Mi amorosa familia!
Yo recibi el 'package' esta semana! Muchas gracias! Fue en sorpresa y una bendicion recibir tantos fotos. The letter thing seemed like it would have been fun to write. And Dad should stop writing about those kinds of things in his talks (I think that was con la ayuda de Dennis :) The other elders in my district wanted to see the photos and now everyone knows que yo tengo algunas hermanas bonitas!
Well I caught word from my branch president this week, who is the epitome of a man of God, that the MTC president doesn't want elders to be trading ties. I wasn't disappointed though. That's easy to obey. And I have some really good ties right now anyway.
Two quotes from Preach My Gospel: Commitment is an essential part of repentance; Goals reflect the desires of our hearts and our vision of what we can accomplish. When I read that I thought, "What does that say about me then if I don't have any goals?" And I didn't have many specific ones either. But now I do. The biggest one is with my companion. We decided last Saturday night that we wanted to speak solamente Espanol for the remainder of our time here in the MTC. So except for English hymns or brief occasions when we have to use it, we're used strictly Spanish. And it has been such a blessing. We want our minds to switch over into Spanish, and it's starting to happen. It is so cool! I feel so much more comfortable speaking Spanish now. I can understand all the teachers here when they slow down enough, and I can explain most anything I want to. It gets frustrating sometimes, especially if my companion and I are sharing ideas and one of us doesn't understand. But it has helped me take a breath and be more patient. I've been called to preach the Gospel in the Spanish language, and when I get to Arizona in the middle of a lesson, I won't be able to resort to English anyway. The Lord is blessing me with the gift of tongues.
Elder Ballard came this week. He has several good things to say, but I don't have much time and they're are other precious experiences I'd rather share. Monday my companion and I were to teach a sister in our district for about 5 minutes. We were given the prompt to invite the Spirit in discussing lesson 3, and then our teacher said "Go." We had no time to think and we started with a testimony and asked about three questions. When I asked her one that had come to my mind, she was silent, her eyes started to water, and she gave an answer from the heart, where she had felt the Spirit. It was absolutely wonderful. Afterward she said it was the perfect question, just what she needed. The Spirit can do that. The next night we had a similar practice with a Elder Schmidt, who will be serving in Tempe as well. After we concluded the 5 minutes with a sincere prayer, we asked "Como siente ahorita?" He said, "The best I have my whole life." How does that happen?! Through the Spirit.
I don't have any more time, but I found a comforting scripture last night. Enos 1:17. Hopefully that is heartwarming for any of you. Think about Enos 1:3-4 as well. Enos went out to hunt but ended up praying. Sometimes food for our bodies isn't as important as nourishment for the soul.
Best of luck in your missionary efforts!
Elder Joshua Gathro
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