Hello all!
So, we're getting down to the wire here. 12 days left! We get our travel plans tomorrow, my mission president has written me with our first couple days of things we'll be doing and what I will need, and the packing and last minute scrambling and cleaning has begun! I will be sad to leave the MTC, I have gotten so close with my district and our teachers. Elder Lindsey and I have grown really close and I can only pray for companions like him in the future, and then our teaching and planning with Hermana Coleman in our companionship has really improved, we still have our problems, but it's all good.
So, this last week has been pretty scrambled in my mind. I am sure it will sound like that. We had an awesome Sunday Devotional by a Presidency of the Branches here, it was great. And then I really am scrambled after that.
Oh! Sorry, kind of backwards, but like Saturday night we taught Mauricio (Hermano Litzenburger) and we had an awesome lesson on God's plan for him and his family and how the Holy Ghost can help him with that. He is now our closest "investigator" to baptism, March 24 (obviously not reallt gonna happen) but it was great for us because we have been struggling with our teaching styles lately. Also, we are getting ever more closer with james (Hermano Pacheco), I don't assume they will commit to baptism just because we are leaving soon, so we still are trying our hardest. It has been great to learn from each other in these lessons and we are getting closer and closer to really being able to focus soley on their needs and applying doctrine to help them. I guess it sounds pretty easy, but it has been a struggle for us. Spanish doesn't make it any easier.
Okay, so that is that.
The really cool news is that we had an awesome Tuesday night devotional. Elder Holland came! Totally a surprise, since no one knew who was coming it wasn't so crazy. But what is awesome is that we were able to get second row seats. The Spirit was so strong as he entered the room, he is such a great man. And oh did he let us have it. Practically yelling at us he spoke about how sacred our callings are and how important we are to the Lord and His church. He spoke at length about letting this mission change us and making sure we are different when we get home. At one point he pounded the pulpit and very much what I took for a yell told us, "Don't you dare in the first five minutes of getting home from your missions try to figure out a way to not look like a missionary", so my beard aspirations are shot. But, that's okay. He is so powerful. Then he had a bunch of missionaries get up and talk about the Book of Mormon and how we need to use it more by showing how just in 1 Nephi chapter 1 is so many things we can highlight with our investigators to help them understand everything. Luckily I can practically quote that chapter since I have read it so much before and here and have used it extensively in our lessons, so I didn't feel too guilty. It was such a powerful night though.
And then yesterday we got to host new missionaries, which was fun. Really reminded me how were are so close to leaving, 9 weeks is almost by. It really does fly.
But, with that comes the realization that there is, and always will be, things that I need to do better. We have been blessed with some awesome teachers and great opportunities to teach and learn, but I have realized now matter how hard I try, I will always miss the mark. That is not to say that I am down on myself or having a terribly difficult time, but to realize that every second and every verse that we study can be used to help change someone's life and save them is daunting. And then there is the fact that even for these 5 or six investigators here at the MTC, we have developed some really strong bonds and even yet I cannot find the ability to find what they need. I know it will come, I have prayed more fervently and humbled myself as much as I know how, and the Lord will humble me the rest, so I know that there are things to be learned. I mean, its the MTC, that's what we're here for.
And I realize I have not even scratched the surface on what I do not know yet and what I will need to work on in the future. Louisville is not the MTC. And yes, that scares me a little bit. Here, if we mess up, they can't drop us. Here, if they don't feel the Spirit when we teach, and if we don't either, and then if their lives get hectic, they can't just stop talking to us. Its their job. But in the real world Satan will do all he can to stop us, and I know if we aren't ready to give it all we got, then we will lose people. And that scares me. I don't care whose fault it will be, or if it won't be anyone's fault, it scares me. So I am prepping myself to do all I can for the real world.
With that said, things really are going super well. I wish I was more faithful with pictures, but they will come soon enough. Nothing too exciting anyway. I hope everyone is doing well and that life is treating ya'll well. I love you all and miss you. I pray for you and think of you. Thank you for your letters, and your candy, and your packages, and your prayers. I appreciate everything everyone has done to help me.
My next letter will be the last one in the MTC. Soon this fire inside of me will be rolling through the bluegrass hills of Kentucky. Literally rolling because I am pretty sure I will have a car. Which is nice. Anyway, love you all. God Speed.
Con amor -
Elder San Martín
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