I hope you all had an awesome Easter this weekend! It was truly the best two days I've had here at the MTC. Easter weekend coincided with conference, to make things even better! We took breaks from classes on Saturday and Sunday to join together to be instructed by those called by God. It was so cool, and I would dare say it rivaled watching directly in the conference center in Salt Lake City! With all the missionaries united in purpose, the spirit was felt so strong! Doing things as a missionary--reading scriptures, listening to conference, and even praying--brings the spirit in stronger ways than I have experienced before. It's overwhelmingly amazing.
The rest of this week has been great! It always seems like the weeks alternate--It's either a struggle with the language or struggle with my calling. This week both were pretty challenging. But I know that God ALWAYS qualifies those He calls. ALWAYS. I've felt Him strengthen me and guide me as far as what to say and do in so many situations where I otherwise would have been utterly lost. It's crazy to think we have less than two weeks left before we depart for Korea!! Ahhh... where has the time gone!? This week we welcomed 5 new missionaries from Korea--two sisters and three elders. They will be traveling with us as we go! It was great fun orienting them these last couple days... and trying to do so all in Korean! Many laughs were shared. Koreans are such delightful people. Also, one of the sisters shared these "super spicy Korean noodles" with us. According to her, even Koreans have trouble finishing a whole bowl by themselves, due to the "very spiciness." I can't wait to leave the MTC cafeteria food behind and eat 한국음식 for the next 16 months!
Elder Holland gave an inspiring talk this conference, one of my favorites (as a missionary... all the talks were my favorite... seriously!). He talked of the sacrifice of the Savior and how without Christ's atonement, all mortals would remain in a fallen state, without a hope of living with God again. This ties in perfectly with a note I made while studying the Book of Mormon this week. So many times throughout the scriptures the word "remember" is repeated. Why is it repeated so many times? Because it is IMPORTANT!! The scriptures teach us to remember:
-Our Savior's sacrifice for us (as emphasized in Holland's talk)
-Keep the commandments and be obedient
-Follow the doctrine of Christ
-The Plan of Happiness
I know that as we remember these things, specifically our purpose for being here on this earth, all things in our lives will fall into place. It's much like journeying to a tree in the distance. So long as we maintain that tree in our sights, then our paths will be clear. It's when we focus solely on the path of our feet that we begin to meander and lose our way. As Helaman 5:12 says, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." I've noticed the times in my life where I've actively tried to remember Christ's sacrifice, I've always felt happier and more focused. Especially as a missionary!
Anywho... I love you all so much!! Enjoy the lovely spring weather! And always REMEMBER!
Hatch 자매
P.S. The computer hasn't been liking my camera's SD card lately... I will try to post pictures next week! Otherwise it'll have to wait til I get to Korea!
The rest of this week has been great! It always seems like the weeks alternate--It's either a struggle with the language or struggle with my calling. This week both were pretty challenging. But I know that God ALWAYS qualifies those He calls. ALWAYS. I've felt Him strengthen me and guide me as far as what to say and do in so many situations where I otherwise would have been utterly lost. It's crazy to think we have less than two weeks left before we depart for Korea!! Ahhh... where has the time gone!? This week we welcomed 5 new missionaries from Korea--two sisters and three elders. They will be traveling with us as we go! It was great fun orienting them these last couple days... and trying to do so all in Korean! Many laughs were shared. Koreans are such delightful people. Also, one of the sisters shared these "super spicy Korean noodles" with us. According to her, even Koreans have trouble finishing a whole bowl by themselves, due to the "very spiciness." I can't wait to leave the MTC cafeteria food behind and eat 한국음식 for the next 16 months!
Elder Holland gave an inspiring talk this conference, one of my favorites (as a missionary... all the talks were my favorite... seriously!). He talked of the sacrifice of the Savior and how without Christ's atonement, all mortals would remain in a fallen state, without a hope of living with God again. This ties in perfectly with a note I made while studying the Book of Mormon this week. So many times throughout the scriptures the word "remember" is repeated. Why is it repeated so many times? Because it is IMPORTANT!! The scriptures teach us to remember:
-Our Savior's sacrifice for us (as emphasized in Holland's talk)
-Keep the commandments and be obedient
-Follow the doctrine of Christ
-The Plan of Happiness
I know that as we remember these things, specifically our purpose for being here on this earth, all things in our lives will fall into place. It's much like journeying to a tree in the distance. So long as we maintain that tree in our sights, then our paths will be clear. It's when we focus solely on the path of our feet that we begin to meander and lose our way. As Helaman 5:12 says, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." I've noticed the times in my life where I've actively tried to remember Christ's sacrifice, I've always felt happier and more focused. Especially as a missionary!
Anywho... I love you all so much!! Enjoy the lovely spring weather! And always REMEMBER!
Hatch 자매
P.S. The computer hasn't been liking my camera's SD card lately... I will try to post pictures next week! Otherwise it'll have to wait til I get to Korea!