7/31/2009 Letter from Elder Shelhamer

Another week has gone by here at the MTC, and what a wonderful week it was.

This week I have made great progess in learning the Language, and continue to plead for the spirit to accompany me in doing so. Every Thursday we have a Teaching Evaluation where we go somewhere and have our Portuguese and Teaching evaluated. We have been doing well.

We had a substitute teacher last night for one of our classes, and it happened to be someone that served in the Cape Verde Praia Mission where I am headed. He told us so many stories, and answered our questions, and truly boosted my excitement level of going to the islands. They way he described it makes it sound like a dream. He also told us that we will be learning and speaking three languages. Portuguese is the main written language, but we will also be speaking "Saopadjute" and "Badu" which are both unwritten languages. He really raised my dedication level, and I now have an even greater level of desire to learn Portuguese the best I can.

Today was the first day I was able to go to the Provo Utah Temple for a session. What a beautiful house of the Lord. I am so thankful that I am able to attend the Temple once a week.

I remember President Pugh, the past Harrisburg Pennsylvania Mission President giving me one piece of advice before I left, and that was to be obedient. I didn't think it was that big of a deal at the time, but I have come to gain a great understand for the reason of obedience to all of the mission rules we are given. As I continue to obey the mission rules with great diligence, I continue to find great blessings in my life.

I can feel the power of God's love here at the Missionary Training Center. The Holy Spirit is here as Heavenly Father's missionaries prepare to go forth unto all nations to testify of Him and proclaim his truth.

I hope that as you read this letter, you recognize the spirit testifying truth to you and feel Heavenly Father's love for you.

I love how when we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, people respond and accept the gospel for one main reason; because its true. Some people may ask why I chose to become a missionary and proclaim the truth of the gospel, and so I came up with a few motives that encougraged me to serve. I have been greatly blessed, and in turn now want to let others know of the blessings they can recieve and the happiness they can enjoy. I want to share the glorious news that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. I want to experience the joy of helping a soul come closer to their Savior. I want to show God's children, my brothers and sisters, the way back home. I want to make families feel closer together and loved.

Elder Bednar gave a devotional message here at the MTC, and address a question that many people may have. That question is "How do I know its the Holy Ghost or just me?" He answered saying: "Quit worrying about it. Press forward with faith. Our steps will be guided. Get to work. Be a good boy, and a good girl." He gave numerous examples of the Holy Ghost working in the lives of others. I can add my testimony to his saying that the Holy Spirit will guide us and protect us as we continue to be obedient to the commandments.

This past week we have a great devotional where they spoke about the Book of Mormon, and how the miracle of its translation. The Book of Mormon is available today in over 82 languages, and there are many more to come. Today it takes approximately 4 years to translate the Book of Mormon into a new languages, and translations are always taking place. Joseph Smith was only 24 years old when he finished translating the Book of Mormon, and it took him approximately 63 days.

Today is one of my teacher's last day here at the MTC, and so I am looking forward to her lesson tonight and the fun we will have. The teachers and professors here at the MTC are great and knowledgable.

I am thankful for the opportunity I have to be here at the Missionary Training Center and to serve a mission to testify of Jesus Christ and to invite others to come unto him.

I thank everyone for their letters. They truly inspire me and I get great joy out of recieving mail. Please continue to pray for me as I continue to do my best in serving my Father in Heaven with all of my Love and faith.

Elder Joshua Thomas Shelhamer

10th day at the MTC

Wow! I've been here at the Missionary Training Center for over a week now. It is hard to believe. The days here feel like weeks, but the weeks feel like days.

I love this place and the spirit that can be found here.

My language studies have been going well. We learn so much everyday. My teachers, Brother Hibbert and Sister Olson are the best. They teach us so many great things.

This past week my companion and I completed our first Teaching Assignment. We went to a building where "fake investigators" come and we are given the opportunity to teach them and meet there needs. My companion and I did very well and our investigator said that he would have fulfilled the committments we gave him.

We have a gym period here 5 days a week, and I have been playing outside beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, running, and lifting weights.

Some people claim that the food here is not very good, but personally, I think that it is pretty good. We have had some great meals. The cafeteria is great.

Time here at the Missionary Training Center is very structured and organized. Every minute of my day is planned with great detail to avoid wasting any of the Lord's time.We have devotionals here every Sunday Night and every Tuesday night. On Sunday nights someone from the MTC usually speaks to us, and on Tuesdays a General Authority or Apostles comes to address us.I have only been here for two devotionals so far, but they were great.

I am in the Missionary Choir, and we perform at the Tuesday night devotionals. It is such a remarkable experience to sing with a heart full of praise with hundreds of other missionaries with the same desires.

Another thing I noticed that is unique to the MTC is that we sing 3 prelude hymns before the devotionals begin.I have a testimony that hymns and inspirational music invites the spirit into a meeting.

As I have been studying and practicing teaching, I have had much time to ponder on the scriptures. One thing I love about the Book of Mormon is that it IS true. I love the last two paragraphs of the Book of Mormon where it states:"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith WILL gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah."

The Book of Mormon contains truths that can help us in our daily lives. This book is something that if you pray about it with a sincere heart, one WILL gain a testimony that it is true and come closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father loves us very much and has blessed us with "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" to help us overcome the challenges we face today. He has restored his priesthood authority and called prophets to lead us in the right direction and safely back to him.

I would continue to ask for your prayers as I make it through my time here at the Missionary Training Center learning the Portuguese Language. I am exercising all of my faith, and doing my best, and your love and prayers help very much.

I would encourage everyone to continue to send me mail as you are inspired to do so. Mail is something that really brings joy to a missionaries life.

I want to know how you are, and by sending me mail, you can express your care and thoughts to me.

Thank you to those who sent me mail this past week.

I am thankful to be a missionary. I am thankful to be an instrument in the Lord's work to help bring souls unto Christ. There are many great campaigns in this world such as "Save the Rainforest", or "Save the Whales," but I believe I am engaged in the greatest campaign, that of "Save the People."

I know that God Lives, and that Jesus Christ is our Savior.I say all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Joshua Thomas Shelhamer

My journey to the MTC and the first three days

My journey to the Missionary Training Center began on Monday, July 13th when I made my way to the Harrisburg Airport. My first flight to Cincinnati was cancelled, and so I was on the phone with the church travel office all day to get new flights planned. I worked with Norma in the church travel office and she was so helpful. She got me a bunch of flights and even called me back with earlier ones as she could get them for me. I was very grateful for her help.

I made it to Utah that evening and met Jeff Alley and his dad. They picked me up from the airport and we made our way to Logan where I stayed for two nights. I am grateful for everything that the Alley family did for me. I am very appreicatvive for all of their support and fun that they supplied. Thank you Alley family for everything!

On Wednesday, Jeff dropped me off at the Missionary Training Center at 12:45pm. When I arrived here, I had an overpowering witness from the Holy Spirit that this was the place for me to be. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to know through the feeling we recieve that things are good and/or true. The spirits' presence here at the MTC is just simply amazing. It is a remarkable feeling being here. I received a lot of information and made my way through orientation. We had a few sessions where teachers spoke to us. I met my first companion and he is very nice. His name is Elder Taggart and he is from Salt Lake City. In the Lord's work, it is always done by two or three witnesses, and therefore we are given companions to work with. I had an incredible first day.

On my second day here, the classes began. My language class is intense. After the first day of class, I can already testify in Portuguese that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and that I am very grateful for Jesus Christ. I can also testify of that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet. I was so surprised at everything I learned in Portugese in one day, and all that I can speak already. Throughout my first day, I was a bit worried because as we kept learning new things, I was already beginning to forget things that I learned a few hours earlier. I pleaded with the Lord that night for the spirit to assist me and put my faith in Him.

I love this scripture that can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants 42:14 - "And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye recieve not the Spirit ye shall not teach." I am a witness and know that this scripture is true. I know and have realized that if I do not pray with faith and for faith, and exercise my faith, I shall not recieve the Spirit, and I shall NOT teach. This can be read as a commandment from the Lord in that if you do not express faith, and have the spirit, he will not allow you to teach. I have also experienced for myself that this scripture is true.

I now know why they do not call this "Missionary Efforts" of "Missionary Help." The work I am engaged in is Missionary WORK, and I can testify that it IS work. This is the hardest work I have ever engaged in. This work is rigorous, and I am only in the learning process.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that Heavenly Father loves all of his Children and directs this work. I do know that the scriptures contain spiritual power that we can use to overcome tasks in our lives. I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ restored in our days for us.

I testify of all the things stated, and do so in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Joshua Thomas Shelhamer