Sonntag, März, 27, 2011

Family,

I was supposed to write a letter the first day I got here but I didn't have the time.  The MTC is cool. I'm in a trio companionship. Elder Buntain and Elder Williams are my companions. Elder Williams is from West Jordan, Utah (surprise) and Elder Buntain is from Norfolk, England. Elder Buntain is super awesome and funny. We get along great. I am in a pilot-program for Deutsch. We started teaching lessons in German my 2nd day here!  Pretty crazy, huh? We just got thrown right into German. I have already taught 3 lessons in German. We also pray in German and tomorrow mir und meine mitareiter (me and my companion) are going to just speak in German. I actually keep wanting to write this in German, but I keep catching myself to write in English.

Today was pretty awesome. We had MTC Conference this morning, where the First Presidency spoke to us. We then had sacrament / fast and testimony meeting. We went on a Temple walk afterwards. We just walked around on the Temple grounds of the Provo Temple. We had dinner and after dinner we had a MTC devotional. Stephen Allen (Managing Director of the Missionary Department) spoke to us. He is in charge of the missionary program for the Church. All the talks I heard today were awesome, über. I felt the Spirit the most when we sang a prelude song before the MTC devotional, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief". It was really awesome. The lyrics to that hymn are really powerful. It's my new favorite song. We have our 4th lesson with our unteriöches (investigators) tomorrow. We're teaching the Plan of Salvation because he wants to know his purpose in life. His name is Marcel. He's pretty cool. I can hardly understand what he's saying, lol ... but it's all good.

Peace,

[ Elder Caraway ]

A poor, wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not pow’r to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.

Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.

I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.

‘Twas night; the floods were out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest,
Then made the earth my bed and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in his hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name he named,
“Of me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto me.”

Lyrics: A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief; James Montgomery, George Coles; Hymn sung prior to the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.