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| Elder Hamm in front of the Provo LDS Temple - look at those mountains! |
Welllllllll
I've survived my first week in the MTC and I have to say...not as bad
as I would/did expect. Time here is like everyone says it is. The days
go very slowly as you have class for 7 hours a day and are running on an
average of 7-8 hours of sleep. I was always told that the times when
Satan can tempt you the most can be put into the acronym HALT. The times
when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. The irony is clear but I
feel as though I should elaborate anyway. Over the past week and a half I
have at one time or another experienced all these feelings, and even
some of them in combination at the same time. I know what you're
thinking though, you have to have a companion wherever you go...let me
tell you something. This in NO way means that you don't feel lonely.
Especially when you and your companion might not share quiteee the same
interests. But anyhow things are going great. The food is good and going
through me better than ever (be that good or otherwise), I absolutely
LOVE my district and I have been honored and excited for the opportunity
to serve as district leader.
So this past
week has been pretty good. I'm loving gym although something about the
difference in altitude here has clearly thrown off my shot just a bit.
;) but I will be adjusting soon I'm sure. It's hard not to be totally
competitive sometimes because some guys here think that if you play well
enough you get out a couple weeks early. But most of the people realize
its just for fun and we have a fun, clean, ....well maybe just
fun game. I have been going to class and learning a tonnnn of Spanish. I
can't believe how much i have already learned even though I've been
here such a short time. i can honestly say that i have never in my life
experienced such high quality teachers! My teachers are the greatest and
they bring a fresh new perspective to our classes as well as real
in-field experience which helps for laughs and advice.
I think
that my favorite teacher out of all of them is Hermano P. He is
sooo funny and he is from the East Coast too! He was like oh I'm from
D.C. and I was like wait but really from DC? and he was like only an
East Coaster would ask that question!! haha and I was like yah I'm from
Ashburn and he said he's from Herndon! so ask around. He is getting
married in 13 days and then going back to the East to visit family. He
is so awesome though. He relates really well and took the time to
actually get to know us individually. And he has a great sense of humor
when he teaches but then suddenly he is so in-tune to the spirit, it's
great.
So the MTC is
getting RIDICULOUSLY crowded. Like you wouldn't believe it. The lunch
room is like a Zoo in there...except in the zoo the animals are in cages
so you aren't worried about spilling your tray food all over them. With
the new influx of missionaries we have also had to add new beds to the
rooms. Each room is built for 4 missionaries and we are about to have 6.
This morning they asked us to go downstairs at 6:30 to help them carry
up the new beds to our rooms and then build them....kinda sounds like
hiring someone to dig their own grave...except the word hire implies pay
which we would not get haha luckily they canceled it, unluckily it was
during our temple time so we missed our session...but then luckily
again, we were able to get into a later session and it was really great.
I have
been realizing something about leadership in the short time that i have
been here. I received an impression on Sunday while in a district
meeting about leadership. I have found it curiously UN-ironic that the
picture on the front of the District leadership binder is of Christ
washing the feet of the disciples. It was impressed upon me that leaders
are given power. But the power that they are given is to have enough
strength and meekness to realize that they have been placed in this
position not over but under those whom they have been
given stewardship over. Christ washed the feet of his disciples because
of an everlasting, perfect love. Now it's time that I have some of that
same humble love as i serve my district. Speaking to this point there is
something that happened to me this past week that is one of the most
powerful, testimony building experiences dealing with personal
revelation that i have ever had. I'd like to share the story with you
now:
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| Elder Hamm with his MTC district |
As the leader of
my district, it is my job to collect the mail twice a day. You have to
know that here in the MTC mail to a missionary, is like a 9 Volt battery
for a toy car- it's what keeps you going through the tougher times. So a
few days ago I was worried about a few members of my district because
they had not been getting any mail, or very VERY little mail. I of
course felt bad for them and began to think of ways that I might be able
to help them. I knew they wouldn't care if they got a letter from me,
or at least that it wouldn't mean the same to them. So I thought up the
idea that I could ask them for their addresses under the presumption
that I was going to use it to write/find them after the mission. Then I
would be able to send a letter to their parents saying something like
"Hey, I'm your son/daughters district leader and mail here is what every
missionary looks forward to so I would encourage you to try and send as
many letters as possible to your missionary. Thanks" Something along
those lines. But that night as i lay in bed, a dark feeling came over
me. I couldn't figure out why i felt this way because my idea was
harmless and it was service to my district members. But i knew it must
not be as good an idea as i thought. Then the next night i was praying
and asked God to help me know again whether it was a good idea or not.
After getting up from my prayer, the same dark feeling came over me.
Something just isn't right. I walked over to my desk to turn out the
lights and paused as I saw my Spanish scriptures laying there. I felt
prompted to open them up to Alma so I did. When i reached Alma I felt so
clearly to turn to chapter 12 (which I haven't ever read) so I did.
Then just as clearly I was impressed to read verse 5. Which I couldn't
because it's in spanish and the language of the scriptures "es muy raro"
or very strange. So I opened up my English BoM and ended up reading 4-6
which you should open up and read....like now. But for those of you not
owning/near The Book of Mormon I will paraphrase. It says something
like: "Thy plan was a subtle plan, even a sublte plan of the devil as
thou sought to deceive this people. For the devil hath exercised his
power over thee, that plan was a snare set by the adversary that he
might chain you and drag you down to destruction." So i had really
gotten an answer haha but then the next day one of the elders was saying
he wished he could get just even one letter. Again I felt sorrow for
him and the plan again flashed through my mind as I reflected on the
feelings I'd had and the scripture I'd read. How could it be so bad?!
Then the final witness came so powerfully that night as i sat in class
inspired to read my patriarchal blessing. I know you aren't supposed to share it but I feel comfortable sharing that a small part promised me that through prayer I would receive teachings from the Holy Ghost that were different from my own inclination.
I am left searching for words as
the incredible wisdom of the Father surrounds me. I'm so grateful for
the power and influence of the Spirit in my life and there is no doubt
in my mind of the power of the Holy Ghost and revelation. Since all of
this happened, each and every one of the members of my district has
gotten letters, AND each member has gotten at least one package. So God
works in mysterious ways, but He always works.
Love, Josh
.JPG) |
| Provo, Utah LDS Temple with Wasatch Mountains behind |
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