Dear family!
This week has been a pretty good one. I was able to sit and talk with both Ryan Fisher and also Andrew from texas for a few minutes. They are both doing very well and give their hellos! Yes I did get my sandals the other day and I thank you! They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever put on my feet! well... other than my cowboy boots =P. hahahahaha Me and Elder monterio or doing much much better and me and elder Johnson are still best friends!
A little about elder Johnson. He is a great guy from Texas that has had a few struggles in his life but has worked with his bishop and family and worked hard to get here. Although he doesn't like the idea of being away from his family for two years I can see his testimony and love for the work growing every day. We talk every night just about life, friends, past girl friends and just have a good time together. He is one that I know will be a life long friend.
The language is still so crazy hard but I talked to my teacher and he set up one on one lessons for me with one of my huge Tongan zone leaders. hahaahaha Our first lesson kinda turned into just talking and laughing about high school and the stupid stuff we did. The second one on the other hand I actually learned quite a bit. I love meeting with him and he is really helping me. I can now pray and bear testimony by memory! I even prayed at a devotional last Sunday over the mike in front of the entire mtc in cebuano! What an amazing feeling it was. The gift of tongues is so real I just think Heavenly Father is making me work super hard for it. Which I totally understand. I need to prove through work that I am willing to work for his gifts just don't expect them!
So I forgot to tell you a little more about elder Francis. The reason that he hadn't gone through the temple is because there is not a temple in the Marshal Islands. And his family is not active at all and so they wouldn't pay for him to go. So we got the amazing experience to see him go through for the first time. I wish you could have seen his face when I opened the door to the lobby. I cried in the session as he kinda put his hand on my leg and said wow this is amazing. I realized that we take advantage of the temple sooo much in Arizona with it literally two miles away... I challenge you guys to plan on Sunday night what day of the week you are going to go and GO! Going to the temple every week really is amazing. I go again today and can not wait. I know that its a time commitment but if you really think of all the things the Lord has given our famliy over the years -2 or 3 hours a week is not much to give back. You dont have to but I do really challenge you to try to do a session every week.
The devotionals here are amazing! Last Sunday the byu mens choir came and did a devotional by song. I love music so much and it blows my mind how much your testimony can grow just from listening to good music. This may blow your mind but I have been singing a lot in our room and residence and my district told me that I should audition to sing in church because I have a great voice. I just laughed but have since thought about it and may go look through the music library and see if there is anything that I think I could do. I think it would be fun to show the mtc that I have more talents than just teaching. We will see how that goes.
Guys I love you and I love this work. As missionaries all the gifts of god can be ours as long as we work and ask for them! Trust me... I am begging for those gifts and blessings. I love the lord and am so thankful for the atonement and for the chance I have to repent and be made clean through Christ. Family and friends who see this, Please put your faith in Christ and know that he loves every single one of us! You never walk alone in this world even though sometimes it feels like we do. Pray to god! Like I tell my investigators... He may not answer right away but he is always listening! I love you guys and cant wait to hear from all of you.
Love always,
Elder Mackay Dale Shelley
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