#90 xiàbian lónggǔ (Under the keel)

Well everyone, another week of home MTC is now officially history! This time has gone by so slow but also so fast. The common saying is "The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days". I can testify to the truthfulness of that statement haha. Despite the long drudgery of everyday. I still love it and would not trade this time for the world. This has been a rather crazy week for me, On Wednesday a few of my district members started getting their flight plans! It made me realize how little time I have left before I fly out (approx 2 1/2 weeks). Despite how boring class can be, there are still things I find during the day to make them more fun and more interesting. Such as going on walks with my mom, or bike rides with my dad. This week has been particularly hard for me due to some personal trials, and some rather scary/worrying news I received last week, I won't give any details, but needless to say, this made my week that much harder. During this time I once again fell upon the wisdom of Admiral William. H. McRaven, One of my favorite motivational speakers. He recounts a story from Navy Seal training that I helped me through this week.

Admiral McRaven describes a Navy Seal training exercise, in which the trainees, under the cover of night, must scuba dive down, swim 2,000 meters, and place fake explosives on the bottom of a fake boat ( The bottom is called the Keel). They must do this under the cover of night, forty feet under water, with a small light, a compass, and their payload. As you can imagine, it gets very dark down there, so dark that "You cannot see your hand in front of your face". Making the trainees often lose their way. Admiral McRaven recalls his training instructor's words: "Tonight, you will have to do your very best. You must rise above your fears, your doubts, and your fatigue. No matter how dark it gets, you must complete your mission".

This week I have felt similar to the trainees in the dark cold space under the keel. Many times this week I have had to remind myself by stating, This is my keel, I must do my very best with the tools I have, and the light of the gospel to complete my mission. Also this week I have fallen upon the words of one Sister Matthews in my district, she said: In every challenge we face we will have 2 options, to overcome, or to succumb.

My dear friends and family, There will be many keels in life, there will be times when we feel everything is so dark, cold, and disorienting we no longer want to continue. Please, I am begging you, remember your training. Use the tools you have, rely on the spiritual compass of the gospel, And be your very best, no matter how dark it gets. We can overcome most every challenge we face in life if we have the above skills. Whatever your keel, dig deep, and be your best.

Here are some pictures of the week

1. Me and one of my oldest friends, Eli Anderson

2. Me and My Great Grandma, Grandma Carroll