Well hello everyone!!! My first week at the MTC but it only feels like I got here this morning. I heard a saying when I first got here. "Each day a week, each week a day." It doesn't make a lot of sense but each day has been the longest day of my life. No exceptions. I can't think of longer days. But I can't think of any better feeling that I could have than lengthening out my service to our Lord, preparing for or acting in the Mission Field. Time is a precious blessing and I'm glad that I can spend 2 years of it to serve God, day and night. Well, this week has been interesting. You've heard out of the frying pan and into the fire right? Try, out of the tanning bed and into the SUN!!!! After dropping off my luggage in my room, I went to class and all our teacher did was speak Russian. That's right, if there was English, it was either from the rest of us in the class or written on the board. So if you future Missionaries go speaking a different language, learn what you can before. Every little bit counts.(:
The Spirit is so strong here. I can not explain the peace and joy that accompany this sacred place. Because the MTC campus is a dedicated campus, it is like an in-between of a Temple or Church Building. Prayers are said by thousands every day, and continuously throughout, out loud or in our hearts. And people pray for us every day and we feel those prayers. And need them. Thank you to those that pray for us because God is our strength and arm and we are preparing to accomplish one of the greatest works that we possibly can in bringing the joyful Plan God has for us to the miserable world. So thank you all.(:
The language is hard, but I can sound out accurately probably every word in Russian! I can say simple but powerful prayers and testimonies in Russian already. In a week! And I can understand a lot of what our teachers are saying. Half of what they do is charades though, so I don't exactly know if that's a testament to my language skills or charades skills. ;)
Well, my companion is Elder Gerritsen from West Valley, Utah. Not far from home now is he? At 6'6", this ginger towers over me and he is awesome! He technically finished High School quite a while ago and wanted to graduate early. So he graduated in December to come on his mission earlier! He's a great guy and we get along just fine. We're the only ones in our dorm room so that's a relief! Of our Zone (group of missionaries going to relatively the same place, like a Russian speaking Mission) we're the only ones going to the Rostov Mission except for one of our Zone Leaders, Elder Smith. Who is from Idaho Falls!!!! Heck yes! Best home on earth! He actually lived just off of Lincoln so if any of you know him, Tell me! He went to a private school... I'm not sure where yet. But I'll ask. He knew Bradin High so if you guys know who I'm talking about, ya.(:
Well, I love you all!!! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Church of God restored on the earth through his prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is the word of God given to us in order to understand God's purpose for each and every one of us. And I know that if you read it's pages, you can become closer to God that by any other way. Read it because it is true. Read it to feel God's love. I love you all!
--
Elder Nelson
No comments:
Post a Comment