Today is the much anticipated day - Elder Monk has finally made it 2 months in the MTC and is now in California!! He sounds so excited and ready from his letters and can not wait to serve.
It has been a couple of weeks since I last made a post, so some updates:
Every Tuesday at the MTC Elder Monk was able to attend a devotional. He has written about a few of the talks and has really felt the spirit at the many of the meetings from great speakers. A couple of weeks ago, though, he was able to hear Elder Oaks, an apostle, speak!! Dave and his companion waited ouside the auditorium for an hour and half!! "My companion and I got seats right next to the door that he walked in and out of. We picked up on clues throughout the day that someone important was coming so we got amazing seats." He said that's one good thing about being in the MTC for 8 weeks, picking up on the clues!! Elder Oaks spoke on how to receive the Holy Ghost and Dave said it was most definitely an amazing experience. "Its amazing the Spirit that an Apostle brings into a room. The second Elder Oaks walked in, the whole feeling of the room changed. Just with him entering the room, the spirit entered." What a wonderful opportunity that he will always remember.
Elder Monk has and will continue to have wonderful experiences and great success. He is ready to 'focus and get to work' in the San Fernando area. I will update all on his new address!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Lots of Reading
Elder Monk is learning so much in the MTC. "I have learned more in 7 weeks than I have my whole life." The classes and companion time are going great - but the time he enjoys the most is his personal study time. The mission has given him a great opportunity to read and learn more about Christ our Savior. While on his mission he has read the Book of Mormon a couple of times, Our Search for Happiness, Our Heritage, and more than half of Jesus the Christ (which he says "is by far the best book I have ever read.") He thinks he will be able to top 2000 pages of reading by the time he leaves the MTC. What a great opportunity to be able to study and get closer to the scriptures?! He is learning lots and loving his time at the MTC!!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Because Salvation is Not a Cheap Experience
These past few weeks have been a bit of a roller-coaster for our Elder Monk. He continues to try and be a good example and motivator for a struggling companion and unexpectedly his lovely grandmother passed from this life to the next.
In one of his recent letters he wrote me, he began listing all the trials he has had while being at the MTC. He said that they all just seemed to hit him at once and he was having a difficult time dealing with all of his struggles. For the first time he said he began to feel lonely - but "then out of no where a quote came to my head from Elder Ballard. When answering a question about why life had to be so difficult, he answered, 'because salvation is not a cheap experience.' " Life is not always easy. Life has many difficult times. But we know that all of our trials are for our good and our experience. David also stated in his letter, "how can we expect to stand next to Jesus Christ in the next life, the one who endured more pain and struggles than any other man, and not be expected to have endured trials? We can't. We would shrink because of guilt..." Christ endured more than any of us could ever imagine. He did this because he loved us and in order for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. How grateful we are for his sacrifice.
David also discussed another outlook on trials and struggles in his most recent letter. He gave me the scripture reference of Mark 6:45-51 and explained that though we have trials in our lives, we are not expected to endure them solely on our own. "Christ watches our struggles, and lets us struggle to an extent, but he will always rescue us int he end, if we have faith." How great is the gospel?!
David has definitely had his share of trials and struggles while serving at the MTC - but he has taken them as great experiences and opportunities to grow from. What a wonderful missionary he is?! We are all so proud of him.
He is VERY, VERY excited to begin serving in San Fernando - 2 1/2 weeks!! Time is flying...
In one of his recent letters he wrote me, he began listing all the trials he has had while being at the MTC. He said that they all just seemed to hit him at once and he was having a difficult time dealing with all of his struggles. For the first time he said he began to feel lonely - but "then out of no where a quote came to my head from Elder Ballard. When answering a question about why life had to be so difficult, he answered, 'because salvation is not a cheap experience.' " Life is not always easy. Life has many difficult times. But we know that all of our trials are for our good and our experience. David also stated in his letter, "how can we expect to stand next to Jesus Christ in the next life, the one who endured more pain and struggles than any other man, and not be expected to have endured trials? We can't. We would shrink because of guilt..." Christ endured more than any of us could ever imagine. He did this because he loved us and in order for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. How grateful we are for his sacrifice.
David also discussed another outlook on trials and struggles in his most recent letter. He gave me the scripture reference of Mark 6:45-51 and explained that though we have trials in our lives, we are not expected to endure them solely on our own. "Christ watches our struggles, and lets us struggle to an extent, but he will always rescue us int he end, if we have faith." How great is the gospel?!
David has definitely had his share of trials and struggles while serving at the MTC - but he has taken them as great experiences and opportunities to grow from. What a wonderful missionary he is?! We are all so proud of him.
He is VERY, VERY excited to begin serving in San Fernando - 2 1/2 weeks!! Time is flying...
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