Week 2

Maayong Buntag!!! 

Holy cow has this been an eventful week! A few days ago I heard someone describe our time at the MTC by saying “Days feel like weeks, and weeks feel like days.” That could honestly not be more true. It’s insane how quick this week went but the days felt soooo long. And it’s finally happened, I’m having dreams of home each night and it just makes me miss home so much but it kinda rejuvenates me out here because I wanna have the best time out here and come back with awesome stories.

Saturday: Our district played sand volleyball but the sand was more like gravel. But of course, yours truly won all three games;)

Sunday: First time going to church at the MTC and of course it was fast Sunday. But luckily I’m always so busy I’m not really thinking of food. Later that night before bed time, all the new missionaries watched a talk by David L. Bednar “Character of Christ” I think it was called. But if you guys haven’t seen or heard of it, oh my goodness did that hit me. Bednar just didn’t beat around the bush, he got to his point quick and with power. It really reminded me why I’m out here. It was such a good talk.

Monday: Today we gave a very very short lesson in our language in ALL Cebuano(Bisaya) it was insanely difficult. We introduced ourselves, asked about his family, work, religion. Then I shared a scripture, Moroni 10:5, then Elder Fleischel bore his testimony, and I said the closing prayer. Bro. Mickell, our teacher(who’s from Portland) said we did really good... hopefully he wasn’t just being polite haha. As I was getting the package from mom I saw a really familiar face. I don’t know if any of you will remember her or her family but it was Sister Mackenzie Stones. I’m pretty sure she was in either the Pringle or Battlecreek ward. Her older brother was Tanner stones and during father son camp outs Bentley and I would always hang out with Tanner. It was awesome seeing a person I recognized. Then during afternoon language class Sister Rush(Hill) Rush is her maiden name, taught us how to bear our testimony and then we went outside to random missionaries and bore our testimony in Bisaya. It was a train wreck with all of us but at least we tried. Then Sister Hill bore her testimony and talked about her mission. Some of it was kinda personal so I won’t share it but it was SOOO powerful and related to me a lot. Sister Hill has become one of my favorite teachers. I love her so much. She is so fun and so real. 

Tuesday: Our district played some spike all and right after was lunch and they were serving cheesesteak sandwiches, pizza sticks, and brownies so my morning and afternoon was awesome. Sister Hill and Sister Kragun(Cray-gin) taught us how to “extend invitions” such as “Would you like to come to church?” Would you like to be baptized?” And stuff like that. It was such a fun class because all of us were struggling together and our teachers knew we were actually trying so we just all kinda had a jolly ‘ol time. That sentence probably didn’t make too much sense but you just had to be there. Then we had a quick hour break so all of us just talked about sports and family. Then we had a devotional by Brother Anderson, a member of the Seventy. It was super good and he showed a video of a section of a talk by Holland “The first Great Commandment” and that was awesome. After the devotional we were supposed to have District devotional council but Elder Winters, Young, Fleischel and I all went to our language study classroom for it, which apparently was the wrong room. So we sat there talking about stuff for like 45min because we lost track of time. So we went back to our dorms and there was the rest of our district about to take showers!! They just joined the other district in our zone and ditched us! But us four who got lost bonded so it wasn’t all that bad.

Wednesday: Cebuano is getting very very very difficult. I really overestimated my ability to pick up on a language. I guess high school Spanish isn’t the same;) haha. But literally any of here free time goes directly to studying the language. During down time and at night I can hear elders running around our hallways or just messing with each other and I’m like “Why aren’t you guys studying???!” But then I realize they are going to English speaking areas. Although I’m glad I’m learning a new language, I would have so little stress here. But God has a plan for us all.

Thursday: Honestly nothing exciting happened today. Woke up, breakfast, exercise, study, lunch, class, dinner, study, class, bedtime.

Friday: Today is P-day which is AMAZING! I Don’t have to do so,etching every minute of the day, although we still have evening language class. But I’m just studying and relaxing all day.

Before I close up the email I wanna share a scripture we saw in our language class. It’s in Zephaniah (which I, if I’m being honest, had never even heard of that book) chapter 3 verse 9. “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” We were talking about the gift of tongues and how God made languages for us to call upon him and help others call upon him. 

The Lord has created anything and everything for us to use to help others come unto Christ. Being out here I’ve realized that there is so much more to this life than being the richest man in the world while owning the biggest candy company in the world(which has been my dream for the past 6 years hahaha). This life is such a small piece in the grand scheme of things and we should be focused on one thing. Becoming more Christ-like. Everyday out here has strengthened my testimony so much and I do know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives. I’ve felt him help me so much and I know that he will help anyone and if we just ask with a sincere heart and real intent, Christ will help and bless you so much. 

Sa ngalan ni Jesukrkristo, amen.

Love, Elder Kasden Grasse

MTC District

Elders Grasse, Winters, Young, and Fleischel