ELDER CANYON ATWOOD

Hey, I have had an awesome week. I actually just went to the temple today. Well technically the visitors center because the temple is under construction, but it will be opening again about July next year, that is what I heard.  It was still amazing to see another temple, just another reminder to me that families can be forever. Well I got news for you guys, I just became Zone Leader on Sunday so that will be a cool experience.  It has been fun so far and because its the MTC its a fairly simple job. The drive to the temple was about 40 minutes or so and we saw so much poverty that it nearly brought me to tears. I wanted to get out and give people all of the money that I had in my wallet, which isn't much. Hearing Elder Anderson speaking was awesome.  He talked about missionaries and the atonement.  It was amazing, but i think everyone felt so guilty afterwards about every little sin. Haha! It was awesome though I actually got to shake his hands. I wanted to exchange ties with him , but President Pratt threatened to shoot any elder that attempted to do that so I decided against that idea. I never really found out how many missionaries here at the MTC but there are a lot but not as much as the Provo MTC.  Lately its been raining a lot mostly in the afternoon at around 7 pm. My most spiritual experience this week was actually giving the spiritual thought last night on Monday for our zones family home evening activity after which we all play signs. Never thought that I would like signs, but as Zone Leader I have to play. Anyway, life here at the CCM or MTC is good.  The food sucks so I really love those packages mom but life is awesome. My teacher comments everyday on how much my Spanish has improved. I can talk fairly decent, but I cant really comprehend all of the words yet. I actually got two new roommates and get this one of them is from Peru.   The Peruvian talk so freaking fast most of the other Latinos here have to ask him to slow down. He told us that everyone in Peru speaks that fast but that the members will try to talk slower for missionaries that are trying to learn a language, which i think is courtesy.  It was so humbling when the Mexico missionaries, the ones that were dirt poor told us that Peru is poor.  I almost cried. I actually met a missionary today at the visitors center form the US. He did not have a good attitude about his mission.  He said that he couldn't wait to go home. But he did say that it only takes about 3 months outside of the MTC to learn Spanish so that was comforting. I just want to let you guys know that I love you all more than I can explain, but I have no intentions of going home until my work is done.

Love your son, your brother, and your friend
Elder Atwood

I love you Mom. I love you Dad.

This our conversation with Canyon via email today. It was soooo fun!!

I am so lucky that I have parents like you that raised me the way you did. You know lately whenever I feel a little down I have been reading my patriarchal blessing. One part really stands out to me about my mission. You were called to this work to prepare the people of this earth for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for he will surely come. I read that and I prayed about it and I just thought what if I go home? what if I don't serve my mission? what if I decide that this is too hard? Will the people of the Earth be prepared for the Second Comming of the Lord Jesus Christ? I don't know but I do know that it is my responsibility to prepare them 

That is my testimony and I cant wait to share it with everyone, not just in Peru but in the world that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God! 

I love you guys more than I could ever hope to explain but I know that I am here for a purpose and that my purpose is to prepare the Earth for Christ!

Love your son Elder Atwood

(We sent our video to Canyon that we made for Papa Atwood's 70th birthday)

Hahahahah

Man that video was awesome.  That just made my day! Haha thanks.

That was awesome, could tell dad wrote that!

Do you have your departure date figured out?  Do you know exactly when you leave for Peru?  do you know what area of Peru yet?

We leave for Peru in about two weeks on a Wednesday. I think but we don't get our flight info until last minute. Most don't get it until the day before they leave.

Zone Leader?  Wow?  What are your responsibilities?

I am basically in charge of family home evening, church, hymns, and prayer that our zone does every night which isn't a lot.  I also have to do a weekly check up on all of the District Leaders and call our Mission President about once a week. Our branch presidents name is Muchado.  Sorry I meant so say Branch President.  We call him every Wednesday after lunch.

Anything that made you laugh this week?

 Nothing in particular that I can think of at the moment just the basic goofing around that I always do but only on P days. Haha!

It surprised me when you said that most of the missionaries were sleeping in except for you and your companion.  I don't remember anyone in my MTC group sleeping in or really slacking off.  I talked to a few other people around my age and they didn't seem to remember that being much of an issue then either.  Just make sure you don't let them drag you down.  What percentage of them would you say sleep in?
 Just a couple of the guys in our district but they have actually been good the past week probably because I was made zone leader! Haha!  The Hermanas still sleep in on occasion which is kind of annoying.  Thanks for the advise dad.

Thanks for all the packages you guys have sent me its like Christmas whenever I get one.

One missionary in my district is being spoiled by his mom and literally has gotten a package every two days, don't do that to me!  Haha!

What is your Sunday's like?  

On Sunday we have study until about 10:30, but now that I am ZL I have meetings from 8 until 10.  We have priesthood at about 10:30 then we study for about 30 minutes and at 12 we go to sacrament, and then have lunch at 1.  We study until about 3, we have a devotional that ends at about 4:30, then we study until about 6:00, which we have dinner.  We watch some church movies from 7:30 to about 8:30 or 9.  At 9:15 we all have a closing hymn and prayer as a zone.