Flying Away

Email Dated 12-05-07
It's official, I'm getting out of this place. I leave on Monday at 1:00 from the SLC Airport. I couldn't be happier about it. I wont arrive in Uruguay until noon the next day, so I'll have some good flight time to cram some more Spanish in, read scriptures, and sleep if possible. I'm not looking forward to sitting with Elders McClellan and Tyler the whole flight. They're the only other 2 going to Uruguay with me. They bicker like a near-divorce married couple I swear. They drive me crazy! And they will no doubt want me to sit in the middle. I just want to enjoy my flight peacefully. We shall see.

Good News!!! It's on like Donkey Kong. Elder Forrest Bodily and myself will be playing in the MTC Fireside this Sunday at 7:00 PM for the entire MTC. What began as a joke is now the musical feature of the evening. I taught him how to play the recorder he brought. He brought it as a joke, he's had it since the 4th grade. He's a really funny kid like that. I taught him what the notes were and during some P-Days even wrote out hymns on note paper for him so he could learn how to play more. We'll be playing "If You Could Hie To Kolob", my arrangement, and if you ask me, it sounds really good. I'm very excited for it. I hope he doesn't get nervous. The Recorder might be hard to play in front of thousands of people. Especially if they start laughing. That's my worst nightmare. If they start laughing we will too. It's hard enough for us to keep a straight face, at least it was in the beginning. I'm gonna see if I can get a tape of it sent home to y'all for Christmas. It's legit.

I'm very excited for you to receive my pictures. I have some very good ones that I know you will enjoy. I don't want to spoil it so just be patient and wait.

I'm happy to report that my Spanish is a lot better! My teacher, Hermano LeSeuer, whom I love very much, told me that my Spanish is definitely in the 90th percentile of missionaries he's seen leave. So that made me feel good. And furthermore I've been doing the Referral Center calls in Spanish. I have more referrals in Spanish than English. I've held full 20 minute conversations in Spanish. The key for me was to ignore the computer prompts and just listen to them and say what I know how to say. I really enjoy speaking Spanish. It's fun. I have a LONG way to go before I would claim to be fluent, but I'm excited to report that I'm very near being bilingual...I think.

I'm so excited to leave it's hard to know what else to say. I just want to say that I'm not as prideful as I sound in these emails. I hope you can read my sarcasm sometimes. If you really know me well enough then you will know exactly how my voice would sound saying all that I say. So let that be a test of how much you love me.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ so very much! I'm ecstatic for the opportunity I have to share the gospel in another language and in another country. I'm so very fortunate for all I've had in my life. We're a blessed family. I know that you're being blessed this Christmas season and will be blessed by the missionary service that comes from our family. I'm so grateful for family. More than anything, I miss family, especially at this Christmas season. You'll be able to tell when You see my Charlie Brown Christmas tree I put up in my room. I love you all so much. I am out of time. Take care!

Adios!!
Andy