2nd letter

Here's the second email, folks! Dear Elder him and wish him luck, because we really don't want him  to fail his goal. Just read:

"This is my last P-day at the mtc, so i think after this i'll be able to able for a lot longer and have more time to write! plus we figured out a way to stop the timer so we have the full 30 minutes to type instead of using half of it to read :P But i'm just going to write to one that way i don't have to waste time going back and forth between email addresses.. i feel like this way is more efficient! plus i know there are people who want to read the emails so i don't want to leave them out either.

So the mtc has treated me quite well, i can't believe i've already been here 2 and a half weeks, it went by so fast! We teach so much, i'm getting better and better at it! At least i think so.. We do these things called "TRC" appointments where actors come in (we don't know if they're members or not) and they have a situation and we have to teach them! So me and Elder Ochoa, my companion, were assigned to teach Jose Meza, a very wise middle aged man who had a lot to say. We taught him the first lesson and left him the book of mormon, everything seemed to be going great! so we came back for our second visit two days later, but this time he had a friend with him. at first everything seemed to be going good, we were all laughing and joking around so we had a pretty good feeling that we were going to be able to teach both of them pretty easily. WRONG. Once we started teaching it was a battle. Jose's friend, Jorge, had something to say/criticize about EVERYTHING we tried to teach. his comments included "joseph smith was dumb, there's no way he could've translated a book written in an ancient language- Joseph smith was high when he wrote the B.O.M. - you guys have nothing to base your faith on - the book of mormon sounds like a soap opera - why do you believe god loves us if he lets people suffer - Jesus Christ and God and the Holy Spirit are the same person - "

It was ridiculous. that's only half the stuff he threw at us. and we answered everything for him and backed it all up with scripture even, but he still told us that we were crazy and that our faith was nothing. me and elder ochoa were just waiting for somebody to ring the bell so we could start throwin' blows at this dude! haha joke. but seriously, it was so frustrating. but i guess it was good preparation because i know there will be people out there who are going to invite us in just to have an arguement or whatever. so we ended up leaving . then we came back for our third visit a week later and his friend was there again! but we were prepared with scriptures and things because we thought it was going to be the same thing so we knew we had to be ready. So we walked in and sat down and Jorge told us he had to go. i think me and Elder Ochoa both can say that it was a huge relief. So we taught Jose and it went sooo good! he wanted to be baptized! of course, this is all fake, but it was still a really good feeling. haha

 

So here at the mtc they have a bunch of records on the wall of things people did, like highest vertical, most free throws in a row, most 3 pointers in a row, long jump, mile, push ups, etc.. so i wanted to be on this wall soooo bad! but the only thing i think i can beat is the free throws and the long jump. i can't try the freethrows because every court is taken during gym time and i would need a basket all to myself. so i've been trying the standing long jump record. The record is 10'4. what do i jump? 10'4. i cant jump that extra inch, its so frustrating! so in our hallway by our dorm we measured out 10 feet 4 inches and put a piece of tape down so i could practice. and still. my very best jump i'm doing 10'4... blahh so i asked the guy if i could still get my name up there because technically i have the record too since i tied it, but he said no i have to jump 10'5 to get my name up there. it's impossible haha that extra inch is killin' me. just thought i'd let you know that i've failed my first goal on my mission haha it's all
good though.. i'll get over it someday.

 

I'm leaving the mtc on tuesday, the 14th! I report to the travel office at 4 am, then we head to the airport. our first flight is 5 hours from salt lake to Detroit, Michigan. Then we have a two hour wait in the air port. then we fly from detroit to NY which is another two hours.. thats a 7 hour trip! blahhh. but i'm excited, this is the real thing! i'm pretty sure i get to call home from the airport! so mom and dad be expecting a call in the morning! if you guys arent together when i call then i will just call both, no worries! i had to let you guys know so you can be ready. so if you guys get a call from an unknown number on tuesday, ANSWER IT. thanks :)

 

I miss you guys! I wish i could just talk to you because i have plenty of stories and cool things to say to you guys but i can't fit it all into an email with the time limit i have!

You guys are in my thoughts and definitely in my prayers. Los quiero mucho cuidense por favor! Mama y papa, no se preocupen por no mandarme dulces y cartas, estoy bien con que me escriben en mi email! espero que todo va bien con el trabajo y la escuela para mis hermanos! Los extrano mucho, adios!!!"

Doesn't he sound great? We'll be back shortly for some entertainment:)