Merry Christmas from the MTC

Hermano Hadley (teacher) and Eric





Hermana Allen (teacher)





The view out of the classroom window. You can see Mount Timpanogos, one of the mountains we climbed to the very top of a few years ago, in order to help Eric fulfill a requirement for his Boy Scout Hiking merit badge.





Study Area. You can see Eric's reflection across the room, taking the picture.

Elder Taylor and Eric

Hey everyone, first I want to say: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today I will be trying to write everyone a personal hand-written letter, although they won't be very long. Today is our P-Day unfortunately, so instead of having plenty of prep time and letter time, we have lots of firesides and other things which have been great so far, but it means we won't have much time to write, so sorry that my letters will be hurried and short, and I hope I will even make sense.

Because we started out the day having devotionals and doing laundry, I haven't even had a chance to open my Christmas presents yet. So I won't be able to thank everyone for the gifts and talk about them much until next week, but I do thank you in advance, because they all look great wrapped up!

Hermano Hadley and Hermana Allen have left for their personal Christmas plans and won't be back with us until I think January 1. So we have been having substitutes. One of our subs was Hermano Burkholz, who is also teaching another district, but nevertheless is the most enthusiastic teacher I've had yet. He has lots of energy and does not like to spend time telling stories like Hadley does. For about two days, we had a sub who was the same guy on those 3 short mission prep videos and he's also in the Preach My Gospel videos, so he's kind of a celebrity, you could say. He's gone now, though, and I'm not sure who the next sub will be. I really enjoy this constant teacher swap, though. I think it's helping me learn really well, hearing things from different perspectives, plus the whole "new teacher" thing helps keep me listening.

We got our TRAVEL PLANS! It was like the most exciting day in the MTC! We're flying through Delta, though, which is kind of bad because Delta is the airline that has the most strict and most expensive regulations as far as number and weight of bags. So far I will have to pay $50. to bring my third suitcase, even though it's not very big. These restrictions will be tough to follow, but I'm sure it will all work out. There are nine of us going together. I'll have more details for you as it gets closer.

Today during our morning devotional we heard from L. Tom Perry about the ministry of Christ, it was great, and later tonight we believe that the Prophet will come and speak to us around 7:00!!!!!!!! This means, we'll have to start lining up very early to get a good seat.

Christmas has been great. Last night we had a couple of cool firesides and great activities, and then afterwards we took a walk around to see the lights, and it was fun. Tonight we'll probably do the same. I'll take pictures of it for you.

Also, thank you for all of your suggestions about Spanish. I have been figuring out how to teach in Spanish (or at least a little more so, anyway.) This week the TRC went much better because instead of focusing on the language, I focused on the spirit and the lesson, and as a result, I spoke perfectly and without any long (well, super long, ha ha) pauses! I know I made some errors, but I still did 1,000 times better than last time!!! So don't build sentences, just follow along with what your comps are saying and then when it's your turn, just speak and it'll come. I learn so much here, not just the language, but about the spirit, gospel, etc. I am really glad I got to stay here longer than the stateside missionaries who only stay here 3 weeks. I just know that I would not have been ready in 3 weeks. I feel much more ready now, as I've learned and had many spiritual experiences here, although as far as the language goes, I don't think I'll ever feel fully ready. I guess that's what senior companions are for, though.

We spend very little time here on the actual language, believe it or not. Nevertheless, it's the best way to do it. At the beginning, for MDT, we're supposed to do one hour of : language study, companion study, personal study. I would often sacrifice a little personal and comp study for more language study, but have since realized that the days I spend more time on the language, I somehow learn less. Obedience here is really important, because it's often the small things that help you the most.

I'd love to hear how everyone's Christmas at home went, and I hope you all had a great family time!!! I can't wait to open my presents later tonight, or if I finish my letters early enough, maybe I can open them before the evening fireside!!! I hope you got the package I sent home with some of the things I don't need to take to Argentina, and also all of the gifts I have for the family in there!!!! (Mom's note: So far we have not received his package, but mail delivery can get behind during the Christmas season. Now we have something else to look forward to!)

The next P-Day here will be my last, so Argentina is coming quickly. I am very excited.

There's going to be a talent show in a few hours here, which should be fun, and really, anything new and out of the ordinary here is fun. I love you all and hope you are having a great Christmas!

Love,
Eric


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