Week Two

Hey mom and whoever else loves me enough to follow me,

 I am doing good here at the MTC but it's hard. It's hard work here, we sit in class for most of the day, have dinner way too early, but the food is good. The temple food is the best food (just fyi) I am getting really good at volleyball and 4-square. It's crazy to believe that it has been two weeks, it feels like I have been here for two years, no I mean two days. Like I said last week every day feels like a week, and every weeks feels like a day and it true. But soon (less then 6 days) I will be in LA  as a full time missionary, which will be awesome.
Crazy story, Elder Park and I were teaching a guy nicknamed Bubba, and Bubba like actually grew up a gangster in the streets.  He got sent to prison for pistol whipping three guys, so he is an intense guy and he didn't trust us at all so it was really hard to get to know him or his needs. It was really hard to teach him because he didn't really want to listen. (he was kinda made to be there by his lds wife) So he was not happy, he was making us uncomfortable and the contention was getting higher and higher until he was just about to snap, but it was ok because I was too. Once we had almost every thing figured out we walked out of there with a little bit of trust. But I was really kicking myself right after the meeting because I was thinking of what I could have said differently. Then I took it as a learning moment and I pondered about what I am supposed to learn/get form this experience. That was kinda nice, because I will probably come across many people like that (not trusting) so last week I learned a lot about enduring to the end. For me I always kinda just thought it meant to grit your teeth and just try to last, but that's not necessarily true.  Enduring to the end means to continually grow spiritually and grow closer your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Beacuse this gospel has never ending knowledge which is awesome.
 In (1 Nephi chapter 8:10,19,24) it talks about the tree of life it says in 10: And it came to pass that I beheld a tree,whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And the fruit represents the gospel and the gospel does make one happy in the long run. In verse 19 it says, And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood. The rod of iron is the same as the word of God. So if you hold onto the word of God you will reach the tree of life. And in 24 it just states that it's not easy to hold onto the path or the rod of iron but the tree of life is everything and that's why I am here serving a mission, I am out here in an uncomfortable world where it's hard right now, but this time next week it will be a lot harder. But the fruit (the gospel) does make one happy and that's why I am here to help spread the fruit.  Love you all so much and miss you more!

Love Elder Gordon

 

 P.S. thanks Johnathan and Sarah Riley  a ton for the hangers.  I enjoy all the letters form everyone. Tell Tia thanks for the letter and enjoy the hammock!  Love you mom and love you dad and tell Avrie I love her a lot.