First Missionary Email

Hello everyone! It is so crazy to think I have just hit my 3.5 week mark in the online Mexico MTC!! It has truly been an amazing experience so far and I am so grateful for the technology we have that has allowed missionaries like me to continue to enter the MTC and serve missions. I’m sure many of you are wondering how the online MTC works and what I think about it. So I have a virtual district and a virtual companion and they are awesome! The Elders and sisters in my district are amazing; everyone is so fun and so ready and prepared to serve missions. My companion Elder Ashworth is awesome! He has such a strong testimony and we have had so many uplifting study sessions together that have grown my testimony. For my schedule, I typically have 2 classes a day that are three hours long along with an occasional weekly workshop class that is an hour. Along with these classes I have a virtual companionship study and then an hour of personal study and an hour of language study. Although this schedule may seem extremely rigorous I truly feel that I have been blessed with increased strength and determination to work hard and accomplish my goals. Also, considering all of these classes are happening from a laptop in my room it is truly amazing how much I am learning and growing in the gospel and in the Spanish language. I have found that as I put forth the effort to be completely obedient and treat this experience no less than a real MTC I have gained knowledge and skills to help me be an effective missionary. I can testify that even during these crazy times the Lord is aware of his children and will continue to provide means that missionaries can reach and inspire his children to lead them to the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, for my first email I thought it would be appropriate to talk about why I personally have accepted the call to serve a mission. For many people it may seem incomprehensible why someone would willingly choose to leave family, friends, and the comforts of everyday life to devote 2 years of missionary service to this church. However, I have truly come to know that I have been called to this work. I know that the Lord specifically needs me to serve the people of the Portland, Oregon mission in the Spanish language with all my might, mind, and strength. This gospel has continually guided and blessed my life and I do not know where I would be without the gifts and the fruits of this gospel. I truly would be lost without this gospel. As I have come to understand this fact it becomes very clear why I need to serve a mission. I have been blessed to grow and develop in a home that supports the gospel and is guided by the power of the priesthood. However, many of God’s children have not been given this opportunity and have had to navigate life without the teachings and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the Lord needs me specifically to be an instrument in his hands to bring souls unto this gospel. I know that as I follow the promptings of the spirit the Lord will place individuals in my path that are lost and have been looking for something that has been missing in their lives. And I know that I will be ready to teach with power and authority from God in such a way that the spirit will boldly testify of the things which I will say. And I know that there will be no greater joy than having the opportunity to bring many of God’s children into this gospel whereby they may experience true joy in this life and in the life to come. As I have been writing this first letter I feel that a scripture that encapsulates my desire to serve a mission is found in Alma 29:9. And it says, “I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.” I know that I have been called and ordained of God to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands. As I seek to do God’s will and diligently serve a full time mission I know that I will be guided by the spirit and bring many souls to the knowledge of this gospel. I know that God knows and loves every one of his children personally. I know that this work will continue forward amidst the chaos of the world and I am ready and excited to be a part of this work during this time. I am so grateful for my family and friends and all of their support in my efforts to serve a mission. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.