August 30, 2012 Email

Hey Mom,

First off, thanks for the email. Last week kinda stunk not having anything to email back about. But I totally understand tht you were at work, so dont even worry. Yes, I am very ansy to get to washington. We got a letter from President Mullens this week that said what our plans were for the first few days. We will go from the airport to the Spokane east stake center. There we will get all settled and do some orientation stuff. Then, monday night we will stay in the mission home. On Tuesday we will have a big mission conference and we will be assigned our new companions, and find out our new areas. So, I have no word so far, on where im going, but I will let you know.

Yes, feel free to post my testimony. the only thing they have asked us to be careful about is info about the investigators I have. Or info about anyone personal really. So, in the future you might have to filter some of that out. But yeah, feel free to post my testimony or any pictures that I send you. What kind of picture are they wanting for the ward bulletin? Oh, and dear elder still can come to me in the mission field, you might just have to pay for postage. I have asked, and that just depends on the mission. Some cost postage, and some are free so just check that out. Oh, and I also the MTC what happens to letters if I have already left. They will forward any letters or packages, the only thing they dont do, is forward dearelders, since they just print them out here.

Ok, now about here. This week has been super crazy. I have met some people from home actually, and I think even a realtive ive never met. So, I dont know if I have said this yet, but I found Sister Stahly here. We talked for a while. I didnt even know she was coming on a mission. She is headed to France which is super cool. Then, I ran into an Elder Yano. He is from the Red Bridge Ward. He has been at school for a couple years, so that's why I didnt know him, but it was cool to meet some one. Then, we were teaching in TRC, which is where we teach member volunteers. I met this girl who was volunteering, and she is from the Lenexa stake. Her dad is the Branch president for a spanish branch I believe, si she knows spanish. She is my age I think. Her name is either Carlin or Carli. I know that was really vague, but I only talked to her for a second. Ok, then the craziest thing was like fifteen minutes ago. I ran into an Elder King. He asked me if I knew a Steve Cybulski. I was like yeah, I'm pretty sure that's my uncle. He said that that was his uncle too, so I think we are like second cousins or something. He is from Jacksonville Florida, so you need to ask Dad if he knows any Kings or ask Steve about it. Then he said that he has a cousin that works here at the MTC, so I might even have another cousin that works here or something. This was just super crazy!!!

Not much to report from this week, I have been mostly focusing on getting out of here lol. I cant believe that two months have already gone by. It is crazy, but it also seems like I have eternity left LOL. ok, I love you mom, Thank you for all the letters and advice. I loved reading about your studies. You have a couple letters on the way. Love ya

Love, Elder Cybulski

August 29, 2012 - Family Letters

Mom,

Thanks soooo much for the letter today.  I always love hearing from you.  Don't worry, I am eating plenty.  Don't Worry!  OK, so I'll call Monday.  It will be pretty early in the morning for a vacation day, but I'll still call from the airport on my way to Washington.

I really do feel like my testimony has grown everyday.  I can tell the change in my life.  Yes, it will be harder in the field with all the rejection and not being around as many missionaries.  However, I know I can learn even more from my experiences.  I can't wait to teach real people and to get to know the amazing people in my wards or branches.

Thank you for telling me about the things you are studying.  I was actually reading about Shiblon too last week.  it is crazy how righteous Shiblon was during all of his trials and then in the very next chapter his brother Corianton falls at the first temptation.  However, he is mentioned only one more time in the BOM.  In Alma63 it says that he is a better person, and that he is serving others in his mission.  I think it just shows how easily we can fall and how easy Christ has made it for us to come back even when we do terrible things.

So, I wrote an email today.  I don't have much more to report.  Hopefully everyone is doing good.  I love you Mom.  I will call on Monday.  Take care.

Love,  Elder Cybulski


Dad,

Thanks for the letter.  I just love hearing from everyone.  I just found that bible and thought I would send it.  Don't worry about reading it since it is in Spanish.  I just thought it culd be a cool thing to have.

OK, so today I had another cool experience in the temple.  We did a session since it is our last week.  While in the celestial room I prayed.  I prayed because I've been having trouble feeling like as I repent, the journey to not commit sin again is all on me.  Side note, this week I read a talk by Elder Bednar called "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality."  I recommend it, it's awesome.  He talks about the power that the atonement gives us.  In the temple today after my prayer I just opened the scriptures.  I'm a huge advocate of the "point-and-shoot" method to scriptures cause it almost always works.  Today it did!  heavenly Father showed me the perfect scripture to help me out.  Moses 1:21-22, just read it...

Tell everyone that I say Hi.  I miss you all a ton especially you dad.  We never got to say goodbye.  I sent mom an emai today so tell her to share it.  I will be off to Washington soon.  I will let you know where I am ASAP.

Love ya,  Elder Cybulski


Matt,

Hey Buddy, thanks for writing me.  Thanks for all the sports updates, I don't hear about anything unless you tell me.  It sounds like the Rangers are just killin' it.  I hope they make a deep post season run again this year.  That would be sick!  That stinks to hear about Jason Witten.  He was always my favorite except for Barber and Miles Austin.  I am happy to hear that your football is ging well.  Don't get too cocky though.  There is always room to improve, just remember that.  Keep working and you will eep moving up.  Keep writing me!  You are my only link to the Sports World. 

Love ya, I'll write again soon.

Elder Cybulski

August 23, 2012 Email

Hey family!!!!!

Second to last P-day in the MTC. I am so pumped to get out to Washington. We haven't gotten our travel plans yet though, so I have no idea what time of the day that I will leave. Hopefully I will get those tonight. Everything here is just cruising along. Classes, and more classes. Being zone leader is kinda stressing me out, cause it takes away alot of my personal study time, and that is the time that I look forward to the most of my day. However, it is a great blessing. I am learning so much more. I am learning how to inspire, and encourage the way that the Lord would. I have also seen how setting goals in our lives can really help us improve. We need to invision where we want to be in our lives, and then set specific steps on how to get there. And we need to WRITE IT DOWN! That way It is an actual goal and not an idea. Ok, so enough about being the zone leader. This week as been very different. Yesterday, we got to host new incoming missionaries. It was the biggest incoming of the year with 534 new missionaries all in one two-hour period. It was crazy busy. The MTC is now at full capacity!! I am so ready to get out of here, there are way too many people. lol ok, Now I want to say how awesome Mom was dropping me off here. We were like the perfect examples of how to do it. I know there was crying, but I got out, hugged and left. Seeing some of the families yesterday made it so much worse for the missionary. The entire extended family would be packed in the car, and they would all get out, talk to him, cry, hug, pictures, and then go. Then the family would just stand there and watch him walk away. Thank you for not making it any harder than it had to be. OH, on Tuesday night for out devotional we had Elder Niel L. Andersen of the Twelve Apostles come speak to us. It was soooooo awesome. One of the best talks I have ever heard. It was President Monson's birthday, so Elder Anderson pretty much gave the talk that President Monson would have given if he would've been there. He gave us 10 points that President Monson wanted us to know. I can't remember all ten points right now, but I will just say that every single one strengthened my testimony. one of the point was to never ever ever ever pass by a prompting that you get from the Holy Ghost. He told a story about when President Monson was a bishop. When he was a bishop, he had a member in his ward that was in the hospital. Bishop Monson was in a stake meeting, and he got the urgent feeling that he needed to go see this man. However, he waited for like ten minutes until the meeting was over, until he left since he didnt want to be rude to the stake president. Then he got to the hospital, and he felt the need to run. So Bishop Monson ran up the stairs to the man's room just as the nurse was putting the blanket over his face. She said, "Are you Bishop Monson...... Well, he was just calling for you". After that, President Monson vowed that he would never ever pass by a spiritual prompting ever again. And this story really touched me, and I have made the same promise to myself, because I know it could be the difference between someone's spiritual life or death. Ok, right now I can't really think of anything else to really update everyone on, so I'll just say I love you all. Thank you for all of the support that you have given me. I feel your prayers, and you thoughts. Truly, I do. I didn't get an email today, so I don't have much to respond to, but I will say this. I hope everyone has gotten the letters I have sent them. I miss everyone soooooo much. I know school has started and everything is super crazy, but just remember your Heavenly Father. He can help you through anything. All you have to do is ask. ok, Everyone, Have fun in all your activities and sports and such. Stay safe. I'm thinking about you always. Love ya!

Elder cybulski

August 16, 2012 Email

Hey mom!!!

Thanks for the email. I just love hearing from you and writing back. Yes, I did get the package. I got it yesterday actually. Everyone was so jealous and wanted some, so, as a missionary and working on my christlike attributes, I had to be charitable and share some with them. haha. Yeah, I did laugh when I saw them. They were a beautiful site. I dont think Ive had those since my birthday at school when you sent some to me then, They were wonderful. Thank you so much. My week is going great. I am busier than ever. This last Sunday, Elder Miner and I were assigned to be the new Zone leaders. The district that was three weeks older than us left on Monday, so we are now the oldest district in the zone, and the Zone leaders. Double responsibility... I know that it is super stressful, dealing with all the missionaries, and I have less time to study now, However, I know that blessing will come from it. I know that this is a great experience for me to have.   I cant wait to get to Washington. I want to start teaching real people. I know the practice in here is great and all, and everyone says they can feel the spirit when Elder Miner and I teach, but they are all members, so they know what it feels like. I want to start practicing with nonmembers so that I can really be able to tell if I am teaching the right way. Oh, about the calling cards. Yes, we are allowed to call home while we are in the airport. They sell calling cards here. So, I can just get one with the money I have on my MTC card that they give me every week. Or you can send me one. But, I would get one either way, because the phones in the airports are super expensive. I am not sure yet what time I will be at the airport. Some people leave super early in the morning, and others leave at night. We should get our travel plans next week sometime, so I will let you know as soon as I find out. Ummm, I dont really have much to update on other than that. We went to the temple again today, as we always do with our P-days. I have got a bunch of letters to write this afternoon, so if I think of anything else I will let you know then. 

I want to hear from you all that you have already seen out of my mission. How has the family been affected by this. Good or bad, I would just like to know what is going on. Alright, I've gotta go now. I will write again soon. Oh oh oh, tell Matt to look out for a birthday card. Hopefully it will get there on time!! Take care. I love you all. And I love you Mom

Love,
Elder Cybulski

August 14 Letter

Dad,
 
Thanks for the Dear Elder, I really enjoy hearing from you guys.  It sounds like USA basketball is just kickin' butt and taking names.  Is there anyone from the Mavs on the team.  I hate it when they only use big names, cause it makes it just a superstar show.  OK, question...has Mom been telling people I am zone leader or district leader?  Because I am only a district leader.  Well, that was up until Sunday when Elder Miner and I were assigned to be zone leaders. LOL  So now that is correct!  However, it is very different than it will be in the field, but good experience none-the-less.  The time is finally ticking down to to to Washington.  I am sooooo pumped; and nervous at the same time.  I've got senioritis going on a little bit.  Lessons are going great though.  Yesterday I had one of the best experiences yet.  We were leaning how to teach with the spirit as opposed to from the spirit.  So Elder Miner and I were teaching an hermana (sister) in our district who was acting as an investigator.  The investigator said that she no-longer wanted the discussions and it was up to us to feel the spirit and to follow the promptings wherever it lead us.  it was amazing!  I knew the question I needed to ask.  I found our her needs and I knew how to comfort her.  I almost started tearing up, and the investigator and the teacher observing were crying.  I've been struggling to know if my investigators have felt the spirit.  Now I know I can do that.  I can't wait to help real people feel that joy and peace.  OK. so my scripture reading is great.  I am in Alma 5 so I just read about Amelici and how he gathered his followers to join the Lamanites.  I like this story because it shows how some people in the world will simply follow others because they are successful and not for truth.  So thats where I am in the scriptures.  I hope everything is going well at home.  Matthew says footbal is better than ever.  I love you guys.  I love you Dad.

Love,

Elder Cybulski

August 9, 2012 Email

Mom!!!!

Hey, I got your email. It was great to hear from you. This week is going just great. We have gotten new investigatotrs, and we are just getting more and more busy. This week we had Mission conference since it was fast sunday. We got to hear from everyone in the mission presidency. Their talks were just fantastic. I didnt doze off once, because their talks were so engaging. President Brown (MTC) president spoke about repentance. He showed how if we are not repenting daily, then we are throwing away the gift of the atonement. The atonement was given so that we could use it. If we are to procrastinate the day of our repentance, than we are condeming ourselves, as it says in the scriptures. Then, I was reading in 2 Nephi 31 on Monday. I was reading about the "gate and the narrow path". I recieved a light bulb moment as I was pondering this that I would like to share. In this chapter, it talks about how we are to enter the gate and walk on a narrow and straight path. When I read this, I though about a park. I though about how some parks, we need to present a key card or something to get in, and that is repentance, or accepting christ. Then we have to get on this path. The path is our journey through life. In the scripture, it says a narrow and "straight" path. But in navigational terms, straight does not mean a path that goes directly from point a to b in a line. The terms means a path that goes from point a to b by any means necessary. So, I thought about a windy path that may have forks in the road, or needs to go around ponds or trees in the park. This really made it come alive for me, because I realized that I need to stay on this path to find the beautiful fountain in the middle of the park, or eternal life if you will. We can't always see it through the fog, or the trees in the park, but the fountain is there, and we need to make the right choices to stay on that path. ok, so that was my little missionarry moment for this letter. The rest of this week has been amazing. Constant meeting and such, but I am learning alot. I went all of yesterday only speaking spanish. It is hard, but I can do it. ok, so I am not in the same trio anymore. Last week we got switched up again because the guy that was going to peru got his visa, so Elder Sherman got moved. It is back to just Elder Miner and I now. I dont really have anything specific to say for the ward Bulletin. Whatever you put, Im sure will be fine. I will try to record myself saying my testimony in spanish. Can you send back that letter or something, so that I can read the same one so that you can follow along. Otherwise, I can just give it again. It might be a little different though. So, Today, we went to the temple, and we did sealings. It was super awesome to do those. The whole time I was in there, I could just think about the fact that the last time I was there, I was with you and Dad. It could just imagine my hand being on top of yours. It was a very special spirit that I haven't really felt before. The names of the kids that I represented are just sitting in my mind and I keep thinking about them. It is kind of weird to say now, but I can't wait to get married. The blessing in that prayer are sooooo special, and I want to have those with the wonderful daughter of god that I am meant to be with. It will be the best day of my life. ok, so my time in coming to the close. I gotta go. I love you mom. Take care, and keep letting me know how things are going.

love,
Elder Cybulski

August 6, 2012 Letter

Mom,

I got your letter today.  Thank you so much for the pictures!  It is great to have them with me now.  and thank you for the letter, they are like lifelines here.  I'll just jump right into it.  It is kinda hot here too.  it has been in the 100's, but it isn't humid at all, so it is bearable. 

I'm glad that you got Halle into EFY.  It will bless her and she may not see it now, but she will look back on those times for inspiration.  I just wish I would have gone at least once.  Thanks for the update on everybody.  I appreciate it. 

OK, so our teacher has told us to share our testimonies as much as possible in Spanish.  Don't worry about translating it, it will take forever, Here ya go... (the following may have spelling errors and lack of accents due to Mom not knowing Spanish and Alex's handwriting..lol...but the sweet spirit of his words will come through.)

Yo se que este iglesia es verdadero.  Yo se que el Libro de Mormon contiene la palabra de dios.  Yo creo que nadie puede traducir los planchas de oro sin la ayuda de Dios.  Yo se que este travajo que esto haviendo es la voluntad de Dios y Jesucruisto.  Yo creo que es mi responsibilidad efectuar la prophecia de Isaiah y ensenar los pueblos de los lamanitas.  Yo creo que en el fin, ganaremos y cerea de mis obras puede hacer mas rapido.

Yo se que Jesucristo es mi salvador.  Me ha dado todo.  No pueo dar tan gracias que los bendiciones que me ha hado.  El sufrio por todos mis pecados y todos los sentimientos malos.  Puedo ver a el paraayuda, porque El Sabe todos mis sentimientos, pensamintos, y como puedo dominar los tiempos malos, Le amo con todo mi corozon, mi fuerza, y todo mi mente.

Yo se que este evangelio restaurado es el mas correcto en todo el mundo.  Yo tengo el sacerdocio y yo se que nadie en un otro religion tiene este poder.  dio a mi mediante un sagrado linea.  Nadie tiene el mismo linea.  Yo se que es mi responsibilidad brindar este evangelio a todo el mundo.  Es mi responsibilidad ser constante en mis convencimientos.

Yo quiero usted saber que amo mi familia con todo mi corazon.  Y Yo se que sin este evangelio restaurado no podemos volver a dios juntos.  Yo no nunea doy bastante gracias por los bendiciones que Jesucristo ha dado me.  Mientras se dice en San Juan capitulo seis versiculo cincuenta y uno, "Yo soy el pan vivo que ha descendido del cielo; si alguno come de este pan, vivira para siempre; y el pan que yo dare es mi carne, la cual yo dare por la vida del mundo."  Este es mi escritura favorito sobre Jesucristo porque dije como podemos volver a el.

Yo hablo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Mom, I have learned so much since I've been here.  I can hardly believe it.  On Sunday we listened to a talk by Elder Holland called "Missions are Forever" or something like that.  It was given at the MTC, so I don't know if you will be able to find it.  In that talk, he talked about the power that we have as Missionaries.  I'll try to quote it, but he said, "This person has the Melchizedek priesthood.  This person gives up their time to serve.  This person is a disciple, and a tool in the Lord's hand.  This person has been set apart to be a messenger of this gospel.  This person works insane hours.  This person has the gift of tongues and discernment.  This person is endowed..." he keeps going, but then he says, "Now, who am I talking about?  You or me? "  Elder Holland explained that unless we are called to be a general authority we will never be more like an apostle without being one, than in these two years.  The only difference between an apostle of the church and a missionary is that they have keys to have stewardship over the church.  No other position in the church, except apostles, and the Prophet, have more power or responsibility than I do right now.  He also said that to think about the apostles while Christ was on the earth.  When Christ gave them the priesthood, he did not give them certain "seeing and revelating" powers, because Christ was there.  They didn't need to converse with him through the veil until after he died.  So, while Christ was on the earth, I, me, myself...I have the exact same authority that Peter, James, John and the others had, if not more.  This just kinda blew my mind and I thought I would share.

I love you guys.  Keep writing.  I gotta go.

Buenos Dias,

Elder Cybulski

Our District Leader - August 2, 2012 Email

Hey Dad.

 

So This week has been super busy. I got assigned to be district leader, so now I really dont have time at all. I am constantly in meetings for this and that. It has been hard, but I know it will bring blessings. I got to go to the temple again today, and it was awesome. I learn new things every time that I am there. I wish I could have gone with you and hear about your first time and things like that. But, I understand what you had to do. This week has really been kinda crazy though. We got another teach, so that means another 'investigator'. I say investigator, but it is just some one to practice with. I wish we could actually teach someone with real problems that we could help them with. So, unfortunately I don't have any cool conversion through the book of mormon stories yet. I have really been working on my knowledge and the ability to recognize the spirit though. It has really been a great week in the study times. I have felt the spirit more than ever.  My testimony of the BOM is growing every day. I love my work. I don't really have much else to report. Tell Mom and Halle to be ready for some letters that I wrote them. And tell Matt to update me on sports more. I need my current events. I am out of the loop here lol. ok, have a great day.

Elder Cybulski