Hey everyone!
So I think this is week six, at least that what it has down in our schedule stuff, but I neer know if that week starts on Wed, the day of the week we got here, or if they start it Sunday like a normal week. So I think this is my sixth letter, but I don't have time to check!
This week was quite a load of spiritually uplifting experiences that really made it meaningful for me. Of course every week at the MTC is full of great experiences, awesome talk, lessons, etc. but this week I really tried to have the spirit with me as often as possible, and I think that helps, when you're actively striving to live and act in a way that you know would bring the spirit, and would never drive it away. On Tuesday we had the opportunity to hear from Bishop Edgley from the church Bishopric which was quite a treat! He was very funny and gave some great insight which inspired me. He talked about how our success isn't measured by how many baptisms we get, but by how committed we are, if we're hard workers, obedient, if we rely on prayer and don't hesitate to get on our knees to ask for help or to receive guidance, and then how much we changed during our mission. In one of my interviews with my teacher Hno. Jensen, he challenged me to try and figure out how I can take this opportunity of being on a mission to solely focus on gospel related things, and during my personal study, since I didn't have a progressive investigator really, to try and see how I can change myself for the better. This really is a great thing since every day I have at least one hour where I have to account for what I did the day before and if I was trying to reach my goals. Being accountable and reporting your success really does force you to improve dramatically, faster than I could've thought possible. He also touched on how I've been called of God, this is His work, so I shouldn't be intimidated to share His gospel with those around me. Yes they have their agency, but we're called to find the elect of God, and he is preparing people for us to guide to him, we just have to be bold and open our mouths! Afterward we had a great district review, which I find is always especially uplifting because not only do I get to discuss what I learned, but everyone else's views and thoughts as well! It helps us to let each and every thing really sink in and helps us decide how to apply that.
Another thing I'm working hard on this week is memorizing scriptures in Spanish. We're having to start teaching the lessons in Spanish, which is a whole new ball game, but it helps when I know the scriptures and can share them and discuss them in Spanish, and I'm finding that the best way for me to understand what a scripture is saying, is by going through it line by line and deciphering the message, and while I’m at it I might as well remember it=) Also a cool little thought that I had this week was with our teaching opportunities. it really strengthened my testimony of the spirit and my resolve to have it with me always (which I've been promised if I am worthy and do those things I've covenanted to do). One day we had to teach the first lesson (something we taught a million times the first 3 weeks, but the last 3 weeks we've been focusing on the next 2) and it was a trying experience, but educational when we were with other missionaries our same level so none of us new exactly how to say everything, so we were just stumbling through, and then later my companion and I had to teach "Juan" our progressive investigator with Hno. Jensen, and that went rather badly because we just weren't on the same page, he hadn't done any of his commitments, and we couldn't move on with our lesson I thought until we addressed all his problems, but he would just be stubborn and every time I explained why he needs to do something, he's just say that's great that I believe that, but he believes something else. I tried so hard to get him to see why he needed to pray to God and not just recite rote prayers, or why he needed to read the Book of Mormon, but eventually we just had to bear witness that we knew it was true and we hoped he'd follow the Lord up on his promise, but it was rather disheartening just feeling so helpless, then we remembered right after that we had to go teach again in Spanish to the ZL's because they'd asked if we could practice on each other since we'd done it a couple times before. My companion was out of sorts from the last lesson and completely abandoned me half way through the lesson so I had to do the whole thing, which just sent the spirit out the window, and of course you can't teach without the spirit so I just felt like I might as well have just recited Spanish phrases to the wall. Anyway, this was an example of how when we didn't do what we were supposed to, have the right attitudes, and subsequently didn't have the spirit, then we could do nothing and it just made us feel exhausted afterward. This experience I want to compare to 2 days later when we went down to teach our other progressive investigator "Tommy" in the TRC. This time we really focused on making sure we were ready to do it, and would keep the spirit. The lesson went great, all throughout it I felt impressions to say things I hadn't planned on, and somehow it made it better, I just seemed to know what he needed to hear or how to explain it, and I know that's because we had the spirit. This lesson was a lot more in depth and should've made us even more exhausted then all the other practices, but walking out of it we both felt elated, and energized. The scripture that says when we teach, the student and the teacher will be edified together. I felt that promise come true and it was so great to see the difference. Just like in running when I run with bad form, or am distracted thinking about other things, or I don't run the pace I knew I should've, I always had a horrible race, and felt completely dead afterward and I had a terrible time. When I followed Cantrall's plan, when I was focused, then I'd run great, I'd usually PR, and even win it! It's just funny how even though I ran faster, or taught longer, I was less tired=)
Running out of time! In the TRC we got to teach an Italian so that was interesting, he talked way fast, but we somehow were able to answer most of his questions, and teach with the spirit. I guess practice makes perfect, and we did prepare a lot which I"m grateful for. On Sunday we had the awesome opportunity to bless the sacrament, in Spanish. It really felt cool knowing that my priesthood is used to bless others, give them the opportunity to utilize the atonement, and I can do it in Spanish too!=) We didn't get a temple walk on Sunday but we instead reviewed "Sweet is the Work" a hymn our Branch Pres had us all read and discuss. Reminded me of Paul's lit class talking about the different interpretations of poetry, but it was so much cooler with a spiritual perspective!
Also for fireside the Beeson's spoke which was hilarious and awesome! Sis Beeson sang a medley of a bunch of hymns to describe a day in the life of an MTC missionary. Mom it reminded me of you, always singing=) Well I love you all, am so grateful for your prayers, letters, etc. You're the best!!
Church is true!
Love,
Elder Lewis
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