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
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