Week Two

From Jaycie: We can't get the new pics to load except one, something is wrong on Elder Cole's end :( On another note, Elder Cole was dead set on not bringing an umbrella because he said he would not use it even though Uruguay is very rainy. Well his email is refreshing by showing that Mom was right :)

Email:

Just after emailing last week, we went back to our casa and found that our bedroom door was locked and we couldn't get in! So me and my companion and a maintenance guy broke into our window! Haha! Then I shut our door the next day and locked us out again, but I didn't want to tell maintenance and look like an idiot, so me and my companion used what we could  and I unscrewed the screen to our bedroom window and I squeezed through the frame. Good thing I'm skinny!  My companion has been sick lately and so that has made giving lessons a challenge, but it's been good. I've really learned to follow the spirit! Last Sunday I blessed the sacrament in Spanish and got it on my first try. It was a proud moment. My spanish is still terrible, but I'm getting better and things are looking up! It rains a lot more here in Mexico City than back at home so I've actually used an umbrella for the first time in my life! Haha! (Thanks Mom for forcing me to bring one) ;)Yesterday my district did an "English fast". We went all day without speaking English and kept track of how many English words we each said.. Anyone that spoke more than 10 English words, has to eat a serrano chile and anyone who said more than 20 has to eat a habanero. I said 15 words...5 were on purpose after I reached ten. Everyone in our district has to eat a chile except two elders. Today we went to the temple, it was great. The food hasn't been too bad here, I just have to be careful not to make myself sick trying too many new things at once. I make sure I don't eat the beans more than three meals in a row Haha! Anyways love y'all! This mission is an awesome experience, and hard, but totally worth it and I feel the Spirit more everyday!
Love,
Elder Cole

Little snippets from Elder Cole's letter to the family:

I'm pretty sure that we are in intermediate Spanish and it hasn't been too bad, but it's definitely hard. My companion is serving in Uruguay Montevideo too. We've only had two p-days so far and both times we spend pretty much all day at the temple...but it's good. The temple is so awesome and is waaayyyy bigger than the one in Richland, it has elevators! Yes, I have gotten my package and its so great to get mail cause it breaks up the weekly routine a little...don't feel pressured though. The food isn't bad, some is actually pretty good! But some of it is pretty nasty too, so I just have to be careful what I eat. I'm glad you got the chair back and you didn't have to draw blood! Haha!

My companion has been sick lately and so that has made giving lessons a challenge when we try to prepare and he needs to run to the bathroom, but its been good. I've really learned to rely on the Spirit! Last Sunday I blessed the sacrament in Espanol and got it on my first try! It was a proud moment! My Spanish is still terrible but I'm getting better and things are looking up. You'll be happy to know that I have used my umbrella about five times this week. Thanks for making me take it! ;) Yesterday my district did an "English fast." We went all day without speaking English and kept track of how many English words we each said. Anyone that spoke more than 10 English words has to eat a serrano chile and anyone who said more than 20 has to eat a habanero. I said 15 words...5 were on purpose after I reached 10. Everyone in our district has to has to eat chile except two elders. I will eat a serrano chile on Monday. One of our teachers is supplying the chilies because the MTC probably would not approve so we are doing it quietly. 

Week One

Top three favorites of the week:

#1 My district

#2 The Mexico City Temple

#3  My Companion

These last couple weeks have been pretty crazy! I'll apologize for the spelling, I'm not used to these Spanish keyboards! On my way to Mexico I ran into a guy from Pasco, Elder Whitbey, he has family in Connell so that's pretty cool! I also ran into the BYU woman's basketball coach at the Salt Lake City airport and I talked to him for a little while! That was kinda cool! My first companion is Elder Christensen from Kentucky and he's a super cool guy, but he likes to sing and so I'll be singing a little more than usual lately! Haha! My district is super small, I think the smallest one here, but I love them, they're all super cool and hard working people! I've had a lot of cool experiences and have met a lot of new people! The Spanish has been drowning me, but I'm getting better and so hopefully by the time I leave the MTC I won't be totally awful! Haha! We went to the temple today and it is so cool! Totally different than the one at home! It's been rough being away from y'all and from my family, but I know this is where I need to be! The Lord has blessed my life so much in the week and a half that Ive been here and I just love feeling the Spirit! Its been a long week and a half, but there's no where I'd rather be! Love y'all!

Love,

Elder Cole

Here are some snippets from his personal letter to the family:

Hey Ma! The MTC is super beautiful and the people here are the best! There's 7 of us in our district. We started out with 8 but one elder went home. We have the smallest district in the whole MTC. Elder Christensen is my first companion, he's from Louisville Kentucky. He's pretty cool. You and dad would be so proud of me cause I've tried like everything we've had to eat except salad ;) I'll deal with that when I have to! You and dad don't need to worry, I'm doing fine and you've raised me right. The chocolate milk just isn't the same here. I met Elder Whitbey on the plane from Salt Lake and we live in the same house. The Spanish is kicking my butt and everyday I'm exhausted when we go to bed and even more tired when I wake up; but I'm so glad to be here and start learning how I can help the people of Uruguay. We went to the temple today! The Mexico City temple is so much bigger than the one at home and is so much different looking! It was crazy doing the endowment ceremony in Spanish, but it was fun! I just got news that I have a package today, but I'll have to pick it up tomorrow. Missionary Package MX is the service that can get me letters the same day. We've been teaching a fake investigator all in Spanish and it has been terrifying! Haha! The first day was awful, but I look forward to it now cause I get better each day! I'm loving my district and my Branch. The spirit is so strong here! Love you guys!