Wow my family is the greatest!! I am getting your e-mails Dad, I write you guys an extra letter every week to reply, but I can try to reply through e-mail. I haven't gotten any e-mails from Mom though, are you writing family e-mails or not yet? I AM SOOOOO excited about your experience in the MTC on Sunday!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!! The Lord's work is truly amazing, nao?! The MTC has the most incredible spirit. To tell you a little more about what I do each week here goes: Everyday- personal study, daily planning, 6 hours of class, teaching investigators (that are really our teachers), GYM!!!! (one of my personal favorites, I run a bit then play volleyball ;)), 3 meals in the cafeteria, Devotionals every Tuesday night! (I sing in the choir- SO awesome!), and Sundays are special- temple walk, Firesides, Sacrament, District meetings with a member of our Branch Presidency, ice cream, Wednesdays new missionaries come in! (We get four new elders this week!!! 6 left for Cape Verde this morning :( so sad, they were the ones that welcomed us in- so weird they are leaving!), btw we also get ice cream on Wednesdays :). Have I told you about this little group of missionaries from England? We know who each other are and we always say hi to each other- it is awesome! And they don't mind too much that I don't have an accent. ;) Thank you SOOO much for your letters!!!1 They mean the WORLD to me!!! I write you guys each individually back with handwritten letters! Aunt Charlene what is your address?! Maybe someone could dear elder it to me so I can hand write you a reply! I barely get my e-mails done in time, actually I don't say 1/4 of the things that happen but I try.
This week I feel like I have been pounded with a baseball bat over and over until I feel less than the dust of the earth. Serio. It has been really good and really dificil. I have been humbled hard core. I keep learning really good lessons. I am keep getting pushed, pulled, stretched to continue the journey to become who I need to become. It is sure a long ways away but I am trying my darndest. I really feel like I have been put through the meat grinder. On Sunday I was just going through this huge battle in my mind- Jack think of the biggest battle in history and then imagine my own battle in my head to be 5 times bigger. I was struggling. After Sacrament meeting we listened to music and teh spoken word. I saw that Sister Mary N. Cook was going to talk to the Relief Society women afterward and I felt the Lord say "I know you are here, Elizabeth." Then during the program the MoTab sang "Impossible Dream" form Man of La Mancha and How Firm a Foundation. I flat out bawled. It was embarrassing. I felt the Lord's love. I knew He knew what I was going through. It would take forever to describe what I have been thinking, learning, doing, etc. but I have realized I can't be so hard on myself. I can't ever be perfect while on this earth. No matter how hard I try and beat myself up. I need to enjoy the journey. And I am a lot better now- to sum everything up! :)
Sister Cook's lesson was incredible! She showed a Mormon message about a boy getting hit by lightening and an elder just gotten the Melchizedek priesthood 39 days before was able to bless him and he was saved and was so glad he was sanctified, worthy etc. During the video a girl fainted or something happened and Brother Cook jumped form the stage and gave her a blessing, or just helped her. It was silent as an ambulance was called and I cannot describe how strong the spirit was. It was an exact real life example of what just happened in the video. I know every single girl in that room was praying fervently for this sister. IT was pretty scary. She regained consciousness and was taken to the hospital. I will never forget that experience. I am so grateful that I feel like I was sanctified and worthy to pray to the Lord. I have learned SO much about repentance. Our Branch President said that is why we are at the MTC- to learn to repent. To sanctify ourselves for the work and to teach others the way to repentance. It is incredible. I feel the Saviors loves so much. My relationship with Him and with My Father is growing tremendously. I love my mission. I don't want to be anything else right now. My desire for worldly things has left. I am totally focused on the work. I am so grateful that I can take this time out of my life to fully focus on the Lord's work. I am so blessed to have this experience and opportunity. I am so grateful the Lord could accept me as His missionary.
We watched Elder Bednar's talk on Sunday that he gave over Christmas. It was mission changing for me. He talked about The character of Christ. He challenged us to buy a cheap Livro de Mormon and highlight/find the characters of Christ. I want to turn out like the Savior. As natural men we always turn into ourselves- especially in times of trial. I always want to turn out. He promised us if we focus on turning out then we will be blessed to become who we need to become and we will help those the way we need to. It is a huge deal to be a representative of the Lord. I promise you that I am doing my best. I feel the power of the mantle. When I don't worry about the language and I just focus on the spirit and on the pesquisadore and what they might need, I teach with power- power form the Lord.
I cannot tell you how much I love you. I cannot express how much I love the Lord. Or how much I love this work. I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. When our conversion is strong, that is when we are tools to bring people to Christ. THAT is why those early missionaries were so effective- it was their conversion. I challenge you to work as hard as you can on your personal conversion- it is a lifelong process. I am so grateful for the Sacrament. That I can be clean every week. I testify that we can be forgiven. The Lord loves us. Hurrah for Israel!!!
Shall we not go on in so great a cause?
Ps- I totally forgot to give Brother Hodges your phone number I apologize a million times over. I am so sorry, but maybe he can call you through vonage. :( I LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!
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