Say Nothing Contrary to the Spirit of the Lord

Hello Brothers and Sisters!

I made it to P-day! It's only been three days since I arrived at the MTC, but it feels like weeks have gone by already. It's absolutely incredible how much you can learn in so short a time, when the spirit is your teacher. And the spirit has definitely been the greatest teacher, companion, and comfort during the time I've spent here. There have been very few times when the spirit wasn't present. It's beautiful, and a great confirmation that what I'm doing is the will of our Father.

The first day we arrived was a madhouse. There was so much to do, and so little time to do it. We met our district briefly, and then had a bunch of classes. My companion, Elder Orme (no relation to the Ormes at camp) is incredible! He's from West Point, and has a very logical approach to the gospel, but that logic is fueled by a fierce emotional desire to share the gospel with as many people as he can. He's going to be an amazing missionary. We actually were able to teach three investigators as a big group on Wednesday evening. That was amazing. We were teaching one, his name is Robbie, and I felt prompted stronger that I ever have that I needed to share my testimony with him. So I did, in front of all the other missionaries, and I before I knew what I was doing, I had committed him to read the Book of Mormon and to pray for faith to understand the teachings God has for him there. It was amazing. It served as a great testimony and introduction to me of the importance of following the spirit when teaching. The spirit is what converts people. Not my message, no matter how well written that message might be. So long as I do nothing to impede the spirit, I can be a conduit of that power, and deliver the message that the spirit needs them to be taught. It's incredible!

Anyway, day one was incredibly uplifting and exhausting. I slept super well that night. I thought I understood what it was like to be spiritually exhausted after that. But I was so wrong.

Thursday was a crazy day. I really got to know my district well that day. We're a big district I guess. I think there's normally 5 or 6 companionships, whereas we have 8, making our district 16 missionaries strong. There are 10 Elders, and 6 Sisters, and I love them all SO MUCH! We have the best district ever, period. Everyone is SO in tune with the spirit, and has such an incredible love for the Lord, and for each other. Our class time each day, where we meet as a district, has become the most precious time. The spirit is so thick when we're all in that room, and I haven't ever been so happy. Everyone smiles all the time. :D

To make my district even cooler, all 10 Elders are going to serve in Des Moines as well! None of the Sisters will be, but three of them will be right next door, in the Winter Quarters Visitors Center. The other three Sisters will be in London, Washington DC Temple Visitors Center, and in Salt Lake City East. There are also two other companionships in my zone that will be serving in Des Moines, and we've been hearing rumors that there's a Sister here who is going there as well, but we have yet to verify that she exists.

Thursday night we met our Branch Presidency, and were assigned a District Leader, Elder Barney, who is going to Des Moines, of course. He's honestly the most incredible young man I've probably ever met. The power he teaches with, and the spirit that follows him are testimonies of that. He honestly reminds me of Alma or Amulek in the boldness and power with which he teaches. I'm so glad that I'll be able to serve in the same mission as him, and can't wait to see the lives he will change.

Friday was much better, exhaustion-wise. We got lost three or four times as a district, but that really helped us get closer to each other. We started trying to eat together, but the it's hard enough to keep track of your companion, let alone 14 other missionaries.

Elder Orme and I were also able to teach our first investigator by ourselves yesterday. Her name is Elizabeth, and I love her so much! She moved to BYU to study music, and she plays the Oboe. She has been feeling like her life has no direction, and feels super lost and alone. We had a great lesson planned, we prayed before teaching her, but when we walked in, the spirit did not come with us. I felt so lost, like we weren't getting anywhere. It was bad, awkward, and frustrating. I said a quick prayer while Elder Orme was trying to recover the lesson, and I got the distinct impression to talk about the Oboe. So I totally derailed the lesson we had planned, and started talking to her about the Oboe. The spirit flooded the room at that point, and the conversation flowed right from music and how we practice it, to faith, and how to show it. The spirit had taken over at that point, and it was beautiful. We committed her to pray for an increase in faith, and to read the Book of Mormon with faith to receive direction from the Lord. We asked her to say the closing prayer, and she offered a beautiful, simple plea for faith. You could feel how much God loved her, and we couldn't help but love her too. I hope we'll have a chance to teach her again.

So that's kinda how things have gone. I've left out so much, but there's no way to put the experience I've had in the MTC into words. Just go on a mission and see for yourself. It's worth all the sacrifice already, and I've only been here for three days.

I love you all! More importantly, God loves you all! We all have things we need to do to draw closer to Him, and Christ is there to help you overcome those things. I promise that if you pray for a knowledge of those things that are holding you back, and have the humility and faith that Christ will overcome those for you, if you turn to Him, you will overcome those trials, and you can come closer to Christ. I testify that Christ is mighty to save, that God loves us more than we can tell,and the Spirit can direct, sanctify, and draw you nearer to Christ. I have felt that love and power, and I challenge you to feel that same power, and to do whatever you need to do to feel that. This I pray on your behalf, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Alma 11:22

Godspeed,

Elder Housholder