Hey Mom/family!
Yep, these are the last few days that I will be in the Promised land for awhile. Tomorrow, Sunday, and then 2:30am on Monday I will be on my way.
This has been a great last week at the MTC. The
language is coming very well. Yesterday my companion and I had about
5-10 minutes to prepare for a lesson with an investigator (we had
in-field orientation from 8am-5:30pm,
so no preparation time). Anyways, we then taught a 50 minute lesson
completely in Korean about what happens after death (spirit world,
resurrection, judgment, kingdoms of glory) which is one of the harder
parts of the doctrine to teach. Fortunately we answered all of his
questions (which were very goo questions) and got him to a leveled
understanding of the doctrine--all in Korean!! Finally, the language has
stopped being the barrier (not all the way, but a lot) that prevents us
from really explaining the doctrine well and powerfully. And of course,
as soon as you start to feel comfortable, it is time to move on to big
and better things...aka, real Korean with real investigators, and real
speed of speech and real...everything.
Looking back at the MTC, things have gone very well
here. It is like a giant school of spiritual and linguistic learning.
There is so much trust and unparalleled obedience from 18-26 year
old elders and 19-25 year old sisters. The cafeteria is an all you can
eat style, with many options. They have a field and a gym as well as a
personal workout room for exercise as well as a fairly large campus (to
run around). The experience with everything was great. The teachers are
21-24 year olds who have served in the missions that we are going to, it
is a wonderful place to be! Overall, my experience at the MTC was
fantastic. I learned so much in a very short period of time--about
language, people, and the Gospel. I have thoroughly enjoyed the people
that I have met and the friendships that I have made while I am here. I
think that I will miss my companion very much as I go to Korea. He will
stop being my companion as soon as we get to Korea. That makes me very
sad. We know each other like brothers now, and have been able to teach
really well together! I have also enjoyed running and the indoor track,
which has allowed me to stay in moderate shape while at the MTC. (I ran 3
miles in 18 minutes the other day...which is pretty good shape for the
MTC). I have enjoyed the district experience, receiving all the support
and letters from everyone, and the lessons that I have learned here from
God, which are many.
This past week in particular has gone just as fast as
all the previous few weeks. As I mentioned, yesterday I went to an
in-field orientation for a majority of the day which was a great
experience and last dose of instruction before entering the field. Our
group had about 550 missionaries in it--many going to places all around
the world. It was amazing to reflect and to think that soon, the
impressive gathering of elders and sisters that we had would, in less
than a week, be out in the field, out in the Lord's vineyard doing His
work--all over the World! It was very instructive and I learned a lot.
This past week we had the wonderful opportunity to
watch a taped devotional of Elder Bednar (one of the 12 Apostles of
Jesus Christ) who spoke at a Christmas devotional about the Character of
Christ. It was amazing. So good. Seriously, if there was a hallmark
devotional or talk during the 9 weeks that I have been at the MTC, it
was this one. Elder Bednar explores a few of the characteristics of
Christ and teaches about some other topics that he thinks are important
in a wonderful and inspiring way. The main attribute of Christ that
Elder Bednar talked about was His characteristic of turning outwards
when you or I, and the natural man, would want us to turn inwards.
Countless times when Christ has suffered more than any of us could,
instead of turning in; instead of taking anything for Himself; instead
of feeling justified in doing something for Himself, or drawing
attention to Him, to what He has done, to who He is, etc., He turns
outwards. The hallmark example is the soldier in the garden. After
Christ had experienced Gethsemane (suffering the pains, anguish, sins
for every person), been disappointed in His most faithful Apostles (who
could not stay awake for a brief period), who knew what was about to
happen to Him at Calvary, who had just been betrayed by one of His
Apostles--one of His special witnesses--after feeling all this, when
Peter draws his sword and smites the soldiers ear off, the Savior heals
it. The wound was not a fatal wound; it was not extremely serious;
however, Christ, amidst the incomprehensible things that He was going
through, at a point where you or I would have either collapsed under the
burden, or thought that we deserved some sort of special attention or
relief, at this point, Christ reaches out and helps one of His Father's
children; not only one of His Father's children, but one of His Father's
children who is taking Him captive to kill Him. That is just one
example of the character of Christ. Remember that example as you go out
your week. When things get hard and you feel tempted to turn inward, to
be selfish, or to focus on yourself. Instead, focus outward; help
others, because after all, that's what Jesus would do.
Matthew 16:25-26
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will
lose his life for my sake shall find it." As Elder Bednar cleverly
commented, you find your life by losing it in Christ, but only if you
aren't looking for it--you must lose yourself--your efforts,
heart, might, mind, and strength in first God, and then others.
I wish everyone the best of weeks as
I head to Korea in a few short days. Thank you for everyone that has
given support and letter to me during my time at the MTC. I honestly,
have zero regrets of my time here, and have had the greatest possible
experience that I could have. The thoughts and support help more than
you know.
With love,
(Elder) William Strahl
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