July 29, 2013 - Arrival in Hungary

 Elder Shoop with Mission President Smith and his wife

After arriving in Hungary, meeting his mission president, and enjoying a nice dinner in the mission home, Elder Shoop went with the other new missionaries on a short tour of Budapest - including visiting Gellert Hill (the place where, in 1987, Elder Russell M. Nelson dedicated Hungary to the preaching of the Gospel). 

July 25, 2013

Last week at the MTC!!! It's so amazing. So exciting! I'm so greatful that I can rely on the fact that as long as I do what Christ wants me to it will turn out for the best, because otherwise I think I would be very scared! As you can now tell, this letter is going to be in English. I actually wrote last weeks email fairly quickly, because after I had spent like 25 minutes I accidently deleted the whole thing. So I'm sorry there wasn't more but I am greatful you enjoyed what you got and didn't complain that there wasn't more about me. I am SO greatful for the wonderful birthday gift I recieved today. Yes, I opened it before my birthday. It is so amazing I can't even express it. Every part of it. But more about that later, first off, more important things:

 

I see so very often here at the MTC our Heavenly Father's love for us. I recently  took some time to research the question "If God loves us, why does he allow evil and suffering in this world?" Its an immense question. So very important. And one that I would be surpirsed if all of us didn't strugle with at some point in our lives, whether we realize it or not. I believe 2 Ne 2 hold the answer to this question. Read this chapter slowly, carefully, prayerfullly, and thoughtfully. God can and I strongly believe, does and will, "consecrate thine [our] afflictions for thy [our] gain." Some times life isn't fair, but through the atonement of Christ all that was unfair in this lifetime will be reversed. We will be given blessing so great we will be overwhelmed with how immense and eternal our blessings are. Free agency is a must. It is absolutely needed for us to gain eternal joy and through that much suffering can occur. But, fear not! Salvation is free! For through the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ, we can all be made whole. Grace, however, is dependent on Mercy (which through Christ can be infinite) and our faith. Faith should change us. It does change us. And I testify as one who has been set apart to represent Jesus Christ and His church that Christ does live and his Grace is endless. The blessings are eternal and the doctrine is true.

 

I wish I could relate to you all that I have experience, all that I have felt. But I have work to do and time is lacking and English, any language, can not describe it all. I want to tell you all that all is not well and easy as a missionary. Spiritual experiences do not fall off of trees or shine down in the classroom lights. Its hard, as I know all of your lives are hard. I've seen a pattern recently and I'm going to express it in an experience and then I'll talk about my travel plans and then I'm going to try to take just a minute to send some individual emails.

 

We (my companion and I) had been doing very well spiritually I believe and had both grown and become very motivated. Then during one of the study periods we had a very hard time. We were really strugling and dealing with atleast one very difficult issue. It was tough for both of us and very draining I found. I had been working on a certain attribute though and tried to deal with the issue as well as I could, but things were still not going great I would say. Then we were in class and I was inspired to say something. I said it in English (it was during concencration week, described below). I know, or at the least, strongly believe, what I said was inspired by God. I felt the Spirit so strongly as I said these words. This inspiration and the whole rest of  what we did in class, helped us with our issue and the rest of the day went much better I believe. I am so greatful for a loving Heavenly Father, who, when we have done all we can and have strugled to do whats right, blesses us to endure.

 

Last week was concencration week (Last Thurs.- Today). We in my district as individuals and as companionships  chose certain things to give up. One of the big things about this week was that the idea was to not talk in English at all. It was very challenging but I was greatful for the goals I set. I was far from perfect at it, but it was a great experience and very helpful. Also Elder Weaver and myself's lessons have been going very well recently and we have grown so much both in the language, and more importantly, in how to teach with the Spirit. We have had many experiences where the lessons were definitely lead in directions where we weren't planning at all. I have felt the spirit strongly bear testimony that the promise in Moroni 10:3-5 is real. That God will answer us if we ask about the Book of Mormon. Its an amazing work, its a true work.

 

We are so excited to go to Hungary. In the Hungarian language, you go ONTO Hungary, the only country where in Hungarian you go onto it. In Hungarian you also go onto church, which is awesome. My travel itenerary:

July 29 11:15 (am)-3:15(pm), SLC-Chicago/OHare

July 29 5:15 pm Chicago - London Heathrow, England (6:50 am July 30)

July 30 9:50 London - BUDAPEST, HUNGARY!!!!!!! (1:15 pm)

 

I'll probably call at Chicago, I don't know if I can call multiple people yet, but if so, please (through the missionary letter thing you use, because that would be the only way I could get the letter before monday) send me peoples phone numbers.

 

I love you all so much! Thank you so much for your love and support! The birthday gift was incredible and, not that tears are uber-important, but to show you how much it meant, it made me cry alot. I loved it so much, thank you all so very much. I will be the very best I can be for you all.

 

Szeretlek Titeket!!!

-Shoop Elder

July 18, 2013

Sziasztok csaladod (Hello my family)!

 

Ez betü cak magyarol (This letter is only in Hungarian). Valasztoltok tenni ez.( I chose to do this). Hiszok, hogy tanuljatok és érzzetek sok rölem ez üt (I believe that you all should learn and feel much about me this way). Egen ö nehéz, de szokom szokom, angolol vagy magyarol (Yes, it is hard, but my words are my words, in English or in Hungarian).

 

Bizonyságom (My testimony):

Tudom, hogy Isten van. (I know that God exists). Isten a mi Mennyei Atyank. (God is our Heavenly Father).Hal imankot (He hears our prayers). És valasztol imankra és fog valasztolni imankra. (He answers our prayers and He will answer our prayers). Isten szeret minket (God loves us). Todom azt mert érzek szeretete sok idó. (I know that because I have felt His love many times). Latotam hogy valaszol imara. (I have seen that he does answer prayer). Tudom azt (I know that).

Ma jó Megvalunk, Jézus Krisztus, él. (Today our good Redeemer, Jesus Christ, lives). Meghalt értem. Meghalt éted. És, meghalt értunk. (He died for me. He died for you. He died for us.) Életemben, érztek sok öröm, Jézus Krisztus Engesztelése altal (In my life, I have felt much joy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ). Tudom, hogy érzhassuk ez örörm, Engesztelése  altal. (I know that we can all feel this joy through His Atonement).

A Mörmöm Konnyve igaz.(The Book of Mormon is true). Tudom azt. (I know that). Tudom azt mert a Szentlélek bizonyság tett nekem. (I know that because the Holy Spirit  has testified to me). És érzem az örörmot hogy adj. (And I have felt the joy that it should give). Akarom hogy olvassatok 2 Ne 2 (I want that you all read 2 Ne 2).

 

Nem sok idem van. (I do not have much time). Szeretem titeket. (I love you all). Szeretem az evangelium az igaz. (I love the gospel it is true.)  Szeretem az evangelium mert az igaz (I love the gospel because it is true). És szeretem olvasni A Mörmön Konnyvét. (And I love to read the Book of Mormon).

 

Sziasztok csaladod! (Bye my family!)

July 11, 2013

Note to Mom: Our teacher told us that Hungarians love seeing pictures of us and our family. They are very family oriented and showing them family also helps us become more real to them or something like that. I love the frame with all of the family pictures in it but what he suggested is having a little 4x6 flip book with some pictures of family and maybe us before the mission so that we can show people in Hungary. I would really appreciate having this.

This week, yesterday, we got another District of Hungarians. 12 awesome new misisonaries getting ready to serve in Hungary. My district has been very excited to have these missionaries come and I think we all feel motivated to work harder and be better so we can set a good example for the new Hungarian missionaries.

At the West Campus MTC (where I am) we get to go to Brigham's Landing on our PDays. (Brighams Landing is a place just down from West Campus MTC, theres a couple resturaunts there). So, since our PDay is Thursdays and last Thursday was the 4th of July, my district went over and had Burgers and Smoothies. It was pretty awesome. They had Sports Center playing on the TVs in the resturaunt though and so at first it was hard not to watch TV. Later in the day the whole MTC watched 17 miracles together and then got to go out and watch the stadium fireworks. We like to say that that night we watched 18 miracles instead of 17 miracles though, because at the end of the day Elder Depallens (in my district) recieved a miracle answer to many prayers. That was the best part of the day. It even beat the BBQ, bacon, and onion ring cheeseburger with fries.

Here is a quote from my journal on 7/5/13: " Once again I prayed to God and He answered in a miraculous way." 

Here is a quote from my journal on 7/6/13: "God exists. He loves us. He hears our prayers."

7/8/13: "God has blessed me so much."

One of the days this last week I felt the Spirit more than I have in probably any other lesson. The lesson was on the difference between Grace and Mercy. Mercy is a gift, grace is more of a power. Grace is the enabling power of the Atonement. We all recieve mercy from Jesus Christ. No matter what you do or who you are, He loves you and shows you his mercy. Grace, though, is reliant on our faith. The Atonement of Jesus Christ enables us through grace. It enables us to change, to repent and move on. It enables us to always become better. Better friends, better family members, better people. It enables us to progress, central to the Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Happiness.

It can be easy to fall behind planning lessons. One of the days this last week my companion and I were teaching a lesson the next morning (it was night) and we still didn't have a plan. I was pretty worried because we didn't have much time left in the day and we didn't have any more scheduled time to plan the lesson. I was worried. But once again, my prayer was answered. We had talked during the day about different things we wanted to talk about in the lesson. I was grateful to my companion for us finishing planning quickly and taking just a few minutes to plan what we could. As we wrote down the different ideas we had had or were having, the lessson seemed to just form itself and after only a few minutes we had a solid lesson plan that I felt good about, and that I felt we could give that next morning.

I hope you all are well. I love you all and miss you all much. I appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and any emails/letters. I'm sorry I don't have as much time as would be nice to write all of you every week but I've been trying to take a little time and hopefully you'll all get a letter from me before I leave the MTC (in less than 3 weeks!!!). I know in all of your strugles that God will hear yours prayers. The Book of Mormon is a very useful tool to go to in all things as well, it is true.

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Shoop

July 4th, 2013

HAPPY 4th of JULY! I'm grateful that you were all able to safely get together to enjoy the holiday. I'm sure you all are having an absolute blast of a time together. I've loved getting to read your emails and letters hearing how everyone is doing and what you're up to. But, I challenge you to try to have even 1/2 of the fun and good times I'm having. Although I do miss you all, especially on this holiday, I know I'm where I should be, doing what I should be doing, trying to be the person I need to be.

I want to share with you all atleast one really neat experience I've had recently:

Every Tuesday we missionaries get to walk to the Marriot Center (ike 20-30 min walk) for a combined East and West MTC Campus devotional. This last Tuesday we hear from the 2nd Councelor of the Sunday School Presidency. It was a pretty amazing talk. He told of how we are real missionaries and what our part as missionaries is. I really enjoyed the talk in large part because it made me reflect on myself and ask me questions about myself, it made me want to be better, a feeling I've found directly related to feeling the Spirit.

Anyways, the main thing I want to talk about is the walk back to our classroom at the MTC. During this walk I felt I should talk with a certain Elder. This Elder is a missionary in my zone but not in my district, so I know him and am friends with him, but I didn't know him super well. As we talked I was led by the Spirit what course to take with the conversation, maybe what questions to ask or such. We ended up talking about some very important things dealing with testimony and prayer and such. At one point as I talked about prayer I strongly felt the Spirit in some things I said. I have found that I feel the spirit strongest when others around me are also and I believe he also felt the Spirit in what we were talking about.

As we arrived at our classrooms, he sincerely expressed to me how he was grateful for our conversation and some things that I had said. He said that I had given him somethings to think about that night and that he was going to try to apply. It was then that I reallized exactly what had taken place. I was blessed with this amazing opportunity. The Spirit had led me to talk to this Elder and told me what to talk about. I couldn't have done that myself, I didn't know much about this Elder. I was so blessed to have been able to do that. Not only did I have the opportunity to serve and help someone else (the reason I'm on a mission) but I was blessed with a spiritual experience and grew in my testimony much myself.

I think the neat thing is that this happend during a usually pretty casual walk back to our classroooms from the devotional. It didn't happen in a planned out lesson or such. It happened because God knew that two Elders needed to have that experience when we did, and gratefully we were intune enought to the Spirit, and willing enough, to carry it out. That, is vitally important. Not just in my mission, but in life. Not just my life but all of ours: Listening to the prompting of the Spirit to do the will of our Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for our sins.

Here is an awesome quote from Preach My Gospel. I know it can bring peace to all of your lives: "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." (page 52 PMG) I encourage all of you to read the seciton this comes from, "The Atonement" which starts on page 51. Infact, I encourage all of you to read the whole entire Preach My Gospel, it is awesome and inspired. But, if you just read those two pages, 51 and 52, that'd  be great.

I am very grateful to live in the country I do. It is such a blessing to have had all the freedoms we do all my life. In Hungary, they've only had these freedoms from Communism for about 25 years. However, on this day of celebrating feedom we need to remember that our gratest freedom comes through the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. Only through this act of pure love can we be freed from the chains of sin that so easily pull us down in the wonderful world filled with much evil and temptation.

For the 4th of July today we get to watch the Stadium Fireworks from a grass field nearby the Stadium, Julie can tell you about it because she talked about it in her email. This last week has been challenging in many ways but also FULL of blessing. Because of the challenges I fasted and from that have seen amazing blessings. I still get along awesome with my district and my companion and I seem to become better friends and better at teaching lessons together every day. The language is hard but we are learning lots, we taught a 40-50 minute lesson in Hungarian recently.

I love you all much!!!!!