Second Week at MTC
Dear Family,
Every day here at the
MTC brings new blessings and challenges I have to face. Before I tell you
guys about everything I want to thank all of your letters, Mom, Dad, Michael,
Lindsay, Daniel, Grandma and Allie and all the words of encouragement you have
strengthened me with. I truly feel everyone's love and prayers and
support out here in the mission field. I
promise I'll try to write all of you back eventually just so busy and don't
have much time.
So about my week we
got our service project Wednesday which luckily was only replacing the garbage
and the toilet paper and not scrubbing the toilets/showers. I don't miss those days at all. haha The rest
of the week went alright, still struggling with the language but keep on pushing
through and striving to teach with the Spirit. Saturday I had a breakdown
and emotionally broke down. But with the
hardest falls always come the greatest of rises and testimony builders. That reminds me of the quote from Batman,
"Why do we fall? So we can learn to
get back up." I began to live to heart on my mission an EFY counselor told
me once, "Stop telling God how big your storms are, and start telling your
storms how big your God is." I need
to forget myself and remember why I am out here, to serve the Lord and others.
Through my trials I came across this scripture in Ether 12:27 and has brought
men much comfort and strength and it says, "And if men come unto me I will
show unto them their weakness. I give
unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all
men that humble themselves before me… and have faith in me, then will I make
weak things become strong unto them." God gives me strengths and He gives me weaknesses.
He gives us weaknesses to humble ourselves to gain humility and to grow
stronger. He loves us so much that He gives us trials and then gives us His Son
to suffer through all pains and sorrows and sins we go through and will lift
those burdens off us by taking the weight in our heart to Him by faith and diligence
and shining His Atoning light through us. The more weaknesses we notice
and humble ourselves like Jesus Christ, the closer we grow to God. That night I
prayed if Heavenly Father was truly happy of what I was doing and how hard I
was working and my prayer was answered the following day. Sunday's are always the best! I started off the day getting a package full
of candy (like seriously 30Ibs of candy), with scripture labels on them, a talk
and poem and super sweet letter from Allie. All the Elders were so jealous. haha but I
shared and have like 90% of it still bc I'm already getting fat haha funny
thing though is the Elder's in my district care more about working out then I
do on their mission and work out for like an hour every night haha I'd much rather write in my journal and read
the scriptures. But don't worry I only
actually gained a couple of pounds and go pretty intense in volleyball for my
workout out in the sand, I've made it a tradition to play sand volley every gym
time in our district and we are pretty good.. hahha. My companion is just this little guy and
literally never stops eating.. literally. Never seen someone eat so much in my life. Must be that big appetite cuz everything is
big in Texas haha
Well I finally found
Elder Good that was exciting to see him so happy and excited to be there at the
MTC! A talk we watched later that night
was called the Characters of Christ by David A. Bednar and is absolutely
amazing!! "There would be no atoning sacrifice, without the Character of
Christ." When the natural man turns
inward to feed our internal needs, no matter what, Christ faced He ALWAYS
turned outward with compassion and love to others. We need to be more like
Christ and no matter how rough or good our life is going we need to drop
everything and serve our Savior. He gave everything to us. We need to drop
everything that is holding us back in being like Him and leave it behind us and
move towards His grace. Michael sent me a letter which described this very same
concept in Matthew 19:16-30 and absolutely love it. I want to give my heart to
Jesus Christ and let Him renew it and fill it with joy and light. A way we can strive to grow to be like Christ
is in the Temple. We always need to be
worthy to attend the Temple. If I give
everything I own my time, my thoughts, my words, my actions, my love to the
Lord willing to change with humility there's nothing I need more and He will
bless me with the Spirit to touch other’s lives as well as mine.
Congratulations Mason
on your mission call to Samoa. I know that's where God needs you not Idaho ;) I felt the Spirit just reading my mom's letter
about your excitement and joy in opening your mission call. Love you man. You'll be an amazing missionary
and do great things for the Lord. Dang football is falling apart. Adapt is a
cult. haha Good luck with the season boys. So sad I'm missing Logan's senior
year and Joseph. Pepe and Zack's Senior year. You guys are going to all tear it
up and better put a hurting on Sheldon. Logan have an amazing Senior year and
leave everything out on the field ya stud. Good luck and keep me updated if you
can, I wanna know every detail and how your Senior year goes. Stay a strong
example and stand up for what's right.
Lots of young men look up to you. Matt Balch my brother how are you? I miss you man and hope life is going well. I'd recommend reading a chapter or section of
PMG every once in a while and talk to Michael and Lindsay to help you out on
your mission. Michael and Lindsay helped me so much and would love helping you
over skype like they helped me! I love all of you guys and wish I had time to
write to every single person I love! Anyways, sounds like my little bros are staying
busy and having a good last bit of summer. Joseph stay that sweet spirit you
are and be courageous and lift up others. You have a talent to be friendly to
everyone and such a stud athlete! Work super hard in school and always remember
to pray and read your scriptures. I promise it will bless you. Jacob, you're a
stud football player and miss you. I know I was hard on you at times but I
truly love you and you're such a fun brother to be around, excited to see how
big you get when I get back and if you're actually taller than me ;) haha
David, keep up the love for soccer and be excited to be in school! You’re so loved in our family and will be
crazy to see how big you get in two years. I miss you all like crazy and love
you all. Mom & Dad thanks for all the letters and the updates means so much
to me and I miss and love you two.
-Elder McRae
P.S. My head is
feeling a lot better and one elder talked about getting transparent glasses to
block the sun without being sunglasses and if you could see how expensive that
would be that would be cool but I don't need them super bad. Thanks!
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