Dear Mutti,
No, we don't get to watch BYU devotionals, but I'm pretty sure they have them. We have our own Tuesday night General Authority Devotionals though. This last week though was training for the new Mission presidents, so there were General Authorities running all over the place. I didn't actually see any through most of the week, but a couple Elders from my zone ran into Presidents Uchtdorf and Eyring, which sounded pretty intense. On friday evening there was a fireside, where David A Bednar spoke, and M. Russell Ballard, Russell M Nelson, Dalin H Oaks, Richard G Scott, Neil L Anderson, and Jeffrey R Holland were also there. It was really exciting to see them all. In a later Address, President Brown mentioned something about all of them being here throughout the week, except one who couldn't due to health. My first guess would've been Elder Packer, but I saw something about him being healthily out and about on LDS.org.... anyhoodles, it was great and it made the ridiculous mealtime congestion (They closed off half of the cafeteria for the Mission Presidents during the week) easier to not murmur about... ;P
And yes, that is the right cord for my camera, but I can't upload pictures here in the MTC due to the Computers don't let you do that sort of thing. But I'll be able to use it to send you pictures once I'm in Germany, assuming we'll get to use real computers there.
I'm glad you got to spend time with Uncle Dan's Family. It sounds like a lot of fun - I wish I could've been there, but there's a possibility that being here is more important. ;) Did the kids at least miss me? ;P emoticons! whew! it's been too long. :P ;P :D :) :'( (')> (^^^)
Yeah, so maybe I'm going a little bit crazy, but, as always, the whole "going" part is entirely ficticious.
I'm trying to think of what you'd actually like to hear....
Yeah, we apparently leave 4 weeks from today - I don't really keep track, but I heard someone else saying that today. It's crazy how time has flown in here....
- Elder Cloward
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
MTC Week 4
Dear Mom-O
So, the system seems to be having troubles, and it took approximately from everlasting to everlasting for the email to load, but the timer kept going down, so It looks like this will have to be short this week.
How is your life?
I had a pretty good birthday. It was mostly just an ordinary day. The birthday highlight was that at dinner I gave my own gift to myself and loosed myself from the shackles of the "one entree per meal" bondage under which I had placed myself. So after my funny tasting stakey-pasta stuff, I devoured an invigorating chicken pattie, which had been mislabeled as the less satisfying "Chicken Burger," which is why I didn't eat it in the first place. They also magically had the best desserts they offer - The maple peanut donuts, the peanut butter bars and the pumpkin pie, all of which I ate in excess. It's the first time I've been full here - I've been satt a few times, but this is the only time I've been properly full as in my Hausschwein days.
Yes, I did get your package, thank you very much. The cookies are delicious, but the milk shortage has made it difficult. They do have the milk dispensers, but they're only in the cafeteria, whereas I'd need one in my room, in the classroom, and outside. And in the cafeteria, they only have these tiny half-shot sized glasses, so you can barely get more than a gulp. I used to get around that by filling up my waterbottle, but then I made the unfortunate mistake of reading the MTC handbooky thing, and discovered that I'm actually not allowed to fill containers other than those provided from their drink dispensers. It's a tragedy, but I suppose I shouldn't complain.
I actually haven't tried those shirts yet, but I'll tell you what I think of the material. When you do send me the scarf, could you also send me my other ties? I miss them so. I just want to have a million zillion ties. but it really isn't a big deal at all. Thinking of my ties reminds me of the disaster I left my room in. sorry.
Yeah, I do know those new Elders, but quite honestly, I'm not sure which ones were going to which mission. It'll be good to see them again. I'm going to miss the guys in my district who're going to Frankfurt sooo much. I guess I wouldn't see them all that much if they weren't my companion anyway, but probably occasionally... I don't really know what it'll be like out there.... That is super crazy and super exciting that I'll be in Germany in just over a month. I dunno though, I'm still terrified of fake investigators, maybe I can wait a while for real ones. ;P I am super excited for Germany though, and I know it's really what I need to be doing! I know this church is true! Love you!
- Elder Cloward
So, the system seems to be having troubles, and it took approximately from everlasting to everlasting for the email to load, but the timer kept going down, so It looks like this will have to be short this week.
How is your life?
I had a pretty good birthday. It was mostly just an ordinary day. The birthday highlight was that at dinner I gave my own gift to myself and loosed myself from the shackles of the "one entree per meal" bondage under which I had placed myself. So after my funny tasting stakey-pasta stuff, I devoured an invigorating chicken pattie, which had been mislabeled as the less satisfying "Chicken Burger," which is why I didn't eat it in the first place. They also magically had the best desserts they offer - The maple peanut donuts, the peanut butter bars and the pumpkin pie, all of which I ate in excess. It's the first time I've been full here - I've been satt a few times, but this is the only time I've been properly full as in my Hausschwein days.
Yes, I did get your package, thank you very much. The cookies are delicious, but the milk shortage has made it difficult. They do have the milk dispensers, but they're only in the cafeteria, whereas I'd need one in my room, in the classroom, and outside. And in the cafeteria, they only have these tiny half-shot sized glasses, so you can barely get more than a gulp. I used to get around that by filling up my waterbottle, but then I made the unfortunate mistake of reading the MTC handbooky thing, and discovered that I'm actually not allowed to fill containers other than those provided from their drink dispensers. It's a tragedy, but I suppose I shouldn't complain.
I actually haven't tried those shirts yet, but I'll tell you what I think of the material. When you do send me the scarf, could you also send me my other ties? I miss them so. I just want to have a million zillion ties. but it really isn't a big deal at all. Thinking of my ties reminds me of the disaster I left my room in. sorry.
Yeah, I do know those new Elders, but quite honestly, I'm not sure which ones were going to which mission. It'll be good to see them again. I'm going to miss the guys in my district who're going to Frankfurt sooo much. I guess I wouldn't see them all that much if they weren't my companion anyway, but probably occasionally... I don't really know what it'll be like out there.... That is super crazy and super exciting that I'll be in Germany in just over a month. I dunno though, I'm still terrified of fake investigators, maybe I can wait a while for real ones. ;P I am super excited for Germany though, and I know it's really what I need to be doing! I know this church is true! Love you!
- Elder Cloward
Monday, June 13, 2011
MTC Week 3
Dear Mommacito,
Yurp, I'm to go on the 26th of July. I actually haven't heard anything about the fast track option, so I'm kinda thinking it's not going to happen since I would've been leaving around now. but yeah, looks like it was never really an option, or at least it's one I would've had to have aggressively sought, but that's really not how I roll. Luckily, I'm happy here too.
So life here is still good, my companion and district is still super amazing. Or branch President, President Dunn, is awesome and super friendly. He actually reminds me a lot of cousin Ray and cousin Alan. He totally looks like he could be their brother.
As for birthday things, It'd be Marvelous if you could figure out ways to send me gallons of milk. I miss them. Part of the problem is that while there're a decent amount of baked goods bouncing around, there's no equivalence in milk levels. So basically, I'm dying.
In all seriousness though, if you could send me those shirts if they exist, that would be good. (I'm doing perfectly fine without them though)... and my Langenscheidt dictionary (it's the lil yellow one, last I saw was on the cinderblock bookshelf)
Yup, I'm gonna be officially old.
Anyhoodles, I know this church is true and I know God will provide a way for us to accomplish whatever he requires of us!
I love you bunches and bunches all the way to the moon and back!
- Elder Jacob Cloward
Yurp, I'm to go on the 26th of July. I actually haven't heard anything about the fast track option, so I'm kinda thinking it's not going to happen since I would've been leaving around now. but yeah, looks like it was never really an option, or at least it's one I would've had to have aggressively sought, but that's really not how I roll. Luckily, I'm happy here too.
So life here is still good, my companion and district is still super amazing. Or branch President, President Dunn, is awesome and super friendly. He actually reminds me a lot of cousin Ray and cousin Alan. He totally looks like he could be their brother.
As for birthday things, It'd be Marvelous if you could figure out ways to send me gallons of milk. I miss them. Part of the problem is that while there're a decent amount of baked goods bouncing around, there's no equivalence in milk levels. So basically, I'm dying.
In all seriousness though, if you could send me those shirts if they exist, that would be good. (I'm doing perfectly fine without them though)... and my Langenscheidt dictionary (it's the lil yellow one, last I saw was on the cinderblock bookshelf)
Yup, I'm gonna be officially old.
Anyhoodles, I know this church is true and I know God will provide a way for us to accomplish whatever he requires of us!
I love you bunches and bunches all the way to the moon and back!
- Elder Jacob Cloward
Monday, June 6, 2011
MTC Week 2
Dearest Muttikins,
Yeah, Monday's always my Vorbereitungstag, so I'll be sending emails then for my entire stay, which they say will be until July 26th. Apparently there is some possibility of fast tracking, but I'm not really sure about it. First of all, I'm not sure if I would be eligible to go, and second, I'm not sure if I'd want to. Elder Baker's German is a bit better than mine, and he's thinking about it, but he's in a similar situation. As far as my not being sure about it, I feel like I'm learning a lot here, and I feel like I'd want to be more prepared when I actually do go out. I also love my district here, and half of them are going to Frankfurt. Part of the battle in my head is over what my real motives are - because I know I'd be more comfortable here, but I know that I should choose whatever will actually make me a better missionary. I'm not entirely sure which that is. Chris Phillips was telling me he thought I'd get offered the fast track, and exhorted me to take it - he regrets turning them down. Well, I'm not even sure if I'll get the opportunity yet...
Also, thanks for calling about the immunizations - they had me call the Clinic, who had me on hold for a good 20 minutes - it was a nice opportunity to listen to music and chat with my companion - then finally they told me they had to fax an information release form to the MTC, which I then had to fill out, and fax back so they could fax over the immunization records. So Elder Baker and I ran from building to building doing that, and hopefully the clinic sent the records. So did you get my first letter?
So yeah, the MTC is still good, and I still absolutely love my district - they're all so marvelous.
My week's been pretty good, nope, not fluent in German yet, but getting there - I'm starting to realize the definition of fluent is a lot blurrier than I thought it was, and I'm approaching the near side of it.... but I'm really not that much closer than I was when I entered the MTC.
I'm glad you enjoyed Stake Conference.
Well, Mom, I love your guts, thanks for being such a good mommy and supporting me so well. I know this church is true, and I know Jesus Christ loves us and will comfort us through the holy ghost in all our times of sadness, weariness, and whateverthefruitcakeelseness.
- Elder Jacob
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