"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.