3rd week MTC Letter!

This week at the MTC has been a week of learning and learning and learning, and teaching and teaching and teaching. It's wonderful. Right now the language is still a moderately significant barrier in teaching; however, it coming along quickly and enjoyably. For only being two weeks into the language I think we are doing very excellently.

The weeks are zooming by now. It is amazing to reflect and know that our group has seen two other groups of new missionaries come in since we have been here. It's also kind of staggering to think that there will be 5 groups of stateside missionaries entering (and leaving) throughout our stay. Life here is one continual round of activities centered on our purpose (which is found on page one of PMG).

Haha! Yes I was in that sea of missionaries going to the Marriott Center. There we had a devotional where I sang in a 2000 person missionary choir (we sang called to serve...of course). The devotional was really great. Most devotionals here are really great. The General Authorities really enjoy talking to the missionaries! I heard through the grapevine (so this is not doctrine, but speculation (haha)) that the MTC is going double in size by the end of August (from what it NOW is)). I am glad I will be gone...haha, the cafeteria is busy as it is. Yep, many are answering the call to serve, and as a prophet and Apostle has promised, the Lord is also preparing the hearts of more people to receive the glad news!

I "found" something in the New Testament that I had never really realized before. In 2nd Peter, Peter is writing in prospect of his death. He knows that he is soon going to die, and the Epistle of Second Peter is what he writes in response to his knowledge that he will soon die. Read it. Ponder it. Study it. It teaches us how we fulfill the command to build on the rock of Redeemer, which when we are founded upon, will not fall (ever). He also gives his personal physical witness of the Savior, followed by a spiritual testimony of the divinity of His Calling. It is so powerful. Peter, the rock, one of Christ's most trusted disciples who was in the Garden at the time of the Atonement, writes what the culmination of his life has taught him in this epistle. And we have it!

On another note, pray. Pray, pray, pray, when you don't want to, pray until you do. He is the source of all truth. What would you give to talk to a prophet of God, or even an Apostle? And yet, we can talk to God Himself. Cherish it, and realize the sacred nature of it.

Well, another week stares me in the face (luckily mine has a smile on it!), and I think my laundry is finished. I wish you the best with all my heart and soul!

Romanized Korean:

Anyounghi Kaseo

Strahl Chongnoneem

Hey, one more thing that I want to tell you.

If you read in John Chapter 15, I'm not sure what verse number it is, but it is in the second column of the left hand page in the middle-ish. Anyways it says something along the effects that as we keep the commandments we will feel of Christ's love, and then He adds, something like "even as I now abide in the love of my Father".

This is a profound promise. Christ is telling us that we can be as close to Him as He was to the Father. Think about it, and then strive for it! Good luck with the move!

Again have a great week with love!

Elder Strahl

 
See this link for the Sea of Missionaries article from KSL

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=25561483

Second Week at MTC

Thank you for the great email mom! My companion is kind of struggling with the language because of his Chinese experience, but he is doing really well, and I think he will get it comfortably soon. He always goes to the Taiwan room in order to look at the Chinese posters which makes me a little sad, but he really is starting to get Korean. I am working with him a lot so that we can become more successful together.

This week has been really great at the MTC. In sacrament meeting I bore my testimony in Korean (short and sweet) which was a great experience. The MTC is a great place of learning and accomplishment. Days go semi-slow and weeks go fast here. I cannot believe that I have already been here for more than a week. Thank you for the words from Elder Maxwell. I have been trying to remember exactly those words, but here at the MTC we don't really have access to the Conference talks like you do at home. Thank you so much!

One of my good friends from BYU came here this Wednesday and I have also seen quite a few people from my BYU ward here, so there are friends around. I am excited to continue to learn the Gospel and Korean as I try to become the best instrument in the Lord's hands that I can be.

Thanks for the [second] quote as well. So far in the MTC we have had to teach a lesson pretty much every day (except Sunday) in full blown Korean (no English) which has been an amazing opportunity to practice. The Spirit is strong here, and it is a great way to develop our teaching and language skills.

PS. I did have a manifestation of the gift of the interpretation of tongues the other day. I was reading the BOM in Korean at night in Alma 5 and as I was reading a certain sentence I felt the Spirit and then heard in a conscious voice that wasn't mine "Can you feel so now?". I then recognized the verse and again felt the confirmation of what had happened. I have also had a significant personal spiritual confirmation of the promise and protection of the sacred symbols that we take with us from the temple. Honor those symbols with as much respect as you can and they will protect you, not just spiritually, but physically as well, I know that is true. Wonderful experiences here.

Another journey can be found in reading Helaman 10 very carefully and recognizing how Nephi prays to receive power from the Lord to do what he says. Read carefully and listen to the Spirit.

Have a wonderful week, Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words. (St. Assisi of Francis (spelling)

Love you all, Elder Strahl

1st MTC Letter

Friday, May 31st
    The MTC is pretty much a huge spiritual school. You learn and learn and learn. Half the time you learn about working with people and helping them to find the greatest joy of their life in the Gospel, and the other half you study your language. Additionally, you learn great people skills with your companion and with the other members of your district.

    My companion is Elder Brady and he is wonderful. He is a lot like me. He is having an interesting experience here at the MTC because he learned Chinese for five years and then got sent to Korea Korean speaking. He is a great person though, and very studious which make me very happy!

     The rest of my district is great. We do a lot together (such as room, learn, eat, etc.) and they are the best guys ever. There are tons of opportunities here to do all kinds of things, but mostly I have found great joy in being an example to my fellow companion and the rest of the district, as well as learning the language and learning how to help people come to Christ.

     One powerful moment happened when all the new missionaries were at the opening orientation. There, we sang  Armies of Helaman, except substituted missionaries at the end instead of whatever it normally is. It was great to hear so many missionaries singing such a great song. It is also an amazing thought to look around in the cafeteria and know that the thousands of missionaries that are here are all temple worthy. My companion and I had a chat this morning recognizing that the MTC is not the way it is because of the location or the building or anything like that, but it is the MTC because of all the people that are there.

            Oh, another cool thing is that the phrase "brothers and sisters" is now "elders and sisters" which is a very great thing--it made me smile the first time that I heard and makes me happy every time I hear it. Oh, and dad was right, here at the MTC we learn propriety. Our district president is teaching us the proper mannerisms and behavior for elders and people in general. This also is great. We are not learning just how to become wonderful missionaries, but we are learning how to become wonderful people.