May 10, 2010

Ok, well i have a few minutes left so i am going to go as fast as I can. This week has been a tough one but I have definitely learned a lot. I hit a barrier with the language and it was really frustrating but I think i have gotten passed the part now so I will just continue until the next barrier....haha its just how learning a new laguage works i guess. This week we had a devotional and I sat down with my district we were all just talking and then the announcer said "Elders and Sisters, we would like to stand when the speaker comes in because it is one of the twelve apostles!" So of course we were freaking out trying to guess who it was. It was Jeffrey R. Holland!!!! He gave one of the most powerful talks I have ever heard or had the experience to witness live. He is truly a messenger of god. There is no doubt in my mind. He talked a lot about obedience and working hard and not slacking off....which a lot of missionaries around here seem to have a problem with. I have been studying my scriptures a lot lately and it amazes me how much I can get out of reading the Book of Mormon no matter how many times i go over the same thing, new ideas will always come up! We had another TA this week where we contacted in Zhongwen (chinese) and it was awesome! I love speaking the language even though I'm not that great, I just go for it. My companion however kind of struggles so the contacting kind of falls on me, but o well, I LOVE CHINESE! The actual teaching the lesson was an amazing experience, the spirit was so strong. I have been struggling with being able to teach the lessons because I just think way too much and jumble up my thoughts, but during this TA i decided that I would just put all faith and trust in the spirit of the lord, and i was so amazed at what happened i was crying. I went in there and just tried to wipe my mind clean so that i wasnt thinking of any of the lesson and just forcing myself to rely on the spirit....that can get a bit scary. But I can tell you, i started saying things that i didnt even know and points I hadnt planned or really thought about. It was a huge testimony builder to me that the Lord lives. He loves us, and he will help us, we just have to stop worrying about ourselves and focus on what is important. I know that when we pray and ask god for answers with real intent and a sincere heart that we will know it is true. I know that with all my heart.

I love you all and thank you for everything, until next week

Zaijian!!

Elder Joshua Trent Ellis