Last Week in the MTC

Hello all! This is my official last e-mail from el CCM! Crazy! Well, let's see. I'm not thinking of a lot to say right now. Ummm, well, this last week, things happened, but I wrote a letter, and I'd hate to repeat everything I said in the letter here because when you get it, it won't be new news. But we'll just say there are lots of torn ACLs, one miracle un-torn ACL and even a little amnesia in my zone. Um, it was fast Sunday this week so we had mission conference with everyone. This basically means that the first hour one of the counselors and his wife will talk and the second hour the mission president and wife speak. I usually stay awake for most of the first talk and then I nap during the next and then we sing a song and I wake up for the last hour. It's not so much on purpose but it has happened every time. The mission president, President Boone and his wife always give great talks. Sister Boone spoke about keeping a good record of your life for your own reference and for your family. And President Boone spoke about the Book of Mormon and reading it with a purpose. It sounds like he's read it about a bazillion times. I think he was in the army, plus they've served a bunch of missions, so they've been around the world, and he listed off all of these places that he's been when he finished the Book of Mormon. It was crazy. So I learned two main things from his talk one-that it would be really helpful to read the Book of Mormon with one purpose/one thing I'm looking for and focusing on throughout the entire things, and two-I want to travel a WHOLE lot more. I don't think that was his point, but that's what I heard.


The fireside that night was given by one of the MTC trainer/director guys. His name is George Taylor. He spoke about his mission in London in the late 60s/early 70s and his trainer that was super optimistic and hard working. This Brother Taylor has taught some of the weekly meetings we have here, and he's hilarious. He said once that a day without a nap is a wasted day. But anyway, I really enjoyed his talk. He said that his companion would stay up until 12 reading the Book of Mormon and wake up at 5 to read it again and in the morning would throw up the windows and shout "good morning world!" That's a little disgusting I think. Brother Taylor said he was one of those types that are high energy over achievers. And then he said he hated those types of people. Ha ha ha. But really, it was good to hear about this companion that just kept the rules and always had a good attitude. I'm aware that missions are hard and frustrating and can get you down, so really one of my goals is to be that cheerful/optimistic companion that you can't get down. But not the annoying kind; I don't think I could be that optimistic.


Here's my info. We leave Wednesday morning, and probably will be at the airport between 6:30ish to 8. My flight is at like 8:15, so I will probably be calling anywhere between 6:30 and 7:45. I don't know. I guess just be prepared and hopefully you'll hear from me! Gosh, it's only been two months! And then only another four months and Christmas. Yikes! It's like the mission is already over. But I'll just buy a calling card here and call from the typical payphone. Hooray! I won't be calling with a fun Spanish accent like Ryan though, and that probably won't ever happen. If it does, it will be a Mexican accent, but don't count on it.


Also, if you're going to send those letters/package, you might want to do it now/tomorrow/Friday, to ensure that I get it before I leave. They will forward mail on to my mission, but not anything else. I sent more pictures that you can put on the blog, and I'll probably send a bunch more home before I leave here, maybe at the beginning of the week. I just got the card from grandma today, that was fun! I know my individual writing hasn't been great while I've been here and probably it will go down even more once I'm outta here. Funny how priorities really do change. I got dearelders from Mom, Dad and Ryan the other day and I loved it! Hooray! Thanks always for the letters and love! Ryan, I really always love the Spanish, it's fun to realize I can read it all.

We finished up our progressive investigator last week and I think the whole experience was super helpful and it was good to see how we all teach. I'm definitely an info and application person. I've been told that multiple times. I'm not so much of a share experiences person because I can never think of any to really share. So it's testify and ask the person questions. I'm pretty sure that I'll be giving the Spanish talk this Sunday. They have to take advantage of the last time they can have a sister talk I suppose though I hear that they're getting a district in the day we leave that will have a couple of sisters in it. Good timing. Okay, my time is runnnnning out and I don't know what else to say. Okay, I' love you all mucho mucho and will talk to you in a week! Love love! Hermana Emily!