Christmas in the MTC

SO! I had a fantastic Christmas in the MTC! We had a devotional Christmas Eve and then they put on Mr. Kruger's Christmas for us. Then for Christmas we opened our presents, skipped breakfast to eat the food we had been sent, went to a talent show that was AWESOME!!!! (the Russians did a "You a Missionary Now" song to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". HILARIOUS!!!!!!) Then we had another devotional in which Elder Nelson spoke!!!! OH MY GOSH IT WAS SO GREAT!!!! He spoke about Jesus and His mission. Not only His time here on earth but also his role in our lives before this world and after this world. I found that there is so much that I take for granted. I will do my best to have Christ in my thoughts every day. It is so critical in order for us to become like him and to glorify our Father in heaven.

 

     Lunch was when they made our "Christmas Dinner". It was really good.

 

     We then had a fireside in which a volunteer and a newly called mission president read and partly acted Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol". They were SO good! I enjoyed it very much. The President Smith (the MTC president) talked about the connection of Charles Dickens with la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias. Charles Dickens published the first compliment to the LDS church. He said that the Saints are the most wholesome and honest people in the world. Or something to that effect at least. But the funny thing is that he said that after traveling with the members that were leaving England to come to America and he was trying to find all the bad and bash them. Instead he found the truth. Mwahaha!!! I love those stories!

 

    Sunday morning we had the privilege of hearing from Elder Nelson again. FANTASTIC!!!! From there is was a normal sunday, then monday, tuesday and today is.... unfinished. But it is turning into a great day as well. Rarely do I actually have a bad day. I love the snow. Utah is great when it comes to snow.

 

    Ok. So here is my piece of wisdom for the week. When you talk to someone about the Church or if someone is talking to you, the objective is not to invite people to join a church. The purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ. To connect/reconnect them with the Spirtit. After that, it's all on them and their faith. Faith being an action. An action in trusting the Lord and doing those things in your life that help you understand His plan and love for you. Invite. The worst someone can do is say no. And that only hurts you because they are your brothers and sisters. Invite so they have the opportunity to say Yes. They said it once before because they are here. Help them remember. Help them connect/reconnect with the Spirit. Help them come unto Christ. I love you all. I want you to do this as well. Come unto Christ. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

     This has been Elder Heath. Signing out.

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!

It is the Christmas season!!! But of course you all already know that. Quick updates with my day to day life and then to the good stuff.

Spanish: Going well.  I am learning a ton. In me next post I will include some Spanish.

Companions: I am back to two companions. Elder Canaan is off to Peru. (I'm pretty sure I told you about Elder Canaan....) I am happy. I am closer to them both now than I ever have been.

Finger/ Health: I am doing well. Sleeping better. Finger gets xrayed on the 30th. Showers are cold. I have too much food. Im getting into shape pretty well.

Gospel (a.k.a. "The good stuff"): Last night we had our weekly devotional. Elder  Bowen spoke. His wife spoke first and she made some fantastic points  and did very well. Her over all message was what my father has been telling me for years. "Write down your goals. In the action of writing it down, it is not only easier to remember, but it also is the first step to action in keeping your commitments." That is not a direct quote but it gets the point across. So I challenge myself and anyone reading this. Write down your goal. When the time comes to make a decision concerning those goals, you will not hesitate but act immediately upon the choice that you have already made. Great thought for life.

     Elder Bowen then spoke. He spoke about Christmas. He told a story about a little boy that saw a man with a beautiful car andd  asked "where did you get that car!?!" "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." "I wish I...." The man thought he was going to say  "i wish i could have a car like that" But the boy said "I wish I could be that kind of brother" That hit my heart like a piano. I thought of my brothers. I thought of everything that i DIDN'T do for them. Take the "mas" out of "What can i give for Christmas?" and make it "what can i give for Christ?".

     I dont have the time that i need to fully express myself but my last point is when Elder Bowen read the story of Christ's birth. He read the part where the sheperds went and saw the Christ child in the stable. What did they do after they saw him? Do you remember? I will tell you. They went about the city proclaiming all that they had heard from the angel and all that they had seen of the baby. Their excitement of what they had seen and heard was so great that they could not bare to hold it to themselves. They spread the news to all that would hear them.

     We have that message. We have that same news. Are we as excited as those men? Do we go about to all that would hear us and tell the world of the news  that Christ has come? That Christ has been born that we all might have salvation? That is what this season is all about. Give the true gifftt  of Christmas with fervor and excitement.

    

     I love you all. Have a wonderful Christmas!!! This is Elder Heath signing out. 

Whew!

Well it has been the most relaxing week so far. I was released from District Leader on Sunday and it's kind of nice to just focus a little more on my companions and me. But, as it is, Elder Lockwood has been called to be the new District Leader so it's still very in my life. Just on the other side. Mwahaha. I know he will do a great job. He is a great man and an awesome missionary. Combine the two and you have a leader in the MTC.

My Aunt sent me some lavender oil to rub on my feet at night to help me sleep and it has worked great! It still takes me a bit to fall asleep but I am sleeping much more deeply. I didn't share with you that I was having sleeping troubles because it never came to mind while i was writing but now that there is a solution(and a very good smelling one at that) it's easier to remember. Haha.

Our district is becoming smaller because there are missionaries going to the Lima MTC today. That means that we will have quiet in class and it will be a lot easier to focus on studies. Haha. They like to have fun. Sadly though, one elder that was supposed to go to Lima won't be able to. His visa didn't come through so he is here for a while until everything gets sorted out. So i now have one companion. Elder Brown. Elder Lockwood is with Elder Canaán. We are now 4 in the room and that has promise of some interesting times. These next few weeks will be interesting. I'll keep you posted., Peru

So here is a fun story. My teacher Harmano McAllister had us working on principles in PmG and committing en Español. I chose to talk about the Atonement and my challenge to him was "Seguirá al ejemplo de Jesucristo y se bautizará?". Entonces, ante the challenge, I was trying to say in English, "We can all be cleansed through the....... um...... el expiacion....?" "The Atonement." "Oh right..... That's a good sign right?" "Very" I then continued with the principle and made the challenge. I am still laughing at the incredible fact that my English is being corrupted by Spanish. I just reread this and realized that I used Spanish instead of English. Haha. "Entonces" means "anyway" in an indirect translation. And "ante" beans before. I LOVE THIS LANGUAGE!!!!

So every Tuesday night we have a devotional. This last devotional last night was great!!!! Elder Pieper spoke about agency and the wonderful gift that it is. He spoke about Jesus and His agency to do what He did. I knew that He chose to come here, suffer and die so that we could have joy and salvation, but I never really put a lot of thought into the depth of the choice He made. Or that He really did CHOOSE. It wasn't demanded of Him. He would not cease to exist if He chose not to. But He chose and we know what comes of that. We can repent. We can cry out to our loving Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ and be blessed. Salvation is at hand through the atonement. I know this. And I know that everyone reading this can know it. If you already know it, then stop reading and go tell someone. if they already know that's fine. Tell them again. Remind them. If they don't know, they will.

I love you all. I keep you in my prayers. I would love to talk more to you so write me so i have addresses.

This is Elder Heath signing off.

Good News!

Hello friends and family!!! It has been a fantastic week here at the MTC. I found out that I DO NOT need surgery on my finger which is a good thing and that I will only need this blasted cast on for a bout 6 weeks for proper healing. I don't really understand what the fuss is about. I can bend it just fine and it doesn't even hurt. But the doctor says that if I don't keep the cast on then it may result in arthritis(sp). So I'll keep it on. I guess that's what the big deal is.

 

Spanish is great. Still love the language. I'm learning more and more every day. Conjugations are confusing but most of the language actually makes sense to me as far as structure and the meaning of words goes. But its a whole new programing to my head so its rough. But that's ok. I can and I will learn this language.

 

Troubles as a District Leader are almost over. I will probably be released from my position next week since it's usually a 4 week position. Also our district gets really small since 4 people are going to Peru to continue at that MTC. I will miss them but there is nothing  wrong with the 5 of us that are staying here. We really enjoy each other and we help each other. Sometimes I wish that we had a sister missionary in our district to help calm things down but at the same time I would be worried for a sister missionary around these elders. Or rather just one.  But I really do love them all and I want them all to grow. Big improvements have been shown this week. And it has been good.

 

Gospel study is amazing. I simply love reading and learning about promises from God and the great men that went before to lay the foundation for the Kingdom in these latter days. We had a devotional last night with Elder Zwick from the 70 as the speaker and it was AWESOME!!!!  I learned so much!  I was humbled and uplifted at the same time and I went crazy with excitement to hear more of what he had to say.  Basically what I got out of it (and this is VERY basic) is that so many men and women suffered through so much and worked through incredible trials for the purpose of making our lives today that much better.  I know that I will face trials and obstacles but I also know that I will not be alone.  I will have help all along the way.  I will have the Holy Spirit as a constant companion to keep me safe and to guide me to where I am needed.  "The field is white" and I can't wait to get out there to give all that I have to offer.

 

 It is time for my companions and I to head off to the temple now so I will leave you with my appreciation for all of your support and for your prayers.  I love you all and I  wish you could all be here to enjoy this experience with me. There is nothing like it that I have experienced so far.  Feel free to write me and to ask questions. I t is fast and easy if you get onto Dearelder.com. I 'd love to hear from all of you.  Thank you to all that have written.  You have made my time here that much better and I love you for it.  Peace out All!!!

It's coming along!

SO! This week has been rather interesting. I am actually getting into the duties of being a District Leader and it's getting rather hard. There are some things that I probably otherwise would have been oblivious to going on and now I have to deal with it. No, I am not complaining. Just keeping you all up to date. I love my position and I am trying my very best to set a proper example for these men.

Language is going well. I'm just practicing it and getting better as I do. New concept right? My prayers are almost entirely Spanish. I can bear my testimony (to some degree) as well. Other day to day words and phrases are slowly creeping into my vocab. It really is a beautiful language. I hear the Swedes and the Norway Missionaries a lot in the dorms and its just so rough compared to Spanish. I love it.

I had a huge letter written here and it shut me off and didnt save it so I will have to redo it. The main point was this. Christ lives. I know that He lives and loves us. I feel it every day. Heavenly Father is always there when we feel alone. I know this as well from experience. I know that what I am doing is right. I know that I have been blessed all through my life with a loving family and great friends. I love you all. I pray for you. If you ever need someone to talk to just write me and I'll get back to you the next wednesday.

This is Elder Heath signing off.