This is the last time I will be writing while in the MTC! I leave for El Salvador on Monday! I am so excited to go and serve in El Salvador, I have been preparing for this my whole life, and I have spent the time I needed to in the MTC in order to have success in the mission field. I have learned so much, and really have finished strong as far as the MTC goes, which brings me alot of happiness. One of the people in my branch presidency said something really profound that I would like to mention. He said, "Jesus Christ is the power that enables us to become". This is so true because I know without my Savior Jesus Christ I could not become the man I am and the man I am becoming today. Without the Savior we get stuck in our day to day lives living and dwelling in a state of mediocrity. This is not what we are supposed to do, nor is it who we are supposed to be.
We are supposed to be continually relying on the Savior to become. Become more patient with others, become more able and willing to work hard, become better at learning, become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. One thing I have been thinking a lot about this past week is why I am here on a mission. Why I just spent the last 6 weeks of my life away from my family, friends, and comforts of home to be here. And when it really comes down to it, I am here to help people come unto Christ by receiving the Gospel. Sometimes I feel like I think of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as just something that as a member of the church I have. But it is so much more that this. I am not here simply to teach people cool stories and what we think as members of the church is true. I am here to help other people by teaching them about a real being, Jesus Christ, and helping them come unto Jesus Christ.
Anyways, about the language. Spanish for me is coming along pretty well. I feel confident that I have put in the work and that when i get out into the field the spanish will consistantly come as I am consistant in my efforst as a missionary. I had the oppurtunity to work with one of the native spanish speaking teachers this week, and I asked her if she would tell me a story in spanish to see if I could follow it and understand it. I was able to follow the story pretty well and tell her a lot of the details of what she had said in her story. So that was cool to see how my efforts here are turning into results.
Another thing I would like to talk about is staying positive, this has been something that has been very important to me so far as a missionary. Being positive is so important because if you are not positive you arent happy. One thought I had about this is that we need to be positive because God is positive, and we are trying to be like him. Plus their is never a situation where you should not do your best to be a positive person. From my experience, this has led me to be a more happy person.
My overall experience in the MTC has been a good one, I learned a ton and am glad I was able to have this experience. But honestly its hard, by no means is it easy. I have to pray a lot and rely on the Lord to make it though the days here.
I would like to end just by bearing my testimony about the Spirit. The spirit that I feel and have with me here as a missionary, I have never felt or had to this capacity ever before. I know that God takes care of his missionaries and their families. I know God will take care of my family and bless them because I am here serving a mission. I know that this church is true, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly an incredible gift. This is true. All of it, I would not be here if it was not. I love all of you, thank you for all of the emails, support, and love. Especially from my family, you truly are my biggests support and my best friends I love you so much.
Love,
Elder Burris
We are supposed to be continually relying on the Savior to become. Become more patient with others, become more able and willing to work hard, become better at learning, become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. One thing I have been thinking a lot about this past week is why I am here on a mission. Why I just spent the last 6 weeks of my life away from my family, friends, and comforts of home to be here. And when it really comes down to it, I am here to help people come unto Christ by receiving the Gospel. Sometimes I feel like I think of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as just something that as a member of the church I have. But it is so much more that this. I am not here simply to teach people cool stories and what we think as members of the church is true. I am here to help other people by teaching them about a real being, Jesus Christ, and helping them come unto Jesus Christ.
Anyways, about the language. Spanish for me is coming along pretty well. I feel confident that I have put in the work and that when i get out into the field the spanish will consistantly come as I am consistant in my efforst as a missionary. I had the oppurtunity to work with one of the native spanish speaking teachers this week, and I asked her if she would tell me a story in spanish to see if I could follow it and understand it. I was able to follow the story pretty well and tell her a lot of the details of what she had said in her story. So that was cool to see how my efforts here are turning into results.
Another thing I would like to talk about is staying positive, this has been something that has been very important to me so far as a missionary. Being positive is so important because if you are not positive you arent happy. One thought I had about this is that we need to be positive because God is positive, and we are trying to be like him. Plus their is never a situation where you should not do your best to be a positive person. From my experience, this has led me to be a more happy person.
My overall experience in the MTC has been a good one, I learned a ton and am glad I was able to have this experience. But honestly its hard, by no means is it easy. I have to pray a lot and rely on the Lord to make it though the days here.
I would like to end just by bearing my testimony about the Spirit. The spirit that I feel and have with me here as a missionary, I have never felt or had to this capacity ever before. I know that God takes care of his missionaries and their families. I know God will take care of my family and bless them because I am here serving a mission. I know that this church is true, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly an incredible gift. This is true. All of it, I would not be here if it was not. I love all of you, thank you for all of the emails, support, and love. Especially from my family, you truly are my biggests support and my best friends I love you so much.
Love,
Elder Burris