IT AIN'T BUDGING!

P day [Preparation day] got switched to Wednesday for the old folks here.

 

[Preston got a panicky email from his mom who was worried when she didn’t receive the expected email on Tuesday]

 

Sorry, first off Nancy, you scared the crap out of me, I got your letter and started reading without looking who it was from, I thought it was from my mom... well after I got back in my chair and changed my pants I realized who it was from, that’s so stinkin exciting!!!!!!!! Congratulations!  [Aunt Nancy is pregnant!]

 

But momma, WE GOT OUR PERMISAS!!!!!!! We should be leaving in a few days like within a week! Our whole district is just bouncing off the walls like Brighton Jr. at the dinner table. Man it’s exciting and weird to think we're not going to spend the rest of eternity in here, weird thought.  Someone told me an average missionary’s goal in our mission is roughly 130 baptism............. wow!

 

 

Many of the Elders in our district now have progressing investigators in the RC [the Referral Center –missionaries answer phone calls and request for information from the Church’s website].  I don’t cuz I just stink at it, so Elder Buttars and me get to visit a bunch.  I'm still working my butt off, in fact I might need to get some reading glasses in Mexico as this computer screen and book stuff all day has really taken a toll on my eyes... we’ll see what happens.

 

Another scare this week, Jalin's wedding announcement! Wow kinda weird but so stinkin exciting, she’ll have a kid before I’m back!  That is the wierd part. I told her I’ll be an uncle.

 

Well one quick story about the RC and a man who tried to shake my faith and I’m telling you all now IT AINT BUDGING!  It was a chat and he tried telling me Mormonism is devilish, and that the temple ordinances are just freemason stuff, he really tried to get me to look into the freemason practices, and kept saying stuff like” it’s ok God loves Mormon’s too".  After a while I decided it was time to end it, I told him something to the effect of " I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and I bear witness of His divinity and that he is the head of this church and this work.  I am lesser to you and yet I know the truth of these things, I ask you to turn your heart back to the God who created you and to where you can have the Holy Ghost that you have been missing so much".  He was a member for 29 years.  After that I just ended it.  It felt good to really testify of who I am and what I am doing to someone outside these gates and to feel the spirit flow through me as I typed the words...

I cant wait to be in Mexico, got a letter from Jerry Hahn, tell his family hi and I miss them, especially Clay-man he made me laugh when I was a bit down and I had a good day after that.

 

Not gonna lie, I’m so stinkin jealous of your hike, that sounds like the funnest thing ever right now, I don’t think id be able to keep up with you at the end, I’m fat boy now, hahahaha!

 

Boys good luck at school, remember who you are and who you represent, think about that for a while. Well I wanna let you know I know that God lives and it is wonderful to be able to bear testimony of that, I love you all and hope everything is well.

 

Adios les amo,

Elder Solomon

 

I got a weight set

Well another week come and gone, still here in the MTC. We had our last day of class yesterday, were getting kicked out of our classroom and becoming permanent residents of the Referral center! yay... actually its awesome, at least were doing real missionary work. I've started doing phone calls in Spanish, at first it was hard but it’s getting easier. They are SO much nicer than stinkin Americans, every call answered your at least placing a Book of Mormon, a lot of the time sending missionaries. I'm so excited to get down there. We talked to a native Mexican the other day and he said Toluca (the main city in our mission) is just absolutely beautiful.  Can’t wait!

 

I saw Taylor Dayton, a Snowflake friend in here the other day.  It was pretty cool and can't wait to see TR Workman tomorrow. We’re getting a new district of Spanish speakers and I’m hoping he’s in it!!! Any who, is it football camp week? Hahaha suckers, good times. What’s goin on on the home front? Haven’t heard from anyone in a bit so I’m assuming everything is well.

 

Well had a good week, got a quote for ya "if you ask the Lord for strength He'll send you a weight set" pretty cool considering He doesn’t just give us what we ask for most the time, just a way that we can obtain what we want through our own efforts, making sense? Example, it seems when I pray for patience, ill have a couple encounters with Elders who just bug the snot out of me, instead of giving me patience, He gives me the opportunity to be patient and work on that. Reading in Ether this week pretty cool stuff, the Brother of Jared had two problems, one of them the Lord gave him the answer, the other, the Lord asked "how would you have me help you" (more or less) same thing with us. All too often we ask, "what should we do" when we should be asking, "is this the right choice" (after studying it out and making a decision). How could we grow and progress if we don’t make any decisions on our own? The Lord lets us make decisions to grow from them, of course remember the Brother of Jared. "How do you want me to help you?" always have Him help you.   We held a mock baptismal service yesterday, it was sweet, the spirit was strong and we all got real excited to hold a real one of our own in the field. Personally I can’t wait to have one with a whole family! Cool stuff, an elder here has the quote for his mission” I leave my family for two years so I can bring other families together forever." I really like that.

 

Well I hope all is well in the home front, is it school time? I need to boys to be an example to everyone there. The best advice I can give you is what president Hinckley did. "Don’t do anything stupid" please remember that! Hahaha love you all and I know this is true more so than we can comprehend,

 

Les amo,

Elder Solomon

tears and happiness

[Mom’s note:  Elder Solomon was allowed to call home last Friday to tell us, officially, that he has been delayed in going to Mexico.  He will remain at the MTC until his Visa clears, most likely three weeks.  It was a very short 5 minute call, and yes, momma got choked up and teary eyed,,,but it was so good to hear his voice!]

 

Ok mom, not gonna lie… I cried for a while after hanging up, I miss my momma! But I'm fine now. Dad some thing kinda funny everyone in my district calls me "solly" or Elder Solly, its kinda cool and reminds me of you.  They came up with it all on their own. 

 

Well, we’re finally over the sicknesses, guess we should've done blessings sooner! Elder Hoyt and me actually blessed each other with the help of our roomies, it was really a neat experience, we then took the opportunity to bless the others just cuz we can (blessings of comfort) and low and behold it worked! Amazing stuff!

 

We’re staring to teach the third lesson this week.  It’s less work cuz we already know a bit of vocab and we’ve gotten pretty good at finding a way around the words we don’t know. We pry (probably) won’t have our teachers as much now that we are on the delay, so that'll be good. I can polish up my rough grammar and keep studying my scrips (scriptures). I'm in third Nephi right now, its such a cool book, I love "plastering" my pages with my thoughts, I'm almost all the way through since I've got here, I'm also studying the Bible too, well just the cool chapters in the old testament and the chapter heading on the others, but the new testament too. I skipped the gospels and went into the rest. Its tough reading compared to the Book of Mormon. The BoM is just so clear and beautiful, I love it!

 

Well, I miss you all. Sheldon you better have something to say to me at Christmas you little turd!!! [when speaking to him on the phone, Sheldon had nothing to say!]  I love you all so much and know with all my heart this gospel is true. I love learning Spanish, it’s so cool! I'm gonna try to send some pictures over email so ill cut this one short.

 

Les amo,

Elder Solomon

 

P.S.  I saw Elder Isham here the other day.  He’s heading to Montana! and guess what?  He shaved!!!

 

Ok, [sending pictures] didnt work, anywho…I got to talk to the old mission president of Mex City East.  He said it is more technological advanced than any city in Utah, (shooting down Elder Hoyt), and you can buy whatever you want, he said to use the pouch for letters and money and don’t even worry about packages unless your using Fedex cuz you can get whatever down there and its cheaper, said were gonna love it…can’t wait! ok paz

first holiday away from home

Well why you guys are having the usual family debates, i've been having debates with knuckleheads on the Mormon.org chat, these people are SO stiff-necked. I wish I could debate like Paco, I'm so glad i'm going to somewhere there are humble people...

 

Bridgett… we’ll have none of that. I'm supposed to have kids before you remember???

 

Any who... sounds like you all had a good Fourth of July. We had a big fireside with the whole MTC and we played the chimes to different pioneer and patriotic songs, it was fun but a bit boring, no cowboys getting bucked by bulls.... then there was a fireworks show, just good enough to make every missionary in the place miss family... and other friends. Hahaha. Then I got sick on Sunday and felt like crap. S'all good though still got a sore throat and sound like an old man.

 

But we've been having some good experiences. Taught some native Columbians last Wednesday and it was SWWEET they didn’t speak any English and the lesson was awesome!!

 

Any who we got our flight plans the other day and were supposed to fly out on Monday... but the visas... so well still be here, might get reassigned for a while or so the rumors go, but ill be able to call home on Friday for 5 minutes to tell officially I’m delayed. Someone better answer.

 

Sorry my English is crap; I can’t even talk it anymore!!! But that’s good. And sorry this letter isn’t all insightful cuz i'm still tired from being sick but I can tell you the Lord answers the prayers of His servants. He helps me out so much every single day. I love seeing the change He has caused to come about in the lives of these my brethren that are so close to me. They are truly being shaped into His instruments as am I. the gift of tongues is so real. In two months the least of our district can talk like a four year old in Spanish. Awesome. Elder Hoyt and me taught the Sunday school lesson on Sunday about the Book of Mormon. It went really good and for a while we studied a chapter as a district. It was awesome cuz everyone had different insights and knowledge we were able to share it and the spirit was pretty strong. I'm almost finished the BoM since I got here and I love it, I got a pocket sized one I carry around.

 

ik (I know) out of time already. Love you all so much and I know the Lord does too, be diligent in all that you do and never give it up, we are at war with the devil, remember this is for reals, just like the Nephites if we are divided inside it will be easy for the adversary to take over, as momma says, forgive and forget.

 

Ok love you tons, hasta tarde ---

Elder P T Solomon

 

 

hola, hola, hola

Well not quite the week as last week, obviously. In the devotional last Tuesday Elder Hales spoke and there were four other apostles there including Elder Holland who blew kisses at me and Elder Hoyt (first row cash!).

 

Any who it’s been a good week. Enjoying the weather. We have a herd time staying inside. Every chance he gets Elder Hoyt is napping on a bench in the sun. He’s sick of me calling him slacker hahahaha. We’re having such a fun time and it hit me were out of the place in like threeish weeks. I thought it would never end!!

 

We had a super good class discussion on charity and love the other day. It was so good and i've been praying to receive more charity. It’s so hard to not judge people and view them as God does. But I know its possible. I bore a strong testimony of it and shared about Grandma Von (Yvonne White) and how dad has always taken care of her and the last real quality time we got to spend together was painting her house... that experience is so special to me I don’t know why.

 

We also had a really good large group meeting on faith, man it was awesome. Wish I could send you my notes, read Alma32 and really mark it up. Find the steps in verses 27&28. I gave them to Brigg so see who can find all 8 of them. Mom, ya, I have been thinking I’m done with these basketball shoes. I want my little black ones I bought not too long ago. The adidas. Ill be sending a package with some stuff before too long and ill send the basketball shoes home. I really cant think of anything else... of course I will when I log off...

 

Oh well, I'm really getting ancy to leave and my hermana teacher chewed me and Elder Hoyt out for complaining about having to be here too long. Its pretty cool cuz now in class it’s mostly all in Spanish and I've learned how to do commands... muy divertido its fun to yell stuff in Spanish. Well I’m out of words for now. Endure the heat... i'm not missing it hahahaha. and im enjoying fresh air while I can.

 

Love you all and I’m praying daily for you.....

 

-Elder PT Solomon