Anyway, here is the first entry, Sunday, February 26, 2017.
| Just before we entered the MTC |
Hi Everyone,
We've just completed week one of our mission. I (Linda) admit that when I left NY I didn't know what to expect on this adventure, and this week helped me realize how little I knew. All the missionaries I've ever known have referred to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) as a marvelous experience. I've often chalked up their attitude to youthful exuberance and naiveté, but having experienced it firsthand I've learned that it is truly the most uplifting, Christ-centered, spiritual stretching of my life.
The MTC is a sort of spiritual fortress, which fortifies us to go forth to the world to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Set apart from the BYU campus, it offers a beautiful campus of its own with a secure, peaceful environment to allow us to be free from worldly influences. During the day we trained to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, primarily under the tutelage of young 21-22 year old returned missionaries in both large and small group settings, which involves significant role playing. What a terrific learning experience for both the teachers and us "senior missionaries!"
There are 70 senior missionaries who entered with us, assigned to go all over the world. Nine outgoing couples are headed for Nauvoo, Illinois; they will be performing in the evenings and giving tours during the day. One couple is going to Rome to serve a humanitarian mission to the refugees. Three office couples we've met are going to Norway, Spain, and Indonesia. Several are going to Australia. A few are doing Self-reliance missions.Everyone receives "Preach My Gospel" training, as we are all missionaries with a call to "Invite others to come unto Jesus Christ."
Although I cannot do the rich, spiritual training we've received here justice in a few paragraphs, I would like to share a few things I learned this week:
Monday evening we watched a video of Elder Bednar (one of the 12 Apostles). The original talk was given at the MTC Christmas morning 7 years ago and focused on "The Character of Christ." He described Christ's character as being "turned out" to others, rather than being "turned in." He explained that all that Christ did was for others--miracles, teaching, the atonement, even on the cross his thoughts and words were for others. As we strive to become Christlike, we must be turned out, refraining from selfishness.
Tuesday we discussed "Repentance and Baptism." Repentance was defined to include a "turn" or "change" which moves us closer to Christ. I had always thought of repentance in regard to wrongdoing, rather than improving from where we are without doing "wrong." I loved that thought, because we don't always sin in every area of our lives, but we all have room to improve, and the atonement helps us .
That night we also had a devotional with one of the General Authorities of the Church, (a Seventy), Elder Schweitzer. He taught that we should learn to rely on Christ to help us through the challenges in life that seem "improbable" to accomplish (and are without His help), so that we can later face and be successful with His help through "impossible" challenges. He called this the Nephi Principle and gave the example of Nephi, who faced the improbable challenge of acquiring the brass plates from Laban (1 Nephi 3-4), and later faces the impossible challenge of building a ship, navigating and arriving in the promised land (1Nephi 17-19). I loved this truth, for all of us have faced "improbable" challenges and some of us have faced "impossible" challenges that just could not have been accomplished without divine help. I know He has helped me, and I know He will help you.
Other training included teaching and app training. I'm so impressed with all the electronic resources available to us, and the training was invaluable for a dinosaur like me with my new I-Pad!
This has been a week of spiritual growth for both John and I. How blessed we are to know that God is our Heavenly Father and He loves us so much that he sent His Son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins, to help us work through things we cannot do alone, to heal us when we are hurt, and to provide a way back to our Heavenly Father. This adventure is a bit scary. It requires faith. A French poem that Elder Holland (another of the 12 Apostles) quoted fits how we feel about this sacred calling we now have:
"Come to the edge," He said.
"NO, I will fall."
"Come to the edge," He said.
"No, I will fall."
"Come to the edge!" He said.
So we came to the edge,
He pushed us over--
And we flew.
I pray that I can fly! This week the Mission President emailed us with a new assignment for the first two to threemonths we are in Sweden. We will be going to help a little branch (congregation) in Örnsköldsvik, 5 1/2 hours north of Stockholm. It's a bit overwhelming--we don't know the language, we don't know what is expected, or what to expect. Perhaps this is one of the "improbable" assignments we'll receive, but we know with His help we will do our best.
We've spent a nice weekend with family. We took the train from Provo to Ogden. Trevor joined us in SLC until his stop, and then Stuart picked us up. How fun it is to see his joy with his baby boy, Solomon. Saturday night we had a fun dinner with John's Clark relatives, including Aunt Janet and Uncle Don (90 years old!) It was a riot hearing him tell how he met Janet at BYU.
This week, our last week at the MTC, we will receive "office training."
Love,
Mom/Dad; Grandma/Grandpa; John and Linda
| All missionaries love to come to this map and point to where they will be serving. I'm laughing because I can't quite reach Sweden. |
No comments:
Post a Comment