Letter: August 18, 2012
I love you so, so, so, so much!!!! Please ask me questions
and tell me what you want to hear. Otherwise, I don’t know what to tell you in
these letters. Before coming here I was told or read somewhere that write
letters about what they want to hear, and my journal is what really happens.
And that journal is full of good stuff. I actually enjoy writing in my journal,
weird huh? I’ve never missed a day and I will never while I’m on m mission.
They are getting longer each day too. The atmosphere here is so great. With all
such great people around me, it is really difficult to not fell the Spirit,
improve as a missionary and as an individual. I’ve grown so much while here and
it’s only been just over a week. For my blog which I assume exists, feel free
to share my stories, facts, and random things I say on it. Don’t share anything
too personal. My collega (companion) Anziano Klemm is a great guy! I got really
down on myself Saturday. The day started good but I felt like I didn’t know the
language. We do a lot of role-playing for practice and I just could not make a
sentence. I feel well and able to understand when others talk, my vocab is
pretty good. My class is so smart and it seems like everything clicks with
them. I’m constantly reassured I’m doing well, I’m better than yesterday so
it’s ok! My presidency: Johnson, Miller, and McMullin are so great! Those men
help me so much. Wish you could meet them.
From Sacrament meeting: “I am called to serve the Lord and
will return with honor.” That is exactly why I’m here. I have grown so much,
you have no idea. I learned about myself, and what the gospel and the doctrine
of Christ is and how it applies to me. The topic on Sunday was “endure to the
end.” Once we have entered the straight and marrow path we need to exhort every
effort to stay on that path.
The Spirit is so strong here. I know and can tell you with
complete sureness, the Holy Ghost is true and ever so great. I can recognize
him and enjoy his gift so much. The help He offers is so great. The feelings
are so great. I’m happier, stronger, and able to do so much. Temptations are
nearly nonexistent, it’s due to so many great and strong people around who all
have the Spirit with them so unclean things do not dwell in the MTC. It’s
awesome. I’ve learned about repentance on Sunday in priesthood and how to teach
it to others. Repentance is so wonderful and I know how true it is. The Savior
helps us through anything and everything.
Have faith in everything and really come unto Jesus Christ
and God. The people who wrote the BOM (Book of Mormon) on those plates/sheets
of metal were really awesome. They dedicated their time, their entire life to
the Lord and his teachings. We need to read the BOM. So many blessings come
from just reading, even more blessings when we really search them and try so
hard to really dig deep and enjoy the blessings from the BOM. Preach my gospel
has so much packed in to it. I have grown to love it greatly. It puts things
simply and gives insights a well. Make the Savior at the center of your life.
everything then will fall into place. God can’t wait to forgive us and help us,
we just need to earnestly seek for it. His blessings are so great, I can’t tell
you all of them as they are so abundant. It’s wonderful. The language is hard,
but it’s a good challenge. The MTC is great, every aspect of it. The Church is
so organized. Wednesday’s are crazy! So many new missionaries arrive and
everything schedule wise is great. It’s crazy to think that you can control
2500 young men and women and everyone has time at lunch, PE, etc. Also, the
church rocks at not being in debt. Before a building is dedicated to the Lord
it is built with the finest materials and it must be paid for 100%. Not sure
where I learned that, but…yeah.
For clarification:
· My
district is great/awesome/incredible/amazing
· My
zone is Zone 33 (it’s all the Italians)
· I’m
district 33B
· In
the Zone there are two older districts A and D, with 3 new ones, B, C, and E
· Older
districts have 6 people in each
o District
A = 4 Anziani & 2 Sorelle
o District
D = 2 Anziani & 4 Sorelle
o District
B = 6 Anziani & 2 Sorelle
o District
C = 6 Anziani & 4 Sorelle
o District
E = 8 Anziani & 2 Sorelle
§
District A & D leave August 21st
at 8:00 a.m.
§
Districts B, C, & E: We all came in together
–biggest group since 2006 (which was 50ish)
· Each
District makes up a class
· Zone
33 (Italians) is now one of the biggest here in the MTC. We overtake a part of
the lunch room, it’s a cool sight
· I’m
Sr. Companion and will switch out at week 4.5
· Someone
in the new districts B, C, or E will be the Zone Leader because Anziano Worthom
leaves Aug. 21st.
As of Sunday I know 19 Elders here. I see Elder Bushnell ALL the time. It’s
awesome. He is doing well and he hasn’t ruined anything, but the first day,
Elder Bushnell made his bulletin board in his room fall off…so he is being
himself.
Side note: just noticed, I don’t use paragraphs…oh well,
deal with it!
I have so many letters to write it’s crazy. I love it so
much! Each and every letter has a great message and I love them so much!
Jeffery R. Holland is the greatest man alive! His talks are
so fantastic. “My mission meant everything to me.” –Jeffery R. Holland. He was
so into his talk. He was mean too. He hates how missionaries want to leave. He
really would tie you up to prevent you from leaving the MTC. Oh, it was just
great. It is also only an MTC talk, like all of the pre-recorded talks for
Sunday evenings, and Tuesday and Sunday firesides are live and really good
chance a quorum of the 12 will speak to us how that they are not on a
“vacation.”
Random quotes from David A. Bednar:
· “Knowledge
of the Lord leads to a personal conversion to the Lord.”
· “Christ
turns outward with compassion, love, and service when we turn inwards.”
Funny part from Bednar’s talk: talking about people who say
their ancestors came across the plains and had so much faith and did so much,
then quite rudely , he said, and says to people when he talks with them,
“That’s nice, what have you done today?”
Random facts/answers to questions:
· Weather
is hot. Gym in the afternoon most days, but whatever
· People
are crippled everywhere, not many arms/legs broken, but hyper extended knees
and torn ACL and muscles. People scream really loud when they bust their knees
and ACL.
· I
always do sand volleyball. Did soccer twice and it was boring and everyone is a
billion times better than me
· Got
our second teacher finally! Fertello Acerson. He is awesome. Just came back
almost a month ago from Cataña Italy mission. I think I will learn
better from him because of the different teaching styles. So I’ll learn
differently with each so that’s really good.
· Love
the food. Maybe gained like 3 pounds, but yeah the food is really good.
· Tuesday
s are service days so you can get sack lunches (and breakfast) in P-day clothes
(as well as on Thursdays), and those are a good mix up from cafeteria food.
Again, I enjoy and like and appreciate my district. I love
them. I have learned what real love is and I fell it in my district. We are so
open and we all have shared really personal experiences with each other, and
cry together. The other districts are not like that. They enjoy each other and
work well, but my district is so fantastic. You have no idea, I honestly can’t
explain. I feel so close with these two sorelle and 5 anziani. This group is so
special and close to my heart. There is a feeling I have not felt before here
in my class, ever, ever in my life. It is so special.
You all have instilled something special in me and it is
great and so strong. Please continue to be who you are and love me, and love
your Savior. I know He loves you and I both. You love me, so love Jesus Christ
more than me. Just please pray for me and others. Find those to bring unto
Christ as I will do so as well in Italy. But more importantly, love yourself
and grow to convert yourself unto the church and the truth –fullness of the
gospel.
Just learned that the next group coming in 3.5/4 weeks (or
whenever it will be) is 17ish people. I am part of the biggest group EVER going
to Italy. EVER!!!!!! That comes from Brother McMullin.
Jeffery R. Holland is fantastic. From one of his talks, “My
mission meant the everything to me.” That is how I want to feel, and that is
how I feel already. He talked about generations of missionaries, whether it be
one or a dozen. I’m happy to tell others my dad served a full-time mission and
the time comes when I can tell my kids that your grandpa served a mission. That
is just so cool to think about.
I’m not going to waste any time starting now. I have wasted
seconds, minutes, and even a few hours of the Lord’s time already and now it
will not happen again. This is the Lord’s work, I’m just a helping hand for
him.
Love you all and know that you are loved so much!
Love,
Anziano Edwards
*Other random quotes/thoughts from this letter:
· “Spelling
is stupid! When in doubt cross out and write an easier word.” –A.J.
· “If
you don’t love someone, you don’t know them well enough.” –Anziano Day
· 1
Nephi 3:7 à
D&C 49:11-14 à
Matthew 28:18-20
o Missionary
work, God was called, He prepared me, He has commanded me and I will go forth
and do it because there is a way for me to accomplish it. The Holy Ghost is and
will be at my side, always.
o I
am with you always!
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