Week 6

Merry Christmas, Hale family! What a week this has been.
On Tuesday, we heard from Neil L. Andersen, and this morning from L. Tom Perry. That brings my general authority count up to 4! Perry is suprisingly a giant man. It matches his spirit. He had his family here this morning too, and they read some scriptures. It was good.

Last night and this morning were really cool. Last night, we were at the Christmas Eve Fireside and it was awesome. There were some really good music, like a sister who sang O Holy Night and she sounded like a pro. Then we heard Sister Elizabeth Smart (THE Elizabeth Smart) play the harp, and she was amazing. We also heard an elder that played the bagpipes. It was legit. And the best part by far was the MTC version of the 12 days of Christmas. Ready?

On the 12th day of Christmas, the MTC gave me:
Twelve hours of class,
Eleven loads of laundry,
Ten more commandments,
Nine outbound calls,
Eight hours of sleep,
Seven lukewarm showers,
Six-thirty wake up,
FIVE HOURS OF GYM! (Everyone cheered)
Four chocolate milks,
Three new companions,
Two haircuts free,
AND A ROCK SOLID TESTIMONY!

It was awesome.

After the devotional, we all moved our mattresses into the room with the Christmas Tree, and slept there for the night. Before we slept, we read the Missionary Night Before Christmas, and had district prayer. My district is awesome. I love these elders.

Right now, an Elder Stark is playing the Shire Lord of the Rings theme on his harmonica. Now it is Hey Jude.

Anyways, this morning we open'd presents. Thank you so much for all of your gifts. I really needed that beanie! And we were already given a BoM and Bible in Espanol, but I guess that just means I can give those you gave me to some of my companions in the field!

Christmas dinner was good. I had to serve myself up some stuffing, and the way it was being served reminded me heavily of Capriottis. I miss those guys. But I don't regret being here.

Why are hermanas so pretty here in the MTC? I bet its the testimony.

Wow, I really don't have all that much to say for the time i have been alotted. I sent a letter in the mail on tuesday, so hopefully you will get it today. You should check right now! Its got letters in it for you guys(my family), the Graffs, my Primary class and Danny. Yes, Danny's will be the thickest, but hey! You got a thick letter last time!

Next time, I am going to try to write a letter to Capriottis. I bet that will be a challenge.

So, during one of this weeks devotionals, we were sitting behind a bunch of Portuguese speaking missionaries, and the one in front of me had a missionary handbook for learning how to speak Portuguese. So I picked it up and read a bit. It is alot like spanish but not really. My thought is that I will buy one from the store, along with a English to Portuguese dictionary, and after I have been out in the field for a while, and my Spanish is fluent, ill start learning how to speak Portuguese. I don't know tho. No se.

Oh, I just remembered. Elder Hayden, the new district leader got alot of clothes this Christmas and the rule we set up is that if you get clothes, you have to wear them. So, on top of wearing pjs, he put on his sweatshirt, a leopard-print snuggie, and then on top of that, a Oreals baseball team shirt and some silver gym shorts. It was so funny.

I love you guys, and I really missed you this Christmas. Thank you for your letters, including yours, Scott and Mindy. I can just see Noah doing the Home Alone thing. :D

Im burping up stuffing mixed with poorly made yams. :P

I love you.

Ahora en Espanol!!!

Les amo mucho! Espanol es muy dificil para yo pero estoy haciendo bueno. A veces, cuando estoy hablando espanol, las palabras vienen y el es muy facil sentir el Espiritu Santo. Espero que mi espanol tiene razon a Scott. Espero yo comprendere el Espanol de los nativos y que ustedes teneran paciencia con un nino blanco. La Iglesia es verdadera! En el nombre de Jesucristo, AMEN!

-Elder Hale