March Fourth and Be Amazing Missionaries!!

That's what the MTC President's wife, Sister Patricia Brown told us yesterday.

 

I wanted to share some of the cool experience I had this week at the MTC.  I cannot believe I am leaving tomorrow- CRAZY!

 

Last Tuesday guess who came and spoke for devotional? Any guesses? Well, if you guessed Elder Jeffrey R. Holland you are correct!!! It was AMAZING!!!! He is already one of my favorite speakers and he was at the MTC talking to us.  He lovingly chastised us.  Okay it wasn't really chastening, but he said that we cannot let what we do fail after 18 months or two years.  We must have the gospel penetrate our souls.  If we want our investigators to endure to the end - why in the world would we slack off once we get home.  I guess there is an alarming rate of missionaries who go inactive once they get home. What? Really? My district talked about how we are amazed that people do that.  One of my favorite things that he said is "You are God's investigators.  If you want your investigators to read the Book of Mormon, God wants you to read the Book of Mormon.  If you want your investigators to pray more earnestly, God wants you to pray more earnestly." He told us several times how much he loves us and not to let the tradition of missionary work die.  Yes, Elder Holland! I am so pumped!

 

Another unbelievable experience was our fireside last night.  Guess who the speaker was? ALEX BOYE!! Ah, it was so fantastic! He sang for us twice, which was pretty sweet.  He shared part of his conversion story with us.  Oh my, he is so funny.  He talked about how in London they liked to scrap.  He said, who knows what scrapping is? I'm not talking about scrapbooking. hahaha, scrap = fight.  He has a co-worker that would stop him from fighting and Alex asked him, "What does it matter if I get into a fight? If I get two black eyes you can't tell." I was dying of laughter. It was so great.  Then he told us about how two sister missionaries came over and Alex gave them a hard time because he invited a bunch of his friends over to see the two American girls.  He invited them to come back, but he was only giving them an hour to give a lesson then he would send them on their way.  An hour came and went and he finally gave a hint for them to leave.  As they were leaving one of the sisters stopped in the doorway and began to pray.  Once she was done she turned back around with tears in her eyes. Alex apologized for being so rude and she explained that they were tears of joy.  She has been out for two months and they had not been able to teach anybody.  Alex was the first one to let them in.  She then bore her testimony about the Savior and Him being resurrected.  

 

Alex stopped her and asked about living after you die.  He had has consistent nightmares earlier about death and he was terrified of it.  They taught him about the plan of salvation and he was baptized three weeks later. Boo-ya!! He then got choked up talking about these sisters.  He said that when we go out that people will talk about us all the time.  We will be one of the most important people in their lives.  He then talked about in Joseph Smith History is says something about how they draw near with their lips but their hearts are from me and they deny the power. I think he said Elder Packer told the missionaries that when we remember who we are and what our calling is that we can call upon the powers of Heaven.  When we have negative thoughts and have doubt and are discouraged and are saying "I can't do it" - we are being selfish and WE are denying the powers of heaven.  I thought that was super neat.  I love how animated and passionate he is.  It really was something that I needed and now I am even more pumped and ready to go!

 

I love you all!!! I'm a little nervous for the airport and immigration, but I know the Lord is looking after me! God lives and He loves us so much!!!

-Sister Douglass