The final countdown.....

Dear friends and family,

We got our travel plans!!!  I am finally getting out of here.  We leave the morning of the 7th and have to report at the travel office at 5:00 am.  We are so excited and are partying tonight.  We finished all the grammar as of this week and so the rest of the time here we are just practicing and learning words trying to get ready for the field.  We teach 3-5 lessons a day and are juggling 5 investigators at the same time.  Life here in the MTC is pretty crazy, you eat 3 big meals a day and for the rest of the 13 hours you spend learning or teaching.  It’s amazing all the stuff we are learning and at the speed we are learning it. And the weight we are all gaining....

Last week we got to host and I was one of the three missionaries with a walkie-talkie, that's right, I used technology.  "I love technology, but not as much as you, you see, always and forever...." you have no idea how many times I heard that line... or said it.  I go to direct traffic in this big neon green jacket and I bet you guys can just picture how fun that was.  I have some mean dancing skills.  We get to host again this week and this week I get to actually be able to usher people around and show them what’s up.  I’m very excited for that, especially because no one has told me if Landen got his visa or not so I might be able to host him.

I did sealings again last week which are always a good thing.  And we played soccer like every day for gym, which is always a plus because it gets me out and moving around.  But it is starting to get super duper cold this week, like freezing cold, but I leave soon so whatever!

The days here just still seem to be all the same.  So I don’t feel like I have a whole lot to say.  With our investigators, we set 2 more baptismal dates with the two new ones and baptize one tomorrow.  By the end of the MTC we will have completely finished teaching 4 “Investigators”.  My companion and I are doing awesome.  They have even started using us to counsel some of the newer missionaries on how to get over problems with your companion and just loving them.  I was talking to one guy specifically and I felt impressed to say a few things and he and his companion have been inseparable ever since.  “For the Holy Ghost will carry your message to the hearts of men” is definitly not a joke.

Oh, one really cool thing that happened is that this week we have been working on how to teach people, not lessons, which basically means we listen for the people’s needs and teach according to the promptings of the Spirit.  Well in TRC this week we taught one of the teachers here, which my first impression was... great, a teacher who is just going to see how bad our teaching in Spanish is.  But we taught a very good lesson on receiving revelation through prayer, and the Spirit prompted us to talk about going to the temple and praying in the celestial room with his wife when making big decisions.  I said something like “I know it’s hard for newly married couples to make all the biggest decisions in life and to know they are making the right decision according to what the lord wants” or something like that, which I really have no idea about, and challenged him to go to the temple with his wife more.  Afterwards we got the ``Feedback`` letter, and it was 2 pages long, he said that it was exactly what he needed to hear and thanked us for listening to the spirit. He made a commitment to make an appointment to go to the temple this week with his wife, and was going to spend 2 hours out or around the temple every week from now on.  He said it was an amazing lesson.

Well that’s pretty much my week.  Thanks for all of the letters.

Love you,

Elder Stewart

Dari - I actually never realized that our mail box is 249. I told everyone in our district and they were like, ”Oh yeah, that’s totally sweet!”  We never realized it because we only sing out of the Spanish hymnbook now.  We looked up 249 in the Spanish Hymnbook and the song is not as nearly as cool.  Glad things are doing well, 100 patients that’s Chalado!  Did they find someone to ``Try`` to replace me yet?  I wouldn’t know because Steve doesn’t right me.  How are Jamie and Ryan?  Oh and I guess John to.  Stay awesome rock star.

Abby - Haha I can already tell before I open your letter that it’s going to say "Sorry I haven't been so good at writing this week, but I’ll be better next week."  It’s funny, but awesome.  Thanks for writing me this week.  Congrats on your part and I know you’ll be able to play a real good crazy evil lady, haha jk. Keep up the good work on your calling and remember that the Lord doesn’t call anyone to work they can’t handle.  Keep it up.  I don’t know if we do anything for Halloween this week, but I’ll let you know when that time comes.

Jared - Como le va? Jeffe.  I’m pretty sure they got the word "Jeffe" from the English word "Jared" but I could be wrong.  Thanks for the letter this week, I laughed when I read that you weren’t prepared for the talk in primary.  It seems like Abby is rubbing off on you. JK.  Dad always has had the best jokes, I feel like I would have beat him to that one though. haha.  Love you Su fletcha de Luz hermano.

Grandma Stewart - Hey the cookies arrived in good shape be it doesn't really matter either way because we eat them anyway.  And they still taste oh so good.  Thanks for the letter this week.  I really have been working on that charity thing to have the pure love of Christ.  But I’ll get there.  It’s great to hear that Grandpa is doing a little better and is gaining some strength back.  Hopefully my prayers are helping…haha.  Thanks for the Jesus scripture and quote, it’s now in "The Book of Stewart".  Just wanted to say since I can’t call you and sing, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, you look like a monkey....... ANNNNDDDD you smell like one to.  Love you Grandma and Grandpa so much.

Grandma Jill - Wow is everyone ok? It sounds like you have had a few scares going on back there.  I hope everything is alright. Tell Grandpa and Grandma I love them for me.  That kind of thing is very scary.  Ah and I bet it’s just because Catlin can’t handle the awesomeness of living in California.  I would have thought she could have but you know how it is.  How are she and her new bf?  Has it changed in the last 2 weeks?  I leave so soon and I’m so excited to get out of here and hit up New Mexico in 2 weeks.  Sorry I don’t have a whole lot to say this week.  Love ya!