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
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