ONE WEEK LEFT!!!

Believe it or not, the time has finally come for me to leave the MTC! Well, not quite, I still have one more week, but still! I'm pretty dang stoked for this. I'm so excited to get to Boston, for new experiences, and for this chance to serve the Lord and help bless our Heavenly Father's children!

 

We got our travel plans this last week! I leave the morning of Feb. 22nd - my shuttle from the MTC leaves at 6:30 AM, and my flight leaves from SLC at 9:45 AM. From there I have a straight shot flight to Boston, and I'll land there at around 4:25 PM their time.

 

I've loved being here at the MTC, and I've learned so much, but I'm very much so ready to leave! My teaching skills aren't perfect, and my language abilities aren't perfect, but I feel SO ready to leave. I'm so excited! I feel kind of bad saying this, but I'm also really looking forward to getting a new companion. Elder Nicholson and I still have rough patches, and though I wish him success as he departs, I'm glad he's not going to the same mission as me. I've about had it with him - it's been a rough 11 weeks here. The Lord has really been teaching me charity and patience, though, and I have grown so much. Even from the start of the MTC with him until now, we've grown as a companionship...but I'm ready for a new companion. I clearly still have a long way to go in learning Christ-like love.

 

Last Tuesday, Bishop Richard C. Edgely of the presiding bishopric of the Church came and spoke to us for our devotional! He spoke about conversion, how we help our investigators through their conversion process, and how we help ourselves through our own. He said that he hopes that the day we leave our missions will be the hardest day of our lives. He also spoke about how we as missionaries have truth and power, and that we "don't need to be intimidated by ANYONE." He also mentioned the faith of the senior missionaries and how much they are appreciated in this work - I've heard many things since being here have made me want to serve another mission later in my life, and this talk was one of them. It was a really great meeting.

 

On Sunday, it snowed almost ALL day - it was so beautiful! After the Sunday evening fireside, we got to watch the recording of Elder David A. Bednar's talk that he gave to us here on Christmas. It was just as incredible the second time hearing it! I will never forget that talk - it has definitely made an impact my life.

 

Last Wednesday, we got to be host missionaries! Basically, what happens is the family drives up to the curb at the front of the MTC, drop off their missionary, says goodbye, and they're off! We take the missionaries to get their name badges, ID card, room key, etc, take them to their rooms, take them to get their teaching and language study materials, and then to their classroom where we hand them off to their teacher. It was such a blast, I really really enjoyed it. We get to do it again tomorrow! I'm pretty excited to be helping out again.

 

Think about it - I am only sending out ONE MORE EMAIL from the MTC. I'm so thrilled to be heading out to the field to really begin my service to the Lord. I'm thankful for all of His many blessings (especially in learning this language!) and I'm excited to be leaving in just one week!

 

Much love to you all!

Elder DeLong