ALLOOOOOoooOOOOHH!! Everyone!! Crazy how fast the weeks pass! (if you're in the MTC or not, sounds like)
I think first off a happy birthday is in order to the best lil' bro living at home EVER! WOOT WOOT! The big 1-8! Curty-burd, this is big accomplishment, and you better live it up (esp. with MARNAY! delivering you the sweets) Did you get a little TREASURE from somebody special?? eh, eh? congrats on the 4.0, you are amazing. Sorry for the lack of presents, you might have to wait to get something that doesn't have MTC printed all over it :) if ya know what I mean.
Also, I was really sad to hear the news about Gus. This life truly is incredibly planned, and it's hard to accept somethings. And especially hard to accept things when you don't know why you should or can accept them. I'm praying for Jeannie and I hope she is doing alright. Keep me updated on what she ends up doing. If she ends up in Whidby again, I'd love to visit her again!
Dad- keep up the hard work! I love you and can't thank you enough for EVERYTHING you have done for me. You have sacrificed so much for me to be able to be here and not worry a thing about how I am going to pay for it. Goodness, your example and time spent being the best you can for me and the fam is SO appreciated. (Like they keep telling me at the MTC, even though missionary work is hard, if you're not having fun doing it - not having fun living life - then you're not doing it right!! :))
Rach! Tell me about this new job offer! so exciting! and Clint- I need a scholarly update and a word from the wise! good luck with everything. Jed...you better take Mitch's advice and write a letter for a date (forget this movie thing--LaaAME) you best be sure and copy it though and send one my way!
Oh love you all!!
So as for this week, right after I wrote you last Tuesday we had a devotional, and none other than Jeffrey R. Holland was the speaker. To put things into few words: his address probably was a turning point in my mission, and especially my time here at the MTC. I have no doubt that he is one of Heavenly Father's servants, sent here to testify of Christ and further His work. He spoke of how his mission meant everything to him! And he wanted just the same for us, so he encouraged us to plan, study, and teach for commitment with more conviction and enthusiasm than ever before. Then he shared the story from the New Testament of when Christ comes back to visit Peter after He had been resurrected (and he finds him fishing), when He asks Peter if he loves Him, and if he does, to feed His sheep. WOW...talk about a powerful message to not only missionaries but to anyone who wants to be a disciple of Him. He tells him to leave his fishing (and for us to leave whatever we may have been before we came to Christ, or before we came on missions, or whatever we were BEFORE) and for us to become shepherds (to completely let go of everything we were before and humbly realize that His occupation is worth so much more, and can make us such better people). The spirit was incredible. I think I was trying to hold on to "me" and still try and give my all to the Lord, but that's not what He asks. I realized that I have to give everything to Him, so that He can truly make me into the missionary He needs (and that the world deserves). He emphasized that when we got our call, we not only were being called on missions, but we were being called for a lifelong discipleship. This was so powerful coming from an Apostle, who has really given his whole life to the work. AH! Maybe you can find it online. I would recommend that talk, "Becoming a Missionary" by Elder Bednar (MTC address) and another "legendary" MTC address by Elder Holland, I forget what it's called. All excellent!!
As for the new companionship, I switched to be with Hna. Young and Hna. Wirth on Friday, and it has been really great. Right after I dropped Hna. Benavides off I went to join up with them teaching in the TRC. We taught the 2nd lesson in English, and the spirit was really strong. Always things to improve, but it's hard to really blow it if you're trying your hardest to speak of the TRUEST doctrine there is and applying to their lives. We also went today and taught a teacher ("investigator") the 1st lesson in Spanish. It went pretty well. I just keep spending too much time talking about those prophets and dispensations--woops:)--I can't wait for the day when I am able to really teach so simply and clearly that I can fit a full lesson into 1/2 an hour haha...guess we gals are a little long winded.
My compas really are teaching power houses though. They've got such strong, sincere testimonies, and I'm really excited to learn from them. Sadly, things are pretty boring- like they don't wear sunglasses - and Hna. Wirth is one SOLID Spanish speaker. Hna. Young has a heart of gold and you really couldn't ask for a more thoughtful, spiritual compa. AMAZING. Always a switch of dynamics, but hey, it's gonna be a sinch to just teach with one companion and stay with them for more than a couple of weeks. haha. I'm SO excited to go to Chile
Also, the new sisters that came in are awesome and are helping my Spanish--esp. since we're doing the 24/7 round of it. GAH!
Thanks so much for the love and support...it really means so much! Tell EVERYONE HELLO! and THANK YOU for the love and prayers I can feel the strength!! LOVE AND BESOS!!
Hna. Kelli
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