Week 2

Everyone keep sending him letters.  He loves them! :)

Hey fam,
I'm now finished with my second week at the mtc, and it's been quite a week. I was
shocked to hear about Aunt Sanny, I can't believe she's gone. I'm glad we were able to
see her and talk with her in the last couple weeks of her life. It sounds like her
funeral went well, which is good, she was an amazing person.
I've been learning alot about the spirit, the concepts of diligence and humility, and the
Savior's life. This week has been incredibly spiritual and the Lord has been answering my
prayers.
My spanish is coming along well, we learned past and future tense so now I just need to
work on memorizing what the verbs mean and I'll pretty much have it down. Of coarse
memorizing the verbs is the hard part so it'll probably be a few more months until I can
function in Mexico well.
Our devotionals this past week have been great, we learned alot about the book of mormon
and recognizing the spirit. We had another special visitor this week, President Uchtdorf
came by the MTC and my room mates got to go down and meet him. We think it's because my
one roommate's dad works for the church. They got to speak to him just the three of them
in the president's office for about ten minutes, then he gave them each a blessing and
let them take a picture with him. He was planning on coming to our class later with just
our district (10 missionaries) but he was too busy! Oh well.
Speaking of my roommates, me and my companion and the other two elders in my room are all
going to the same mission and we all leave the same day. We've had some pretty crazy
experiences, we had a phantom vacuum magically appear under one elder's bed and turn on
in the middle of the night. The door had been locked so we aren't sure how whoever put it
there turned it on. It was pretty funny. We also have an elder down the hall who has
night terrors and runs around screaming if he doesn't sleep on the top bunk.
My teachers are awesome. Brother Catt really cares about our success, and he takes alot
of time to spend individually with each of us to help meet our needs. He's given me some
incredible advice. He is a history major and his favorite pass time is to think... and
he's very in tune with the spirit. I can't remember if I mentioned this already but alot
of the elders in my district are convinced he's one of the three nephites. Our branch
presidency is awesome. President Evans is a DJ for weddings, we didn't know you could
still be a DJ if you're over 50. Well anyway those are really my events for the week. Oh
and we've been able to go to the temple twice now. :)
Mom- thanks for the fiesta in a box! All the missionaries in my district are jealous that
I have the most supportive mother. We're going to have the chips and queso and drinks
tonight! To answer your question I do have the same schedule saturdays, but not thursdays
or sundays. Our sacrament meeting is just in a classroom chapel each sunday. That story
about the mouse is pretty funny. I actually knew about the sacrament room thing, me and
tanner use to have the responsibility to dispose of the mice that were caught in the
traps. I'm not sure about the rules for the lighters, I only asked because it helps when
shining shoes to have heat like fire or a blow drier or heater, but I don't have time to
shine shoes so I don't need them. Oh I'm fine with the move, I'm sure the house is going
to be awesome. It sounds like Dad did a great job at the bathrooms, you'll have to take
pictures of them so I can see when I get home. Anyway, Your letters are definitely not
bothering me! I was a little worried that you decided to not write as much on the day
that you forgot, but it's no big deal. Just a reminder for everybody, don't send e mails
to this address because I don't have time to read them and write one. Nobody sent one I
just wanted to mention that.
Nay- I'm glad you're finally warming up to miley ;) I miss ya tons. If you write again
sometime soon I'd love to hear about what you've been up to! Maybe by the time I get home
you'll be in the orchestra at the U!
Dig- How are you doin? I have a friend here who reminds me alot of you, He does the part
from spongebob when patrick is trying to make a scary sound on the flying dutchman really
well. He's not quite as cool or as funny as you of coarse, but he still reminds me of
you.
Denny- I decided that if you can beat me at super smash bros by the time I get home I'll
take you to luch, so practice alot. Haha. Thanks for your letters, keep writing!
Shash- How's school going? do you have any cool field trips soon or anything?
Dad- thanks for the letter. I miss you alot. I'm getting to know the other elders alot
better, and I want to say thanks for being such a good example, and for always being
worthy of the Priesthood, not many have a dad as great as you. I love your idea for the
movie by the way. Sounds like a plan!
Well I'm almost out of time so I have to go. Thanks everyone for your letters! Thanks bam
for the package and i'm sure you're doing great at spanish. Stones, it sounds like you've
had a pretty crazy week! I enjoyed hearing about it!
I love and miss you all!!!
Elder Dallas Robert Aguilar

One More Day!

The most wonderful day of the week is TOMORROW!  I can't wait!!!

It's Here!!!

Hello family!
First off I want to apologize that it took so long for me to get an e-mail out, but they
didn't give us a p day the first thursday since we had just arrived. My p days will be
every thursday and you can expect an e mail each week. I only get a half hour a week for
e mails though so I hope including everyone in one e mail is ok.
This week has been incredible. My companion is elder Portuese from Brush Colorado. He's
been a member for a little over a year now and has a very strong testimony. My zone
leaders are super cool, and my district couldn't be better. Our district includes all
different kinds of people and makes for a fun time.
I've seen Brennan a couple times but me and him aren't in the same zone or anything so I
don't see him often. But I did see Elizabeth Smart last week but she's off to Paris now.
Speaking of seeing people, on my first day we went in for our orientation meeting and
partway through Elder Holland came in and sat in the row behind me! He was about ten seat
to my left but that's still super close. He got up and gave us a message of motivation
and let us know how serious our missions are. The teachers told us that hasn't happened
since they can remember (an apostle being at an orientation).
By the way my teachers are sister Clegg and brother Catt. They are both incredible people
and great examples. They always remind us that the gospel comes first and spanish comes
second, because the spirit will teach more effectively than fluent spanish will. I've
learned alot of spanish though, I can carry on a five minute conversation, testify, say
my prayers, and explain what I do as a missionary.
We are all kind of tired each morning since we wake up so early and study for so long
each day, but the excitement of the work and the help of the spirit keeps us going. Not
to mention the food, there's enough for everyone to eat as much as they possibly can at
every meal. But we still appreciate the packages with treats because by bed time we're
starving! Thanks for the cinnamon rolls, the cookies, the rice crispies, the candy, the
clementines, the pretzels, the chap stick and most of all the letters. I have the whole
district envious of me because I'm so loved. They all get mad when the mail comes because
I always have at least one package and a few letters. I love reading your letters, dear
elder dot com gets them to me right at dinner and it's the hilight of my day.
We've had two devotionals so far one from a Joseph Smith historian that was pretty cool
and one from Elder Evans of the seventy on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon that
was incredible. I feel the spirit all day every day, everyone smiles, everyone is busy,
so we don't really have time to get mad or sad. It's really an incredible atmosphere
here, although I'm one of about five Utes fans they still treat my well. I'm already
coming to love the elders in my district, and my love for the Savior grows on an hourly
basis. It's wonderful to see his name on everyone's nametags.
Dig, I can't believe you and Granty got in a crash! that's scary but it's really cool!
Denny, congrats on your video game accomplishments, keep it up. And keep writing me so
you can be in first place for the most letters.
Shash, Thanks so much for that note and my candy, I miss you alot too and I think about
you every day.
Shenay, wear any of my shirts you want, that really makes me smile to see you in my
sweater in that picture you guys sent. And keep up the hard work, you're the hardest
working teenager I know, Congrats on the 3.8! I miss you nay, and I love you.
Dad, thanks for the advice, I'm proud to wear the same nametag you wore, with the same
purpose in mind. Thanks for being such a great example.
Mom, Thanks for everything you do and always have done for me and the family. We'd be
totally lost without you. I can't express how much I miss you and love you! I look
forward to your letters everyday and I think of you always.
Everyone keep writing please if you have time, I'll never wish I got less mail, I love
hearing from all of you.
Remember I'm in the Lord's hands, I feel His love and protection and I'm doing fine!
Just wanted to share Alma 56: 44-48 and hymn #270
I miss you all and I love you all!
Elder Dallas Aguilar
P.S. Bam thanks for offering me your picture of Christ. We have pictures of Him on every
square inch of every wall here, so I thought it might be a good idea to keep His picture
next to mine so you can remember that He is with me!
P.P.S. I could really use a couple pare of black ankle socks from my room for gym, a
calendar with all the family birthdays and holidays, my brown slippers, and a couple
lighters for shining my shoes if you have time to send them! But it's no hurry!

Is Dallas really at the MTC?

I have heard NOTHING for 8 days from Dallas. No letter, no e-mail...NOTHING! They are supposed to be able to e-mail on P-day. I sure hope Dallas has had a P-day by now, or he must have a pretty big pile of dirty laundry! So I called the MTC this morning. The man said he would find him and light a fire under him. :)

The WORST thing I have ever had to do!

I took my boy to the MTC and dropped him off never to be seen again by our family for 2 whole years! I feel I have been strong up to this point, but oh my goodness, that was hard. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled he is there, but we miss him!!! We sat in silence and tears all the way home except for when Shandra asked if we could turn around. :(

Elder Aguilar

Dallas received his mission call on September 3rd but did not open it because he wanted to go to the U Football Game! So we waited for 2 days when our family & friends would be attending Shandra's baptism and he read it then. It was awesome! He had to wait over 4 months before he could leave, but those 4 months went by so quickly!

After shopping for suits, socks, shirts, shoes, ties, and every other missionary necessity, we had a farewell dinner for him on Saturday, January 9th. There was soup & salad & lots of loved ones. I think Dallas really enjoyed seeing everyone. Then he spoke in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, January 10th. His talk was on Christ and his testimony and love of the Savior was very evident. He will be a great missionary!

Then on Tuesday evening, January 12th, Dallas was set apart as a full-fledged missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! He told Shenay that she wasn't losing a big brother because she always had one waiting to listen when she prays. I love that boy!

It's Official!

This boy is a missionary!!!