The MTC (Missionary Training Center) is SO awesome! Being around so many other missionaries, who hold themselves to the same standards as I do, creates incredible discussion and opportunity to learn and draw closer to our Father in Heaven. As a result of this last week, my beliefs have been fortified and strengthened, and I know for a fact this is where I'm supposed to be right now. There's someone in Chile only I can help and someone in Chile who only they can help me.
Here in the MTC (as well as on the rest of my mission) we have a companion who we must stay next to the entire day and night, minus while in the bathroom or in an interview with a leader (or when in surgery...we'll get to that later). Multiple companionships (usually 4-6) make a district and 2-3 districts make a Zone. 2-3 Zones make a mission. Thus everyone has leaders who can help them more personally and the leaders have leaders they can turn to for instruction and help when necessary. My companion and I were asked to serve as Zone leaders, which is only for a about a week as we leave the MTC next week (CRAZY!!!). But it has been a humbling experience. As a leader, the perfect example you can emulate is that of Christ's. Leading by love and example gains the trust of your missionaries, and then as districts and a zone we've all become better. But always we are being observed and always we are learning and being humbled.
We entered the MTC Wednesday and had lots of orientation meetings and different things, but Thursday morning we hit the ground running. We are either studying the scriptures and other approved literature (such as the missionary instruction book Preach My Gospel and pamphlets). Thursday and Friday were packed with hours of personal scripture study ad companion study, as well as simulated teaching other companionships. This humbled me much (this is all being done in Spanish) as I realized I knew words, but I didn't know how to teach. And as I started to learn to teach, I was humbled yet again, realizing that I was teaching what I wanted to, not what God would have be teach. So I've had to learn to open my heart and mind and be receptive to inspiration while I'm teaching so that others may have more personalized teaching.
As a missionary my purpose is to invite others to come to Christ, it's really as simple as that. People ask why I would "try to force others to become Mormon" but this is not the case at all. First we don't force anyone to do anything. Second becoming Mormon is not the goal. Let me pose a question: If you had a secret formula for studying tests that ABSOLUTELY 100% ensured complete success on the test, and everyone in your class can score 100% (no bell curves), and the people in your class were dear family and friends... would you keep that a secret? I don't know about you but I wouldn't. That is why I share the message of Christ and His restored Gospel - because it makes me incredibly happy, at peace, and comforted to know that I have a purpose on this earth, I have a family who loves me very much, that we can live together forever, that I can return to live with God, and that I can enjoy this life with more happiness and love than anyone could ever describe or deserve.
In studying this week, I read something by Brigham Young, the second prophet in this dispensation, who said: "If you go on a mission to preach the Gospel with lightness and frivolity in your hearts, looking for this and for that, and to learn what is in the world... you will go and return in vain... Let your minds be centered on your missions." I absolutely love this. Because God has promised His missionaries that "whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up." What an incredible promise this is to us as missionaries - God will send His Spirit and angels to comfort us, be with us, and bear us up. Wow.
As a missionary, we are representatives of our Church and Christ in the realest senses of the word - we truly represent both. So, we must live in exact obedience to all rules and be a witness "at all times, and in all things, and in all places" which so far, has brought forth great blessings.
Okay... so for the fun stuff. Saturday during gym Elder Ohl and I were playing soccer. After soccer, he started hurting a lot while back in class, so we went to the Security desk and called the head Dr who immediately sent us to the ER. At the ER, they gave him a lot of very strong drugs to ease the pain, did an ultrasound to figure out what was wrong, and then took him into surgery. We didn't get back to our residence until about midnight (we spent about 9 hours there) and he was all better, he's totally fine now. But he had a torsion, just like I did senior year. Crazy. God puts people in our lives who can relate and understand how we're feeling. Thankfully all is better, he's back to 100%, but he did say a bunch of funny things I wrote down in a notebook (while he was on those drugs).
Sunday, we watched a video the Characters of Christ, and it was phenomenal. It's about how selfless Christ was, how much He individually cared for people, and how he always forgave. If I could share the video I would, but unfortunately it's a special privilege for missionaries haha :)
Our teacher drew a triangle on the board one day in class and said what goes at each corner. We didn't know, but slowly we worked out God was probably on top and then maybe each companion on each side? nope. good guess though. Play again. Okay... so eventually we figured out that the missionaries (companionships) go on one side and those we meet (people in the world on the other). He said what happens if this triangle stays like it is but I shrink the side between missionaries and God? Well... what happens is that per rules of geometry, the people of the world draw closer to God. He said, you don't even need to teach people to bring them unto Christ. If you draw as close to God as possible, the teaching required will be minimal. They will see Christ in your eyes, in your countenance, in your stature, in your actions, your language, in every single thing you do if you draw near unto God. Interesting stuff. I love Hermano Alletto (our teacher).
Prayer should be simple because at the core, this life and Christ's teachings are simple. Christ asks that we follow His example, God asks that we keep His commandments, life's simplicity is happiness and families. No matter how simple the prayer, I know you can find great joy and comfort and help when you need it - but in order to get the help it's got to be a two-way conversation. You don't just pick up a phone to call a relative you haven't talked to in a while, ask for help with some difficult things in life, and then hang up without a response. No. Wait on the phone for that response. Live your life so that you're always on the phone with God... so that even if you're not talking, you can at least listen.
Love you all lots. I love being a missionary. I love my companion. My testimony and faith have grown much stronger this week. I'm grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to head to Chile next week!!!
Elder Campbell
Chile Antofagasta Mission
July 2014 - July 2016
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