This week at the MTC has gone 10x better than any other week so far. I can finally say I've started adjusting to the missionary life. Most people say it takes one week, but it really takes about two or two and a half. But yes, things are truly a lot better. My companion, Elder Cannon, and I are really getting along. He is a little weird but he is a funny guy and we feed off of each others laughter, which is bad because in class its contagious and impossible to stop haha. But I really admire his faith, especially when it comes to prayer. He has taught me so much about the power of prayer.
A funny thing happened this week. Elder Collins, Caldwell, Cannon, and I decided to play a prank and we grabbed the name tags from our other roommates and put them on. We show up to a class and it turns out there is a new teachers. We are wearing the other Elders tags and no one noticed at first. But asked me my name and I tried to say Elder Johnson and cover up the tag but she saw the name and we got exposed. Turns out... our teacher was the granddaughter of the Prophet. HAH. We realized afterwards that we accidentally pranked the Prophet's granddaughter and thought we were gonna be called up by the man himself. It was kinda funny, she was pretty cool though.
We started this thing called TRCs this week. In TRCs you are assigned an investigator who is looking into the church, really they are just hired to do it. (but some really aren't members which is cool). They are all natives, and we teach entire discussions in Spanish and have to listen to them speak back to us which is also wayyyy difficult. This is where I have been able to see el don de lenguas work miracles. Elder Cannon after are first TRC said he sat in shock as me and Daniela (our interested person) just had a conversation in Spanish about questions she had regarding the lesson. I honestly do not remember that, which just tells me the Lord is helping all the missionaries be able to communicate with those they need to.
Lately in the evenings Elder Collins and go outside our rooms and have chats around the ironing board (Ironside chats) ;) with other Elders from a different district. They are seriously the coolest guys out there. We go talk about stuff back home, and things we did, or how rough the day was or how good it was and all that. They are so dope. And I've just realized that these Elders are incredible, and it's an honor to be out here serving with worthy Priesthood holders like them. Elder Collins specifically has been a huge blessing. Our companionships literally do everything together, and I don't know how I would be doing without him. We hit the gym and ball together, eat and email, all that good stuff. He's a pretty good guy haha.
This week at the devotional we got to hear from an apostle. Elder D. Todd Christofferson came and spoke to us. The moment he walked in the door and we all stood up the Spirit flooded the room and I got goosebumps like nothing else. It was crazy. I was hoping for some motivational, all up in your face sort of message, but it turned out to be very educational instead. He talked entirely about the name of the Church, and how we are trying to move away from the term, "Mormons" and "Mormon Church", and more towards names like "Latter-Day Saints" and "The Church of Jesus Christ". No better place to start pushing this idea than with the missionaries who are going out all over the world. Super cool.
Lastly, these past few days I have been able to find more of a reason to be here. I asked myself why I was here countless times, and it was rough. But since the TRCs, I have realized that its all about the people we are helping come unto Christ. It just isn't about me! Just from our TRC with Daniela and feeling the Spirit so much teaching her, I really am just ready to go out and teach in El Salvador. I'm getting more and more excited every day. It's hard but that's okay. This week's thought I wanted to share comes from a talk by Elder Holland. I'll copy the link below but please listen to it! It is amazing. It talks about missionary work and the Atonement. It hit me so hard the other day, and I thought I'd share it with you. Skip to about 31 minutes exactly, and just take ten minutes out of your day to listen, its an incredible talk and you'll feel the Spirit. Hope you all have a good week.
--Elder Jake
 |
| Elder Cannon and I |
 |
| Saying bye to Elder Garvin heading to Omaha |
 |
| District at the temple |
 |
| Sister Nelson and her boys |
 |
| Elder Caldwell and Elder Collins: los perros |
Comments
Post a Comment