Aside
from that, not too much happened this week. Elder Christiansen and I
have been working harder than we ever have just cause we're out of here
in a week. It's a little stressful to think that we'll be going up to
random people in a week and teaching them about the gospel. I can't
wait, but I know there's still so much more we have to do before that
happens. Anyway, our district made some goals to help us stay focused
these last few days before we leave. Some of them include reading
everyday out of the Book of Mormon in Thai, speaking Thai as often as we
can, memorizing D&C 4 in Thai, and basically doing everything we
possibly can... in Thai. It's not easy, but definitely doable with the
Lord's help. There are 67 million people in Thailand. 15 of us. We
literally hold the Salvation of the Thai people on our shoulders and I'm
saying that as an exaggeration. This work is real. The power of the
gospel to change the lives of others is real. I've seen it here in the
MTC and I know it's true.
One
of our teachers, Brother Tirrel, told us that he was having one of the
hardest weeks he's ever had since coming back from the mission and that
our district helped him so much with getting through it. And I just
remember thinking to myself, "wait, we didn't even try to do anything to
help him and here he is telling us how much we've fulfilled our purpose
as missionaries". I'm not saying this as an "oh look how spiritual my
district can be" type of thing, but I just couldn't believe how much we
were able to help someone without even trying to. This made me realize
the reality of my calling as a disciple of Christ. And not just myself
as a missionary, every member of the church has a light about them that
sets them apart from the rest or the world. I know it to be true. Sorry
if I'm starting to sound "preachy', but there's just no way that the 15
of us have been able to do this work without the Savior. We're not
perfect by any means, but one thing we all have in common is that we
love our Jesus Christ. In Romans 8; 35, 37, it reads "Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." i
remember thinking to myself this week, what if there are others out
there who love the Savior more than I do? This bothered me a bit. I then
thought to myself, "well you know what, at least I can say that I love
my Savior with my whole heart, with everything that I have". I know that
is enough. I encourage you all to try everything you can to love that
man for all your worth. It will bring you happiness beyond anything
you've ever felt. Have a great week everyone!
Elder Rawlinson
I
might not be able to write for a couple weeks since my flight will be
next P day, but chances are the next time you all hear from me I'll will
be in THAILAND!!!!!
Me with my companion and Brother Saunders, one of the Lao teachers here in the MTC!
One of the elders in my district, Elder Day being a goofball
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