Mom and Dad-
Today I really enjoyed Relief Society for the first tie in my life. Anne Claig, from the General Relief Society, gave the best talk! I'm trying to write down something I'm grateful for everyday despite how bad my day. Today I am grateful for music. It's touched my heart so powerfully. Dad would like the MTC I think. I've probably heard four different "If I Coule Hie To Kolab" arrangements since I've gotten here.
So far my mission has been awesome! Snow Shimei and I taught out second lesson and....even though there was a language barrier, I felt the spirit. THe gospel.....the spirit..... isn't a language. It's so wonderful to know that the spirit transcends those kinds of barriers. At one point we were fiddling around looking up words and the kyudosha, Tomingana san, said something. All I got was "sin, how, and forgiven." And I bore my testimony about the atonement....right then and there. It was awesome. It's such a rush teaching.
You should see the MTC. The day I came we had 940 missionaries come. HISTORIC! We are having the first ever MTC devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday.....I'm singing in the choir.
I'll tell you one thing....when I decided to go on a mission and prayed for a challenging mission....I never thought about the MTC....I certainly didn't think about what 9 weeks here would mean. I think my district is getting really close. The chorotachi remind me of boys at Tech....they are endearing. I met with my sister trainers yesterday....I'm older than both of them....SHOCKER. I haven't met anyone older than me.
I see Matt Rice daily. Berkley lives in my building. I didn't see him til today. We have completely different schedules. It was really weird seeing him though...I couldn't even hug him or anything.
I;ve been trying to say my personal prayers in Nihongo....but my vocabulary is pretty limited so I give a version of the same prayer every time I pray. Its frustrating not being able to express myself the way I want to....especially when I have so much to say.
Tonight we had a great devotional from Elder Bednar that has motivated me a lot. I've decided he's a close second to Elder Holland. ANyways, he talked about being "Characters of Christ." Basically, there would have been no atonement save it for the character displayed by the Savior. In every situation, Jesus put off the natural man and turned his attention towards others when oct of us would turn our attention inward and be selfish. In Matther 4, when Satan was trying to tempt Jesus with food when he was fasting, the real temptation wasn't' food, it was to deny His divinity. Not only does the Saviot tell the adversary to go away but he also sends John angels because he knows he's in prison. How amazing that in a time of personal need, Christ is thinking of others. During my mission I am turning away from the natural man and forgetting about myself. I'm trying to learn that the atonement gives us the capacity....even when we aren't capable.
I;m so glad to be serving a mission. This is the right thing for me at this time. I love youX!
Love, Goose
Today I really enjoyed Relief Society for the first tie in my life. Anne Claig, from the General Relief Society, gave the best talk! I'm trying to write down something I'm grateful for everyday despite how bad my day. Today I am grateful for music. It's touched my heart so powerfully. Dad would like the MTC I think. I've probably heard four different "If I Coule Hie To Kolab" arrangements since I've gotten here.
So far my mission has been awesome! Snow Shimei and I taught out second lesson and....even though there was a language barrier, I felt the spirit. THe gospel.....the spirit..... isn't a language. It's so wonderful to know that the spirit transcends those kinds of barriers. At one point we were fiddling around looking up words and the kyudosha, Tomingana san, said something. All I got was "sin, how, and forgiven." And I bore my testimony about the atonement....right then and there. It was awesome. It's such a rush teaching.
You should see the MTC. The day I came we had 940 missionaries come. HISTORIC! We are having the first ever MTC devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday.....I'm singing in the choir.
I'll tell you one thing....when I decided to go on a mission and prayed for a challenging mission....I never thought about the MTC....I certainly didn't think about what 9 weeks here would mean. I think my district is getting really close. The chorotachi remind me of boys at Tech....they are endearing. I met with my sister trainers yesterday....I'm older than both of them....SHOCKER. I haven't met anyone older than me.
I see Matt Rice daily. Berkley lives in my building. I didn't see him til today. We have completely different schedules. It was really weird seeing him though...I couldn't even hug him or anything.
I;ve been trying to say my personal prayers in Nihongo....but my vocabulary is pretty limited so I give a version of the same prayer every time I pray. Its frustrating not being able to express myself the way I want to....especially when I have so much to say.
Tonight we had a great devotional from Elder Bednar that has motivated me a lot. I've decided he's a close second to Elder Holland. ANyways, he talked about being "Characters of Christ." Basically, there would have been no atonement save it for the character displayed by the Savior. In every situation, Jesus put off the natural man and turned his attention towards others when oct of us would turn our attention inward and be selfish. In Matther 4, when Satan was trying to tempt Jesus with food when he was fasting, the real temptation wasn't' food, it was to deny His divinity. Not only does the Saviot tell the adversary to go away but he also sends John angels because he knows he's in prison. How amazing that in a time of personal need, Christ is thinking of others. During my mission I am turning away from the natural man and forgetting about myself. I'm trying to learn that the atonement gives us the capacity....even when we aren't capable.
I;m so glad to be serving a mission. This is the right thing for me at this time. I love youX!
Love, Goose