August 8, 2021 - Home MTC

 Hey guys! I'm reporting for two weeks worth of content today. Last week I felt like not enough had happened to report it, but as I'm sitting down to write this one that seems ridiculous; so much has happened!


Korean training is going quite well! It is very hard, and hard in ways I never even thought it would be. But my teachers continue to be phenomenal, and my district continues to blow me away with how perfect they are for me. It can be quite stressful at times. I feel like I'm quite a ways behind the rest of my district, particularly when it comes to comprehending other people, but I am constantly comforted by the Holy Spirit such that everything feels doable. I am feeling the Spirit more consistently and more powerfully than I ever have in my life before, and it's just from Zoom calls! It is a powerful testimony to me that the Lord works through miraculous ways, and excites me to find what other unthought of ways I can invite the spirit as I serve the people of Korea.

I got to get together with my district for lunch last Saturday (except for Elder Kennedy and Elder Kirschner, who live too far away). It was a blast getting to see that they are more than just flat faces on a screen. Combine that with the many video calls we've had and I feel like I've gotten really close to these people, which is wild to me considering we've known each other for just over a month. I've been incredibly blessed by not only them, but also those I get to spend time with in unconventional ways due to the at-home MTC program. My time with my family has been invaluable, and I'm so glad I get to continue to talk to them as I learn and grow in the gospel preparatory to serving the people of Korea.

We did get to do an activity with another Korean district this week, and it was brutal. We had just finished week 4, which places us at just over 2 weeks of language study, and the district we met was in the middle of week 9. We played a quick game of telephone in korean, and I genuinely felt lost for the majority of the exercise. The other district was extremely high energy and liked to talk very fast, and it was nothing short of overwhelming. However, it did give me hope in my Korean abilities 4 weeks from now when our district is where theirs is now. I was impressed by how unimpeded they seemed by the language, and while the vocab they were using is a mere 9 weeks worth and is a drop in the bucket compared to what a native could do, that did not stop them from saying what they wanted to say. It was a great testimony to me of the power of the gift of tongues. They also had an opportunity to share what advice they had for us and their thoughts were very helpful (once they got permission to talk in english and I could understand what exactly they were suggesting that is). It was scary, but it was also a good look forward into the future.

I can't believe I'm already halfway through the MTC. It feels like just yesterday I nervously got onto my first Zoom call and met my district. It's been fun, but these coming weeks will be critical as I continue to prepare to hit the ground running in the field. Much work needs to be done, particularly with the language, but I know t
hat through Christ I can do all things.

The main thing I have to share from the past two weeks is the power of prayer. Prayer has done so much for me when it comes to inviting the spirit in all that I have done, and I know it can be for you as well. And prayer does not need to be some grandiose vocabulary extravaganza. A simple prayer is all it takes to invite the spirit into your life. I am physically incapable of saying anything complicated when I pray in Korean, but the power brought by those simple prayers is the same power brought by my English prayers. I know you can receive an answer to your prayers if you ask with real intent and a sincere heart. Remember that Christ loves you, and always will.

감사해요!
Wardle 장로
Elder Wardle
Location: Home MTC

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