Week Three July 24, 2014

Every time i get a letter from baby I always laugh because they are hilarious! The MTC is just work, work, and work some more. It has been good though because I have really been able to grow a lot here. We had the coolest devotional this past week. TC Christiansen came and talked about all the films he has made and the Spirit was so strong there. He said we need to always be ready so just in case the Lord ever needs us to perform something special we will be there for Him. Faith has been a common topic in all the devotionals. Faith is something we must have at all times, no matter what! If we don't have faith we won't succeed. Along with faith comes work and without work I won't be able to learn Korean. It has been a struggle but I know if I devote that much more time and focus on it that it will come. I must always pray like you have all said. I can't do this on my own and need the Savior in my life to bless me with His love and help. Another really cool thing he talked about was that we MUST not even mess with the adversary. He used a really cool example on how anything Satan wants us to do wrong could be thought of as spiritual wolves. They may look harmless from far away and we are tempted to get closer and closer but we can't let that happen! We must keep our distance and stay far away from these spiritual wolves. I wasn't the best kid before I left and I really regret who I was at times... being here at the MTC has really struck me of how powerful the Atonement is! I know at times it may be hard to forget things I've done wrong but through ALL the Savior suffered for me I am able to feel clean and worthy to be out here. It is the most amazing feeling you could ever possibly have!! The Atonement is real and I am forever indebted to my Lord and all he has done for me. This mission isn't my mission but His!! I know if I have faith in Him that in some way He will use me to bring others unto Him. I am an instrument in the hands of the Lord and I must at all times know what that means and what I have to do to be an effective one! I need the pure love of Christ in me and all my investigators will be able to sense it. I don't teach, the Spirit teaches!! 

On Tuesday we had another good devotional. Stanley G. Ellis and family spoke to us. They had a lot of good stuff to say but what I thought was most important about their message is that we be the hope! I am the hope. No matter where I am people will always lose faith. So it is my job to not fall down that path but to always be the hope. Another cool analogy is that they depicted Christ's work as a bullet train going in one direction, never backwards or to never stop. Nothing can stop it. I must remain on this train because if I get off, it is NOT coming back for me. We need to have it in ourselves to have the strength and the testimony never to leave the train! I know for a fact my ENTIRE family does so I am not worried. The process has only began for me but my goal out of this mission is to become fully converted!! None of my investigators will feel the Spirit in me as I teach if I am not fully converted. It will take a lot of hard work but I'm willing to do whatever it takes! 

I still get tired a lot but as I go on i will get used to it. I'm trying to finish the Book of Mormon quickly here either before I leave or shortly after. I need to know all that I can when I get out in the field!!  Last night I got to lead a welcome meeting with the new missionaries. It was an hour long where we just talked about the MTC and rules. At the end I was able to bear my testimony in Korean! Seeing all those new missionaries look at me like they did was the best feeling. After just 3 weeks I can bare my testimony in Korean!! Thats crazy and I need to see how far I have come and not get down on myself. I also got to say the closing prayer, I felt so cool being able to say it in Korean. All of the new missionaries thought it was sooo cool! The spirit was so strong last night and it is my job to be a leader, the best leader I can, to these new elders and sisters! They will look up to me and I must realize the importance of how vital it is I only do and say things Christ would. 

I really appreciate all the emails!! I love you all soooo much!! Sara, EJ, Hanna, and Elizabeth are the best siblings ever!!! My parents are pretty aweshum too!! Gus is a good gradumater boy! I also have the missionary purpose memorized in Korean! Those were some sweet Jordan booties! Their baby is going to be so cute!! 

Love,

Elder Picard

Elder Ian Hullinger, best buddy from Virginia. 

Week Two July 17, 2014 "My first opportunity to give a blessing"

It is pretty hot here in utah, usually high 80's and low 90's so I've been roasting like a toasted cheezer. I just get to study and be all spiritual 24/7. I hope everyone had lots of fun at the lake for me. I knew Jordan would have a good talk, he is a good guy. I'll try and take more pics to send some every week but I haven't taken any this week :( I've been working as hard as i can, it is just super tiring and hard not to fall asleep. Korean is super hard and I'm suprised that I haven't been getting it as well as i thought i would. but I'll keep doing my best. I've grown to know how important it is that I love everyone here no matter what, and know that I'm zone leader I have to set the standards high for all the newbies coming in next Wednesday. I'll try to do more kind deeds everyday. My district has all different varieties of people and it is hard to become one but we are doing better each day. I had the opportunity to give a blessing to a elder in my district who was feeling discouraged so that was pretty sweet. The Spirit was so strong when I gave it, it burned within me. Being a missionary is just awesome! I just need to do better about focusing everything on the MTC instead of worrying about life and home all of the time. I have to go to a bunch of meetings now that I am the zone leader. Tuesday at the devotional it was about the importance of remembering and holding dear the name of Jesus Christ when you close prayers, testimony, and throughout your everyday life. It is something I have never really thought about so it was nice to hear. We owe him our all for all He did for us and we need to display the character of Him everyday. I really feel like I was put in my district and zone for a reason, I have been able to help and uplift so many people here and they the same to me. I know for a fact I was made ZL because the Lord has faith in me and what I can do so it is my job not to let Him down!!

Thanks for all the letters, I love hearing from my family and it always puts me in the best mood when I read them. Yes Dad is right I am here to serve others, to be patient, and to love everyone. It was so cool hearing from a GA!I love being able to see some friends and catch up with them, the perks of all our moves. I've been doing better on saying my prayers and I can even say a short prayer in all Korean, no english. I have started reading my english Book of Mormon for personal study so that has been really uplifting. The adversary is still trying to get me but I wont let it because I'm stronger than that. This mission has been hard but has also been a huge learning experience and will continue to be so. I cant wait to be flying home from Korea a completely different person and being able to say I didn't leave anything on the table and I gave it my all. That is my biggest goal out of my mission to have no regrets. I love you all so much!!!!!!

Elder Picard 

Temple time with my best companion, Elder Butterfield. The Provo Temple is HUGE and so beautiful!

Week One July 10, 2014 Our first email

My companion is 6'5" too, we are the twin towers. The mission is awesome but of course satan is always present and tries to discourage me. I'm doing my best to become fully converted into the work but I'm just struggling on how to do so. You guys are the best and thanks for being such an amazing family! Elder Andersen came and spoke at the Tuesday Devotional and it was awesome!!! He told us about how we need to become fully converted until we can convert others and also that we need to be still and listen to promptings of the Spirit. My district is pretty awesome and we have a great time together. I need to do better about knowing this isn't my mission but as I'm here I will continue to do the best I can and improve. I saw Braden Chamberlain from Vernal and me and bricks friend from EFY man dime today so that was pretty awesome! Lessons are going good but Korean is HARD!! I can already read but I just have to keep trying my best because the Spirit will help me! We teach fake lessons to Korean investigators like role plays and after 4 lessons we already committed her to baptism. The Spirit is so strong here but I need to take the time to listen. It is really tiring and I fall asleep during class but as my body adjusts I should start being more alert! I LOVE YOU GUYS thanks for being aweshum!!! Love Elder Picard

P.S. I sent some pictures so hopefully you got them!! Pday was awesome! Hope you had fun at the lake!! Im just over here in the MTC trying to do my best and devote my mission to Him because after all it is His not mine!! I just cant wait to go to Korea and teach the people but I kinda have to learn Korean first :( It is gonna be awesome!!! The devotionals and stuff here are sooo great!! Every Sunday we get to watch a movie or a cool talk so thats awesome. The food here is nummy and i have fallen in love with the wraps <3

​This is my companion Elder Butterfield, him is from Boise.

His missionary name tag, in Korean "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"

My District

Elder Braden Chamberlain from Vernal, Utah.

He sent us this laundry picture, he loves to be clean so we posted it!

The First Day

July 2, 2014

This is the day Elder Picard went into the MTC. Our bishop's family was so nice to pick him up from the airport, feed him one last Cafe Rio meal, and deliver to the Missionary Training Center.

Future missionaries with our missionary

Thumbs up for rock n' roll!

Ready to serve the Lord