Salut family! First off, congrats on your surgery dad. I'm glad you
can live a normal life again haha. Also congrats Stohel on your mission
call! The kentucky mission is lucky to get you.
Well the hour glass is just about all out of sand. 6
more days and we're shipped outta this joint. I think everyone has mixed
emotions about leaving... Everyone is iching to get in the field, but
at the same time it's sad saying goodbye to so many friends. In our zone
we have Elders and Sisters going to France, Africa, Canada, and New
Caladonea. So in some cases it is probably good bye for good! Everyone
in our zone is super close... we've basically been at EFY for the past 2
months haha so we have all bonded a ton. Today was my last Temple trip
for the next 2 years, which definitely sucks. But I'm glad to leave the
Temple for a couple years, if that means I can help others make it
there.
Last devotional we were lucky to hear from Elder Marlin
K. Jensen of the Seventy. This guy was awesome. He was hands down the
most humble person I've ever met, and he was a classic guy. He really
picked everyones spirits up. You could feel the love he had for everyone
in that auditorium. Afterwards E. Call and I ran down and got to meet
him. The thing I've learned the most in the MTC, other than trusting the
Spirit, is the eternal principle of loving those that you teach. When
you feel that the person who is teaching you loves you, you listen a
whole lot more. And when they correct you, you are open to it. (Doctrine
et Alliance 121 explains this, on how to be a good leader) anyways it
reminds me of when I was investigating the church. When there were
Elders that werent really that interested, I could definitely feel the
difference. Elder Lufe and Elder Hanohano loved me so much that I really
wanted to listen to them, and I trusted them. So loving the people of
France is something I definitely need to do.
Repetition is sometime the MTC is based off of come to
find out. Its all just on one giant loop. For example I can quote just
about every line in the Joseph Smith movie, Testaments, and any other
sunday evening film played. I finally figured out the set lunch and
dinner schedule, they serve the same things everyday (took us awhile to
figure it out for some reason), I can quote every punch line the guy who
does "hosting orientation" on wednesdays says. His most classic line is
when he is telling everyone to stay away from the curb because, "nobody
wants to be the first person to run over a missionary at the MTC!" aww
just talking about it gets me excited to sit through that again tomorrow
morning. Ah and my personal favorite. There is this guy that comes in
and speaks on sunday nights or tuesday nights sometimes. (I think its
when they kind find an General Authority to come in) We've heard him
speak 3 times. But anyways he's just this outspoken guy that makes all
the new missionaries tremble. He basically just chastizes everyone for
an hour, It would be interesting to see how many Elders go home the next
day after he talks. But he's got this whole little routine where he
starts out by letting everyone take off their jackets, then commenting
on how much brighter it got. After gaining the trust of the audience he
begins ripping into them. He proceeds to have people stand up if they
meet certain criteria. The best is when he asks anyone with a girl
friend to stand up. Then he asks for anyone who has received a Dear John
stand up. Then he goes on a 5 minute sermon about how having a girl
friend is so dumb, etc. Its pretty classic. Ive come to love this guys
talks haha.
Oh I forgot the most important news. We got our travel
plans this week. Monday at 11:00 I will be boarding a plan to fly to
Chicago, then to London, and then sometime a day or so later we arrive
in Lyon. After that point we have no idea what comes next.
All is well here in Provo. Next time yall hear from me
I'll be in France. I love you everyone! and Kelly thanks for all the
work you do. Good luck with the study. Dad keep walking. Mom go scratch
the dogs ears from me will ya? Chandler, you just worry about staying
out of trouble!
Grateful for the occasion to be out here doing the
Lord's work! I love this church so much, and I'm excited to tell that to
the people of France.
Forever Love,
Elder Benjamin Chase Gruber
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