HAAALLLOOOOOO EVERYONE!! It was so good to hear from all of you and all you are doing! GAH! There is so much I want to tell you, be expecting a follow-up letter probably so I can spit out everything that I want to tell you :)
First off, this week has been full of feeling the spirit and teaching the gospel. (wow, what a life, right?) We had the opportunity to teach a lot of different people and practice a lot of different skills, and I am learning a ton everyday about how the spirit works and how to invite him into the lessons. We taught in the TRC on Friday, just the first lesson. I walk into the "living room" and who would be there but Amanda Leggit- my freshman dorm Residence Advisor. She has just gotten home from my same mission!! So INSANE! But, the lesson was probably the best first lesson I've been able to be a part of. It's so powerful to be able to teach about the basic doctrines of the gospel, and share the experience that started this restoration of Christ's church. There's always things that we can improve on, scriptures we could have shared, and things we could have been more clear on, but if the spirit's there, you know the Lord is telling them the things they need to hear.
In fact, that's probably the thing that's impressed me the most this week. We had an excellent devotional on Sunday evening about the light of Christ that is in everyone- that lights everyone's souls and provides the energy and light that keeps us alive! It is when the Holy Ghost communicates with this light that their soul is enlightened and they can realize that what they are hearing is true. So, our job as missionaries isn't to convince others that they should join this church, or follow Jesus Christ because of blessings #1, 2, 3. Rather, our job is provide them with spiritual experiences in which the Holy Ghost can communicate with the light that is already within them. We are not planting the seed within their hearts, we are nourishing the seed that God (with the help of their agency) has already planted, as well as invite them to change their lives by having this light grow stronger and stronger by living in harmony with the teachings of Christ. Such an amazing realization, and it really changes the whole approach you will have in a lesson, or how you treat people, or what you say to people. These spiritual experiences are brought by expressing our love, and sharing the love that Christ and our Heavenly Father have for us. That Jesus Christ's Atonement is personal and real and that His love strengthens and motivates and moves us to become better is the message that we share!!
Before I go too gung-ho on ya, let me just tell you of another teaching experience we had yesterday with a progressing investigator that we've been teaching. Pedro is a father of 5 girls and is a construction worker. He's been really fun and "easy" to teach and has been keeping all of his commitments and understanding everything really well. Yesterday we taught the 3rd lesson and decided to bite the bullet and commit him to be baptized (for some reason it still kind of freaks me out- but I better get used to it :) So after a lesson of faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost, we asked him if he would be baptized. He said he'd like to!...but, that we felt like he had some repenting to do...turns out Pedro has a bad alchol problem. WHOOPS! guess we missionaries should've probably talked to him about a few things before hand. haha oh well...anyway, we talked about the importance of preparing for it and told him how much God will strengthen him if he has the faith to follow Christ. Oh boy, I'm just glad we're being "Trained" here!!
Speaking of baptism, turns out that there's new curriculum being instigated out in the field right now (like it's everywhere but the MTC) SO MITCHELL!- tell me about it!! Instead, there's a 8-lesson plan....and you commit everyone to be baptized on the first visit!! Wo. Talk about missionary work at it's most intense moment!! oh, and MITCH! I'm so SO so excited for you!! I can't believe all of the experiences that you're having already and all of the opportunities! I can't wait to giddy-up and get out there. Keep being patient, right? Hurah for Espanol! Any advice for me now that you're doing the "real deal"?? I seriously am so pumped for you! The rest of your district left this week to MEXICO! - except, that is, for E. Palmer & Hercules, they still haven't gotten their visas (they're being pretty good sports about it though...after like 11 weeks :( )
Hna. Wirth is leaving tomorrow for San Jose California, so I'll be with Hna. Young for the last few weeks I'm here. Goodbyes are crazy here- they happen all of the time, and you can't really get sad about it since their next step is so great! But, Hna Wirth was such a good, patient teacher that listened to the spirit and was really good at sharing scriptures! I learned a lot from her sweet spirit and quiet sincerity. It's going to be really different learning how to teach in just a companionship- but good practice for the field, right?? There's another advanced sister coming (from BYU) in this week that is going to our mission too! So it's going to be really fun to get to know her.
As for the FAM! I love you all so much and it was so fun to hear from all of you!! wa-hoo!! Rach! Keep putting together all of those good ideas, we're going to have a mad-fest of creativity when I get home! Good luck with biking and guitaring and paninis and reupholstering and the triathalon! whew! and the new job! and Clint! "STICK" with your project. I love adhesives too.
Jed- Keep the ball games in check and mom make sure that the babysitters don't have a dark theater room :) j/k j/k. Oh, and if I get any say in the wedding plans, I'd be happy to help choose out men's ties - i've become quit the pro here.
Curt- AMAZING job on the ATC and grades and b-ball and...uh...famous?? way to go in the newspaper and scholarship!!
MOM and DAD- thank you so much for all of your hard work and example, you're simply amazing!! I love you both so much!! And appreciate all of the updates and support! the talks have been perfect!!
love you all so so so so much!! besos! Hna Kell bell
No comments:
Post a Comment