Okay so firstly...
I have received all of your dearelders I do believe, so far. I got a
couple forwarded emails from grandma, a dearelder from Braden, Sean,
Mom, and Dad. And I should probably be getting any others that were sent
later today. So it's all good. Keeping using dearelder. I prefer those
to emails, because I can read them right when I get them and ponder
about how to answer. Yes, now that I am in the MTC, I no longer think. I
ponder^^
Anyway, the truck is gone! Noooo! That's too bad, but I'm glad that
you got a good amount out of it. Not that I know anything about trucks
and how much you sell them for, but it sounds like you got a good
deal...?
Okay, new idea. Because I honestly don't know how many questions
I'm leaving unanswered in my emails/letters. I think you should all when
you dearelder me (or email me, if you do that instead for whatever
reason) have a question section. That way, rather than trying to find
and make sure I know all the questions to answer, I can just refer to
the "Ask Elder DeFreese" section of each thang. Or whatever^^ It doesn't
have to be a question. You can also just ask me to explain something,
share a scripture/experience, whatever you want, really.
Life here in the MTC is good. Honestly, my companion and I are like
PB and J. Even if jelly sometimes beat boxes way too much or gets
distracted too easily. We all know peanut butter has similar issues that
can get on the other condiments nerves. Haha no but really, all lame
metaphors/simile thingies aside, my companion is awesome. We both are
getting along a lot better than some of the other companionships in our
district, and even better than some that have been here longer. It's
good. That's not to say that things don't or won't get hard sometimes,
because I know that I need to continue to be patient with certain
things, but I'm just glad that I got so lucky with my current companion.
Anyway, the Spanish is... Coming. The first few days, it's like
WHAM! I KNOW SPANISH! Aaaand then you hit the wall. It's like no matter
how much is crammed into my brain, I can't figure out how to use half of
it. No matter how hard or often the cramming. Oh well though, the
gospel side is going swimmingly. My companion and I taught TE for the
first time this last Monday, and it went awesome. It was our first time,
and we taught with great team work, asking questions along the way to
assess his understanding, and the spirit was there. Okay, let me explain
what TE is, actually.
It's this thing where you can sign up for a "progressing
investigator", which is a teacher that takes on the role of a character
they either made up or someone they dealt with on their mission. You go
and teach them like a real investigator each week, and then you set up
an appointment to continue later. Well, we taught the first lesson
anyway, and he said afterward (after he was out of character) that we
did really well. He was surprised at how well we worked together and how
smoothly the lesson went. They don't go easy on you, they are like real
investigators. Weird questions, difficult life problems and all. But
anyway, so he said that, unlike the others in our district, we should go
straight to Spanish, since our gospel side is already pretty solid.
Sooo yaaaaaycrap. Haha it's a compliment, but now we have to teach an
entire lesson en Español next Monday. Which is coming up quick. So....
Scary.
But it´s alright, I think we´ll do okay. And unlike last time´s
half hour, we just signed up for 15 minutes this time. So if it´s a
train wreck, at least it´ll be a short one.
Okay, I just want to thank you for the package real quick! It came
yesterday (the day you sent it!) and I already got all the treats eaten.
I shared with the new district that just got here Wednesday first, and
then slowly with the rest of the zone. Don´t worry though, I ate 2 or 3,
so I got a good share of the love. Those things were delicious, and my
fellow Elders enjoyed them very much. I think the newbies needed a
little pick-me-up, so it was perfect. Thanks again!
Also, the jacket was just in time. I´m wearing it now over my
too-tight (for now) gray t-shirt, so I can wash my other p-day and
workout clothes! Speaking of workout, I´ll have to let you know tomorrow
when I weigh myself again because I´m only weighing myself once a week,
but I have lost at least like 4 pounds or so since getting here. I work
myself really hard on the elliptical here in the MTC gym. Not too hard,
I think, but hard enough to be a healthy thang^^ It also helps that our
building is the farthest from everywhere, so we walk a lot. And that
we're on the top floor of our building, so lots of stairs.
Anyway, what else, what else...
My district is super fun. I'm loving my roommates. We're always
joking around and having a good time, but in a quiet way for the most
part. Not like the rest of our zone, doing piggy back races and
wrestling in the halls. But esta bien.
We've got one guy in our zone who's like 6'5 and he's ripped. He
was a fireman for a bit before the mission, and he's super intimidating.
As I've come to find out though, he's the nicest guy ever. Never talks
bad about anyone, very humble, super awesome. And he loves hugs.
The more I get to know these people, the more I like them. We all
have our faults. Being a missionary does NOT make you perfect. But we
try our best, and when we don't, we forgive ourselves, move on and do
better.
It helps to know that I've got so much support at home. Whenever
the language discourages me or the constant noise and mess that is life
in the MTC gets me down, I always remember that my family didn't send me
away so I could take a nap or avoid my studies or joke around with the
other Elders. And I didn't leave for that reason either. I left because I
know the church is true, and I know that this is where I'm supposed to
be.
Let's have me bear my testimony in Spanish now! Yay!
Yo se que José Smith fue una profeta. Yo se que Dios y JesuCristo
vive, y que Dios nos ama. Yo testifico que El Libro de Mormon es
verdadero, y que la iglesia es verdadera. En el nombre de JesuCristo,
amen. And now, I would pray in spanish to show off my crummy skills, but
I have 2 minutes left^^
I love you all, and I'm sorry if I didn't get around to saying
everything I meant to or asking the questions I meant to. If you want
to, send me a dear elder and I can write some snail mail soon.
I haven't really gotten homesick yet, at least not nearly to the
point that I expected, but when I do I'll let you guys know so you can
send me stuff^^ Thanks for the support! Love you all.
Elder DeFreese
p.s. I miss Brandon, Sean! He sounds so fun right now. Jealous!
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