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| Kaytee also got a special shirt! She wore it better! :) I LOVE MY MISSIONARY -Philippines, Cavite |
Next, well by the time you read this, I will be headed to the Philippines MTC. I don't know what to expect, but I'm excited for this next adventure! I can't believe it has almost been 6 weeks. I legit feel like I just got here. Every day I get up at 6:30am, get ready, eat, and by 7:45am I start studying. I study the Book of Mormon, study Tagalog, study Preach my Gospel, and memorize phrases. Each study I start and end w/ a prayer. At 10:00am I exercise with weights, running, or play spikeball. By 11:30am I'm showered, dressed, and headed to lunch. Around 1215pm I begin a quick 30-minute study session, and then class begins at 1:30pm. Class consists of more of the same studies that I do personally. At 4:30pm I head to dinner. Concluding dinner I squeeze in 30 more minutes of study before my 6:15pm class. Class goes for another 3 hours, and at 9:15pm I head back to my room. By 9:45 I am ready for bed, and I write in my journal, plan my next day (what to study and what my goals are), and I'm in bed by 10:30pm. On top of that I spend every open second flipping through flashcards. Each day is similar, and they all blend together. It is amazing how much I've been able to accomplish. I work so hard every day. Many missionaries are beginning to get burnt out and I'm sur that will change once they leave the MTC, but for me I love the MTC. I have so much time to study, and I love it! Some days my head hurts so bad I feel like giving up on studies, but then I say a prayer and my energy is renewed. Through Him, "I can do all things" (Alma 26:12).
My testimony has grown so much from reading the Book of Mormon. I have come to realize why our church is named after Jesus Christ because without Jesus Christ we are literally nothing. We could not be forgiven of our errors. We would not be resurrected to live with our eternal families. There would be no hope of salvation. However, because He lives we may have a perfect brightness of hope. (2 Nephi 31:20). We are the Church of JESUS CHRIST, because He is "the way; and ther is no other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ" (2 Nephi 3:21).
The mission so far has had lots of ups and downs, but I have felt Christ's hand in my life. He will lift me and you up whenever we fall, but we must call on Him and be willing to act. When we pray we must pray with a sincere heart (a desire to receive specific guidance), AND with "REAL INTENT." Real intent means we are willing to act on whatever promptings we receive. Picture this: There is a door. On our side is a door handle and nothing else. On the other side is Jesus Christ. He has tons of presents and gifts for us; however, there is no door handle on His side. We can knock all we want and ask for those gifts, but until we are willing to act, with real intent, and open the door, we can't receive the gifts. We must open the door.
Please turn to the Lord with questions, and then follow the advise of so many of our prophets by reading the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon will open the door to so many gifts!
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
PHILIPPINES, HERE I COME!
Love,
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| Elder Hemmert's Testimony in Tagalog |
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