Anyway. Today I went to the temple for a third time. I can't believe it has almost been three weeks. It is starting to go by really fast. I have been a total slacker for the past week and I regret it super bad. However, my companion and I have had some spiritual experiences that have inspired us to work with diligence and to stop wasting the Lord's time. Elder Evans is an awesome companion and he has a strong desire to serve the Lord. My old companion has written twice. He said as soon as he got home he knew it was the wrong decision and he had been duped by Satan. He said that he had looked forward to being released but when it actually happened he said it was really hard. He has now decided that he is going to come back out as soon as his stake president will let him. They are going to hold his call for three months and he may even be coming back before that. He is way excited to still be able to go to T.H.E. mission. We are way glad that he decided to come back. I was so glad that I had had the experience that I had in getting on my mission because I think me telling him my story may have had some influence on him deciding to come back. It truly was divinely appointed that we be companions.
Anyway, my companion and I had a really spiritual experience together yesterday. We went to a really good devotional and both were stirred up to repentance by the spirit. We goof off so much together that we have been wasting the Lords time and not doing what we were supposed to be doing. The Lord didn't send us out here to play and although we were probably giving 75 percent effort the minimum standard is 100 percent. After the fireside we had a special companionship study where he first offered a beautiful repentant prayer and then I offered one immediately following. I then bore my testimony and he bore his. The spirit was so strong and we committed to make this the turning point in our missions and to start to serve with all our heart might mind and strength. I know that we are still at the beginning of our missions but we need to make that turning point now and waste no more time on childish things. We are now determined and we are implement 3 by 5 cards and other battle strategies i learned at group to fight off satan when he tries to keep us from going to work.
Love you guys. Write back as soon as you get this letter. and send lotsa dear elders. I honestly enjoy receiving them more than real letters and they are super easy to send.
Love Jeff
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Aug 11, 2009
Hola,
How is everybody? I miss all of you so much. Well kinda, I still have not gotten homesick or anything but I love y'all a bunch. Just kiddin' practicing my texan (but since I am going to be spanish speaking y'all would be vosotros and since they only use that in spain and in the scriptures, I just won't say y'all how bout that. Sorry for the rambling.) I am having a real good time here. The days go by fast now and I love all of my district. We are such goof offs and I feel like we are all best friends and I have known them forever. My companion is for sure going home. I love him alot and I wish he could commit himself to the Lord and stay but since he is not willing to commit himself to the Lord I am glad he is going home.
How is everybody? I miss all of you so much. Well kinda, I still have not gotten homesick or anything but I love y'all a bunch. Just kiddin' practicing my texan (but since I am going to be spanish speaking y'all would be vosotros and since they only use that in spain and in the scriptures, I just won't say y'all how bout that. Sorry for the rambling.) I am having a real good time here. The days go by fast now and I love all of my district. We are such goof offs and I feel like we are all best friends and I have known them forever. My companion is for sure going home. I love him alot and I wish he could commit himself to the Lord and stay but since he is not willing to commit himself to the Lord I am glad he is going home.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Hola mi Novia,
The MTC is the hardest thing on the planet. I thought that it would be a breeze because I had worked so hard to get here but that doesn't matter every trial is still hard. However, things are going better and everyone says that the first week is by far the hardest because they are trying to break you. We had absolutely no free time ever until yesterday. I know it doesn't seem like it could have been that hard because i have only been here for so short of time, but I feel like i have been here for weeks. They all say that the weeks seem like days but the days seem like weeks and it seems pretty true so far. The spirit is so strong in the MTC. It is stronger here and spiritual experiences are more frequent then ever before but you can be spiritually soaring one minute and then the next minute you want to quit and you can't imagine going forward. On Thursday and friday, I was so angry at God for how hard everything was and for all the trivial rules that seem so stupid and that all contradict each other. I honestly was ready to call it quits but every time that happens the spirit comes and something pushes you on. I am committed to complete my mission faithfully and I am beginning to realize that anytime you focus on yourself and your own needs, your life sucks. There is just no two ways about it. But when you put yourself into others and focus on helping them you can be happy. I miss Magillikitty. Gosh I don't even know if I spelled it right and I made it up so I should now how right? Anyway my roommates are Elder Ferguson and Elder Wheeler, and of course my companion is Elder Cody Conder. My companion is a good guy although I think we would be unlikely friends if we had not been called as companions.
I am so excited to get to texas and actually start helping people. That is what it is really about. I think people lose sight of it here. Ithink that God called us with our distinct personalities for a reason and he wants us to enjoy the gospel because the gospel is a message of happiness.
Send me letters.
Love,
Elder Bernard
The MTC is the hardest thing on the planet. I thought that it would be a breeze because I had worked so hard to get here but that doesn't matter every trial is still hard. However, things are going better and everyone says that the first week is by far the hardest because they are trying to break you. We had absolutely no free time ever until yesterday. I know it doesn't seem like it could have been that hard because i have only been here for so short of time, but I feel like i have been here for weeks. They all say that the weeks seem like days but the days seem like weeks and it seems pretty true so far. The spirit is so strong in the MTC. It is stronger here and spiritual experiences are more frequent then ever before but you can be spiritually soaring one minute and then the next minute you want to quit and you can't imagine going forward. On Thursday and friday, I was so angry at God for how hard everything was and for all the trivial rules that seem so stupid and that all contradict each other. I honestly was ready to call it quits but every time that happens the spirit comes and something pushes you on. I am committed to complete my mission faithfully and I am beginning to realize that anytime you focus on yourself and your own needs, your life sucks. There is just no two ways about it. But when you put yourself into others and focus on helping them you can be happy. I miss Magillikitty. Gosh I don't even know if I spelled it right and I made it up so I should now how right? Anyway my roommates are Elder Ferguson and Elder Wheeler, and of course my companion is Elder Cody Conder. My companion is a good guy although I think we would be unlikely friends if we had not been called as companions.
I am so excited to get to texas and actually start helping people. That is what it is really about. I think people lose sight of it here. Ithink that God called us with our distinct personalities for a reason and he wants us to enjoy the gospel because the gospel is a message of happiness.
Send me letters.
Love,
Elder Bernard
MTC
Jeff's address is
Elder Jeff Bernard
165-0929
Texas Houston East
2005 No. 900 East
Provo, UT 84604-1793
A good way to email Jeff is at DearElder.com. It's free and they print and deliver it.
Elder Jeff Bernard
165-0929
Texas Houston East
2005 No. 900 East
Provo, UT 84604-1793
A good way to email Jeff is at DearElder.com. It's free and they print and deliver it.
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