August 18, 2011

Dear family!

Thank you for your letters! This week has probably been the most difficult I have had so far! My Spanish continues to get better but I still have a hard time speaking my mind when I am in a lesson or something like that. I fear my lack of baptisms is due to the language barrier at this point. My companion is still the same. His Spanish is wonderful but that makes it hard to teach as a unit since I can't understand the investigator or my companion. I guess that is what it will be like when I get out into the field though. Still I I wish he would get moved to a more advanced class. We would both benefit more I think. I admit I sometimes get a little frustrated with him.

I just got called as the new district leader this week! Our last district leader hightailed it to the Dominican Republic along with three other Elders from the district. Now there is just six of us. Basically I pick up mail, Lead a couple of small meetings and attend extra training meetings every once and a while. I am enjoying the opportunity to serve my fellow missionaries and try my hand at leadership. It feels really weird without the rest of the Elders here. We are now probably the smallest district in the zone.

I sang in church this Sunday! Me and a few other elders sang nearer my God to thee parts a capella! It went really well. I love singing here in the MTC! In every way shape or form. I also love the Spanish hymns! There are some really good ones that we don't have in English. Alex probably knows what I am talking about. I really like 172. At least I think that’s it. Its all about missionary work!

I am getting better at soccer! My district likes to go play out there a lot. I still don't really have control over where the ball goes but at least I can get it off the ground. I even successfully faked someone out the other day! Maybe when I get to Argentina I won't lose too bad to the natives.

This Tuesday we had a really cool address from one of the members of the first quorum of the seventy. He talked all about our Heavenly Father and his role in everything. Apparently sometimes we forget that he is behind everything and that the gospel of Jesus Christ really came from him. It was a very inspirational message. He said that he had brought the topic up with the first presidency that week and that is what they all felt the missionaries needed to know! I was really surprised to realize that these devotionals are coming straight from the top! They want to make sure we properly understand and teach the role of the father. The talk, combined with other spiritual experiences are making me see everything in life differently. I am striving to become closer to my Heavenly Father through sincere and faithful prayer. I am also trying much harder than I used to to listen to the spirit and listen for answers to my prayers. I can already feel the difference in my life. While the General authority spoke I remembered a quote I had heard some time ago- "If you don't feel like praying, get on your knees until you do." I have been taking this literally. Its to hard to let the reality of things slip away here in the MTC. WE start thinking that none of this is actually connected to heaven but it is. This is the Lords work. The speaker said: "Some people think its ridiculous how many times we pray a day. I am here to tell you that its only ridiculous if those prayers are not sincere." I do pray almost every hour of the day right now and I love it!

Shannon- Tell Ariel Hi back! And thank you for the song! lol I will let it shine!

Also! I loved the card from all of you! So awesome! And thank sister Warnick for me! It was nice to be reminded of my cubs. It’s a little weird in here. So much is being crammed into your brain and you are always critically thinking that you forget a lot. The up side though is that it keeps me from getting home sick. And Thank sister Bailey for her letters!

Alex- I cannot believe your story! Who would have thought she was a nutter! That is absolutely insane! Way to go for laughing through it! It sounds like a royal pain. No worries about my arrow of light. This will be a really awesome story to tell.

I love you all soo much! Thank you for all of the spiritual thoughts as well! I love hearing from all of you!

-Elder Green