What another great week! It was very eventful and full of newly learned things.
Last Thursday it was a pretty normal day, but my companion and I did have
companion inventory, which is where you two sit down and just talk about any
problems you have and all the goods things of the other companion. We started
off with all the good things and i gave him quite a few, and he gave me some as
well. But when we talked about the stuff we didnt like, we had nothing to say!
He truly was a great companion. He did bring up one thing though that had been
on his mind, and that was he felt inadequite because i knew so much about the
Gospel and he doesnt know much at all. He actually hasnt read the Book of
Mormon! But once he told me this i just let the spirit guide our conversation. I
reassured him that with time we would become mush wiser than me, and that
through his efforts he would be able to be the missionary that the Lord needs
him to be. I also reminded him that the Lord was the one that called him, and he
would prepare a way for him to achieve his goals on his mission. He felt a lot better that
day and went back to his happy go lucky self. Later that day during our class
period, all of our latin companions came into our room and sang Love One Another
in spanish and then in enlgish. It was really touching to see them all do that.
The even greater thing is that they truly do love us. That is one thing these
latinos do best is love and trust everyone that they meet. It is their greatest
attribute in my opinion.
Friday was very similar to almost all the other days, agenda wise. We had our
lessons and our classes, but at the end of the day Hermana Silva had us do
something a little different. She gathered us up all in a circle and told us to
tell her, and everyone us, about our families. We all had our turn one by one,
and it was fantastic to see the love that everyone has for their families. We
related experiences of driving our parents mad, i had an innumerable amount
haha, and then talked about how our parents still loved us even though we messed up. I especially gained a greater appreciation for
you guys, the constant support helps so much, plus all the insight since so many
of you have served missions. Families are, without a doubt, ordained of God and
the most important unit in the world and heaven.
Saturday and Sunday were, as you know was conference, and we were lucky enough
to get to watch it in English! But our next conference will be in spanish, and i
hope i will understand it haha. Anyways, i went into this conference with
questions i had, mostly about ways to improve myself for missionary work. And i
can honestly say that they were all answered through out this weekend.
Absolutely stunnig! One of my favorite talks was the one about us! An apostle
from the presidency here, talked about us and our saturdays that we go out and
proselyte! That was awesome, and then Presient Eyrings talk that said, If your
learning a new language, In a foreign MTC! We were all dying when he said that!
Sunday was also just as amazing. Conference means so much more now that i am on a mission, i am trying to suck
everything out of all the talks and find the hidden meanings. So i am looking
forward to the next one.
Monday was an uneventful day, as well as Tuesday. Sorry, but that is the MTC for
you haha.
Wednesday is another story though! I unfortunately had to say good byr to Elder
Montoya because he with all the Latins and older whiteys left for their missions
that morning. We all waved good bye as they rode off in the bus. After that
little sad note came the day we had been waiting for all week! We got to Tour
Lima!! We drove around and saw all the monuments, the beaches and downtown. We
only got half the day though, but we made the most out of it. I have a bunch of
pictures and videos, so you have something to look forward to! Oh and i did buy
some sweet llama gear, it was of course necessary haha. Dont worry i will buy
everyone some before i get back to america. We can be the Llama family!
Anyways, i love you and am sorry that my letter is late. Be sure to post this week and last week on the blog as soon as you
get it! I love you all and pray for you all day long!

Elder Washburn