Funny short story:
Every Wednesday a new batch of missionaries come into the MTC. Not always new Korean speakers, but Elders and Sisters going everywhere in the world. So it’s dinner time, we have new missionaries circulating and experiencing their first meal at the MTC. I’m just standing in line, minding my own business, switching between studying the Book of Mormon (몰몬경) and Korean. When all of a sudden, I hear someone talking to me from behind saying “Comos da! Comos da!” Yes... Tagalog... I turn around and see these fresh new missionaries, with wide smiles because they get to practice the Tagalog they just learned on day 1. Of course by this time, I had learned a decent amount of Tagalog to play the part of being Filipino and started talking back to start a conversation. They look at each other and say “oh... we haven’t learned that much yet...” So we continue the conversation in English, which was a little hard because I speak very little English, but I manage to hold up the conversation. We find out they’re both from Utah, and I tell them in my best native, American accent (not Native American, but native... American) that “I’m from AZ and Native American, and that the Filipino that they want to practice Tagalog is over there.” Pretty sure they freaked out inside their heads and are probably a little hesitant to speak Tagalog openly from now on. Then I still get asked every devotional, if I need headset translation for the meeting. I just respond with my “international” accent that “I speak English very good”. Then proceed to take my comfortable and spacious floor seating for the international missionaries (선교사들). So all is well!
I want to apologize for being maybe a little too open about my experiences in the MTC. I know for some, the image of the missionary should be perfect and that we are perfect disciples of Jesus Christ. I mean we are representatives of Jesus Christ and wear His name on our chest 24/7. I feel like, for the most part, I’m a pretty open book. I have no problem sharing my challenges and thoughts. At West Point, it was “you’re wrong. Fix this. You’re stupid. Move on, because we have work to do and no time to cry about it.” I grew used to this after being told a couple times that I’m useless, or a waste of taxpayers money, or should out-process (leave) from West Point. So I’m a little hardened and used to this. I’ve tried handling stuff this way a couple times and it hasn’t worked... So to those who told me that dealing with high school graduates would be my biggest challenge... in 2 years you have permission to tell me “I told you so”. Or feel free to email me that. However, as I’ve expressed my challenges I’ve received emails that have helped me and inspired me on what to do, which I’m so grateful for. Additionally, I think it shows that we as missionaries struggle too. Yes, we are called to represent Jesus Christ and proclaim His gospel, but we are human too. Isn’t that what this church is? A hospital for those struggling? Don’t we all struggle and have challenges? We as missionaries go out to gather patients for this hospital, showing them that even though we struggle. We rely on the Gospel and Atonement of Jesus Christ to grow, become better and overcome our challenges. And you can too! That imperfect people can go out, with proper and constant application of the Atonement can go out and be representatives of Jesus Christ. Giving hope that other people can also become better people through the Gospel. Additionally, if God can perform His most important work in the history of mankind, the gathering of Israel or bringing to pass the eternal life of men, through a bunch of imperfect 18, 19, 20, and 21 year olds. Think of what He can do through you. Not all missionaries are like my companion and I. I’ve seen a ton of tremendous missionaries who just emanate the Spirit of Christ. So don’t worry. Also know that there is hope for you.
I love being a missionary. I love putting on the nametag on my chest that bears the name of Jesus Christ (예수 그리스도). I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (예수 그리스도 후기 성도교회) is God’s Church on earth. The very church established by Jesus Christ when He was on the earth. Restored by a prophet named Joseph Smith. He literally saw God the Eternal Father and Jesus Christ after a simple act of faith to pray to find and know the truth from the main source, our Heavenly Father (하나님 아버지). We aren’t just some church that teaches and talks about God and Jesus Christ. We are THE church of Jesus Christ. We hold the power and authority to do God’s work, called the Priesthood. The same power that was used to create this world and everything within it. We baptize and confer the gift of the Holy Ghost by the authority given from God.
저는 예수 그리스도의 대표자입니다. 우리는 예수 그리스도에 대 해 가르칩니다. 저는 예수 그리스도의 복음을 통 해, 가족이 영원할 수 있다는 것을 알고 있습니다. 몰몬경에 대 해 기도한다면, 우리는 하나님의 사랑과 응답을 받게습니다. 예수 그리스도의 복음을 통 해, 저는 해복됩니다.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.” - Moroni 7:48
It was Sister Urbano’s birthday (the Filipino sister in the center) and apparently birthdays are a huge deal in the Philippines, and she kept telling us that she’s expecting a huge surprise.... so we came up with a scavenger hunt to send her on around the MTC with everyone in our district being at different stations with letters written to her. Then all of us meeting at where the Filipino flag was raised on the MTC campus. However, they took down all the flags early so we had to make our own Filipino flag (you can see it taped to the pole. Hwang 장로님 and I made a last minute Filipino flag with markers and scripture markers.) She was very happy and in tears by the end of the scavenger hunt, so mission accomplished!
Our (우리의) zone with the new missionaries (선교사들) after the older 선교사들 left.