6 weeks in, and as of tomorrow, we will
officially be the oldest district in our zone! It's so crazy to look
back and think of how fast it's gone, because I still remember the long
grueling days. I guess that's what missionary work works! I've
definitely appreciated my time here, and have felt my testimony grow as
I've shared it and as I've learned to use the gift of tongues!
So,
no real news this week, but I did have one fun little... "experience"
this week. So we go to class for about 6 hours a day to do language
study and learn the lessons in Chinese. As part of our classes, we have
to teach lessons to our teachers, who play as investigators based off of
people they taught on their missions. Well, one of our
investigators, 陈姐妹 (Sister Chen), has been really helpful in learning
how to teach, and our lessons have gone really well! In one particular
lesson, we had a really good discussion about the 10 commandments, and
why we have been given commandments. I definitely felt the spirit
testifying of the truth of what we were sharing. However, as the lesson
ended, I said that I would give the closing prayer. About halfway
through the prayer, I decided I wanted to thank the Lord for helping us
feel Sister Chen's spirit: 'lingti'. However, as the words came out of
my mouth, I said "we are thankful for her shenti."....... Shenti means
body. I quickly corrected myself, but I was too late. After the prayer,
we returned to our classroom, and our teacher relayed the story to our
class. I was so mortified. Haha, but mistakes happen... mostly to me...
but it's cool.
On a more serious note, I have
loved having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost to testify of
truth to me, so that I can share my testimony with others. It is truly
such a blessing in my life. When I entered the MTC, I think I truly did
have some doubts about parts of the gospel, but as I've taken the time
to study, and to ponder, I have truly had the truth of these things
confirmed to me. We've talked a lot about agency in our classes, the
ability we were given to choose between good and evil. This is truly
such a gift to us, the ability to decide for ourselves what we want to
do. It also shows how much love and trust our Father in Heaven has for
us. Just like our earthly parents, He was willing to let us come to
Earth, to a scary place where he couldn't be by our side, showing us the
way. He knew that this was the only way we could become like Him, was
to be separated from Him, and to learn to make good choices on our own.
Agency powerfully testifies to me that God is truly our Father. He is
not a merciless God, to be feared, but He is literally the Father of our
spirits. Just like any parent, His goal was for us to become the best
we possible could, but like any parent he had to give us the choice. He
knew we would stumble, we would fall, we would lose our way. And so he
sent His son, His only literal Son, to help us find our way home. He
knew that we would do things he wouldn't be proud of, that He couldn't
allow in His home, so He gave us a big brother, a perfect big brother,
one that took those sins and those problems, and put them on His own
back, so that we didn't have to. One that would endure the pains and the
sins of an entire WORLD, so that we could all come home to our Eternal
Father. He suffered the pains of those sins in Gethsemane, then he bore
the load too heavy for us to comprehend as he staggered up the hill to
be killed by the very people He had come to save. He did what any good
big brother would do, because he's the best big brother we could have.
And he did it because he wanted us to come back home, to the arms of a
Father who wants nothing more than to forget what you've done, forgive
what you've done, and welcome you back home with open arms. I know my
Brother personally, I know my Father personally, I love them with all my
heart. Come unto them, there is no other way nor means whereby men can
be saved, except through the Atonement of the Only Begotten. Your Father
loves you, your Brother loves you, and much less importantly, I love
you.
Love,
Elder Shope
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