Gideon Tonkinson

(THIS EMAIL IS ALL OVER THE PLACE) This week was pretty solid and flew by compared to last week. Don’t get me wrong, it definitely had it’s slow parts; but over all it seemed to go by in a blink of an eye. Sunday was good, even with Sacrament Meeting being in Spanish. During the meeting, we also had a new branch president called, President Durrant [small congregations in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called Branches; larger congregations are called Wards]. He later spoke at the Sunday night devotional. During the devotional I recieved an impression to buy a Book of Mormon and send it to one of my friends (nope not saying who). So first thing I did after breakfast was go buy a Book of Mormon and mark my ten favorite verses and included a note with my testimony. I had been recieving this impression since I had gotten to the MTC and decided I liked not being struck dumb and acted. It was kinda scary in some ways because I don’t want the person to receive it to understand my good intentions. But I am glad I acted.

Tuesday night was also really good because of the Tuesday night devotion and Elder Allan Packer spoke [He is a recently released General Authority of the Church]. Wish I could give more details about what he said, but I am writing in the computer lab and forgot my journal (which I have been writing in every night) with all my notes. Learned lots of good things though and took some really good notes. One thing that stood out that I can remember from each talk: From Sunday night, we just need invite people, it can be that simple. People like to feel included and usually won’t immediately turn down an invitation to something. From Tuesday night, we have to trust in the Spirit on who to ask and act on it because the Spirit knows better than us who is ready to receive our message. One of the songs we sang on Tuesday night was Called to Serve which was so powerful given the number of missionaries singing it.

Classes are good and I’m learning more and more Spanish, which is coming along nicely. I just wish it would come along faster though. I have trouble pronouncing the rr sound which is just annoying me and frustrating me, especially because my companion does it with such ease.

Thursday morning one of the hermanas (sister missionaries) fell off the top bunk and hurt her ankle. They went to the hospital and everything just to make sure nothing was broken. It wasn’t, but the sister was still in a lot of pain. So she asked Elder Durbano (district leader [leader over three or four sets of missionaries] and my companion) to see about giving her a blessing. Our branch president gave Elder Durbano and I the authority to bless her. I anointed and Elder Durbano gave the blessing. I have only two other times felt the Spirit so strong that I have had to wipe water from my eyes. Now I can add a third. But the Spirit during blessing was so strong and powerful.

Friday morning I woke up feeling a little under, with a headache and stomach ache. I am still yet to be up to a hundred percent but it’s better now than yesterday. Also I saw Emmie Anglin [sister missionary who is headed to Houston, Texas to serve] from third ward [another congregation in Lynchburg; ours is the second ward], and I totally forgot she was going to be here! She got here Wednesday, and it was nice to see another person I knew.

This morning we got up at 5:45 AM hoping to beat the rush to do laundry . . . it backfired entirely. It was so packed in there. It took us 3 hours to do laundry and the loads are only 35 minutes for washer and 40 for dryer. It was crazy.

Now time for questions:

Share something that made you laugh this week.
— So I was reading in 2 Nephi and Nephi write “And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi.” [2 Nephi 5:8] and I was like that’s such a subtle flex that he has a city named after him. Then we get talking about how he said he was large in stature too [1 Nephi 2:16]. And I was said you know what I say to people who say the Book of Mormon is a fictional thing written by Joseph Smith, I say look here why would he make a prophet slide that in? It just shows Nephi was real and like the rest of us can be kind of self righteous. Elder Boyle said “oh for sure Elder Tonkinson, just get up on fast testimony Sunday and say that, or during a lesson and they’ll definitely be converted and because of that testimony also know that the Book of Mormon is true. I was laughing so hard.

Also another one is Elder Durbano swears by this thing called super brain yoga, and he claims it makes you smarter. It just looks really stupid and funny. The [supposedly] reputable sources for it’s magical brain properties are from a YouTube video and a substitute math teacher.

An impression or inspiration you had this week while doing personal study.
— I have been going through the Book of Mormon again, and I just noticed that almost every scripture some how ties to the missionary purpose and the core doctrine of the Gospel of Christ. So that was really cool to see.

Were the resistance bands what you were looking for?-Yurp 🙂 also this week I have gone to the gym three times. It’s painful but you feel good after and I actually lost some weight so that was good. Beating the MTC at its own game.

Are you speaking more Spanish or English?
–Supposed to speak Spanish as much as possible. I say we do a pretty good job, but right now it’s about 60/40, with Spanish taking priority.

This coming week we are going to start TRC, where we teach a native speaker the lessons. Some are actual investigators [people interested in hearing the message that the missionaries are sharing] and others are just members who are acting as members of a different church. It’ll be challenging but Elder Durbano, and I work well together so I m not too worried about it.

Anyways lots of love; loved hearing about everyone’s week.