WRITTEN 11/9/2015
Hey everyone!
So, I want to apologize to the people who did write me
last week, that I did not respond to. We didn't really plan how things would go
throughout the day, and I didn't set aside the time to write everyone I should
have. I'm sorry, and I'll be doing better! So this is a longer email!
Here's a TL;DR
"I went to a museum, taught a lesson in half
Spanish, and learned I was a prideful jerk. Also, I only get to email once a
week, you can take five minutes to read the email, guys."
Last Monday, actually, we went to the new Church History
museum! It was really cool, and they have a bunch of neat artifacts from early
church history. And also stuff from the
presidents of the church!
They have I think a replica of the podium that's in the
conference center, and you're able to stand behind it and take pictures. It's
cool! They also have some cool stuff from Howard W. Hunter (Who I was named
after! So I'm glad he had a great last name) and just new facts I didn't know.
Museums are cool!
Two other great things happened this week. First was in a
lesson we taught.
So, we come to teach a woman named Andrea. She's been to
church before, and her sister would totally be baptized, but she's concerned
what her husband and inlaws would think. So, Andrea was curious about what we
believed in and she accepted us to come over! So we have two members in the
Ward who are their friends, and they come with us to the lesson. One other
thing we find out, is her parents (the Espinoza's) want to learn too! Because they also came to
church.
Except they speak Spanish. Very little English, but
enough. So, the member (Sis. Brown, she grew up in Columbia) we have with us
translated. We teach, ask and answer questions, and she'd translate.
It was a fantastic lesson! The Espinoza's have really strong
testimonies and beliefs in God and Jesus Christ already, and Mr. Espinoza said that as he read the Book of Mormon "It
feels just like when I read the Bible. There are the things I read with my
mind, but it also tells things to my heart." And me and Elder Woolf were
shocked! They were just so open and ready to accept the restored gospel. They
committed to a baptism date on December 5th if they prayed and got an answer
that the Book of Mormon was true!
I never wished I was on Spanish assignment more than I
did that day.
I've picked up
bits and pieces of Spanish through my life either in my house (Thanks, Dad!) or
through classes (Thanks, Sis. Cottrell!) but I've picked up so much also on my
mission! It helps sometimes being on exchanges in Spanish areas, (I had to pray
in Spanish on Wednesday, actually! I was super nervous, and it was choppy. But
it was so cool!) or just being with the Spanish missionaries and asking them
what things mean.
I'm actually at the point where I can't really translate
word for word, but I can get a general idea of what someone is talking about.
Maybe President will switch me, haha. The only sad thing
is that they will most likely go the Spanish branch (for obvious reasons) and
so it'll be another set of Elders who teach them.
So that was just a great pickup just by finding someone
who was so open to learn more. It was a nice change.
The second great thing happened actually this Saturday
and Sunday.
So yesterday, we get a call. In one of the wards, the
people who were asked to give a talk Sunday can't do it anymore. So we were
asked to do it. Alright, I've literally walked into a sacrament meeting ten
mins before it started and we got asked to give a talk in the same situation.
So this isn't new! What is new is the subject. We got asked to share a message
on a talk given by Ezra Taft Benson (one of the Presidents of the Church)
titled BEWARE OF PRIDE
It was really interesting, because I will be honest:
being proud is something I've struggled with a lot on my mission. Especially
early on. (Just ask Elder Allapitan, he will back me up on that!) that pride
was being close minded to new ideas.
Then, in the middle of my first year, it was pride in the
form of 'I don't need to follow all the rules, we are still having success'.
That was a hard lesson to learn when it got corrected.
THEN, as if I hadn't been paying attention the first two
times, it happened AGAIN, the very next transfer! This time I wasn't being
considerate of some habits that bothered my companion, and also feigning
ignorance that some of my conversations could border the line of too casual or
flirty, because I didn't think it was really that bad. I had an attitude of
'Well I don't like everything he does, so he'll deal with it, like I am'. Which
was really inconsiderate, and I was a total jerk!
And it would always keep popping up, and could cause big
problems. And I didn't realize that his entire time it was because I had the
same exact problem, but just with a different symptom. Pride. That gigantic
stumbling block.
I thought of all the times I had been through, and how
much greater they could have been if I just humbled myself, and learned to take
correction in a Christlike way! If we look at His entire life, it's nothing but
humility in doing what God wanted Him to do. Never what He wanted. How can I
wear His name on my badge every day, and still be a stubborn bump in the road
of progress? I finally realized that I knew the cause of all the arguments I've
ever had;
Pride.
So, this was one of those times where the talk wasn't
really meant for the listener, but to the one speaking.
Everyone, I invite you to look at yourself today. Think
of some way that you might be having that burden of pride weighing you down.
Maybe it's caring more about what people think, or wanting more than someone
else, thinking you can't learn from someone beneath or above your position, or
holding on to someone who offended you as a justification for having bitter
feelings towards someone or something. There's always something to improve on,
and unless we humble ourselves and ask the Lord for help; we won't be able to
truly fix it.
Ether 12:27
"27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them
their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace
is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble
themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become
strong unto them"
And I can testify that at principle is true.
Alright, that was a long email.
I love you all! And you're always in my prayers. Hope to
hear from you soon!
Love,
Elder Hunter Coleman
Utah SLCW Mission
