As of this coming Monday, I have TWO weeks left in the MTC! This is a much needed 6-weeks, but I can't explain how excited I am to head to Mendoza so soon.
On Friday last week I started praying for opportunities to serve others and tried to get my mind off my own emotions. My eyes were opened and I could see opportunities arising everywhere, but then later that night, something really unexpected happened. I was able to be the mouth in a blessing for a Sister in my district that was having some health problems. I had never before participated in a blessing, but it was so great!
For these past 3 weeks, I haven't met anyone from farther East than Utah. Arizona, California, Utah, and Idaho make up 95% of the MTC. That being said, yesterday some Sisters asked our companionship where we are all from (typical question). I said "Connecticut" of course, then they were both like "wow NO WAY?!?!". I was kind of taken back, because no one knows where Connecticut is, let alone remember that it's a state. Then one of them told me that she was from Stratford, Connecticut. WEIRD.
Another interesting thing that happened this week: Elder Erickson got bored during a meeting on Sunday and put his CTR ring on a finger that was slightly too big. After trying every method we knew to remove it without the aid of the internet, He and Elder Marple had to go on an adventure to the hospital to get it off. You'd think "oh okay they'll just cut it off", which they tried doing, but then on a whim the nurse was like "brace yourself". She put on a lubricant and puullllleeedddd for 30 seconds. Elder Erickson said he was screaming. hahaha But we laughed about it when he told us.
Our companionship "honeymoon" period has unofficially ended. Differences are appearing, and there are countless opportunities to be upset. However, I have never learned so much about marriage or relationships in my whole life just because of the fact that I'm with the same two people 24/7. Don't get me wrong, we don't have fist fights brewing every hour; in fact, we are really good friends; but differences are differences. Loving someone is a choice. There are always times when you can respond to a situation in two completely different ways, and love is an easier burden to bear than hatred.
At the devotional tonight I had an impression about the reality of God. Some people go through life with the idea that God is a nonsensical being that fills the immensity of space, when He is actually just a glorified human. He has a heart that aches and pounds, he has fingers that touch, he has eyes that console, and we are literally descendants of him. That knowledge will give people hope. Trust his love for you.
Mucho Amor,
Elder Andrew Burns
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