Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Only 13 days left in MTC!

Heyo!

Well, let me tell you this has been a week that I am glad is finally behind me. Oh my goodness gracious. It was a week I needed, but was not the most loved week. Gah so ya, these last couple of days, however, have been awesome and I can't even describe it. I just am glad to be still out here and working hard.

It has been so much fun. We got our natives this week, and to say the least they are hilarious. Oh my freaking heck. They are so fun. I am practicing so much Korean on them, I even had one of the elders who didn't want to listen to the translator just sit next to me during a devo. Those parts he didn't understand in English I was able to explain to him in Korean. Which I have got to say was pretty stinking cool, although it was a bit stressful at times trying to remember words and all that good stuff. But ya so I have got to say that is fun. I am loving life in a way I can't even describe right now and it is amazing that I have officially been a missionary for 2 full months now. That just boggles my mind. GAH!

I do have to say though with some fervor: I LEAVE FOR KOREA IN 13 DAYS!@!!~!~!~@#~$~!@~#$%~!@#$%^~@#$%. AGHGHHGHHHHHHGHGHHHGHH!!!!!!!! I WANNA GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

It is blowing my mind my district has been in the MTC for longer than any other missionaries (except those who serve here) in the entire MTC. I love hearing from those missionaries who are going stateside who are like "I am so sick of the MTC, I've been here for a week!" Then they talk to me or one of my companions and we are like... "Ummmmmmm we've been here for 10 weeks now" and that's usually the time that their outlook on the MTC experience takes a different turn. It's kinda amusing to watch that happen. But YA, so let's see what can I tell you experience wise this week that you don't already know about.....

OK here's one, I finally memorized the first vision in Korean! So in order to help me practice I'm going to write it out for you :) SO have fun!!!
나는 네 머기 바로 위에 해보다도 더밝은 빛기둥을 보았으며,
그 빛기둥은 점차 내려와 이윽고 네개 임하였다. 그 빛이 네 위에 머물렸을 때 나는 글로 표현할수 없는 광채와 영광을 지닌 두 부니 네 위, 공중에 서 계신 것을 보았다. 그 중 한 분이 내 이름을 부르시면서 나에게 말씀하시는대, 다른 한분을 가리켜 말씀하시기를 - 이는 내 사랑하는 아들이니, 그의 말을 들으라 - 하셨다.

Thank goodness that is finally over, I'm not sure if I put all the spaces in the right spot and such, but I do know this much, that was pretty difficult and if you just say it like I think I spelled it it'll work fine ;) JUST READ MY MIND GOSH. Well, ya let's see I shall now go to your questions. Madre!

Yes I did, get Kellie Belly's cookies. They were quite delishious (but I can't spell to save my life so it is easier to just say 맛 있어요!!!!) SO ya thank you so much for your support this last week it was quite nice! I love you all so much thank you!

Mother mother mother, of COURSE I will be watching conference, we already have a conference schedule and everything. I am totally stoked for conference. It is going to be so good! Probably just because this is the last time I'm going to hear it in English for 3 conferences. So ya! that'll be interesting if anything. Definitely cool though! I'm totally excited.

ANd lastly this last Ensign was SO good. Aghhhh! So ya Russell M. Nelson apparently really wanted all the missionaries to have one, so everyone in the MTC got one. :) And the only reason I know that Russell M. Nelson wanted us to all have one was because well.... he decided to come and talk to us about it. That was cool :) He's a really loving awesome guy! GAH all the apostles are so cool. SO to date I have had 3 talk to us: Jeffery R. Holland, M. Russell Ballard, and Russell M. Nelson. It was so stinking cooL! gah our church is just the best, I'm going to say that hands down. Sorry no arguments no complaints no nothing. It is just the coolest EVER!

This is my little basketball episode for dad this week: Seeing as how I have been playing much more basketball of late I have got some fun stories. So let's see, I'll tell you about the new kids who just came in going stateside. They are pretty stinking good, we have some pretty intense ball going on. Me and this elder named Elder Turney totally went at it the other day, he's about 5'8" but he's pretty quick. But he doesn't like the paint he prefers to shoot 3's so ya, contrast that with me 6'3" also pretty quick, but I thrive on getting to the paint. So ya, you can imagine how our battles go. I just keep him out of the paint and make him shoot, if he is completely on fire, their team will usually win by 1 or 2 points (Games to 7 1's and 2's) and ya. If not, we just destroy them haha. We actually got to play together once and it was just carnageI I would just drive, he would get open, if I had the shot I would take it, if not I'd just dish and he'd wreck shop from deep and I'd clean up. So ya, you'll laugh though because I have yet to find someone I can't do the little tip-away thing that I do. So that is kinda nice, good for making a statement every now and again. Oh, and I dunked over a 6'5 guy the other day. That was fun, he wasn't exactly expecting it so he didn't really jump all that high, he did every time after that though.... I wonder why :)

Now this part I haven't done before but this is my little basketball episode for Victoria because she is the only one who knows about this. Well ya, so when we were up at school and I was playing competitive, there was a game against this team called the Wildcats, and we straight up got DESTROYED. They shot like 75% from 3 point land on like 24 attempts so ya, and that was just the first half (I don't know if you remember this game or not.) Well ya, so in the last 10 seconds of the game, they had their center just camp and he went and just hammer dunked it with 10 seconds left just kinda to put the stamp on it. WELL that huge old guy is at the MTC right now. Not only that, but his companion is a Korean learning Spanish so he hangs out with us all the time. He is hilarious. But ya he's kinda a giant. It's kinda crazy. Small world in the church. Not only that but his companion knows about my apartment because we were so stinking loud in Fall semester (so ya, we had a reason to be on probation with the managers I guess, he heard us and he was on the other side of the apartment complex).

Well yes. That has been my week, I will just let you know what I had to learn this week.

Jesus Christ lives, he loves us, he really did Atone for our sins. I felt that power this week in a way that I can not even begin to describe. I know for a fact that we can be washed clean through the Atonement. I feel that power every day now, It is so amazingly real. I want so much to feel as clean as I do now ALL the time. I can't even tell you how wonderful it feels to know I am worthy to be doing this work. I am trying to bring souls to Christ, and I know that they can all feel the same thing that I did. It might be hard, it might be a little painful. But the end result is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I testify of our Savior and his love for us and I am so excited that I get to go and share this message. I love the Lord with all my heart and I know this gospel is true. I have had the Holy Ghost testify this to me and every time I testify I have that same witness. I am so excited to be a servant in His hands and I pray for his help. I testify of these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love ya'll!
Elder Crowther!

P.S. - If you go onto LDS.org and Search BYU Idaho the song Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise, the third verse says this -"Arise and sing to his great name who died that we might live" - Really inspiring to me and a wonderful song. I love BYUI GAH!@!!!! One of the better decisions I've made yet!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

P Day (20 days left in MTC)

Dear Everyone!!

Hey so ya, This has been one crazy week but a lot of fun at that. I will have a fun time today talking about stuff :)

So first off I have to talk about MTC ball. So dad, and if Coach reads this it'll be fun. So since I have been at the MTC these last couple of weeks we have decided to go inside to the gym a lot more. SO I have had a lot more opportunities to play some basketball. These last three weeks I have found some elders to plya with who are pretty athletic and a lot of fun to play with. So ya there is this guy though who is exactly like me. Only more of a shooter than a penetrator. Well ya, he's my same height, he is my same build and everything so long story short, it is pretty epic our battles because obviously we guard each other the whole time. Well, the other day they came up to me and were like "Dude we need you in the gym! This is our last gym time before we go and we gotta play!" So come I did.... and play I did :) Oh my gosh, I can't even explain it. It was probably the best 2v2 basketball I've ever played. It was hilarious, the guy who I guarded got so frustrated SO fast haha! So ya I stole the ball from him 3 or 4 times but that is not the good part. On two different occasions I isolated on the left side of the court and played him in some 1v1. Oh my, I don't know what was up with me yesterday but it was like the epitome of all my ball handling. My word, I just sat there and waited for him to make a mistake (jab, set his feet wrong, relax, whatever) and then I would blow past him. So on one occasion right after I stole the ball from him he wanted his revenge. Heheheheh, so I iso'ed left and just sat there dribbling the ball back and forth. Then this is about how it went down: I drove, crossed him over, he recovered, I crossed him over again, I drove a little more, stepped him back, he fell to the ground he was so off balance, and then I went and dunked the ball. ya..... he didn't appreciate that to much. But he was a good sport about it but still I could see it in his eyes he was MAD. Gah it was so fun. But yes, Dad, I thought you would appreciate that (Also I think that you should know that you were right, those cross trainers are not made for as much ball as I'm playing. I've lost 2 of the grips off of each shoe haha. But it's ok I like the shoes :)) So yes that was basketball :)

Oh ya, so uh... M. Russell Ballard came and talked to us the other day in devo. Ya that was totally sick! We have had 2 apostles talk to us and both talks have been amazing oh my goodness! I am so jealous of the power of spirit they have. Those men are genuinely amazing! GAH.

So let's see..... I guess I shall first say thanks to everyone that has written me! I am gonna try hard to write replies to all of you but know that if I don't get a chance to write you all it's not because I hate you or don't appreciate you I just have a lot of people to write. So please forgive my imperfectness I'm working on it but writing a lot of letters hurts my hand and ya..... I am exhausted so I kinda wanna get in an hour nap sometime so if you don't get a letter please forgive me.

Now to your questions Mamacita!
The new Korean learning program that I talked about last time is just the new way they are teaching Korean. With my 돈기 we started off the first day by learning how to read. We would do that every day for the first little bit before we startedd actually speaking and stuff. With this new group the started them off with a lot of ways to speak with just romanizations then they taught them how to read just barely. So they are little bit more speaking focused than we were. So I dunno I guess that's good but just looking back where we were our second week. Not even close to where they are. But I guess they are developing how to teach Korean better and better. So life goes on.

The tie buddies I did get. I have them and I have to admit I have not used them yet. I need to though (I sent a tie to get dry cleaned because I dipped it in soup, so instead of using the tie buddies I've just stopped eating soup.... I'm weird I know). I was however very grateful for the letter from Sarah and I actually re-read it like 2 days ago :). I actually went through a lot of my mail the other day (I have EVERY SINGLE LETTER that I have received). I am very appreciative to everyone it is really awesome to feel the support that I do from ya'll! So thank you so much, It really does make a day to go and see that I have people supporting me and wanting me to succeed. That is a huge comfort to me :).

Yes mother, I did try the face lotion. I love it! It makes it so my face doesn't BURN into a crumbled heap every time I try and use that Epiduo stuff. I may need to get some in Korea :). I am increasingly discovering that I get really dry really fast which makes me think that moving to a humid climate will be nice. (Although I've gotta say I lucked out weather wise. According to everyone I've talked to 데전 is so nice weather wise. Makes life quite nice for me :) So ya!

Kellie, I only play volleyball on times when I have early morning gym. It's too hot outside at 3 PM so we go inside and play basketball. Although on Saturdays I do have early gym (which is how ya'll saw me, again sorry I didn't stop and say hi) :(.

And last but not least yes I heard about the BYU vs Utah game. But here at the MTC they encourage us to be sperated from things of the world..... So, basically. WHY DOES BYU HAVE TO CRAP OUT IN GAMES THAT MATTER FOR THE PRIDE OF THE SCHOOL!?!?!?!??!?!!? Gah. Ok. My rant is over I can't go off on that right now haha.

So.... ya I'm pretty much just stoked to be here. Oh, so the hammer finally dropped and I gave a talk on Sunday. In Korean.... Ya I know... It was rough (to me anywho). I felt ok about it, but I guess that all that matters was that I bore my testimony as fervently as I could. President Shin's wife (A Korean lady) came up afterwards and gave me some pretty high praise on how well I spoke Korean and how well I read the scriptures but I am still nowhere near where I wish I was. But hey, if they say I'm doing alright, and if they are Korean, I guess I can't complain a whole lot. Just gotta keep studying I guess, although one thing I did appreciate that she said was that I had a Korean accent when I spoke Korean.

So apparently either:
A) She's lying to me to make me feel Good.
B) She's telling the truth.....
I dunno about ya'll but I am going to go with 2 Nephi 9:34 and say option B.... That may just be me though. I dunno

So ya, life at the MTC is same old same old. I don't really do a whole lot different from day to day. It's basically the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Just doing my thing ya know. But hey I will have to take a picture of all my 단어 (Vocab). It is pretty nuts, lots to study.

I wish Grandma a Happy Birthday! I know she's up there, I read her letter to me a couple days ago and I miss her but I know I'm gonna see her again and what a joy that is to my heart. In all my studying of the Plan of Salvation I think the most comforting thing to know is in Alma 40:11-12. I know she's happy, I know she's with God and I know that she is doing a marvelous work up there. Just knowing Grandma she would wanna be taking care of people. She did it so well :). I know she is watching over us and like she had said, she may just be being our Guardian Angel. Watching over us and taking care of us in a way that only a grandma/mother/wife can. She would want that I think. So ya, those are my thoughts :).

Well I have 20 days left in the USA. I am so excited to get over to Korea. I am so ready to actually do this (or so I think I dunno :)) So we'll see how fast these next days go by. Hopefully just as fast as the others :).
I guess I will leave ya'll with my testimony again. This time though I gotta do it in Korean. I need the practice:
저는 이복음이 잠되다는 것을 알고있어요. 저는 제 하늘애 계신 아버지를 사랑해요. 하나님 살고있시고 우리를 사랑하세요. 우리가 우리의 가족 같이 영원히 살을 수 있어요. 조셉스미스는 하나님 과 예수 그리스도를 보았고 몰몬경 번역했다는 것을 제가 알고있어요. 저는 예수 그리스도께서 우리의 죄를 위해 속죄했다는 것을 알고있습니다. 우리가 하나힘의 면전을 돌아갈수 있다는 것을 제가 알고있습니다. 이 모든 말씀 예수 그리스도의 이름으로 간증드림니다. 아멘.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Pictures!

So I went and got the disc that Josh mentioned and it had a ton of great pictures! Here's a sample:

Studying Korean - this is Elder Miller and Elder Gomez and Elder McFarland in their classroom in 18M.





Josh and one of his good high school friends, Boyd Monson, or I should say, Elder Monson, meeting up in the MTC bookstore.





Sorry, don't know who either of these two are.








Yes, he is studying! The books, the ring of vocabulary words, and the notebook with even more vocabulary. Yahoo!






My cute son - good to know he's got the "Victory" sign down so that he can do it in all his pictures.








A comment on the food.









Josh and one of his college roommates, Andrew Lang.

MTC Week 8

Dear ya´ll!

Hey, so ya, this week has been nuts so let's get right down to business. :)

Katie, I apologize for only saying "whatsup" when we saw you. I was in a hurry to get back to my apartment to get showered for lunch. If ya'll are there again next Saturday and I happen to be coming by, I will for sure stop and say more than hello. I actually feel kinda bad about that so sorry! I hope that maybe we shall see each other once again :). Glad it made Dad happy though (I hope he liked the little parkour that was for him). So ya!

I finally have a place to live and now my companion and Gomez 장로님 [Elder] want to move again..... I am disinclined to aquiess to their request as a famous movie would say (although they would spell it better than I would). I have been busy studying; it has been an intense week. We got all moved on last P-Day and then the mail services decided to crap out. So long story short, I won't be getting any dearelders sent until like Thursday or Friday (hopefully that will be a big mail day for me ;) *HINT HINT* haha. It has been kinda depressing to go to the mailbox and not have anything. Although I do have to say thank you to dad for the package, it has been very nice to be able to have some good munchies at night. So funny story: I straight up KILLED my soda stash this week. So ya, it's gone, but that isn't exactly relevant or anything. I just am amazed at how much soda I have been drinking (especially considering how little I have....weird) Also thanks to mom for the drug drop. I have been progressively getting better and better with the acne so life is starting to take a turn for the better in that department (I can also start the MTC black market now cause I got the hookups :)).

Ahhhhhh, so yes, the new Elders and Sisters, how do we describe them? Well, like this I think: HOLY FREAKING SISTERS. We got 14 new 한국 [South Korea] missionaries-- 11 of them are sisters. I almost died there are SO many; oh my goodness stinking gracious. But they are doing like this new curriculum with them and they are learning at a crazy fast rate; it's kinda disturbing. But ya. So we do have 1 native speaker-- he came in with the new missionaries. He will probably be like Elder Moon and Elder Seo who were with us but left with the older district. 이 장로님 will probably leave with us. So ya that's that.

Things are definitely kicking into high gear these last 4 weeks. We practice teaching so much. We hardly even do any Korean study anymore so any Korean that I want to learn I have to learn on my own. Now that is interesting, let me tell you. But ya, we are getting new Korean Koreans in either 25 hours or 7 days. One of the two I'm not sure exactly which, but we shall see what happens.

So my departure date is actually on the 10th of October so ya, that'll be an exciting week. I'll let ya'll know about my travel plans and phone since I am allowed to make some phone calls from the airport, so I will have more fun and exciting news about that. I probably will fly to Sacramento California and that is where I will make my calls home since that is where I will have the longest layover (this is at least what I am guessing based on what the last group did). But like I said more news to come on that in the future.

So, the feeling about me getting to see my family amongst the elders is GREAT (as long as they get some food out of it-- they are like "Please she [your mom] can come every day") but ya Sisters don't really notice and frankly, the sisters are very vocal about their opinions about stuff so we Elders have just gotten used to tuning out any comments the sisters have because they are so opinionated. In fact, I want to talk more about that and ask for expert opinions from ya'll. How do you teach a sister who has said that she "can't learn" how to learn? I am at a standstill because it is just killing me. Her companion came to the MTC all ready to help her out learning the language (because she already speaks Korean pretty well). Well, we are 8 weeks in and this sister's companion comes to me all the time frustrated because her companion doesn't know basic concepts that we learned on like day 5. I don't know what to tell her, so of late I have just told her to be patient with her and pray for her, but honestly, it is frustrating as an observer to watch how willing this sister's companion was to help drop because her companion says she "can't learn." I just frankly don't believe that at all. We are sent here to this earth to learn and I have a hard time accepting that a sister thinks she just can not. It is frustrating to me, but at the same time it's one of this things I'm getting used to and starting to just tune out. I am just frustrated. So any advice that you have about how to get it through a sister's head how to learn is welcomed and wanted.

Letters this week, just Dad. I didn't send any out last week besides this email because I didn't have any mail to respond to and we had to move and 50 thousand other things so this week has been pretty depressing mail wise. But hey life goes on (for now... it may stop later if the mail shortage continues. You never know how much you need to talk to people till you come to the MTC and just CAN'T). I did, however, get my first letter from Victoria last week; that was awesome (Victoria you will probably read this so thanks again :)). So ya at this point I'm just studying my mind out and doing all sorts of study and then I study some more and that about describes my life. So ya!

So about the pictures. Mother if you will check your tutoring folder at the MTC I left you a fun little CD in there that should have quite a few pics on it :). I figured you would prefer digital pictures as opposed to hard copies so I ordered a CD when I got some pics printed. (Oh about the 125 some odd pics of like 4 different people. I discovered that my camera has a high speed burst camera option so I had some fun taking crazy pics of people. Don't have to worry :)). So......... ya let's see interesting stories from this week............

Oh yes! Ok, I got one, so this week we (Elder Miller and I) took care of some of the problems in our district. Starting with a much needed, heavily encouraged Companionship Inventory. Elder Miller and I had to talk to both of the sisters to get them to understand what a companionship inventory actually was. (I believe I described it a couple weeks back so just in case ya'll were wondering you should be able to go look up that). The two sisters apparently went at it for like 2 hours and got things resolved. It was cool, I am happy that I got to take care of my problems with Miller 장로님 when I did. D&C 122:7 is really true "all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good." It has been a blessing because of how far we have come just because of that one Companionship Inventory. They are BEAUTIFUL things and can really strengthen the relationship not only between missionaries but between any two people anywhere. It is way cool. I really have a testimony of Companionship Inventories because I have been a part of the process where the spirit has touched my heart and made me want to change and be better. Gah, this church is so cool! I love it!!!! ^_^

Ya, life is good here. I am diligently reading the Book of Mormon and it'll be fun in the coming weeks to finish it again. I really do find tons of cool stuff every time I read it. It is awesome! I am excited to hear from ALL of you on Thursday/Friday *WINK WINK* haha :). I guess I will bear my testimony again. BUT this time I'm gonna do it in English.

I want ya'll to know that I know this church is true. It is amazing and has blessed my life in a way that I can't even describe. I love the Atonement. I love that I can take my weaknesses and take my struggles and pains and sorrows all to my Savior. I testify from the deepest part of my soul that he can and will help us. He will make us clean, he will take away all our pains, sorrows. He will help us through those struggles in our lives.

I think about that story of the Savior and a man were walking down the beach. Every step the two of them took was another step down the life of the man. One day as the man was walking down the beach he looked back on some of the hardest times in his life. During those times he saw only one set of footprints. The man asked the Savior: "Where were you during those hardest times of my life?" The Savior smiled and replied: "My son, that is where I carried you."
I know that I have felt that in my life. I know that I am make so many mistakes. I struggle daily with everything I do. But I know that if I turn to my savior he will ease my burdens and if need be he will carry my through some of the trials in my life. I am so eternally grateful for that. I love the Book of Mormon! It is literally God's words. I love Scriptures like Alma 7:11-13, or Ether 12:27. These kinds of scriptures bring a peace to my heart that only the Holy Ghost can bring. I know that Joseph Smith translated this book. I know it's true. I know that Joseph Smith saw God, Our Eternal Father, and our Savior, Jesus Christ, in the Sacred Grove. I know it to be true. I wouldn't be out here preparing to take this message to the other side of the world if I didn't know it was true. I am so grateful to be here, I am eternally grateful that I can serve this mission. Noone ever said it would be easy, they only said it would be worth it. I love this experience. Every day is a challenge, but EVERY day I see the blessings.
I add my testimony to that of everyone that has gone before me. He lives! I know it to be true. These things I testify of in the Sacred Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Love you everyone!
Crowther 장로

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

MTC Week 7 (Days left in the MTC: 34) Bestdayofmymissionaverageaveragereallygoodawesomeawesomebadthenawesomeannoying.

Dear Familia/Friendila's (I thought that that was clever),

So this week is a...... different week. I am going to describe it as a series of comments for each day.

So the title for this week:
Bestdayofmymissionaverageaveragereallygoodawesomeawesomebadthenawesomeannoying.

That is the title. Now let me explain why:

Tuesday of last week: Easily the best day of my mission. Elder Jeffery R. Holland came to our devotional and gave easily the best talk that I have ever heard in my entire life. It was amazing, I was just amazed at how wonderful it was to hear from him. He singlehandedly increased my desire to do this work like a billionfold (I am using some big words today, I'm feeling pretty good). I also got some much needed/wanted/appreciated mail which just capped the day off :).

Wednesday/Thursday: Just kind of average, you know, two highlights though: we did commit both of our "Progressing Investigators" to baptism and that has been awesome. Other than that not a whole lot on these days.

Friday was TRC again and I felt like I did really well. We taught another sister who to this day we are not sure if she was a member or not. I am still confused, but whatever the case, I am so excited to be able to speak and understand more of this language. It feels awesome. I did totally dominate that lesson though, Miller 장로님 was just totally out of it! So I taught what I thought was a really good lesson (Miller 장로님 agrees he just wanted to contribute more). He has been off since our zone leader who was one of his best buds here left. But he's coming back around lately so we shall see what goes down.

Saturday was just a boss day, just got things done and felt productive doing it all. It was awesome!

Sunday was testimony meeting and I had a great experience. It is really fun to be able to get up bear my testimony and then do it again in 한국말 it's nice :). Just a good day, good mission conference, good everything.

Monday was Bad to Good day. So ya, basically how that went down was like this: We have this sister in our district who was scheduled to sing in this performance thing for the Senior Missionaries. She asked the people when she got her invitation if she could bring her district. They said yes. So we came, we asked the Brother who was doing the door stuff, he said we could come, so we quietly snuck in the back and listened to her sing. WELL LET ME TELL YOU apparently we weren't supposed to be there. And the MTC presidency (who were seated on the stand, the only ones in the entire room who could actually see us and who actually knew we were there) were NOT ok with us being there. So they gave us the death glare, every single one of them (including their wives). After the song, President Nally came out and asked the sisters for our Branch and District. Ya...... we are still waiting for news on that, we shall see how that goes (but to be perfectly honest we were told we could be there so it's not like we are gonna get shot in the foot or anything, Presidency must've just been surprised. They are human I guess.......Oh well life goes on). If anything we'll get a stern finger wag and the "don't do it again" look and then they will forget we even exist (better yet they've already forgotten and when they reported it to our branch president, he thought it was an overreaction too, so he just threw it aside). Then that night, however, with Davis 형죄님 I had probably best learning experience of the classroom experiences. It was nice.

This morning however has been (and still is) annoying. We were scheduled to move into a different residence hall (because they are tearing ours down). SO we got up at 5:30 this morning to try and move before temple. So we get all cleaned up and everything and go over to the room to find out that the dang security people (who were supposed to move out like last week) haven't moved yet and so we are currently homeless in the MTC. I will have a follow up email with more on that story. STAY TUNED.

So now for your questions:

I have tons of opportunities to speak French because for some reason I run into the French Missionaries ALL THE TIME lately. For example, an hour ago at temple breakfast, who was in line behind us? The French Missionaries. Who turned around and started speaking French to them? I DID. :) so ya, just fun coincidences. However, this week it has definitely shifted. We had all-Korean Sunday and that was so fun. We didn't speak ANY English at all-haha-it was so crazy hard yet fun. Doing it every Sunday from now on :)

MTC for 6 weeks. How do I feel.... I'd like to go, but I want to have some more time to study Korean and get to understand before I am thrown to the wolves. That'll be an interesting experience. But ya I just am studying and glad that I am getting closer to going. But still glad to be here.

Not being District Leader is wonderful, I get to study more which means I understand more Korean and gospel stuff which means I'm a better missionary which means I can better help my companions and people around me to understand stuff. SO how do I like it? A ton. Do I wish I was District Leader still? No. Would I instantly take a call if it was presented to me? No doubt. I am loving it :)!!!

So as to whether or not I have seen people I know here let me tell ya all about that! So I see Elder Burr (Jeremiah) almost every other day. It's quite frequent, one of these days I should remember to get a picture with him, that'd be good. Elders Monson and Banks I don't see as much, but still I do see them now and again. It is just one big happy family. Elder Lang (Andrew... from college) took off for the field yesterday. Told me he had like 36 hours of travel or something like that. So that kid we ain't gonna hear from for a while. But hey, he is doing God's work so he'll be fine :).

I TOTALLY got the tie you sent me!! It is actually one of my favorite ties, I now wear it quite a bit alongside my green stripy one that I like and ya. So life is good there. Thank you so much; I really did love it. I am quickly discovering that a missionary is only as good as two things: 1) The spirit he carries 2) the Tie he is wearing. So in mission terms, my capabilities have gone up since receving that tie, so thank you :)

So getting my mole removed, hummm...... Hasn't happened yet. I actually saved this letter and went to go get on the shuttle to get it removed. BUT we ran into the huge problem of there is only 1 shuttle driver today and he is in Salt Lake.... Odd how the MTC travel office thought they could do appointments in Provo at 9:30 by sending the only driver to Salt Lake at 9. I'm confused. Just a confusing day. I will update you more on that later, well that and whether or not we ever get housing. So yes.

I love you all so much. I especially want to make sure my family knows that I love them. I miss you all a ton (not enough to come home though.... sorry.... that's not happening). I pray for you every night and especially last night. I hope life is going well. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you.

Also to all my friends, Thank you so much. Thanks for sharing your testimonies with me. Thanks for being patient with me, I know I can be a bit (ok so maybe more than a bit) of a bother sometimes (.... or all the time) so thank you for standing by me.

I want ya'll to know this church is true. It is amazing, it changes lives. It has changed mine and I wouldn't have it any other way. God lives. He loves us, he wants what is best for us, we just have to be willing to do what he asks and he will give us more blessings than we can ever want.

I did have a challenge for anyone who wants to take it on. I am going to read the Book of Mormon again before I leave the MTC. I am starting today. If anyone would like to join me it would be wonderful to have some other people plugging along with me. The last time that I read it I marked my scriptures to death, so it took a while. But I want to read the whole thing again so if anyone would like to support me in that I would love a husahh! :)

사랑해요!!!! 잊지마십시오!!! [I love you! Please do not forget!]