Dear Family,
This week begins what they call at the MTC "Consecration Week". As a
district and personally, we set goals to more fully dedicate ourselves
to the work; in a sense paying our tithing on our 10 week stay at the
MTC with this one. For example, we are only speaking in Albanian. That's
a standard across the MTC. Everybody SYL's during their consecration
week (Speak Your Language). Some of my personal goals include 1) no
sweets or treats (but only till next Wednesday
:) so feel free to send stuff then) 2) I'm wearing only one
conservative tie (my ties are all missionary approved, but I get
compliments on them all the time...and I want this week to NOT be about
me.) 3) taking down all pictures in my room except the one of Christ and
the Rich Young Ruler (Again, I love you all, and your'e not distracting
in any way[sorry], but I just want to be as focused as possible. They
talked a lot about how you give up what means the most to you to show
your dedication to the Lord) 4) not reading emails from anyone other
than family 5) arriving to all classes 5 minutes early 6) Speaking only
Shqip whilst doing all of this! Personally, I'm super excited to see the
results of this week.
One special thing I've come to re-love here at the MTC is
music. Like we always say, music skips the mind and goes straight to
the heart. I've learned that Heavenly Father touches each of us, through
the spirit, in different ways. I'm very grateful that one of the ways
for me is through music. First, I've had lots of opportunities to play.
Every Sunday
I play in sacrament meeting, and I accompanied a couple times for
musical numbers. Just a half hour ago I finished accompanying Elder
Schramm for the "New Missionaries Devotional" Come Thou Fount. I
thorougly enjoyed it! Sister Nally again came up to us and thanked us,
and gave me the picture of Dad and her little brother at the LTM.
Everybody thinks I know or am related everybody...my excuse, "No, my dad
is related to everybody!" Each week I've sung in the choir here. Those
meetings are each so special. Our director, Ryan Egget (Isn't there
someone who plays for the motab named egget?), is amazing, he tells the
greatest stories that go with each song we sing. Honestly, I've had some
of the most spiritual experiences in Choir. Yesterday, we sang 'where
can I turn for peace" AHHH so good! And then, the closing hymn was 'A
Childs Prayer'. I'm grateful for the spirit who talks to me, not only
through music, but through tears. Sometimes I wish myself to weep, just
so I can have the assurance that I'm feeling the spirit. And so, during
that child's prayer, I wept, and I smiled. I was thinking of the subject
matter of the talk, the love of our heavenly father for us. I pondered
that, and then thought of mom, and the love I feel from here. Thats
where the tears hit. Not out of homesickness or sorrow, but just love
and appreciation. These continued as I tried to see how our father in
heaven loves us more than parents do. It reminded me of when we all sang
hark all ye nations the Sunday
before I left at the stake center, me and the brothers (mom don't cry)
Wow. Music is powerful. It's so powerful that it is what I turn to every
morning in the shower, to brighten my day, to start my mind in the
right frame...the spirits frame. I whistle, sing "oh what a beautiful
morning" as I leave my residence, and "Mr Moon" as I return home. But,
the hard part is now singing in Albanian!...but it is still fun.
I've loved getting to know Elder Squire this week. He is
and Elder from Magna who went to Cyprus (didn't grandpa go there, or
somewhere close?). He is an athlete. He always has a smile on his face
and he is really good at basketball. Yesterday was some hard core ball.
The sad part is, he was only half trying and he still makes every 3! I
think he is going to play college ball down at Snow. He also is going to
Albania.
Since I am now in a trio, our investigators have
changed. And so, our really good investigator, Jonist, was baptized ( I
know it's fake, but it still feels really good to know that I found
him...fakely), and my other three, Alma and Petrit and Gjerald, also
have baptismal dates! The investigators that Elder Outsen and I teach
are Mihal and Rafaela. Both are showing interest and love the principles
of the restored gospel and the priesthood. It feels really good to
teach the same things over and over and over again....cause I know
that's what it will be like in the field. Except, they'll be real, and
I'll feel a super good connection and love for them.
My travel plans will arrive here on Friday and We are probably going to leave on April 1.
Congrats to the cougars, I hope and pray that we can beat oregon (we
shoulda beat them last time) and then wisconsin (them too). And for the
record, I picked Wichita St. over Iowa St. in my bracket to take the
title (even though we should've beat them both as well) I love you all
so much and love hearing the updates. I'd love to see some pictures of
the little girls and the two boys. Andrew and Caitlyn, I'll have to send
you my bracket for proof and good luck with this last semester, you'll
do great bud. Seth, I know I'm on a mission, but I'm still interested in
your dating habits...cause I know you have some (Brother Garlick told
me) Steven, I hope Seth lets you drive the truck to school cause you
have to learn how to drive a stick, I know Joe and I had some fun times
driving at 15! Also, remember to get the horseshoe so you can have it
with you in high school
Anyway, te dua! Dhe mendoj rreth ju gjithmone. Kujtoni, Perendia ju do, me gjithe zemer e tij. Pafshim!Love, Elder Bangerter
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