"I think I need a mini P-Week!"

The days are going faster than I can write them down.  It's Saturday.  We have a mini P-Day to wash our clothes and pack.  To do all the things that I need to do I think that I need a mini P-Week!  I have worked harder than I have in my whole life, prayed harder, and tried harder.  I have read The Book of Mormon, Jesus The Christ, half of a Marvelous Work and a Wonder and half of the New Testament.  I have grown incredibly, mentally and spiritually, and I know that the Lord has blessed me to.  Then why do I feel so unprepared?!

A Letter From Elder Nelson

Elder John,

Well Elder, this is it.  The 8 weeks are over and we are finally on our way.  It has been really neat developing a great friendship with you.  We have studied together and worked together and really grown close.  You and your companion have really brought life to our room and made my days a true pleasure to live.  Thanks for our great "runs" during gym.  I really got to know you a lot better because of them.

Elder, you are going to have a great mission.  You have a neat, loveable spirit and a strong testimony of the Gospel.  The people of Bolivia are in for a treat when you arrive and start spreading the Gospel.  Do your best, as I know you will, and you will be successful.

The Church is true and the greatest thing in our life.  Be a great, enthusiastic missionary and remember your old buddy from the MTC and the great things we went through here.  I love you Elder, and expect to see you sometime in the future.

Go with God, my brother and have a great, enjoyable, fruitful mission.  Thanks again for your wonderful friendship.

Que Dios Te Bendiga,

Elder Gerald S. Nelson (Jerry)

A Letter From Elder Ostler

Elder Christensen,

What can I say to such a great missionary and friend.  I can honestly say that I have developed a love for you that is going to last a lifetime.  I have really felt and partaken from your spirit.  Your testimony is strong  and shows.  But not just that because I know without a doubt that as you continue on this same missionary path that you've portrayed, you are going to not just be a good missionary, but you're going to be a great missionary.  I want you to know that I have grown spiritually because of your great spirit.

Know also that I love this great work with all my heart and I am going to work with all my heart.

If, for some reason, we never meet again in this life, there is no doubt but that we'll see each other again in the Celestial room of our Father's mansions.

Con gran amor,

Elder Dale Anthony Ostler
Argentina Buenos Aires Mission

Finishing The Last Spanish Concept

I finished the last concept today - 8 charlas!  Elder Nelson and I took pictures with our signature sheets.  I also finished the last of my interviews with the Naromas District.

The Last P-Day: "I have no idea what is ahead of me in Bolivia."

I had been harboring some pretty bad feelings towards Elder Laycock.  So I went and talked to him about it.  If I were any other place where I could get away for just one day, I think that I could work them off or forget about them.  But here when you are with a district every hour of the day, little things can work up to be big things and about the only way to get them off your chest is to talk about them.  Well, it worked.  I felt really good about everybody today.

As our last P-Day, we went to the temple together and went to Heaps for pizza.  It was fun.  We walked back from Heaps and I could feel those old pains in my back starting to creep in.  I had better start watching my posture and take it a little easier playing volleyball.

I received a letter last week from Linda that said she could see me off at the airport.  I suspect some type of hanky panky has been going on between her and my parents.  In her letter it says that she and her family are going on vacation to bring Denise down to school.  In my Mom's letter however it says that they are going to meet her at the airport Sunday night!  It also said that Mom was helping Linda with her airfare.  If I find out that Linda is flying out from Oregon just to see me off, I am going to be pretty mad (I think).

Just like when I had no idea of what was really awaiting me in the MTC, I have no idea what is ahead of me in Bolivia.  The culture classes have helped a little bit but they just can't show you what you are going to feel.

Shaking Hands With Elder L. Tom Perry

I shook the hand of an apostle of the Lord tonight.  Elder L. Tom Perry spoke at our devotional.  When I shook his hand, I did feel power come out and into my body.  Not physical power but spiritual power.  I know that he is an apostle.

His speech was a needed rest.  I have really felt like I have been sinking under the load of this final week.  I am trying to do everything and I am not doing anything well.  Re-passing, learning new concepts, my relations with others are really sagging and I haven't felt too good about my attitude.

I FEEL BETTER!  I've done some talking with Elder Laycock but it is late and I will write about it tomorrow.

"If ever I was psyched out by a shot, this was the time."

Boy what a day!  We had a pretty wild and crazy time changing rooms this morning.  We were all supposed to move at 9:00 am sharp.  Some elders started moving at about 8:45 and that started the stampede!  It was raining and that added to the scene.  2,000 missionaries mean a lot of suitcases and clothes.  Poor Elder Laycock got his white shirts stepped on two times within 5 minutes.  He wasn't exactly happy about that.

To add to my problems, I got a gamma globulin injection just before.  If ever I was psyched out by a shot, this was the time.  It was the first time that I can remember receiving a shot in the rear end.  I walked in to the room and there was this huge shot just sitting there and glinting at me.  The shot actually wasn't too bad.  I did dream last night (it is now the 14th) that the nurse left the shot in and forgot to take it out.

To get back on the subject, we are now located on the fourth floor of SM.  The room seems to be smaller but I just can't complain knowing about some of the conditions that lie ahead in the next two years.

I have started writing smaller in order to conserve paper.  There is no way that this will last me two years.

I received a 1.25 rating in my FSI exam last night.  Last time I got a 1.5!  The funny thing is I felt a whole lot better talking than I did the previous time.  Elder Brown received a 2.5 which is really good.

I met my cousin's cousin yesterday.  He is right next door.  I was talking with this elder that I knew was from Denver.  I told him that I was from Colorado too.  I told him that my home was Grand Junction.  He seemed excited when I said this and asked me if I knew Bettie Jo Christensen.  I told him that she was my cousin.  He then told me that he was her cousin.  It was exciting.

"Talk about feeling overwhelmed!"

Talk about feeling overwhelmed!  It seems as though I am about to go down the third time without air.  There are so many things that I have to do to get ready.  I think, in fact I know that something is going to be forgotten.  I would write them all down but I don't have enough paper!

It just started raining pretty good which has lifted my spirits considerably.  I do wish I had time to write more in here, but later.

We just got back from a testimony meeting with the new District.  They are really a super bunch.  Their testimonies were so sweet and full of love.  It really lifted my spirits.  It reminded me of the real reason why we are here.  It makes all those other things seem a lot less significant.

Afterwards I told them about "abrazos", and they readily accepted the idea and I got a big abrazo from each.  I really have benefitted from each one of them.

The Lord is so good in answering my prayers, as insufficient as they might be.  We received some lessons on faith and prayer today and they were really good.

We are going to effect one massive move tomorrow.  The whole MTC is rearranging rooms so that all the missionaries of any particular branch will be on the same floor.  So we have to pack everything up.  Plus Elder Brown and I are getting gamma globulin shots tomorrow.  It will be interesting to say the least.

Scriptures For Dad, Being The Acting District Leader & Chasing Away Bad Thoughts

Lots of "cosas" to write about.

I bought Dad a pair of scriptures.  I sure hope that he likes them.  It took up a lot of guts to buy them but I am a missionary and this is my job.

The Naronas District got in yesterday.  I was pretty nervous when I was telling them all the information, but Elder Brown said that I did a good job.

I got a long letter from Linda yesterday along with some great brownies.  I don't believe it but I don't think she really caught the drift of my "cooling down" letter.  It was a lot better but there were still some pretty subtle hints.  On the back of the last page she wrote Linda Christine Christensen!!  She did tell me not to take it seriously, but still!

I passed off F-6 which was the last one in F so now there are 7 down and one to go!

Today was really rough.  I just couldn't concentrate on the concept.  It took me close to 4 hours to learn it.  I don't know why, but I just kept thinking of bad thoughts and things that should be out of my mind.  I prayed a lot and tonight I did a lot better.

Well that's all for tonight!

Flight Plans To Bolivia & Saying Goodbye To Elder Klaich

Well, 1 down and 3 to go!

Elder Klaich took off this morning for Italy.  Last night the four of us, Elders Klaich, Chavey, Smith and Christensen got together and took some pictures.  Then we had a prayer.  It was really neat.  We all knelt down in a circle with arms around shoulders and Elder Smith gave the prayer.  Afterward we all had some "abrazos" (hugs) and that's the last I've seen of Mitch Klaich, for two years anyway.

Due to this late night gathering, I got to bed pretty late.  It was the first time that I missed getting to bed at 10:30 but considering the circumstances I think that it was justified.

We also got our flight plans yesterday.  I wrote home and told Dad and Mom that we were leaving on a Monday.  Two days before Jan gets back from Europe!!  I am not sure what is going to happen.  I know that Mom will want to drive over and see us off.  Dad however may have something going on.  I'll just wait and see.

We are going to have quite a few hours in Miami.  I wonder if I can contact anyone.  It will be my only chance to be a missionary in my own land.  I better make it good!

We sure got a long P-Day in front of us tomorrow.  There are a ton of things to buy to get ready.  I hope I have some time to write letters, but I just don't know.  I hope nobody gets mad if I don't.

"I can't say it enough - my parents are the greatest!!"

Who do I brag about first - Mom or Dad?  Heads, so I'll start with Mom.

They got back from the Wool Growers Convention in Vail where they were both honored.  Mom as the GWGA Auxiliary Past President and Dad as the Guest of Honor.  I just looked back in my journal and realized that I have just written some of these things twice.  I will vouch for Mother's skill in speech-making.  I have never heard her give an unimpressive speech.  And unlike most other people, I think that I judge her harder than anybody else I know.

Some of Dad's accomplishment's are as follows: First Chairman of The Wool and Sheep Board.  The program for the convention which raise $18,000 dollars for the CWG was his brain child.  Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Convention for 7 years.  President of Wool Growers for two years (and later, the Outstanding Man in Agriculture, Mesa County 1998).  Plus this year he was named Wool Grower of the Year.

I know that there are so many other things that he has done that he won't take credit for.

I can't say it enough, my parents are the greatest!!

Well, the Lord does work in mysterious ways.  We had a lesson in Sunday School on teaching with love.  One strong point that really stuck is how we shouldn't aspire to leadership positions.  Well, this fit in pretty well and helped me with my problems in this area.

Then during fast and testimony meeting the thought came up.  That it doesn't really matter where we serve as long as we are the best.  I think I convinced myself that if I wasn't going to get called to a leadership position then there was a reason for it and I would be the best junior companion in the mission, even if it was for two years.  This may sound extreme but I was really feeling that way.  Then after the closing prayer, President Barrett came up to me and asked me if I would serve as an acting District Leader for the new district coming in this Thursday.  Of all the things this was the least expected.  I do know that the call must have been inspired.  I really don't know why I know, it is just that I knew in my heart that the Lord prompted him to do this.

We went to a fourteen stake fireside tonight at the Marriott Center.  I don't think that I have ever seen so many good-looking girls in my life.  To say the least it was pretty hard to concentrate.  Elder Pulman spoke about friends, both living and the kind we find through books.  I sure am glad though that I don't have to go back there until after my mission!!!

Letters From Home & Learning To Not Get Caught Up In Callings

What a day!  I feel like I was out of it the whole time.  I learned about 160 lines but I wouldn't want to bet a dime on my ability to repeat even one phrase.

I got a bunch of letters from home.  Mom and Dad had gone to Wool Growers Convention in Vail.  Dad was the guest of honor.  I had never realized just how influential he has been in his work with the Wool Growers.  Mother told me in her letter some of the accomplishments that he has achieved.  I will write them later but they are impressive.  The fact that impresses me most is the extremely humble manner in which he has conducted himself.  I often wish that he would be just a little boastful just so I can get an idea of what he is doing.

Dad wrote me a letter.  It was neat.  What was most special to me was the praise that he gave to Mother.  She was president of the women's auxiliary of Wool Growers and I guess her speech was equally well-received with Dad's.

There are so many times that I have taken my parents for granted.  They really are so special.

I guess Linda wrote them a neat letter and that redhead even sent me five dollars for my mission fund.  What a gem!  I know that it was a sacrifice with school coming up and all and I hope she knows that I do appreciate it.

Tonight in our Branch meeting, Elder Laycock was called to be second counselor in the Branch and Elder Nelson was called to be our new District Leader.

I have to be honest and say that I was feeling kind of left out.  This was the second calling for both of them and I haven't received any.  However it just made me realize that I am going to develop some real humility and realize who I am really serving.  I am not here to receive recognition of men.  I am here to learn how to serve the Lord.  If I can learn to develop positive thought patterns I really can turn everything into something good.  For instance, I have no callings that will prevent me from fully applying myself to learning the language and charlas.  I know that I can do this and anything if the Lord is willing.

5 Hours In The Provo Temple

Our P-Day got shot in one way and heightened in another.  We were planning to go to the University all after the temple to do some shopping and get haircuts.  However after we came out of the endowment session we were asked if we would do some sealings.  They lasted about two hours.  Then after those we were asked again if we would like to do some ordinations.  Well we couldn't pass this opportunity by either.  All in all we ended up spending over 5 hours there.

Elder George Lee was our speaker at the devotional last night.  He really spoke well.  We got excellent seats.

There is a lot of construction going on around here.  They are putting new water pipes in.  There are some narrow bridges over some trenches and when a whole mess of white-shirted elders are tramping across it, I am reminded rather vividly of herding sheep through a gate or leading them up a shoot.  It is quite a site and I am sure that that is what my Dad would think of if he saw them in that manner.

Speaking of Dad, I think he was honored this weekend as the guest of honor at the Colorado Woolgrowers' Convention.  He is a great leader and when he gets his priorities straightened out I'm sure the Lord could make good use of him.

My sister Jan is in Europe right now.  I hope she has been enjoying it.  She has been waiting for something like this for a long time.

Well I only have 4 more outside of class concepts to pass off.  This should put me in good shape to get all 8.

I wrote a cool down letter to Linda today.  I hope she doesn't take it the wrong way.  That wouldn't do too good.

Well it is about time to go get some grub.  6 weeks tomorrow - I just can't believe it.

Enjoying An Evening Outside With Elder Laycock

Elder Klaich just gave me this in the dinner line.  He only has one more week before he takes off.  He has always been a good friend and I know that he will be a super missionary in Milano.

This Sunday like always has really been uplifting.  I don't know what I am going to do when I get out into the field.

I got to talk to Elder Laycock last night.  We took a break and went outside.  Our teacher decided that since there were only 15 minutes left we would finish up outside.

The weather especially at that time of night was grand.  Just the kind of peaceful warm summer night that you might dream about.  Elder Laycock and I talked about families, esepcially our parents.  It was special.

"If it's going to be, it's up to me."

Three more concepts today.  One more than my goal for the week.  I have accomplished all my goals except two.  Those goals are: Finish The Book of Mormon and finish reading five chapters in Jesus The Christ.  I have tomorrow morning and I think that I will be able to get them done.

It was really neat how the Lord blessed me today.  I had the "thought" for the morning.  We are supposed to give them in Spanish.  However hardly anybody has given them in Spanish.  I almost decided to go along and give mine in English too.  I then thought of the words "If it's going to be, it's up to me."  I spent the morning translating my thoughts into Spanish while I could have been studying the scriptures (for myself) or getting a head start on the first concept like a lot of us try to do.

It was interesting because after I gave my thought I sat down and I was the first one done with my concept!!  Later, Elder Casey was joking that he was mad because I got a headstart like he did!!  He had memorized half the concept before class.  Before I even got around to opening the discussion book.  I know the key to my fast learning was the fact that while he was memorizing before class (for himself) I was translating a thought (for others) and the Lord blessed me accordingly.  I hope that htis will be something that I can keep in my mind while out in the field.

Relating To The Sisters In The MTC District

I don't have time to write very much.

I passed off 3 concepts today.  C-3, H-5 & 6.  As a result, I still am re-passing and I have two long ones in H to do before I am finished.  It is 10:07 pm.

Hermana Hartman's grandmother died today and I didn't find out about it until after I had been kidding around with her.  Needless to say I felt pretty dumb.

A neat thing was tonight I talked to her a little bit and I found out that both of her parents were inactive.  So we shared a few scriptures that dealt with the subject of inactivity.  I really enjoyed it.  It is seldom that I get a good chance to talk with the two sisters in our district because we are always working.

Well here I am rambling on while those ever valuable minutes keep ticking away.  Goodnight.

Love & The Real Honest To Goodness Cookie Monster

I got a letter from Linda today.  It was a pretty good one.  I am getting a little worried about her though.  It seems to me as though she is getting it cemented into her head and that I am the only one for her.  I am afraid that I will have to write her a letter to try and shift her to a slower speed.  It is scary dealing with a young lady's state of mind.  Especially in these circumstances.  I hope she will take what I have to say and not read in between the lines and think that some horrible change is coming over me.  I really do love that redhead with the gap in her teeth!

Tonight in our branch meeting during the prelude music I felt really close to our Heavenly Father.  There is a certain elder in our branch who has composed some beautiful music.  I really had to struggle to hold back tears.  I don't consider myself a crybaby in the least sense of the word but here at the MTC with the spirit that is here it is just impossible not to find yourself crying now and then.

The kind of love that I felt from my Heavenly Father tonight was very special.  It wasn't the excited joyful feeling that you receive after working with all your might, doing what's right and succeeding.  The love I felt tonight was the love of charity like the kind a boy feels from his father even after he has been slothful or done something wrong.  I could say that it was love that accompanies our Heavenly Father's forgiveness.  Even when we don't deserve it.

I know that the Lord loves us because I have felt that love.  I think that I might even have a minuscule amount of it.  At least at times, like when I think of telling my family goodbye, or looking at the elders in my district in the temple and wanting to hug the lot of them.

On a lighter note, it is really amazing to me to watch Elder Brown when I offer him one of my cookies.  His face really lights up.  He reminds me of a little kid at Christmas.  I told him that and he even agreed with me.  I think that I have found the real honest to goodness cookie monster!

"I would love the opportunity to read for two or three hours a day."

Tuesday night and as usual we had a great devotional.  One advantage of being called to a foreign mission is that we get to listen to twice as many devotionals and other uplifting developing meetings as the other missionaries that are going on English-speaking missions.

Well, I just learned all of C-1 today.  125 continuous lines!!  I haven't passed it off yet, but I feel as though I have it pretty good.

The time is flying by.  I just can't find the time to re-pass as many concepts as I would like to.  Plus there is so much more that I would like to do in one day: reading is a big one.  I would love the opportunity to read for two or three hours a day.  The scriptures, books on religion like Jesus The Christ - it is a great book.

The temple is tomorrow, wow!

The Foot Race Talk: "A Proud Grandson"

I am truly on a spiritual high today.  My day didn't start out in a very promising way.  Our door was "pennyed" so that we couldn't get out.  We also didn't wake up until 6:45 which was real late.  However those were perhaps the only things that went wrong with my day.

I gave my talk on the importance of journals.  For perhaps the first time in my life I have prayed for inspiration on a talk and then exercised the faith to receive it.  I had an entry to read out of my journal (my foot race).  I thought that it would be of some inspiration to someone.  However I didn't quite know how to read it without feeling as though I was bragging.

We came to the meeting and just before we walked into the room I received the inspiration on how to do it.  I treated my journal as if it had been my Grandfather's.  I pretended that I found it, then I read the part as though I was a proud grandson reading about his Grandfather's mission experiences.  I felt the spirit with me when I read it so I read with confidence and emotion.  I think it was well received.  I got a lot of compliments from the elders in my district on the talk.  I felt totally unworthy of the praise because I know that Heavenly Father provided the inspiration for the talk and the spirit was there while I was giving it.  There is no way that it could have gone wrong.

In our culture class I learned a great deal.  Our instructor Elder Reed Harris talked to us on the importance of having charity for the people in Bolivia.  I came out of class with a new feeling towards that word.  The spirit again was in that class and it taught me a great deal.  I felt so good.  We then went to family home evening.  I felt the spirit there again and very strongly.  All the contributions of them members of my district fell upon my heart.

I was finding (with directions by the spirit) things in both The Book of Mormon and New Testament that worked right into the lesson.  Tonight I felt love for my district, true love.  I wanted to hug the sisters like I could the elders but just had to settle for a good handshake.

To top off the night, Elder Brown and I had a real good companionship inventory.  We talked more freely than ever before.  It is now 10:30 and time for bed.  I wish I could write more but it is a rule.  I can't wait to pray!

Red Like An Apple

Boy, I sure had an interesting experience with Hermana Hurtado.  I had the task of passing off H-3 to her.  H-3 is the Law of Chastity.  After I had started out, I looked at her and she had her head down and was laughing.  I finally figured out what was so funny.  The subject material isn't the most easily discussed topic in the world!  By the time I got through a couple of the "you can't do this" and "you shouldn't do thats", my face was rojo como una manzana (red like an apple).  I guess we were both embarrassed and it was bad because some of the phrases didn't come out right and I would have to do them over again.  Finally she just told me that she knew that I knew the concept.  She decided to spare both of us from more agony and passed me.

We just had an incredible downpour.  The lightning was really breathtaking.  The thunder also was about as loud as I have ever heard.

I have a talk in priesthood tomorrow and it is late so I better hit the hay.