Week 4: I Absolutely Love It Here!

Hello to all my friends and family!

4 weeks into the MTC. My Spanish is coming along great, and my testimony is even better. I had mixed emotions when I got here. I remember at the end of the first day, I layed down in my new bed, stared at the bottom of the bunk above me, and thought to myself, "What the heck have I gotten myself into?" I knew why I was here though. I'm very proud to be doing what I'm doing, and to be a part of this great work. It's been a lot more work than I'm used to, but I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to grow as much as I have in the past 4 weeks.

I have a hard time imagining that any other district that has come through the MTC has had anywhere near the comradery we share in our district. I love every single person in our district, and the love we share has helped me a lot.

Guatemala is pretty cool. It's mountains are very beautiful, and the weather has been great so far. We do get lectures almost daily about what we can and can't eat, which parasites are which, and how we can't use water from the faucets. We have armed guards outside of the MTC, and sometimes its hard to distinguish the fireworks from the gunshots (we hear plenty of both.) But the people here are very loving, welcoming, and kind. Some of the food here is amazing. And I've never seen so many old beater motorcycles in my life. I absolutely love it here!

Week 3: All the Right Reasons

It was so good to talk to Jackson on the phone for Christmas! He sounded wonderful and happy. He bore his testimony in Spanish; although we could only understand a few words, we definitely felt the Spirit. 

Hello! I'm 3 weeks in...halfway! 

I can't wait to get into the field. I heard there's a lot more freedom, not that I'll take advantage of it in a a bad way, but it'll be nice not to have to answer to teachers 14 hours a day. And they make us teach mock investigators, who are other teachers, and it's always super awkward, so I'm excited to be done with that. 

But it's all good, and I'm glad I'm here on my mission. I've really learned a lot. I'm not sure that I came out for all the right reasons, but I know I'm here for the right reasons now. My testimony has grown so much and I'm excited to get out there teaching the gospel. 

I've had the chance to be the responsible one. Imagine that! It's been a little hard for me, I've had to grow up a lot, but I think it's been good for me. I'm not worried about how I'll do in college anymore...

My Spanish is still improving every day. And yes, my facial hair does grow fast enough that I have to shave every day, even though I never tested that out before now. 

We go to the temple every Pday morning at 6 am. It's pretty cool. We don't leave the CCM at all except to walk to the temple. 

On Sundays we have a sacrament meeting in the morning. People are randomly selected to give talks, and it's all in Spanish so it's a little nerve-racking. Then we have the normal Priesthood and Relief Society meetings, and then a District Sunday School. Then we have like 3 devotionals. Everyone likes Sundays a lot, because they're a nice break from the week. 

Our North American District gets to go to President and Hermana Cox's apartment every Monday for a devotional too, so that's pretty cool. We all look forward to that.

Can't really think of much else to say besides I'm excited to read emails every week, so keep them coming! I'm doing well, and Love You!