October 29th, 2015: I am surviving the MTC!

I am surviving the MTC!

I can see why people say that a mission is one of the most difficult

thing that you will do in your life. After only 2 weeks in the MTC,

You begin to notice some psychological effects on yourself and others.

Homesickness seems to be the new plague. People lay awake at night

dreaming of their lives back home. Some miss family. Others miss

Significant others. We all miss something. It doesn't help that the

mission life is tasking. You are deprived both mentally and

physically. I sit in class and struggle to keep my eyes open as words

that I don't know fly over my head. The language seems to jumble

together more and more the later in the day it is. On top of that, you

have to prepare lessons for investigators in a language that you can

barely speak. It is difficult.

BUT, for every struggle, trial, tribulation and hardship that you go

through, you receive countless blessings for your efforts. I have seen

it first hand. "Only in the darkness can you see the stars." - Martin

Luther King Jr.. Blessings start appearing when life gets difficult.

As long as you keep trying. Whoever wrote the famous line that says,

"There ain't no rest for the wicked." Had it all wrong. He should have

said, "There ain't no rest for the missionaries." But I love it. Every

second of it.

We had the opportunity to listen to an apostle on Tuesday, which was

absolutely amazing. Neil L. Anderson came and spoke to us on a host of

different topics. The spirit was phenomenal. I attached some notes from

the talk:

Teaching is both difficult and frustrating. Our teachers tell us to

speak from the heart, but my heart doesn't know very many Japanese

words... Our lessons are shared in fragmented Japanese, and yet the

investigators seem to understand the meaning behind our words! Only

the spirit can allow that to happen. The gift of tongues is real.

Bearing your testimony in another language is an amazing experience.

God's gospel is not bound by language, but rather received through

feelings. I love Japanese so much already, and I can't wait to learn

more.

I'd like to end with the scripture that started it all. James 1: 5-6 says,

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all

men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is

like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Find out for yourself. If you are struggling with anything, find out

for yourself. It took me ages to, but I am. Don't rely on anyone

else's beliefs but your own. You can do It!

I love you guys and am so grateful for all of you. Thanks for helping

me get to where I am now.

Also, I have an iPad now, so I can treat emails like letters. I can

read them whenever I get them! So feel free to send emails all

throughout the week!

I will send out some pictures today as well! :)

Love y'all!

あいしています! <3

Passey ちょうろう