Week 7 MTC

2 Nephi 31:20

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfast in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

ANOTHER WEEK IN THE MTC! CRAZY! I can't believe how fast it's gone, only one more p-day! And next week we FINALLY get to host and receive missionaries at the curb!! I'm so excited!

So by far the best part of this past week was something that Elder Christiansen said. He's from Hooper Utah, aka farm land and has a lot of funny sayings that I call "Hooperisms" This week at lunch he ate a jalepeño and said, "Thats right! Dance on my tounge Jalepeno!" He was dead serious! We died laughing. haha the littlest things amuse us in here.

Another funny thing that I love is really random. A shoe horn. They're totally pointless but so great! Haha I have no clue why I even use it but it's kinda fun. haha Elder Thompson and I always have to announce that were using the shoe horn, it's hilarious.

So on Tuesday we got to hear from Elder M. Russell Ballard! It was so great! He told us a quote from Joseph Simth that said, "Round up your shoulders and bear it." I liked this because it reminded me that Gods not going to leave us alone in our trials. Lexi Jorgensen shared this with me in her last letter. "If God leads you to it, He will guide you through it." I thought that was genius! Just like how in the criptures it always says, "And it came to pass" NOT, "And it came to stay!" Another thing that I liked that he said was that, "the Closer we come to Christ, the closer he comes to us". In class we were faced with the question, "How far would you walk to see Christ?" We need to constantly be striving to do what's right and He will help us! All we need to do is Trust In Him!

That was what my studies were about this week, hope and going forward with faith. I read about Hope in the missionary Handbook, Preach My Gospel (maybe look up the seciton, it's under christ like attributes. kinda short) and then I looked up scriptures. My favorite one was 2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfast in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

I love this scripture! It's everything we need to do! I cried when Mom said that she loved that scripture too and wanted me to read it this week because I was gunna share that with you guys today! I also loved Ether 12:4 and how Hope needs to be the anchor of our souls."Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God". Elder James Faust gave a talk about hope in Oct 1999. It's amazing! I realized that I need to go forward with faith and trust in the Lord like it says in Proverbs 3:5-6! "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

We need to do our best to trust that what the Lord has in store for us is JOY. Because he wants us to be happy! He is our Heavenly Father and we are His kids! This week read Ether 12. It's about faith and hope. I love it!

I saw Elder Carpenter, finally! I didn't see him til Saturday but it was so cool to see him! He seems to be doin great! I was so happy to get through my first week and I bet he feels the same way!

Spanish is still coming slowly! The hardest part is using what you learn! Cuz we learn so stinkin much but it's hard to put it into use! I can read Preach my gospel in spanish pretty much. I'm expecting to start over when I get down to Argentina and realize how little I know.

About my tooth ache: I went to the clinic this morning and they have a dentist come in and check you out before they schedule an appt with a doctor and he thinks it might just be sensitive because of my toothpaste so I'm going to get a different kind, w/o whitening stuff.

We haven't heard if we have our visas yet but we get our official travel plans tomorrow morning! So stoked!

Yes, I mailed my mission call letter home today, so it should come beginning of next week.

Mom, I don't need anything as of right now and I have no clue what you're talking about with Sis Hollingsworth and those treats??? :)

Nothings really different yet about us leaving the MTC soon but next week we have one day that describes what we'll be doing and it's sort of an orientation.

My knees are still weak, so pray for me that they will hold up for the next 2 years. And sleeping is just like home, some nights good, some nights bad. But I miss my bed like crazy! And my pillow!!

Alright, well I love you so much! I never stop thinking about you!

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

ELDER HJELMSTAD