Leaving on a jet plane

This week’s e-mail was longer and meatier than the last few, so we have lots to tell. Linda and I are working together on this post, which is progress. The next one will be hers alone. Eric is supposed to call us tonight or tomorrow, either from Atlanta or after he gets to England, so Linda will get to share the travelogue.

Eric is excited and nervous about going to England today. There are 375 missionaries leaving the MTC today, going to various parts of the world. Eric is the only one going anywhere in England. He said they had a meeting where they had the missionaries going to each state or country stand up together, and he was the only one who stood alone. He said he felt kind of special. :)

He enjoyed his birthday package. Of course he opened all of his presents early, not feeling like waiting until his birthday. He was especially happy to receive his iPod (loaded with church and classical music), a new electric razor (to replace the broken one), and a book on writing Chinese characters. Surprisingly, no mention of the food, even the homemade birthday cake Linda sent. Oh well. I guess he’ll spend his long travel today practicing writing Chinese but not eating cookies and candy.

Eric shared with us a beautiful experience he had last week. On Saturdays, they have the opportunity to practice teaching the gospel to volunteers (usually people who have served Mandarin-speaking missions) who generally pose as people investigating the Church. On this occasion, they were instead supposed to be teaching a church member. The volunteer who came this time was a native Taiwanese woman. Eric and his companion taught her a gospel lesson, and felt like they did pretty well. Later in the week, Eric learned from his instructor that the volunteer had not been attending church for some time, but was so touched by the message Eric and his companion shared with her that she had a renewed desire to come back to church. Eric said, “I wasn't really expecting our teaching to have that kind of an impact. It kind of eases my nerves that I could teach a real Chinese person in Chinese to their needs and help them turn unto Christ. I know that the field will be a lot different and I know my Chinese is nowhere close to perfect but I just feel like it's possible.”

In closing his letter, Eric sent a message to his family and friends, with which I will also close this post:

“As I run out of time I just want to thank all of you for your continued support, love and prayers. I feel them and I know we are all being watched over. I know the gospel is true. I know it gives us happiness. I know we have a loving Heavenly Father and Jesus is the Christ. I know the Gospel has been restored through Joseph Smith and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Shall we not go on in so great a cause?”