Put Your Shoulder To The Wheel

Hello Everyone,

This week I passed the half way mark, so I have less than four weeks until I leave into the field. Like everyone else here, I would agree that it feels like I have been at the MTC forever, but yet I can't believe that I am past half way in my time here.

This Thursday was our last week with our Taiwanese teacher Wu (she is really awesome). She is leaving to get married though and so our whole district is really happy for her. In the four weeks since we have gotten here, we have sent two of our teachers into "retirement" after working at the MTC for at least a few years. Since we have only had three teachers - this is fairly unusual. One thing that Sister Wu did before she left was bring in an "investigator" who we taught together as a whole district - in English. It was a really big learning experience because I was able to see what things in my teaching I could work on, besides learning how to speak the language better.

Things in general are pretty good here. In one week, the missionaries who came in on the same day as my district and I will be the oldest Mandarin speakers in the branch. I feel like I basically am a pro at knowing how the MTC works now - and I still have a few more weeks before I head out. I have yet to break my 80 lap record during one exercise time. Fun fact though - I weighed myself before and after my runs a couple of times this week, and I lose about a pound and a bit just in water within the one hour that I run.

This week the Tuesday devotional was by Sister Oscarson and she shared the clip of Elder Christofferson's story about a currant bush that was cut down. The need for divine direction in our life and correction is something that we must not only accept, but also seek. This, as I am learning, is easy to simply state, but harder to simply follow because sometimes we cannot see anything wrong with what we are doing. I am gaining a testimony though that as we strive to do our best AND seek the Lord's guidance and correction, we will be lead to do what we need to do and what is best for us and others. This is not just a missionary need, it is something that we all can improve on.

Thanks again for your commitment, letters, and love.

Sincerely

Elder Allen.

Pics: 1.The sisters are leaving this week and Elder Yu got to know them as we ran on the track every day - I am just in the picture so that they can take pictures together (mission rules :)). The other Elders are in our zone and leave on Tuesday.

2. Last group picture with Sister Wu

3. Elder Yu and I were twinning.