A Spiritual High

Sorry It's kind of long. But I definitely recommend reading this one. 

This week has been awesome! I have learned so much and have had some amazing experiences. The first that I want to share is an experience that I had on Monday night. It is the coolest experience that I have had to this point in my life. I am just going to type what I wrote in my journal because it sums it up pretty well.  "At a class later this evening, I had the coolest experience. So, our district was a little bit rowdy. We took a 10 minute break to study and bring the spirit back. Then another teacher came in and taught about his family and their conversion story. He taught about how he now knew that his family could live together forever. I thought about my family and especially about the twins my mom mis-carried before I was born. I know that they are as much a part of my family as my family is here on earth. Also on my mind a lot recently has been thoughts about how I struggle to speak Tagalog. I know that I should not have these thoughts because I have only been here for 2 weeks and am not expected to speak Tagalog, but they keep coming. I then hear a voice in my head as clear as I have ever heard a voice to this point in my life. I am 100% sure that it was my older brother from the other side of the veil. He said "we will see each other again. Your job now is to learn Tagalog so that you can teach the people of the Philippines this same truth." I completely lost it. I cried in class for like a straight 20 minutes. My comp asked what happened and I honestly could not put into words the feelings that I felt and the experience that I had. I know that I will be able to learn Tagalog. I know that there are people in Baguio Philippines prepared to hear the message that I have to share. I know that whom the Lord calls, he qualifies. I know that I will live with my family again after this life. I know this without any doubt in my mind. God has a plan for everyone and he wants nothing more than for us to return to live with him. He sent His Son to atone for our sins and die for us to make this possible. Joseph Smith was a prophet who did indeed restore this gospel on the earth. I love the peace it brings and I can't wait to share it in the Philippines." 

Another Elder in my District (Elder Finau) who is an offensive line BYU football commit shared an amazing story. He talked about his dad who passed away just 5 months before he came on his mission. He shared his testimony of eternal families and of the plan that our Father in Heaven has for us. I had never felt the spirit so strong. I love this gospel and the peace that it brings. 

This week, I have worked on memorizing the first vision, Moroni 10: 4-5, the baptismal invitation, and the missionary purpose in Tagalog. I am really close. It is amazing. I know that the gift of tongues is real. There is no way that I could do any of this in 2 weeks if it wasn't for help from the other side of the veil. We teach lessons to our "investigators" every day now. It is awesome. They only speak Tagalog and they really stretch our vocab. Sometimes we just have to pretend we know that they are talking about and move on. We asked one of our teachers what the funniest thing we had said to this point was. She told us that one of the companionships (she didn't tell us who) had told her in the first lesson that they were Catholic. haha. She asked them if they were also catholic because they had some similar beliefs. They must not have understood the question because they just nodded and said "opo" (which means yes). It was only the 3rd day in the MTC when it happened, so things like that are kind of expected. But it was pretty funny when she told us about it. 

I love the gospel and the peace that it brings to my life. I love the spirit that I feel as I learn more about our brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that we will live with our families again as perfected beings for eternity. 

I love you all. I think about you. I miss you. And I keep you in my prayers. 

-Elder Thomas