A challenge to see who could eat the most bowls of Captain Crunch...

Hola Famila!

To start things off, thanks for the package with all the candy and the brownies. I got the package slip on Monday but the place to pick up the packages was closed because of pioneer day. I had a feeling that there might be a treat so I was determined to get that package. Everyone else wanted me to get it too because they thought the turtle bars (you sent last time) were amazing. So I went and nicely knocked on the door of the package place and nobody answered. I knocked again nicely and nobody answered again. Then I started pounding on the door haha and some guy came and opened it and said that they were closed. But I gave him my sob story about how I couldn't live without it and how I needed it right now blah blah and he gave in and I got my package and one from the Mallows too that was filled with candy! Tell them thanks a bunch for me! I felt kind bad though because there were a bunch of other kids behind me with package slips and they saw me get mine and they tried getting theirs but the dude was like “we are closed“ then shut the door.

So what did I learn? Determination is the key, along with a good sob story haha. We busted all the candy out that you gave me in the middle of the class (I saved what the Mallows gave me) so we were eating them until dinner and almost polished them all off and then we went to dinner and everyone got salads and we ate ALL of the brownies haha they were soo good and everyone loved them. So thanks again and tell the Mallows thanks again too.

Thanks for the letters this week too.

This week was definitely not easy. But, it went by super fast. I can't believe it has already been 5 weeks, starting the 6th week today! The first treat I am going to make when I get outta here is Oreo Balls! A typical day usually consists of two 3-hour blocks of class where we learn some Spanish and practice teaching. Then we have two hours of language study, personal study and meals so it is a pretty packed day. For District Leader stuff- I am in charge of getting the mail. Then I conduct class, so assigning prayers and hymns and what not. Then I have been having usually 3 leadership meetings every week. And for pictures, we can't email them home on these computers so I will send some in the mail today that I had developed.

The Spanish is coming a little more. I have noticed that the vocab is the easiest thing for me to do and I learn it faster than the other stuff. So what would you recommend Dad, focusing on vocab since I can learn it fast or focusing on the grammar since I have a harder time with it?

I am humbled with the more Spanish I learn because I realize how much I still have to learn too! I went to the tutor this week and he gave me some good advice about teaching and how we need to teach to the investigators’ needs and not lessons.

My hip was feeling better this week so tell Trevor thanks please. I am still not 100% but it is doing better. Since I took the week off playing I just lifted. I also thought that I should try beating the free throw record which was 54 in a row, which I thought was very doable since I have done that several times before. So I attempted it and guess what number I got to, 5! lol Shows how much I have been in the gym lately. Basketball has been really fun too. Elder Black and Elder Calder are always on my team and we straight up dominate. Elder Black is the one from Texas and Elder Calder is the one from Mapleton Utah. They are my work out buddies too. Anyways, we were playing basketball a couple weeks ago and there was this one guys who was like 7 feet tall from Idaho and he was just running the court but we played against them and beat them 11 to 3, it was sweet cuz I swatted him 3 times haha.

Also this week one day after we had all finished dinner, Elder Black had the great idea that we should have a challenge to see who could eat the most bowls of Captain Crunch. Nobody wanted to be the one not to do it and back out so we all filled up our trays with bowls of Captain Crunch and went to town. Elder Black and I ended up tying with 9 bowls apiece. It was probably the dumbest thing I have done in a long time haha.

I forgot to tell you that we had a devotional last week from President and Sister Sonne, who were the mission presidents for my mission before President and Sister Winn. It was really good and cool to hear from them. After the devotional I went up and talked to them and asked them to write me a letter with advice for my mission specifically. They had lots of good advice and told me that I was going to love it and to make sure that I worked hard, was exactly obedient and used the members a lot! It got me even more stoked for the field.

We also had another devotional that was really good. Some of my favorite parts were "Believe in yourself even when nobody else does." That one fits me perfect. Creer- to believe. It seems like there have been a lot of people who haven’t believed in me but I believe in myself and that God has my back. The other thing that I liked was "Others can't see what is in your heart, so express yourself and tell them." So I just want you all to know that I love you and thanks for being the best family ever.

Creer Siempre, (Always believe- I think)

Con Amor,

Elder Creer