6/28/2023 The MTC's Finest; Apostles, Prophet, Mission Presidents, and Sickness

Since my last email, I got pretty sick and it's been a rough week because of it. I'm finally feeling better today but this week has been kind of crazy amidst the sickness. I did go to the hospital on Saturday because it was bad but it ended up being just a virus that's going around the MTC.

From Wednesday to Sunday, the apostles and the new mission leaders were on campus and it was a sight to behold. While I was apostle sighting with the district, we saw everyone, including President Nelson, except president Eyring. It was pretty cool. On Friday evening, I sang in the choir and I was able to shake Elder Christofferson's hand. That was one of the coolest things I've experienced yet.

For the devotional, we listened to Elder Christofferson as he explained that the Book of Mormon has power. It was cool to hear the favorite scriptures of some of the apostles. The scripture shared by Elder Soares was Alma 38:5, and it reads "I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up in the last day." It is amazing how the apostles dive deep into doctrine of a passage while making it understandable for us missionaries.

The other best part was the catered food. Wendy's, BYU Catering, Chick-fil-a, Aloha Plate, and Choices were really nice. We also met our mission president and his wife too. The Lehtiset's are awesome. President Lehtinen is a mechanical engineer and his wife cooks really good traditional Finnish food. 5 weeks till we leave and I'm looking forward to it.

Finnish is coming around and we've learned how to say a testimony, state simple truths about the gospel, introduce ourselves, create some small talk, and say a prayer. The learning curve is a little steep but so far we're all doing pretty well with the language.

The rest of the week included throwing out my back playing basketball, quoting Camp Rock in a devotional review, eating a scorpion lollipop, and surviving through a nasty cold.

Time is hard to keep track of but each experience at the MTC helps me come to know Christ better through His doctrine. 

The work awaits,

Vanhin (Elder) Hsu

6/21/2023 Finnish Immersion and More

This week has been kind of normal. One of my shoes broke and I fixed it after praying for guidance and finding the super glue the next day. One of my roommates, Elder Redfern, left this Thursday and it was hard for all of us in the Norwegian and Finnish districts. He was the funniest guy I've met at the MTC but he's now back in England serving a service mission. After the goodbyes, we went to a room with a piano and Vanhin (Elder) Larsen played. He's competed in state competitions with music he composed. We had no idea and were awestruck. Regardless, this was all before we started immersion.

Friday was the start of all Finnish. We've learned most of the stuff already so it went really well. Finnish in general is hard but it's proving to be a fun language.

There's a lot that happened the next few days but here's the highlights;

- Started getting a cold and getting really tired but with a few prayers and a few naps, I was the most focused I've ever been.

- Discovered that personal revelation for me is time delayed for me. I study or remember something a few days before and it comes back to mind in the moment and it's always just what I need.

- lots of sand volleyball. Threw out my back doing a jump serve and miraculously slept it off the next day.

- Cafeteria food is looking gloomy for the next 6 weeks.

This morning alone sums up most of my experience so far. We had a temple appointment at 6:45 AM. I slept through my alarm by 2 minutes and it took everything we had to get to the temple on time. Once we were dressed and ready to perform initiatories (an ordinance linked to a covenant, like an action taken to fulfill a promise), we started going through them. One line in the ordinance stuck with me as I finished. With a question in mind, I opened the Book of Mormon and started reading about Lehi's dream through Nephi's perspective (1 Nephi 11, a dream that reflects our religious journeys as we progress towards accepting God's love by relying on the word of God). Even through my question and the scriptures were unrelated, I felt peace of heart and mind as I read. With that peace, my companion and I ended up doing a few more initiatories because the temple was a little behind. 

Between mastering the message, learning Finnish, and becoming more converted to the Gospel, things will work out if we trust Jesus Christ. Whether I sleep in by accident, feel inadequate, or struggle focusing on my studies, I know things will work out if I trust and rely on Jesus Christ.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me then I will make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27

I have lots to learn and work on, but I know things will work out.

Vanhin Hsu

6/14/2023 I Survived Week 2.5 at the MTC

It's hard to believe a week has gone by in Provo MTC. Arrived on literally the hottest day possible in a suit. Besides that, I finally got to meet Vanhin (Elder) Larsen as well. This week, things went well. We had a few devotionals, choir, and time to reflect.

The first few days were for adjusting to missionary life. Started going to classes and learned a lot about how to teach. The language on top of the Gospel is making for lots of material to study. It's a daunting task to learn Finnish, but "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). I'm taking each step and not looking too far forward lest I stumble.

On top of that, I was assigned to be a district leader. For a district with 2 elders and 5 sisters, the dynamic is unique. We have A LOT of energy. Not sure how long that will last as we have 7 more weeks ahead of us. We start Finnish immersion in 2 days and I'm looking forward to it.

"by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5)

Lots to learn and lots to look forward to.
Vanhin (Elder) Hsu