P-day #3

Alex seems so grown up and it has only been 3 weeks. I can't believe it! He has changed a lot already and is finding his true self. The person God wants him to be and I kind of like it!



Well, hello. It's weird to think that it's only been three weeks. I feel like I've been here and known these elders for several months. One of them left to Guatemala (there's a three-week, six-week program where he goes to the Guatemala MTC (actually it's the CCM) for the latter six weeks. It felt like someone was going somewhere after a school year or maybe a semester. It's kind of how military men talk about their time with their platoon in basic. Well, there you go.

Do you remember Sister Keller? She had a daughter in Mom's young women's class and that daughter is a teacher at the MTC. She recognized me by my name in a teaching activity. I guess you did something right. She went somewhere Spanish.

Did you see Brennan? Holy cow. He's done. It hasn't even been that long, I think. And now he's all bomb and wants to go to college and stuff. I sort of want to be there for his wedding but I accept that that's unlikely. Meh.

How am I? I don't know. I have never gotten up at this time for more than four or five days, but I don't feel it usually. I had some issues staying awake in slow meetings but that's almost passed. We eat well, but the food is getting repetitive and what we hear about from Chile seems a little better. I've been running every day and lifting whenever I can make it into the gym and the basketball courts are full. I do play that sometimes, surprisingly. It turns out you like most sports as much as you do them, some less, some more. I still prefer lacrosse though.

You probably know this already : dear elders get to me the day you write them, but if you email, I have to read it before replying. So send as much as you want throughout the week, while I can read it off a computer, and I'll reply on email only. When I'm out of the MTC I get about twice as much time, so it will be better then.

I don't think I've ever used the gift of the Spirit like it was given me when I was confirmed before now. I get impressions on a daily basis about what to study, what to do, and what to avoid. I think it has to do with having a little quietness every so often. You only hear it when you show the faith to be quiet enough. It's not because He couldn't turn the volume up if he wanted to.

We're teaching a fake investigator tomorrow. He's "from Saint George, going to Dixie, and has a job with the city." We studied to find what to teach him, and we didn't come up with anything meaningful. Then a teacher taught us to study for the investigator, pursuing his questions and needs, only using PMG as a guide and simplified resource. We had a lesson plan with scriptures in a few minutes that was the best we've ever had. (This is, of course, in Spanish, to make it more ridiculous.) We teach tomorrow. If I was doing some ridiculous message of the week, I say this: Study to help others. That's the deal here on earth, you know. I could be someone you'll don't think you'll ever teach - but that preparation could be what allows the Lord to bring to pass a converting work through you.

There's a movie on my computer's desktop I want you to watch. This 'you' is a plural 'you', which does exist in spanish. It's about finding happiness now, not when something is done. I lived like that as long as I can remember, and let me tell you it's not the way to live. Work as hard as you can, so you will not regret anything, but then, enjoy people and things when you are not working. Don't feel guilty for not working more. You deserve it if you worked hard enough.

Elder Alex C Crist

Things I'd like:
Ties (They're the only way I can express my individuality. And I could use more variety. Three or so could really make things more interesting.)
More chapstick (That bee kind)
Pictures : small book? Nothing fancy, I don't think
Cake - no. No. There's a lot of food here already. I don't think I can use any more for a few weeks.