Week Eighty Three - Grateful!

Tom with his Lord of the Rings spider!!

Hello again, one more time, minha familia linda!

       My week was good. We weren´t able to get a baptism this week, unfortunately, but this next week I think we´ll have at least one. Hrmm.... yeah, that´s about it this week.... Sacrament meeting was very roudy this week, lots of kids running in and out, but there´s one guy here, he´s our neighbor, Marciclei, he´s albino but nossa! he speaks well. He´s the first couselor of the stake presidency here. I don´t remember much of what he said but what I felt while he spoke was bacana demais. Our recent convert, Carla is doing well. She feels like many changes are happening in her life rifght now, that many temptations have come but she feels happier for being a member of the church now. The last week of the transfer begins tonight, 6 o´clock. We´ll see how it goes. Oh! we taught a woman about the restoration of the gospel of Christ. Nossa! she understood everything! Egua do muleque! Why can´t every investigator be like her (many make really wrong interpretations of what we say, to put it politely). Her two daugthers have already been to church several times in another ward because their grandmother is a member, so we´re going to see what we can do to baptize them this week. But anyways, I´m enjoying my time here. I´m grateful for everything that has happened during this transfer. I feel like I´ve grown more here than in all my other areas combined. It´s going good.

Q&A

1. Do you ever use that ipod Shuffle I sent you?  Or do you just still listen to music on your phone? Yes I use my ipod shuffle. I love listening to josh groban! Egua! bom demais ele é! And sometimes I listen to music on the phone.

2. Were you able to get your stuff mailed home last p-day? My zone leader took the box to the mail.... place.... what? I forgot what it´s called, but he should send it home for me today. I think you´ll love it. But i recieved word right now that it can´t be sent today, there is a problem at the post office, that´s what it´s called!.... right?

3. Any ideas about what classes you want to take when you get home?  If you want to go back out to SLCC when you get home, I need you to be thinking about classes you might want to take because I will need to sign you up for them before you get home. Math, again, art again, maybe history, sociology, again.... spanish....

4. Any packages or letters this past week?  If so, from who? nope nada!

5. Is there anything you need me to try to send you? nope nada!

Pic! Just one rapidinho! It´s me and my creation, the spider from lord of the rings.... AGOOOOOOOORRRRAAA!

I gots to go, but I love you all and miss you have a great week sorry for the grammar errors. English can sai fora! Tchau!!!

Love Elder R. Willilams

Week Eight - I'm Homesick!

David and one of his first 'investigators'!

Hola Familia!

it's soo good to hear from you!  I feel so bad for Toby!  The 4th was surprisingly dead here, we did not come across a single party.  Most people I think go to Dallas or Arlington or something to watch big shows.  So we didn't do anything that night, just ride around, get a few contacts, it was really slow.  But I did here a few fireworks and every time I did I cringed for Toby!  But he'll survive.  Sounds like all is well and I miss you like crazy!  I'm glad to hear that you are all doing stuff and staying busy, cuz i'm sure it is quite boring at home now without me!  just kidding, un chiste!   Rain sounds nice right about now.  Sounds like some crazy weather!  it's just solid sun and heat here. 

This week was slightly easier, estoy mas acostumbrado a la obra ahora, pero solo un poco mas.  It's still hard, but my butt is now used to the bike seat, which was probably the hardest part about the first week haha.  My legs are still sore but I am more used to that as well as the heat and sweating.  I'd say we bike 20-30 miles a day.  My companion has an odometer thingy on his bike and the average he says is a little over 20 a day.  But the last two days I know have been more than that.   

The language barrier is killing me!  I can't be myself in Spanish.  I feel like I am just a robot elder that can only ask how are you, where are you from, and bear a short simple testimony.  Alright I can do a little more than that, but it is still hard to understand.  I do a lot of fake laughing, nodding my head, and saying "si" when people are talking to me.  I guess it's kinda one of those fake it 'til you make it kind of deals.  But I feel like I am not speaking enough Spanish.  it is too easy to speak English here!  Too many non Hispanics, and even the Hispanics speak English, and sometimes even prefer English!  But I need need need more Spanish if I am going to fulfill my purpose here.  So I want some general conference talks in Spanish, or the book of Mormon on tape in Spanish, just something that I could listen to to tune my hearing.  You should talk to Nancy and see what she did for Drew.  Drew said he did something like that that helped him a lot.  Or just talk to Drew directly.    Once I can be myself in Spanish and English, I think this work will really take off for me. 

So this week we just did a lot of biking.  A lot.  GP is pretty flat, but there are hills.  And every hill is a big hill when your on a bike.  We stayed busy.  There is couple that has been meeting with the missionaries for years, and the only thing holding them back from being baptized is marriage.  So this week we went to the Dallas Temple with them to go on a tour and inspire them to get married.  The temple is about a half hour drive.   It worked better than expected.  We had a short lesson in the waiting room in the temple.  Man that is like a golden ticket right there! The spirit is so strong in the temple, especially for someone that is not a member.  I wish we could do that with all our investigators.  It would seal the deal every time!  So we did get a commitment from them to get married and baptized.  It wasn't very solid, but I could tell they were in deep thought about it all and a temple marriage is something they want.  So we will see! 

We had a zone meeting on Tuesday where I got to see Elder Powell and Adams and a few others from the mtc.  I felt like I hadn't seen them in months!  It was awesome to see them and hear about their areas.  I'm the only one on a bike, but Elder Powell sounds like he's got it pretty rough right now.  He is in a really dead area with a not very motivated companion.  Makes me grateful to be where I am! 

So my first Sunday here we were told we were going to be speaking in sacrament meeting, in Spanish.  But the other speakers ended up taking all the time, so we got out of that one.  Phew.  But this week we got asked to teach eq, in Spanish.  Didn't get out of that one.  That was rough, but Elder Sheffer helped me out a lot. 

We spend a ton of our time in a certain apartment complex.  Densely Hispanic with lots of kids.  The kids always ask to see my muscles and want to arm wrestle me.  It is difficult to explain to them humility.  But they like me and I like them.  Sorry if I said that last week, I can't remember.  We eat with a member 4-5 times a week.  The other times we either eat at home or go to subway, bc Elder Sheffer loves subway.  No rio here, and I haven't had any good bbq yet.  Just Mexican.  We could use gift cards I guess, I just don't know what restaurants.  There are tons of fast food places here, but idk what restaurants there are at the moment.  So ask me about restaurants next time!

We do laundry at our apartment complex laundry room.  It's like 2 bucks per load to wash and dry.  It's not bad.  The Hermanas in our area have to put all their stuff in a shopping kart and walk down the street a ways to a laundromat. haha!   

Oh, a giant shower cap is a fitted sheet, you guessed it! 

Congrats Ryan!  I'm happy for you!

That's the only pic I can send today.  Sorry, I've been trying but it is just really slow.   I don't have a lot of pics from here in Texas.  My companion isn't much of a picture guy.  The only time he takes pictures is at baptisms, which is loco right?!  But I feel bad asking him to take pictures and slowing us down for pictures, so I don't take much.  But, i'm in Grand Prairie, Texas.  There isn't much to take pictures of any way. 

Andy Feller emailed me, I told him to text you his email address so he could be added to the forward list.  fyi.

Also, if possible, I would like you to try to get Zach Harwood's email for me.  My roommate.  Just ask him if he would like to be added to the forward list and let him know I would love to hear from him!   You could get his number through my phone or just do it through facebook.  I would really appreciate that!  

Sorry, I am asking for a lot.  I'll try to cut back on my requests.

But hey!  I love and miss you all more than you will ever know and more than I ever thought I would.  I love you with all my heart, but I've never been one to get homesick.  I'm homesick.  But the only relief to that is hard work under the blazing sun, and that's what I do every day!  Stay safe and follow Christ's example in all you do.  Adios!

Elder Williams

Week Eighty Two - Speaking About Independence Day!

Tom and Elder Robertson with Guarana Jesus pop cans.

Tom and Elder Robertson at the English school.

Tom and sister Viera dos Santos in front of a cool restaurant.

Tom in front of Alter do chão - under water.

Tom using the papagaio (parrot) phone to call us.

The zone at irmão Romberto´s place in Alter do Chão.

Carla´s baptism.

Hello My Family!

       Well my week was good. I liked this week a lot... but it was also a little difficult.... but the difficult part has to do with the story that I will share when I return home. But the good things. Baptism! WOOHOO! Carla was baptized Saturday, confirmed (almost wasn´t) Sunday. Friday night, Elder Robertson and I went to a school where they just learn other languages (a member which speaks English very well took us there) to talk to a bunch of Brazilians about the 4th of July in English. Nossa! The 4th of July has very little to it, doesn´t it? Hot dogs, fireworks.... sittin in a park... maybe some popcorn.... maybe everyone watches independence day... I don´t know. It was difficult to say much more than that.... but it was cool. We learned this past week that the Santarém zone is still baptizing more than any other zone of the mission. We ended June with 29 baptisms and the next closest was 26 (just some G Agá). That´s about 4 months in a row. ZONA SANTARÉM WOOT WOOT....Mas pois é... my week was good. We looked a lot for new people to teach again. We didn´t do that so much in the week before so we suffered for that a little this week.... but stories are few and short this week.

Q&A

What did you do on your little excursion last Monday?.... I didn´t tell you last week? We went to Alter do Chão, look it up on the net. We had barbecue at a member´s, who lives there.

Any packages or e-mails, yet? nope

Do you know if those two missionaries got the books I sent, yet? nope

Have you seen any protests against the government where you are at? I saw a bus protest, I think. A bunch of people put barriers in the street, but it doesn´t seem like that lasted long.

Did you ever buy any birthday things to send home? I´ve got a pile of things to send home, I just need to prepare it in a box, which I´m too lazy to do on p-day and I don´t have time to do it on any other day, but I`ll be sure to do it today.

Do you get to play sports much, like volleyball or soccer? I played soccer for about 5 minutes on Monday last week. I think we´ll play ping pong today.... but that´s about it.

Pics

A pic of Carla´s baptism, a pic of the zone at irmão Romberto´s place in Alter do Chão, me in front of the alter do chão, me using the papagaio (parrot) phone to call you, didn´t work... some other pic, I forget which is it, and me and Elder Robertson at the English school. The sign says "independence day, with the presence of 2 north Americans ..."..... EGUA! THAT´S ME! And the e-mail is too big so not all pics will be sent home....

Opa! Errei. I guess the pic of me in front of Alter do chão didn´t get sent home... unfortunately alter do chão is under water right now so you can only see the huts. But hey, when you guys come here, you should try to buy tickets to santarém so that you can see my favorite city of Pará too! A pic of me and sister Viera dos Santos in front of a cool restaurant and.... a pic of me and Elder Robertson with Guarana Jesus pop cans.

Egua, nem disse tchau! I love you all have a great week, stay safe. HOLY SMOKES JOSH IS ALREADY COMING HOME!? Egua do muleque! UNtil next week. Tchau!

Love Elder R. Williams

Week Eighty One - Trip to Alter do Chao!

Hi Family,

I have very little time right now, we have to leave because we´re going to Alter do Chão. look it up on the internet it´s cool demais. My week was good. We had a baptism and I think we´ll have one this next week. I got some cool pics, here´s one. Q&A 1. I heard but don´t know much about it. 2. Just a little bit when someone is watching TV when we enter their house.3. No packages, maybe this next week. 4. Jambo! Jambo is too good. Açai not so much it´s very expensive and few people are buying right now. 4. Yes, I´m fine. The pic is me on a mountain close to our house. Sorry that I can´t say more but we´re all in a rush here, I gots to go! But I love you and miss you all. Have a great week. 

Love Elder R. Williams

Hi family, again!

      The other missionary dupla that I live with decided to use computers again to send e-mail. I guess they weren´t able to write to their families, only to the mish pres so I guess they´re allowing me to write again too. So my week was good, great to tell the truth but a little complicated, especially after today. The thing that happened today is a story for after the mission I think. But this week we did really well. We were able to teach a lot, getting 23 lessons taught in the week, when usually it´s hard to get 20. We were preparing Gabí for baptism. She´s gone to church about 10 times already but she lives with her step mother and her father spends 25 days working in the middle of the forest and so stays home for 5 days. We almost didn´t get authorization to baptize Gabí, only getting it 5 hours before the baptism starts. Gabí is only 9 years old but she understood all the lessons very well, which is unusual because most kids, and even adults here where I´m working, have difficulty explaining what we just ended explaining. But she was baptized, chose me to baptize her. There were a few lessons that we gave during the week that were stressful. People just don´t understand that if Joseph Smith really was a prophet, there is no other place or church or cult or sect on earth that can carry out ordenances of salvation, like baptism. We ended debating 2 times about it this week, and one person already received an answer from God, that Joseph Smith really was a prophet. Nossa! complicado demais! But anyways. At church this week we had 11! i´ll say it again! 11 people visit the church. We had a family of 6, it would be 7 if the mother wasn´t traveling, come and they all liked the church a lot. So we´re going to work hard to get them involved with the church, to feel welcome, and to prepare for baptism. Carla came to church again and brought her younger sister with her. Carla might be baptized this week. Pray so that all goes well, por favor! I would send another pic but I´ve gots to go! Tchau! I love you all have a great week, until next time! 

Love Elder R. Williams

Week Seven - In Grand Prairie, Bike Fiasco and a Giant Shower Cap!

Well, it's only week seven and David has yet to disappoint in the e-mail department!  This is his first e-mail(s) from Dallas and I literally laughed all day about some of the things he told us.  His first e-mail came around 10:30am on Monday morning, which surprised me.  It ended very abruptly, though and so I hurried and e-mailed him back asking for his address.  Then, around 12:30pm, we got another e-mail - the rest of the first one he started.  He sounds overwhelmed, but at the same time, like he is mostly taking it in stride.  He is happy with his companion, the area and the people, so far.  His bike experiences are hilarious and I am just thankful he had his first mis-hap not too far from the bike store....and that they were able to finish putting his bike together correctly for him!  He's a funny kid and it really comes out in his e-mails!

David and Landon Watkins at the Provo Temple.  

This is where David is now - Grand Prairie, Texas, just a little south west of Dallas.

Hey Fam! 

Holy tolito where do I even begin?   My flight was fine, I wrote you a letter the day I got here that should come soon with the picture of me and President Durrant.  My first day was very exciting!  We spent most of the day in that church that you see all the pics of on the Dallas Mission fb page.  We had a little bit of training, got to know President and his wife, and they got to know us a little bit.  President Durrant is awesome.  He is ginormo, but a real softy.  He is funny, he makes up songs, makes us laugh, and knows how to have a good time.  He is also very spiritual and has a funny way with words.  He only has a year left of being a president, and I don't know how often I'll see him or how much of a relationship I will form with him, but I really hope we can form a good one.  Very few missionaries got their companions Monday night and left to their apartments.  So we had about 30 missionaries stay in one apartment that night.  It was a small, low class apartment haha.  I slept on the hardwood floor with a giant shower cap for a blanket.  It made me think:  "wow, THIS IS THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY!"  So I didn't get much sleep that night.  The next day we had a little bit more training at the church and we got our companions.  He called up all the male Spanish speaking newbies, and all the male Spanish speaking trainers.  And he said "stand next to your companion".  So we had to guess or "feel inspired".  Very few guessed right, but my companion guessed me on the first try! 

My companion is Elder Sheffer.  He is 18 and from Phoenix Arizona.  what a coinkadink!  He graduated from high school when he was 16.  He only has two more transfers than me.  He is the youngest trainer in the mission which I think says a lot about him.  He is a very good missionary.  Almost two good, but if I could be where he is at within the next three months I would be golden!  He knows Spanish quite well.  He understands it all, can speak well enough to carry a conversation, he makes people laugh, he makes jokes, and that just seems impossible for me to ever do!  But he works hard, never have we taken a break, even when we have nothing to do.  He kicks my butt on the bikes.  I can't keep up!  He knows his stuff, that's for sure. 

So it turns out that my companions companion before me was a total boss.  He is the best American Spanish speaker in the mission.  Everybody loved him.. Every time my Elder Sheffer introduces me, they get really sad and ask where Elder Talbot is.  He was super charismatic  gave toys to the kids, made everybody laugh, and he was handsome.  People literally were in love with him.  One lady got baptized just so she could have a chance with him.  Multiple others told him that they want him to marry there daughter.  He turned this place around from being the least productive area in the mission to the most productive area in the mission.  The average number of baptisms in the Dallas mission is 8 for the entire 2 years.  In the last two transfers, Elder Sheffer and Talbot had 8.    I have some big shoes to fill.

This week I have mostly just been a shadow in lessons.  Most of our lessons are in Spanish, but we have had a few in English, even though they are with Spanish speakers but just prefer English.  ??  I can kill it in English!  I'm pretty good!  but in Spanish I am totally lost.  I can say a few parts of lessons, but I can't understand their questions or comments.  I can start a contact in Spanish, but as soon as they say something I just look at my companion, which his cue to take over, bc I don't understand!  I was okay with being a shadow for the first couple days, now its starting to get frustrating.

We live in an apartment, just the two of us.  My first day of actually being out proselyting was rough.  We assemble the Liahona, and then walked to the bike shop to pick up his bike.  It was a long hot walk.  We picked his bike up, and no more than 30 seconds of being on my bike, I hit a curb and the wheel breaks.  Green slime everywhere!  I had no idea they put slime in tires!  I should have taken a picture, but my mind was elsewhere.  So we had to go back to the bike shop, which was embarrassing, and they fixed the tire.  They don't believe in slime tires in Texas bc it's too hot and they break often.  Turns out that we didn't put the Liahonna together correctly at all.  We did it without instructions haha I lost them pretty much immediately.  I didn't even have breaks!  So they obviously pointed that out, fixed everything I did wrong, which was everything, and then we got on our way.  Can you say ROUGH START?!

Hey, sorry.  We are at the library and we only have 45 min at a time.  So now I am on my second session! 

I forgot to tell lyou, I am in Grand Prairie, Texas!  No clue where that is, look it up! 

We are on bikes.  My legs are terribly sore.  My bum is killing me.  It feels like we are always riding into the wind.  I can't keep up with my companion, and by the end of the day I am absolutely drenched.  I'll get used to it though!  I have already had a crash haha I clipped a mailbox, knocked it over.  But we got a good contact out of it.  The owner of the house was in the front yard when it happened, a big black man.  He tried to get us to play pool with him but that is not allowed.  We talked for a bit, he gave us a hard time and kind of just wanted to argue with us in a light manner, but he told me that he wants me specifically to come back.  Normally, if they don't speak Spanish, we have to give them to the English missionaries.  But he doesn't want to talk to any other missionary but me.  And I believe that I clipped that mailbox for a reason. 

Elder Talbot left tons of food.  For lunches and breakfast I have been living off of trail mix and granola bars all week.  He left a bag of ghirradelli choc chips that are muy delicioso!  We eat dinner with members.  The food is good!  but I just have a hard time trusting it, if you know what I mean.  But it is almost always good.  No bomb bbq yet. 

There are kids everywhere here.  I really like them.  they like us and always come talk to us.  I get my Spanish corrected by 6 year olds.  which is humbling.  The people here for the most part are really nice.  I find it difficult to love them simply because I can't connect with them when I can't speak Spanish.  But I do see how these people could be loveable.  It is not difficult to find Spanish speakers, but a lot of them will speak English to us even when we talk to them in Spanish, which probably slows down my learning rate.  I feel like I don't speak enough Spanish here and it is going to take a while to learn! 

wow.  I'm a missionary.  We have had people swear at us, make fun of us, throw a cup at us.  We have been viciously rejected by that old southern Baptist lady.  I'm tired all the time.  THIS IS THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY! 

I feel like I had so much more to tell you, but that is all I can think of for now.  I have lots of pictures to send, mostly from the mtc, but I don't have the stuff necessary to send them right now.  I left it at the apartment.  So you are going to have to wait another week. 

idk what I want to do about shoes.  The only place I have seen around here for shoes is payless, and I might get just a cheap pair to wear in the rain.  But for now I am probably good with the ones I have.   However there are a couple things I would like.  I could use some old hand towels, maybe cut in half.  It would be nice if I had some towels to wipe the sweat off my face.  Just some old ratty ones if you have any, or if you have a better idea, I'll trust you with it.  I also need a Spanish scripture case.  hopefully you could find one of those at deseret.  Spanish scriptures are longer so they need a bigger case. 

My testimony has already been strengthened in many ways.   The Lord is preparing his people to hear our message.  Sometimes it is so much easier than I ever would have thought!  Prayer works.  When we aren't having success, we pray.  When we pray, things turn around.  When I get overwhelmed or anxious, I pray.  When I pray I can overcome those feelings.   Hard work pays off.  Often times we will take a risk by making a long bike ride to someones house when we don't even know if they will be there.  and usually they aren't there.  But the Lord always makes those trips worth it through someone else.   Satan is real and doing all he can to keep people from hearing our message.  Whenever we share the first vision, say a prayer, or finally get someone else to pray; whenever we reach the peak of spirituality in our lesson, nearly ever time, a phone goes off.  someone comes in the door with groceries.  The kids come running in and scream and cry.  We are constantly getting interrupted at the worst times.  We are, however, having success and getting lessons in. 

Mom, remember what Dr. Pulver told me about missions the last time we went in to see him?  He wasn't kidding.  It is very early on but this is far more than i ever expected.  But there is a scripture in D&C that I really like.  It keeps me going and makes me want to hang in there.   D&C 58: 4.  

I miss you all and I am wondering what I have got myself into.   I saw a dog bow just like Toby does the other day!  I also saw some pups the other day for sale.  Gosh I miss that dude!  But you people more.  Sounds like all is well and todo bien con migo! 

3001 S Carrier Parkway apartment #2403 Grand Prairie, Tx 75052

Week Eighty - Festa Junina and A Good Week!

First lunch in Perola - looks good!

First baptism in Perola!

Elder Robertson as The Book of Morman and Festa Junina!

Kids dancing at Festa Junina!

Hello, one more time, to my family and yalls lá.

     I want to start off saying that my week went very well and I´m a happy camper right now. We found a lot of peeps  to teach, some are cool some not so much. We´re talking to lots of peeps on the streets, some accept, some reject. I´m liking the members a lot here. It seems like this next month, the ward might divide and it will probably be difficult for many of the members and the missionaries (that´s me!) working there, but we´ll see how it goes. On Friday, we had the Festa Junina which is like a party that has something to do with June, but I´m not sure what it is exactly, but it was very cool. I lot of the youth dressed up and danced for like 30 minutes straight, it seems like. Nossa! I think they were all dying of exhaustion after that one. But I got a little of it on video, and a few pictures, just that I got it on my companion´s camera and I´m trying to open his camera on the computer but I´m not getting it to open.... Opa it´s working now, one minute please..... I will continue on while it´s downloading. The festa was bacana demais! The broadcast thingy yesterday was cool. I thought I was David there. I saw someone with similar hair but it descended a little more and I saw that he had glasses, so I don´t think it was him, and seeing the photo, I know it wasn´t but whatev. It seems like there is a greater preocupation(?) for the missionary work. Nossa! The second coming must be just around the corner! David´s gonna work hard with the member in Texas. We had a few people go to church. A family went that has been investigating the church for a while, já. They don´t have a testimony yet but like church a lot. They´re going to marry soon and we´ll be working hard for their baptism after. Another girl/woman ( Carla, she´s 23 years old but seems like a girl to me) went, she said she liked the church, and that it was very different (just about every single church here has one room, a bunch of benches, and generally one person talks for a few hours, sometimes he talks with music in the background, sometimes he screams, sometimes everyone bate palmas (claps their hands) and it´s pretty much like that in every church here, so the church of Jesus Christ must be very different. We taught her after church and she accepted being baptized 2 weeks from now, if she gains a testimony, but we arrived there and before saying anything about church in the next week she had already said that she´d go and will take her sisters (or at least one) with her. GOSTOU! (SHE LIKED!) But yeah that´s my week.

Pics!

1. My first lunch in Pérola 2

2. My first baptism in Pérola 2 (Marcos)

3.Elder Robertson as the Book of Mormon at the Festa Junina

4. The costumes of the youth for their dance!

Q&A

Did you get to see the missionary broadcast?yes

If you did, what did you think of it?it was cool but as usual I have difficulty paying attentin when it´s just in portuguese, but it was cool, like I said

Do you still eat at member's houses, everyday? only on p-day we don´t eat at a members.

How are your hands...any warts? I still have some warts, very small, not even worrying about it right now.

Are your shirts and pants holding up OK?  Need anything new? Nope I´m good

Did you get my last package with the beef jerky, yet? nope, the LZ still need to go to Belém and they only go in the beginning of the month.

Any packages or letters from anyone - if so, who? nope, read above.

But that´s all, I´m out of time. I love you all have a great week!

Elder R. williams

Call From David on June 24, 2013!

David is on his way to Dallas!

Well, we talked to David on the phone for the last time until Christmas.  It was so good to hear his voice! He sounded very happy and very excited to get to Dallas, finally!  He had Cafe Rio for breakfast at the airport, which he said tasted amazing after all of those meals in the MTC.  He also told us a David story (he always has crazy things happen to him, so this was very typical!)  They were supposed to be in bed with the lights out by 10:30pm.  They had an additional missionary in their room for the last night because his roommate wasn't leaving for another day.  They stayed up talking until after midnight, but one of them set their alarm for like 3:15am so they would be sure to have time to get ready and finish packing.  David said he woke up and it was already 4:50am - twenty minutes past the time they were supposed to be at the travel desk!  He said someone went next door and the other missionaries were still asleep, too.  Out of four alarms being set for 3:15am, none of them went off! So, they got ready and finished packing in about fifteen minutes and the bus had to wait for them - what a nightmare!  He said he thinks they were being punished for not being obedient and going to bed when they were supposed to - too funny!  But, they made it to the airport, had time to eat and call home, so it all turned out OK.  David is really excited about his mission president, Devin Durrant, who played basketball for BYU and even played in the NBA for a couple of years.  Everyone says he is awesome and I am so excited for David to get to meet him and to have him as his president.  He said the devotional was amazing to have eleven of the twelve Apostles right there on the stage in front of them, talking and interacting with each other and with the missionaries.  David and Spencer were on the front row, right behind the podium! Some of them even turned around, making eye contact with them and giving them the thumbs up sign!   What an experience for a new missionary - David is so lucky to be in the MTC at this time.  Well, he is on the plane and probably taxiing down the runway, right now.  I can't wait to get to hear from him next and to hear of the adventures, trials, tribulations and crazy stories that he'll send home each week.  It's going to be a wild ride, I have a feeling!