need to have the Spirit with you. I have the Spirit most often out of the three requirments, so it's ok. Speaking of the Spirit, the MTC is like a constant fountain of it. It's going to be hard to go to a worldly place like the airport when the time comes.

We have class or study until lunch at 12:30, then more class and study. The food is pretty good here. Not great, but good. I drink chocolate mile and orange Fanta with every meal, including breakfast. My two teachers are Hermona Rosales and Hermano Aston. Both are returned missionaries going to BYU. After lunch is usually more class and study until Dinner, and class and study until 9:00, when we plan for the next day, and at 9:30, we have.... more study time! It's actually quite nice. There is a lot of time where we determine what we should be working on ourselves (appropriately named Missionary Determined Time or MDT).

We "hang out" with the zone a little bit until 10:15, when we write in our journals, read scriptures, have a companionship prayer, then go to bed.

I am in a "tri-panionship" with two elders who are going to Rosario, Argentina. One of them, Elder Davis did not get here until Saturday for travel reasons. My other Companion is Elder Breshears. They are from Montana and Idaho, respectively. I like them both a lot. We haven't had any problems yet.

Our district is awesome. We have 3 Elder companionships and 2 Sister companionships. We are all pretty close already, which is great in the classroom setting.

One thing I didn't know is that missionaries aren't supossed to chew gum, so I will be sending my Costco pack back home : (

Kelsey, if you are reading this, do you know an Elder Bigelow who is going to my same mission? I don't know his first name.

Sheyene, I haven't met any of the people I was suppose to look for, sorry.

Summer, Thanks for the treats and notes, and tell Hunter and Ethan I love them.

Sierra and Stacia, (and John and Chuck), tell your kids I love them!

Mark, can you get me addresses for any of our friends who like to be written to? Gracias.

Shalet, don't let Mom make you write me.

Sorry this has to be short, I don't have very much time.

I love you all!