Secret to starting the day out right: Wake up at 6:20 instead of 6:30 and you beat everyone else to the showers which means you get to take a shower as long as you want without waiting. (Insert Goal Post Hand Emoji Here) .
The MTC has been such a blessing, more than I ever thought it would be! The purpose of the MTC is to review the doctrine/gospel of Jesus Christ and then practice teaching it, over and over and over again. What a humbling experience it was to give my first lesson with Elder Brisk and prepare and plan so much to give the lesson we thought was best and to have it go completely wrong because we didn't invite the Spirit or teach by it. I learned awfully fast that it doesn't matter how much you prepare or how much you know or what you say, if you don't invite the Spirit to be with you, there will be absolutely no effect on those you serve and "teach". I was devastated and miserable by the results of our first lesson but it was truly the greatest blessing in disguise to learn and recognize this truth because every lesson we have given since then has been leaps and bounds better for us and the investigators.
Love-other than exhaustion, that's about all you feel as a missionary. Love for your family and loved ones back home, love for your companion, love for your district, love for the other missionaries, love for God's children especially the ones you are going to serve, and most importantly, Love for Heavenly Father and His son, our brother, Jesus Christ.
I have been able to learn so much in classes and devotionals this week and I would encourage everyone to read Preach My Gospel because it is so amazing and teaches everything you will ever Need to know. Our purpose, as missionaries is to: Invite others to come unto Christ by helping, them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. What an incredibly profound yet simple purpose and statement!!! That is the doctrine or gospel of Jesus Christ and we all need it, we can all improve it and that is why it says to invite Others and help them receive these things because it isn't just non-members and investigators that we need to invite, we have to invite everyone. Prayer is the most powerful tool we can have and our Heavenly Father will answer our prayers when we ask with a sincere heart but only in the name of Jesus Christ for a righteous purpose.-If you aren't asking in Christ's name, in His will, then you probably won't ever receive the answer. But hey, don't take my word for it, I don't want you to take my word or believe my testimony, find out for yourself because that is the only way to truly know the truth.
It is so crazy busy here and I've loved the classes where we learn and practice teaching, the devotionals and talks given from many individuals, the testimonies and spirit of other missionaries, the food, and of course messing around with my district like staying up talking or just goofing off when you've studied for hours and everything becomes the funniest thing in the world!
Elder Brisk (Companion)-Hurricane Utah going to Oklahoma
Elder Bohne-Montana going to Texas
Elder Ludlow (District Leader)-Utah going to Texas
Elder Hays (roomate)-California going to Oklahoma
Elder Terry (roomate)-Utah going to Oklahoma
Elder Brinkerhof-California going to Texas
Elder Futrell-Utah going to Texas
Sister Garner-Idaho going to Oklahoma
Sister Franklin-Utah going to Oklahoma
I'm not sure how many of us are in the MTC going to Oklahoma but we leave to go there on Tuesday!!:D:D:D (Waking up at 3:30am to leave though...). We aren't called to a place but to a people and I am soo excited to go meet them, be with them, and serve them for the next 2 years!!
The work is hastening, I am loving it and learning so much and I am so thankful I get to serve a mission. But you are all in my prayers and I am grateful for the prayers in my behalf, I can truly testify the power of prayer is real and I have felt it since I left. Thank you, have a wonderful week!
With love,
Elder Ricks
Checkout 2 Nephi chapters 31-33. My favorite of the week!!:) Tell me if you can figure out what it is talking about: hint, I talked about it in the email.
