Cuidaro Familia,
okay, so first of all. The MTC is totally crazy. In every way. Crazy hilarious, crazy weird, crazy busy, crazy loaded with strapping young mormon kids, (of every size, shape and ethnicity that you can possibly imagine) and best of all, crazy spiritual. From day one I have felt a light here that I have very seldom experienced in my life and certainly not on this constant of a scale. The spirit is so strong here. I cannot even begin to describe it. I already feel so much peace. We've already learned People and the Purpose, which is an AMAZING seminar.
Real investigators as real as fake ones are taught here in the MTC. Just this week I heard of the latino woman who works in the laundry ask to know more about our church, and a district just two classrooms down from us got to teach her. The spirit is just incredible.
My companero es fantastico. Se llama Elder Payne. He is like the nicest guy on planet earth, and has been very patient with me whenever we are going places. Haha, I am never sure what to take so I usually end up trying to tote around a thousand different works of mormon doctrine. Plus we have double the books here because I am learning spanish.
I have learned already so much about how the Lord works, and I feel as if the Lord is constantly walking beside me.
Also, let me say just a little bit about Don de Lenguas, o, en igles, The Gift of Tongues. It's real. Although it is a little differente than I imagined.
This first week, learning the language has been pretty tough. I mean, its nothing compared to croatian, japanese, or russian, I am sure, but even so. It has been hard. We had our first lesson yesterday night with an investigator named Alan.
The key to success for me so far has been to compartir mi corazones totales con mi Padre Celestial (give Heavenly Father my whole heart,) and just buckle down and get to work. I have never worked harder in my whole life. It is so tough. but I now have a testimonio of this work. i know that it is going forward, and it is definitely being hastened. Heavenly Father is with every single one of us missionaries that are really trying. Sadly, there are some here that are only concerned with earning the title of an RM, but there are also so many quiet examples here that just have an amazing spirit about them. I have learned so much from these elders and i look up to them so much.
I think its so cool that P days here have to be on different days because there are so many missionaries. And there is nothing like being able to sit at a table during a meal or during a lesson or just during the day, and know that you are sitting among God's anointed. It is one of the most amazing feelings, one I would not trade for the world. I would not be surprised if the Savior Himself were to come and sit with us. That is who we get to represent each and every moment of every day. I am so, so glad that I made the decision to go on a mission.
Also, putting on the name tag was one of the most sagredoso momentos de mi vida. I am so so sooooooooo excited to be un Misionerio de Jesucristo de los santos de ultimos dias. Words cannot describe the joy that it has been to get up every morning, and to learn how to better teach and serve those that I will meet on the street in tacoma. Also my testimony has been so strengthened in two things. One. I know angels are constantly surrounding me, both in this world and on the other side of the veil. In my priesthood blessing that i got right before I left, i was told that they were there. now I feel them surrounding me constantly. i am fairly sure my ancestors are among those ranks.
Two. i know that this is when i was called to go out, and more especially, Yo se mas por siempre que Jesu es la Cristo. I also know that there are people out there waiting to here my voice come to them 'as with the sound of a trump.' (D y C)
i am learning more and more and more that we can over all things through Jesus Christ's Atonement. He has it all covered from the exposition of our trials to the end. How amazing to think that He will always be there for us.
I also heard something today that I had never looked at in this specific sense concerning the atonement. We aren't able to ever earn the Atonement. Instead, it is a gift meant just for us from the Savior. The most heartbreaking, and amazing gift that we could ever be given. And He gives it to us freely. Without any thought for reward. Without any doubt or grudgingness. Instead, with total love. With total trust. And with total commitment to us. He did it for us, so that He could lift us up on his shoulders. And carry us home. How I love the Lord!
People and purpose was also so so cool. Within hours of entering the MTC, We were shown to a room with around sixty other elders in a simulated lesson experience. We were to observe the lesson, and then discuss it with our companions, and then we got up to share. We got to address questions to actual investigators, while fervently bearing our testimonies to the other elders and hermanas in the room. The spirit was so strong and I knew I had to stand up. I didn't know exactly what i was going to say, but the Lord gave me what I needed. He provided the way. In front of everyone, I was able to bear my testimony of Christ, and the atonement. And yeah. In case you're wondering mom, I totally cried.
My district is incredible. I love the sisters and brothers tambien. They are hilarious. And there is a unique spirit about each of them. The sisters I sit by in class, I call las trece hermanas. and we have a good time. they are so funny. But being happy and having fun and still staying with the spirit and not getting too light and frivoulous as a missionary is a delicate balance that I am still working on. We will get there soon though.
Also, I am in the process of my first homework assignment, bearing my testimony to five different people en espanol. So far we have talked to three companionships, so two left to go. I am learning that the tone of voice, and make it respectful of Heavenly Father and His Son is key to the companionship of the spirit in the conversation. It is harder to feel the spirit when you are worrying about conjugations and random words, but so far things are going great. It can only get better for here.
Singing called to serve also was awesome.
Also I am going to have to change the laundry soon but I had one last thing I wanted to talk about in a little more detail. I realized that I totally dropped a line a little earlier in my email about my first lesson and I want to talk a little about that. (Honestly i have had more time to write on this email than in my journal so keeping this as current and detailed as possible is going to be super useful for me when i get home as a way to remember things a little bit better.)
My first lesson was so tough! It was way harder and way scarier than I anticipated even though Alan our investigator was way nice. But we prayed beforehand, and I know that the lord was helping us. I would pray for my companion when he was talking, and when I was talking, I was striving to bring the spirit into the room and have faith. We also prayed beforehand. Then we knocked on the door, and he let us in the room, we sat down (which was a struggle because we had literlay no idea what he was saying) and then startede into the lesson. We had planned to talk about how God is our father, but the lesson didn't go in that direction at all. instead we talked much of prayer. And I got to teach him how to pray which was cool. I know Heavenly Father was there and helping us as we acted as best we could.it was way tough. but we are getting better and as I said before. I have praying so hard for the gift of tongues, and I know that he will give it to us continually as we act in faith.
PS It is so funny and hard to ask questions when you both sound like ridiculous gringo who cant even roll rs very well or have any proper grammer and then expect to teach someone about the gospel when you have no idea how you just responded or WHAT is going on!
Alright I need to go. but I love you guys. praying for you.
so now.... the haiku of the week! Ready?? :)
Play volleyball with
Polynesians twice your size
To learn how to die
Love you guys!!! XD
Sinceremente,
Elder Hakala
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