WEEK 4!!

Each week seems to go exponentially faster, and this one was no exception! Lots of the same things happen each week in the MTC, so I'll try to slip in some funny stories:)

Thursday
We whooped everyone in ultimate frisbee again in the morning and it was super fun. Unfortunately elder platt got sick and so he had to stay in bed for the first few hours of the day. and now im a lot more conscious of everything I touch... anyways, all the water we drink here is from these big jug things, and when they are empty someone has to change them and its realllly hard because they are so heavy and you have to flip it upside down onto the dispenser machine and it always makes a huge mess of water. So when the one in our casa ran out we all voted that Elder Parkinson change the water cuz hes super strong (he used to be a quarterback, but hes a really shy, nice kid) and so he shrugs and says "ok" then out of nowhere everybody started cheering "Parkinson! Parkinson! " and everyone gathered into the room with the water and he swiftly flipped it onto the dispenser without spilling a drop and the whole house exploded! we were cheering and giving hugs and honestly it sounds dumb, but its those little moments of being boys that makes it really fun.

Friday
Today we had another service project and it was pretty easy. We were just folding up and packaging sheets but it turned into a dance party because the latino dude in charge (the same guy who started the huge arm wrestling competition last week) let us play music from his phone! I miss my music

Saturday
I have to talk about the rain today. And fyi it has rained every day except for 2 so far, so I'm being serious about how cool this rain was. It was the kind of rain where an umbrella it totally useless cuz the gusts of wind throw the water at you from all directions, and the water is hitting the ground so hard that the splash forms a thiccck mist a couple of feet off the ground, and the roads are rivers, and the grass is a swamp. you were already soaked to the bone from being out there for a few seconds, so we decided to play basketball outside, but the ball didnt bounce that much because of the insane amount of water on the court. it was nice cuz we were the only ones out there :) and We didn't need to shower when we got back, haha. Jk we still showered but now that I think about it I should've just got some shampoo and went outside :)

Sunday
Another very spiritual day full of good, but long, meetings. Sacrament meeting is always my favorite because everyone gives thier talks in spanish, and because its gringo spanish, I can understand it! I actually wanted President Alvarez to call on me because I prepared a really good talk about the importance of the atonement in the Plan of Salvation. But he didnt. Anyways the devotional was about missionary work, especially about the power of companionships. We learned a lot about perhaps the greatest companionship of all time: Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The knew each other and worked together perfectly, and Hyrum supported his brother as he was trained and tutored for 4 years by Moroni, the great prophet of the americas. Then when the time came, they sealed their testimonies, each trying to protect the other, when they were both murdered in Carthage jail. Its a distant goal, but I want to be as valiant in my testimony with my companion as Joseph and Hyrum were. But anything is possible little by little right?

Monday
It was super hot today, and Since we are technically in the start of week five, we should be speaking a lot more spanish than english. Entoces, solo español de ahora en adelante. Just kidding. Our teacher Hermano Galindo made a new game where we each have a team of 3 people, and whenever someone on your team speaks English, you have 20 pushups. I only did 60 by the end of the day, but elder Parkinson and Stephenson have 180, and the rule is that if youdont do them  by 2:00 the next day, they double

Tuesday
Im sore. But they are way more sore. we did more espanol but today was especially hard. We learned (or were supposed to learn) Reflexives and they kinda just blew our minds. We have two teachers (one for the morning and one for the afternoon) and when our afternoon teacher heard that we didn't understand at all, he trashed his planned lesson and taught reflexives to us a different way and it really helped! Later we were outside with some personal study time, and I was sitting next to Elder Platt. The sun was setting and the birds were starting to settle down, and Elder Platt asked if I wanted to help him write a poem. Of course I did, and here's what we co-wrote:

Pensive I rested at the foot of the mountain,
Listening carefully to the trickling fountain.
The chirps of the birds echoed off canyon walls,
As I pondered the message from life so small.
The trees chimed in, the wind howling its tune,
The river, in harmony joining in too.
Raw beauty it seemed moved through the air,
to the hymn of creation; nothing compared.
A beautiful set made of forest and stone, 
Magnificent brilliance, through all of it shone.
Singing and smiling through soft morning light.
Nature praised its creator, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I've always loved nature, but sometimes I forget that it's a gift that was made for us to enjoy. I am so grateful for the love of the savior and I know that he is eager to bless us, sometimes in unique ways. For me this week it was the beautiful outdoors and my ever-improving Spanish. 

I love you all!!!

Elder Hilton