October 14, 2014 Miracle Week

Sorry this is late, but we had a holiday on Monday.

I'm fine, bounced and laughed. CD with the music you sent me with and General Conference Talks. [I told him he couldn’t tell me he had a bike crash and “flipped” over the handle bars with out an status report on his injuries—silly boy! He’s lucky I didn’t call the Stake President and find out what hospital he was air lifted too.]

This week was full of cool things. where to begin. I'll go backwards this time. Monday, Elder Garcia and I bought food for this week, we had a budget of $43 and only went $1.11 over. We felt good. Because it was a holiday we didn't have E-mail abilities. Sorry I didn't tell you already, but I forgot/didn't know. That night we upgraded my bike. It took the rest of the day, but it was worth it. I plan on sending it home for BYU-I if it survives the mission. We also got a hair cut and I was able to speak with him in Spanish for the whole hair cut. I understood a lot but not all. I also found a Nintendo 64 at a swap meet, but I didn't buy it.

On Sunday, Elder Garcia and I had EIGHT investigators at church, a number that is unheard of. The closest Elder Garcia has gotten before was seven in his first area. We also managed to get eight new investigators. Our secret actually came from Elder Buck, our district leader. Last week at district meeting he said to not look at conversations as conversations but as finding opportunities, so that's  what we did. Thursday night we set a goal of Finding Opportunities rather then Conversations, and our numbers skyrocketed. We also found N*, who committed to Baptism on our first visit lesson. So cool, we now have 2 Fechas Bautismal, (Baptism Dates)

Saturday we found A* again. we walked with him for a little to a house that we found on Friday.

The house we found on Friday had a Recording Studio built onto the side, I kid you not, and they let me sing in the booth. It was so cool. it was very hard. The head phones allow you to hear yourself, but it's late and they were putting effects on, because it was a rap studio, so I sounded weird and late. We got two names from this Finding Opportunity. Animal Dog, which we said for a tag, and Gnealz or Jarell. It was so worth it, and we got a picture of us in the booth.

Thursday we had a cena with the P*s, a family in our ward. It was a fantastic lasagna cena and I wanted more by the end, but was so full it would have killed me to have more.

Wednesday we had a cena at S*'s, the other fecha. She also gave us a lasagna cena. She asked what we wanted Tuesday and made it for us.

Tuesday we had District meeting. I made cookies the day before and shared them with the district. It was really cool and we had a fantastic meeting.

That's pretty much the week. now for things I forgot.

Two weeks ago, on Monday, Elder Garcia and I were looking through a swap meet and I found the Brazil Kit in the picture for $20. the shorts don't fit, but everything else does.

I think I might be running low on money on my Debit from home. I have to pay for repairs to my bike and anything that is stolen from it, so I will need an emergency fund for that on the card. Also, if Dad could check it and let me know how much I have left, that'd be great.

I can't remember if I already said this, but Meet the Mormons is a fantastic movie and you should go see it. Find a place that is showing it near you.

Today is exchanges so I'm going to be with Elder Buck for a day and I will let you know more about him next time.

Love Elder Blanding.

October 6, 2014 A Week of Firsts

Hi Mom.

This week, in case you can't guess, was a Week of Firsts. I had my First Flat Tire on the same day as my First General Conference in the missions and had my First Investigators Attend Church. we actually had four attend conference. One came to Priesthood session, only problem was the investigator is an Hermana. I also attended my First Session of General Conference in espanol. I under stood nothing. Did Dad say anything about the talk in Portuguese. It sucked that I couldn't be in the MTC for this week, the choir was beautiful and it was fun to see the director who I got to know and love leading one last time.

My companion was born in Honduras but moved to North Carolina early so he speaks really good English. and never mistake him for Mexican, he gets angry.

Conference was amazing. I learned so much and the talks seemed to be directed both to me and to my investigators. I loved Elder Bernard's talk in the Sunday evening session. I only understood a little of the talk because that was the one that I listened to in Spanish so I could sit with my Investigator, but I understood the first part and loved how he directed it at the people who are investigating the Church.

We need the costumes the Monday before Halloween. Our zone is playing a game of Marvel vs.. DC volleyball.

Elder Garcia was sick Saturday and I didn't have my bike, because the tire popped, so we were stuck at the church for most of the day and only managed to talk to 110 people this week, but we never missed a day of contacting, and we found two more families anyway. One is three girls, a mom and her two daughters. The oldest sing in choir. The other I've only met one of the girls and her name is M*, fun coincidences that happen on missions. [had to edit this out for privacy and safety concerns]. I wonder if God is telling us something.

It sucks that Annie died. I hope grandmas doing okay. As for praying, just pray for my investigators in general. We're trying to get them to keep commitments, but it's hard. Elder Garcia is teaching me a lot.

Spiritual thought for the week "'Weird' is another word of 'Inspired'"

That's about it for this week

Elder Michael Blanding

[He then wrote me a hand written letter]

Hi Mom,

I forgot some things in my email. Add to blog as you see fit. Another first is right after I e-mailed you, I had my first bike crash. I was riding to play soccer with the zone and rode right off the sidewalk. I flipped over the handle bars.

I also just finished making cookie dough. I’m going to bake them when I’m done writing you. We don’t have a mixer or whisker so I ended up suing a fork. I have pictures of the finished product. We had some of the cookie dough and it’s really good.

We were going to get our iPads, yes it is [can’t read his handwriting] this week but some elders in a different mission misused them so we won’t get them yet. I love my Mission President in his e-mail explaining this he quoted Alma “wickedness never was happiness” and then said, “especially when it messes with my happiness.” 

I’m also sending home some things I can’t have and don’t need. Take care of the books, send me a thing of cd’s with music. My MTC ID is in there and I’d like that to be taken care of as well. Please. 

Love,

Elder Michael “Boxer” Blanding

PS: Elder Garcia thinks I’m a model.

And a note from Elder Garcia: “Your son is the best. Thank you for all your prayers! Love Elder Garcia (with a heart)

September 29, 2014 157 People and "You a boxer"

Hi Mom,

These last few weeks have been hectic. I didn't get a chance to email before today because P-Day was our orientation day. I went out with Elder Guevarra, it was his last day of proselyting and we went tractng and contacting. It was fun. I got to give the Joseph Smith story in Spanish and Elder Guevarra said I killed it.

Tuesday was transfer day, so that's when I was assigned my trainer, Elder Garcia. He's, to use the term of the mission, "sick". He goes home in twelve weeks so his last assignment will be to train me. He doesn't have any signs of being "Trunkie", he's driven to end strong and baptize a family, so we've been working, searching, and praying really hard. We think we have one in the C* Family, but they need to come to church. We also don't have any baptismal dates (Fetchas) because no one will come to church, and the one investigator that is coming, mom won't let her.

We have a goal to talk to everyone we meet. This has lead to some very interesting conversations. Here they count how many conversations they have in which they try to talk about the gospel, so every conversation. 

We've had, in the last week, 157 conversations, which blew away the mission standard  of excellence, and warranted a call from the Spanish Assistance to the President. Through this process, we've also managed to come to the conclusion that I am a magnet for the crazies. In the first week I've had eight converstations with people who were crazy, or tried to. I'll give you the highlights. There was Livin' the Vida Loca, a homeless man who called us over and asked us why we didn't talk to him, asked a bunch of trivia about irrelevant and untrue facts about Church history, and hated me because I was white and didn't speak Spanish (This was day 1). Then There was Voodoo Lady, who tried to hit me with a shopping cart. and finally there is Angel, this is actually his name. We talked with him for 30 min. during which time he talked about 100 unrelated topics and, when he found out I like to sing, told me "You're not a singer, you big boy. You a Boxer" Elder Garcia and I have had a hard time forgetting about this contact.

I actually haven't bought an iPad yet. We won't get iPads in this missions until later this month at the earliest, and we might get the new iPhone 6 or 6+ instead. I keep you posted. we're actually going to be Guinea pigs for more of the online access missionaries.

What I did get was a nice bike. it cost me around $400 with tax and all the necessities, like helmet and lights, but it's a nice bike. I have a picture of it before and after we "picia"ed it up, but the computer I'm using doesn't have a place to install my pictures so I'll send them next week.

city is Van Nuys zip 91316.

I have to go now, I don't have anymore time. I'll write more next week

Love

Elder Michael Blanding

Elder Michael Blanding second from right
President and Sister Hall in front right.

Elder Michael Blanding and Elder Garcia

Elder Garcia and Elder Michael Blanding

September 20, 2014 We Listened to an Apostle!!!!!!

Hi Mom

Tuesdays Devotional was fantastic. As you probably guessed from the title of today's e-Mail, we had an apostle talk. We listened to (Drum roll please) Elder Richard G. Scott! He talked a lot about prayer and how God can help us in our work if we humble ourselves and ask for help.

This weeks been the longest one yet, and nothing happened. I tried out again for a singing part, my accompanists name was Elder Lowry, and I got a singing part. I'm singing this Sunday for the departing devotional on west campus. Random fact, They're shutting down west campus in October.

Friday was a nice change. We had In Field Training. It was basically an all day seminar on what we are going to be doing when we get in the field. It was fun. They had a play at the end and I was able to have a little part in it. We also got to learn some of the classes from Elder Christian, one of the Elders on "The District." He's pretty cool and it was fun to listen to and one of our favorite videos is of him and his companion failing at teaching the law or Chastity and he was very straight up with it and even made a joke about it. The story of how they found the investigator in that video is pretty cool too.

That brings us to today. Didn't do much either. Went to the temple to do sealings, that was fun. Unfortunately it meant that I was out hours before I normally get out and therefore missed Saydi and Ben The busses stop at 11:30 so we waited at the bus stop for a good two hours before a uta bus cam along and gave us a ride to MTC west. After that I came here and e-mailed home. Hopefully next weeks will be longer about me.

Another cool thing. I HAVE HERMANAS IN MY TRAVEL GROUP. This is nice because it means I don't have to worry about putting an hermana with two elders. Can't wait for Monday.

It's supper cool Matt got a job. And it's even cooler that he's doing something he loves. I had such a big flash back when you told me that you had soccer start at 8:15. I was in the old house and Kray, Jason and I were putting on our soccer gear in the old dining room early Saturday. I miss those days.

Well done Jessie on winning by such big numbers. It's cool to hear, or in this case read. Is she reffing now?

Thing I forgot. I'd like to have a copy of my patriarchal blessing. I left mine on the school white board and intended to copy it but forgot in the rush Monday six weeks ago. If you could scan and email it to me that would be great.

I leave this Monday. 11:30 was a typo so we report to the travel office at 4:30. I'll try and call at 6:30 Utah time, but we might be in the car going to the airport. Also, if I could get a list of the SMs so I can memorize them in Spanish (Something they asked us to do) that would be fantastic.

I really can't think of anything else to say right now so I'll just sign off and reply to Matthew Peart.

Love,

Elder Michael Blanding.

[Mom note: He sent a bunch of photos home a couple weeks ago, but instead of putting them all up, I am spreading them out.]

Elder Mike and his companion

Where are you going Elder Michael Blanding?

Elder Michael Blanding after a game of basketball. Not much has changed. 

September 13, 2014 More cousins and WE GOT TRAVEL PLANS!

Hi Mom

The scripture was 1 Nephi 4:1 but with the edits it read "Let us go [down] again unto [the world], and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord. And you can do what ever you want with it, I just thought it was really cool. Elder Hoyt shared that during one of our district "devotionals" and I thought you might want it to put over a door because our house isn't the world.

Sunday night they gave us all a lot of hope talking about what we are to do if an apostle or member of the first presidency were to come and talk to us, there was a lot of talk about who was going to come Tuesday, Elder Pudil and I played a popular game here called "what are the odds" where you ask someone what the odds are of them doing something, they give you a 1 in another number answer, you count down from three and say a number between 1 and the number and if you say the same number the person asked has to do it, if it adds up to the number that was chosen then the person who asked has to do it. Using this method we decided that Elder Holland was going to come and speak to us. Surprisingly, it didn't work. instead it was Elder Sitati of the quorum of the 70.

I bumped into Amanda Collyer, (now Sister Collyer) on Sunday but there wasn't much time and I wanted to say hi to the Hiltons, so we talked more on Tuesday during choir. I also managed to memorize the Missionary version of the first vision in Spanish, it is so pretty in this language, now if only I could under stand it when natives talk in it.

Thursday Hemana Keil and I tried out for a solo, again. They asked me to come back, this time with a different accompanist. Hermana Keil wasn't use to the song and didn't know it well enough. So I'll try for the last time this Thursday with a very skilled Elder on the piano. I don't remember his name. but I wrote it on a peace of paper and in my journal so that shouldn't be a problem.

Your welcome for the Birthday pictures. I only have an iPad for pictures now but that will change when I get to San Fernando and buy a new memory card.

After the temple today, we were walking up to the curb to main when Saydi walked to the same corner. I said hello just to be nice and we both were surprised to recognize each other. It was fun, we started talking while I waited for the light and she said the Ben was just behind her (they were both going to the temple) but I didn't get a chance to see him because the light changed and I wanted to have lunch. On an unrelated topic in the same paragraph, I go to the temple next Saturday at 9:10 and after a session we all go to main for lunch and wait for the light around 11:45ish.

Speaking about Ben. Before our session I ran into a couple of Hermanas from his mission. It was really bizarre to have Ben mentioned in two conversations today and still not see him.

It's good to hear about what's going on at home, although I'm still wondering about why you didn't give me the cancer news. Felizidads on the win and Buenas Suerte in all that you do Jess, Chris, and Matt. (sorry if the spelling on my Spanish is wrong, I have a English keyboard that doesn't know the right way to spell in Spanish).

WE GOT OUR TRAVEL PLANS FRIDAY!!!! I leave the CCM on Sunday night after the Devotional. 11:30 to be exact. I might even be able to call you from the airport. our flight leaves here at 8:30 (7:30 your time) and I think I can call you from the airport. let me know a good time, and in what time zone, to call. I've been made travel leader, so I'm going to have a lot of responsibility, I have to watch over seven other Elders and one Hermana, make sure they obey the rules and all get on and off the plane. I'm kind of stressing out a little. Oh and you might have sent me with one bag too many so I could need some extra $105 to pay for checking. and I also will need money for a nice iPad mini when I get to San Fernando. just a heads up because you asked Dad. Also I'm going to need a bike.

In other unrelated news, I have scientifically proven that the advantage human male does not have any growth in maturity between the ages of four and 20 (I think the last ones right, it might be a little high). our zone found out that when I get "shot" I die this week. I've been spending a lot of time on the ground. I'm just glad that the ones across the street leave Monday. It's hard to learn Spanish when you keep dying every two seconds from a gunshot, pistol, shot gun, grenade, knife and anything else they can think of. I will miss them though. They are a great group of Elders and really helped out when Elder Pudil had his panic attack.

I've got to go now. Elder Pudil and I have a meeting with an investigator soon and then we're going to Brigham's Landing with the district that likes to shot me. just want to say before I leave that, Mom, you were right. Putting your head into a iDevice is so unprofessional and rude to those around you. Elder A* can't seem to get his head out of his iPad sometimes. He's a missionary who's to busy writing his journal or E-Mails that he can't talk to anyone or help out.

Love,

Elder Michael Blanding

p.s. We get to see the Ogden temple dedication next Sunday

Elder Forsyth and Elder Michael Blanding
John Forsyth is an old friend from Redmond, he is going to Oaxaca, Mexico

September 6, 2014 Jackson and his Wife and a trip to the ER

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.

August 30, 2014 Singing and Prayer

Hi mom.

This weeks been packed with a lot of cool things, it's hard to know where to start, but I guess the beginning is as good a place as any, so here's the end. I got hurt playing Basketball.

Elder Pudil was sick all last week, and he wasn't getting better. We'd spent the day in the apartment and he's started to improve, but the next day he was right back to being sick. So after Sunday Devotional, Elder Lords and Elder Williams (the Zone leaders) came over to our apartment and helped the whole district give Elder Pudil a blessing. Elder Guyman did the anointing and I got to preform the blessing. We did it in English, thank heavens, but it was still one of the most spiritual moments of my life. I don't know where half the words I said came from and the next morning he was much better.

Monday we went about our normal routine of class and study, but they had a surprise for us on Tuesday. Our afternoon class time was taken so they could give us iPads. It was cool, and the timing was really nice because we'd detoxed enough from the world to use them as tools rather then playthings. They're really useful for learning the language, but distract from the other tools we have like E-learn (the site I used before I entered the MTC) and TALL (another computer program for learning vocab and phrases in Spanish) and I can't use the iPad for doctrine or scripture study. We had Devotional that night, and having an iPad to take notes on was nice.

After Devotional that night, Elder Pudil went to bed at ten, so I stayed in the bedroom and had a twenty minute long prayer where I poured my heart out to God. During the prayer I told him all of my doubts and fears and I made a covenant with him. It was the first time I've every truly had a conversation with God and it was the best

Wednesday I was doing personal study and reading in the Isaiah chapters of 2nd Nephi when I came across a passage that I wanted to share with Kray, so I wrote him and you a letter that night and mailed it the next morning so it should get there either today or Monday. We also played basketball as a District, which ended up as a game of bump, I won the last round and all the Hermanas played, so it was fun. this wasn't the game that I got hurt in.

Thursday was tryouts for the solo. Sunday I found out that Hermana Tew didn't want to do it so I tried out with a fun version where I sang the first three quarters acapella because they wanted me to. The people liked it, and asked us, because we're here for four more weeks, to try a different version than the one we had. It's hard and it's even harder to find time to practice because we're so busy during the day. If you can give me any sugestions on how to practice singing against the piano (which is what the version calls for) please do, I hope we can find time to practice but we don't have pianos in our classroom area, so finding a piano and time is hard. hopefully Sunday won't be too hectic and we can find time. I do feel kind of bad about pulling the other Hermana's and Elder Pudil from their studies, although the Hemanas are good at studying while we practice.

Friday was fun. We got up early to do our laundry and were only able to get our whites back to the apartment, so I did gym, which was Basket Ball, in my pajamas. Elder Pudil had his neck seize up on him in the first game, so I stepped in. I played two games really well, by my standards, but in the third game I got a nasty knock. blood all down the front of my shirt, on the court, one whole paper towel soaked in it, all over my hands, and i'm pretty sure that if my shorts hadn't been read, they'd be stained to. Yep, I got a bloody nose. I was guarding someone and he went to drive and stuck out his elbow. It caught my nose and for a second I wasn't sure if it was bleeding or not. Turns out he cut the outside of my nose and a little on the bottom as well as getting the inside to drip like a faucet. I was told that I was lucky, another elder knows a kid who caught a hand in the nose and the damage was so bad that they had to re-brake the nose to fix it.

Today at the Temple they asked me what my last name was and I knew it was coming so I was prepared to say Elder Blanding, because I knew they were going to ask for my name but didn't remember that it was my last name.

If you want Jackson to see me. tell him to go to MTC west. building 8R during the week and I'll be there. If not then the cafeteria on main at lunch time on P-Day's. or that I'm getting my hair cut at 10:30 on Thursday in West

Tell Matthew to read PMG NOW. It is the most important book for a missionary. It is full of everything you do as a missionary and read the scriptures that go along with it. They are so nice. I wish I could take a day and read them all, but we only have an hour of personal study and P-Days are for doing other stuff like email's and unwinding.

That's about all the time I have left.

I love you and think of you often.

Elder Michael Blanding

Elder Michael Blanding second from left and his cousin Sister Julia Stolp (in the blue) 

Elder Michael Blanding (second from left). 

August 23, 2014 Week 1 and 1/2, Music, Teaching and Christ

Hi Mom and anyone else who reads this.

Please do send me emails on Friday night, we print out our e-mails at main so we don't spend our hour reading them.

Last week I told you about my teaching experience with Elder Pudil (He's from Arizona, Utah, and Washington the state, east side. He likes to run and is exactly like me) and it sucked that I couldn't email again that night, because we seriously taught a lesson again, and within twenty four hours I was talking, teaching, testifying, and understanding. After that lesson the whole district unanimously voted us to always go last because it lasted forty minutes and was the most spiritual lesson I've had the privilege to be a part of.

Correcting spelling errors in my last email (OK only one) Elder Reise's name is spelled Reese, like the candy bar.

Sunday was so cool. Elder Oaks's daughter, Jenny Oaks Banks, talked to us. She is one of the best classical violinists in the USA and she played for us with her family and a friend who's preparing for her mission. The oldest of her kids is 12 and plays the violin almost as good as her mother. The next oldest was 10 and played the piano like a star. Then her  nine year old was a cellist with a world class ability, and her seven year old son was phenomenal on the guitar.

After Sister Bank's talk/performance, Me and Elder Pudil watched a talk/devotional given by Elder Ballard in the MTC on Christmas Sunday called "Character of Christ." You need to find and watch/read it, one of the best talks I've ever seen/heard. Ballard is seriously my favorite apostle now.

The Gift of Tongues is real. I'm learning so much Spanish, and the spelling of words actually makes since unlike English.

My audition didn't happen this week, and it's no longer a solo Hermana Kiel had this great idea for me and Hermana Tew to sing together, and it's beautiful, but we weren't ready last Friday so we're going to try this week, if we can find time to practice between study, class, meetings and meals.

Cool news. We had people from the United States Air-force come and observe our new program. Not so cool news. Elder Pudil was sick that day, so we had to stay in the apartment.

I have such a strong testimony in the power of the spirit to teach things. Elder Ballard mentioned this in his talk, but during our first lesson, the one where I understood nothing, I felt the Spirit testify to me that what was being said was true, and the only thing that kept me form pointing it out was that I didn't know what was being taught. And when you have two Elders working together and understanding and communicating, the spirit more then doubles, it nearly quadruples.

i also know that planing helps. We had a couple lessons, like the forty minute one, where we planed for an hour before we gave the lesson, and even though we didn't use any of the plan, we we're way more coherent as a group and we taught so much better.

Tuesday was devotional night for all of the MTC, and we had the General Young Woman's president give a talk about how even the smallest change in attitude and effort makes all the difference in the mission field.

We had a nice meeting as a district where we all shared spiritual thoughts together and after Elder Gamble-Thompson shared his life story. He's had it rough. His parents aren't members, but his grandma is, he's moved a lot and been homeless. He's been robbed and much more. Think about "The Blind Side" minus the white mom saving the day and football.

I definitely feel like I was saved to be a part of this District, specifically. It's been only a week and a half and I feel like I've known them all my life. We know so much about each other and we just seem to click.

As for the care package Mom. I'd like you to send me a stack of memory cards for my camera, so instead of sending pictures back via Email I can just send a letter every now and then and putt the memory card inside. That way you get to see all the pictures at once. Oh and I got the Package. Thanks. Other things, White socks for Gym. A little name tag that says Elder Bernard for Bernard. Instructions on how to use my luggage tags, food, water, one of the Dogs. I can't think of anything else but if I do I'll write.

I saw Julia again today and during choir Tuesday (They sing at Devotionals.) I have a picture and Julia is going to send you the one from last week. She leaves Wednesday.

Things that are different.

1. The water is awful.

2. I'm actually studying

3. I'm enjoying the work

*4. The food leaves something to be desired

*5. It's hard to eat a lot due to time and taste.

*6. I can't hug any girl.

August 16, 2014 Getting to know you

Hola, Familia.

So today's P day (Saturday) for the MTC. Sorry it took so long and for the lack of pictures, it's been a hectic week.

Most of our time has been spent in class or in the gym so there's not much to tell. We spend all morning in class trying to understand our teachers who are only allowed to talk to us in espanol, and then go to gym right before lunch. After lunch it's right back to class. Mostly it's studying the Gospel, but there is an hour set a side for pure language study. Then we have dinner followed by more class time. By 10:30 we are all mostly so wiped out that we collapse into bed and don't have much trouble getting to sleep.

So my District is all from the pilot program. We have ocho Elders y tres Hemanas (eight elders and three sisters.) at 19 I'm the oldest Elder. They're all the best. My companion, Elder Pudil, is already pretty fluent in espanol, so he can be hard to understand sometimes. He's the best. He is just like me, and I'm not joking. He loves to be hyper and have a good time. He jokes and messes around all the time. He's also going to San Fernando.

Our district leader is Elder Guymon. He's cool. He's going to Tempe, Arizona, like most everyone else in our district. He and his companion are in the same apartment as us. He also is a joker and loves to sing, yesterday he wrote a song to help us remember verbs. It was hilarious. He put it to the tune of Cups, (You're gana' miss me when I'm gone.) I don't think it actually helped, but it was fun.

His companion is Elder Gamble-Thompson. He's pretty cool to. The only other elder who's going to San Fernando. He has a Identical twin in Mexico that is going to serve in Salt Lake City. He's really into the idea of rapping in order to learn espanol, but other then that he's cool.

Next there's Elder Clifford. He's fun. He's going to Arizona, Tempe as well and lives in the apartment next to us, so I don't know him all that well.

His companion is Elder Hoyt (I think that's spelled right.) He's really tall and is also going to Arizona. All the missionaries that are going to Arizona are going to Tempe. I don't know him all that well either, but I still have six weeks to get to know them.

The last companionship is Elder Reice and Elder Goodrich. There cool, but like the last two I haven't had much interaction with them outside of Class and meetings. They are both going to Arizona.

I saved the best for last, Las Hermanas. All three are going to Arizona. Hermana Tew is nice. She's fun to talk to, but the restrictions on Elder y Hermana interactions make it hard to get to know the Hermanas, so I don't know to much about her.

Then there's Hermana Mello. She attended BYU last year and roomed with Janelle and Mandi, so it was nice to have that immediate connection and conversation piece. Her and Elder Reice already have received care packages. She got six cupcakes!

Last, but certainly not least is Hemana Keil. She plays the piano, and, I'll be honest, I only know that because she's going to accompany me in a audition for a solo this Thursday. I'm going to be singing "Come Thou Fount" so wish me luck.

I also met Hermama Burton, and if Scott’s kids think that name sounds familiar it's because she knows them. She's from the Tri- Cities and when I asked her if she knew the Ostlers she couldn't believe that I was related. She's companions with our zone Hermana training leader.

So we already have the biggest zone in the MTC. the zone can't do their laundry all at the same time we're so big, and next week we're adding three new districts to the zone. That means we will have six districts, which is unheard of and will make any zone activities impossible. Our branch president and zone leaders are trying to get us special privileges because we are so big. We already were allowed to do our laundry early and still we didn't get done on time.

For P day I've just been to the temple, done laundry and cleaned up the campus (Yes mom I did all that, you can't stop being shocked.) After the temple we all went to Main Campus to have lunch and I ran into Sister Stolp (Julia) she got a picture of us but I was running late for the bus and forgot my camera in the apartment, so ask Mark for the photo.

The Pilot program has been a fantastic head start. We are apparently ahead of missionaries that have been here for three weeks. My host in west had been here for five weeks and had apparently just learned how to testify in espanol and we've been given access to online programs that most missionaries didn't get until week three and might not ever get. We are the first pilot district in the MTC, so we are kind of the pilot of the pilot.

Oh, before I run out of time, on the first night we got to take part in a role play/real teaching moment. I learned so much about teaching by the spirit. The first investigator we taught we failed miserably. We tried to teach too much and didn't try to figure out the root of his problem. After that It was much better and the spirit was so strong in the room that I knew the investigators had to be able to feel it.

I'm actually getting a handle on espanol and learning new words and how they work.

Things that are different.

1. The water is awful.
2. I'm actually studying
3. I'm enjoying the work

Love Elder Michael Blanding.

August 13, 2014 MTC drop off

We arrived Monday and found our hotel and enjoyed a Brazilian meal at Tucanos! YUM!

Tuesday we went to SLC and went to the temple, had lunch in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, then had a last supper with our family and friends in Provo.

Wednesday we dropped him off! 

Here are some photos of the week!

Last family photos (missing Elder Jason Blanding)

Doreen & Elder Michael Blanding

One last hug!

I'm a Missionary!

For the next two years....

Steve & Elder Michael Blanding

COUSINS!!! Sister Stolp and Elder Michael Blanding's last supper!

Men in Black....Steve and Elder Michael Blanding