Mauri raoraou!
"Hello my friends!"
For all you that don't speak Kiribati, honestly, that could mean something totally different, but I guess you will have to take my word for it... HOW IS EVERYONE DOING? I'm already on my 5th week of the MTC. Time is flying. I think we will be receiving our travel plans soon because we fly out to the islands in 11 days. It is crunch time to learn the language, but I know that I will learn sooo much more when I am actually living on the islands. My district got to be "Hosts" this past Wednesday so we got to help pick up the new missionaries that were getting dropped off at the MTC. It was tough seeing each elder hug their mom, say how much they love them, and walk off. It reminded me of when I was in their shoes just a few weeks prior. I won't sugar coat it... the mission is tough. You are living a new lifestyle that you aren't used to, you are paired up with a companion that you have never met, and, in my case, have to learn a whole new language to teach in. It is a handful. How am I suppose to look these new Elders in the eye and have them believe me that everything will be okay. While I was standing there with this new Elder's luggage, I remembered a devotional that I had watched just a few days prior. It was a devotional given by Elder Holland and it was called,"Missions are Forever". In his devotional, he discussed the responsibilities that missionaries have. He recognized that there are times when Elders and Sisters and pushed to their absolute limit... to the point where they didn't think they could handle it. He then goes on to share a poem that he said has changed his life (I apologize, I don't remember who wrote it). The poem is about the Savior speaking to us, his children, and he says...
For all you that don't speak Kiribati, honestly, that could mean something totally different, but I guess you will have to take my word for it... HOW IS EVERYONE DOING? I'm already on my 5th week of the MTC. Time is flying. I think we will be receiving our travel plans soon because we fly out to the islands in 11 days. It is crunch time to learn the language, but I know that I will learn sooo much more when I am actually living on the islands. My district got to be "Hosts" this past Wednesday so we got to help pick up the new missionaries that were getting dropped off at the MTC. It was tough seeing each elder hug their mom, say how much they love them, and walk off. It reminded me of when I was in their shoes just a few weeks prior. I won't sugar coat it... the mission is tough. You are living a new lifestyle that you aren't used to, you are paired up with a companion that you have never met, and, in my case, have to learn a whole new language to teach in. It is a handful. How am I suppose to look these new Elders in the eye and have them believe me that everything will be okay. While I was standing there with this new Elder's luggage, I remembered a devotional that I had watched just a few days prior. It was a devotional given by Elder Holland and it was called,"Missions are Forever". In his devotional, he discussed the responsibilities that missionaries have. He recognized that there are times when Elders and Sisters and pushed to their absolute limit... to the point where they didn't think they could handle it. He then goes on to share a poem that he said has changed his life (I apologize, I don't remember who wrote it). The poem is about the Savior speaking to us, his children, and he says...
Come to the edge... no will fall
Come to the edge.... no will fall
Come to the edge.... no will fall
We went to the edge
He pushed us...
and we flew.
There are times in our life that we are pushed to our limits. We aren't sure if we are able to handle it. I know that God knows our limits, but most importantly... he knows what we are capable of. He knows that we won't fall; instead, if we take a leap of faith, we will fly. Trust in God. I have and I have seen what I am capable of.. through him. I know he will never put an obstacle in our life that he knows we can't handle. As I helped these new Elders into the MTC, I looked at them and told them, "You got this". If Jesus was talking to you right now, he'd say, "We got this". I love you all so much. Keep pushing on. 11 days and I'll be in the beautiful country of Kiribati, and I will be surrounded by people who don't believe that "they got this". I hope that I will be able to open their eyes and allow them to see what they are really capable of.. through him. Until next week! Tiabo!
Love,
Devon
1)Some of the best Elders I have ever met
2)Sleep 1... Elder Brinkworth 0
3)Getting used to sitting on the floor
4)The best Hosts around
5)My big brother
Comments
Post a Comment