Elder JJ Litster in the Land Down Under: Week 2: MTC

Hello everyone! I love love love being a missionary! sIt feels like I just got to the mtc yesterday, but also like I've been here forever!

I know I said this last week, but I love my companions so much! I dont know if I said this last week, but my companions are Elder Rees from College Station, Texas, and Elder Sabey from Littleton Colorado! Elder Rees is brilliant and getting so good at Korean already, just from hard work and dedication to the Lord! And Elder sabey is awesome too! He played soccer for Arapahoe High School, but our soccer teams never played each other. They're both going to the Korea Seoul South Mission. I'm way excited for them. Everyone in my district is going to Korea on their missions, except me and one other sister. She's going to New York korean speaking, and I'm one of the only ones going to Sydney Australia korean speaking. I'm secretly jealous that their going to Korea, but I guess I've already been there, so it's their turn. Plus Australia is going to be incredible. Apparently all the missionaries going to Australia learn how to do the australian accent really well, so I'll probably come home and be able to turn it on and off on demand. I'm pumped, mate.

But I have some really sad news. Well, actually it's really great news. But I'm a little sad about it. So my teachers realized that I was already almost fluent in Korean, so they tested my language skills and I passed! so I'm getting moved up to a new district that will be leaving to the field in 2.5 weeks instead of 7 weeks! I just need to get permission to come early from my mission president in Australia. That's insane! I'm leaving so soon! I'm so excited. But I'm pretty sad to be leaving my district. And I'm really sad that I might have to get a new companion. I'm going to miss Elder Rees and Elder Sabey. But it'll be great.

Anyways, I love the devotionals here at the mtc! And there's a rumor going around that someone super super important, possibly the prophet, is coming to speak next tuesday! They're broadcasting this devotional to all the other mtc's around the world! I cant wait. Also, this week we watched a replay of a mtc devotional by Elder Holland called, "Missionaries are Forever". I highly recommend reading it or something. I want to share one of the things I liked from his talk. He shared an old French poem, translated into English. It said,

"Come to the edge", He said.

"No, I will fall", I said.

"Come to the edge", He said.

"No, I will fall", I said.

"COME TO THE EDGE", He said.

I came.

He pushed me.

And I flew.

Elder Holland gets me pumped. I know that if we're not pushed to the edge of our limits physically, mentally, and spiritually, we cannot fly. We need to give God and Jesus Christ everything we've got every day. When it's time to study, give all your attention to learning. When it's time to work, give all you have to serving. When it's time to play, enjoy every bit of it to the fullest. When someone's speaking, really listen and give all your attention. When you pray, focus all your thoughts on God and push out the rest of the world. Give 100% to every good thing in life, whatever you do. That way, there wont be any room for anything negative. Pray pray pray. Work work work. Love love love.

I know this gospel is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior and loving friend. His life was never easy. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it is the word of God. If you want to get closer to Jesus Christ, read the Book of Mormon.

I'm honored to be a representative of Jesus Christ for the next 2 years. I love being a missionary!

Love, Elder Litster

Pictures:

-All the Korean/half Korean elders in our branch aka K-squad. Three of us are going to Australia!