Monday, August 26, 2013

Not the most reverent rendition of a hymn


We got two short emails from Nick today.  He's halfway through the MTC.  He leaves for Mexico 3 weeks from today.  He tried to send pictures from the MTC but, it's not always easy to do that.  Sydney has struggled too to send them.  I sent Nick a letter and asked some questions, so the first email is answering some of those.  Spencer is his cousin who just finished the Ironman competition which entails a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run.  I said that Spencer was tired but happy he finished.  I said that might be compared to missionary work.  Your tired but happy.  Nick disagreed with me.  I don't see Nick doing an Ironman competition, EVER.  






So just to answer your quick questions. Yeah, I head out this Wednesday to get my visa, only instead of flying to Vegas I just go to Salt Lake for 4 hours. So, I'm  happy about that, cause apparently there's some really old guy whose calling is to pick up missionaries and he just talks about the old testament for 5 hours at Del  Taco. 

That's awesome that Spencer did that though.  Missionary work is nothing like a 112 mile bike ride. That would be called hell. But this week the oldest district left, I'm  really going to miss a lot of them. I cant even remember what I've told you guys, about them. It was Elder L......., A........, W...., F........ etc. I wrote down all the names in my journal. They were all amazing examples to me. But on the other hand, seeing how good they were at Spanish when they left, kinda scared me. They made a ton of progress no doubt but, it just makes me realize how much I'm in trouble for Mexico -_-.  When a district leaves though,  our zone (minus the Presidency) goes to a room at night and sings "God Be With You Till We Meet Again". Only instead of English, its Spanish, and instead of reverently, its like a bunch of drunk Irish men after a soccer game.  Way fun. 



Well this week was just another average week at the MTC . All the days blend together here since I wear the same clothes everyday. So,  I'm  not really sure what to say. I guess the big thing that happened this week is that our oldest district left. It's crazy how much you can bond with people after knowing them for just like 3 weeks. I'm really going to miss all of them.  But you know what that means, 3 weeks in, 3 weeks left. Halfway done. It really hasn't felt long at all.  So, I get this eerie feeling I'm going to be the next district leader.  That's the last thing I want, having to babysit my district. But whatever, I'll just reject the calling (only kidding)  

We got a new a district though, last Wednesday, and getting another new one in 2 days.   2 kids in my district are the new ZLs, L.....and G....... But that's only because my favorite district is leaving next Monday to Mexico.  Its like Sydney said, how even though its been only 20 days you've felt like you've known them your entire life.  Language is good. I kind of plateaued this week with it, so I'm  working ahead on reflexive past and future tense. I cant speak it worth crap and all the other kids are progressing faster than I am. That's okay though, I'll eventually get it. :)  I've been working on rolling my r's a lot, or just saying r's the way the Mexicans do, I literally can't notice a difference but, everyone else can.

Anyway I'm sure I'll have a lot more to talk about once I'm out of the MTC and actually doing real work with real people. My investigators are good, but nothing worth reporting on. Had some good lessons, had some bad ones. (turns out one of the first lessons I had with Savio(I assume this is his fake investigator) I said see you in siete dios, 7 gods when I meant days.) oh well I'll write more later if I can think of what to say.

Nick
 

Monday, August 19, 2013

Moving to a new campus

We got a handwritten letter this week from Nick too.  He told us a little more about the Elder getting sick and going to the hospital after they all went to the temple.  He moved from the main MTC campus to the Wyview campus, which was BYU dorms.  He told us in his handwritten letter that it was better and now I think he's changed his tune.  He did tell us about Elder Scott coming and speaking to them and how HE EVEN SANG IN THE CHOIR!  Who is this kid?  He said it was good.  He also talked about teaching their fake investigator, Miguel, and they had to use a lot of hand gestures to get their point across.  It reminded me of what Sydney said in which teaching in Korean was one part Korean and one part pictionary.  It also seems to be the same for Spanish too, when you are new to the language.  He seems to be picking up the language and is getting more comfortable each day.  



So this week was really busy but I don't really even remember a thing that happened. Tuesday we taught our final lesson with Miguel and he decided to be baptized! Its crazy how even though hes a fake investigator, and our teacher, it still brings you such happiness and makes you excited. We shared the scripture out of Mark 9 "Lord I believe bless now my unbelief" and talked to him about how even though our lessons were sporadic and kinda really bad, he still knows enough and we know hes ready. It was good to see. 

But anyway Elder G....... hes probably my favorite person to talk to here.  He was baptized when he was 15 (his dad was inactive, mom wasn't a member), and went on a mission 4 years later. I think that's awesome. Hes such a funny guy. But, Monday he was in a lot of pain and everything and went to the hospital that night and they took out his appendix. After they told him to relax for a bit, but the next day he played 4 square, and got a spot on his stomach that looked like internal bleeding. So, back to the hospital he went.  When he went to go get scanned, they had to put solution in him but, they missed his vein. His left arm was like 3 times as big, but luckily no internal bleeding. He just bleeds out of his belly button every once in a while, and we don't let him forget it.


Turns out Wyview isn't as nice as we thought. The food is either really good or garbage and to be honest I kinda miss main campus. It was just nice seeing everyone too and having a classroom that didn't look so much like an apartment. Oh well, 4 more weeks left. I honestly cant think of anything else that happened. 

I watched Elder L...,a  Polynesian football guy, fill half a loaf of bread with 7 raw hot dogs and eat it. I thought that was pretty impressive. Anyway back on track, its crazy how much simpler life is without all the distractions, you can feel so much more. (However i do miss my phone when I'm(lets just say when Nick is in the bathroom for a long period of time))

 I had an ephiphany the other day though. So Rice Krispies, I was reading the package, and the whole design is just blank and white so you can write on it. That's garbage, it's more like the design people forgot.  They were supposed to make the cover for the package and they were like uhh... a package you can write on. Dumb.  (We recently sent a package with Rice Krispie treats in it.  The things this boy writes about. )

Anyway,  I know there's more that happened but not really. I play piano for sacrament, and yesterday everyone figured out I play fairly well so they made me play Hallelujah like 4 times. We don't have new investigators yet, and each day is like 9-10 hours of studying so not much to report on. I promise they'll(meaning his letters) be more interesting in the future. I'll  write you guys a handwritten note sometime too. Love you all bye.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

First Few Days

On Monday, we received a letter from Elder Arvanitas.  He's a man of few words so we didn't expect a long letter.  This is actually longer than I anticipated.  He seems to be adjusting.  

Hey all,
So yeah when i got here the first couple days felt like forever, the longest days of my life.  It's one thing thinking about being in a suit and working all day, but a completely other thing actually doing. But it gets better!   Adapting is the hardest part.  But, the days have been good for the most part, nothing really to report though.  Still kinda new.   So Friday,  this kid in my district went home after 3 days.  It was really depressing to be honest to see someone leave that soon, but he had depression and family problems, so it was probably for the best.  It's weird though how much you can care about someone after only 3 days.  The days all blend together though since we do the same stuff.  So to report on my companion and my district, they're... okay, but I'm  learning to like them more. (Donna had a work friend whose daughter's boyfriend is in my district.  He's a good guy)   (Donna is his aunt.)   
My companion is Elder Morgan, fancy that, he's from Virginia. Not the most exciting person to talk to but I don't mind him. So our district leader is a "super elder".  He bugs me but, hopefully it gets better.   The other district in my zone is really cool though, I talk to them a lot. One's the Quarterback for Utah, (I'm guessing he means, University of Utahand a linebacker, and a kid that did a bunch of martial arts, and a Polynesian. All really funny people, who are really good people. 
The language is good though. Spanish is pretty easy, and I constantly think in it now.  My teacher's really nice.  I like her.  Umm... what else... oh! got the bottom bunk, but it doesn't matter cause were being transferred! (Steve's advice to the kids about the MTC.  Get the bottom bunk.)   b I've heard Wyview is 10 times better. So I'm excited. (Wyview is BYU dorms that were converted into part of the MTC because they've run out of room to house all the missionaries.)  I'll still try and see Hunter though.   
So I don't know what Sydney was talking about when she said Sundays are the best.. Every week you have to prepare a talk in Spanish, and then they call random people to talk in the language. Since we have like the smallest zone, my chances of being called are pretty high, so that sucks. Well that's all, miss you all, talk to you soon.