Well, it has been a good week! My time here at the MTC is
coming to a close and I have bitter sweet feelings. The MTC has been a place of
learning, growth, incredible difficulty, fantastic memories made, and amazing
people.
Temple walk 2 weeks ago. Our swedish sister left last
monday!! So proud of her. She's the blonde one in the middle. We had some
martinellis to celebrate her departure into the field!
I will really miss singing in the choir here. We sing such
beautiful music each week, and singing it with a choir of about 500 or more
missionaries is a unique experience. This coming week we will be singing
"Praise to the Man" for the Sunday night devotional, and Elder Jeffry
R. Holland's son will be coming to speak to us. He is the president of UVU. I
almost think that Jeffry R. Holland might be there too because our choir
director kept saying "Now we all have to do our best... you're in for a
real treat, and I can't tell you everything... But just please practice your
very best" So I'm really excited to sing that song. I get goosebumps every
time I hear that song, let alone singing it with 500 other missionaries that
are going out into the world to teach about the restoration of the gospel and
share testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I'm just so excited. I have such
love and respect for Joseph Smith and I am honored to be able to sing that
glorious hymn.
The language has been a real struggle for me. I am having a
really hard time with all of the grammar. This week it felt like learning math
for me...... And everyone knows how much I love math. Prayers to help me learn
the language would be much appreciated.
We study so much every single day. By friday and saturday
nights, we just want to hang out with each other. This past saturday night, the
other sisters in my district/ roommates and I decided to have a massage train
and the person in the front had to read out of the Book Of Mormon in Italian
and after 5 verses, we would try to explain what was said, and then we would
switch positions. It was pretty great.
I also got sick this week, so I literally spent 10 hours on
friday asleep. Not very productive... But I'm feeling a little better now. We
got our flight plans too! It made everything so real... I can't believe we are
flying out of here in 7 days... It makes me want to pass out... But I'm so
excited.
Basically what I learned this week is that it's okay to have
weaknesses. We all have them. Not a single one of us is perfect, and we all
need to be okay with admitting that. Weaknesses are given to us so that we can
more fully turn to Christ and use his atonement to turn those weaknesses into
strengths. I love the opportunity that I have every single day to become better
and to ask my Savior for help. I know that he desires to help me and as I
continue to ask for that help, he never fails to give it to me.
I also have gained a greater love for the Book of Mormon. I
have never read it so earnestly and fervently before. I have felt tremendous
strength and power come into my life through reading from it's pages. I testify
that it is true, and that whoever reads it with a humble and open heart WILL
KNOW of it's truthfulness and will be brought closer to Jesus Christ and
Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon is a literal testament of Christ and of his
teachings. I know that it is true. I have asked, and continue to ask God to
know of a surety that it is. Each time I do, I feel a calm and peaceful
reassurance in my heart and mind that it is. No bad man could write it. No GOOD
man could write it. It is not something that someone could ever make up. When
Elder Bednar came to speak to us he said, "I'd give someone 100 years, and
they could not produce a single page of the Book of Mormon.." I know that
to be true. I love the Book of Mormon, and I love the spirit that I feel as I
read it.
I am grateful to be a missionary. I have learned a lot about
myself. I continue to learn a lot about myself and about the plan that God has
for me and all of His children. I am so grateful for the gospel. I am so
grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the help and strength that he gives me
every single day. I don't get to have a lovey hug from my dad or mom, I don't
get to go for late night t-bell runs with Quinten, Jesse, Nick, or Kelly, I
don't get to spend time with Josh, but what I do get is to have the spirit with
me every single day, and I do get to have my elder brother and friend, Jesus
Christ comfort me and help me through my trials, I do get to have my loving
Heavenly Father send me inspiration and personal revelation every single day,
and for me, that is more than enough right now. I have been so blessed by being
a missionary thus far. This is truly God's work and I am so grateful that I get
to be a tool and instrument in His hands to bring His children back to
Him.
We have 7 days left here at the MTC! That last pic was taken
today. We are all so excited to be heading out. But I'm also incredibly nervous
at the same time. I don't feel ready at all. But I know that I'll have my elder
brother Jesus Christ with me, and I know that my Heavenly Father will not let
me fail as long as I strive to do His will with all my heart.
I love you all.
Thank you for your continued support.
love,
Sorella Tokarski
