My dear family and friends,
Can it be the end of week 2 already? Some people say that when you first enter the MTC you just need to make it to Sunday, while others say that the second week is the hardest. Honestly, it's all good and hard and every day is so different, I think the best advice for new missionaries coming in is to just enjoy every moment for what it's worth. With that being said, here were some moments from this week!
This Sunday was fast Sunday, so we had a ton of personal study time where we would normally have meals, in addition to the regular extra study time on Sundays. I used the time to read a lot in Our Heritage as well as a talk called "The Fourth Missionary," by Lawrence E. Corbridge. Both of these, as well as other seemingly little experiences throughout the week, culminated into a coherent reminder that I need to give my will to God. As missionaries, we sacrifice a lot; but the only thing we can truly sacrifice that wasn't God's to begin with is our willing hearts. During our missions we need to put all of our own dreams and desires on a shelf, to be picked up again in a couple of years, while we now work to do what He would have us do. In reading Our Heritage I have seen examples of faithful saints who did this. They felt the truth of the message, and in response they were obedient to the commands of the Lord in going and doing what they needed to do to keep the church alive. They faced persecution, doubts, internal disputes, illness, harsh living conditions, and more with complete faith in the restored gospel. As I was thinking about their example, an analogy came to me. We are like the parts of a building; as it is built and settles, different stresses are placed on different parts of the building. However, the strongest beams in the structure are the ones that do not groan. As we go about our lives following His will with a cheerful mind and a willing heart, we will be blessed for our faith and made stronger.
Another great moment was this Monday, when our district was an example class for new MTC teachers to observe. The brother who taught the example class was so great- he showed us how in teaching the restoration, we can teach every point as relating back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, this is vital, because this gospel contains those simple things which are necessary for our salvation. Faith, repentance, baptisms, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end are the most important things we will teach because every point in the church relates back to them. I don't know if I'm explaining this adequately, but it was just a reminder to be of how wonderful those things are and how much our lives are blessed by living that gospel.
So, per the request of my mother I will give a quick synopsis of what my days are like. Most days we get up, have breakfast, and go to the gym, where we run, use workout machines, play volleyball, that sort of thing. Two morning in the week we have service as well, where we help clean buildings around campus. After getting cleaned up we have 3 hours of personal, companionship, and language study, followed by lunch. After lunch we have class where we talk about how to teach and how to be a good missionary and learn Dutch. After that is dinner, then usually teaching "investigators," who are actually our teachers. On Sunday and Tuesday evenings there's a devotional, which is always awesome. On Sunday and Wednesday (p-day) afternoons we get to go up to the temple (but if you're in Provo don't try to see me there, or I'll have to duck into a bush; we're not really supposed to meet up with citizens). Soon we'll start doing TRC, which is basically practicing teaching, sharing spiritual thoughts, and just talking with Dutch speakers. Should be fun!
Well I'm out of time for today, but know that I love you all and appreciate every letter! The church is true!
Can it be the end of week 2 already? Some people say that when you first enter the MTC you just need to make it to Sunday, while others say that the second week is the hardest. Honestly, it's all good and hard and every day is so different, I think the best advice for new missionaries coming in is to just enjoy every moment for what it's worth. With that being said, here were some moments from this week!
This Sunday was fast Sunday, so we had a ton of personal study time where we would normally have meals, in addition to the regular extra study time on Sundays. I used the time to read a lot in Our Heritage as well as a talk called "The Fourth Missionary," by Lawrence E. Corbridge. Both of these, as well as other seemingly little experiences throughout the week, culminated into a coherent reminder that I need to give my will to God. As missionaries, we sacrifice a lot; but the only thing we can truly sacrifice that wasn't God's to begin with is our willing hearts. During our missions we need to put all of our own dreams and desires on a shelf, to be picked up again in a couple of years, while we now work to do what He would have us do. In reading Our Heritage I have seen examples of faithful saints who did this. They felt the truth of the message, and in response they were obedient to the commands of the Lord in going and doing what they needed to do to keep the church alive. They faced persecution, doubts, internal disputes, illness, harsh living conditions, and more with complete faith in the restored gospel. As I was thinking about their example, an analogy came to me. We are like the parts of a building; as it is built and settles, different stresses are placed on different parts of the building. However, the strongest beams in the structure are the ones that do not groan. As we go about our lives following His will with a cheerful mind and a willing heart, we will be blessed for our faith and made stronger.
Another great moment was this Monday, when our district was an example class for new MTC teachers to observe. The brother who taught the example class was so great- he showed us how in teaching the restoration, we can teach every point as relating back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, this is vital, because this gospel contains those simple things which are necessary for our salvation. Faith, repentance, baptisms, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end are the most important things we will teach because every point in the church relates back to them. I don't know if I'm explaining this adequately, but it was just a reminder to be of how wonderful those things are and how much our lives are blessed by living that gospel.
So, per the request of my mother I will give a quick synopsis of what my days are like. Most days we get up, have breakfast, and go to the gym, where we run, use workout machines, play volleyball, that sort of thing. Two morning in the week we have service as well, where we help clean buildings around campus. After getting cleaned up we have 3 hours of personal, companionship, and language study, followed by lunch. After lunch we have class where we talk about how to teach and how to be a good missionary and learn Dutch. After that is dinner, then usually teaching "investigators," who are actually our teachers. On Sunday and Tuesday evenings there's a devotional, which is always awesome. On Sunday and Wednesday (p-day) afternoons we get to go up to the temple (but if you're in Provo don't try to see me there, or I'll have to duck into a bush; we're not really supposed to meet up with citizens). Soon we'll start doing TRC, which is basically practicing teaching, sharing spiritual thoughts, and just talking with Dutch speakers. Should be fun!
Well I'm out of time for today, but know that I love you all and appreciate every letter! The church is true!
-Zuster Jensen
P.S. apparently there's this website called Dear Elder, where you can type a letter that the MTC will print out and I can pick up that night. So if anyone needs or wants to contact me other than Wednesdays while I'm in the MTC, try out that website! :)
P.S. apparently there's this website called Dear Elder, where you can type a letter that the MTC will print out and I can pick up that night. So if anyone needs or wants to contact me other than Wednesdays while I'm in the MTC, try out that website! :)
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