Yes, I am still alive. I'm so sorry about last P-day, it was really crazy. Long story short is I was stuck with an Elder all day who hogged the computer to email HIS girlfriend for 3 hours, so I wasn't able to email for more than like 15 minutes. I knew that 15 minutes wasn't nearly enough time to tell you all that I had wanted to, and I had thought that I would get another chance to email that day, so I was only able to do quick little emails to the people lower on my list so I could focus on your letter later. Unfortunately when we got back from the temple and were gonna do our emailing then, the wifi across the whole MTC was down so no one could email. I was very upset to say the least. They eventually got it back up and running but there was a devotional that night so by the time it was finished it was time for bed and all of the computer labs were closed. And thus, my first P-day was ruined :/ but it's P-day now and I get to email you now so everything is all good! I started writing a letter to you guys as soon as I figured out that I wouldn't be able to email, but we have so little time that I didn't actually finish it until Saturday. It would've probably been sooner but I didn't remember Hannah's exact address so I was just going to send them together (thanks for those addresses by the way, Mom) and it was about 10 pages total. So I took them to the box to drop them off and I had missed the last Saturday pick-up and they don't do mail on Sunday obviously so hopefully they were able to get it to you either yesterday or today! Hopefully the letter and this aren't too similar.
In my letter I kinda went through the basic schedule for my days here, so I won't go to deeply into to that subject, but I'll just say that they definitely keep us busy ALL DAY here. I actually love it, it's good for me to be doing something with my life. From 6:30am to 9:30pm we have places so be and things to be doing, with our only "free time" being 30 minute meals and from 9:30 to 10:15 at night where we can kinda just hang out in our residences. But I still love it, the spirit here is so strong. We have a devotional every sunday and tuesday night at 7 and they are always way cool. Last sunday the son of Elder Holland came. He is the president of UVU and gave an incredible talk on the history behind the Smith family. Their life was terrible and it's a miracle that Joseph even lived to do all the things he did. Then last tuesday Elder Anderson came which was awesome. Sunday a mission president from Ghana came and today I've heard rumors it's ELDER HOLLAND!!! maybe. Hopefully. No matter what though it will be awesome.
Thai is coming really well and me and my companion have already taught 6 lessons completely in Thai to a guy named Phii Cee (pronounced like PJ). He was just a stand in cuz they don't trust us to teach real people cuz we'll "ruin their salvation" or something like that but it's still been an awesome experience. I've definitely gained a testimony that its not us doing the teaching, its the Holy Ghost that does it all. There's no way what we were saying sounded anything like it was supposed to, but he still understood what we were trying to say and it was way cool. We committed him to baptism which was a neat experience. I can't wait until I'll be doing that for real! He became our teacher which was a huge shock, but he's really cool and has great stories about his mission and the Thai people. The longer I stay here, the more I want to just get to Thailand and just get to work for those people! And also eat real food. That will be nice too.
And now for the pictures.... (drum roll please)
This is my district! What a swell bunch of fellas. From left to right it goes Elder Fjeldsted (my companion), Elder Brown and Elder Kekauoha, Elder Decker and Elder Holland, and Elder Brinkerhoff and Elder Turley. It's seriously a party every day with these guys. It's so much fun at night.
This was our most recent temple walk on Sunday. It's so cool to see the temple so close to where I am. The temple is so pretty and has the prettiest backdrop of mountains I've ever seen.
Us at the temple...
I laid down on the ground next to the temple and I think I absorbed some of its godliness... (that's the real picture, we don't have photoshop believe it or not)
This is what our classroom looks like...
Our very crowded cafeteria...
Our very crowded laundry room...
Our very crowded devotional hall...
A vandalized map...
And I found Keaton! He left for Milan, Italy this morning. How crazy is that?!? Stuff like that makes me really excited to get out of here.
So that's basically my life here at the MTC. Pretty dang exciting, eh? Oh, and speaking of Nacho Libre, yesterday I found out that one of the kids here is in the same stake as the director of both Nacho Libre and Napoleon Dynamite. Which means he's mormon. Which means they're church movies. Which means you can watch them on Sunday! You're welcome, children. And happy freaking birthday tomorrow, Amelia!! 9 years old, holy cow. I'll have to send you some scripture markers or something from the store here. There's not a whole lot other than missionary stuff... Anyways, Yellowstone looked so fun! Be sure to tell me all about what you guys do, ok? And I don't have a whole lot of email time out here, but if the kids want they can email me individually and I'll send them a little something. How's football going, Hayden? And when does lacrosse start, Seth? Let me know the crazy stuff that happens out there in the "real world". I know that this is where I need to be and I wouldn't rather be anywhere else!! (no offense) See ya guys in 102 weeks!!
Love,
Elder Wilcox
