Champions trample lettuce-eating people? What is this about? What are they teaching him in the MTC anyway? Something about T-Rex hands as punishment.
Last week’s post arrived while we were on the Church History Tour, so it didn’t get posted until today. This one came after we were back, but trying to catch up on stuff. So it’s just getting posted as well. Still, great stuff!!
Once again, I feel I was just sitting writing an email home. The weeks are cruising by, but strangely enough the days are crazy long. Even though I'm getting eight hours of sleep every night, which is like twice as much as before my mission, I feel tired all the time. It's kind of nice, though, because every time I don't feel tired I know it's because I'm feeling the spirit. It's a good gauge there. Plus it helps me strive to have the spirit with me more.
Alright, let's start with the personalized stuff. Mom, Dad, and Michael, I understand you've been on the church history tour. I'm really glad to hear that everyone is doing well and had a good experience. That really is an awesome opportunity. And it's that much better because you were all able to meet up with Julie and Dave. How fun! Emily and Dave, I appreciate your letters and the work you're doing on that Spanish stuff for me. I'm genuinely excited for it, because I feel like there's some things I don't know how to fix in my Spanish. Lindsay, your life is boring. Just kidding! I'm glad Mike got a new job, and I hope school is going well for him. From what I remember you telling me, you've been really lazy lately, though (or as you've been calling it, "pregnant"). Just know that Mike needs his sandwiches, and there's no one else to make them for him! That goes for all you sisters of mine :). Stacey, I'm getting lazy but also really close, so here we go. Champions trample lettuce-eating people. I know, not quite as nice as normal, but still. Also I'm jealous that you're taking Steven to all these crazy places (so where is this really cool place?), and I expect the same treatment when I get home. Julie, I'm also sad to hear you're lazy, but just keep... living? I guess there's not really much to do about it for the next few months. Except name him after me. (Not your husband, of course. There's a difference)
Hopefully that'll satisfy you for now. I'm doing well, and have a couple quick things to share. First, Elder Dewey is now in the field. You may have known that, but still, it's all fun. I was able to teach him and be taught by him many times while he was here, so it's awesome. I don't see Elder Rasmussen nearly as much, but I believe he's well. Elder Duzzett comes in tomorrow, which I'm way excited for. I think I've only met one other missionary going to my mission in the whole time I've been here. Also, I talked to the travel office and they said I should have no problems getting my visa because El Salvador is really good like that, which I'm excited about, because basically all missionaries going to Mexico have been super delayed. We have one in our zone (who's finally leaving tomorrow) who has been here for over 16 weeks! That's a sixth of his mission!
Now a couple quick stories. I have been feeling kind of sick the last few days, so last night I asked for a blessing from Elder Millett and Elder Millard. In the blessing, Elder Millett blessed me to get better, but used very strange words for it. After, he said that it was really weird and that he felt kind of stupid for saying what he did, but the words he said were exactly perfect for me. It ended up being exactly what I needed. I am still kind of sick, but my attitude is a little better and my mind is much clearer. I know now that the reason I felt I should get a blessing had nothing to do with my body. Just a great testimony to me of the priesthood and how much the Lord knows what I need.
The temple was open today, finally, so I got to go through a session. So great! It was awesome to be in that kind of situation with the other Elders in my district and zone. There was such a great spirit, and I learned a ton of things I didn't know before. I can't wait to go in El Salvador and do a Spanish endowment.
The church is awesome. I'm sure I've said that many times, but it is. Also just as important, it's true.
My old roommate, Grant, wrote me a letter and mentioned something I'd never thought about. We all know that the Savior died for us, and took upon Himself our sins, sicknesses, weaknesses, etc. What many of us forget, though, is that He lived for us as well. He lived a perfect life so that He could perform a perfect atonement. He gave up, for His entire life, every little tiny sin that we sometimes take comfort in. He gave those up for us. Along those same kind of lines, Brother Gubler, one of the Branch councilors, told me that the Savior, in the Garden of Gatsemani (sorry, I can't spell that in English any more), basically went through and lived every one of our lives with us. He had to do this, or He would not be able to understand the little details of our sins and afflictions and weaknesses and therefore would not have been able to comfort us nor take upon Himself the results of those things. He literally undid the fall, and He did it for each and every one of us, one at a time. That's so incredible.
Again, I'm down to a few last minutes, so let's see what I can come up with. We're teaching a few progressive investigators here, which is an awesome experience. Basically a teacher will act like an investigator (very convincingly) every time you see them, and we just walk them through the lessons as if they were an actual investigator. It's rough, but really cool. Also, we've gotten to the point where we can only speak Spanish. If we exceed 30 words in English throughout the day, we have to walk around for four hours like a T-Rex, with our hands up by our chest. And I'm pretty sure we're doing that until we leave. Crazy.
Just a quick thought: The church is true. There. That was it. That's the only thing important here.
I love you all! Keep in touch, of course. I love getting your letters!
Elder E. David Arrington
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