[Week 6]

Hello family, how is everyone doing? Well this has been a pretty uneventful week here in the MTC, so not too much to report on..

 

Last week's devotional was by Elder Rasband (if you remember he was the one who gave that awesome talk in priesthood session a few years back about how they select where missionaries go), he gave a really cool talk about missionary work, but I can't remember what its about since I don't have my journal with me... that's a story for another day though.

 

Sadly, I had to say goodbye to 3 great friends yesterday. Elder Rose, Elder Wilson, and Elder Frye all shipped out to their missions. All I could say to them was, "see ya in 22 month... Dont forget, Lake Powell August 2014." Haha. But as they left, lots of new Alta Elders came in that I haven't seen for awhile so it was cool to see those fresh new faces in here.

 

I guess if I didn't touch on the "biscuits and gravy miracle" I would be doing an injustice. Well one night Elder Hilburn, Elder Noma'aea and myself were all lusting over a warm plate of biscuits and gravy. So we decided to turn to the Lord for help... during our companionship prayer we asked for biscuits and gravy for breakfast. After the prayer I told everyone if we got biscuits and gravy the next day, there was no way the church wasn't true. Well morning came. As I approached the lunch room I squinted my eyes to see the bulletin that says what is being served. I read, "cereal, eggs and hashbrowns, then way down at the bottom in nearly illegible writing.. biscuits and gravy". I jumped with joy professing to all around me that church was true. haha but all kidding aside that was a great plate of biscuits and gravy.

 

So with one of our investigators, Erik, this week was pretty crucial. We committed him to baptism and then made it past the next lesson. So the story goes that after he commits his family and friends give him all this anti-literature, and he wants to stop the discussions. So we had to talk to him and help him change his mind. It was cool because we just let the spirit do all the teaching. We were directed as to what questions to ask, and what to say to him. I love teaching Erik because all the lesson with him feel, real since they're so intense. He said he had a companionship break down in tears after this lesson in his last district haha. Glad to say E. Call and I didn't shed a tear. Next lesson he is bringing in one of his friends who is supposed to be very familiar with the scriptures and very against the church, so that should be fun.

 

In the MTC you have to make your own fun. I think I've mentioned we have a song for just about everything we do. Well when someone gets a package, naturally, we dance. We have a dance choreographed, that we decided wasnt up to our potential. So we made a new one. Its called the "paka". Its a haka for when one gets a package. If I do say so myself its not half bad haha, but its not nearly perfected.

 

Just another average week here. But I'm gonna miss weeks like these here in a little bit. We only have 3 weeks left until we ship out to France. Which is horrifying because I'm told that they speak French there. By way of the language it's coming along well. It's amazing how much I've learned since coming in here. We always go and seek out all the Elders from France and talk to them. We do a pretty good job so it gives us hope! I think also that once I'm totally thrown into that culture I'll pick it up a lot quicker. But hey no one is complaining here, if my only challenge worth noting right now in life is having to learn a new language, I'm getting off easy. I'm definitely grateful for all my benedictions! Well, until next week.

 

Forever Love,

Elder Benjamin Gruber