Hola,
Muchas gracias por tantas cartas. Les amo.
Mom, I believe the letter from ATM says that my bike and belongings are supposed to be at the mission home two weeks prior to my arrival. I have everything I need here, including a hoodie, so you can send everything as soon as you are able. That would be great. Jessi I don't have any advice for the sleepover or Spooktacular. Just have fun by helping others have fun. That's pretty much the way life works. True happiness is found in laboring for the happiness of others. Mom and Jessi, I'm sending you each a letter with more of a reply.
I finished el Libro de Mormon again last Sunday. It's true. And I have a the solution for all of those contestations in Ether: Family Prayer, Family Scripture Study, and Family Home Evening. I hope that's going well back home.
In all my years of living in San Mateo, I never realized that the name of my neighborhood was Spanish for "Saint Matthew."
Just by way of information, Darci Tenney's (I know her last name is different now) younger brother is here in the MTC as well. And I ran into Camille Jacobsen a couple of weeks ago in the cafeteria and she restocked the cheesecake for me since they had run out. Catherine Jones works in the cafeteria, too. When I first saw her I was speaking Spanish until she said, "I don't know what you're saying." I hadn't even thought about what language I was speaking, which is good, because I want the change to happen. Speaking of which, this week has not been total Spanish. Majority is, but several times a day I throw out an English phrase(s). Sometimes it's really frustrating. Especially when I'm trying to get a point across to my companion and he's trying to sort through my poor grammar. But I can feel God helping me as I learn. And struggling is part of the process.
Dad, Ben, Tyler, David, Dennis, Rachel - This week I've been thinking about goals. I am very interested to hear of any goals you had while on your mission. Please just throw me an idea or two and I'll adapt it if I feel it would be appropriate for me. And I'm referring to any kind of goal. Memorizing, acts of service, specific spiritual goals, language goals. The invitation also goes for anyone who has a sweet idea.
I heard this phrase on Sunday referring to a need for prophets, specifically Joseph Smith: God sent Moses, not the Ten Commandments, to lead the children of Israel.
I read Ether 3:25 this past week, where the brother of Jared is shown every person to ever live on earth, and thought, "Why?" I understand why the brother of Jared qualified to see it, but I thought it interesting that God would show him everybody. I decided that one of the reasons is because if God wants to show the brother of Jared all of His creations, and show him His finest work, we are it. What greater thing to reveal than the individual, and every one of them that he has created. We are God's greatest creation and have divine, limitless potential. Imagine Heavenly Father showing the brother of Jared all of His children and then saying, "Pretty good, eh?" Father's plan is for us.
This morning I read 1 Nephi 5:4-6 and saw something new. Lehi used testimony to comfort his wife when she was doubting God, and when she was scared for her children. We all have friends that need to be comforted. We should use testimony and what we know about the love of our Heavenly Father to comfort our brothers and sisters. Turn their thoughts to the mercy of Christ.
Elder Nelson came on Tuesday night and spoke about the Book of Mormon. I could sense the power he has in his character. There's nothing more to say really.
I love you all, dearly. Thank you for your prayers and support. I makes a world of difference.
Elder Joshua Gathro
P.S. - We get our travel plans today! They just tell us what time during the day we fly out, but still exciting. And yes, I leave October 4th.
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