Pues, (that is my favorite word ever in spanish by the way, Grant Davies used to use it all the time:)
Anywho! What's up every body? It feels like I was just writing you all yesterday! time is such a weird thing in the MTC.
I'm pretty convinced that we are actually closer to the center of the earth and experience more gravity, and therefore time moves slower.
DONT LEAVE ME LIKE THIS MURPH! (shoutout to Benny and Devin)
Jk Jk, although no one in my zone has seen Interstellar and it bugs me that I can't have that inside joke with anyone hahaha! This week has been wonderful. I honestly don't know how to describe what happens throughout my day. It is pretty much just: wake up. learn. teach. sleep. repeat.
i know that it may sound dreary, but I can't imagine a better way to spend my day. Our teachers are so dedicated to helping us feel the spirit while we learn and it changes the way you look at class time. I mean don't get me wrong sometimes you feel like you can't last another minute, but (if you are like me) you realize that you have way to much to work on to even be concerned about being bored. Spanish is moving along pretty nicely, although everyone of my teachers wants me to work on rolling my Rs. Literally, they have me do cheesy exercises (which I fail at) and it is probably the root of all of my insecurities in life. The flippin Rs man.
One person that I want to highlight is our investigator Marco. We have been teaching him for a while and every lesson is too special to me. Picture this: A really short stocky old man, wears glasses and walks with crutches, with the type of wrinkled face that makes you realize that he spends most of his day smiling. He might be one of my favorite people ever. He is from Peru and his spanish is so sweet! he says "este" all the time as his "filler" word. I think it has rubbed off on me too which is kindof bad hahaha! anyways, to describe how our lessons go it pretty much starts off nice and doctrinal. We try to get our message across while relating it to his life. The lesson usually ends with him crying. haha I dont say that to proclaim that I am a dope missionary because it is literally all him. to explain something about him:
(all of this is real by the way)
He grew up outside of the church in Peru. His mom joined the church but he was always kind of angry about religion in general. He was pessimistic because he had polio as a child. wow. He also grew up in poverty so basically he is just straight up gnarly.
The lesson that we gave him yesterday was about tithing, which we kinda thought would be a lame discussion. But it is required before he can get baptized. Anyways we talk through this lesson and he tells about how he didnt know how he survived as a child, he said that they literally didnt have enough food to eat most meals. But he said that his mother would always pay her tithing. He didn't know why, and it kindof frustrated him. But he said by some miracle he was able to gain weight and grow as a child. He said that he now knows that it must have been because of the sacrifice of his sweet mother. Right after he explained this story we asked him to read the story about the woman who had nothing, but still gave all that she could. He couldn't finish the first sentence. We scrambled for the tissues and the spirit was absolutely incredible. It is amazing what people have to sacrifice sometimes for this gospel. People like his mother gave/give everything they have in order to receive the knowledge that Jesus is their Christ. What a valiant testimony. We are blessed beyond believe fam. Wow am I grateful to be a part of this gospel, and to- have the opportunity to share this with others.
Anyways, I dont have a ton of time, and I want to apologize to all the people that I suck at writing back too! know that I love you! Thank you all for the Dear Elders, they are wonderful(:
CHLOE TAYLOR! WHOO! congrats on your mission call! that is beyond exciting! Spanish is the best language. And guess what? and Elder in my district is going to your exact mission! so you will probably meet! his name is Elder Whetten. I will send Pics.
(ps. sorry i have nobodys email so i can't send this to you individually)
One funny thing is that I started a really bad tradition of "slumbies" in my zone. Me and Elder Boyce are alone is our room so we have 4 mattresses that don't get used. So basically we build huge forts and have sleepovers all the time. FUN right? no. It is impossible to get any sleep and it usually ends with me saying something like,
"This is the Lord's time Elders, please go to bed or I will beat you repeatedly"
I love you all and you are all in my prayers!
Con amor,
Elder Stewart-Chester
ps. MOM send me my overalls PLEASE(: