Conversation with Canyon via email

We were able to chat with Canyon back and forth later in the day.  Thanks everyone for emails and prayers. 

Are most of the missionaries there American or South American?

Most of the missionaries are from the states but we do get a fair amount of latinos.

What about the teachers?

All of the teachers are latino and I want to say that most of them are from Mexico.  By the way they don't speak English after day 1.

Are you getting enough sleep?

For the first couple of weeks I was only getting about 5 hours of sleep a night mostly die to hearing fireworks at night.  Apparantley they just use fireworks whenever in Mexico.

What kind of food are they serving you?

You do have to be careful about what you eat because almost everyone has gotten diarreah.  I haven't yet but I'm waiting for my turn.  Food here is sketchy.  Rule of thumb if it looks like it already has been digested, DON'T EAT IT!!!

What changed your heart about your companion?

Well at first I was like crap because he was strictly obedient but now after seeing the results of exact obedience I Love Him, and plus we got to know each other more.  We actually might be the new zone leaders after this week because all the other companships are fighting and being lazy.  They are sleeping in until like 8 when we have be up at like 6:30.  I'm so glad God gave me the companion that I needed and not the one that I wanted.  I still think about that phrase all the time as well, pray like everything depends on God then work like everything depends on you.

Are any of the large group talks in English or is everything in Spanish after the first day?

All the devotionals that we have are all in English but church and all classes are completely in Spanish.

Do you run into many Canadians?

That blonde guy at the airport was Canadian from Edmonton.  He speaks fluent Spanish already.

Is most of your district going to Peru, or are you guys going all over South America?

Almost all my district is going to Lima, North except one sister who is going to Chile and another sister who is going to Salt Lake City.  Are those the hot ones?  No we don't have any hot sisters in our district or even our zone but there are some hot ones that we just talk to.  (Hermana Rutherford)  Everyone wants to try and get her email but that's not why I'm here.  I will think about girls when I get home.

Are you still playing ball for exercise?  How often do you play?

I play ball for exercise just about everyday except last week I played cage soccer and volleyball to get to know why my zone a little better.  We get gym everyday after breakfast.  There is a shower area but we mostly just shower back in the dorms so we can get out of our sweaty clothes.

What's cage soccer?

Cage soccer is just soccer with like a cage around it.  It's pretty much playing soccer in a tennis court with 2 goals.  It's pretty fun.

Do you ever go off the MTC campus?

We never go off the MTC campus until we get to use the temple which is shut down.  We only will get to use the visitors center but still it will be awesome.

Have you been writing in your journal?

Ya I've been writing in it every single night.

Hey I love you guys so much.  Anyway, I better let you go. Elder Coomer will be my only companion in the MTC.  Oakley, I love you so much so keep being a good boy and do me favor and don't grow up until I get home.  Ridge, I love you man, you are a freaking genius and I love you.  Ireland stay away from boys right now they are gross.  River keep working out to look like me.  Mom I love you so much.  Dad I love you and I'm glad I have a father who set an example for me.  I love yo all so much.  
Love your son, your brother, 
Elder Atwood