2 Weeks Down

Buenos dias!

The MTC continues to be one of the toughest, and best, experiences I've had.  A day doesn't go by when I'm not tired, yet when I get back to my bed, my mind is racing with all of the things I have heard, and it is almost impossible to fall asleep.  I can't believe how much I have learned about the gospel, and myself, in the short time I have been here.  I had heard you are never ready for a mission before you get our on one, but I had no idea how unprepared I was until now.

For some crazy reason this past week, they decided to make me the district leader for our small district.  There isn't too much this adds to my work load, yet I find I am missing the little time it did take, particularly on Sundays.  Still, I'm sure they gave the task to me for a reason, and I will try to live up to it.  

This morning, we decided to do initiatory work instead of an endowment session.  When he was interviewing me for my temple recommend, President Brumble told me that I should try to go back and do the initiatory work every once in a while.  I can see why he gave me this advice.  For how simple it is, there is so much more to this ordinance than meets the eye.  I highly recommend everybody do this work when they get the chance.

This last Sunday we watched a couple videos after the devotional.  The first one was about John Tanner, and the second one was on John Rowe Moyle.  It's very interesting to watch these two videos back to back, because both of these men had a very similar struggle.  John Tanner had a disease that would kill him if he didn't have his leg amputated.  He met with the missionaries, and when they saw it, they healed his leg.  He then went on to save the Kirkland temple from bankruptcy, and ended up giving away all his earthly possessions, totaling about $50,000 in the 1830s, to help the church progress.  John Rowe Moyle was one of the first handcart pioneers.  When he reached Utah, he settled in Alpine.  Since he was a stone mason, he was given the assignment to work on the Salt Lake temple.  Every Monday, he would get up at 4 in the morning and walk the 22 miles to the temple.  Then one day, the family cow kicked his leg, causing a compound fracture which required immediate amputation.  After his leg was removed, he designed his own prosthetic leg, which he acclimated himself to using until he could walk the 22 miles to the temple.  I found it interesting that they played these two videos together, because one man had enough faith for his leg to be saved, and the other had enough faith to make his own when he lost his.  I guess this is how our life is.  Sometimes God moves the mountain, but usually he gives us the strength to move ourselves.  I'm hoping he will give me that kind of strength.

I miss you all so much, but I still know this is where I'm supposed to be.  I hope I will continue to progress.  Stay strong, and know I love you.

Love,

Elder Samuel Long

p.s. Elder is elder in Spanish as well.