Letter - March 11, 2010

Hello All,

My mtc stay is coming to a close, and I'm very excited and sad about that. I will miss the temple. We were able to go for our last time today. The endowment has become a very special thing to me, and I'm so grateful for temples.

I thought a lot today about the kind of missionary, and the kind of person I want to be. The mission has had a profound impact on my life already. I was able to do a lot of thinking and writing today. Elder Bruce C. Hafen came and spoke last Tues. I really enjoyed the counsel from a father to a son who didn't feel he had a testimony: "Whatever you do, son. Please, just keep the commandments. Only through keeping the commandments will you be able to continue your search for truth unbiasedly. Once satan burdens us down with guilt, it will be very easy to justify sin and convince ourselves out of the gospel." I am trying every day to be as obedient as I possibly can. I find that I am always blessed when I do so.

I am enjoying hearing about home. That spring break energy is in the air. I thought of another hilarious story. So, I heard the elders down the hall arguing about whether I was Irish. I don't know who started that story, but, as I walked past, one of them decided to ask me. My reply, quickly came out in a thick Irish accent, "Where to-ya think'im frum?" This intensified the discussion; "See, I told you she was..." I eventually came clean. I also enjoyed learning what the word Habberdashery means. It's a word for hats.

I've only got a couple minutes. Know that I love you all very much, and am proud of you all.

Sese Paul