mom first YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE INCLUDING MYSELF IS LOVING ALL YOUR GIFTS!!! THANK YOU!! christmas here is crazy. so mom in answer of your questions. elder h got here the same day i did and we both leave the same day we are companions the whole time. we leave for korea if we get our visas february 13. the language is coming its slow but i have to stay patient. the only thing i can think of write know is there are these sharpie highlighters that i am using and im almost out of them if you could send like 2-3 packs that should last me. if not find another type of highlighter with lots of colors you should see my scriptures. the scripture cards can be as small as you please. we spend about 6+ hours studying korean each day! and teach 2 lessons in korean each day im with elder h the whole time im here.there is a district that leaves in 2 weeks because they got here 6 weeks before we did and then my whole district leaves the same day i do.i got a package from gma and i loved it THANKS GMA LETTER COMING SOON!! kim bruce thanks for the dear elder!! i dont have your address in ohio so i cant write back!! the ppl in my room are elders h, hill, and coats. as far as everyone in my zone and district it goes as follows. elders hill coats h snarr yoon hartzel mcdonald mcgee hunt. sisters kent furner hurt hansen abbott and choi.mom i do think elder h has some sort of mental challenge but i dont have a phd so i couldnt tell ya. elder h is practicing daily hygiene and it still smells sometimes. tell monsons i loved seeing them. elder h was teaching about faith and had talked for an hour when they walked in about the faith his ancestors had. i was sad to not see them after. i love serving.
ok first thing in my letter. tuesday sister dalton came and talked to us!! i wish i could share my notes with you but i dont have the time to share anything. but one thing. with the holy ghost on my side and desire and hard work my mission will be anything but a failure. i may be setting out to change someone or some families lives but my life will be changed more by them.
wednesday i got my boot and i think they called dad. i think it is getting better i wear the boot all day except when we go to gym i get it taped and try to run a little but my Achilles is getting very week. wednesday we spent 3-4 hours running from different doctors appointment i was told i have Achilles tendinitis and plantar faschitis so i wear this boot till january 6. i was so scared family. i wasnt coming home. the doctor gave me crutches before we really found out what was up and i said im not using them. i dont need the attention or the possibility of my branch president getting worried. i was literally carried (by the Spirit) all day wednesday in fear that i might have damaged my foot pretty good (thats what the 1st doctor said) so i was so scared but i had to trust. if god brings you to it he will bring you through it. later in the boot a german elder in our same building who is the only one in his family who is a member saw my boot and immediately asked if i had recieved a blessing. for anyone that knows me i dont like asking for priesthood blessings. about an hour later i humbled myself enough to ask a group of 5 in our little hall who would give me one. elder adam hill and never given a blessing before an decided he wanted to. it wasnt long by any means. but it was what i needed to hear and it was from the lord. i am so grateful for this sacred power.
we practice sharing the gospel. tell brother tamang everything he taught us was so dead on and i speak with confidence when we practice in english. some of these 21-22 yr old elders cant even lok me in the eye when we practice. i owe so much to brother tamang, covey and all the rms who helped out. pact!!! anyway we practiced giving a bom, sharing the gospel, and committing someone to baptism in 2 minutes. i did it in a minute and a half and did awesome. after wards sister kent said wow how did you do that! as you know me a replied sarcastically with ya im that good or something to that extent. immediately i had a feeling of disappointment. it wasnt me talking!! (sorry if this is so weird and churchy but im a missionary.) anyway i felt so upset with myself. i had to say a prayer asking forgiveness dad i started our search for happiness on the 14 of december and finished it last night. i felt that since it was kinda a big deal to you i had to read it also. there is one quote at the end about missionary work.
weaknesses become strengths, challenges become opportunities, trials become triumphs, and adversity becomes and adventure in the service of the lord.
neat huh? the mtc however it may not be home still has a wonderful spirit. there are times where i get homesick and think what am i doing here? but i feel im doing the right thing. brandon before i left assured me that i was doing the right thing. i know i can do this. food for thought. go read the testimony of the 3 and 8 witnesses in the front of the bom. after wards read the names of who they are and research/find out how many of them stayed members of the church. after that. ask this question. how important did families play a role back then and now?? families are important!! i encourage all to read the proclamation to the family and refocus on what they can do better at.
last. the other night.. i just forgot what i was going to say, maybe i wasnt suppose to say it. hahahhahahahhahahahha cliff hanger!!! i miss you all so much and thank you all for helping me by sending packages and letters i look forward to dear elders every night and letters. i encourage you all to continue to find ways to serve others you may not feel it made an impact on someone right then and there but it helps. the atonement is real. anyone who wants a feeling of piece the atonement can give it to you. big or small we can be forgiven. its not about tallying up how many sins we make and being judged on that. its our progress on and in our actions and intentions. there is always hope and improvement in every ones lives and we can all do it through the atonement.
i just remembered a few nights ago elder hill needed help writing a letter to someone with some questions so i helped him. the question was why does god let ppl he loves have trials, heartache, etc? my answer
i dont know!! i still dont know the reasons gma died before my baptism and why gpa died as i was trying to prepare for my mission. i dont know! but i know i trust him ad there will be a purpose!! also. the key word is love!!!!!!! why does god give us challenges if he loves us? ITS BECAUSE HE LOVES US!!!
also mom this is for you. well ill write it in your letter but its good you can share it with those you feel should hear it.
i love you all so much. those pics of gpa get me every time. everyone will be in their perfect form in heaven but i hope gpa still has his white hair and dentures. along with a few mumbling words when i get to to talk to him. one christmas down one to go. i must be home by the 13 of december 2013 korea said so haha. i love you guys. serve, forgive, trust, be patient, and never forget someone is always watching.
