Week 16

This last week one time, 4 people tried to pay for us when we went to cafe rio. We have now decided to never go between the times of 12 and 2:30. It is already bad enough at 11.

I guess everyone was in the Thanksgiving  spirit. 

Well, other than that, nothing too exciting happened. My Spanish is getting better. I gave a talk in church this last Sunday in Spanish. Lots of people were surprised at how well I did.

I have to say, the most difficult part of Spanish is that I don't hear everything. Sometimes my companion will say something, I get confused, I repeat back to him what I heard, and then he says it all slowly and i only heard one word and he said 5 or 6. The thing about Spanish is that it takes up a little more space in writing, but it is even worse when speaking because it has tons more syllables. So  a big part of Spanish is speaking quickly. They have a ton of tongue twisters in Spanish to practice speaking quickly.  In English we combine words like I am to I'm, and it is to it's. However, we distinguish the words and we write them differently. In Spanish it is not like that.

Thanksgiving was fun. We had a lot of food and a lot of leftovers. I had a thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday, pie for breakfast on Thursday, 2 dinners on Thursday, and more leftovers on Friday and Saturday. Lots of food.

Oh, I need to say. I have not gained any weight on my mission yet. I am still in the same weight range I was before my mission, that is usually with a suit coat on too. (^_^)

Elder Daniel Eliason

Week 15

This week I met someone; his name is Austin Pulsen. He served his mission 3 years ago in Pomerene. He actually taught Kyle Graf. Also, mom gave me his address so I can send him a letter, the funny thing is that I did not even ask for his address, but he is someone that I already wanted to write.

We moved apartments again.  Because we moved, I got to test how packing everything worked with my new carry-on. It all worked quite well. 

I don't think I ever told you but the scripture case I have for my English scriptures also works for my Spanish scriptures. It is quite handy.

The other day, there was a primary program and, quite frankly, they taught all three missionary lessons better than we do...... And they did it all in an hour....... Wow.

So, they put Ti-Wi in the cars now. I don't think it is working. It has not gotten mad at me at all yet. 

As missionaries, we often refer to CPR (Church, Pray, Read), all the primary answers. But the funny thing, is that it is true, those are the primary commitments we extend.

Elder Eliason

Week 14

I accidentally just deleted my draft I was going to send. It was a nice and long letter too...... (--,_--). I don't have time to retype it up.

I love you all, Thanks for all the support. I will have to send you all of that next week.

Bye,
Elder Eliason.

Week 13

I don't have a lot to write about this time.

I don't have any interesting stories because with this companion we don't socialize with other missionaries as much. I actually like being focused like that. We have a few new investigators that seem promising. Also, some of the other investigators that we have look like they might start progressing towards baptism again. I am excited.

So, Spanish is ok. Elder Hernandez has been more frustrated with my Spanish than I am. He only talks to me in Spanish, which is helping quite a bit. However, sometimes he has to repeat himself a lot. The thing is that he has not needed to learn a language either. He doesn't know how to help/explain sometimes. I learn more from the text book from the MTC. At least now I am getting more out of my language studies. He just allows me to use the Spanish that I do know, a lot more.

I love you all.  Bye.

Elder Daniel Eliason