Buongiorno famiglia!,
Thanks so much for all your letters and emails, they always just make my day! I love you all so much :)
The MTC is still going great! The weeks are all pretty much the same in terms of schedule, but it is amazing how somehow I always learn something new from each activity! We have been having a lot of study time to really figure out why we are here, and what our true purpose really is.
What it means to invite others to come unto Christ. I have learned so much about the power and strength that comes from the Lord as we put our trust in him. The MTC is exhausting, I am soooo tired all the time, especially when I am up late praying for help, and up an extra 30 min early for gym and service on Tues/wed. Yesterday was by far the hardest to get out of bed (at 5:45 might I add)...but just like every other day I just rolled out of bed and straight onto my knees. I have found that as I pour out my heart to my Heavenly Father, especially in the morning, as I stand up I can really feel strength beyond my own. I know that if it weren't for the fact that I am in the midst of the doing the Lord's work, there is NO way that, purely relying on my physical ability, I could do all this. But I have come to know, especially this week, that the Lord truly does love and strengthen his children. What a blessing it is to be doing the Lord's work, and to be humbled like that as the Lord helps me realize that really none of us could do it alone. But luckily we are never alone :)
So anyways, everything else is going great! I am getting to play a lot of basketball during gym time, it is such a blast! We have a bunch of kids in my district that played for their school teams in Utah, so it is
fun to be playing with people that actually give me a challenge ;) hahaha
jk! But it is a blast!
One of the most wonderful things about being in the MTC and being a missionary, is the chances we get to teach people, to teach investigators.
As you know, we have been teaching two investigators, Francesco and Daniella, and that has been a lot of fun! My companion and I had a really tender experience this week while we were teaching Daniella. We were talking about how Heavenly Father answers our prayers, and how it is just different for everyone, and she asked/told us (in Italian) "But I just have never had an answer. God has never answered my prayers. If he loves me, than why won't he answer?" Needless to say, we were a little taken aback...that's kind of a hard thing to answer. But as we sat in silence for about 5 seconds, a thought came to my mind. As distinct as any thought
I have ever had. "Pray. Have her pray right now." And my companion
looked back at me as I said "Daniella, would you be willing to offer a prayer for us, right now? And just ask. Ask God if he is really there, and if he hears your prayers. Ask if he loves you and wants to answer.
Would you do that for us?" And she seemed a little surprised, hesitated,
but then said "sure. why not." (we had taught her how to pray last lesson and encouraged her to pray every night before this lesson so she knew how) As she prayed, I asked Heavenly Father with all the faith I could muster, to please let this wonderful daughter of God know that you love her. As tears streamed from my eyes she finished the prayer, and we invited her to sit in silence for just 30 seconds to see if she could feel anything. The power of silence. It is real. After she looked up at us, we asked her how she felt. She said "While I was praying I didn't feel anything. But as I opened my eyes, and look at you missionaries, I don't know. It's weird. I feel something. In my heart. I don't know what it is, but I know that you two are genuine, and really care about me. I want to learn more about this
book (we had given her a Book of Mormon)" What a marvelous blessing.
After we concluded the lesson she seemed so excited to meet with us again.
I just can't wait for the field, (13 days...but who's counting ;) ) when there will be so many people like that; so many people that are only kept
from the truth because "they know not where to find it." I am so thankful
for the blessing it is to be a missionary of the Lord. for the trials that I go through, and for how they help me to grow. Every day when I wake up and put on that name tag, I look at the two names on it. Wilson, and Jesus Christ. How humbled I am to be in His service, feeling what little I can of what it was like for Him. I just love being a missionary!
Well, I hope all is going well at home, I pray for you all every night! Good luck with starting school soon! It is the best feeling ever to think "aww man, I have to go back to school...oh wait! no I dont!" :) haha I hope you all are doing well!
Io so che questa chiesa e vera. Con tutto mi coure Io so questo. Io so perche ho pregato, e Dio ha rispondera alla mi preghiera. Il dono della lingua e reale, quando noi abbiamo fede in Gesu Cristo, e nostri Padre celeste, loro aiutarci con tutto che noi facciamo. Sono molto grato per L'espiazione, e per la forza e la pace que lo da me en mi vita. Io so che Joseph Smith era un profeta di Dio, e lui pregato riguardo qual'e chiesa era la verita. Io so perche il Spirito dimonsta questo di mi coure, mediante sentimenti di pace e conforto. Sono molto grato per la mia famiglia, nel nome di Gesu Cristo, Amen.
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