Well I FINISHED WEEK 9 OF THE MTC!!! I know what you’re thinking, “shouldn’t you be on a plane right now to the Land Down Under? Shouldn’t we be getting an email after your 2 days of traveling?” Then I would say “those are fantastic questions. Great, high quality questions...” So, here’s the story: It’s Friday, my district and I are gearing up to get on our planes to head out and start harvesting for the Lord. Our zone leaders come into the classroom abruptly, and tell me that they have a phone call for me from the front desk that I need to take now. Well with this abruptness and out of the blue entrance, of course my mind starts wondering and trying to figure out what in the world is going on. I go out of the classroom and answer the phone. I’m told that I need to go to the travel office immediately. So I go down and am told that my Mission President doesn’t want me... kidding, totally kidding President Runia. No but he did decide to have me come next week with 7 other English missionaries so we can arrive during the transfer. For some reason, non-English speaking missionaries going to Australia are all off by a week from transfers while English speakers come in right on transfer date. So instead of traveling alone today, I’ll travel with 7 other missionaries next Monday. So I get an extra week of learning Korean, studying the Book of Mormon, helping the newer Korean speaking missionaries, and do family temple ordinances. I was disappointed at first, but what honestly hurt the most was saying goodbye to my district. It was gonna happen eventually because I’m the only one going to Australia that is Korean speaking. We grew a lot together as a district and they became my family. I saw their high and low points. Watched them grow. Then they saw the same from me. When I was the district leader for the first 3 weeks, Heavenly Father let me see a glimpse of His love for them. Afterwards, that pure Christlike love grew for each and every single member of my district. I know they are gonna change lives. Out of the other districts I’ve seen, I was blessed with one of the most obedient, spiritually sensitive, motivated, hardworking missionaries. Our goal was to go out and do the Lord’s work and help His children come to know that there is a Supreme Creator who is all powerful, all knowing, and ultimately our Heavenly Father. He provided a plan for us to return to Him that is made possible through Jesus Christ. Additionally, through Jesus Christ, we can overcome any weakness or trial, and come out stronger than before. Our goal is to some day reach perfection, but that is only possible through Jesus Christ. We’re not trying to increase numbers or get more money. We’re just trying to help people find true, pure joy. Joy that lasts longer than just in the moment or far greater than just “having fun” or “being happy”. I’ve felt it and I just want others to feel it too. It’s the greatest thing in the world. More powerful than any drug or authority.
So this week, I just wanna share some things that I learned from each member of my district that helped me grow and on my journey to become a more Christlike missionary:
Elder Malaskey: this message is so important that people will pull it out of the garbage (literally) to know of it. Also, you taught me to continually open my mouth. Always be willing and eager to share thoughts and try even if you may fail. To truly be like Nephi in 1 Nephi 4:6
Elder Lucas: I love how he just knew everyone in the MTC. Not from before the mission, but had taken time to truly meet, get to know and connect with as many people as he possibly could. Even if we were running late to something or trying to get somewhere, he would always take the time to build relationships and connect with all.
Elder Madrona: He showed me to not be afraid to let my guard down. Even though we saw this later and he learned this himself at the end. Letting yourself be vulnerable sometimes let’s people see the real you makes your words all the more powerful.
Elder Streeter: You are very easily the next Elder Uchtdorf with all your plane talk and love, but I loved watching you grow and become a great district leader that God qualifies those He calls. I know calls are inspired and I truly felt Gods guidance and love through you. So thank you for acting and speaking by the Spirit.
Elder Johanson: Thank you for being my reminder of quiet time during the last few days. It was a reminder to use that time properly. Even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong and was sharing experience or advice with other missionaries. That was my time to ponder over the days events and prepare for the next day. You were just helping me.
Elder Torres: You’re just a huge teddy bear that always rejected my hugs. I aspired to have the doctrinal knowledge you had in your short 4 years as a member. You were called as a Seminary teacher shortly after you were baptized and you sacrificed your dream to come out on a mission despite not wanting to originally. I look up to you.
Elder Kunde: Thank you for keeping the mood light and making learning 한국말 fun. You showed me that people are always watching even when you think they aren’t. Thank you for thinking a lot of me and helping my self-confidence. Now you can stop looking at me haha.
Sister Johnson: Thanks for showing me what it looks like to truly draw people to you from the light of the Gospel that shines so bright from you. You brighten everyone’s day and everyone enjoys being around you. You know how to take a joke and dish it back.
Sister Wray: You helped me realize how important it is to not only love the people, but also to just love yourself and appreciate yourself every now and then. You helped me see some things about myself that I overlooked.
Elder Bae: I’m so glad you joined us from Korea. You were patient with my lack of Korean and poor Korean. Man you’re so great.
Elder Hwang: You reminded me to just find joy in the journey, beyond always working. One of the most important lessons, because this is a gospel of joy, God gave us the Plan of Happiness. “Men are that they might have joy”.
These missionaries are gonna be incredible and I was so absolutely, beyond belief blessed to have each and every one in my district. That’s what made it so hard to say goodbye to them. They became family and I can’t wait to see them again after the mission and be as the sons of Mosiah and Alma in Alma 17.
Ready for another great week in the MTC.
Elder Escamilla
New and improved nametag! P.S. it says Elder Escamilla, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in case you weren’t sure
My district saying goodbye to Sister Oh one of our phenomenal Korean and doctrine teachers. She was a perfect Christlike teacher and helped all of us immensely. Brother Oh too, but he was more of the comedic relief haha.
We had a surprise new district of missionaries come in this week which was unusual because they normally come in 3 week cycles, but this time it was after 2 weeks
Filipinos and their selfies and pictures
Always a good day when the 호주 flag is flying
Elder Hwang and I’s nonmember (Dajeong Kim/김디정) that we’ve been teaching for the past 3 weeks. We became really good friends by our last visit and tears were shed.
Gotta get in all-Filipino picture obviously. We got 3 new Filipino missionaries and they still don’t believe that I don’t have any Filipino in me. They think I’m lying. My accent when speaking Tagalog got decent so they are still convinced I’m Filipino. I just keep pointing at the Book of Mormon say that “this is my family history”
Our last picture together as a whole district
One of our last times singing together as a district. "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" (in Korean)
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/god-be-with-you-till-we-meet-again?lang=eng