Nyob Zoo
This will be my last email in the MTC, so this one will be a little longer. I have officially almost been here 2 months, and I have 1 more week until I will be heading to Wisconsin. I am very excited to get there and finally end this 9 week Groundhog Day cycle, not that the MTC isn't awesome, but I am ready for some change to my schedule. On Friday we got our flight plans. So I will be heading out to Wisconsin next Tuesday. I fly from Salt Lake to Denver and then from Denver to Milwaukee. I will leave Salt Lake at 7:00 am and I'll get to Wisconsin at 1:30. I am super excited to get there and to talk to all the Hmong people, meet my new companion, and finally get to start doing missionary work. The MTC has really been great, but at the same time, it has felt a lot like Mission Prep. It doesn't feel like I am on my mission yet, but in reality, I am. I am starting to get a little trunky. I am very anxious to finally get out there! There definitely will be some things I will miss from this place. I'm really going to miss my district, my teachers, and the sports. Absolutely something I won't miss is the food!
This past week, I looked back at my first lesson that I ever taught in Hmong. It was honestly pretty hilarious to look at it and see how bad it was. I have definitely learned a lot in these past 2 months. I think I know around 400 words which definitely isn't very many at all, but in my opinion, it's pretty good for learning such a hard language in a short period of time. This past week one of our teachers, Brother Lee, asked us a question that I really liked. He said:
"You guys are learning such a hard language - why do you keep going? You are free to go home whenever you want. The entrance gate is always open. Why do you keep going?"
I really liked this question. It made me think - this language honestly is so hard and it doesn't make any sense at all. All I do every day is study and cram. I have been here almost 2 months now and I can barely speak any Hmong, this language is so frustrating, and my tones are still completely awful. So why do I keep going? I keep going because I love this gospel. I have seen in my life how the gospel can make people so much happier. As well I am super excited to go and help the Hmong people, to help them to have more happiness, to find a purpose in their lives, and to have better lives in general. Last of all, I keep going because I love my Savior and I am grateful for all that he has done for me, and I want to give that same knowledge that I have of this gospel to others, the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is, and how he can help them.
I read this story this week and I thought I would share it:
"There was an old man walking along the seashore. In the distance, he saw a young person doing something near the water’s edge. As the old man approached, he saw that it was a boy surrounded by numerous starfish that had washed ashore and were lying on the sand. The old man watched, intrigued, as the boy picked up starfish after starfish and threw them as far as he could over the breaking surf. After some time the old man approached the boy and said, “Son, do you realize there are thousands of starfish on this shore? Certainly what you are doing can make no real difference.” After respectfully listening, the boy reached down and picked up another starfish and hurled it into the ocean. Then, looking thoughtfully at the old man, the boy said, “It made a difference to that one.” And he continued to throw more starfish back into the water."
I love this story and it can apply to missionary work. There are so many people who don't have the gospel. They are searching for something to make them happier, to help them have more purpose, or just to have a better life in general. I know there are so many people out there and we won't be able to help everyone. That is hard because I want to help as many people as I can. I don't know how many people I will be able to help, or how many are willing to accept our help. Hopefully a lot, but if I end up only helping one person, that would be just fine with me. If I helped 1 person to have a better life, then I think my mission would be successful. My scripture for the week goes right along with this. It is D&C 18:15-16 and it says:
And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
I am so excited to get out to Wisconsin. I honestly cannot wait. In 1 more week, I will be out there and be helping people. I am grateful for the time I have had in the MTC. I am grateful for the many friends I made and the fun experiences I will always remember. The MTC may not have been the funnest thing in the world all the time, but at the same time, I have learned and grown so much.
Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Tshwj
Pictures: (1) Happy Birthday Elder Hinckley. He is going to Fresno, (2) So Close to the Exit, (3) Christmas Lights - they were testing them this week, (4) On the Grind, (5) Elder Yang's doodle he made on his doodle app (6) Views Pt. 1, (7) Views Pt. 2, and (8) Model Pic of the week.
Extra Pictures this week
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| It snowed this week |
