Erickson Family,
How’s life? Thanks for all the love you’re sending this way with all the cards. You can use dearelder.com to save on postage if you like. Hey, so I’m going to have an eight hour layover in New Zealand. Want to see if there’s a Visa or something I can get quickly so I can go and get out of the airport? Eight hours is a lot of time just reading scriptures and staying within “sight and sound” of your companion (yes, I’ll take a companion with me if I can get out of the airport). So let me know about all that.
Time here is seriously flying by. I’ve never done something that seems so slow and fast at the same time. Sometimes those three hour classes seem to drag on forever. But other times I look back on the day and I’m amazed that it’s already over! The MTC is crazy. What’s really neat is seeing homey’s from BYU with a name tag and a smile. It’s awesome to see “regular people” be missionaries. Hey, if I can be a missionary, anyone can. I hear Rachel invited some friends church! That’s great! In the missionary purpose it says we are to “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. (Preach My Gospel 1)
I think that first word is so important! All we can do sometimes is invite. Something that can be simple can really have a big impact on someone for the rest of their lives. Elder Groberg (Other Side of Heaven Guy) came and spoke at the Tuesday night devotional. I got to sit second row in the middle and shake his hand after! Realini! The whole point of his talk was that we can share our testimonies in different ways and that we should share it often, especially as missionaries.” One quote he used from President Monson was “You will never be able to measure your influence for good.” If you ever need something gospel-y to share, just talk about your favorite person in the world going to Samoa for two years to share his beliefs.
Anyways, that’s a bummer that school is starting back up! There’s no doubt that MTC > School. (Even though the MTC is like school on steroids with no chance of leaving) Give the old WFHS a hello and goodbye for me (mostly goodbye). Make sure you study hard and TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS! (Bennett, Matthew, Thomas).
Let me know what kind of stuff you want me to include in my letters! I’m kind of at a loss for words and really don’t want to just give a schedule of what I did this week.
Things with my companion are good, we get along well! My district on the other hand gets on my nerves at times. It’s pretty tough spending lots of time with the same nine guys in the same classroom day after day. It’s good at times but other times we just need a bit of space. Ha ha, It’s really hard seeing these mountains and knowing I can’t just go up into the canyon and go for a hike or chill in a hammock. In Samoa, I’m sure I’ll be doing all I can to get inside a house but at the moment I just want some nature. The temple grounds are great! They have lots of flowers out and it’s beautiful seeing Angel Moroni line up with Rock Canyon. Especially in the morning when the sun is peeking through.
Well, I love you all and hope all is well back in good ol’ Georgia.
Here’s some vocab for y’all:
Sekia = Awesome
Malumalu = Temple
Olioli = Joy
Faiafetai = Thank You
O a ou manatu e uiga i le Alua? = What are your thoughts on God?
(Don’t forget, a “g” makes and “ng” sound)
Alofa,
Elder Erickson
Elder Erickson in Samoa 