What a great P-Day at the temple. I love the spirit that dwells there and the great opportunity we have to learn there too.
This week has been a little harder on me than I'd anticipated, and I've prayed for and received a little understanding as to why. A few weeks back when i talked about needing to deepen my personal well so i could have more resources to give to others, i was in the process of praying for help in developing depth in Christ-like attributes. Be carefule what you ask for, becuase your prayers are heard and answered, although most likely not in the way you'd expect. What better way for me to dig deeper within myself to find the love i needed to share with others than to be forced to do so at a time when my instincts were to become more reserved and less approachable.
The same week i wrote that earlier email, I got sick along with my District. I'm usually pretty healthy so i was surprised my body had succumbed at all and I fully anticipated a rapid recovery. When relief never came I got a little concerned that my illness was going to hurt my ability to study. I received a Priesthood blessing and as a result I gained the mental strength and clarity of thought to remain effective in learning, a very real and personal miracle in my life, although the discomfort of the symptoms remained. We then received some new Districts into the Zone that were not "hit the ground running" ready. I mean to say they weren't prepared to be obedient or diligent in their work and as a direct result their ability to progress was hindered. I could tell you my schedule, but to the same effect i'll just say I got busy handling the zone and my personal mission prep, and all the while I was trying to perfectly emulate the characteristic of Charity which is the pure love of Christ.
I was feeling stretched during this time and I prayed often for guidance in my studies to know how to best help the zone, and for an outpour of Christ's love, so I could show these Missionaries the love they needed to trust me, to be motivated to work hard, and which Christ wants them to feel. I was far from perfect in having charity in my heart at all times, although I felt an answer during this time as each District began to make large strides to become ready for the mission field and my faith grew tremendously. At this time I realized that my sickness was making it so i didn't feel like I had the resources I usually did and like I wasn´t sufficiently able to handle these problems on my own, so I would have to exercise more and more faith and after the trial of my faith have an increase in my testimony.
I had faith before that I could receive help, but now I know that Christ is anxious to help and will have his hand made known throughout his work. The next week, this last week, I felt like i'd learned a great lesson and was ready to implement it. But i wasn't done being taught. SO, I got pink eye and a gnarly sinus infection. It was real gross. I got tag teamed by mucus and phlegm for days. I would wake up like every hour in a coughing fit, with a solid head ache, and then my nose would get dry and bleed for 5 minutes. It was not conductive to a cheerful attitude during the day. All the same, I attempted to have charity.
I hope by now I've shown by my actions that I've adequately had my prayer answered, because I don't want to start out being sick in the mission field. Fortunately, after praying earnestly for my headache to die a painful death (i didn't really say that) so I could focus on my way to the temple this morning. I've made a 180 degree turn and I feel really great. I think the growing pains will be done for a while.
We listened to a 2012 MTC devotional this week by Elder Bednar where he taught his personal method for learning from General Conference. Really simply, he writes out the Doctrine being taught, the actions he felt prompted to take as a result of the invitations offered by the speakers and then the blessings being promised as a result folloiwng the invitation. I thought it was great! I loved the insight.
We said goodbye to 2 spiritual giants this week. Hermano May (White) and Hermano Villanueava (Mexican). These two men (attached) taught us in 3 hour blocks in the morning and afternoon, respectively, about the spanish language, how to teach, and role played numerous investigators we had to teach. Hermano May just finished two years as an MTC teacher and is a huge inspiration for me, best of luck to him back in Utah. Hermano Villanueava is going to Colombia to find a girl he met on his mission, has contacted by email since, and now wants to marry..? A little more luck to him, haha.
I've been in a bubble here people! Is the governments still shut down? I don't know! I just found out there was typhoon in the Philipines. Haha, someone needs to keep me up-to-date.
Great to hear from you all,
lots of love,
Elder Tyler Meidell
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