Hey Family!!
Geez my MTC stay has been flying by and I’m almost out of here. But thank you guys so much for the Package, I really appreciate it!!! But let me tell ya a little about this past week.
Our Teaching appointment on Saturday went really, really well. I prepared really hard all week on the lesson. It was by far the best I’ve taught in Chinese and maybe even in English since I’ve been at the MTC, it was a really good experience. Also we taught in Unity and my companion didn't try to talk the whole time, so it actually went really good. We taught the first lesson, and also had to explain the typical day in the life of a missionary. On Wed we had missionary day.. Where we didn't have any class time, we just had teaching appointments all day and stuff. So we taught 4 lessons, contacted for about 30 minutes and tracted for 2 hours. It was a sweet day, also a very long day, but it was a great experience to get a little of a taste of what the field is actually going to be like. Except the field will have real Chinese people speaking to us, haha, so it'll be quite different.
But I'll probably send home a package or two with all the stuff I’m not gonna take with me, like all my letters, and some other stuff I won't need. So expect a box of stuff either late this week, or next week sometime.
But about the packages from everyone, I sent a thank you to them all. I feel bad if they didn’t receive it. I’ll write them again today. I’ve tried to be as good as I can with thank you notes for things I receive.
That’s funny about family home evening with Zach. I agree with him though, I absolutely love Family Home Evenings. I looked forward to them so much, and now that Zach is home I think it is a very good idea to get back on track, and do it every month. I know if I were home I’d be begging for them also. Serious you wrote Josh's Talk? Haha I’m just kidding, I remember you probably wrote every talk I ever gave except for my farewell talk. But I bet that was fun josh, I never liked giving talks. Now I have to try and do them in Chinese, it's pretty hard to write a talk in Chinese. I just use lots of scriptures haha..
But YES FINALLY!!!!! Our flight plans came. We leave on Tuesday! I can finally say when someone says when do you leave, I can say next week. I’m so excited and nervous at the same time. I’m not even close to good enough at the language yet, but I couldn't be more excited to leave the MTC, I’ve been here too long!! But we LV: SLC at 11:15 Am Nov 3rd AR: Los Angeles, CA 12:16 PM on DELTA then we switch to EVA Airways, LV: Los Angeles, CA 3:50 PM, then AR: Taipei, Taiwan 10:35 PM on Nov 3rd. I’m so stoked it's going to be a very long flight but I’m excited. Total travel time is going to be like 21 hours. But yeah we can call home at the airport, I’m so excited to talk to you guys it's not even funny. I’m thinking I’m going to call you guys at the LA Airport when we have like a 3 or 4 hour layover, So we arrive in LA at 12:16 PM so that’s California time, and I’ll call you between that time and 3:00 or so LA time. So I’m not sure if were an hour ahead or behind of them. But I’m going to call between 12:15-3:00 their time. So hopefully you guys will be there to answer haha!!! But I have a few things I need in order to travel (sorry I’m asking for things again) But I need a calling card so I can use it to call you guys, and while I’m in Taiwan I can use that same card I’ll just put money on it. Also I don't think I ever told you but right when I got to the MTC I had a shot that was exactly 4 years since I got it so it was fine, but since it was so close I got the shot anyway, so I don't have any cash (everyone also got a flu shot, 20 bucks or something) so I’m out of cash and you need 100 cash to travel, so if you could send that that'd be awesome (haha sorry and could you sneak in like 12 bucks for my dry cleaner suit and 2 pants.) So yeah just a calling card, and that cash I think is all I need to travel. And anything else little I guess if you need to send to me, I don't know if I need anything but if I’m forgetting something and you guys remember you can send that also. But it's crazy, our carry on bag can only be 15 pounds (plus a personal carry on, which will probably be my scriptures) or we pay an outrageous fee. So I’ll have to figure out what I can put in my little backpack thing since, it's only 15 pounds worthy. But man guys I’m so excited for this. I’m so ready to hit the field and am so excited about all the opportunity that is awaiting me.
But I love you guys so much. This Church is true. The healing power of the Atonement is real. Through the Atonement we can be cleansed of all our sins and mistakes. We can become perfect, and have the chance to live with our Heavenly Father again. I’m so grateful for Heavenly Fathers Help because without it I wouldn't be able to learn the language. Even though I have a long way to go, I know I’ll be able to carry the message that the spirit wants me to say to the hearts of the Chinese people. I’m so excited to go to Taiwan and preach the Gospel that I’ve grown to truly love. God Lives, he communicates with us, and answers our prayers, the Heavens are opened. He is our loving heavenly father and wants us to be happy. Any trials we go through, take to him and through His son, and our Redeemer Jesus Christ our burdens will be lifted from our backs. Although not taken away, they will be lifted and made a lot more possible to overcome. I testify this is true, for it is this reason that I’m still on my mission and know that I can learn the language and help bless the lives of the people of Taiwan.
MOM and DAD-
I love you guys so much. Thank you so much for being the perfect parents. You guys have always put up with my crap, it's this love that amazes me. I wasn't always easy, I think back of the things I did to hurt both of you guys, and feel sorry every night for it. I hope I can make it up to you and make you guys as proud as I can. I’m working hard, because I know this work is true, and it'd be selfish for me to hold the blessings from you guys and the family if I wasn't being obedient and working hard. You guys have always taught me the right way, even though I may have been a snotty teenager, I always took those things to heart. And I dwell on them now, thank you so much for raising me to the person I’ve become. Without you guys, I would be nothing, I’d go nowhere and I’d never succeed. But with you guys I’m something special, I’m going places, and I will succeed. I hope you guys are continuing to work hard with the business ideas and stuff. I pray for you guys every night. If you guys will continue to work hard and do as much as you can to figure things out, go to the Lord for the rest. It's called a power prayer, 1. Tell what you've done to accomplish your task 2. Acknowledge that you're powerless 3. Acknowledge the power of the Lord, and how he can do all things 4. say we need Thy help to finish, we've done everything we can 5. recovenant with what you’re going to continue to do in order to accomplish the task 6. end with Thy will be done. I promise if you do this your prayers will mean more, and be answered. I know you guys work hard, and the Lord will finish the rest, you guys will have success beyond your comprehension. Just keep working. I love you guys so much, thank you for all you've done. Keep being amazing parents. I'll always love you and stand behind you guys. Thanks for everything.
Love you guys, talk to ya in a week.!!!!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
MTC...Way Better than Chocolate Milk!
Hey Family!!! How are ya guys doing? Hope all is well, cause I’ll tell ya that all is fantastic here at the MTC. I'm absolutely loving it, I’ve never done something so hard in my life but at the same time loved it so much. But I’m glad to hear that everyone is still working hard in school and in all aspects of their lives. You guys built a soccer goal? That’s sweet, I love how dad is so good at making random things that always brings us happiness, thanks dad!!!!
But this last Saturday we taught the 2nd lesson for the first time in Chinese. I spent all week preparing to teach the lesson, and I was way nervous to be honest with you. But each Saturday we teach a lesson to volunteers that come in and let us teach them as real investigators it's called the TA, but each Saturday along with the lesson we have a language assignment we have to complete. This week was we had to tell the investigator how to get to church, follow up on some commitments that he had, and set up another appointment to teach the lesson. So we go in there to the language assignment portion which is supposed to be about 10-15 minutes. So I "kinda" explained how to get to church, but it needed work at best. Then my companion just went off since he knows a lot more then I do he did all that was required of the language part, then when he ran out of things to say, he turned to me to back him up. I didn't have a clue what he said, what the investigator had said, or where in the conversation we were at. So I just shrugged my shoulders and didn't say anything, cause I honestly had no clue what to say. So after the language part we have like 15 minutes to talk it over with our teacher and then we prepare to teach the lesson in like 5 minutes. So we get out and were talking to the teacher, and my companion was like, “Why didn't you say anything?” I said I didn't have anything to say. And he was like, “Well you need to.” I was really frustrated to be honest, cause I couldn't understand and how was I supposed to teach to the investigator's needs if I couldn't even understand what my companion was saying let alone what the investigator was saying. I was struggling, I broke down in tears. But my teacher who we got a new one about a week ago (one of my favorite people I’ve met in my entire life) really helped me. He was like hey, remember what you said to me in class last week, you can do anything with the Lord, and he was like I know you can do it, I have complete confidence and faith in you. Then he's like remember all the vocab you were studying and all the hard work you put in. Then he's like I’ll make you a promise if you'll open your mouth I know the Lord will put words in your mouth. so that really gave me some confidence and I told the Lord I’m going to listen as hard as I can and if I open my mouth I need your help cause I can't do it without you. So we went into teach the second lesson, and to be honest it was better than even teaching the 1st lesson for the second time. It actually went really well, I have a long way to go until I get good, but the Lord really blessed me. And I was really able to understand the investigator it got to a point in the lesson when I felt that the investigator needed to hear my story about Trey dying and how I know that I’ll see him again through the Plan of Salvation. So as best as I could I tried to tell the story of Trey dying and my praying to find out that I’ll be able to see him again. I felt the spirit really strong. And after the investigator told me that that story really touched him and really met his needs. So the Lord really blessed me and allowed me to be successful. Plus after he told me that my language was a lot better than I had confidence that it was, I just need to show that confidence and not be nervous to speak up and speak what the spirit tells me to say. So all in all it was a really good experience and really helped me grow.
Let’s see oh yeah a pretty funny little story. In our fireside Sunday night we had a guy come speak who is the director of missionary services. So he's one of the top guys. And the whole time he'd be saying things like who misses their mom, stand up. So everyone that misses their mom would stand up and all that kind of stuff. So later on in the devotional he asked, who's got a dear john already. And knowing that my companion had, I grabbed him by the sides and pushed him up so he was standing. It was so funny, he was the only 1 of like 10 out of 2000 missionaries in a room that was standing. And to make things funnier there are 2 huge jumbo screens in that room, the camera zeroed in on him and he was the only one sitting on the camera in front of everyone. I thought it was way funny, but I guess you had to be there to get the whole gist of it.
I don't know if I’ve told you guys this, but for the last like 2 weeks I’ve been district leader, it's not that big of a deal just thought I’d let you guys know. But it's a great opportunity to serve my district and really try and serve out of Love. I'm loving the responsibility so far.
Also last wed we had the opportunity to host the new missionaries. You know when you dropped me off and all those missionaries were standing there to get me, yeah that’s what we did. It was actually really fun and a really good experience, we get to do it this wed also. It's crazy that this wed is our 8 week mark in the MTC.
Also something a little crazy. In sacrament we sang a song for the congregation. Yeah I know Brock sang in public!!! haha, but yeah we sang I’ll spread the world his truth, or whatever it is called, out of the children hymn book. But it was funny, it was my district which is 6 of us, and 2 other elders joined in with us. They had to beg me into singing cause I don't like singing, and I’ve never sung in public before. But it didn't go too bad. But it did remind me of the one time when I was at Kaysville Jr. High, and I tried out for the choir to get the variance...how I walked in the room and found out that all the choir was going to listen to my audition. And I actually made the whole choir get up and leave the room cause I was too embarrassed to sing in front of them. Haha, good memories.
But I gotta tell ya, I’m absolutely loving it here. I've honestly never been happier, nope not even when drinking chocolate milk, haha but seriously it's awesome. It's very hard, but anything worth it was never easy. Neither is salvation, and if the Lord suffered the great and terrible death that he did for us, I sure as heck can stand these simple things and get a smallest lick of the pain. I know I can do this, God is with me and I know that he has blessed me with the Holy Ghost. I know that I’ll be successful if I’ll put my effort in and do all I can, he'll do the rest and allow me to bring the gospel to the people of Taiwan.
Our new elders from Hong Kong leave on Wed, which is really sad. They have really been a blessing to our district, and we have all grown to really love them, we are really going to miss them terribly. But they'll do great out in the field.
But I Love you guys so much, thank you so much for all the support that you give me and all the Love that you guys show me. I honestly couldn't have asked for an even close to as an amazing family as I have with you guys. You guys are my life. Thank you so much for putting up with me for 18 years and all the kids thank you so much for letting me be your big brother. It has been such a blessing to me to learn and grow from trying to be a good example to you guys. But what you guys don't know is I probably learned more from you guys them you did from me. You are the best brothers, and sister that I could ever ask for. I love you guys so much. I hope you guys are all still getting along, and showing love for each other. Love is the most important thing you can have in life. Cause through love you can be anything and accomplish anything. It's through love that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died for us and it's through Love that Heavenly Father created us, and this world. It's through love that we will return to live with him again. And it's through love that we will get through this life the best we can. Do all you can to show love and live with love. It's not good enough to just love someone, you have to tell them. Tell each other as much as possible that you love each other and share that love that I know you guys have with all the people around you. You guys are the best inspiration to me!!!!!!
I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything. Keep up the good work, and just to let you know I’m working my butt of to keep the Rasmussen name represented!!! Haha. Love you guys. I pray for you guys every single night and morning.
Love- Elder Rasmussen
God listens and knows each and every one of us. He WILL answer our prayers.
But this last Saturday we taught the 2nd lesson for the first time in Chinese. I spent all week preparing to teach the lesson, and I was way nervous to be honest with you. But each Saturday we teach a lesson to volunteers that come in and let us teach them as real investigators it's called the TA, but each Saturday along with the lesson we have a language assignment we have to complete. This week was we had to tell the investigator how to get to church, follow up on some commitments that he had, and set up another appointment to teach the lesson. So we go in there to the language assignment portion which is supposed to be about 10-15 minutes. So I "kinda" explained how to get to church, but it needed work at best. Then my companion just went off since he knows a lot more then I do he did all that was required of the language part, then when he ran out of things to say, he turned to me to back him up. I didn't have a clue what he said, what the investigator had said, or where in the conversation we were at. So I just shrugged my shoulders and didn't say anything, cause I honestly had no clue what to say. So after the language part we have like 15 minutes to talk it over with our teacher and then we prepare to teach the lesson in like 5 minutes. So we get out and were talking to the teacher, and my companion was like, “Why didn't you say anything?” I said I didn't have anything to say. And he was like, “Well you need to.” I was really frustrated to be honest, cause I couldn't understand and how was I supposed to teach to the investigator's needs if I couldn't even understand what my companion was saying let alone what the investigator was saying. I was struggling, I broke down in tears. But my teacher who we got a new one about a week ago (one of my favorite people I’ve met in my entire life) really helped me. He was like hey, remember what you said to me in class last week, you can do anything with the Lord, and he was like I know you can do it, I have complete confidence and faith in you. Then he's like remember all the vocab you were studying and all the hard work you put in. Then he's like I’ll make you a promise if you'll open your mouth I know the Lord will put words in your mouth. so that really gave me some confidence and I told the Lord I’m going to listen as hard as I can and if I open my mouth I need your help cause I can't do it without you. So we went into teach the second lesson, and to be honest it was better than even teaching the 1st lesson for the second time. It actually went really well, I have a long way to go until I get good, but the Lord really blessed me. And I was really able to understand the investigator it got to a point in the lesson when I felt that the investigator needed to hear my story about Trey dying and how I know that I’ll see him again through the Plan of Salvation. So as best as I could I tried to tell the story of Trey dying and my praying to find out that I’ll be able to see him again. I felt the spirit really strong. And after the investigator told me that that story really touched him and really met his needs. So the Lord really blessed me and allowed me to be successful. Plus after he told me that my language was a lot better than I had confidence that it was, I just need to show that confidence and not be nervous to speak up and speak what the spirit tells me to say. So all in all it was a really good experience and really helped me grow.
Let’s see oh yeah a pretty funny little story. In our fireside Sunday night we had a guy come speak who is the director of missionary services. So he's one of the top guys. And the whole time he'd be saying things like who misses their mom, stand up. So everyone that misses their mom would stand up and all that kind of stuff. So later on in the devotional he asked, who's got a dear john already. And knowing that my companion had, I grabbed him by the sides and pushed him up so he was standing. It was so funny, he was the only 1 of like 10 out of 2000 missionaries in a room that was standing. And to make things funnier there are 2 huge jumbo screens in that room, the camera zeroed in on him and he was the only one sitting on the camera in front of everyone. I thought it was way funny, but I guess you had to be there to get the whole gist of it.
I don't know if I’ve told you guys this, but for the last like 2 weeks I’ve been district leader, it's not that big of a deal just thought I’d let you guys know. But it's a great opportunity to serve my district and really try and serve out of Love. I'm loving the responsibility so far.
Also last wed we had the opportunity to host the new missionaries. You know when you dropped me off and all those missionaries were standing there to get me, yeah that’s what we did. It was actually really fun and a really good experience, we get to do it this wed also. It's crazy that this wed is our 8 week mark in the MTC.
Also something a little crazy. In sacrament we sang a song for the congregation. Yeah I know Brock sang in public!!! haha, but yeah we sang I’ll spread the world his truth, or whatever it is called, out of the children hymn book. But it was funny, it was my district which is 6 of us, and 2 other elders joined in with us. They had to beg me into singing cause I don't like singing, and I’ve never sung in public before. But it didn't go too bad. But it did remind me of the one time when I was at Kaysville Jr. High, and I tried out for the choir to get the variance...how I walked in the room and found out that all the choir was going to listen to my audition. And I actually made the whole choir get up and leave the room cause I was too embarrassed to sing in front of them. Haha, good memories.
But I gotta tell ya, I’m absolutely loving it here. I've honestly never been happier, nope not even when drinking chocolate milk, haha but seriously it's awesome. It's very hard, but anything worth it was never easy. Neither is salvation, and if the Lord suffered the great and terrible death that he did for us, I sure as heck can stand these simple things and get a smallest lick of the pain. I know I can do this, God is with me and I know that he has blessed me with the Holy Ghost. I know that I’ll be successful if I’ll put my effort in and do all I can, he'll do the rest and allow me to bring the gospel to the people of Taiwan.
Our new elders from Hong Kong leave on Wed, which is really sad. They have really been a blessing to our district, and we have all grown to really love them, we are really going to miss them terribly. But they'll do great out in the field.
But I Love you guys so much, thank you so much for all the support that you give me and all the Love that you guys show me. I honestly couldn't have asked for an even close to as an amazing family as I have with you guys. You guys are my life. Thank you so much for putting up with me for 18 years and all the kids thank you so much for letting me be your big brother. It has been such a blessing to me to learn and grow from trying to be a good example to you guys. But what you guys don't know is I probably learned more from you guys them you did from me. You are the best brothers, and sister that I could ever ask for. I love you guys so much. I hope you guys are all still getting along, and showing love for each other. Love is the most important thing you can have in life. Cause through love you can be anything and accomplish anything. It's through love that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died for us and it's through Love that Heavenly Father created us, and this world. It's through love that we will return to live with him again. And it's through love that we will get through this life the best we can. Do all you can to show love and live with love. It's not good enough to just love someone, you have to tell them. Tell each other as much as possible that you love each other and share that love that I know you guys have with all the people around you. You guys are the best inspiration to me!!!!!!
I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything. Keep up the good work, and just to let you know I’m working my butt of to keep the Rasmussen name represented!!! Haha. Love you guys. I pray for you guys every single night and morning.
Love- Elder Rasmussen
God listens and knows each and every one of us. He WILL answer our prayers.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
MTC District Pictures
We're so Epic!
Got a nice
Sunday
melody
going...
Missionary Statue - The Duff-Rassmy
Got a nice
Sunday
melody
going...
Missionary Statue - The Duff-Rassmy
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
My Thoughts on Conference
Hey Fam!
I love you guys so much. Well, I’m just writing about General Conference weekend. What talks I liked, what thoughts I had come to me, and my testimony from it all. To start off things I do say this was one of the best weekends of my life!! I’ll just write down some one liners I got.
Saturday Morning Session
Richard G Scott –
“Write down impressions, pray about them, and ask if they are from God.” I did this during the Joseph Smith movie, oh, how much it helped my testimony grow. Also, it helped me greatly to listen to the Spirit better.
Vicki F Matsumori –
“Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers.” I know this to be 100% true and have seen it while I’ve been on my mission.
L. Whitney Clayton –
“Burdens are blessings” – It’s taken me 6 weeks of my mission to figure this one out but I now know with all my heart this to be true. I look forward to burdens and know through them I have the potential of the most growth.
“Put my burdens on the Savior’s back and do all you can to share the gospel”
If I do this I know the Savior will lift my burdens and I will be able to fulfill my call of teaching the restored gospel to the people of Taiwan.
Russell T. Osguthrope –
“Express so much confidence in them that it’s hard to refuse.” I think this is so perfect! If I know my investigator can do the commitment I need to show them that I know they can. Do it out of complete love and make it hard from them to say, “No.”
David A. Bednar – LOVE
“We need to say it, mean it, and then show it.” This is so true. I’m sorry that I wasn’t as good at this as I should have been. But I agree with this 100 percent. I want to challenge you guys as a family even more to start living this, ok!!
“Declare and live your testimony” – Mom and dad can you guys start making it a tradition every Monday to go around and have the family share their testimony? I don’t care how awkward the kids may think it is haha Do it because they need to learn how to live by their testimonies, and have their testimonies grow by hearing the rest of the family!
Saturday Afternoon Session
Robert D Hales –
“We as a Church declare; we believe in God the Eternal Father, in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.” I love how blunt and straight forward he was when he said it. It was awesome, and we shouldn’t be afraid of declaring that to the world.
Jorge F Zeballes –
I had the thought during his talk, “He knows us, He knows of our capacities and limitations. He will not give us more than we can overcome, and when we overcome them we come out be to twice the person that we sere before.”
Kent D. Watson –
“As Christ suffered and bled from every pore He wasn’t thinking of Himself but was thinking of us!” Wow! This really hit me, even after all the suffering He was going through He still had enough love to think of us during the process. I hope I can develop this love.
Neil L Anderson –
This is a thought I had! Satan tells us to give up, because he knows we’re making progress. He doesn’t want us to reach that ridge to see the progress that we are actually making. Because he knows once we reach that ridge we’ll receive more energy and determination to do God’s will and that’s the last thing Satan wants. Let’s continue to work hard, push through and shove him of the cliff once we reach that ridge!! HE HAS NO POWER OVER ME!!
Priesthood Session
M Russell Ballard –
“Two of the most powerful elements on the earth: 1) Priesthood and 2) Family.” Man this is so awesome! It goes to show how important families are to be up there with the priesthood. Then he talked about how important the relationship between father and son is. My thought during the talk: “I want to make my dad proud and happy of who I’ve become!”
Henry B Eyring –
“Be prepared. Those who are prepared are ready. Opportunities come as a surprise so we must be ready.” I was really impressed with this talk. But my testimony grew 100% that “The power of the priesthood is real!”
Sunday Morning Session
Henry B Eyring – We can and must expect to become better every day as long as we live. We will all meet the Savior so now we must strive to excel in order to prepare for that day!
Sunday Afternoon Session
Jeffery R. Holland
The Book of Mormon is true!! Enough said! Print this talk off, tape it on every wall in the house and listen to it every day, man one of the most powerful talks I’ve ever heard.
Well to be honest I learned something from every single talk but my hand is getting to tired to write it all. I will tell you about my Joseph Smith movie experience though. I was praying this conference for the confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true. Jeffery R Holland’s talk really helped me, but I got the perfect confirmation during the Joseph Smith movie. This is the exact impression that I just wrote while watching the Book of Mormon being printed:
"The Book of Mormon is true, as true as anything I’ve ever seen before. Every soul on earth deserves the right to the contents in it and have the words of God, and come unto Him to be saved. I have a part of this great ministry to bring the Book of Mormon to the people of Taiwan. I know its contents are true words of God through His ancient and living prophets. I know it and I won’t deny it! It is God’s will for all his children to receive the words of Christ. This is the true church and only way to Eternal Life! I Know It!!"
Then while watching all the opposition the saints went through. Since our teacher has been talking a lot about opposition I was thinking, “It is amazing to see all the opposition the church went through, while it was getting started. It’s because Satan knew that if his opposition didn’t work and if the Church got to a certain point he couldn’t stop the church from growing. But is just proves the power of God. I mean Satan did everything and I mean everything in his power to stop the Church, but guess what?! God will always win and whoever should fight against God’s church shall perish. The Church was meant to fill the Earth and it has, and will continue to spread! Satan cannot stop it!
Also, I took from it that when you're accomplishing the most is when the opposition is greatest. So, remember when you have opposition something good is happening or about to happen.
But this weekend was sweet. My testimony grew a ton! I've been really trying to step it up because I know for a fact that if I do my part of the work, the Lord will make up for the rest.
Well, I know this Church is true! I would stand behind the church even to death. I know it's the only true Church. I know everyone deserves to hear the gospel, because it's the only gospel that will bring the most happiness and best of all eternal life! I love this work!
But, dad if you have more memorization techniques please send them. I've tried the wall pushups, pushups, and pinching myself, haha. It actually works very well, it's funny! I just sit there and pinch myself as I memorize.
Glad to hear you guys are doing great. I love you guys so much!!
I love you guys so much. Well, I’m just writing about General Conference weekend. What talks I liked, what thoughts I had come to me, and my testimony from it all. To start off things I do say this was one of the best weekends of my life!! I’ll just write down some one liners I got.
Saturday Morning Session
Richard G Scott –
“Write down impressions, pray about them, and ask if they are from God.” I did this during the Joseph Smith movie, oh, how much it helped my testimony grow. Also, it helped me greatly to listen to the Spirit better.
Vicki F Matsumori –
“Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers.” I know this to be 100% true and have seen it while I’ve been on my mission.
L. Whitney Clayton –
“Burdens are blessings” – It’s taken me 6 weeks of my mission to figure this one out but I now know with all my heart this to be true. I look forward to burdens and know through them I have the potential of the most growth.
“Put my burdens on the Savior’s back and do all you can to share the gospel”
If I do this I know the Savior will lift my burdens and I will be able to fulfill my call of teaching the restored gospel to the people of Taiwan.
Russell T. Osguthrope –
“Express so much confidence in them that it’s hard to refuse.” I think this is so perfect! If I know my investigator can do the commitment I need to show them that I know they can. Do it out of complete love and make it hard from them to say, “No.”
David A. Bednar – LOVE
“We need to say it, mean it, and then show it.” This is so true. I’m sorry that I wasn’t as good at this as I should have been. But I agree with this 100 percent. I want to challenge you guys as a family even more to start living this, ok!!
“Declare and live your testimony” – Mom and dad can you guys start making it a tradition every Monday to go around and have the family share their testimony? I don’t care how awkward the kids may think it is haha Do it because they need to learn how to live by their testimonies, and have their testimonies grow by hearing the rest of the family!
Saturday Afternoon Session
Robert D Hales –
“We as a Church declare; we believe in God the Eternal Father, in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.” I love how blunt and straight forward he was when he said it. It was awesome, and we shouldn’t be afraid of declaring that to the world.
Jorge F Zeballes –
I had the thought during his talk, “He knows us, He knows of our capacities and limitations. He will not give us more than we can overcome, and when we overcome them we come out be to twice the person that we sere before.”
Kent D. Watson –
“As Christ suffered and bled from every pore He wasn’t thinking of Himself but was thinking of us!” Wow! This really hit me, even after all the suffering He was going through He still had enough love to think of us during the process. I hope I can develop this love.
Neil L Anderson –
This is a thought I had! Satan tells us to give up, because he knows we’re making progress. He doesn’t want us to reach that ridge to see the progress that we are actually making. Because he knows once we reach that ridge we’ll receive more energy and determination to do God’s will and that’s the last thing Satan wants. Let’s continue to work hard, push through and shove him of the cliff once we reach that ridge!! HE HAS NO POWER OVER ME!!
Priesthood Session
M Russell Ballard –
“Two of the most powerful elements on the earth: 1) Priesthood and 2) Family.” Man this is so awesome! It goes to show how important families are to be up there with the priesthood. Then he talked about how important the relationship between father and son is. My thought during the talk: “I want to make my dad proud and happy of who I’ve become!”
Henry B Eyring –
“Be prepared. Those who are prepared are ready. Opportunities come as a surprise so we must be ready.” I was really impressed with this talk. But my testimony grew 100% that “The power of the priesthood is real!”
Sunday Morning Session
Henry B Eyring – We can and must expect to become better every day as long as we live. We will all meet the Savior so now we must strive to excel in order to prepare for that day!
Sunday Afternoon Session
Jeffery R. Holland
The Book of Mormon is true!! Enough said! Print this talk off, tape it on every wall in the house and listen to it every day, man one of the most powerful talks I’ve ever heard.
Well to be honest I learned something from every single talk but my hand is getting to tired to write it all. I will tell you about my Joseph Smith movie experience though. I was praying this conference for the confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true. Jeffery R Holland’s talk really helped me, but I got the perfect confirmation during the Joseph Smith movie. This is the exact impression that I just wrote while watching the Book of Mormon being printed:
"The Book of Mormon is true, as true as anything I’ve ever seen before. Every soul on earth deserves the right to the contents in it and have the words of God, and come unto Him to be saved. I have a part of this great ministry to bring the Book of Mormon to the people of Taiwan. I know its contents are true words of God through His ancient and living prophets. I know it and I won’t deny it! It is God’s will for all his children to receive the words of Christ. This is the true church and only way to Eternal Life! I Know It!!"
Then while watching all the opposition the saints went through. Since our teacher has been talking a lot about opposition I was thinking, “It is amazing to see all the opposition the church went through, while it was getting started. It’s because Satan knew that if his opposition didn’t work and if the Church got to a certain point he couldn’t stop the church from growing. But is just proves the power of God. I mean Satan did everything and I mean everything in his power to stop the Church, but guess what?! God will always win and whoever should fight against God’s church shall perish. The Church was meant to fill the Earth and it has, and will continue to spread! Satan cannot stop it!
Also, I took from it that when you're accomplishing the most is when the opposition is greatest. So, remember when you have opposition something good is happening or about to happen.
But this weekend was sweet. My testimony grew a ton! I've been really trying to step it up because I know for a fact that if I do my part of the work, the Lord will make up for the rest.
Well, I know this Church is true! I would stand behind the church even to death. I know it's the only true Church. I know everyone deserves to hear the gospel, because it's the only gospel that will bring the most happiness and best of all eternal life! I love this work!
But, dad if you have more memorization techniques please send them. I've tried the wall pushups, pushups, and pinching myself, haha. It actually works very well, it's funny! I just sit there and pinch myself as I memorize.
Glad to hear you guys are doing great. I love you guys so much!!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Conference was Amazing!
Hey guys!!! How are you all doing? Hope that everything is going good, cause I gotta tell ya things here are amazing. Conference, I’m not even kidding, changed my whole thought process toward a mission. I got all my questions answered that I needed going into conference, and my testimony is literally stronger than ever. I just had the best weekend of my life. Conference all day Saturday, All day Sunday and Sunday night we still had a devotional which was we had Elders and Sisters say their favorite songs and we sung them which was way cool, then we watched the Joseph Smith movie, which was absolutely amazing.
To start things off, last weekend on Saturday was our second time teaching the first lesson in Chinese which went a lot better than the last time it was actually pretty good I felt a lot more confident. This weekend we are teaching the 2nd lesson for the first time which could be really interesting and I hope that I can prepare for it and the Lord will bless me for my hard work.
But other than just teaching the second lesson nothing is really changing. Except that the new missionaries we got from Hong Kong added to our zone, they are leaving next week already to the field, they've only been here for 3 weeks. I’m really sad, I’ve gotten so attached to them in only a week, I don't want them to go, but I guess the Lord needs them more then I do. Well I’m really glad that the trip went good and was fun, Josh should totally get into mountain biking that'd be sweet.
But about conference, my testimony grew a ton not even kidding, especially during the Joseph Smith movie. During the movie I was just writing down impressions that I was having and after the movie I read them and man not gonna lie they were way powerful. But also last night in my journal I just started writing about my testimony regarding my missionary work, I'll send you guys a letter about it, I’m not even kidding my testimony is so strong right now. And I have all the Lord to thank. Just like my patriarchal blessing says that I'll be able to have a part in this great ministry with a testimony that is true and firm. Man I Love this work!
But my favorites were one during priesthood meeting regarding the relationship between fathers and sons and Elder Hollands!!! Man during Elder Holland’s Elder Duff and I couldn't even help but just look at each other in awwwwee!!!! It was absolutely moving, and when he held up the actual Book of Mormon I was freaking out, haha we looked at each other and were like no way!! But it's crazy that that was the first time that I actually watched a session all the way through let alone all 5 sessions. And I actually prepared for it and had question I wanted answered going into it, man was I ever edified. I got so much out of it, it was awesome. But that talk you like by Elder Brent Nielson was really good. There were 3 way sweet talks in a row: Elder Holland's, Elder Cook's, and then your guy!!! It was sweet!
Isn't it crazy that I leave the MTC in 4 weeks. I’m like freaking out, I don't feel ready at all and feel like I have a ton more to learn before I can even think about teaching the Gospel, let alone hold a conversation to get the opportunity to actually teach. But the language is coming. From conference the main thing I learned was a different view for my mission. I wrote it down in my journal and I don't have that with me right now so I'll have to send you a letter later this week, regarding all my thoughts and testimonies from conference and from the movie and everything.
Josh- Hey bud I love you so much, I’m so glad that you had fun bike riding, wish that I could have been there to enjoy that experience with you. But good to see that your grades are up, keep up the good work, cause I know that you can do even better than that. I just want to let you know, that I look up to you so much. Thanks for being the best example ever, I love you so much. I'd do anything in the world to protect you and anything to let you have happiness. Thanks for being so amazing.
Cade- Hey bud, hope that swimming is still going good!! Hope that you’re still working hard in swimming and school. Bud I know that I tell you this all the time but seriously you have so much potential it's crazy. I see it and I don't want you to waste that so keep working really hard in all you do, school, swimming, and being a sweet kid. I love you so much bud, you are so awesome. Thanks for being sweet!!! Love you bud
Britton- Hey Cute bud!! Haha I know you're getting old for the word cute but I can't help it you really are so cute, k well you're sexy (good look'n) if that makes it any better. Keep up the hard work in school, and in soccer. I love you so much and can't wait to see you again. Hope you still being a good brother and friend like you always are. Love you bud!!!!
Abby- Hey my little adorable abs. You have no idea how many people here absolutely adore you. My roommate Elder Duff's girlfriend wants to see a picture cause I talk you up so much. (mom can you send me some more pictures of abs, especially one of me and her smiling in church clothes :D) But Abby I hope your still being the perfect wonderful little sister to all the brothers, and helping mom out. I love you so much honey and know that you’re doing good in all your doing. I miss you so much. Love you hun!!!
Well family, I hope that all is well, I'll be writing my testimony and conference thoughts in a letter later this week, and hopefully I'll have the pictures back of the new elders from Hong Kong. But I love you guys so much. I know this church is true, and that missionary work is the most important thing I can be doing right now. Thanks for all the support and love you guys share with me. I love you guys so much!!!!
To start things off, last weekend on Saturday was our second time teaching the first lesson in Chinese which went a lot better than the last time it was actually pretty good I felt a lot more confident. This weekend we are teaching the 2nd lesson for the first time which could be really interesting and I hope that I can prepare for it and the Lord will bless me for my hard work.
But other than just teaching the second lesson nothing is really changing. Except that the new missionaries we got from Hong Kong added to our zone, they are leaving next week already to the field, they've only been here for 3 weeks. I’m really sad, I’ve gotten so attached to them in only a week, I don't want them to go, but I guess the Lord needs them more then I do. Well I’m really glad that the trip went good and was fun, Josh should totally get into mountain biking that'd be sweet.
But about conference, my testimony grew a ton not even kidding, especially during the Joseph Smith movie. During the movie I was just writing down impressions that I was having and after the movie I read them and man not gonna lie they were way powerful. But also last night in my journal I just started writing about my testimony regarding my missionary work, I'll send you guys a letter about it, I’m not even kidding my testimony is so strong right now. And I have all the Lord to thank. Just like my patriarchal blessing says that I'll be able to have a part in this great ministry with a testimony that is true and firm. Man I Love this work!
But my favorites were one during priesthood meeting regarding the relationship between fathers and sons and Elder Hollands!!! Man during Elder Holland’s Elder Duff and I couldn't even help but just look at each other in awwwwee!!!! It was absolutely moving, and when he held up the actual Book of Mormon I was freaking out, haha we looked at each other and were like no way!! But it's crazy that that was the first time that I actually watched a session all the way through let alone all 5 sessions. And I actually prepared for it and had question I wanted answered going into it, man was I ever edified. I got so much out of it, it was awesome. But that talk you like by Elder Brent Nielson was really good. There were 3 way sweet talks in a row: Elder Holland's, Elder Cook's, and then your guy!!! It was sweet!
Isn't it crazy that I leave the MTC in 4 weeks. I’m like freaking out, I don't feel ready at all and feel like I have a ton more to learn before I can even think about teaching the Gospel, let alone hold a conversation to get the opportunity to actually teach. But the language is coming. From conference the main thing I learned was a different view for my mission. I wrote it down in my journal and I don't have that with me right now so I'll have to send you a letter later this week, regarding all my thoughts and testimonies from conference and from the movie and everything.
Josh- Hey bud I love you so much, I’m so glad that you had fun bike riding, wish that I could have been there to enjoy that experience with you. But good to see that your grades are up, keep up the good work, cause I know that you can do even better than that. I just want to let you know, that I look up to you so much. Thanks for being the best example ever, I love you so much. I'd do anything in the world to protect you and anything to let you have happiness. Thanks for being so amazing.
Cade- Hey bud, hope that swimming is still going good!! Hope that you’re still working hard in swimming and school. Bud I know that I tell you this all the time but seriously you have so much potential it's crazy. I see it and I don't want you to waste that so keep working really hard in all you do, school, swimming, and being a sweet kid. I love you so much bud, you are so awesome. Thanks for being sweet!!! Love you bud
Britton- Hey Cute bud!! Haha I know you're getting old for the word cute but I can't help it you really are so cute, k well you're sexy (good look'n) if that makes it any better. Keep up the hard work in school, and in soccer. I love you so much and can't wait to see you again. Hope you still being a good brother and friend like you always are. Love you bud!!!!
Abby- Hey my little adorable abs. You have no idea how many people here absolutely adore you. My roommate Elder Duff's girlfriend wants to see a picture cause I talk you up so much. (mom can you send me some more pictures of abs, especially one of me and her smiling in church clothes :D) But Abby I hope your still being the perfect wonderful little sister to all the brothers, and helping mom out. I love you so much honey and know that you’re doing good in all your doing. I miss you so much. Love you hun!!!
Well family, I hope that all is well, I'll be writing my testimony and conference thoughts in a letter later this week, and hopefully I'll have the pictures back of the new elders from Hong Kong. But I love you guys so much. I know this church is true, and that missionary work is the most important thing I can be doing right now. Thanks for all the support and love you guys share with me. I love you guys so much!!!!
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