6:03 am

Hey there. Doin my Tuesday mornin laundry. It’s been a strange week. Definitely into more of a groove than last week. Less LGMs (large group meetings) and more study. We’ve been teaching the first discussion so much lately. Its kinda hard because your like "ok im just gonna say the exact same thing I said an hour ago" but im trying. Try talking without "um" in your language it is SO hard and I bust up laughing every time I do it. We’re really trying to work on “SYL” -speak your language, which means try to always talk Spanish. It’s kinda hard because I usually just make up stuff and most of the district cant understand me any way. They always ask me “how do you say this and why is that”, and usually my answer is just cuz 'that’s how they do it'

 

Bridgett- esta bien. yo aprendo tambien.

Brigg try and figure this one out and you will laugh a lot- Conoce el hombre de mollete? (Even my teachers couldn’t figure it out:)

 

Elder Hoyt is doing great. Out of those who haven’t taken any Spanish he’s definitely the best. We call him the Conjugator. He’s good in lessons and bears tender testimony. (Evens out mister factual doctrine…this is how it is).

 

Thanks for the cookies mom, however we had a district leave yesterday and they saw fit to bestow their riches upon us. So I have boxes of just junk. I always appreciate it though. I’m trying to figure out how long it takes to get letters from me then return them. When did u get the stupid chocolate card? I’ve only got letters from you guys since they don’t deliver mail on sat sun or Memorial Day. Hopefully I have something to reply to tonight.

 

I think I might of told you about the Mexican visa problems. Even some Argentinean visas are having problems.  There are missionaries going all over Utah, Vegas, Texas and Atlanta so far as ive heard. I finally found Jon Arnett. He’s really turned into a spiritual person and was so happy to see me. Had some good advice. I had a really good experience Sunday. We had a really good fireside, then after we stayed and watched the testaments. I was crying like a lot in it. It’s such a powerful message. The whole time I was thinking 'that’s my boss' it was awesome. This work is so real. We need not fear ever. Moroni tells us 'for perfect love casteth out all fear' Moroni... I forgot its in chapter nine I think. (I could tell u about seven scriptures on apostasy...) I love teaching about the first vision. Everyone- it did happen. There really is a true prophet on the earth. I testify of it. he knows us and wants us to be together forever. true story.

 

Love you all and am praying for u (mostly in Spanish mi familia:) hope everything is going well. oh ya the weather has been rainy here too. it snows on the mountain tops... excited to go to the temple even though its not the mesa one, brings a huge peace and focus to me. love you all so much Que la via bien!

to the brothers

"I tried a dessert called "Death by Chocolate," 

but it only made me stronger."

...Yep that sums up the food here.  Sometimes good.  Well mostly good.  The cookies are death though.  They make you sick.  Yes, it is hard sleeping on a top bunk with no ladder, a warped mattress, and I brought the wrong pillow.  To make things worse, there is no ceiling fan and it takes at least a half hour in bed to "wind down."  The showers are either burning or freezing.  It gets 90 degrees outside with humidity (Utah?). I'm suckin' wind at gym. 

 And somehow I'm the happiest I've ever been!

Alma 8:14-15 Lift up thy voice and rejoice!  The work is true and will go on.  Boys, constantly strive to have the Holy Ghost and your lives will be so much better.

Love you,

Preston

first email

hey i've finally got my email set up. our pday is on tuesdays. ive got the email but can only check it on my pday. there is this website called dearelder.com that you can log onto and send me a letter, anyone can do it all u have to do is enter my info and write the letter. send it and they will type it up here and i will have it by dinner. kinda cool. 

thanks for your first letter. it had a lot of good stuff in it. my companion elder hoyt is from southern utah(imagine that) and hes a real good guy. he has a hard time leaving his girlfriend behind but theres a few people here that are like that. im feel so stinkin busy i danot even have time to really think about you guys! its wake up breakfast, study till lunch, class till dinner then class till ninethirty! 

sunday was a really good day and the spirit was so strong i felt like i was gonna cry. i get all choked up all the time now. it wierd but i really do get those "swelling in the breasts" alma talks about. this place is incredible. never before have i craved searching the scriptures before. everything else seems like a burden. i especially love the book of mormon, its got a tender place in my heart right next to london. she is here sometimes and i think about her alot... grandpa too. one time our district was being kinda roudy at dinner after gym and i thought of him at dinner and i realized i need to be more reverent. 

we have really good teachers. its amazing how fast they teach us spanish an we can learn it. i can pray, meet people, and testify(vrey basically) in spanish. i didnt realize i would be a spanish tutor but here i am helping my comp. its good. hope everything is well at home. sounds like a high power electric fence should be on back order huh? stinkin cows. its wierd thinking about home because it feels like ive been here for ETERNITY. it was like my premortal life ha. 

well mom i hope this is long enogh for you cuz im running out of stuff to say. no i havent had any cold cereal yet. im stuck on eggs, hash browns, sausage and biscuits and gravy =) im playing extra hard in gym period though... the gym is closed so were playing soccer and suprisingly im the best out of us gringos. give my love to everyone in the ward and family. i can really say i know now that this is His work. D+C 35:13. i hope thats the right one they are all jumbled. so much info... ik love you all soo very much. adios -elder preston

first letter

Hey,

I made it!  Elder and Sister Holmes were so sweet and wonderful. [They picked Preston up at the airport, took him for hamburgers and escorted him into the MTC]  It was so hard to get on the plane but soon as I walked into the MTC it all changed.  My attitude completely changed and this place is fabulous.  My companion is small town elder Hoyt from Southern Utah.  Good guy.  My district is really cool even though Elder Buttars isn't in it.  I saw Shad Peterson and he's been delayed going to MExico.  The Embassy is being difficult.  Hopefully it gets fixed by July 14 when I'm scheduled to depart.  We're super busy.  The language seems much easier here and I'm the senior companion.  I'm happy and excited.  love you all.  Give everyone my love.  hasta tarde...