Hola Familia,
This week has been a pretty crazy
week! Lots going on...Also I realized that in my last email, I did not say a lot about
what I´m actually doing here, but I have a lot more time today, so I´ll try to
give you a better picture of that.
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| Elder Hale and I standing in front of the Mexico City Temple |
Every morning we have personal study at 7:00 a.m. where we read the Bible and/or Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, and other resources we´ve been given to learn to teach better.
After breakfast we spend a few hours in a classroom with our instructors, who are all returned missionaries, and practice language and teaching.
We also teach lessons to our teachers and they pretend to be someone who is interested in our message. We have 20-30 minutes to teach based on their needs. This is an awesome experience and my favorite part of the MTC.
So basically we spend all our time here studying, eating, and practicing how to teach. I have a companion - his name is Elder Hale - and we teach together and do pretty much everything else together because it´s required.
I also have a district, which consists of 4 other companionships we do all of our studying and learning with. They are all a blast and we always find something to laugh about.
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| Eating lunch with our District |
So something kind of funny I wanted
to share: Last week I got a banana as part of my breakfast in the cafeteria. I
forgot to eat it during breakfast, so when I went to put my dishes away I still
had my unpeeled banana in my hand. We have to wash our hands after every meal,
so I didn´t know what to do with my banana while I washed my hands. I thought
about sticking it my pocket, but I thought that might not end well, so I
decided to set it on the counter near the sink I was using to wash my hands. I
finished washing my hands and went to get a paper towel, and all of a sudden I
hear some Sister say <<EWW! THERE´S A BANANA ON THE SINK! THAT´S
DISGUSTING!>> As you can imagine I was really embarrassed by this so
instead of claiming my banana I just lingered nearby to see what would become
of my banana. She then said <<WHAT KIND OF SICK PERSON WOULD LEAVE A
BANANA ON THE SINK! THAT´S DISGUSTING!>> She then got a paper towel and
used it to pick up my UNPEELED banana like it was some kind of diseased carcass
and threw it in the garbage. Next time I´m just going to put the banana in my
pocket.
I also met a group of latino
missionaries the other day and we have become really good friends.
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| We had a great time playing volleyball! |
Most of them
are from Mexico, but one is from Bolivia, so I´ve been talking to him about
what it´s like and how he likes the food and that kind of thing. One day
someone dropped their dishes in the cafeteria and apparently in Mexican culture
(according to them) you are supposed to cheer when someone does this. All the
Latinos cheered really loudly, to which I said <<Que Grosero!>>,
which means “how rude” in spanish. They all thought it was hilarious for
whatever reason, and now they all shout “Elder Grosero!” whenever I walk past
their table haha.
On Tuesday, we had a devotional from
Elder Netzahualcóyotl Salinas, who is an area seventy, and his wife. They both
gave great talks but Elder Salinas in particular was amazing. Success is given,
not gained. He said, “An 18 year old boy cannot do this missionary work. You
need God to give you success.” He promised us that if we ask Heavenly Father to
show us how capable we are and then do everything we are capable of, we can ask
for success. The Holy Ghost can work through us unto conversion, but to be
worthy to ask for this we have to do everything we can possible on our part.
This week has been amazing because I
have felt such an immense love for the people I will be teaching over the next
two years. As I have prayed for them and had many opportunities to think about
them, I´ve been able to feel so much love for them. I´ll share two of these
experiences:
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| The Temple grounds are so beautiful! |
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| Another amazing view of the Mexico City Temple |
Just outside the Mexico City Temple, there is a small LDS shop called the Zarahemla They sell lots of gospel art and other items catered towards members and missionaries, and they also sell really cool temple recommend holders with images of the Savior on them.
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| I can't wait to share the blessings of the Temple with the people in Bolivia!! |
I had such an amazing
experience thinking about all of this as I stood in that little store outside the temple.
During one of our classes on teaching this week, we watched a video which showed an older couple with severe Parkinson's disease and other serious afflictions caring for one another and trying to accomplish simple daily tasks like eating and dressing. We were asked what we would teach these people based solely on what we had seen, and I couldn´t help but be overwhelmed with love for the people I will be teaching. I love the people of Bolivia. I want to help them. I want to rescue them. I want to help them overcome their trials and understand that their Heavenly Father loves them and has a plan for them. We are so blessed to know what we know. I am so lucky to have this chance to help people come unto Christ, who will help them bear their burdens.
The last thing I wanted to share is
my testimony of missionary work itself.
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| One of our instructors, Sis. Ruiz, who served with Hilary in Chile. Such a small world!! |
In Elder Salinas´ talk, he closed by
saying “No pueden fallar! No pueden fallar!” I know this is true with every fiber of my being! We cannot fail! We cannot fail!
We may be just a bunch of 18 year old boys trying to teach people about the most important and eternal truths they will ever learn, but God gives us power and we cannot fail!!
As I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Alma chapter 26 this week, I received another witness of this principle.
These are the writings of Ammon and his
brothers about their missionary efforts. I shared these verses with my
district after the devotional, and they fill me with so much hope, love, and
joy every time I read them.
1 “My brothers and my brethren, I
say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed
when we started from the [CCM] that God could granted unto us such great
blessings?
28 And now behold, we have come, and
been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have
suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying
upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon
the mercies of God.
29 And we have entered into their
houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we
have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples
and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked,
and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken
and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and
wisdom of God we have been delivered again.
30 And we have suffered all manner
of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some
soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the
means of saving some.
31 Now behold, we can look forth and
see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are
many!”
I know that this is the Lord´s work
and that this Gospel is true.
Have a great week! Love you all!
Elder Harris
