email #6

hola familia.
this keyboard is screwed up so please bear with me. thank you so much for the packages. i greatly appreciate it. it was weird, i was craving those cinnamon rolls just a couple hours before i got the package :) and they were awesome. it seems like you’re busy mom… that's good. but dad's not at all, that is no bueno. i'm praying for you all. i'm kinda glad i'm here and not in the real world. i get to focus on one thing that is very important in my life. this week has been pretty crazy... we went to the trc and did our full lesson in Spanish. whoa. it was definitely rough but i am surprised at how much Spanish i do know! my new companion and i are getting along great. i don't know if I told you, i am zone leader… we're taking care of the zone. there are a lot of responsibilities to it. we're busy 24/7!... but it's good and i know it’s what the Lord wants.

on Sunday we had the president of the MTC, President Smith with us in sacrament meeting, which usually means one thing. we are getting a new branch president. i was so sad to see President Morton leave. it was kinda a taste of the mission field. not knowing someone for very long, but creating a great friendship and then having to leave that area. i can only imagine how hard that will be! but we can always meet up in the after life right?:) so that pretty much sums up my week.

i got a voice recorder, so you will be getting a tape soon, i don't know how that will work in Chile, but hopefully i will be able to send some. i heard they have a different way of mailing packages and letters through the church? does anyone know about that? (I think he means the pouch?) also i'm worried i'm gonna be over on weight with my bags because i have been given so many books... any suggestions? i might just have to sacrifice some stuff. but anything, anything you find out about Chile please let me know… whether it's about the earthquake or things i should bring, i would greatly appreciate it. i would like maybe a couple more dress socks. the bamboo ones from men’s warehouse are good, but maybe a couple more smart wool too? i think they would be better for the cold weather. maybe ask the Boyle son who went? also could i use vacuum bags in my suitcases just to free up some more room, or would that be a bad idea? in my tape you will find out more about my responsibilities as a zone leader. we have seen quite a few more Japanese people here and i wondered why, but now i know (they closed down the MTC in Japan and Korea…it was not cost effective)ha. it hasn’t really affected us much. i'm praying for Katelynn too, i hope she gets better soon? Thank you mom for your spiritual input. i want you all to know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. Every time i quote the first vision i get a reassuring testimony of it. i know he did have a sincere desire to know which church was true, and that he prayed in a grove of trees and received his answer. i know he translated the Book of Mormon. what a wonderful opportunity we have to have the fullness of the gospel at our fingertips. don't forget it! if i could i would read the Book of Mormon all day. it is sooooo great. Well, i love you all. please pray for me in teaching, i could use some help :).