So basically you are the entirety of the emails that I
figured/know. Fridays are my P-day. And I will be writing generally sometime
between 1-4 I think. So I am just kind of going to ramble for a while because I
don't really know what else to do. Been in the MTC for a few days now, and to
sum up my thoughts on day 1...AAAHHHHHHHHHH! That's a pretty accurate
description of what my mind was doing at the time. Everything is so fast and
scheduled here, but honestly it is hard and the days are long. But I really do
love it here. I'm in the cutest tripanionship there has ever been. Me and my
two gingers, Elder Morley and Elder Carrington both from Utah. The other two
elders are Elder Young from Hawaii and Elder Aliska from Hawaii. They are
generally pretty quite, but we had a nice bro talk today and for me it was
like, these dudes are the bomb. Honestly have been through so much. We also
have 3 sister missionaries, but they kind of do their own thing. So yeah my
district is tight. I am senior companion, which in the MTC basically means you
have to follow the rules just like everyone else. I like to think of it like HS
student council, you have a title, but no real authority. I have already had
some pretty spiritual experiences and have already seen the Spirit work in my
life in so many ways, seeing the gospel and scriptures and phrases I have seen
a million times take on entirely knew meaning.
It's also been really cool, because in the first few days I
have seen SO MANY people I know. Elder Critchfield, Elder Manwaring, Elder
Weenig, Elder Stone, Sister Frederickson, Chris that lives in the Belmont with
Josh Hunter, a few people from my YSA ward at BYU, Elder Whitlock, Elder
Jensen, Elder Gardner, and Elder Perkins to name a few.
Seeing Elder Gardner and Jensen was like the best day ever!
I love those guys so much, I made my companions and I come eat lunch with them
and Elder Perkins (Love that guy too), and we literally just talked and it's
times like those that you realize you are a missionary and you can only talk to
them for like 20 minutes before you have to go. We took a picture mom, on I
think owens camera so email him if you want that picture. I also kind of ate
lunch with Elder Whitlock, and he is killing it. Idk what it is, but you can
just tell by talking to and looking at him that he is ready to head out into
the field. He got mad at me for reasons connected to his good ol' GF rbing. But
it was in good fun. Elder Perkins led me around the first day and it was so
good to see that guy. He is so freaking nice to me and honestly the man. And
mom I want that picture you took of us, and if you could send that picture to
my friend Elena that would be great.
My zone is freaking crazy and fun because it's the islander
one with Kiribati, Marshall Islands, and Samoa. So lights out isn't even a
thing I feel like. It's pushups, rap battles, singing and just having a good
time. Gym time is my literal salvation because as much as I love my gingers,
they are the most obedient missionaries of all time and stay within about 15
feet of me at all times. So gym time I get to talk to someone super chill and
who I knew before in Elder Weenig, or Sweenig as he is more commonly called. We
just run around the track and talk about life. He is such a chill dude and I
literally love my running time with him so much. We can see BYU from there so
that and going to the temple are the weirdest things of all time, like I just
feel weird thinking of life outside the MTC.
The language 2 days in is pretty tough, I feel like I can't
make noises like that with my mouth but I know that if I do my best and take
the yoke of Christ upon me all will be good. Ngai Arau Elder Buhler, is my name
is elder Buhler, and the "NG" is said like the "NG" at the
end of song and then ai. So it's pretty weird. Our teachers are really nice and
are coaxing us through the process. One of the teachers Elder Birrell, I think
is how you spell it. Is deaf in one of his ears from a virus he contracted
while he was there....But it doesn't shake my convictions and testimony one
bit. The next two years are going to be freaking hard. I know that because the
first few days have already been hard, but super rewarding. I meant to bring my
preach my gospel, which is where I keep most of my notes to the lab, but I
forgot it.
Some of the rules here are wack. I know they are for our
good, but they keep getting mad at me for saying bros, dudes, my dawgs,
friends, and guys.
"You are Elders" the mission Presidents wife
said.
"Do you know where those you call guys are? They are at
home dating your Girlfriends." I thought that was pretty funny.
For me the hardest thing is trying to balance studying hard
and knowing when to just chill. I feel like everyone told me if you work your
hardest then you are a successful missionary. But all my companions ever want
to do, which is good is personal study, language study, and plan. I already
feel like in the first two days I am driving myself into the ground. Sleeping
at night is weird, because I am exhausted, but can never sleep. So sometimes I
am just exhausted, but I don't want God to think I am being a wuss so I just
keep going and if I ever shut my eyes, it's because I'm meditating.
A thought that I was thinking about when reading the quotes
at the back of Preach my Gospel chapter 1 is something about how we have the
thing they (investigators need). So I don't know I think the two things I have
said the most here is "I love you Elder Morley" and "We are here
to learn to preach the thing that everybody needs, they just don't know it
yet." Which is why I think I am here on a mission. Literally there are people
out there whose eternal salvation hangs in the balance. So I think that's why I
try to keep working hard and sometimes have to "meditate" to power
through. I feel like I have already begun to say things that I know that as
incredibly talented, intelligent, and good looking as I am ;) just playin
momma, are not of my own design. The Lord is speaking through me and by the
spirit I am making manifest of them.
I am bummed that Sunday is like the busiest day and
unfortunately naps are nonexistent. The food isn't bad and I have been eating a
decent amount. Lots of bananas, and I figured that I would be losing tons of
weight anyway and I use gym time pretty effectively, and I don't feel fatter,
but I guess that may change. Still have yet to cry, which probably isn't a good
thing. I feel like one day I am just going to lose it over a some bad tasting
powerade and everyone is going to be like what the freak is going on with this
kid.
I only have a few minutes left and I apologize for the long
email, I literally have been typing every thought I have had. The weird thing
is that there is so much more I wish to say. There is a scripture that says it
better than I do. Maybe I'll find it and send it to you.
All the Elders I mentioned are freaking killin it, you can
definitely see the change in the Elders about to leave. Whitlock, Jensen,
Gardner, Manwaring, and Perkins. They have the light of Christ about them and
they are going to rock it in the field. Not sure who I am going to eat lunch
with when they are gone. When I sit alone with my companions, it's basically
silent and I feel so uncomfortable that I constantly drink my powerade so I can
step away for a moment. But truly I have a great district, especially my
companions they are so freaking spiritual and they want to work hard, and I
hope to keep up with them spiritually.
I miss you all, you have all prepared me for these next two
years. I'm glad most of us in this thread are doing the work and being where we
need to be. The Computer I am at doesn't have an SD card adapter so I guess I
won't be sending any pictures. But I haven't taken that many anyway and they
are kind of blurry.
Email me!
This is the place I need to be and I really do love it here
even though it's hard.
With Christ ye shall never fail
Elder Jacob Buhler
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