Week 6

My family,

Week six. I can't even beleive it. Honestly. When I arrived here, the elders that had been here six weeks were the greatest things ever. Their spanish was beyond what I could ever dream of speaking here in the MTC. They seemed like they were at least a year older than I was. They seemed to have life pretty well figured out. ;_).

Isn't it funny how that works out? Haha, I sure don't feel like I'm the top dog here. Not with my spanish, especially. But I do suppose that I'm comfortable. Time has helped me to learn patience. It's all going to come. God will provide, as long as I keep working my hardest.

With that being said though, first things first. DAD!!! Haha. Father. I'm really wishing right now that I had taken more time to sit down and talk to you about your mission. You were wide open before I left! You read me parts of your journal and all. And now I'm just dying for advice. So. From the man whom my genes come from. HELP!!! ;_). How did you do it?? I'm about to head down to a foreign country. By myself. I don't know why that hasn't hit me until today. ;_). But maybe a story, or a scripture, or anything that really helped you out when you couldn't even talk to your companion, because he was native. Haha, I'm not scared. Just a little anxious. I'm a man now. Men don't get scared. One of our PPI's right now would be nice. Sorry I didn't take as much time as you offered before I left. You always were there to help me, to get me ready, to answer my questions. I think I took that for granted sometimes. ;_). Thanks for being patient with me. Love you.

Mom, I loved what you said about being fishers of men, and being baptized. I REALLY do beleive that the Lord is shaping people in paraguay, preparing them with His hand to recieve His word. All I have to do is find them and help them to feel that spirit that they've been waiting for. Oh boy, I get so excited just thinking about it. As my companion Elder Dexter would say, "Josh, you look like a little boy in a candy store." Haha, I really can't wait to get out. I'm still learning a ton, becoming much more prepared to leave, but I just want to go! You know, it's the strangest thing, even though I'm out on my mission, I still feel like I'm only 20 minutes away from home. I almost feel like I could just get up and walk out one morning and make it home in time for lunch! Weird huh? :_).

Dad, thanks for the picture of you in the MTC. My companions and I got a big kick out of that. I don't think the buildings have changed one bit. ;_). Mom, thanks for the package. Oh, and in answer to your question, OF COURSE you can send a Christmas present before I leave!!! What kind of a nineteen year old would turn that request down?? The question is, can I open it early? If not.... I don't know. Patience is a Christlike attribute, Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel. Maybe I could make it till Christmas without opening it.... missionaries sometimes do superhuman things. I've heard stories....

Anyways, I hope all is well. I love you all. I pray for you often. I know you're being taken care of though. I don't worry about it too much. Keep sending George's emails. I love them.

Thanks for the pics. I'm getting them laminated to carry around in my shirt pocket in paraguay to show investigators that I'm real, and normal. How many nineteen year olds go around all day talking about church? They must think we're REALLY weird. ;_).

Take care!

Elder Joshua Calvin Stewart