Hola Mi Familia!
First things first, I
received the letters, SD card, and calling card.
And what do ya know? I
got mail from both my little brothers this week! Woot woot! I
loved it. Holy smokes Daniel, your handwriting in your last letter was
perfect! I didn't have to struggle to read any of it! That was
awesome! In the past I have struggled to read your hand writing at times
but this time was perfecto! Bien hecho Daniel! Nathan, while I do
understand that the sun don't shine too terribly much this time of year in
Washington, I found your "laying in the sun" excuse as to why you
haven't written me much somewhat lacking. ;) You may not have realized
this, but I would like the mail you write while laying in the grass under the
warm sun just as much as I like the ones you have written me while sitting at
the kitchen table ;) Just a thought. Can't wait to talk to my bros
in a few days!
Actually I'm super excited to talk to all of
you. I'm going to buy a back up calling card in the bookstore today just
in case I have any problems with the one you sent me. And also, in your
letter to me this week mom, you said that you thought I meant I would be
calling on wed rather than Tuesday. Just to clarify, Tuesday is indeed
the day that I will be calling in the very early morning and then arriving in
Arcadia only a short time later. Oh boy! That is an exciting and
scary thought all at once!
While I am nervous to go down to Arcadia, where
I will begin needing to utilize my language skills in the real world, I am also
very excited! It will be fun getting thrown straight into the real
deal! I'm hoping and assuming that it will cause my Spanish to progress
much more quickly as well. Oh boy! My first day of the REAL DEAL is
only 3 and 1/2 days away! Speaking of my first day, Hermano Schofield
taught us a lesson a couple days ago about how we need to hit the ground
running in Arcadia. He pointed out to us that we have taught over 100
lessons here in the MTC! That sure is a lot! We have prepared, and
now it is time to go do what we have prepared for. He also told us that
If we were to go to Arcadia, and keep our mouths shut because we feel like we
aren't ready for the real deal yet, then all our training here in the MTC would
have been for nothing. We have prepared and now its time to go and
do. So, after having this lesson taught to us so eloquently by my
teacher, I have determined to go and do. To go give it my best
shot. To go open my mouth and speak the way I have trained to
speak. I don't want my training experience here in the MTC to be a
waste. I came here so I could learn how to hit the ground running.
Not so I could go ease into my job as a missionary when I get there.
Obviously, I have a long way to go until I'm fluent. But the more I
speak, the more likely it is that I will screw up. And the more I screw
up, the more obvious it will be to me that I still need to continue working
hard towards my goal of fluency. And that will be a nice little motivator
;)
I got to host the best missionary in the entire
MTC this week! I got to Host Elder Moss! It was great! I
loved it! After he had his nametag issued to him, and when he received
his room assignment, I looked at it to see where we needed to take his bags.
As I looked at it, I thought, "Hey, I'm not sure, but I'm pretty
sure that is my dorm hall!" So then I looked a little closer and saw
that he was assigned to my same ZONE!!!! Oh boy! That was just
about the coolest thing ever! His room is two rooms away from mine. My
initial plan was to kinda drag my feet a little bit, sorta take my time getting
him to his class because I didn't think I would get to see him again once
I dropped him off. But this was no longer necessary. It has been
awesome getting to see him so much. It's just sweet!
Speaking of my pal Elder Moss, he is concerned
that his mom doesn't know how to Dear Elder him. She has an account but
Jacob says she has no idea how to use it. He won't be able to email his
family till next Friday (pday). They don't give you a full pday on your
first week here in the MTC. He was allowed to send a short letter home
after his first day, but he forgot to mention to his mom that she needs to ask
you how to use dearelder.com. So, Mom, could you train Sis Moss on how to
use dearelder.com? He says and I quote, "I would really like a
letter or a package sometime soon." This is his MTC mailbox
information:
Elder Jacob Rulon Moss
MTC Mailbox#292
COL-BARR 1106
2005 N 900 E
PROVO, UT 84604
Speaking of Elder Moss's letter he sent home,
he added a small message for his mother to give my mother. :) My bright
colored luggage tags broke off during our move to the new apartment hall.
My luggage set is a very common one here at the MTC. I was wondering if
it is possible to get me something bright and shinny I could either tape or tie
to my suitcases. That way I can distinguish my luggage more easily from
all the other Elders in my travel group who have the same luggage set. I
was thinking something along the lines of neon colored duct tape or a bright
distinguishable ribbons/cloth. They don't have any thing like that in the
bookstore here. So, just in case this email gets home before that letter
Jacob sent gets home, I thought I'd mention it. If it's too late to do
anything about this, I understand. It is getting down to the last minute
before I leave for Arcadia. I just thought I'd give my mom a chance to
pull some last minute heroics off for me. And you have always been so
good at that ;) Love ya mom.
Well, I don't have any more time. Audios
mi familia. Talk to ya soon. Love you all so much.
Your Missionary, Son and Brother,
Elder Ostler
