Mom,
[Note from Mom: This first section answers the myriad of questions I shot at him in my email] My companion is from Santaquin Utah and loves to play tennis and watch it, so that's good haha. Being a zone leader isnt too bad. We helped with orientation of the new district in our zone yesterday and that was awesome. They're gonna be good :). I have learned so much, probably the most important being that I definitely cannot do this on my own. I have to rely on the spirit to teach because that's what actually helps investigators learn and rely on the Lord as well. I had a really hard day on Monday, [he told me in a second email he was feeling inadequate and overwhelmed], but as I relied more on the Lord and his love and focused more outside of myself I really found comfort. I leave on Tuesday to Florida and i gotta wake up at 2:00 in the morning to pack and shower and leave by 3:30 for the SLC airport... WOOOOO haha. It's gonna be awful. We go to Atlanta first then to Fort Lauderdale and should be there by around noon??? I dont stay the night at the mission home. I am given a companion right away and we continue my training in the field?? I honestly don't know the plan as of right now. I am playing volleyball every day and a sister in my district used to play setter so I can get some really good jumping and hitting in which is really relaxing for me and makes me feel at home. I am sleeping alright i guess. The schedule is a bit weird, but i will get it down just in time to throw it all off by traveling to Atlanta :P.
I've been doing alright. We have been teaching investigators here at the MTC who volunteer to be taught which has been awesome. We invited one to be baptized and he is planning on it and preparing for it which is amazing. He has really come to know Christ well and we are so proud of him and the progress he has made in just the short time we have been here. He is also going to church with a friend of his next Sunday when he gets home from a trip to California.
I didnt realize that I could love people and care about them as much as I do only having known them for a few days. It's quite amazing what the Lord blesses us with when we give all that we can give. I have really been trying to live by your D.H.A.I.E statement [this is an inside joke between myself and Ian...and is probably not appropriate for some people. If you just cannot stand the intrigue, private message me and I will tell you what the acronym stands for] and it has been paying off :) I put myself out there and the Lord does the rest with the people I teach, which is amazing. My teachers in class are the greatest and I love them so much. They have helped me become a much better missionary and person in my life and its only been a week!!! They have so much experience and care so much about us which really helps.
I was so scared about teaching for the first few times and was afraid I wouldnt know what to say, but once the spirit is there he helps you know what to say which is great. There goes one of my fears :) I havent had any experience street contacting or anything like that yet though so we will see how I adjust to doing that. I keep you all in my prayers and in my thoughts (when i have a second to breathe of course). I was able to go to the temple today and that was such an amazing experience going through with my District. It was really awesome :) I love the temple so much, the spirit is so strong there. One of my teachers told us that the next most spiritual place he has ever seen in the world [besides the temple] is the MTC, and it is definitely true. There is something about this place that really brings and keeps the spirit very close by :)
I think that is about everything that I have for you guys today. I think I am going to write a general letter next that you can send out to people and such [he ran out of time]. Oh and have America and Stewart email me so I can have a thread with them as well :) If you want to send me letters use "Dear Elder" [an MTC letter writing website] because it is free while I am in the MTC... and I can get them really quick, which is awesome. I wont be able to respond right away though but I would love to get some jolts of hope and love throughout the rest of my time here it would be awesome :)
I love you all so very much and hope you are doing good and holding up without me ;)
Love, Elder Foster
[Note from Mom: This first section answers the myriad of questions I shot at him in my email] My companion is from Santaquin Utah and loves to play tennis and watch it, so that's good haha. Being a zone leader isnt too bad. We helped with orientation of the new district in our zone yesterday and that was awesome. They're gonna be good :). I have learned so much, probably the most important being that I definitely cannot do this on my own. I have to rely on the spirit to teach because that's what actually helps investigators learn and rely on the Lord as well. I had a really hard day on Monday, [he told me in a second email he was feeling inadequate and overwhelmed], but as I relied more on the Lord and his love and focused more outside of myself I really found comfort. I leave on Tuesday to Florida and i gotta wake up at 2:00 in the morning to pack and shower and leave by 3:30 for the SLC airport... WOOOOO haha. It's gonna be awful. We go to Atlanta first then to Fort Lauderdale and should be there by around noon??? I dont stay the night at the mission home. I am given a companion right away and we continue my training in the field?? I honestly don't know the plan as of right now. I am playing volleyball every day and a sister in my district used to play setter so I can get some really good jumping and hitting in which is really relaxing for me and makes me feel at home. I am sleeping alright i guess. The schedule is a bit weird, but i will get it down just in time to throw it all off by traveling to Atlanta :P.
I've been doing alright. We have been teaching investigators here at the MTC who volunteer to be taught which has been awesome. We invited one to be baptized and he is planning on it and preparing for it which is amazing. He has really come to know Christ well and we are so proud of him and the progress he has made in just the short time we have been here. He is also going to church with a friend of his next Sunday when he gets home from a trip to California.
I didnt realize that I could love people and care about them as much as I do only having known them for a few days. It's quite amazing what the Lord blesses us with when we give all that we can give. I have really been trying to live by your D.H.A.I.E statement [this is an inside joke between myself and Ian...and is probably not appropriate for some people. If you just cannot stand the intrigue, private message me and I will tell you what the acronym stands for] and it has been paying off :) I put myself out there and the Lord does the rest with the people I teach, which is amazing. My teachers in class are the greatest and I love them so much. They have helped me become a much better missionary and person in my life and its only been a week!!! They have so much experience and care so much about us which really helps.
I was so scared about teaching for the first few times and was afraid I wouldnt know what to say, but once the spirit is there he helps you know what to say which is great. There goes one of my fears :) I havent had any experience street contacting or anything like that yet though so we will see how I adjust to doing that. I keep you all in my prayers and in my thoughts (when i have a second to breathe of course). I was able to go to the temple today and that was such an amazing experience going through with my District. It was really awesome :) I love the temple so much, the spirit is so strong there. One of my teachers told us that the next most spiritual place he has ever seen in the world [besides the temple] is the MTC, and it is definitely true. There is something about this place that really brings and keeps the spirit very close by :)
I think that is about everything that I have for you guys today. I think I am going to write a general letter next that you can send out to people and such [he ran out of time]. Oh and have America and Stewart email me so I can have a thread with them as well :) If you want to send me letters use "Dear Elder" [an MTC letter writing website] because it is free while I am in the MTC... and I can get them really quick, which is awesome. I wont be able to respond right away though but I would love to get some jolts of hope and love throughout the rest of my time here it would be awesome :)
I love you all so very much and hope you are doing good and holding up without me ;)
Love, Elder Foster