I can't believe the time is already here. I leave tomorrow for Boise and I am so excited! I have loved the MTC, but I am ready to move on. This week has probably been the best yet. So much has happened and I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for the people he has put in my life.
First off, I just ran into Ashton Johnson while I was at the temple! She is doing good and told me a little bit about her mission. She gets her second mission call today and she gets to see her family. It was so good to see a familiar face.
At our Tuesday devotional last week Joy D. Jones (the General Primary President) came and spoke to us with her husband. Her husband spoke fist and told us his conversion story. It was through seminary that he found the gospel and came to love it. He told us, "don't judge anyone!" Both his parents smoked and little did he know, because he was used to it, that he also smelled like smoke. He was judged all through High School and everyone thought he smoked. One Sunday his Bishop sat down with him and told him that he was going to have to give up smoking. When he heard this he was so confused and told the Bishop that he did not smoke. The Bishop then realized what was going on and apologized and then took him to the Young Mens room where he told all of them that they all owed him an apology. He told us that everyone has potential and sometimes the people that are the most prepared are also the most unlikely. Another thing that he said was, "you know enough." Don't get caught up in the things that you don't know. That will all come in time. Instead focus on what you do know and testify of that to others. A simple sincere testimony has the greatest impact. I also loved what Joy D. Jones said. She told us about the millions of children that are in her care. She asked us to be her secret weapons. We are secret weapons by being an example to the children all around the world. She gave us an assignment to tell them your experiences and show them what it really means to be a missionary. Both of their talks were so powerful and inspiring. I want to be focused on loving people as the Savior did and being an example to those around me.
The rest of the week has been full of a lot of role playing and teaching in TRC's. Our last TRC was on Saturday. We were teaching a girl named Julia for the second time. She is not a member, but has two best friends that are. She has wanted to know more about the church her entire life but her parents were against it. Her and her two friends are all going to school at BYU now and since she is away from home she decided to learn more. Before I can get into this story I have to go back to last week. Last week I had been wondering what I can say and how I could bring comfort to someone who does not have a happy family situation. I have been so blessed and have never known an unhappy family situation where I was not supported and did not feel loved at all. I know that many people experience this and I wanted to know how I could bring comfort to their lives. While I was reading my scriptures, I came across a scripture in Alma 15:16. This verse is talking about Amulek and how he gave up everything for the word of God. It says that he was rejected by his friends, father, and kindred. Later at the end of the chapter (verse 18) it says that Alma "did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord." When I read this I thought about how hard that must have been for him, but he trusted in the Lord and was strengthened through his trials. I am sure that it was so hard for him to be rejected by people he loved, but it did not stop him from serving God and doing what he knew was right. It was about a week later that we met Julia and began teaching her. In our last lesson with her on Saturday, me and my companion both felt like we should share this scripture with her. We shared it with her and as we did she started to cry. She asked us why we had decided to share that specific scripture with her. We told her that we knew from what she had shared with us that she had her own trials similar to Amulek and how her family was not supportive of her. Then she told us that she had called and told her mom that she was meeting with the missionaries. Both her parents told her that they don't want anything to do with her if she continues to pursue the church. My heart almost broke when she said this. Even though she has so much going on in her life, she is one of the happiest people I have ever met. She loves Heavenly Father and knows that he loves her. We testified to her that despite these hard things in her life, God is watching over her and can bring her strength to get through them. The spirit was so strong in that room and I felt God's love for her. We invited her to continue to meet with the missionaries and she replied, "Of course!" I am sad that we are leaving and don't get to see how everything plays out for her but I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to teach her and bring joy into her life. I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much. I am so grateful for the family I have and how blessed I have been to have this gospel. Don't ever take it for granted!
This Sunday our district sang in Sacrament meeting. We sang the song "Peace in Christ" and I played the violin. It went really good and the spirit was so strong in the room. In the song it says, "When there's no peace on Earth, there is peace in Christ." This is so true! The world is a crazy place but no matter what we are going through we can find peace through Jesus Christ. I am so excited to share this message with the people of Idaho and to finally be out there!
Today all of the Elders in our district left and it was sad to see them go. Today definitely seems a lot quieter! I am so grateful for this time that I have had in the MTC. I have loved every second of it! My teachers are amazing and my district has become like my family here. I know that Heavenly Father has been watching over me and put me with exactly who I needed to be with.
I am so excited for all that is going on at home! Its crazy to think that we will have a new home, but surprisingly I feel the same way and know that it will be ok to move on. I got your letter about everything yesterday and Heavenly Father is definitely blessing us. Yay to Ko for wanting to ask someone to Prom and YES! Cameron should also go! I will definitely write to the Duttons and Heers, WOW! I would never expect that from anyone and I am so grateful that they thought of me. It has been snowing here this week and it has been fun to see what snow is really like! I do get to call tomorrow from the airport and I am excited to talk to you! I don't know what time it will be, but I am guessing it will be around 11-1ish. I will forward you my itinerary so you will know about as much as I do. I just have a phone card that has minutes on it and we are allowed more than one phone call. I am guessing dad will be at work so I can call mom and dad separately. Just let me know what you want me to do. Also we are allowed to email back and forth on our P-day (plus I have a phone where I can see your emails and respond!) so I can answer any of your questions until 6 tonight. I leave the MTC at 8 in the morning and our flight leaves at 1:54. There are 8 missionaries traveling to Boise together. I can't wait to talk to you tomorrow! I love all of you guys and miss you so much!
Love,
Sister Beutler
