This week was wonderful!!! As usual.
Last
week, as I mentioned, we had the opportunity to Skype Koreans in Korea.
My companion and I taught a man in Seoul for over 40 minutes, which was a
wonderful experience and makes me very excited to get out into the
field! This week has been filled with learning, spiritual as well as
linguistic, and has been just very good! Today when we plan I will have
to start another Missionary daily planner, which is a very interesting
experience. I feel like a veteran/astounded that so much time has passed
so quickly. I cannot believe it is July 12th already. That means that I
have 18 days left in the MTC! This is crazy. I have really enjoyed the
MTC and all the experiences that it has to offer.
Today I want to talk a little bit about my district
which is the best. I love our district (for those who do not know, your
district includes Sisters and Elders that you are in class with (we are
in the classroom/outside for 3 hours for personal study, and in the
class room 6 hours for instructional teaching.) Every district has the
same schedule, so you do basically everything together, from laundry, to
going to the temple, to service (although for some activities they
understandably have the sisters and elders go to different places). In
my district there is me, Elder Lomiga, a polynesian by origin who came
from LA (6'2"). If he was a movie character, he would be Sully from
Monsters Inc. For sure. Then there's Elder Oehler, who is currently
serving as our district leader. He is from the Las Vegas area and he
enjoys pretty much everything. He's a great leader. There's Elder Flint,
who grew up and comes from Utah. He doesn't talk much. Which is really
funny, because the other day we were having personal exercise, and we
kept hearing a thump in the grass. We turn around and he is doing
backflips....go figure. Elder Flint in one of the three 18 year olds in
our district. He graduated high school in May and reported the 29th.
Next is Elder Jensen, from Preston, Idaho. He grew up on a dairy farm
and has spent all his days going to school and working on the farm. He
is a great Elder. Although he is struggling a little bit with the
language, what he lacks in linguistic ability is made up in faith. He
always surprises the district with some comment that rings with truth.
Last of the Elders is my companion, Elder Brady. He is from Chandler,
Arizona, and is such a cool guy. He works really hard and absolutely
loves volleyball. I have to say that the time between class and gym time
is probably the fastest that I ever see him get ready to go! He is
great, and has taught me SO much as my companion.
We have a threesome of sisters in our district. They
liven up the district with their comments and presence. They are great.
Two of the them had minored in College in spanish before they were
called on a mission. They have picked up the language very quickly!
They always lobby for the district picnics on P-day with games and fun,
and today we are going to have a birthday party for Elder Jensen because
it is his birthday. They are great and a good example to everyone.
I like my district. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing
who God has brought together into our district. All different
backgrounds, all different interests, all with one common goal. We live
together, eat together, and do pretty much everything together. I feel
very privileged to be in the district that I am in. They are wonderful.
This week I have learned a lot. Despite having lived 19
years, I still stumble up the stairs (my family understands this...)
and I still get lost around the MTC (thank heavens Elder Brady is there
to make sure that I get everywhere I need to be...if this place was a
mess of deer trails I would be fine, but no, it has to be real building
with signs and directions and everything...). I guess there is still
more to learn. Besides the heap of Korean that I do not know.
There is however, one thing that I do know. I know that
God provides a source through which if we rely on, we will not fail.
This week I have been enabled, through capabilities recognizably beyond
my own, to learn, to exert effort, to do everything that I need to do to
be an effective servant of God. I have trusted in God so much as I try
to learn the language, pushing myself and finding myself enabled to do
more every day. He is there for me, and He is there for you. Rely on
Him, trust in Him, and all things will turn out for your eventual good. I
wish everyone the greatest week!
Thanks for all the support!
Elder William Strahl
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