This last week went so quickly! I am amazed at how the MTC is flying. I have 12 days. Next P-day I will talk to you about calling from the airport!
Yes, it's true my face was not shown on screen in the Relief Society meeting. I guess Steve must have zoomed in a ton to find me. Turns out, the cameramen decided not to show ONE part of the choir. Yay:) I was pretty bummed when we watched in at the devotional, but I just felt so grateful to have been part of this incredible opportunity. Wow there are hardly words to express the Spirit there that night. I felt an incredible amount of peace as we watched the whole conference center fill with beautiful women of the church and then to see President Monson walk into the room. Complete peace. I felt so grateful for the opportunity to bring these beautiful messages through music to the world. It was an unforgettable expereince to see apostles of God as I am a missionary for the church. Before the meeting started, a sister sitting next to me said "How cool is it that we get to see the back of President Monson's head? I mean when do you ever get to see the back of his head. Not in general conference...not in pictures." HAHHA yep, she had a great point.
The Anziani in our zone made a comment how great it is that President Monson always uses "closed quotes" and how they hope to count how many times he does so this weekend. My challenge for all of you for the week!
The latest devotionals have been fantastic! One member of the MTC branch presidency spoke about the importance of having daily, sacred devotionals with the Lord at 10:15. Through this, we would have even greater success on the mission. It was such a profound idea. It made me realize how the Church of Jesus Christ is all centered on the ability to PONDER. It is such a fantastic tool that we have in receiving revelation. It is was what we teach our investigators. The mind is a powerful tool, so we must use it how God would have us use it. Dad, thank you for that amazing article on the control and power of the mind and how we can expand our knowledge. So fascinating!. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of pondering. When we ask thought-provoking questions in lessons, we are simply helping investigators to know how to ponder. It is something that I hope to really strive for!
Last night a member of the Seventy spoke to us: Elder Baxter about the Mormon church compared to all other christian churches. It was so great. He used biblical references that clearly show that our beliefs are true regarding the Godhead, how we believe we can become like God, and how we do not remember Jesus Christ by the cross but by the resurrection. The Atonement is such a powerful and beautiful knowledge that we have. The idea that Jesus Christ suffered and paid for all of our sins. I am so grateful for the gift of the Atonement. I know that it blesses our lives everyday!.
Elder Baxter and his wife are converts to the church. At the end of his talk he talked to us as if we were the missionaries who contacted him. It was POWERFUL. Wow. I got emotional as he stated "Thank you. I will never forget you. I cannot repay this debt to you." He then mentioned how because of this, he was able to be married in the temple and have many kids who have gone on to have eternal families of their own.
By small and simple things, are great things brought to pass. In district meeting we discussed how we have no idea of the effect we can have on people. Through knocking on this man's door, great things came to pass! I was reminded of that time when the family was really into doing missionary work several years back. I drove to the gas station one day with Kennas car (which had a utah license plate). The man who pumped my gas (yes, NJ people don't pump their own gas), asked if I was Mormon since I was from utah. I replied yes and never took the opportunity to invite this man. The next week I intentionally drove back on that saturday morning to see him working there again! I prayed that he would fill up my car and he did. I then took this great opportunity to ask if he would like to talk to the missionaries. He said....No. I drove home in failure. When my mom made me tell the missionaries the next day, I reluctantly did so. I will never forget the words of Elder Call, "The success is in the invitation." I took from that, to be BOLD. Talk to everyone. Family and friends. All we are expected to do is invite! That is our purpose as missionaries, as members "Invite others to come unto Christ". You never know what effect you will have on someone. Like that woman from Short Hills.. she had 6 or 7 different run-ins with Mormons. We never know, but God knows. We just need the faith to try, to invite. Great things will come to pass!
The italian is going well! I am learning the doctrine more than I ever have! Everyday I am fascinated by the things I learn from my teachers. We love our teachers! They each contribute something we need. Luigi has a baptismal date. He prayed at the end of the lesson and called us angels. It was so sweet.
I accidentally wrote in Fratello Mortenson's PMG the other day. When I realized the mistake, I told him, "Um I have a problem.... I wrote in your PMG......in pink and light blue pen." Couldn't find my regular pen that day). Fratello Mortenson being the gem that he is, made me sign it. He is so sweet. We seriously could not have asked for better teachers.
Fratello Mortenson is the most fantastic actor ever. He is Luigi and he is the most perfect little italian man ever. He hunches his back over and talks very quickly with a sllurred accent. When Sorella Price showed her picture of the Plan of Salvation and we pointed out the part of our life on earth. (there was a pathetic picture of an earth). He asked "Where is Italy?" (refferring to the earth) He then drew it in for us. HAHA
Also when the the Anziani were teaching him about Tithing. He then pulled a 20 dollar bill out of his pocket and tried to give it to them. Hahha tricky little Fratello Mortenson.
Life is so great!. I feel so happy here!! love you all so much! Be nice to Maisy!!
Love,
Sorella Clyde
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