Thursday, October 27, 2011

Leaving Soon MTC

Dear Family and Friend,
I have now been in the MTC for a week and a half and will be leaving for Zimbabwe on the 31 of this month.  ( Oct.)  I will arrive in Harare on the 2 of November.
I am excited now to embark on this journey-well, I suppose that beginning was when I stepped foot into the MTC, but non-the-less, 30 hours in a plane as well as over 15 hours in layovers will be putting me a great deal further from that which I call home.  However as I believe I said in my initial blog post, I do not regret this decision in the slightest and am happy for the opportunity to give these coming months and years to the Lord.  If I didn't say this before, I would appreciate if you would be so kind, as to pretend that I did.
I regret that I didn't have the chance to say farewell to many of you directly, but I would like you to consider such to be happening now.  If there are any of you who would like to write me once I am in Zimbabwe, feel free! It will be througha pouch service. ( Which if I understand will cost no more then sending a message through the US Postal service.)  The address to use for that is the one I have posted on my Facebook page.  I would love to hear from you all, but I cannot promise to be prompt with my replies, as I may become extremely busy sharing happiness and truth with those over whom our Lord has given me responsibility.  (Yes, I know, surprisingly, I have something to do other then write letters)
As of yet, I have nothing special to talk about so I will be wrapping up this letter in a matter of moments, but first I would like to leave you all with my testimony tat our Lord is always with us.  "Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whither-so- ever thou goest.."
If we but look to Him, we can find comfort and strength inall of our dealings in life.  Both in times of trial and peace, our lives can become better and happier if we learn to "rely on the arm of Jehovah" (hymn # 3 Now let us Rejoice)
In Closing, I want you all to know that I love you, and am with you in spirit.  Attached are letter to specific persons, but don't feel left out,  if you didn't get one.  (though there was probably a reason, like I don't have your address or something)... *cough cough*
love,

E. Taggart Williams

letter to G.ma and G.pa williams

dear Grandma and Grandpa Williams,
I am grateful you took the time to make and prepare the pedigree chart.  I was planning on making one, but forgot to do it.  So I am glad that you sent this to me!  Make sure to keep up with the letters on the blog.
I love you!

E. Taggart Williams

Letter from District leader MTC

To the family of E. Williams,
My name is E. Chadwick.  I am D. Williams District Leader.  I just want you to know that you don't have to worry about him.  The Lord and his companion and I are all watching over him.  He is so full of life and energy.  People and investigators are just drawn to him.  he is so funny.  More mail for him would be appreciated. I wish missionaries could get a letter everyday.  I promise you that from now on I will give him a hug each night and tell him that I love him and I'm proud of him.  ( both for you and me) I love E. Williams I never knew Taggart Williams and never will but I am proud to say that I know E. williams.
Yours very sincerely and respectfully,

E. Chadwick

first week MTC

Dear family and friends,
I am glad to hear you are doing well.  My first week here at the MTC has been amazing, but alas, there are far more missionaries in the laundrey room then computers so I will ahve to settle for another hand written letter.
the lessons we have been learning are really good. We have been focusing more on ways to tach rather then just what to teach.  I love the other Elders I have in my district.  Two of them are even from Alpine and went to Lone Peak.  They graduated just barely in 2011 and I didn't know them before, but we are roomates and are pretty chill.
The food here is decent, not near as good as the food at USU or hom, but it is good enough to be going on with.  Last night we sang in the choir.  "This is the Christ". It was really awesome, and to make it better , it was followed by a talk given by Richard G. Scott.  It was my first time in the same room as a living apostle, however he was unable to take the time to shake hands.
I have been using oils almost everyday and the others in my district have been loving it.  Just a drop of Eukalyptus on thepillow and everyone sleeps better.  I have also already had the opportunity to help give a blessing( one of the elders in my district was feeling under the weather) I also gave hime some mnerals he was needing( and vitamins) and he is feeling better now.  I have been successfuly keeping my journal daily!  (Idk how...) but hey, I'll take what I'm given.
I love you all and I am so happy to be here serving the Lord.( well, training too.1)  Peace be unto you, and remember you Father in Heaven daily.

E. Taggart Williams

PS I forgot to tell you that we had to practice sharing the restoration in one minute.  I smashed it, and still got the BofM into their hands.  )sadly only role-playing, not a real investigator.  I bid you all farewell, and untill next time, know that I love you.

PSS. I love hearing from you all, however, for now, I cannot use email.  But feel free to write me letters. I love them!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The saga begins. . .

October 12th.
This is my first post on the blog, and I am not sure of the format the remainder of the posts will be in, as this is likely one of the few I will directly be posting myself. I leave today to the Missionary Training Center, in about 3 hours. As weird as it is for me to say, I feel nervous. I haven't had much of an appetite the last few days, but have managed to at least get SOME food into my body, mostly in the form of midnight snacks and meals (all after dark of course). It really hit home last night that I will be leaving for two years; that I will not be able to see the family and friends that have thus far made my life the fun whirlpool it has been. I hope to meet many new people and make many new friends in my time away from you all, but never fear that I will forget you. I have a special place in my heart for all of you.

In leaving today, I embark on a journey of both self-awareness, and self-creation; I am taking the next big step on my journey to become that which I have strived to be from the day I was born, and will continue to push towards until I reach the point when I can return to God having done the best that I could have done; being ready to live with Him and all of you for all of eternity. It fills y heart with such joy as I cannot describe with mere words, but I hope that all of you know that God loves you, and wants you, more than anything, to find happiness in this life and the next. I know that the best way to find such happiness as I desire continues here, right now, as I bid you all farewell; as I take a step into the rest of my life. As I leave on my mission, please know that I do so out of a complete and pure desire to serve both God and those who he has chosen for me to bring the Gospel to. I pray that while I am gone, you will all remember me, but more remember these words: I implore you to look to God in all things. I know that most of you will likely think that you are right where you need to be, but remember that the point of existence is progression, and you can always become better than you are right now. Make it a goal to bring yourselves closer to God at all times of your lives.
I leave these things with you, as well as bid you all farewell for 2 years, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.