Week 4 - LOST IN TRANSLATION

This has been a very fun week. I think that I'm starting to actually get a grip on this whole MTC thing. It's still tough, and I can't wait to go to Australia, but the MTC is a very fun experience that I'm sure I'll look back on positively.

 

I'm feeling much better this week, so thanks for your thoughts and prayers, it's been awesome knowing that my friends and family support me here. As I work here at the MTC, I know that I couldn't do it without you guys!

 

So, as I said last week, I started my TRC experience last Friday night. It's really fun! We basically talk to people in Korean about the gospel. Some of them are members, and some are not (most of the Korean-speakers are), but all of them are awesome people. I really think that as time goes on, I'll really look forward to going to TRC every week. It's just a time to speak the language without any kind of pressure.

 

Speaking of Korean, I'm actually starting to be able to understand bits of what my teachers are saying! When we teach, I can actually contribute to the discussion, and I'm finding it easier to use Korean in my day-to-day activities. That said, I do make the occasional mistake. A few days ago, we were teaching a lesson to one of our "investigators". We invited her to come to church on Sunday. She turned to me and asked me where the church was. Since I had no idea what she had actually said, my mind just put together that she had asked "What do you know about the church?" So, I bore my testimony of the truthfulness of the church. My companion, who did understand her, kind of facepalmed, gave a more suitable answer, and informed me of my mistake afterwards. I guess somethings are lost in translation, but I'm told that when in doubt, testify.

 

This Sunday, the church is hosting a worldwide broadcast on the importance of missionary work and a member's role in the work we do. I'll won't just be there, I'll be in the choir that sings a couple of musical numbers! Who knows, I could show up on camera for a few seconds during our performance. Of course, that's not important. What is important is that I'll have the chance to participate in a historic event at the MTC. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and others will be there.

 

Yesterday, I met up with all of the Cedar High School students that are in the MTC now (or at least as many as could come). We took pictures by the famous map of the world, and I'll have to send those in some time soon. It was amazing to see 15 or so of my friends from before the MTC all together. Some are leaving this week, and some have several more weeks to go, but we all have the same goal, to invite others to come unto Christ. We may not all have the same experience, but we do have the same desire to serve everyone we meet.

 

I've been reading a lot of the Book of Mormon lately. Since I started on June 5th, I've read up to about halfway through Alma. I've had a lot of questions about missionary work answered, and for what might be the first time, I actually look forward to Personal Study time every day so I can continue reading the Book Of Mormon. I would recommend everyone to read it daily. You'll learn something new every time you really focus on reading it.

 

This week, a lot of Korean speakers left the MTC to go to their respective missions, and we got a few new Korean speaking elders and sisters. It's weird not to be the new guys anymore. Hopefully, we can be as good of an example to them as the "older" guys were to us. Seeing them getting ready to leave made me realize that while it may feel like forever, I'm leaving the MTC in just about 6 weeks. That just gives me all the more reason to make as big of an impact while I'm here as I can.

 

Thanks again,

    Elder Hayden Knight Clark