Monday, July 9, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Reassignment to Texas
Quierdo Familia,
This last weekend last weekend all the new mission presidents have been coming in for training, so the main building has been locked down because the First Presidency has been coming and going to teach the mission presidents.
Our district's service assignment every Tuesday morning is to clean that building, so we spent the whole time looking out for Apostles. Once we were finished, we tried to walk out the doors that led past the cafeteria (we suspected that at least Dieter would be in there because he was speaking in fifteen minutes), but a security guard stopped us halfway down the hall and we had to go another way. Later that night though, Elder L.Tom Perry spoke at the devotional and seated on the stand behind him was Elders: Bednar, Holland, Ballard, Nelson, Christofferson, and maybe one or two more, but I can't remember.
We really weren't expecting this to happen, at least until July 5th, but we got our reassignments until our visas get cleared. Some of us are going to Colorado Springs, others to Denver, and one to Los Angeles. I'm going, as well as Elder Schumacher, to McAllen, Texas. I'm leaving July 5th (so I'll get to watch the fireworks from the MTC on the 4th) and I'm to go the the travel office at five in the morning to get to the Salt Lake airport. I have two flights, the first departs from Salt Lake at eight and lands in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas at 11:40. We have about a one hour lay over there before we have our next flight at 12:50 to Miller International; which seems like it's in McAllen or close to it from what our travel plans tell us. we should arrive at about two-fifteen; so we have about four hours in the air. Other than that, all we know is that the flights are both non-smoking, but we have no idea what's going to happen once we land.
There has also been a lot of fires going on around Provo, mostly in Saratoga Springs. So the other day, there was ash falling onto the MTC grounds and we could just see chunks of it floating down. There's a rumor that missionaries will be sent to help, but I doubt it will be any from the MTC; although it would be a different way to serve.
Con Amor,
Elder Burt
This last weekend last weekend all the new mission presidents have been coming in for training, so the main building has been locked down because the First Presidency has been coming and going to teach the mission presidents.
Our district's service assignment every Tuesday morning is to clean that building, so we spent the whole time looking out for Apostles. Once we were finished, we tried to walk out the doors that led past the cafeteria (we suspected that at least Dieter would be in there because he was speaking in fifteen minutes), but a security guard stopped us halfway down the hall and we had to go another way. Later that night though, Elder L.Tom Perry spoke at the devotional and seated on the stand behind him was Elders: Bednar, Holland, Ballard, Nelson, Christofferson, and maybe one or two more, but I can't remember.
We really weren't expecting this to happen, at least until July 5th, but we got our reassignments until our visas get cleared. Some of us are going to Colorado Springs, others to Denver, and one to Los Angeles. I'm going, as well as Elder Schumacher, to McAllen, Texas. I'm leaving July 5th (so I'll get to watch the fireworks from the MTC on the 4th) and I'm to go the the travel office at five in the morning to get to the Salt Lake airport. I have two flights, the first departs from Salt Lake at eight and lands in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas at 11:40. We have about a one hour lay over there before we have our next flight at 12:50 to Miller International; which seems like it's in McAllen or close to it from what our travel plans tell us. we should arrive at about two-fifteen; so we have about four hours in the air. Other than that, all we know is that the flights are both non-smoking, but we have no idea what's going to happen once we land.
There has also been a lot of fires going on around Provo, mostly in Saratoga Springs. So the other day, there was ash falling onto the MTC grounds and we could just see chunks of it floating down. There's a rumor that missionaries will be sent to help, but I doubt it will be any from the MTC; although it would be a different way to serve.
Con Amor,
Elder Burt
Friday, June 29, 2012
Josh goes to Texas
We heard from Josh, and he is on his way to McAllen, Texas on July 5th. He will be there until the visas are approved. His mother isn't super excited about it because she thinks it's too close to the Mexico border. Check out the map!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Waiting for the visa
Quierdo Familia,
Everyting that happened this week was on Monday. First, we met with the visa agents for Argentina who helped us get all the paperwork ready. So, now all that's left to do is wait until July 3rd when the Argentine Consul comes and he will determine if our visas get pushed forward. After we meet with the Consul, we'll probably be reassigned for six to twelve weeks.
Also on Monday, we had field orientation to practice street contacting and working with members. The whole things was thirteen hour workshop.
I'm back on top in soccer though; scoring goals and making game winning passes. Besides eighteen hours of study daily, that's all that's happened this week.
Con Amor,
Elder Burt
Everyting that happened this week was on Monday. First, we met with the visa agents for Argentina who helped us get all the paperwork ready. So, now all that's left to do is wait until July 3rd when the Argentine Consul comes and he will determine if our visas get pushed forward. After we meet with the Consul, we'll probably be reassigned for six to twelve weeks.
Also on Monday, we had field orientation to practice street contacting and working with members. The whole things was thirteen hour workshop.
I'm back on top in soccer though; scoring goals and making game winning passes. Besides eighteen hours of study daily, that's all that's happened this week.
Con Amor,
Elder Burt
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Soccer ego, soccer injury....
Quierdo Familia,
So I probably need to clear up some confusion. Last week, my teacher, Hermano Avila, said he was going to Blackfoot to visit a friend. So I asked him to drop off that container you sent cookies in. He came back on Monday with the container and said he has a crazy story about why he wasn't able to deliver it, but I haven't heard it yet because we stay so busy. Anyway, that's what I was talking about at the end of my last letter.
We just found out that the consul responsible for all visas to Argentina won't be here until July 3rd, which means the earliest we'll leave the MTC would be July 9th. If there's a chance that we would have our visas approved in two to three weeks then we would probably stay here until July 16th, but if not we'll just be reassigned somewhere in the States for six weeks. Either way it doesn't matter; if we have an extended stay here that's just more time to practice and prepare.
This morning we were on our way back from the temple going to get changed so we couldn't get haircuts when we were stopped by the Spanish speaking missionaries who wanted to practice their street contacts. Thing about these particular missionaries is they were from Mexico and barely spoke English, but the cool part is that I probably said more to him in Spanish than he said to me in Spanish.
My Spanish has really improved quite a bit in the last week. I've been working on identifying conjugation patterns within and across tenses as well as individual verb trees. What helps me remember is I also teach the new missionaries and help them with their Spanish.
I had two bad days of soccer in a row or what seemed to be no apparent reason, but later on the way back to the residence after that second bad game, Elder Kuettel and I came to the conclusion that I had just finished the pride cycle on the soccer field. When I first started playing it was just to have fun, but after a couple games I started getting good, and after that I was one of the better people playing. I was constantly stealing the ball, ruining the other team's plays, and making goals (or being part of the reason we made a goal). But that first bad game I wasn't getting anything done and it wasn't because of a lack of effort, just a bad game. But I didn't worry about it and that next game I walked onto the field with the same confidence I usually do. This game went the same as the one before; only two things happened that haven't before. The first was when the ball was really high in the air and me and Elder Schumacher (on different teams) were both running to get it once it came down. It hit the ground and went back into the air, about fifteen feet. We got to where it was about to come down the second time and we both ran and jumped in an effort to bump it back to earth in a direction that was more favorable. As we made our efforts, we both collided in air and the way that we hit each other caused me to turn in the air and I ended up landing on my back and hitting my head. That didn't stop me though; I got up immediately, felt dizzy for a few minutes, and kept playing. The second thing that happened was there were four of us all around the ball and someone toe'd the ball as hard as they could and it came straight up, I was probably two feet from the person who kicked it, and it hit me in the jaw. At first it felt numb and then a few minutes later I bit down and that's when it really started to hurt. Everything is fine now though.
I just got Tarea and Grandma's packages yesterday and they're awesome and it sounds like everyone is doing well. I've only read the first two chapters of 'The Miracle of Forgiveness', but it's really good so far.
I won't be able to send pictures though because they took the photo kiosks out for some reason.
Con amor,
Elder Burt
So I probably need to clear up some confusion. Last week, my teacher, Hermano Avila, said he was going to Blackfoot to visit a friend. So I asked him to drop off that container you sent cookies in. He came back on Monday with the container and said he has a crazy story about why he wasn't able to deliver it, but I haven't heard it yet because we stay so busy. Anyway, that's what I was talking about at the end of my last letter.
We just found out that the consul responsible for all visas to Argentina won't be here until July 3rd, which means the earliest we'll leave the MTC would be July 9th. If there's a chance that we would have our visas approved in two to three weeks then we would probably stay here until July 16th, but if not we'll just be reassigned somewhere in the States for six weeks. Either way it doesn't matter; if we have an extended stay here that's just more time to practice and prepare.
This morning we were on our way back from the temple going to get changed so we couldn't get haircuts when we were stopped by the Spanish speaking missionaries who wanted to practice their street contacts. Thing about these particular missionaries is they were from Mexico and barely spoke English, but the cool part is that I probably said more to him in Spanish than he said to me in Spanish.
My Spanish has really improved quite a bit in the last week. I've been working on identifying conjugation patterns within and across tenses as well as individual verb trees. What helps me remember is I also teach the new missionaries and help them with their Spanish.
I had two bad days of soccer in a row or what seemed to be no apparent reason, but later on the way back to the residence after that second bad game, Elder Kuettel and I came to the conclusion that I had just finished the pride cycle on the soccer field. When I first started playing it was just to have fun, but after a couple games I started getting good, and after that I was one of the better people playing. I was constantly stealing the ball, ruining the other team's plays, and making goals (or being part of the reason we made a goal). But that first bad game I wasn't getting anything done and it wasn't because of a lack of effort, just a bad game. But I didn't worry about it and that next game I walked onto the field with the same confidence I usually do. This game went the same as the one before; only two things happened that haven't before. The first was when the ball was really high in the air and me and Elder Schumacher (on different teams) were both running to get it once it came down. It hit the ground and went back into the air, about fifteen feet. We got to where it was about to come down the second time and we both ran and jumped in an effort to bump it back to earth in a direction that was more favorable. As we made our efforts, we both collided in air and the way that we hit each other caused me to turn in the air and I ended up landing on my back and hitting my head. That didn't stop me though; I got up immediately, felt dizzy for a few minutes, and kept playing. The second thing that happened was there were four of us all around the ball and someone toe'd the ball as hard as they could and it came straight up, I was probably two feet from the person who kicked it, and it hit me in the jaw. At first it felt numb and then a few minutes later I bit down and that's when it really started to hurt. Everything is fine now though.
I just got Tarea and Grandma's packages yesterday and they're awesome and it sounds like everyone is doing well. I've only read the first two chapters of 'The Miracle of Forgiveness', but it's really good so far.
I won't be able to send pictures though because they took the photo kiosks out for some reason.
Con amor,
Elder Burt
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Contraband in the MTC
Quierdo Familia,
We just had a district leave our zone, so now we're the oldest district in the zone. We were really good friends with that district, so they gave us a bunch of stuff the night before they left. Elder Taylor and Brimacombe gave us a glow in the dark Nerf basketball hoop, Elder Knudsen and Gonzalez gave us a small supersoaker and 200 water balloons. From Elder Magenesen, I received two small water guns. When he gave them to me he handed them to me very sneakily in the hallway and then did the fist (the sign from our "rebellion"). Elder Green gave us a bunch of lotions and I found it because we walked into our room and it was all on the bed with a note (I took a picture of it that I'll send.)
Among those lotions was a bottle of sunless tanning lotion, so Elder Odum and I started using it on our feet to see what will happen. I've been taking pictures of it too, so I can see the change.
I'll probably be in the MTC until July because there are only a few people who approve visas to Argentina and July is the next time they'll be in the area on their tour.
Our district was assigned to host this week, so I was one of the people greeting the new missionaries as they got dropped off. So, it was my job to show them around, get them to their rooms, get their grammar books, and drop them off at their classroom. I only had time to guide three missionaries through though. The first person wasn't so much excited as he was just taking everything in and trying to learn everything. The second was a sister, so I dropped her off with other sisters because Elders aren't allowed in the sister's residence buildings. The third person was kind of somber, maybe almost sad. I almost wanted to stop and say, "Listen, we're not going anywhere until I see a smile on your face; I want you to be excited to be here."
At this point, we've basically learned everything about Spanish and it's now a matter of memorizing and applying the grammar and learning new words.
You're going to find out way before this letter gets to you, but I'm sending my teacher, Hermano Avila, with the cookie container to Blackfoot.
Con amor,
Elder Burt
We just had a district leave our zone, so now we're the oldest district in the zone. We were really good friends with that district, so they gave us a bunch of stuff the night before they left. Elder Taylor and Brimacombe gave us a glow in the dark Nerf basketball hoop, Elder Knudsen and Gonzalez gave us a small supersoaker and 200 water balloons. From Elder Magenesen, I received two small water guns. When he gave them to me he handed them to me very sneakily in the hallway and then did the fist (the sign from our "rebellion"). Elder Green gave us a bunch of lotions and I found it because we walked into our room and it was all on the bed with a note (I took a picture of it that I'll send.)
Among those lotions was a bottle of sunless tanning lotion, so Elder Odum and I started using it on our feet to see what will happen. I've been taking pictures of it too, so I can see the change.
I'll probably be in the MTC until July because there are only a few people who approve visas to Argentina and July is the next time they'll be in the area on their tour.
Our district was assigned to host this week, so I was one of the people greeting the new missionaries as they got dropped off. So, it was my job to show them around, get them to their rooms, get their grammar books, and drop them off at their classroom. I only had time to guide three missionaries through though. The first person wasn't so much excited as he was just taking everything in and trying to learn everything. The second was a sister, so I dropped her off with other sisters because Elders aren't allowed in the sister's residence buildings. The third person was kind of somber, maybe almost sad. I almost wanted to stop and say, "Listen, we're not going anywhere until I see a smile on your face; I want you to be excited to be here."
At this point, we've basically learned everything about Spanish and it's now a matter of memorizing and applying the grammar and learning new words.
You're going to find out way before this letter gets to you, but I'm sending my teacher, Hermano Avila, with the cookie container to Blackfoot.
Con amor,
Elder Burt
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