email 10/19/09
So things continue to go well in New Haven. I've got to say honestly that this week was way better than last week. I guess the first week in the field is always kind of crazy for every missionary, but by the second week I was beginning to recognize where I was and what I was doing. The area that I cover is SO big--New Haven, Fair Haven, East Haven, Hamden--it will take me some time before I begin to understand how to find my way from point A to point B. They're not on the grid system here, and there are no mountains to tell me where East is. So I am naturally a little lost and shaken, but I'm gradually getting my bearings. I didn't even learn my address until just this week.
I gave my first blessing in Spanish yesterday-you'd be so proud of me. I felt just as nervous as when I gave my first blessing in English! We blessed a sick baby of this couple, the wife is a member and the husband isn't. It was a tender moment, and the spirit was really powerful. I was overwhelmed just that I was able to speak the Spanish necessary for such a task and nonetheless that the spirit was powerful. I think that's what the Gift of Tongues really is. It's not necessarily speaking the language fluently; it's the spirit influencing the language barrier and speaking to the heart. I felt that, and it felt great.
I continue to learn and grow in knowledge and strength. I LOVE having 3 hours every morning to study! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! My companion and I always have really great companionship studies, and I learn so much by sharing my thoughts and the things I learned with him. When you're enlightened by something in the scriptures or reading a talk you NEED TO WRITE IT DOWN and, if appropriate, SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE! I'm amazed at how much more I receive and learn when I'm writing down the thoughts that come to my mind and heart and sharing them with my companion. Richard G. Scott gave a talk about it in General Conference 2 weeks ago--GO LOOK IT UP!
Church is very interesting here. We don't have a Spanish branch, and so our members have to wear headsets to receive translation. The other classes are taught in Spanish for the Spanish members, but it divides the ward up. I don't know how to get the white/English members of the ward to fellowship the Latino/Spanish members of the ward. As a consequence, they remain divided, and it's hard to get my new investigators/members to come to activities. We saw a lot of success yesterday at church though. We had a whole family come together. The Mom was baptized 2 months ago, and she is a superstar! She brought her husband, who is really cool and warming up to us, and her friend and her new born baby. Her baby is the cutest baby I have ever seen! She is ALWAYS smiling! Anyway, I was stoked to see 4 of my investigators at church, and depressed about the others who didn't or couldn't come. *Sigh*
I love being a missionary, and I'm glad to hear that life is awesome in Utah. Keep praying for me--your prayers are felt by me and other missionaries and answered by the Lord. I love you all!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
New Haven, Connecticut
email 10/13/09
Greetings from New England! It is so incredibly pretty here--I can't even begin to describe. Even in the city and downtown there are more huge, beautiful trees than in all of Utah. So many trees... it makes me so happy. I'm serving in New Haven, which is on the southern coast of Connecticut. We are very near the coast, and so most days I can feel and smell the water and look out into the bay.
I live downtown, in the ghetto--it's totally awesome. I almost feel like I'm in a foreign country because missionaries are the only white people here, and everyone is speaking different languages. It is such a cultural melting pot here. I am beginning to learn to differentiate between the MANY different styles of Spanish that are spoken here--by Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Uruguayans, Mexicans, etc... All of them speak Spanish very differently. It's rather frustrating for me, because I can't hardly understand anything they're saying to me anyway even when I run into someone who speaks very clear Spanish. I am going to learn this language though.
My airplane ride here was fun--I was all by myself. I had no companion, no guide--just me. It was easy in SLC airport because all of the employees would see me and ask, "Hey Elder! Where are you headed?..." In Cincinnati, I was totally lost. I ended up running into a branch president at the MTC who happened to be there on business the same time I was there--that was divine intervention. He helped me find my terminal. My mission president is a wonderful man, and I spent that first day at the mission home getting to know him and his wife, and geting acquainted with the area.
My companion, Elder Taylor, is a great missionary, and I have a great feeling about him. I can only imagine how hard it must be for him to be training me in Spanish and missionary work while being a new district leader at the same time--he's doing a great job.
Mondays are my preparation days, so from now on you better have emails ready by Monday. My first P-Day was fantastic! We drove to "Gillete Castle" which is the home of William Gillete--the man who played Sherlock Holmes and ended up writing the plays and novels for the character. You can probably look it up online. I took some really great pictures so you can all see--I thought it was pretty awesome.
Well, Connecticut is a beautiful place, and I'm so happy to be here. I have bright faith and a burning testimony, and I've already taught some good lessons and had some powerful experiences. As soon as I know more about what I'm doing and where I'm going and who my investigators are I'll let you know. Just know that I'm happy, strong, and in love with missionary work.
I love you all so much!
Greetings from New England! It is so incredibly pretty here--I can't even begin to describe. Even in the city and downtown there are more huge, beautiful trees than in all of Utah. So many trees... it makes me so happy. I'm serving in New Haven, which is on the southern coast of Connecticut. We are very near the coast, and so most days I can feel and smell the water and look out into the bay.
I live downtown, in the ghetto--it's totally awesome. I almost feel like I'm in a foreign country because missionaries are the only white people here, and everyone is speaking different languages. It is such a cultural melting pot here. I am beginning to learn to differentiate between the MANY different styles of Spanish that are spoken here--by Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Uruguayans, Mexicans, etc... All of them speak Spanish very differently. It's rather frustrating for me, because I can't hardly understand anything they're saying to me anyway even when I run into someone who speaks very clear Spanish. I am going to learn this language though.
My airplane ride here was fun--I was all by myself. I had no companion, no guide--just me. It was easy in SLC airport because all of the employees would see me and ask, "Hey Elder! Where are you headed?..." In Cincinnati, I was totally lost. I ended up running into a branch president at the MTC who happened to be there on business the same time I was there--that was divine intervention. He helped me find my terminal. My mission president is a wonderful man, and I spent that first day at the mission home getting to know him and his wife, and geting acquainted with the area.
My companion, Elder Taylor, is a great missionary, and I have a great feeling about him. I can only imagine how hard it must be for him to be training me in Spanish and missionary work while being a new district leader at the same time--he's doing a great job.
Mondays are my preparation days, so from now on you better have emails ready by Monday. My first P-Day was fantastic! We drove to "Gillete Castle" which is the home of William Gillete--the man who played Sherlock Holmes and ended up writing the plays and novels for the character. You can probably look it up online. I took some really great pictures so you can all see--I thought it was pretty awesome.
Well, Connecticut is a beautiful place, and I'm so happy to be here. I have bright faith and a burning testimony, and I've already taught some good lessons and had some powerful experiences. As soon as I know more about what I'm doing and where I'm going and who my investigators are I'll let you know. Just know that I'm happy, strong, and in love with missionary work.
I love you all so much!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Hello Hartford!
email dated 10/2/09
I leave for Hartford Monday morning! I'm so glad to get out into the field and get to work. I kind of feel like the Elder in 'The Best Two Years' when he gets out into the field. My trainer will either love me or think I'm crazy. "I'm ready to GO!" I have so much enthusiasm right now, you have no idea. I'm totally eager to struggle and suffer with Spanish and communication for the next couple of months, and I can't wait to be ridiculed and scoffed at in the name of my Savior Jesus Christ. (Those are really things I'm looking forward to, no sarcasm.)
I read this talk recently called "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" by Gene R. Cook. If you haven't read it, go to LDS.org and read it RIGHT NOW! It inspired and completely changed my outlook about faith. I want to be exactly like the faithful Elder that Brother Cook talks about. I let you all know after I reach my 1,000th baptism-that'll be a good milestone.
But seriously, I have sure faith that If I apply myself, commit myself, and give the Lord all I have that I will be successful and I will be a tool in His hands to bring many of His children back to Him. Having faith is more important to me right now than ever. Without it, we can't succeed in our endeavors. We need faith not just in missionary work, but in our everyday lives. Faith and Hope."The Infinite Power of Hope" by Dieter F Uchtdorf is another amazing talk that you have to read RIGHT NOW!! I can't keep myself from tearing up sometimes. That talk is full of GOLD. One thing that I just want to leave with you as 'food for thought' is a quote from the talk: "The things we hope FOR deal with faith, the things we hope IN deal with charity." I've spent a lot of time thinking about just that one line in his talk, but I want to hear some of your insights about it. Ponder it, study it, pray about it, and think about the real relationship between the triangle of "Faith, Hope, and Charity". And then let me know what you feel. I promise that if you study this that you will find an increased knowledge and love for our Savior, and direction for your everyday life.
I feel so good about life right now. I'm so close to the mission field, I can practically taste it. By the time many of you read this, I will already be in Connecticut. Keep me in your prayers. I will most certainly need them, especially for these first couple weeks out in the field. Just remember that I have an unshakable testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour of mankind, and that this is His church with His authority and guided by His chosen prophet and apostles.
I love you all, and I pray for you every day. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You on His name to the end.
I leave for Hartford Monday morning! I'm so glad to get out into the field and get to work. I kind of feel like the Elder in 'The Best Two Years' when he gets out into the field. My trainer will either love me or think I'm crazy. "I'm ready to GO!" I have so much enthusiasm right now, you have no idea. I'm totally eager to struggle and suffer with Spanish and communication for the next couple of months, and I can't wait to be ridiculed and scoffed at in the name of my Savior Jesus Christ. (Those are really things I'm looking forward to, no sarcasm.)
I read this talk recently called "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" by Gene R. Cook. If you haven't read it, go to LDS.org and read it RIGHT NOW! It inspired and completely changed my outlook about faith. I want to be exactly like the faithful Elder that Brother Cook talks about. I let you all know after I reach my 1,000th baptism-that'll be a good milestone.
But seriously, I have sure faith that If I apply myself, commit myself, and give the Lord all I have that I will be successful and I will be a tool in His hands to bring many of His children back to Him. Having faith is more important to me right now than ever. Without it, we can't succeed in our endeavors. We need faith not just in missionary work, but in our everyday lives. Faith and Hope."The Infinite Power of Hope" by Dieter F Uchtdorf is another amazing talk that you have to read RIGHT NOW!! I can't keep myself from tearing up sometimes. That talk is full of GOLD. One thing that I just want to leave with you as 'food for thought' is a quote from the talk: "The things we hope FOR deal with faith, the things we hope IN deal with charity." I've spent a lot of time thinking about just that one line in his talk, but I want to hear some of your insights about it. Ponder it, study it, pray about it, and think about the real relationship between the triangle of "Faith, Hope, and Charity". And then let me know what you feel. I promise that if you study this that you will find an increased knowledge and love for our Savior, and direction for your everyday life.
I feel so good about life right now. I'm so close to the mission field, I can practically taste it. By the time many of you read this, I will already be in Connecticut. Keep me in your prayers. I will most certainly need them, especially for these first couple weeks out in the field. Just remember that I have an unshakable testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour of mankind, and that this is His church with His authority and guided by His chosen prophet and apostles.
I love you all, and I pray for you every day. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You on His name to the end.
I got my flight plans!!
email dated 9/25/09
WOO! So, I got my flight plans yesterday. I was pretty excited about it. It turns out that I'm the only Elder in the MTC who is going to Connecticut, and I'm also the only Elder leaving Monday, October 5th and 5 AM. Sooo, I'm my own travel leader and my own travel group. It'll be weird to not have a companion with me in the Airport. I'm not gonna lie, I'm really scared that I'm gonna screw it all up and get totally lost. Pray for me. So my flight leaves and 8AM on Oct. 5th, and I fly from SLC to Ohio. I only have a 40 minute overlay at the Ohio airport, which means that the second I get off my plane I have to bolt to get to my next flight-Don't they start boarding 30 minutes before take off? Anyway, if all goes well, which I hope is the case, I'll be in Hartford Connecticut by 4PM. I don't really have any time at the airport to call home, which really sucks, but that's the way the cookie crumbles I guess...entonces...
I love the MTC. It's so strange to observe the stark difference between Elders who have been here for 5 weeks and Elders who are just arriving. A 19 year old Elder who has been here for 4 weeks is usually more mature and smarter than the average 23 year old who newly arrives. Now that I'm among the oldest missionaries here I feel like the 'big-brother' figure. I'm a zone leader for my zone, and so I also got to greet the new district for our zone that came in this week. I spent a good deal of time with them, teaching them, and doing my best to make the feel welcome. The MTC really is an incredible place. I hate to hear when Elders whine a lot about their MTC experience and what a horrible place it is. Honestly, we are pampered here. Surely, I want to get out into the field more than anything! But I do love the MTC, and I will take a lot out of my duration here.
Spanish is coming. Of course I get frustrated sometimes when I want to say something in a lesson that's deep and profound and will change their life but I don't quite have the vocabulary to do it in Spanish so I work my way around it and deal with it... *sigh* But really, I have faith that I will be fluent in Spanish if I continue to work hard and do my part to be worthy of the 'Gift of Tongues'.
I have so many amazing experiences here every day! I wish I had the time to tell you all of it, but the very short time I have to write emails is running low, so I'm very constrained in my time.When I get to Connecticut, my new address until I know what apartment I'm in is:
Connecticut Hartford Mission
34 Jerome Ave Ste 319
Bloomfield, CT 06002
That address will be good until I can let you know where exactly my assignment is. I love you all so much! I know that this church is true, and I've already seen miracles, even here in the MTC, and throughout my life. The fact that I'm alive is a miracle, and my every day that I have to live, learn, grow, and feel. We owe so much to our Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered every bitterness in life, every sorrow and pain, and bled precious drops of pure blood for each and every one of you. Never forsake Him, for He will NEVER forsake you.
I love you all!
WOO! So, I got my flight plans yesterday. I was pretty excited about it. It turns out that I'm the only Elder in the MTC who is going to Connecticut, and I'm also the only Elder leaving Monday, October 5th and 5 AM. Sooo, I'm my own travel leader and my own travel group. It'll be weird to not have a companion with me in the Airport. I'm not gonna lie, I'm really scared that I'm gonna screw it all up and get totally lost. Pray for me. So my flight leaves and 8AM on Oct. 5th, and I fly from SLC to Ohio. I only have a 40 minute overlay at the Ohio airport, which means that the second I get off my plane I have to bolt to get to my next flight-Don't they start boarding 30 minutes before take off? Anyway, if all goes well, which I hope is the case, I'll be in Hartford Connecticut by 4PM. I don't really have any time at the airport to call home, which really sucks, but that's the way the cookie crumbles I guess...entonces...
I love the MTC. It's so strange to observe the stark difference between Elders who have been here for 5 weeks and Elders who are just arriving. A 19 year old Elder who has been here for 4 weeks is usually more mature and smarter than the average 23 year old who newly arrives. Now that I'm among the oldest missionaries here I feel like the 'big-brother' figure. I'm a zone leader for my zone, and so I also got to greet the new district for our zone that came in this week. I spent a good deal of time with them, teaching them, and doing my best to make the feel welcome. The MTC really is an incredible place. I hate to hear when Elders whine a lot about their MTC experience and what a horrible place it is. Honestly, we are pampered here. Surely, I want to get out into the field more than anything! But I do love the MTC, and I will take a lot out of my duration here.
Spanish is coming. Of course I get frustrated sometimes when I want to say something in a lesson that's deep and profound and will change their life but I don't quite have the vocabulary to do it in Spanish so I work my way around it and deal with it... *sigh* But really, I have faith that I will be fluent in Spanish if I continue to work hard and do my part to be worthy of the 'Gift of Tongues'.
I have so many amazing experiences here every day! I wish I had the time to tell you all of it, but the very short time I have to write emails is running low, so I'm very constrained in my time.When I get to Connecticut, my new address until I know what apartment I'm in is:
Connecticut Hartford Mission
34 Jerome Ave Ste 319
Bloomfield, CT 06002
That address will be good until I can let you know where exactly my assignment is. I love you all so much! I know that this church is true, and I've already seen miracles, even here in the MTC, and throughout my life. The fact that I'm alive is a miracle, and my every day that I have to live, learn, grow, and feel. We owe so much to our Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered every bitterness in life, every sorrow and pain, and bled precious drops of pure blood for each and every one of you. Never forsake Him, for He will NEVER forsake you.
I love you all!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
I love P-Day!
email dated 9/18/09
I love Preparation day. I really do. I love it a lot because I get to start the day off by going to the Provo Temple at 6:30 AM, but I also get to not sit in my classroom where I spend 10 hours a day, every day. I'll be honest, I'm kind of bored of looking at the walls in my classroom, but I'm certainly not bored of the MTC. I love missionary work SO MUCH! Ok, story time.
I was in the TRC-which is the place in the MTC where the Church receives incoming phone calls and chats from mormon.org, and I was waiting for a chat. Everyone else in my district was chatting with people online and answering questions and teaching, and I just sat there because there didn't seem to be any left. So I said a prayer real fast in which I pretty much said ,"Heavenly Father, I love this work, and I love the gospel. I've studied hard, and I'm ready and willing to help and teach. Please, send me someone who is downhearted-someone who needs the answers the gospel has. Trust me with one of your prepared ones...". The second I said 'Amen' to that prayer, my phone rang. His name was Terrance from Alabama, and if anyone had been prepared to hear the gospel, it was Terrance. He was practically in tears when we began talking, and he told me of how he and his wife of 3 years had recently gotten in an argument, and she moved out. Last week he got divorce papers in the mail, and he's been doing everything he can to mend his relationship. We talked about everything, and I got to know him really well. I would ask sincere questions, and I would console him, and then I would listen. I kept listening, and I kept talking, and I kept listening, until I felt moved to say something. I bore witness that Jesus Christ is our savior, and that God would answer the many prayers that he has offered in the long hours of the night. He had never even mentioned prayer in the conversation, but he began to cry as I bore testimony and spoke about prayer. It had been given me in the very moment what I needed to say-what Terrance needed to hear. We spoke for about 40 minutes, in which we spoke about "why is this life so difficult? Why do bad things happen to good people?", and in which I spoke a lot and testified about the Savior Jesus Christ. God answers prayers. I know He does.
This life is hard because it was MEANT to be hard. It was NEVER meant to be easy. It's hard because salvation is not a cheap experience. Especially as disciples of Jesus Christ, we should expect to suffer a great deal. Phil. 1:29 "It is given you in the behalf of Jesus Christ not only to believe on His name, but to suffer for His sake." Our own personal paths to salvation take us straight through Gethsemane, and we should expect to carry our own cross up the hill to our own personal Calvary. Jesus Christ suffered these things for ALL, so that if we would have faith on Him and His atonement, than we wouldn't have to. That doesn't mean that we aren't required to suffer- how incredibly selfish of us to whine and curse God for our hardships in this life when in all reality we couldn't even begin to shoulder our own burden- we can't pay our own price. Christ alone could, and Christ alone did. He shed precious drops of blood for each and every one of us. I am personally and eternally grateful for my Father in Heaven, and my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I love you all so much, and I want every happiness for you. I pray for constantly, as I hope I'm in your prayers.
Your Elder,
Luke Shepherd
I love Preparation day. I really do. I love it a lot because I get to start the day off by going to the Provo Temple at 6:30 AM, but I also get to not sit in my classroom where I spend 10 hours a day, every day. I'll be honest, I'm kind of bored of looking at the walls in my classroom, but I'm certainly not bored of the MTC. I love missionary work SO MUCH! Ok, story time.
I was in the TRC-which is the place in the MTC where the Church receives incoming phone calls and chats from mormon.org, and I was waiting for a chat. Everyone else in my district was chatting with people online and answering questions and teaching, and I just sat there because there didn't seem to be any left. So I said a prayer real fast in which I pretty much said ,"Heavenly Father, I love this work, and I love the gospel. I've studied hard, and I'm ready and willing to help and teach. Please, send me someone who is downhearted-someone who needs the answers the gospel has. Trust me with one of your prepared ones...". The second I said 'Amen' to that prayer, my phone rang. His name was Terrance from Alabama, and if anyone had been prepared to hear the gospel, it was Terrance. He was practically in tears when we began talking, and he told me of how he and his wife of 3 years had recently gotten in an argument, and she moved out. Last week he got divorce papers in the mail, and he's been doing everything he can to mend his relationship. We talked about everything, and I got to know him really well. I would ask sincere questions, and I would console him, and then I would listen. I kept listening, and I kept talking, and I kept listening, until I felt moved to say something. I bore witness that Jesus Christ is our savior, and that God would answer the many prayers that he has offered in the long hours of the night. He had never even mentioned prayer in the conversation, but he began to cry as I bore testimony and spoke about prayer. It had been given me in the very moment what I needed to say-what Terrance needed to hear. We spoke for about 40 minutes, in which we spoke about "why is this life so difficult? Why do bad things happen to good people?", and in which I spoke a lot and testified about the Savior Jesus Christ. God answers prayers. I know He does.
This life is hard because it was MEANT to be hard. It was NEVER meant to be easy. It's hard because salvation is not a cheap experience. Especially as disciples of Jesus Christ, we should expect to suffer a great deal. Phil. 1:29 "It is given you in the behalf of Jesus Christ not only to believe on His name, but to suffer for His sake." Our own personal paths to salvation take us straight through Gethsemane, and we should expect to carry our own cross up the hill to our own personal Calvary. Jesus Christ suffered these things for ALL, so that if we would have faith on Him and His atonement, than we wouldn't have to. That doesn't mean that we aren't required to suffer- how incredibly selfish of us to whine and curse God for our hardships in this life when in all reality we couldn't even begin to shoulder our own burden- we can't pay our own price. Christ alone could, and Christ alone did. He shed precious drops of blood for each and every one of us. I am personally and eternally grateful for my Father in Heaven, and my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I love you all so much, and I want every happiness for you. I pray for constantly, as I hope I'm in your prayers.
Your Elder,
Luke Shepherd
Saturday, September 12, 2009
I"M SO MAD THAT MY 25 MINUTE EMAIL GOT ERASED AND NOW I HAVE 2 MINUTES TO WRITE YOU!!!!!!
email dated 9/11/09
Dear family,I just wrote you a beautiful, 25 minute email that was erased because MY LDS MAIL crashed just as I was sending it. And so, as much as it sucks, I just have time to say I love you, my testimony is strong, life is good, and I want letters from all of you. Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 41:9-10, D&C 35:13, Alma 26:12, etc... Just food for thought . Oh, and Hebrews 10:35.Thank you, I love you, and I'm sorry and ANGRY about my email that got erased...
Your Elder,
Luke Shepherd
Dear family,I just wrote you a beautiful, 25 minute email that was erased because MY LDS MAIL crashed just as I was sending it. And so, as much as it sucks, I just have time to say I love you, my testimony is strong, life is good, and I want letters from all of you. Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 41:9-10, D&C 35:13, Alma 26:12, etc... Just food for thought . Oh, and Hebrews 10:35.Thank you, I love you, and I'm sorry and ANGRY about my email that got erased...
Your Elder,
Luke Shepherd
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Email dated 9/4/09
Well I'm loving life here at the MTC. Everyone in my district is starting to complain a lot about the food here. They're sick of the same old stuff every meal. I laugh inside and hope that when they get out into the field they will miss the food here. I'm OK with it. I have gained 5 pounds since I've been here though-it's not noticeable, but it shows on the scale. I guess I'll have to work up more of a sweat during my intense games of 4-square and volleyball.I'm in a 'threesome' companionship now. It's really weird, but I'm looking on the bright side of things. Teaching with 3 people is much different that the intricacies of just 2, but it also comes with it's own blessings and advantages-I'm learning to focus on the advantages.
An Elder in my district was quarantined this week with the flu, and the health clinic made all of us take these anti-viral pills to prevent the spread of it. He's OK-he was just stuck in a room all by himself for 4 days... I would have gone crazy.Spanish is coming slowly, but surely. Up until now we've been teaching the lessons in English, and doing everything else in Spanish-but this week we have to start doing everything in Spanish. I'll be OK, I continue to study really hard. I'm trying this new personal goal where I only allow myself 200 words in English a day. Every time I speak in English, I make a tally mark in my planner. Some elders choose one day a week as their 'Nothing but Spanish' day, but I think that's kind of stupid- what does that make the other days of the week? "Non-Spanish speaking" days?
I find myself wishing their were more hours in the day. I want to do so much and study so much, and their just isn't enough time to do it all. Setting goals is SO important, because I have to prioritize and lay out my time to accomplish what is most important. I don't waste much time here. Of course, I only get so much time to be in the MTC, and so I plan on taking advantage of the time I have here. 9 weeks seemed like forever at first, but now I can't believe I'm already in week 5. It'll be no time at all before I'm in Connecticut, converting and baptizing the whole state. I'm gonna baptize the whole state of Rhode Island too, all two inches of it. (In case you didn't catch on, that was a BAD example of goal setting)
But seriously, I'm doing just great. I'm really happy, I love what I'm doing, and I'm doing what I love. At times I get frustrated with Spanish, but that always makes me think about the experience of Enoch. You should all read about it in Moses 6. God calls Enoch to be a prophet, and Enoch doesn't feel capable or ready. In verse 31 he says " I am but a lad, and all the people hate me... I am slow of speech; wherefore, am I Thy servant?". I feel like that sometimes, but then I read verse 32-Here comes the promise: "Do as I have commanded you... and your mouth shall be filled... and you shall be given utterance.." (Moses 6:31-32)
I love the spirit here-it's constantly with me. I know that what I'm doing is the most important thing I could possibly be doing right now. I'm a missionary, called and qualified by God to do His work, preach His gospel, and help bring my brothers and sisters unto Christ. I'm working hard at understanding my purpose and teaching according to that purpose.
I love you all. You're always in my prayers, as I hope I'm in yours. Get well, be healthy, and May the Good Lord bless and keep you til we meet again.
Your Elder,
Luke Shepherd
An Elder in my district was quarantined this week with the flu, and the health clinic made all of us take these anti-viral pills to prevent the spread of it. He's OK-he was just stuck in a room all by himself for 4 days... I would have gone crazy.Spanish is coming slowly, but surely. Up until now we've been teaching the lessons in English, and doing everything else in Spanish-but this week we have to start doing everything in Spanish. I'll be OK, I continue to study really hard. I'm trying this new personal goal where I only allow myself 200 words in English a day. Every time I speak in English, I make a tally mark in my planner. Some elders choose one day a week as their 'Nothing but Spanish' day, but I think that's kind of stupid- what does that make the other days of the week? "Non-Spanish speaking" days?
I find myself wishing their were more hours in the day. I want to do so much and study so much, and their just isn't enough time to do it all. Setting goals is SO important, because I have to prioritize and lay out my time to accomplish what is most important. I don't waste much time here. Of course, I only get so much time to be in the MTC, and so I plan on taking advantage of the time I have here. 9 weeks seemed like forever at first, but now I can't believe I'm already in week 5. It'll be no time at all before I'm in Connecticut, converting and baptizing the whole state. I'm gonna baptize the whole state of Rhode Island too, all two inches of it. (In case you didn't catch on, that was a BAD example of goal setting)
But seriously, I'm doing just great. I'm really happy, I love what I'm doing, and I'm doing what I love. At times I get frustrated with Spanish, but that always makes me think about the experience of Enoch. You should all read about it in Moses 6. God calls Enoch to be a prophet, and Enoch doesn't feel capable or ready. In verse 31 he says " I am but a lad, and all the people hate me... I am slow of speech; wherefore, am I Thy servant?". I feel like that sometimes, but then I read verse 32-Here comes the promise: "Do as I have commanded you... and your mouth shall be filled... and you shall be given utterance.." (Moses 6:31-32)
I love the spirit here-it's constantly with me. I know that what I'm doing is the most important thing I could possibly be doing right now. I'm a missionary, called and qualified by God to do His work, preach His gospel, and help bring my brothers and sisters unto Christ. I'm working hard at understanding my purpose and teaching according to that purpose.
I love you all. You're always in my prayers, as I hope I'm in yours. Get well, be healthy, and May the Good Lord bless and keep you til we meet again.
Your Elder,
Luke Shepherd
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