Hey Mom and Dad,
I read both of your emails and will try and answer all of your questions and let you know how my week has been. I don’t think I’ve ever been so busy as this week. We have only been here for 7 days but it already feels like it's been a month.
When I got out to the gate at the airport there were something like 20 of us so I was in good company on the way down. Many of us got moved up to comfort and first class which was a fun experience. I slept almost the whole flight and only awoke just before touchdown. as a group we were all able to get our bags and make it through customs and immigration and from there it was about an hour and a half by bus to the CCM. When we arrived we were assigned companions, rooms, and districts and then ate and had a devotional before going to bed. My district consists of 10 guys all from the states. Of the 10, 3 of us have played water polo, three are from California, and three have played rugby. My companion, Elder James, is from California and lived just down in san jose. He is one of the ones who played water polo and we have gotten along well. On our second day we began to settle into the normal schedule. We wake up early, exercise, and then the rest of the day consists of language teaching study. I am a little frustrated because they have had us prepare and give a 20 min. discussion in spanish every day and teachers just talk at us in spanish more than teaching us the language. I can understand most of what is said but I have very little time to study so my ability to convey anything of meaning is severely limited. that being said I am learning. As for the food, its less than celestial. In spite of all the emphasis that they have placed on health and exercise, there is no evidence of such in the food. The salad bar includes dressing, lettuce and if it's a very special day some canned olives or croutons. I have mostly been surviving off of that, cantaloupe and watermelon, and rice and beans. Some of the entrees have been good but pizza night is disaster every time. Mom, thank you for 19 years of delicious healthy variety, and thank you for teaching me how to eat well.
Lest you think I have spent seven days simply bemoaning my temporal condition, I am happy to report that it has been the most spiritual week of my life thus far. To my great surprise I was selected to be our district leader the day after we arrived and it has been both rewarding and difficult to try to rise to that calling. As a district we all get along exceptionally and there is lots of friendly joking and laughing. Maturity, however, is not our collective strong suit. Though all of us have testimonies and want to be here, pretty much everyone else is more interested in goofing off than learning the language or studying. We are improving, however and several shared spiritual experiences have helped us grow closer together and become better missionaries. I will briefly relate the story of the most recent one here.
On sunday, we fasted as a district for help with the language, our testimonies, etc. Our church services that day were good but entirely in spanish so it was difficult to take anything of substance away. After church everything was back to normal, everyone was joking around, not trying to use spanish and I became frustrated. Almost everyone else in the district has studied spanish, some for 4 or 5 years, and I feel like I have a lot of work to do. It is not easy to learn, however, when you are joined at the hip to someone who doesn't want to study as much as you and surrounded by people who really just want to be loud. I didn't know how I could encourage everyone to take things more seriously and was starting to get to my wits end. That evening we had a lesson about being the best missionary that you can be and I was inspired and felt the spirit very strongly. When we went back to the classroom and the guys all went back to goofing off, I got up and told them all why I am here and asked them to each share their reasons for coming on a mission. The change in behavior was instantaneous and palpable and we ended up having a very spiritual and even tearful hour of sharing testimonies. We all left quietly that night feeling much closer together and although there is still a surplus of playing and not as much serious studying as I would like, we are all getting better.
Mom, this is for you. We do have a choir and I was able to be in it with 3 of my district members at a devotional last night. The director is no joe piazza and the music is solely hymns and not even in 4 part harmony but I still enjoy it and the spirit is there.
I love and miss you all but ever since Dad gave me that blessing I have felt good about where I am and what I am doing. I know I am in the right place and am content to be putting aside everything else.
I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well.
Kelton, thank you and keep working hard. It's awesome that you are now learning two instruments and if you keep up with it you will be grateful for the rest of your life.
Adam, happy birthday. I cant believe youre already 17. Learn as much as you can in this last year with Mom and Dad. They love you more than anything else in this world and want nothing more than for you to be happy.
Aaron, keep in touch. I'd love to hear about what you're doing. Also, take care of Mom and Dad for me. Go easy on them and help fix anything that needs work around the house. You are the family mechanic now and that's a heck of a job, take my word for it.
Mom and Dad, I love you. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me. You've not only prepared me well for the real world but you've encouraged me to be the kind of person that makes a difference in it. I will be forever indebted to you.
Love,
Isaac
