Week 6 in the MTC

วัดึ!!!

 

How is everyone doing?? I can tell BASEcamp is in full swing! I'm glad to hear it's going so great for you guys. It sounds like an amazing time, especially with that hike up that bluff you were telling me about, Mom. I'll continue to pray of it's success. I love that you switched the "counselor" to be called a "guide". In preach my gospel and in the MTC they make an emphasis that we know that we are but guides with the investigators. The Spirit and the Savior are the true teachers. We are just clean vessels that the Spirit can be guided through. It's amazing. I sure hope everyone is doing all right and is happy and healthy! Thank you also for a new camera and that package!! It was awesome to recieve and I'm sorry if it was a hastle to get here. I'll be much more careful with this one.

 

This week has been tough but it has gotten easier. I understand now the importance of total submission to Heavenly Father and His work. It's crazy to think it's been 6 weeks already! and in 2 weeks and a half I'll be heading onto a plane, and into the great country of Thailand. I couldn't be more excited! I have truely learned to rely on Jesus Christ. He has become my best friend. As I have strived to prepare for Thailand, I have been hit hard by the power of the adversary. I have felt Him give doubts in my head like I'm not clean enough to be here, or I can't master the language, or that I won't make it all the way through my mission. He has struck fear in my heart for the future, and I wish it didn't work, but I must admit, it has made it hard for me to focus on investigators. I actually had my companion, Elder Love, give me a blessing to forget my past and move on and not let Satan get hold of my heart and to submit fully to Heavenly Father. I absolutely love my companion. I am sad I only have 2 and a half more weeks with him because I feel we have grown so well together. Heavenly Father couldn't have placed me with someone better than Elder Love. I then remembered a scripture that I looked up in Proverbs 3:4-5. It talks about leaning not on the understanding of my own heart and mind, but rely fully on Heavenly Father. I've never really understood what it's like to actually truely believe and hope on something until now. The Atonement and repentance are things that have been significantly strengthened through my time in the MTC.

 

We had a devotional yesterday night about how to contend but not be contentious. I thought it was magnificent. It's important to contend with the forces of evil, but not be contentious by doing it. The Emeritus General Authority told us about a story of a missionary calling to confirm his appointment for an investigator on the next day and the investigator became distant and wanted to give the Book of Mormon back to the Elders. The Elder on the phone began to question why she wanted to end the lessons but she wouldn't give an answer. So he contented with her some more without being contentious and she decided that it would be okay if the Elder call her back in two days and ask her again. So he did and they talked about the forces of the adversary and Satan's tactics to try and confuse and fluster her into not accepting the gospel and he told her that she had God pulling her on one side and Satan on the other. It's so crazy sounding, but the forces of the adversary are real, and come in many forms. We must contend without being contentious. It was a really cool story.

 

Anyway, I hope all is well and everything is fun and dandy and awesome for you guys. Although it's hard and Satan sometimes makes me feel down in the dumps, God is always there. It's great to be a missionary right now! Love you lots!!!!!!! Have a great week!

 

Love you guys much,

 

Elder ฐะนั