Oh my goodness! I've had such a wonderful week! Christmas was absolutely wonderful, and I got to sit in the third row from Elder Nelsen when he spoke to us on Christmas. Thank you to my grandparents on both sides, my family, the Penrods, the Motyers, the Hulls, and so many other people for the gifts, cards and well wishes! I have more food in my dorm than I can eat!
My Spanish is progressing rapidly, but it's still nowhere near where I'd like it to be. I have learned for myself that God makes weak things strong, and that it is through the small and simple things that He brings to pass His mighty work. We taught Victor again, and he's been having some issues with faith. We tried to answer some of his questions, and the lesson began to go awry. Our goal was to help Victor feel the Spirit, and we were nowhere near close. My companions finally looked to me, asking me to do my best to save the lesson. I pulled out a story I had been translating recently. It was the story of how the Lord answered my prayers regarding serving a mission. It wasn't immediate in the least. In my halting Spanish, I told Victor of how the Lord had finally said to me, in my mind and in my heart, not with my ears, "Brandt, the Lord wants you to serve a mission." He paused for a moment, and then asked (as near as I can tell) 'So, sacrificing your family, money, school, all of this, you believe is God's will?" I looked him dead in the eye, with tears gathering in my own, and said "Yes. I know with all my heart that this is God's will. He wants me to be here teaching you, Victor. He wants to talk to you. You just have to know how to listen." This is so amazing. Coming out of that meeting, I felt amazing.
We then got our MTC iPads, seeing how we are part of a pilot program for their use in the mission field. I feel that I have been called by a prophet of God to this pilot branch, and I know that I can use this to better the work by far, no matter the temptations. One advantage of this is that we get to use the Gospel Library app, and that opens up all the works of the church for our use. This has been such a blessing to me. The next study hour I used this to read from the teachings of Joseph Smith, and I felt an immense wave of joy come over me, and enter into my very soul. It was a good day to be a missionary, and I was in a wonderful mood. I actually got the chance to clean the temple this morning. It was so special. We cleaned the endowment rooms, and the sisters cleaned the celestial room. It is astounding to think that at any time, Christ could walk these halls. It puts a whole lot of pressure on us to clean the temple well :) At the end we got to see the bridal room. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us Elders :P The church is true and the Lord loves everyone so much. Seek ever to convert yourselves unto Christ, and you will be happy, and the Lord will teach you amazing things, and give you and your loved ones strength and health.
Elder Richard Brandt Hull
PS: Please get me all your addresses, so I can send letters to people. I only have an hour to email, so I can't talk to everyone I'd like to .....but I’ll do what I can. Letters definitely make this missionary happy!
My Spanish is progressing rapidly, but it's still nowhere near where I'd like it to be. I have learned for myself that God makes weak things strong, and that it is through the small and simple things that He brings to pass His mighty work. We taught Victor again, and he's been having some issues with faith. We tried to answer some of his questions, and the lesson began to go awry. Our goal was to help Victor feel the Spirit, and we were nowhere near close. My companions finally looked to me, asking me to do my best to save the lesson. I pulled out a story I had been translating recently. It was the story of how the Lord answered my prayers regarding serving a mission. It wasn't immediate in the least. In my halting Spanish, I told Victor of how the Lord had finally said to me, in my mind and in my heart, not with my ears, "Brandt, the Lord wants you to serve a mission." He paused for a moment, and then asked (as near as I can tell) 'So, sacrificing your family, money, school, all of this, you believe is God's will?" I looked him dead in the eye, with tears gathering in my own, and said "Yes. I know with all my heart that this is God's will. He wants me to be here teaching you, Victor. He wants to talk to you. You just have to know how to listen." This is so amazing. Coming out of that meeting, I felt amazing.
We then got our MTC iPads, seeing how we are part of a pilot program for their use in the mission field. I feel that I have been called by a prophet of God to this pilot branch, and I know that I can use this to better the work by far, no matter the temptations. One advantage of this is that we get to use the Gospel Library app, and that opens up all the works of the church for our use. This has been such a blessing to me. The next study hour I used this to read from the teachings of Joseph Smith, and I felt an immense wave of joy come over me, and enter into my very soul. It was a good day to be a missionary, and I was in a wonderful mood. I actually got the chance to clean the temple this morning. It was so special. We cleaned the endowment rooms, and the sisters cleaned the celestial room. It is astounding to think that at any time, Christ could walk these halls. It puts a whole lot of pressure on us to clean the temple well :) At the end we got to see the bridal room. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us Elders :P The church is true and the Lord loves everyone so much. Seek ever to convert yourselves unto Christ, and you will be happy, and the Lord will teach you amazing things, and give you and your loved ones strength and health.
Elder Richard Brandt Hull
PS: Please get me all your addresses, so I can send letters to people. I only have an hour to email, so I can't talk to everyone I'd like to .....but I’ll do what I can. Letters definitely make this missionary happy!