Trust in the Lord

Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 11:55:02 +0300
Subject: Trust in the Lord

Well I'll first answer your question about conference.  I've only seen one session but it was awesome.  Because of the time delay our branch will be watching conference this next weekend instead of live.  We were however able to watch the Sunday Morning Session live at the E---- apartment last night and it was incredible.  We went there with Ch--- (who just got baptized), Sa-- (Ch---'s friend who will be getting baptized on Saturday) and Se--- (who was only there for the end and will eventually also be getting baptized, it is just a matter of when).  So it was just awesome!  The spirit was so strong and we all had such a great time and I learned so much.  I absolutely loved President Eyring's talk on trusting in the Lord and I hope to use it is the map of the rest of my life, everything comes down to trusting in the Lord and it was something I really needed to hear this week.  I can't wait to watch the rest of conference this coming week, I love conference so much.  And also I have to say since we were in London the quality of the Internet broadcast has dramatically increased.  We had to run home (to be home by 930) so we weren't able to watch the thing on Kyiv.  But yep I know Elder Sorenson (I served with him for a week during the open house) very well and you know his aunt (Cindy Morris) very well to mom.

One thought I had this week was about how much I love being a missionary.  It is so great!  It really is just the best thing ever.  I don't have any of the worries that other people might have.  For example I don't have to decided what movie to go see because I don't watch movies or I don't have to decide on who to take on a date to the movies because I don't date.  All I have to decide is what would be the best use of my time to try and help someone come closer to Christ.  And the even better thing about being a missionary is how I feel.  I'm living my life right now so that I have to be in tune with the spirit. I can't do anything to detract from that and it is an amazing feeling and I'm trying to think now what I can do to allow what I'm learning now to effect me through the rest of my life, a pretty big challenge but that is why I have a good while to figure it all out.

Alright to some things from the week.  We have been working a ton with S-- lately making all the preparations for his Baptism.  I am so excited to see someone else be baptized.  It will also be really good for C---- to have a friend in the gospel with him.  It's been pretty fun to teach in English too. So Sa--- is doing well and I can't wait to report about his baptism.  C---- continues to be awesome and yesterday I had the privilege to confirm the Aaronic Priesthood on him and ordain him a priest which was once again such a special experience for me.  It is just amazing to be guided by the spirit and I learn more and more from the spirit everyday.  Thanks dad for being such a great example on always being sensitive to the spirit and seeking its promptings.  I'm so glad you know what is important and I love your constant reminders to me to seek the spirit and live worthy of it.  We also have continued working with Se--- who is just an amazing man.  There are a few hurdles to overcome on his path to baptism but I know he will get there.  He has a wonderful desire and wants to be ready.  Keeep him in your prayers and I know the Lord will be able to help him through challenges and oposition he is facing. 

We also have been doing some good member work, and we strengthen then and they strenghten us.  I think we are gettting them to reallize their role in this work and that they can actually play a vital part through their simple efforts.  This branch is so great and I love them all so much.  This saturday I should find out if I'll be staying another transfer or not, I hope that I'll be staying because I'm just not ready to leave Vinnytsya. 

Well not too much more to say but thank you.  As we learned so well from the prophet yesterday we need to always make sure we express our gratitude.  So thank you so much my wonderful family and friends.  You all have made such a great impact in my life!  It is so wonderful to know that there are so many people who love and support me back home, it really helps a missionary to go when the times are tough.  So thanks for your love, kindness, prayers, thoughts and friendship.  I love you all and wish you a most happy of weeks!

Love

Elder Alexander Larsen

First Week

From Elder Matthew Courtright, dated October 13, 2008 (edited for punctuation, capitalization, and sacred or personal third-person content)

Hello Sister Freeman!

If you haven't assumed as such yet, this is Matt, or Elder Courtright, as I have been called lately. This has been one crazy week since I left Houston 1 week and 2 days ago. Uh, I got to Salt Lake at 3:30 on Friday afternoon and [a couple newly affianced] picked me up. Awkward! I have never had such a desire to scream and explode. We picked up Bro. Steward at the Church offices and drove home.

Saturday was [General] Conference. so we just watched that and that's it. Sunday, [a brother and sister and their respective fiances] and [the female fiance's] brother and I went to the Sunday morning session of Conference at the Conference Center. We had the most amazing seats. We sat on the floor 50 feet from the prophet. If I had sniffed hard enough, I could have smelled him. It was amazing. We also saw [Elder Groberg] (or however you spell it), the missionary from the movie The Other Side of Heaven. He's old now, as you might assume, but I saw him.

Then Monday and Tuesday happened. And Wednesday, Sis. Steward and Daina brought me to the MTC. I met my companion, Elder ----, who, outside of being super weird, is a great man. He is really passionate about this work. He encourages me to do things I wouldn't normally do because I am too prideful. My other 2 roommates are Elder Hiatt and Elder Albino. Elder Albino is from Hawaii, so we are learning lots of Hawaiian words, and Elder Hiatt is from N. Carolina.

We met the rest of our district Wednesday night. Only 3 out of the 12 people in our district are from Utah, 0 from Idaho. Pretty amazing huh? We have a really close, spiritual district. We bonded closely within 2 days. Unfortunately, 7 of us are going to Denver, 3 to Washington, D.C. and 2 to New Zealand. It's gonna be a really hard day when they split us up.

Uhh, what else? The lessons have been amazingly spiritual. I remember everyone telling me that, but I never would have imagined the magnitude of it. It's incredible. I love it. I have learned more in 1 week and felt the Spirit more than I did probably the entire time I was home this summer.

Today we went to the temple and that was a really good experience. I [participated in a prayer] and the lady [next to me] was bawling throughout the entire prayer. I felt such a love for her and when we were in the Celestial Room, I was impressed to thank her for her faith and testimony. I dunno why, but I was. Also, turns out in the MTC rules, elders aren't supposed to [participate because] it's holding a lady's hand. I plead ignorance this time.

I have been super lucky here because I forgot some things at the Stewards' house, but Hannah has brought them to me. If you think of it, ask Sis. Lyon for a Houston Temple Recommend holder. I asked Hannah to call her, but I forgot. My box number is 120 in case Daina didn't give that to you. It's great having friends work at the MTC.

Also, I think I am the only one in my district who hasn't been homesick. I don't think I can be since I have already lived away from home for so long. I am the 3rd oldest, and older than most of the missionaries here. It's weird cause I graduated a whole year before them.

Well, time is almost out. Just so you know, THE GOSPEL IS STILL TRUE! I WOULD KNOW! Send my love out :)

--Elder Courtright

Three Weeks

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated September 24, 2008

Dear Mom,

I love being a missionary. Yesterday we went around talking to people looking for someone to teach. We talked to many people and taught many lessons, but no one could see how much this gospel can bless their lives. Last night we talked to a man that had basically pulled himself out of the gutters of LA. He supported his family in a nice home by working cement. He's a tough guy but you could feel his frustration when he talked about losing everything. I wanted more than anything for him to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. He flat out rejected it. I told him that if came down to his last ditch effort, that reading the Book of Mormon is what he should do. I don't know if he'll ever consider it. All I know is that if he does, it will change his world around completely for the better. He will have more hope, and more strength, even more love. But, that is a big if.

The rest of the night I thought about how troubled the world is. I longed for nothing more than to see people turn to God in a way they only talk about.

We talked to a young man who said he would never follow a prophet of God at the risk of missing the mark. He said that no man should stand between us and God. Then, when we commited him to read the Book of Mormon, he said he would have to ask his pastor. No wonder the Savior said that they honor him with their lips but their hearts are far from them.

Just know that I am finishing strong. This is the greatest opportunity I have to teach the Gospel. I appreciate every minute of it. I hope you all are doing well and if the power's not on that it will be soon.

May the Lord bless and keep you.

Love,

Elder Freeman