July 15. 2008

Czesc Rodzina! In one day it will have officially been the two week mark, which is crazy to think about. Part of me feels like i've been in here forever ha. But i'm still loving it and things are just as good- even better- then the last report. I'm going to try to remember all of your questions, i don't have too long and i'll for sure write you another hard letter today so if i don't hit everything, przepraszam. Week two has been a bit more intense then week one. Brat Fox and Siostra Brown are throwing language functions at us left and right. In a few weeks we're supposed to be able to teach the first lesson in Polish (my butt puckers a little every time i think about it) and so until then we have to work on memorizing all the words and verbs required to do so. So that's a lot of work. More about Polish to come. The district is growing closer and closer. We hit a couple rough patches through the week, but i feel we're closer then ever right now. We have a renewed intensity to study as much Polish as we can and we're working on memorizing at least 20 words a day. So i carry this little ring of cards with the polish word on one side and english on the other. The stress of it is finally setting in i believe - it is not easy to learn a foreign language in 9 weeks, but i truly believe (and am working as hard is i can so that) i will be able to have a good grasp on at least the basics. Elder Tanner and I are still doing great. We have awesome companionship prayers every night and morning and we work well together. Elder Maxey is so much better- no more trips to the sick bay. (we've been to the sick bay so much we know the receptionist and the nurse who works with her - Ellen is the receptionist. She gives us popscicles and suckers- it's great :P) But he may be moved to a different mission cos he's missed so much and what not- i tjhink he could totally stick it out, but it's not really in his hands anymore. The other elders are hilarious. Elder Hobbes (in greater detail for dad) - we call him Hobbesy- He plays violin and piano so that's good. Elder Beaty he's the youngest of his family and he is a really smart kid i really like him. Very nice overall and tries really hard. Ex. of personality - Siostra Brown was teaching us the first lesson (we were pretending to be investigatrs)and she asked us if we believe in prophets. Beaty says "I believe Mohammad was the last prophet." and she said " Well you are wrong" very blaitantly and after further verbal exchanges, elder Beaty pretty much looked like a goober and we constantly remind him of how Siostra Brown told him how it was. HE takes it well though. Elder Tanner is in the middle of 6 (not sure if he's third or fourth...) but he's a good kid. Very laid back and for the longest time he would say "that's so serious", with a negative connotation, about everything...i thought it was pretty funny considering we're doing the Lord's work....kindof serious i would say ha. Food is still great. Hobbesy and Tanner love the "Muffin Top" cereal. For 6 or 7 meals straight Hobbes would have Muffin Top with whatever else he was eating. I tried one bowl and it was good - Blueberry muffins in a bowl (looks like Cinnamon toast crunch} but i definitely couldn't eat a bowl for every meal, two days in a row. There's lots of studying and lots of eating- it feels like that's all we do sometimes, but it's all good- the eating is a good break from the studying and vice versa :P I've been ballin' it up every day for gym- cousin trevor would be proud of me. Some of these kids are pretty darn good, but i usually can hang with em. Soccer they don't allow us cleats, thus me playing more basketball and kind of becoming addicted to it. Polish- Brat Fox interviews us every week and mine was yesterday. He told me that my reading was great- he didn't notice one mispronunciation- and that i should be grateful to my Father in Heaven that i could remember so many words and recall them so quick. And i do feel very blessed- i love Polish, it sounds so rad and the letters and words just make sense in my brain. Just before our interview Brat Fox talked to us in Polish for about a half hour; we were talking about which Dental School he should go to and he was explaining everything in Polish, and of course i didn;'t understand much. But i was super determined to understand as much as i could. There was a whole lot of "jak sie mowi" (how do you say) and "co to snaczy?" (what does that mean?) going on ha. But i love it. Everyone in the district is doing great. They are catching on very well. I love it so much. I have a couple good stories that i'll write in the letter home.Elder Tanner and I are going to be called to be Zone Leaders this sunday which is craszy. The Bulgarians - who i love because they are so nice, so fun to be around and just interesting guys- are leaving so new ones will come in and yeah. It'll be a crazy experience but very good :) I look forward to leadership, even though it is often stressful and hard. I know it'll be a good opportunity for service.Time is running low- tell everyone - uncle rich, aunt jolene, Alo, grandpa, matt- everyone thank you for the letters i've recieved. It's been the best. I love letters so much! Even if it's a simple hi this is what's going on in my life. You don't know how much i appreciate your support and love. I feel it everyday and it keeps me going. Thanks ma and pa - spencer , sarah and annie for your letters and the cookies!!!!! They are the BEST! And the guys love them - Bulgarians love them especially :P I sat on my glasses so i'm going to see if i can get them repaired. I'll wrte about it in my letter. I love you all so much!! I can't even tell you. YOu are the best and you give me energy and strengty. Brat- means brother- Siostra - sister- Matka- Mother Father- Ojcem 0 gotta go! Love you Czesc!!!!