Week 9--and still at the MTC

hey family,

how are you all doing this week? did everyone have a good st. pattricks day? nobody actually realized it was a holiday here because everything just went on as usual. i did get that package from bam, which was awesome, thanks for all those pictures from the boys (exclamation point) i also got the package with all the candy and things in it (and the monkeys in a barrel) which was super cool so thanks fam.
so there's already been one elder in our district who got his visa. in fact he left on monday like was originally planned. as for the rest of us, we've recieved word that we'll get to meet with the consolate soon and we'll probably be flying out sometime next week (exclamation point). i'll get to call home again when we know when we're leaving exactly to let you all know the specs.
this week has been pretty strange. since we don't have set teachers or other meetings anymore we spend alot of time practice teaching. i've been the investigator in the trc quite a few times now and i'm learning a ton about the importance of: first being humble as a missionary and letting the people see that i'm there because i care about them and i'm not selling the gospel but inviting them to the happiness that comes through the gospel, and second: the importance of delivering the lesson like a real person with a personality, and not a robot who just has a checklist of items to talk about before i can leave. i'm learning to truly understand their needs, and make it all about them. it's awesome (exclamation point). one of the lessons that i was in was taught to me by two elders who's first language is spanish. it was really fun and i understood everything they said, but by the end the front half of my brain was pulsing pretty hard since we were all talking so fast in a language i didn't know at all a couple months ago.
the devotionals this week have been great as usual. the sunday fireside was from an administrator of the mtc, and he had some people who recieved the gospel within the last couple years come up and talk about their conversion experiences. it made us all even more excited to leave. then the tuesday devotional was from quentin l. cook (exclamation point) it was so awesome (exclamation point). just think, the first day we should have been in mexico, the lord sends an apostle to give us some advice. it was incredible. he talked about the gifts of the spirit, and how truly being a witness that the savior lives comes from a continued diligent search, and accumulation of many small sacred spiritual experiences. the spirit was super strong in the meeting. then he talked about how d&c 112 came in a year of great economic distress. the years before had been very prosperous, the kirtland temple was built, and many wonderful things happened there. everyone was doing well financially and many sections of d&c came forth during it all. but due to some bank problems in great britain, economic downturn spread throughout the world. people couldn't get their houses sold to move to be with the rest of the church, many lost their jobs, and most struggled to feed their families. d&c 112 was the only revelation that came during all of this, and guess what it was about? missionary work (exclamation point) the lord called many to europe to spread the gospel, and they soon came to realize that there wasn't a better time for people around the world to search their souls and realize how much the gospel would help them. he compared this to these times of coarse, and pointed out some very similar events that happened then that are happening now. he said that we should all be grateful to have the opportunity to spread this gospel in a time when people need it so greatly. he said the lord saves great missionaries for times like these, when he knows many of his children need his help. elder cook then gave an apostolic blessing and closed. i was super excited (and still am of coarse), and i'm so glad that i got to hear that talk before i leave. i can't wait to get out there to start helping people.
well i was glad to hear about the offer on the house (exclamation point) i knew it wouldn't be long until everyithing came together. i thought it was kind of funny, i was reading the ensign while my companion was at the hospital one of the days, and i noticed that just about every article this month ties into being thankful for our trials, and not wasting opportunities to learn and grow from our hardships.
i loved everyones letters and packages
mom- that pinata was awesome. we still haven't found a stick to break it open yet, but we did have a little not leaving party. we thought it was pretty funny, because on tuesday morning elder tibbits was talking about how lame it is that we're still here, and he said "we were supposed to leave on the fifteenth and it's already... the sixteenth" we all started laughing and realized we've been a little dramatic about it all. i loved your letters, thanks for your example mom. love you.
nay- i've been thinking about you a ton lately because everytime i learn something cool in the scriptures i want to tell you about it. and at the fireside on tuesday we sung the efy meddly with the whole mtc for one of the prelude songs for the first time since i've been here and the whole time i was thinking of how great it was when we were singing that at efy just this last summer (exclamation point) that was definitely one of the best days i can remember, cuz i was with my little sister and i could feel the lord's love for us so strongly.
dad- thanks for the letter. i love the advice you give me. we talk alot about examples here, and i always think of how thankful i am to have had such a great example in my life for a father as someone who was always there, always loving, and always worthy to give me a blessing when i needed it. thanks dad. i love you.
dig den and shash- i love reading your letters every time (exclamation point) denny your letter was hilarious when you signed it "ya whierdy." i laughed for a while after that. shash i can't wait to see how good you get at that oragami. and dig i'm glad you're enjoying that lovesac. it sounds like your new room is super cool. i always tell the other elders here how cool my little bro is.
thanks for everything i love you all (exclamation point)


elder dallas aguilar
p.s. i could really use my electric shaver soon because we could leave at any time and it'd be nice in mexico