Well, if I get fat here at least it will be from food I actually enjoy eating. =)

Hey y'all hey!
This letter is being written from a little library about a ten minture drvie from our apartment. It's really big and echo-y. But esta bien.

=) At least we have a place to write from.

 Um, we live in an apartment with two other sisters. Hermana G one of my roomies from the MTC and Hermana W. I really like Hermana G. She's pretty cool and Hermana W is pretty cool too. The apartment is nice. We have a washer and a dryer in it so we don't have to worry about going to a laundrymat. We have dish washer but we don't use it. We wash everything by hand. But we don't have that many dishes so it's pretty easy. The apartment isn't actually in our area but is very close. The ward I serve in has something like 426 members but only 100 of them usually show up for sacrament meeting. There are six missionaries that work in the ward. Elder M, from my district at the MTC is in my district here. He serves in the same ward and lives in the same apartment complex.

Hermana P is pretty epic. I really mean it when I say I'm one lucky Hermana. =) She insists that she's not training me. She's just helping me. She had an awful experience with her trianer and she almost told Pres Taylor right before the "get your new companion meeting that she couldn't train me. She's pretty darn legit at Spanish and she knows every single member by name their conversion story and all their kids where they work etc. It's amazing. Granted she has been in this area for her whole mission so far (8 months) But oh my heavens she has so much love for those she teaches. It's amazing. Her family never writes her so really, Josh if you want to write her a whole letter that'd be way cool. Oh and you can send me real letters. I would like that a lot. And packages, if you send any should probably be sent to the mission home. Letters can be sent here, but I'm not sure if I would ever see the package if it was sent to the apartement.

The food. Ok well I've only eaten with one member so far, and it was a huge party thing so it was just sub sandwiches but they had this delicious drink called jamica. It's made some how from this flower and suger and my goodness it's wonderful. So imagine this: we're at a party with the ward celebrating a little boy's birthday. Its about 8:30 (we're there because the relief society pres asked us to be. They want the missionaries to know the ward better) The sun is setting and the sky here is beautiful. It's hot, but not too hot. Your clothes are only sort of sticking to your body. you're surrounded by all these wonderful people drinking jamica eating a sandwhich everyone's talking in Spanish and there's a blow up slide thing off to the side for the kids. Basically, it was a hispanic type party and it was wonderful. Never in a million years did I guess I would be doing something like this. Ah man. I can't even exploain it properly and for that I apologize.

The ward here is really great. They all make fun of me a little bit for my lack of Spanish skills, but esta bien. They won't in a few months when I've conqured (I really can spell) the language. Hermana P says that's when people will respect me. Because I'm white they don't pay attention to me that much but once I can speak the language really well I will have earned their respect. So pray for me. =) I sure need it. A lot of people speak at least a little English espeially the kids. The members are always so willing to go out and teach with us which is really good. A lot of our investigators have been investigating for months now. They've been taught all the lessons and now we're just waiting on them to act. They have baptisimal dates. We have a lot of investigators at the moment so most of our time is speant teaching them. We have done a little bit of contacting where we found two people who wanted us to come back. We do what's called a door approach. Since a lot of people here are Catholic we offer to bless their home them ask them if we can come back another time. It's legit.

We have one investigator Vero and her son who have recieved all the lessons. She's been extended a date but she has onlly come to church once so she can't be baptized. We ate at her house the other day and had these delicous hot dog thing wrapped in bacon. I forget what they're called but they're delicious. =) I also tried my first Jalepeno that night. Oh my heavens. it was just a slice and I even took out all the seeds and I still almost died. =) But it was good and went well with the hot dog thing. We also had this drink called Mazanita it's a kind of soda and is also very yummy. So like I said, if I get fat here at least it will be from food I like. =)

I did not get the bike yet. I forgot about it on transfer day because there was so much going on and no one told me I was supposed to get it then. I called Elder Rogers, the elder you spoke to and he said he'd get back to me about where it is and how to get it. So it's a good thing we have a car. =) Yep, we have a car and it's very nice. AND are you ready for this? I'm the designated driver. yep, I drive us around Phoenix not knowing where anything is. Though now I have finally figured out which way is north and sout etc. And I know the way to the chapel from our apartment. I'm learning.

I had a very interesting experience while finding the other day, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to tell it. No worries, nothing bad, just interesting. God works in mysterious ways is all. =) Anyway I think it's time to get off now. Sorry there's not anything super spiritual or uplifting this time around. I'm still getting into the hang of things around here. Oh and they don't teach you nothin' in the MTC. It's ain't anything like what it's like to be here.

Get me Ryan's email por favor

much love
Jess

Halo from Arizonia

 Letter written on Sept. 20th

Pues, it's kinda warm here. =) but it's all good. Everything is a little overwhelming pero I will learn. my companion Hma P is pretty darn awesome. I am one lucky hermana to get her as my trainer. Last night I taught my first lesson in which I bore testimony commited and told a personal experience. Latter that night I made my first contact with a referal we were given. We blessed her home and then set up an appointment for tomorrow. The mission pres and his wife are really great and so are the office staff.

Anyway, more will come on my actual P day. Oh and we get to go to the temple once every quarter. =) Yayhoo.

Address is 475 N 43rd Ave. # 104 Phoeniz AZ 85009
Love you all lots!!

Jess

Take my heart, take and seal it. Seal it for your courts above.

Letter written on Sept. 15th

 

Oh my heavens. Have any of you realized that I will be taking my first plan ride in my whole life in three days. CRAZY!!! Everybody makes fun of me because I've never been on one before and all the elders keep telling me all these horror stories sobre plane rides and all the bad cosas that can happen. I just shake my head and laugh.

 

So since this is the last letter from the MTC, I figured I would provide you with a list.

 

First list: Things I have learned about myself

 

1. I love being out doors. I didn't even realize this about myself until I got here and never got to be outside. Even when you are outside there are these over hang things over you almost everywhere you walk so you can't even see the sky then. I miss walking back from class in Logan and standing at the top of the stairs right next to the Spectrum. It's a perfect view of the whole valley and if you get there when the sun's setting it's even better. Ryan, or anyone else up in Logan, will you stop at that spot for me and just take in the beauty of Cache Valley? =)

 

2. I have been blessed with some very just completely awesome Spiritual gifts. =) Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to brag or anything. God has blessed me with them because I have asked or because I could use them to help others. It's been amazing to see and notice them in myself. Things that I didn't even know I had until I got here. Or ones that I've developed since I got here. We read over them in class the other day, or at least the list Moroni gives and the Brinny sent me a quote with some more listed and suddenly I was seeing them everywhere.

 

3. I really can do hard things. Well, let me rephrase that. With the help of God I can do ALL things. No matter how hard they seem. When it all seems impossible, when there is no hope, when I have felt more alone forgotten and full of anguish than I ever have before all I had to do was remember my Savior Jesus Christ and it didn't seem so bad any more.

 

Second list: Things I will miss about the MTC

 

1. The milk

 

2. The excercise time. I did my last 20 laps around the track (two miles)  push ups (I can do thirty now) situps (90) and arm circley things today and it was a little sad.

 

3. The milk

 

4. The firesides and devotionals. Isn't it awesome that we get the chance to listen to real living apostles all the time?!? I love it!

 

5. The milk.

 

6. The people. My branch presidency is awesome. Basically. The end. Their wives are AWESOME!!! Oh my heavens! One day they'll all bemy neighnors in heaven. And believe it or not, I will miss the elders. =) They've all grown on me quite a bit. And they've all grown quite a bit. =) I wish I could be there to see every single one of the continue to grow

 

7. The milk.

 

8. Going to the temple once a week. Oh man. How I love it there.

 

9. The milk

 

Thrid list: Things I am excited for

 

1. I am excited to be able to spend time outside. In a couple of months when it's not super hot outside. =) Though Elder M's brother, who lives in Glendale by the misssion home says it's been quite cool there recently, only 105 degrees. =)

 

2. To have toilet paper dispensers that you don't have to constantly fight with in order to get more than one tiny sheet out. This is such a pain. AND all the rolls come out the wrng way.

 

3. To speak with some native Spanish speakers. Actually this thought scares me a whole ton pero I have to leaarn sooner rather than later. I did work with an elde from Phoenix who is is a Spanish branch down there during our in field orientation and we did the exersices is Spanish. I understood just about all that he said.

 

4. To get out there and teach some people. To really do this. To love those I serve to see them come close to God. To be an instrument in His hands, helping others repent, use the Atonement and go to the temple. Ah! I am so excited!!!!! =)

 

Okay, almost out of time.

 

Ryan, I don't care how many dates you go on, you always have time to write the coolest girl in your life right now, you older sister. =) After your mission one of them can be more important than me, but right now they're not.  =) Be home by midnight. I'm not joking. I am very serious right now. Go to church. Go to all your classes INCLUDING institute. Read pray and read and pray some more. And yes, I will continue to embarrass you in front of whomever happens to read these emails until I get a real letter from you. =)

 

Josh I hope you're well. I'm sending you a HUGE air hug right now!!!

 

Sarah, I still haven't seen these pictures. And I wrote you today so just be aware. =)

 

Jason havve you been practicing you trumpet?

 

Mom, Papa Scott HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ... yesterday. =) Love you both!!

 

 

Please meet me @ right now in room 290 - Batman

Well, this week has been pretty eventful and different and pretty much muy enjoyable.

 

Sarah still waiting for those pictures. Just sayin

 

Ryan I may have misplaced the letter with you email in it...will you send it to me again, please?

 

Jason, enjoying school? Made any new frieds?

 

Dad, Mr Smiles has not turned out. I won't lie, he doesn't look like a smiley at all.

 

Mom, how's school? Classes going okay?

 

JUASHOOOOOOOOOOOOOA!! Love ya dude.

 

There were a lot of different things that happened this week, which was super nice.

 

First....drum roll please...............bdbdbdbdbdbdbd. WE GOT OUR TRAVEL PLANS!!!!!! Yippy!! The end of this wonderfully spiritual place is within sight!!! We have to be at the travel office at 5:00...in the A.M. Our flight is at 8:35 and we are supposed to arrive in Arizona at 9:19. YAYHOO!!! It could be worse, I could be like Elder V and have to be at the travel office at 3am going to Canada. =) It was not a happy day for all of us though. Poor Elder H is the only one who did not recieve his travel plans. And Elder S and F made fun of him for it all night long. They even pretended that they went back to the mailbox and found his and gave him fake travel plans. Elder H had a rough day. But he's a ginger so that makes up for it. =)

 

Second, some Hermans on our floor invited us to play soccer with them duriing gym time. So we did. It was SOOOOO MUCH STINKIN' FUN!!! I have not played soccer in AGES!! My team won, even though we don't keep score here in the MTC. =) I definitely want to do intermurals when I get back. Not that I'm thinking about that a lot, but I have made a mental note that hopefully I will remember when it comes times to go back to school. Soccer rocks. Nuff said.

 

Third we hosted like I said last week. It was super fun. I took one sister around. She was super cute and she was going to New York. Legit right there. =) We get to do it again next week! I'm so glad, though it does mean we miss gym and part of personal study that day.

 

Fourth This last Tuesday durning choir before the devotional they were doing all the security stuff they did when Elder Andersen came so we were convinced it was going to be another apostle. Sadly it wasn't, pero it was a memeber of the Seventy who was from Germany. It was legit. They just moved to Utah and his wife told us how she loves to drive on the highways and one day she got pulled over for going too fast. She was so smiley and happy, so confident even though her English wasn't perfect. She was adorable. I learned a lot from her in regard to just being happy and not worrying too much about the language. Her husband who for the life of me I can't remember their last names right now, gave a really good talk about how we must have a testimony of every thing we teach our investigators. That is how Alma and the sons of Mosiah were able to be such good missionaries. They had truly experienced repentance so they could teach about it. It was cool.

 

Fifth An elder in one of the younger districts, Elder A, is someone who not a lot of people really like. He's still young, just out of highschool, just a 19 year old boy. Anyway, people get annoyed with him and judge him a lot. When he first came I talked to him a lot, mostly because even if I asked another elder in his district a question Elder A would answer. But I thought he was nice and he was struggling a little bit with being here at first, I mean honestly who doesn't? So I talked to him always smiled at him and asked him how he was doing etc. So the other day, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, just wishing for the day I can get out of here, etc when in the lunch room Elder A comes up to me and says, "Hermana you are always so feliz (happy). It makes me felic to see you so feliz all the time." Oh my heavens I wanted to hug the kid...ahem excuse me. The elder. Pero I am a missionary. So I just busted out in the biggest smile I could muster and said thank you. It's interesting to me, that when you make the effort to talk to someone who looks sad or who needs a friend, you think at the time that you're helping them, that they're the lucky one because you listened to that small prompting from the Holy Ghost, that you did this great deed. But then later on you see that you've been blessed. That you are actually the one who's lucky, not the person who you talked to. It's the same with my friend Hermana H. I had seen her crying in the bathroom one day and I decided the next time I saw her I was going to go talk to her. So at gym the next day I did. Yeah, sure it may ave helped her that day, but a week later when I just needed someone there to hug me while I cried there was Hermana H, just hugging me. And she is a pretty darn good hugger. Pretty sure I am more blessed to have her as a friend than she is to have me as a friend.

 

And the last, which is for sure the best one, I got a note from Batman yesterday. As shown above. I just got back to class and there's this paper with Batman's symbol on it. On the other side he asked me to meet him. Pero I am a missionary, I can't meet a man, no matter how awesome he may be so I didn't go. But hey it's the thought that counts. =) Anyway, whoever did it sure gave me a nice long chuckle. =)

 

Anyway love you all!! The church rocks.

 

Jess

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care

Hola familia! How was the first week of school? Fun? Exciting? Make any new friends? Tell me all about it. =)

Sarah. Pictures. ASAP. Need I say more?

Ryan, I'm sorry this isn't sent to your email. I forgot to write it down before heading to the computer lab. Will you ever forgive me?

Joshua, did you like your first week of school? Do you have anymore songs for me? They are always so fun to read and they make me laugh a lot. *knuckles*

Jason, you never said which classes you're taking. You must tell me. =) Or I will smash you/it with a hammer. (10 points to whomever can name that movie. Two hints: Disney. Epic)

Well, today I have two requests for you all. Maybe you could do it for FHE or something. It's super good. Please watch the movie Hubble teliscope deep space in 3D on Youtue (do not fear. Our teacher showed it to us so we weren't breaking any rules.) Then talk/think about it a lot. How did it make you feel? What did you learn about how significant you are in the universe. And I mean REEALLY think and talk about it. Then watch the Josph millett story, also availiable on YouTube. What does that movie teach you? What does it tell you about how significant you are in this universe? What does it tell you about how God feels about YOU as a person as His child? How well does He know you? Then if you so desire please tell me about what you learned. =) I learned a lot about it and then we can compare notes and just be happy. =)

We got new neighbors this week. And the great news is that we will leave before they do!! AHH! It's so exciting. We've gone through two sets of neighbors since arriving here. (yes, we're just that noisy at night they all leave ;) ) No, they've all be English speakers so they come then they go. This time we have some visitor center missionaries which means they're here for four weeks and then on the other side we have Tagolog/ however you spell that word. I can't even say it right let alone spell it. So we leave before them. It's so exciting! Come Tuesday we only have two more weeks here! EEP!! Oh my heavens, I am so excited. Role playing is great and can be really close to the real thing but everybody involved has to take it seriously. Sometimes even the teachers really struggle with that. I'm also exicted for different food. And a sort of different schedule. I feel like Jack in that one episode of SG1 when he keeps repeating the same day over and over and over again. Some days he enjoyed and tried something new and exciting. He had the opportunity to learn many more things than he would have in any other situation but there came a time when he was ready to use the knowledge he had attained to get himself out of the mess. I am in no way saying I am all knowing and am completely fluent in Spanish. I have two more weeks left and I'm grateful for them pero (but) I want to give all this stuff I've been learning a try out in the real world. Hopefully that makes sense. =) And for Sarah and Josh and the rest of you who haven't seen the episode, I apologize. I am a sifi nerd through and through. And proud of it. =)

We got a new teacher this week. Hermano T and Hermano C couldn't make their school schedules work together so we did a teacher swap with the next door neighbors. So Hermano T left. Our new teacher Hermano M is great. He's married and has been back from his mish for 2 and half years and has a one year old daughter. He has a certain level of maturity that we all need. Pur investigator, Matias has also left. It's sad because we got him to commit, sort of, to baptism and we were working on the Word of Wisdom with him, but alas we teach him no more. We have a new investigator named Andres. We have only taught him once, pero I see much potential in him. We just need to figure out how to help him see how the gospel can help him in his life.

We found out yesterday that we're hosting!!! I'm stoked. Hosting is being one of the missionaries that greets all of the new incoming missionaries. The elders pick everyone up at their cars then bring the sisters to u. We then take them to their bedroom, then to get their tags and everything, then to the classrooms. I'm stoked. I said that already but I don't know if you fully understand my enthusiasm. =) One, it's a change of schedule. It's something we've never done before and, two, it's gonna be fun!! Hello!

Steph, I just couldn't wait the whole week or so it would take for your letter to get to you so I'm telling you now. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! That's the best news basically EVER! At least in the Trek world. =)  Long live Janeway and long live the love between J and C!!!! Oh my goodness. I may have actually squealed out loud in front of my whole district when I read your letter. They already think I'm a weirdy, so it's all good. =) Oh I am so happy!!!

Love you all lots and lots. Never forget that you are a child of a loving Heavenly Father. Everything He does is for us, so we may become more like Him, so we can return to Him. Even when it's hard it's for you to become better. Love you all. The church rocks.

Jess

Be careful what you pray for 'cause you just may get it

Well hello there! Fancy seeing you here at this weekly letter time. =)

 

 Hmm...so you'd like to know know what my schedule is like? That's a fair question. I get up at 6:30 everyday. It's great. Nobody else has an alarm which means it's basically my job to make sure we all get up ontime. Which is good since that means I actually do get up. We have gym everyday. It's either right after breakfast or right after lunch. Which, by the way is not condusive (sp?) to working out in the slightest bit. When we have gym in the morning we have sack breakfast so we don't have to get dressed in chuch clothes then go change again into our gym clothes. At gym I run at least a mile. Yes, I can run a mile. Not very fast mind you, but I can do it. Sometimes, depending on time I run a mile and a half or two miles. Then I do some sit ups and push ups then some of the weight machines. It's good. I'm enjoying running I won't lie. I'm sorta alone when I run since my companion stays on the bottom floor of the gym and play volleyball. And we're not allowed to have "running dates" so none of the elders can run with me. So that's great. I have made a new friend at gym though. She's also Spanish speaking but going to California. Sometimes after running a mile I just walk and talk with her. She's great. And she's worked so hard to get here. We got here on the same day and are leaving the same day. =) Okay, so meals are at 7:00 breakfast. Lunch 11:30. Dinner 4:30. By the time bedtime comes around I'm starving. =) On Thursdays we do service after gym. I usually get stuck cleaning the toilets because Hermana H doesn't want to. But it's fine. I don't mind. I'm cleaning toilets for Jesus. That makes it totally fine. =) Fridays are P days. We do laundry in the mornign and have temple time after lunch. I love the temple. Best thing EVER. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do when I get to Arizona and can't go once a week. Oh, well. I'll survive. Everday we have personal studytime at 10:30. It's only an hour long. I seriously could have three hours of study time and be able to fill it all up. On Tuesdays and Thursdasy there's choir. I love choir. It kinda sorta makes me feel like I'm back in band. I love music. I love participating in music and it is one of the things that I miss the most. Every Sunday they let us watch musci and the spoken word. Whenever I see the teachers that teach at USU and also play in the Orchestra at temple square I get a little sad. But then I sing in the choir. I get to bear my testimony to apostles! through song. Just about the best thing ever!!

 

Yep that's right apostles. And this week we acutally had one. A legit one of the top 15. Any guesses?

 

Holland? No. Apparent;y he came in June so we porabably won;t be seeing him.

 

What was that? Oaks? Nope.

 

Uchtdorf? No! Though he's one of the ones I'm rooting for. =)

 

Monson...? Well...sorta. =)

 

It was Elder Andersen. And since it was President Monson's birthday we sang to him (and it was just about the most beautiful renidtion of happy birthday I have ever heard.) Then the whole talk was about MOnson. About what he would say to us if he were there. It was pretty epic. Won't lie. They say we;re supposed to have one every three weeks which means we may get on more while we're here. YAY! I'm hoping for Uchtdorf or Bednar. But any of them will do great. 

 

We have six hours of class every day. (ugh so much sitting) Na hour of personl study. hour of language study. An hour of TALL time, the computer program to help you learn spanish. And sometimes additional study. SO that's basically my schedule. Or at least a general overview. Any question?

 

No?

 

Good. =)

 

Mom, have you done anything with that Spanish BofM yet? How's that going for you?

 

Dad I cannot believe you didn't like Bednar that much back in the day. He's one of the first ones that I actually remember listening to his talk during conference. It was the one about taking offense. How it's always our choice to take offense. Sis. Jennings, the wife of one of the members of the branch presidency has met him and said that his hair is as stiff as it looks and that he's always worried about it and that he is as stiff as his hair. =) The elders and H. Taylor did the math the other day. Bednar is 12 years younger than the next apostles which are Uchtdorf and Holland at 72. So they've all decided Bednar will be prophet one day. =) Those elders...

 

Josh, dude. How's it going, man?! *knuckles*

 

So I really love the movies they let us watch on Sundays after the firesides. They're always great. This last Sunday we watched Holland's talk called missions are forever. Holland talks with such fondness about his mission. About how there may have been one or two days in his life where he hasn't thought about it, but other than that he thinks about it all the time about the lessons he learned and about the people he loved and taught. I want to be like Holland and have that kind of fondness for this adventure. THis adventure of a lifetime that will help me becoem more of the daughter of God that He would like to be. Holland also talked about how wjy missions are hard. They are. lready it's been the hardest thing I've ever done. But he said, Salvation isn't easy. It is not cheap. It was not easy for christ. HOW DARE YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE EASY FOR YOU!! That;s almost word for word. With all sorts of emotion and such ephasis on those words. Leave it to Holland to just tell ya how it is. So I want this mission to be one I look back on know it shaped me into the person I will be.

 

So after hearing that talk I prayed for it....

 

be careful what you pray for 'cause you just may get it.

WABAM! 1 month!

AhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

As of tomorrow I've been her for one month already!! Crazy sauce!! Did the time go by as quickly for you as it did for me? I'm halfway done with this jail of spirituallity that I have to pay 400 dollars a month to be in. =) Nah, it's really not that bad...other than the food and the fact that we do the exact same thing at the exact same time just about everyday. I love what I'm learning and I'm thankful for this time to learn more Spanish,

Because I sure need it. =)

Even though I've been here a month now does not give you an excuse to not write me. Not to name any names. *cough* Sarah *cough* =) Love ya girl. =)

So mom, you started work again. How's it going? How are the new little kiddies?

Ryan, you all ready for college? Got everything you need? Is Reginald all ready? Give him a little pat for me, mmkay? Oh and you pretty much have to give your Logan address and you email. No battle.

Mi padres, could you maybe get me an Aggie shirt while you're up there? All this eating BYU food and stuff makes me miss my Aggie roots. Lots and lots and lots. They'll be starting band camp soon. I'm not sad I'm missing that, but I do miss the people.

So what's the deal with the fires? Somtimes it's so smokey down here you can't even see the closest part of Utah lake.

Oh and I saw Daniel. He has class in the same building as me so I see him quite frequently. It was actually him who saw me first. I just heard this loud "JESSICA!!!" coming from down the hall and I was super confused because I'm not really used to being called that anymore and there was Daniel. We shook hands since that's all we're allowed to do, talked a little bit and then went back to class. Since we're in the same building we have the just about the same schedule. So I see him at meals and at gym. He's always too cool to play volleyball with the hermans though. He always switches to the other court.

So I have some funny stories. I know that when I tell "funny" stories they proabably never come across that way, but these ones are hilarious. =) Are you ready?!

Story 1:

It's week one, third time we're teaching Roberto. I ask H. Holmes how to say sin in Spanish. She responds with "pescado." She sotpped for a sec and tells me that it's acutally pecado. Pescado means fish. So I'm trying to remember the word and in our lesson I precede to tell Roberto that he needs to repent of his fish two times in the same lesson. =)

Story 2:

Last week our teacher tells us a story about his companion who wanted to read the scripture Ne 3:7 (I will go and do) to the investigator. But he accidentally tells him 3 Ne 3:7 which is a letter from the Gadianton robbers to the govener of the Nephites telling the Nephites that if they submit to the robbers they will be as brethern not as slaves, that they will be let into their secret works. But as the missionary, since you don't know spanish all that well you can't really tell that the scripture they're reading outloud in spanish is not the one you want them to read. Anwyay, we're in a lesson with Matias last week, the day after our teacher told us this story about picking the worng scripture and H. Holmes deviates from our lesson a little bit, which is totally fine, but I was unsure where she was going, and suddenly asks Matias to read 3 Ne 10:3-5. Which is the scripture about how a hen gathers her chicks. But we didn't know this as she was reading. I look it up in English so I can see where she's going and read the scrpture and bust up laughing in the middle of the lesson. =)

Story 3

Yesterday, we challenged Matias to be baptized....sort of. I'm doing it from memory. And well, Matias has very pretty eyes, he's good looking, I'm scared because I'm not super great at memorizing stuff and I basically say, "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by someone with the proper authorty from God?" I totally forgot to put in the part about being baptized!!! AH!! Luckily Matias has a good sense of humor so we laughed and then we tried again. He must have been praying for me or something because I got it right the second time. =) He said if he liked going to church this Sunday and if he gets an answer that its true he will be baptized.

So on Sundays after the devotional we get to watch movies. Movies. Yes. =) Movies of other devotionals and firesides. And the church ones like Legacy and the Joseph Smith movie. Anyway, we watched the recording of Bednar's talk to the missionaries this last Christmas. It was sooooooo good. That man. We will be neighbors in heaven. Whether he wants to be or not. =) His talk was called the Character of Christ. Oh and these talks aren't usually ones you can get anywhere else. So he talked about how Cookie Monster is the prime example of the natural man. "I want cookies NOW!" And please imagine Bednar imitating cookie monster's voice  while saying it and shaking his fists because that is what he did. =) It's all about ME and what I want NOW. That is not the character of Character of Christ. The character of Christ is to turn outward when the natural man would turn in. He gave three examples of it from the NT and then said it's up to us to find the rest. One of the examples is when Christ is in Getsemani (can't remember how to sp in english sorry.) and his three good friend who are there with him falls asleep. They leave him to go through this trial when he asked them three times to stay awake. Then he suffers for every single person's sins every person who had lived and who would live and so great was his pain that he bled from every pore. After that Judas another apostle someone he considered a friend betrays Hims with a kiss. How would you feel? Upset. Betrayed. Hurt. Alone. Etc. Then Peter cuts off the ear of one of the guards. Intead of turning IN and saying that the guard deserved it and focusing on his pain He turned OUT ward and healed the man's ear. A superficial wound compared to what Christ had already suffered and what He would suffer in the next little while. And that is the Chracter of Chirst. I loved the whole talk. It rocked. Bednar rocks. The church rocks.

Herman Scott