Dobry Den!

dobry den!

it's hard to believe that i have already been at the mtc for three weeks! i am already a third of the way through my training here, which is crazy to think about. in just six weeks i will be in slovakia. i am really excited to get out into the field for quite a few reasons. i'm really excited to go to slovakia and learn about that country and its history and its culture. i'm also excited to go on a tour of prague with the mission president my first day out in the field. after i got my mission call i started readin a lot about czechoslovakia and prague and so i was really hoping that i would at least have a day or two to spend in prague and tour the city and see all the awesome sights there. i'm also excited to leave the mtc. not that i hate being here or anything, but i think dad said it best when he said "they call it spirit prison for a reason." i definitely understand why he said that. as we left the temple today, one of the workers said "get back to your cells elders." i thought that was pretty funny. the food here isn't great, but in my email last week i probably made it sound worse than it really is. i am, however, constantly reminded of the yzma from "the Emporer's New Groove" when she asks "is there anything on this menu that isn't swimming in gravy?" i'm also excited to get away from a select few of the spanish speaking missionaries. they are all very nice people, but some of them just have the most terrible spanish accents. "grassy-us hair-mahna" and "mooey bee-nn" are some of my personal favorites. it's like i'm surrounded by a bunch of Peggy Hills. i mean, i know that none of them are native speakers, but just because you have never spoken spanish before doesn't mean you have to sound like that much of a gringo. anywho, i hope everything is going well back at home, wherever home may be for you. i was sad to hear that the aggies lost in the first round, but i still can't believe that they got a 12 seed to begin with. Catherine was kind enough to send me a bracket in the mail this week. i filled it out. i picked Pitt to win it all. yeah. once again my bracket is busted before they even tip off in the sweet 16. i thought this year my bracket would be flawless, what with me being on the Lord's errand and all, but unfortunately i have been reminded once again that God doesn't care about basketball nearly as much as i do. it sounds like the jazz are mediocre, as usual. you would think after all these years of pain and heart break brought about by being a jazz fan, i would be immune or numb to the feelings of sadness and disappointment that i feel whenever the jazz lose, but alas, i am not. even when i KNOW the jazz will lose, when they do it always upsets me. baseball season starts up soon, and i'm sad i won't be able to see it. but hey, i will be there when the first pitch is thrown in april 2013. i was happy to hear from libby's letter this week that she has a teacher who makes a lot of references to baseball history. it sounds like the void i left is being filled at least a little bit. Iibby: yes, it was ernie banks who made that quip about double-headers. he was also nicknamed mr. cub, and is credited as being the man who coined the phrase "the friendly confines of Wrigley Field." i hope i have a compainion at some point who will get all of my historical/sports related references. elder bezus gets a few of my historical references, but isn't the biggest sports guy, so there is still a little bit of a disconnect there. i want everyone to know that i am doing very well here and i am enjoying my time here at the mtc. i am so excited to get out into the field and serve the people in slovakia. i can't wait to hear what city i am first assigned to. i know it is going to be such a great experience that will bless me everyday for the rest of my life. i hope you will continue to send me letters and messages on dearelder.com. i would love to hear all about your life and all the experiences you have while i am gone on my mission. Love you all!

 

Dovidenia!

Elder Meredith