WOW. Haha, I always thought it was funny that my friend, Sister Maurielle Dennis, started her mission emails out with "wow" all the time. Now.. I completely understand why! wow.
This week has been crazy. I am pretty sure I have felt every emotion possible. The MTC quickly humbles you, that's for sure. I seriously have so much I want to share with you, and I don't even know where to start! I have been keeping a little post-it note with me of all the things I want to write about. I have found if I don't do that, all the days blur into one huge dream.
So. First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY TWO WONDERFUL BROTHERS, KYLE AND CHAD! I know your birthdays were last week, but don't worry, I didn't forget about you two! I hope you both had fabulous days. I love you both so much.
Now about my investigator, Brother Castro. Don't ever think that we had to teach him sa Tagalog. I know that the Gift of Tongues is truly a gift of the Espiritu Santo. My kasama and I have been working really hard to invite the Spirit in our lessons with him. Teaching in a different language has helped me realize how simple and beautiful the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is. It is very humbling to know that simple, short sentences sa Tagalog such as "Heavenly Father loves His Children. We are His Children. Jesus Christ is our Savior. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. etc," can invite the Spirit and touch the mga pusa (hearts) of God's children who are being taught. I love it. I REALLY love it. It was hard for me to get used to at first, because I felt so inadequate with my broken Tagalog sentences; however, I can honestly say that I felt the Spirit in our lessons. I have also been able to strengthen my patotoo (testimony) in the power of teaching from the Scriptures, ESPECIALLY ang Aklat ni Mormon (book of mormon). Trust me, when you don't know how to say something in the language, what do you do??? --> TURN TO THE AKLAT NI MORMON! haha. The Spirit was so strong when we bore our simple mga patoo about mga bersiculo (verses) that we shared. Bro Castro had questions about death, so we focused on the Plan of Salvation. It really helped bring peace. We invited him to prepare for Baptism and he said he wanted to go to Church first this sunday. It's been an amazing experience. Praying sa Tagalog is such a beautiful thing as well. I love the fact that our Father in Heaven knows ALL things-including ALL languages. It doesn't matter what language a prayer is in, because ang Espiritu Santo is the universal language. The Holy Ghost is who testifies of truth and helps tenderly lead and guide God's children back to Him through His Son, JesuCristo.
Okay. So. Don't ever think I get fed ALL THE TIME. When I first arrived sa MTC, I didn't have an appetite at all because of nerves, and because we have huge meals for every meal. Bleh. The food isn't the best really, either. But, then all of the sudden something happened. I have become accustomed to the overwhelmingly huge portion sizes and i am hungry for every meal.... Hala! (oh no!) I am worried about getting fat. Please love me no matter what, K? okay??? :)
Another amazing experience was Sunday night. Every sunday night we get to listen to some sort of Devotional. We got to choose one of four to watch. My kasama and I chose to watch The Character of Christ by Elder Bednar. WOW. WOW. WOW. .....wow. Honestly, it has been almost a week since listening to it and i am STILL trying to wrap my head around the precious doctrine of Christ that he taught of. wow. He talked about how in everything we do to turn outward toward others and not inward. He talked about how it is the Natural Man who will always turn inward. He related it to the cookie monster ("I want cookie NOW!"). Gee, I seriously can't even describe how amazing the experience was. I wish I could explain it. All I can say is that I have so much to work on, and it was very very very humbling. I loved it and felt the Spirit SO strong.
I love class time! Some of the elders in my district can't stand how long class is...but I'm used to 9 hrs of class while in the Nursing Program :) haha, so it honestly doesn't even phase me. I am used to studying all day. My teacher, sister Stonick is amazing at helping us ALWAYS remember our purpose as mga missyonero- "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." She reminds us constantly that our purpose should be at the core of our mga puso (hearts) during EVERY activity and minute of the day-personal study, kasama study, language study, etc. I am here at the MTC to prepare to invite the filipinos to come unto Christ. And in order to do that, I need to continuously strengthen my own conversion during personal study, learn to love my kasama more completely during kasama study in order to teach by the Spirit, and learn the language in order to testify to the filipinos in their own language (D&C 90:11).
I am learning so much. Jamie N. asked me in a letter if I felt "old and wise" amidst these little 18 and 19 yr olds. Haha, I must say that I do feel old. HOWEVER, i do NOT feel wise. There are some amazingly wise spirits in these young mga missyonero (also some very young ones, too....haha...no offense). but really, I don't feel wise. I may have grown up with the Gospel, but just like all the other mga missyonero here, it is my first time being a full time missyonero.
Friends and Family, PLEASE know that i know this church is true. God is our Father in Heaven, and He loves each and every one of us more than we can even comprehend. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our pagapagligtas (savior) and redeemer. He suffered and died for us so that we would be able to return back to our Heavenly Father. I love this Gospel, and though the language is SUPER difficult, I am trying my best to keep the pananampalataya (faith-talk about long word for such a simple word....) in the kaloob ng mga wika (gift of tongues).
I love you ALL! Mahal kita!!!! (P.S. mahal kita when said to the opposite gender is like....love, wanna marry you type deal....so careful with that one, haha)
Until next week,
Sister Wright
Me and my Kasama!!!
Me and Sister Erickson in our residence! Love her!
My District (missing 3 Elders)
Me and my Kasama, Sister Butler in the SNOW!!!
Here ya go Mom :)
Sister Otia, Sister Nott, Me and Sister Butler (we never forget to laugh!)
Our Christmas Tree! Sister Erickson's family is doing the 12 days of Christmas, and she got this tree on Saturday!! I think we are more excited than her! hahaha
No comments:
Post a Comment