Week 2 - September 4, 2019

WADDUP ALL Y'ALL!!!

WOW.... Week two hit me a lot differently than week one, lemme tell ya.  It was definitely a lot harder.  I felt like I was behind in the language, was homesick, stressed, etc.  There were a lot of emotions that were just hitting me hard. 

However, as we came to language class about half way into the week, our teacher, Sister Slite, really opened the eyes and warmed the hearts of each of the 10 missionaries in our room.  She came into the room and asked us how we all had been handling the MTC.  All of us had plenty of answers to shout out. We all talked about how hard the language was, and how at times we just felt helpless.  After hearing us all out, she started to talk.  She talked to us about the joy it brings to her seeing new missionaries come into the MTC.  She told us that all missionaries go through these emotions.  

She shared a story of how she was teaching her niece to skip rocks, and how her niece just was struggling so much to do it.  Her niece would sit there and just say how much she sucked at it and how upset she was that she couldn't do it.  But by the end, she eventually was able to skip a few rocks, and the joy within her was explosive.  She said it made her think of us.  When we get into the MTC and first try to learn the language, yeah... were gonna suck 😂 But the Lord will help us to learn and to grow.  She told us how happy it makes her to watch us grow throughout the time into the MTC, and how much she wishes she could be doing what we are doing.  She said it's the hardest thing to watch the missionaries she taught for nine weeks, leave her as they enter the field.  She wishes she could be one of us again.  

We were then asked to write the reason we had chosen to serve a mission.  I wrote in my journal something like this... "I have chosen to serve a mission because I want to bring the love and joy of this gospel to the people that I meet and teach.  I know that this gospel brings true happiness.  It's something that everyone deserves to have.  I not only want to give this to people, but watch them and their family's transition through the true happiness this gospel brings.  It has brought this sort of happiness to my family, and I want everyone to have it."  Later in that lesson, she had us all ready through Moroni 10. This chapter highlights the gifts given to us by our loving God.  I invite you all to read, and study it.  Our Lord has provided us with gifts that can change the lives of the people we interact with.  It's truly a powerful thing. 

After reading this, I then added to my reason to serving a mission being, "Because I want people to have the gifts this gospel brings to us."  We are truly blessed with gifts from our Heavenly Father.  I invite you to ponder what gifts you have been given.  Write them down.  Add to them as you receive more. SHARE THEM.  People deserve to have what we have.  My desire is to share mine with the people of Ukraine, and I strive to receive new gifts from each of my companionship.  We can all pull and grow from one another's gifts. 

 Last night, James B. Martino of the Seventy came and talked to us.  The message he shared was remarkable.  There isn't a doubt in my mind that every single missionary in the room felt the Spirit that night. He spoke to us about Laman, Lamuel, and Nephi, and pretty much asked us, what kind of missionary do we want to be?  Because Laman and Lemuel were missionaries, just like Nephi was.  Do we want to be the kind that murmurs, complains, and is disobedient, like Laman and Lemuel.  Or do we want to be like Nephi.  A missionary here was constantly obedient, feasting on the words of Christ, loving and appreciative, diligent.  To our realization, a lot of us had been treating our missions as Laman and Lemuel had.  It hit us like a brick wall.  I strive to be the kind of missionary Nephi was.  

It's not easy, but it's something that I can try my best to do.  That's all the Lord asks from us, to give it our best.  To conclude, he talked more about the gifts of the Lord and how we need to go out and share these gifts.  

After this devotional, we came back to our meeting room and had devotional review.  We all went around and told each other what stood out to us in James B. Martino's talk, along with stating why we had chosen to serve a mission.  Tears were flowing out of all 10 of our eyes that night.  I don't remember the last time I had felt the Spirit so strongly.  It's a feeling I never want to forget, and will be a night I'm never going to forget. 

Sorry if that was all over the place.  I left my notes/journal in my room, and there was just so much that I wanted to share from this week.  To conclude/recap, I invite you to ponder who you want to be.  Do you want to be a Nephi or a Laman and Lemuel.  I want everyone here to know that our Heavenly Father loves us, more than we could very imagine.  He has blessed us with so many gifts, more than I have even be able to recognize.  As I begin to recognize them more and more, I understand the true love He has for us.  I invite you to write down your gifts with your family and ask each other what gifts you think you contain from God.  There are more than you know.  Then lastly... Go out and share your gifts, with your family, friends, neighbors, enemies, etc.  We should never hold these gifts to our self.  They are given to us from God so we can share them with others.  Grow from each others' gifts. 

Love you all so much!!  You are all in my prayers. 

Elder Wilde

Another Elder in my District ripped his pants today. I'm convinced this is a weekly thing 😂!

Also, this cat wonders around the MTC all day.  I think its name is Sister Mittens or something.  Even tho I'm allergic, I had to pick it up 😂