My dear family,
I am feeling a lot of love for you right now! . . .
I am feeling a lot of love for you right now! . . .
So consecration week was amazing! I received many blessings from it. The "not speaking any English the entire week" really wasn't bad. I can communicate really well in Hungarian now. I actually have no worries about the language. I know it will be difficult in Hungary, but God will teach me the language, he didn't send me to fail. I will know the language and I will be able to touch the hearts of the Hungarians. I am just happy I can eat ice cream again. I did miss that.
Well here's the fun news. I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS!!! I leave the MTC 1:30pm next Monday to catch a plane at 4:50pm. This means I will probably call somewhere between 2:30pm and 3:30pm. Sorry it is a big window, but I do not know exactly what will happen in the airport. I give permission for my siblings to be checked out of school... Mom.
And no I don't need a calling card for Monday, I already bought one. We have 500 minutes to talk :) Haha, if only. I will probably only have about 30 minutes in reality.
So my flight is a direct flight from SLC to Paris, France, and from there to Hungary. I should get after about 24 hours, so around five the next day. We will see though. I am very excited to be there, and that is making me study really hard. I need to be as prepared as possible.
Just to emphasize. I will call you Monday, September 10th from somewhere between 2:30pm and 3:30pm. I can't wait to talk to you and let you hear Hungarian! It's way better than German ;)
Well I do want to share with you the main things I learned in the MTC. Sorry these references are off the top of my head so I may be wrong, but I will refer to 1st Nephi 4:31 and Mosiah 3:19. The Nephi one should be about strength, and the Mosiah about being as dust. Oh the word for dust in Hungarian is "por".
I have learned that I am a terrible missionary. I don't know how to teach well, address concerns perfectly, or even start a conversation in the best way, but THAT IS WHY WE HAVE GOD AND THE SPIRIT. I am like dust. But with God am I strong. That is why I like the Nephi scripture. It says "Strength of God", not "Strength from God". God doesn't merely give a strength and say good job you've gone up a level, like in video games. No, as you repent and become humble, you become "as God" and you are able to perform miracles and be as God, through God, through God's power, which is the priesthood, and through Christ, because as Alma 33 (I believe) it explains that the reason God can bless us so freely and mercifully is because of Christ. We need to repent so we can partake of those blessings.
I forget sometimes that the ultimate goal is to become Gods and Goddess. God wants as to be like him. There is a scripture on that of which I can't remember right now, but anyway, it is always important to stay humble through repenting. Repent of everything, not of just sins, but of anything that is contrary to how a God would act, say, do, or think. We should have an eye single to the Lord. I mention this because my first three or four weeks here were really hard for me. I struggled to stay awake, or find interest in what I was studying, and to always feel the spirit. Through repenting of things I realized I didn't need in my life I found the strength I needed in Christ and in God. I started to look outward instead of inward. (If you can find it, read or watch Elder Bednar's MTC Christmas talk called "The Character of Christ from last year.) I found charity and love for Hungary. I am not even there, but I feel God's love for them and his desire for them to return to him. I know desire this. So since my third or fourth week I have never been tired. Although I get up at 5:45 to prepare, exercise, and study, and then I study all day until 10:15 when I write in my journal and retire to bed, I am never tired. I do not write this to boast, but to invite you all to find the strength, the spiritual strength that God can feed you. I feel no pain when I direct my thoughts and my heart towards God to feel the love towards Hungary, and towards other people. I already love to serve, and that is my true desire. I wish to invite, encourage and help people to come unto Christ. What a blessing we live in the gospel, and you are right mom, "there should never be a happier people than we are, [when] we are with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives".
I love you all very much, talk to you Monday. (AKA Get out of school early) Unless of course it is early out day then it doesn't matter. I don't remember when that is anymore.
Szeretettel
Decker elder
