Hi Mom.
It's been a long last two days. A lot has happened.
Thursday we had a missionary go home. It was really hard on all of us. No I'm not going to say who, but we all miss the missionary very much.
On the bright side, the next day I found Jackson, which you already know because he sent you the picture. I have a testimony that prayer works because I had seriously prayed at dinner to find him so I could get you a picture, and I was told where he was by a couple of Hermanas, but they gave me the wrong building number. He teaches in the building straight across from me, it's really cool. The only way I found him was we were doing a silly Spanish practice where we were interviewing people and he was walking down the walkway and caught my attention. It was so cool. And on an even better note, He told me you are Cancer free. Why didn't you tell me that in your email? Is this just remission or is it cured?
I feel kind of bad, because I was so happy to hear your news that I ignored my companion a little when he needed me. Last night he had a panic attack in the middle of our lesson. I was focused on the investigator, and Elder Pudil was sitting on the other side of me so I didn't notice that he was having one until Rebecca (the investigator and Hermana Valdez) stopped the lesson and asked him. It was so bad we went to the ER and waited for a couple of hours before we went back to the apartment. So it was like midnight when I finally got to bed. Up side of this is I got to seep through service this morning and we met this fantastic reactivated member, E*. He was so cool. We got to talking and he had the best spirit. He said were going to make great missionaries. I can't wait to get into the field.
Today it was so hard to stay awake in the Temple, I think I fell asleep at least twenty times. After we went to the temple I got a app for my iPad called LDS 35 language scriptures. It allows me to pull up both the Spanish and English scriptures side by side. While we were waiting for the bus, I read Jason's Spanish e-mail, and I was surprised by how much I knew. There where a few words I didn't know, but I could understand most of it and context clues worked well enough to fill in the blanks. After we got back to west campus, Elder Pudil and I got hair cuts and Jackson's wife was my barber, I still don't know her name, even though I just read it, but it was nice to hug a girl again. She has a picture that she's going to send you. We took it after the hair cut, so now you have a before and after.
Jackson & Elder Michael Blanding
"Before"
Elder P, Katie Ostler and Elder Michael Blanding
"After"
It's hard to find time to practice, so I hope some time today the Hermanas and I can find time, but they're now zone training leaders, so I don't know if we're going to be able to.
Thanks for the update about the Seahawks. Turns out I'm not the only Hawks fan in my District, Elder Reese is a fan too, and not just because of the super bowl, He played football in High School and for a tournament they got to use the Seahawks' facilities.
Love Elder Michael Blanding
Oh and P.S. Feliz Complianos!!!!
I know that God Cares about the little details of our lives, because I was looking through the calendar you sent me with and noticed that your birthday was P-Day and I was able to prepare your present last week before we lost our Missionary. You may now open your present. And if Dad hasn't given it to you, tell him he can now.
Elder Michael Blanding and his investigator M*
And a PS:
Thank you for the package. I needed something home made and good, and everyone in the district liked the your cookies. I also like the bear. I named him Presidente Tedi for reasons that shall remain my own.
Another thing I totally forgot about is I found the Hiltons, well they found me. I was waiting for a bus after Tuesday Devotional and Brother Hilton found me and we both found Sister Hilton together, It was so nice to see familiar faces. They send their love, and I'll send a picture. It's on my iPad because I didn't have my camera on me. I love you all.
Elder Michael Blanding with Elder and Sister Hilton
Mike was home teaching companions with Elder Hilton for years.
Elder Michael Blanding giving me, his mom, a birthday greeting.