11/15/2011 letter

FAMILY! FRIENDS! PEOPLE! CHILDREN!!!!!

 

 

Well, What's new in my life? Nothing. Its the same ol MTC. Its so crazy here. Waking up at 6:30 and not coming back to bed until 10:30...studying the whole time. WOW!!! I didnt know I had it in me! Thanks to God, Im able to stay awake and attentive! As for the language...? Yeah, its still hard. I can understand a LOT of it, i just have a horrible memory making it really hard for me to speak it. But..our investigaor is now our teacher. He was fake but now he knows us best. Check this out guys...Thursday had to have been one of the worst days I have ever had. I was so upset. I was not being possitive about this experience. So, I got down on my knees, prayed to my Father in Heaven who knows me best, and asked Him to please bless me with comfort, peace, and something to be able to help me. Well, the next morning, Friday, thats when the investigator came in. We were supposed to teach a lesson that we hadnt prepared, so we didnt have to do that. And guess what?! The whole lesson was in ENGLISH!! I could understand everything and ask any questions I want. SO grateful for that answered prayer. The general authority that spoke was some guy that takes care of all the foreign affairs for the church and the visas and stuff. It was really cool how much God has played a role in letting us get into other countries. Curt Bateman left this last week. Crazy!! Scott Laughlin didnt get his visa yet so they reassigned him to the Salt Lake City Utah mission. weird! He leaves tomorrow. My companion Elder Knowles and Elder Valdez will probably be getting their Visas this week. Now, when can it be my turn...? portuguese...Man its tough. It gets frustrating but Im plugging through.

 

My district is fun. I really like the bonds we are making. Elder Christensen might be the funniest person in the world. Goofiest, but funniest.

 

What else.....oh yeah.....I AM THE ZONE LEADER FOR MY BRANCH!!!!!! Uh yeah, that was nuts. Not even two weeks in and Im supposed to be the example to the whole entire branch? I cant even pray that well in Portuguese. But God knows what I need and I guess this is it. Tomorrow, I train all the new missionaries in our branch. Weird!!!

 

Im really wanting to dry clean my suit since I have to wear it 16 hours of the day!! Im hoping to get enough money build up on my card to clean it this next week. The food is wonderful. My lips are finally healing. I still dont have many pictures...I should take more. I will send them to you mom. Brynn can put them up on the blog. Thanks again Brynn for doing that. Youre awesome! And yeah..Mckenzi Hamm?!? CRAZY!!!!

 

Anyway, how is life in the real world? I still have no updates on the Ducks...Im dissapointed in you Ami, Ashley, and Joe!! ;) Is the United States still in existance? Whats going on outside of this place?!? Any new fads? How are the new movies? Updates people..updates!!! I have received two letters, both from Nicole. Hello people..Dearelder is FREEEEE!!!! You can send 3 a day if you want!! It isnt hard. Ami said you guys dont know my mailbox number..well, its #310. I sent you guys my address. And now that everyone has it, Im expecting some love! I losing in the mail count race...All my siblings...Im expecting one Dearelder.com from all of you guys this week. If not, there will be consequences when I get home! :)

 

I love you guys. Every single person reading this right now. It means you care. And that brings joy to my life. I have learned so much lately. About me. About life. About what i want in life. One of the number one things is to LOVE PEOPLE!!! I dont really care if they smell or look different or annoy you. LOVE THEM!!! That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!! But, there is something else that beats that...the number one thing I have learned thus far is...God lives. He loves me. He wants the best for me. And to follow HIS will, not your own. Rely on the Holy Spirit to direct your life. It works! It really does!!!

Thank you all for the emails. Im so sorry I cant respond to them all. Kirsten, You go girl!! keep on keeping on!! Ami- Thanks so much for your words! Im glad you care. and Janice- Thank you so much. You are a fantastic person. Thank you for sharing with me.

 

I love you guys. I pray for you all every day. Im in ALMA already! Cool, huh?!? But yeah, I love you guys so much. Miss you tons! But 2 weeks down already!! We are 2 weeks closer! Keep going in the right path everyone. Let God take control of your life. He lives and loves. He really does!!

 

 

Love Love Love!

~Elder Lakey