The Haitian who Spoke English

Hello once more! I can't believe that I have already been gone a month. It feels like time has gone by so fast and yet it still feels like I've been here forever. I'm excited for when I will be out in the field and hopefully have a few more exciting experiences to share. After a few weeks in the MTC the days start to blend together because we're always in classes.

 

We were able to go contacting at the university again last week and it was an AWESOME experience. As we were walking around we didn't find many people to really talk to. Then Hermana Stuber recognized someone we had given a pamphlet to the week before. We said hello and introduced ourselves to his friend who was with him. His friend was a Haitian young man who only spoke a little Spanish but was pretty good at English. He wanted to learn more about God and Jesus Christ and said he was trying to get closer to his Savior. We talked for a bit and expalined what we believe about God. Then I gave him a Book of Mormon and we continued on our way.

 

A little later we were walking around a different part of the campus and still couldn't find many people interested in listening. Then Hermana Stuber felt that we should cross a street we had just been on. We walked across and ran into the same guy again. I asked him if he had any questions for us that we could answer right then. He said he would like to talk more and so we found a bench in the shade to keep teaching. He told us that he has been reading the bible and wondered if the book we gave him would be like the bible and teach him more about Christ. I explained what the Book of Mormon is and how it can bless his life and help him know his Savior. I have no doubt that this young man was prepared by God. He asked us so many amazing questions and we were able to answer them! He talked about how it is confusing to find truth because of all the different churches. I told him that Joseph Smith had the same question and then shared the first vision with him. Then he asked what we believed about Jesus and His death so I explained the atonement and how we believe that through Him we can repent and return to live with God. He asked us what we believe about the end of the universe, so I simply explained the plan of salvation. We probably would have talked for much longer but we had to go meet everyone to come back to the MTC. We got his information and told him that we would make sure some other missionaries could come teach him. We also gave him the numbers for the missionaries in the area and he was so excited. He kept asking when he could go to church and that he just wanted to learn more.

 

I was grateful to have met someone so inspired by the spirit. Sometimes we wonder why they chose North Americans to come try and learn Spanish and teach the people instead of just having natives teach. It is moments like that when I realize that the Lord knew that this young man would not be very good at Spanish but would be able to understand our English. He knew that he would need someone to help introduce him to the gospel and I'm sure they'll be able to find someone who speaks French (his native language) to teach him the rest.

 

The rest of the week has been pretty normal. We have gone to classes and prepared lessons and taught every day. We've had a few more opportunities to spend time with the Senior missionaries this week and I have loved it. It is so fun to see how much they love one another and how they treat each other with the utmost respect. We taught one of them for "FHE" on Monday and they were really good at helping us with our Spanish. Then the sister made us smoothies from fruit they had picked on one of their walks and it was so delicious. The couples here have become like our surrogate grandparents and they are always stopping us to give us hugs or encourage us. I can't wait until I am able to serve missions with my future husband.

 

Yesterday it started pouring rain while we were out playing frisbee. I have only ever seen it rain that hard one other time in my life, when I was in Guatemala. It comes down so hard and fast that you can hardly see and then the streets are covered in water in a matter of minutes. We just stayed out there and kept playing though. It was so much fun! I'm not sure if it will be quite as enjoyable when I'm out in church clothes but at least I know that I'm in for an adventure.

 

Because our MTC is in a different country we watch videos of past devotionals from the Provo MTC. It is kind of nice because President chooses his absolute favorites so we always get to hear very powerful messages (not that all the messages wouldn't be powerful otherwise but we get the cream of the crop so to speak). This week we got to watch one that Elder Bednar gave a couple years ago. It was incredible. I would like to share a couple thoughts from it.

 

Elder Bednar talked about how it is not enough to just know or have a testimony of the truth of this church. We all must become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. True conversion is consistently being true to what you know. He talked about how when you are converted you stop looking inward and turn outward. Living a life of service and selflessness becomes second nature. We stop worrying so much about what is happening to us and in ourselves and start looking out for others and worrying for them. The spirit during this devotional was absolutely incredible. I challenge each of you to consider the example of Christ and try to turn outward more often in your life. Take time to evaluate if you have truly been converted to the gospel or if you simply have a testimony and then think of what you can do to hand over your troubles, happiness, and whole self to the Lord. I know that as we do this we will receive joy and happiness and will be strengthened in all that we do. "For whosever shall lose his life shall find it."

 

As always I love my mission and I love this gospel. I know that the church is true and that we have a loving Savior beside us to support and to help us. You are never too far gone or out of reach of His atonement. It encompasses all shortcomings and will lift you as you exercise it's power.

 

I love you all!

 

Hermana Ewell