Hey All!!
Life is going great here
at the MTC! The language has progressed so fast it's kind of amazing. As of
last Wednesday, we were up to about half of all the grammar principles in the
language, so after that it'll just be learning vocab forever and ever and
practicing the grammar until I’m fluent. It's really cool. I've only been here
for three weeks and the language seems to get easier and easier every day. Now
that doesn't mean I'm anywhere close to being fluent right now, I still have A
LOT to learn, but we're getting there. I've still got like 6ish more weeks here
too, so we'll see where I am when we get there!
Time here is the eeriest
thing ever. The first week it felt like the days took as long as a month
to get through, and now it feels like the days are only a few days long.
Looking back though, I feel like I've barely been here. Like it's only been a
week at most, when it's been three! The food is starting to scare me, too. It's
really really good food, but yesterday we had Chicken cordon bleu, which was
our first meal when we got here. Hopefully there are a few more meals to go
through before it starts cycling through again and we have the same things over
and over and over again.
This last Wednesday we
had two new districts come into our zone/branch/church, twenty new people!!
Most of them are going to Arizona, but four Sisters are going to Temple Square
in Salt Lake City. They are really cool people. One of the Sisters is from New
Zealand and has an awesome accent - Sister Vaivai. Otherwise, it's interesting
seeing everyone start all over again and see just how little we still know,
knowing we were like them three weeks ago. The other district that came in with
us though is leaving tomorrow. It's really bittersweet to see these people
we've gotten really close with over the last few weeks to go away, but I'm
really excited for them. If I had been called on an English-speaking mission,
I'd be going out with them.
This last Sunday was the
first Sunday, which means it was Fast and Testimony Sunday. This day is a day
when all people in the Church are asked to fast for two meals on a specific
request to the Lord and donate the money they would have spent to welfare. It
was a little different here at the MTC, since here everyone fasts since the
lunchroom doesn't open until 5, but I think yesterday was the best day I've had
since I've been here. In addition to the regular Sunday Devotional where we
have an accomplished couple come to give a talk or sermon Sunday night to all
the missionaries here, we also had Mission Conference, where the MTC Presidency
all gave talks on different topics they felt inspired to tell.
One of the things which
really struck me was the fact that we can't be saved in ignorance, that simply
burying your head in the sand won't bring you closer to knowing your Heavenly
Father and seeking to return to Him, but rather seeking knowledge and truth is
what will help us gain a greater understanding of God, and MOST importantly,
our Savior's sacrifice for us, which by His grace we are even able to return.
No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God, and so we must seek Jesus
and learn of Him and have faith to be cleansed from the wrong, guilt forming
things we do, sins. As such is why I am here serving. IF Jesus is Divine, truly
the Son of God, and if Joseph Smith was a prophet, and if the Book of Mormon is
scripture like the Bible, then there is no important thing to do than to serve
them. I will return to my profession later, this I am sure, but there are
things of eternal significance, instead of worldly significance, which I
seek to labor for. As such is what I am doing. If this work is true then it is
the most important work of our generation. We grow and learn and progress in
our lives through ignorance, as such would be like being an infant. And so I
continue to seek out truth where I find it, because there is no greater labor
in life.
I know Jesus lives, and
he suffered all things, which you have suffered. He is our personal Savior, and
all things of the gospel, particularly the restored gospel point us back to
Him. I know this because I have found peace, which only He can provide, and
divine direction and guidance, which I could not have, thought, but the results
- or fruits - of such were joyous beyond measure.
Hope everyone out there
is well. I DO want to hear from you! I'm a little behind on writing reply
letters, but will definitely be back on top of it today.
Be safe and don't stop
seeking!!
Love,
Elder Cameron Benson
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