Correo electronico del Élder Cannon

Wow I can't believe it's Thursday again. This week just flew by. My travel plans say that I'll be leaving at 5 am on Tuesday, July 26th. I will arrive in Bogota, Colombia at 8:45 pm (Eastern Standard time) that same day. If all goes well, I'll be in Colombia in less than a week. Whew. Crazy. I've been doing my best to work super-duro (hard) this last bit. A few of the Elders in my district are getting trunky, which is no bueno. This is totally ADD, but I just realized...I used the phrase "doing my best" instead of "trying." I think that came from like forever ago in Eagle Mountain. I don't even remember how it started, but I decided that I wouldn't ever "try" to do something. I would only "do my best." As the wise Yoda once said, "Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." Anyway...there's Elder Cannon's weekly quirk for y'all. :P

Which reminds me. The word of the week is "podía." It means "I used to could."

MTC life is still as great as ever. We're just livin' the good life. All you can eat meals, 3 times a day. Sometimes it even _tastes_ like food. The gym has been closed for the past little while, so I haven't had the chance to weigh myself, but I don't think I've gained anything. If I have, I'm not to worried about it sticking around with the miles and miles of walking I'll be doing every day. Then again, there will be the wonderful members that feed us lots of food. Hehe...I love when Elders make such naive comments about their missions. I just kind of laugh inside and think, "You really have no idea how it's going to be." I know it'd be cool if your mission president gave you all a machete at the beginning of your mission, so you can more easily tract through the Amazon Jungle...but I'm just not sure that's how it's gonna go.

This week was pretty average. I mean, it was amazing. I guess it was kind of...amazingly average. Oh! I just saw Jace Gregory this morning! He got here yesterday, and is going to Guatemala. So exciting. :) Also, I'm pretty sure Drew Gagon is here somewhere, but I haven't seen him yet. He's going to Zimbabwe! How sweetawesome is that? :) It's so good to have so many friends out serving missions. I think there are probably 10-15 people here from PHS, and a few that I know from BYU-Idaho.

This Sunday, Elder Dyches and I are singing "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" in Sacrament meeting. That one that you sent me, mom. I love it so much. The only thing is, I've never sung it. I've only played it. heh. Pero estoy muy animado. Nunca he cantado un solo o un duo en una reunión sacramental. It'll be interesting. I hope it goes well. The average branch here has about 30 to 40 members. Ours has more than 80. Hehe. It's about the size of my student ward at BYU-I. I'm not too worried though.

I don't have much to write this week. I feel lame. Next week I'll have more than I can handle...but this week...is just kinda lamesauce.

I'll tell you a story. Once upon a time, My companion and I got chosen to teach the newbs this Wednesday (yesterday). So, we went to the training meeting thing, and we did a bunch of practices and watched some videos, and then the guy was like, we actually only need 4 of you 8 companionships. I chose 4 at random that will be teaching. So it ended up that my companion and I didn't teach the newbs. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. Honestly, I think all the training we did was super-helpful anyway. I'm glad I got to go.

Happy birthday, Kristopher and Todd! I'm not sure how old Todd is...but Kris is 22 now, right? Happy birthday to both of you! :) Hope it's a good one. Oh, and Kristopher, you totally owe me a ping pong tournament when I get home. I had two years to practice while you were in Indiana, so you'd better get practicing for when I get home. ;)

Well, if you couldn't tell already, my life is average. Still working, still studying, still having wonderful experiences. Ready to hit the ground running. Yesterday, my district got to host again, where we greet the new missionaries with smiling faces, help them with their luggage, and bring them to their room and to their class, help them not feel so lost or alone... :-/ It's kinda crazy that I was there only 8 weeks ago. It seems like I've grown and matured about 3 years worth. Mission life does stuff to you. It's all good stuff though.

I'm pretty much just rambling now, so...you can all go back to the normal, dreary things you normal people do. And I will get back to you. (Okay, now slam the door really hard. Heehee. No...they can still see you. Your elbow's still in...)

This morning I read Mormon 4-5 and Moroni 8. They're such amazing chapters. Some of my favorite verses are Mormon 5:8 that says "Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?" It's true. I'm in God's hands. And so are all of you. He's our Heavely Father, and He cares personally for each and every one of us. Just like in 3rd Nephi when Christ blessed each and every one of the little children, He cares. "Mirad a vuestros Pequeñitos."

I love you all. I'm so glad to have such amazing family and friends. All of your support and prayers and everything else help more than you know. I couldn't be more grateful.

Still paddling the old knew,

-joey

P.S. Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice.

P.P.S. Is it a good sign that I can't think of any movie quotes? I was thinking about it the other day, and I really think I will be happy the day I can't remember a single one. That just means I'm changing and becoming an effective missionary, right? I hope so...

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Joey had an opportunity to sing with a choir in the MTC at the 2011 Seminar for New Mission Presidents. 9 of the 12 apostles were present, the first presidency was present, and it was a great experience. They sang 4 songs, and here they are. The choir is too good and too well blended to hear Joey's voice, but it's in there somewhere. :)

(1)Come Thou Fount

(2)I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus

(3)Precious Savior Dear Redeemer

(4)This Is The Christ

And then I sent you guys an email.

Dear family and friends,

Do I always start my emails that way? ...how boring.

I'll start over.

¿Quiubo, mi querido familia y amigos? ¿Cómo están? Yo estoy bien. Muy bien. He estado muy animado a escribir a ustedes esta mañana

Better? Maybe. Btw's, "Quiubo" is a Colombian saying to mean like, what's up? That kind of thing. It's nice having two teachers that know all about Colombia, because they teach me everything to say. :) One of my teachers is actually in Colombia right now. He got back from my same mission last fall, and now he's back to go to the sealing of a family he baptized. Isn't this work just amazing? I love it. So much.

That's not to say it isn't hard at times. Missionary work wouldn't be missionary work if it wasn't hard. We watched a Devotional from several years ago by Elder Holland, and he was saying how important his mission was to him, and that if we come home from our missions in two years, and in just a day or two, we're staying up until 3 in the morning, and watching all the movies we missed, and hanging out with the same group of friends, or in other words, if we haven't changed, then we never became a missionary. The mission helps more than the investigators and converts. It helps the missionaries, perhaps more than anyone else. So, I hope I come home a different person. Honestly, if my mission were over tomorrow, I'm pretty sure I'm come back a changed person. So...let's just hope you recognize me when I get off the plane in two years. ;) I'm so excited for these next two years. Like, super-excited. :)

After I leave the MTC, it'll be 3 or 4 weeks for pouch mail or regular mail. I should've put the pouch address on my blog...hmm. I think I have it sonewhere. Also you can still use DearElder, it'll just take 3-4 weeks. I was thinking, it really wouldn't be a mission if I stayed in Provo the whole time. I think it'd be too distracting. I want to lose myself in the work, and not care about anything else. I mean, I'll always care about you all, but there's a time and a place for everything. P-Days exist in Colombia, and you'll still get my weekly email. I just want to get out there and servir con todo mi corazon, alma, mente y fuerza. :) Oh...but to finish that thought, if you want to email me after I'm in the field, I won't be offended at all. I might not be able to reply, I'm not really sure what the rules are down there...but I will if I can. :)

Have you all been reading the Book of Mormon lately? I don't know if the copy I bought at the bookstore here is just a different version, or if they just gave me a new set of eyes when I got here, but this book has come alive in these past few weeks. It's absolutely amazing! It seems like no matter what I read, it's exactly what I need to hear, and I can apply it directly to whatever it is I'm doing. This week, I was reading in Alma 60 (which you should totally read, btw) about cleansing the inward vessel before the outer vessel. I compared this to my relationship with my companion. If we're not working together, if our "inward vessel" isn't cleansed, and if we don't have the spirit, then there's no way we're going to be able to cleanse the "outer vessel" and convert or baptize anyone. Anyway, apply it to your family, or your job, or school or something. Just apply it, kay? It means about 7 bajillion times more to you when you apply it to your own life. :) Will you commit to apply this in your own life before our next visit on the 21st of July?

So...this week, on Tuesday night, we were at the residence hall (not "dorms" because they're dedicated buildings) and President Dennis, our Branch President came into our room, and was like, "can I meet with you four for a bit?" We were all a little confused, and a little scared, I think. He gets all of our clean-check reports, so I was worried it would be something about that. Then he was like, "I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to make a permanent companion exchange." "...wait...what?

It was...completely unexpected. I mean, I can see the reasons why it happened. Being district leader, it's my reponsibility to keep tabs on all the companionship relations, but I can honestly say I didn't expect anything like this. So now I'm companions with Elder Murphy from Reno, Nevada. He's a really neat guy. I think we'll work well together these next couple weeks.

Crazy, eh? What's also crazy is that I don't even have 2 weeks! It's like 12 days! Unless my visa doesn't come through...which might happen... I really hope I leave on time, but they had me come in to the travel office this week to sign a paper, and I asked the lady if she knew how close it was. She told me that the paper I was signing meant that some other thing didn't work, so now they're doing this, which will hopefully make it go faster, but...she basically said they'll get me out of here as soon as they can. :P Honestly, I wouldn't mind a few extra days here in the MTC. I really love it here, but at the same time, I do want to get out in the field. My teacher that just went down to Colombia said that he talked to my mission president, and he already has my trainer picked out and everything. Ah! I'm so stoked! :D

Well, I've got to go, but I hope you all have a wonderful week. I haven't been able to go to the temple, because the Provo temple has been closed for maintenance, so...maybe somebody could go for me? I've really missed the spirit of the temple, but like I've said before, I've been called to do the work of the living, not of the dead. I trust that I will be able to feel the same beautiful spirit doing missionary work that I do with temple work, and come to love it as much or more (if that's possible). ;)

I love you all. I hope your lives are wonderful, wherever you are in the world. I hope and pray that when I return, we will all still be bretheren and sisters in the Lord (that's from Alma 17...if you missed that). Keep on keepin' on. I'll talk at you again next week. :)

Onward, ever onward.

-Elder Cannon

P.S. are you jumping in the trees? Are you jumping on the houses??

P.P.S. Helaman 5 is also amazing, if you're looking for some awesome stuff to read. Think about the repentance process, and what it takes to get the spirit of God. :)

P.P.P.S. We get our travel plans today!!! So, I guess I'll probably know today if I'm leaving soon or not. Or...they'll just tell me a bunch of mentiras (lies) and I'll leave late anyway. Hmm. Pray for me? Love y'all. :)

Hey all. :)

Dear family and friends,

Wanna know what's crazy? Well, I'll tell you. If everything goes as planned (visa comes on time, travel plans according to estimated departure date, no major earthquakes, etc.) I'll be in Colombia in 3 weeks! I love it. :) I'm so excited to get out there. I got an email from my good friend Jaymes Walters who's in Bulgaria right now, and he said he has 4 people with a baptismal date! Man, I love this work.

So, I probably told you a bit about our new teacher. His name is Hermano Barnard. The first time I heard his name, I thought, "Bernnarrrd..." Hehe. One of the Elders in my district has seen pretty much every movie I've seen, and we quote stuff every now and again. Fun stuff. :) Anyway, Hermano Barnard is going to Colombia next week! For a sealing of a couple he baptized. It'll be neat. :) Except then we'll be missing another teacher. Our other one is already on vacation in D.C. We just get used to having lots and lots of subs.

This week, for our Sunday fireside, Jenny Oaks Baker came to speak! It was an amazing fireside. She probably played her violin more than she talked, but it was so good to listen to beautiful music again. It was like we got a free concert, and it was...legal. Allowed. Whatever. There aren't many opportunities to go to concerts around here. As in...zero. Anyway, I was super glad we got to hear her play. :) Also, the night before that, on Saturday, we had a "special Independence Day fireside" which started at 9 pm, and they wouldn't tell us anything that was happening. So, we showed up, and they had a speaker, and then they had this awesome bagpipe band come in, and we sang a bunch of patriotic songs, and then the guy who was announcing the program told us, "and that's as far as I'm going to announce. President Brown will give you instructions for the rest of the evening." I'm pretty sure they just wanted to hold us in suspense for as long as possible. All I wanted was a "Yes, you can watch the fireworks" or a "no, you can't." I really would've been okay with either one, but the suspense was killing me! Hehe...that sounds kinda pathetic. After being here 6 weeks, fireworks are more exciting than...well, pretty much anything. :P Anyway, they did end up letting us watch them, from right here inside MTC campus. It was a really fun night. We got to bed pretty late though. I think it was after 11:10 when we finally got to bed. Oh, and thanks so much for the glow sticks. :) We've had lots of fun with those too.

Also, two of those songs you sent me are ones that I sang at BYU-Idaho! And they're pretty much my favorites. Ever. Hope of Israel, and More Holiness Give Me are the two. They actually sang that version of More Holiness in General Conference last April. I think. You'll have to look it up. :) And thank you so much for My Kindness! I've had it in my head for about a week now, and on Tuesday my companion and I were walking around, and I heard someone playing it. It was two sisters from the MTC seminar choir, playing from a copy that the MTC had. So we joined them, and I played while they all sang. Then later that day, I got a copy in the mail. Best day ever! Oh, but it got better. So, Mendy, or Brother Mendenhall, as he's called here, played for choir that Tuesday, and I went to talk to him, which was great. It's always good to see a familiar face here. I mentioned My Kindness to him, and he said he'd play it for prelude at Devo that night. :D So, I got to hear it again while we were waiting for devotional to begin. Also, on a side note, the sister that was playing My Kindness is Sister Osborne. I think...Stephanie Osborne? Anyway, I found out she went to PHS, which is why she would know about My Kindness. I also found out that is was her year of choir that got us into Carneggie Hall (spelling?). I told her thanks. Heh.

So, my goal to go without sugar has been going well. I've made a goal to go without until I set foot in Colombia, and we'll see what happens from there. It's been so long, but mom, do you remember talking about like, a personal Word of Wisdom? Where, you just need to follow the spirit as to what things are good for your own body, and what things aren't? Well, we've been teaching the Word of Wisdom lately, and I've been thinking about that with the no sugar thing, and I came accross the verse that promises "treasures, even hidden treasures of knowledge" to those that follow the Word of Wisdom. I have found that to be true. Holy cow. I was reading in Alma 17 yesterday, which is just amazing in the first place, and I starte seeing all this symbolism! It was like, words that I had never seen, even though I've read this chapter a million times. It's talking about Ammom serving the king, (he gives up marriage, btw, to serve the king), and he's "gathering sheep...to the place of water." Doesn't that just scream "missionary work" to you? I love it! Anyway, you'll have to take a look. I found some pretty amazing stuff. My time is just about up, but I just want to say that the Book of Mormon is true. Without a doubt, it is 100% true. Not only is it the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone to our religion, but "a man may get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book." Read it, eh? :)

I love you all, it's been great chatting with you. The little red timer in the corner is flashing at me...so I'd better finish up.

Carry on. Wherever you are in this world. :)

-Elder Joseph Morris Cannon

P.S. I'm in branch 47. How awesome is that? :)

P.P.S. I still haven't met anyone going to my mission. I have met several Elders going to other Colombian Missions.

P.P.P.S. "Why is he smiling at me??"

Email from Elder Joseph M. Cannon

Dear family and friends, I am absolutely loving missionary life. Even though I'm still here at the MTC and not out in the field, it is great to be a missionary. They tell us that the MTC is the most sacred place on the earth outside the temple. It's so true. The spirit is always so strong here, and as long as you're obedient and diligent, you'll have a portion of that spirit with you as well.

The food isn't bad. I mean, it's just the Cannon Center cafeteria food. Most of the time, it's really quite delish. My only problem with it is that there are always 3 big meals every day, and before I came out here, I hardly ever ate breakfast, my lunch was usually pretty small, and then I'd have a good sized dinner. However, I lost 3 pounds this week, so I think I'm not doing so bad. (Take that, MTC food!) I went 2 weeks without sugar, which was difficult at first, but they have plenty of food without sugar. They even have little bottles of honey to put on their sugar-free cereal. It's great. So, after the two weeks, I started eating sugar again, and I realized that it was harder for me to feel the spirit when my body was full of sugar. Now...at home, I don't think it would be so much of a problem. I never really felt like it was. But here, where the spirit is so prevalent, it's a lot easier to tell if you don't have the spirit with you. So I've made another goal to not eat sugar. It'll probably last at least until I head out to Colombia (btw, Colombia is spelled with two o's, not an o and a u). We are officially the oldest district in our branch/zone now (branches and zones are the same thing here). Oh, speaking of which, I got called to be district leader. Technically, it's an assignment, because we all have a calling already, so anything on top of that is an assignment. Anyhow, I'm district leader now. It surprised me at first. I guess I just had it in my mind that another Elder in my district was going to be called, because he seemed very qualified, but...apparently not. I'm grateful for the assignment though, and I hope and pray that I'll be able to lead my district to success. My district really is amazing. This last week, we got a new teacher, Hermano Barnard. He just got back from my same mission last August, which is wonderful. I've been asking him all sorts of questions about the mission, mission president, the weather, etc. It's nice to have someone on the inside. Anyway, this last week, we got him as a new teacher, and our other teacher that didn't change, is on vacation in D.C. With all the mix up and the substitutes, there have been two or three class periods this week where we haven't had a teacher. Without fail, our district has started each class on time, and either gone to companion study, which we usually do during class, or we've started learning some grammar principle or another. We have a pretty varied level of spanish speakers, so we can teach each other. It's great. I'm proud of my district. We're pretty much the best.

I haven't been sick for a few weeks. They did have a virus going around, and I think I might've had it for a bit, but it's gone now for sure. They're even letting us shake hands now. This is super ADD, but today is the last time I'll be able to go to the Provo temple in 2 years. I'll miss it for sure. I'm hoping to be able to go to the Bogota, Colombia Temple, since it is in my mission boundaries, but it'll probably only be once a year.

So, this last week being the mission president seminar, there were quite a few general authorities around. We had the opportunity to meet Elder Bednar. It was so cool! He's an amazing man. Oh, and we actually got to hear from him in a special Devotional on Friday. His talk was good. He always does the whole, "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them" thing. So, people are frantically trying to scribble down the ten points he just rattled off, and then he talks about each one individually anyway. He's a great speaker though. I really enjoyed his talk. It was all about becoming a Preach My Gospel missionary. One of my favorite things that he talked about was "treasuring up in your minds continually the words of life" (D&C 84:85). It's interesting to see different missionaries take different approaches to marking their new Spanish scriptures. They sell these neon page marker...sticky things, as well as pencils of all different colors, and a few of the Elders in my district have been going to town, color-coding all the principles of the gospel, and the lessons, and the Christlike attributes. I started doing that myself, but then I decided not to. The colors are fun, and the tags are helpful for a quick reference, but I think the better option is just to read and to study the words of God continually, and then, God says, "it shall be given you in the very hour that portion which shall be meted to every man." I'm not saying that any of the Elders in my district are wrong. To each his own, really. I just feel like I should rely more on the spirit than on my stickies. I'm still going to mark my spanish scriptures, but not so extensively. I hope and pray that I will always be worthy to have the spirit with me so that I'll be able to say what the Lord would have me say.

So, being district leader, there are two meetings I'm responsible for conducting/teaching, and there are 3 that I'm expected to attend. It's more time out of my day, but I love it. Just being with the other district leaders in my zone, as well as with my branch presidency is great. We have some amazing men leading us.

I had a few small world experiences this week that I thought were kinda fun. We had a substitute this week that went on his mission to Ecuador. I told him I had been to Ecuador, and he was like, "with OSSO?" Haha. He had been stationed in Cuenca for about 6 months of his mission. Then he started speaking with a Cuenca accent, and a whole flood of memories came back. Accents are just amazing that way. I love them. Another small world experience I had this week was in choir. I was sitting next to a Sister, Hermana Osborne, and started talking to her about where she was from, etc. Come to find out, she lives on Grandview hill in Provo, knows pretty much every one of my friends from PHS, or at least their older siblings, had sung with Mr. Mendenhall, and was in the choir that got us into Carneggie Hall. How crazy is that? So, I thanked her for getting us into Carneggie. Hehe. She didn't think it was funny, but it was nice to talk to someone semi-familiar. Or at least...familiar with the same things I'm familiar with.

I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to end a sentence with the word "with" but I couldn't think of another way to say it. And I'm probably just lazy. Who needs grammar anyway?

I had the opportunity of playing the piano for a men's quartet during a Sunday night fireside this week. They sang "Did you think to Pray." They did so good! I guess...maybe I did good too. I messed up in a few spots, but the key to a good accompanist is just to keep playing no matter what happens, and people think you're wonderful. ;) Works every time. So, Stephen Allen, Managing director of the missionary program, was speaking that night, and when his talk was over, he turned to the president, and said, "If you don't mind, let's change the closing hymn to "Did you think to Pray" and have these Elders come back up." We got to do it again! Haha. It was great.

Anyway, life is just wonderful. I'm going to be here for another 3 almost 4 weeks, and I'm going to make the most of it. I'm sure if I got to Colombia right now, I'd be loster than lost. I'm grateful for this opportunity I have to learn and grow in such a wonderful environment. It's a blessing for sure.

Well family, I love you all. Wherever you are in this world, know that I'm thinking about you, and that you're in my prayers. Keep on keepin' on. :)

-Joey

P.S. I really, REALLY have been wanting to listen to "My Kindness" this week. I read in 3rd Nephi 22 (Isaiah 54), and also D&C 121 & 122, where the lyrics of that song come from. I think I have a copy of the sheet music somewhere at home...but it might take some digging. If nothing else, y'all could just listen to it for me. ;)

P.P.S. I was about to make my frontal assault when like, 50 ninjas attacked me. And I had to beat 'em all up. And I did...

P.P.P.S. If you ever want to hear a happy missionary success story, read Ammon's homecoming talk in Alma 29. It's wonderful. :) I hope mine will be something like that. ;)

"Message for you sir!"

Dear family and friends,

I can't believe it's been another week. Tomorrow will be my half-way point! I've probably started every email like this, huh? "I can't believe it's been ___ weeks already!" Well, it's always true. Time never does stand still here.

The work moves ever onward. I've taught the first few lessons in Spanish, and it's getting a lot easier. Our class does this "Progressive Investigator" thing where each of our three teachers poses as an investigator, and each companionship has the opportunity to teach them a couple/few times a week. It's a really neat learning experience. Instead of butchering the gospel and the language to real people, we get to practice on our teachers, who won't decline the gospel or hate us forever when we mess up. :P Anyway, it's great practice. I thought I knew the gospel, but having my own testimony is a lot different than trying to lead others to gain a testimony for themselves. It's kind of like, I know the principles, but being able to explain them in simple terms is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

It's definitely getting easier the more I teach though. I'm really glad I get to be here for the full 9 weeks (8 weeks and change, technically). Although I can't wait to get out to the field. :) I'm determined to make these next two years the best of my life.

So...in case y'all are wondering, MTC life goes a little bit like this:

6:30 Wake up and shower
7:00 Personal Study time
7:40 Breakfast
8:10 More personal study
9:15 Class
12:15 lunch
1:00 More Class
4:00 Language Study
5:15 Dinner
6:20 Gym
7:45 TALL (Technology Assisted Language Learning...I think)
9:00 Plan for tomorrow
10:15 Quiet time
10:30 Lights out

Our Gym period changes from right after dinner to right after breakfast or lunch. It never made sense to me, having gym right after a meal. It's like they're allowing us the daily opportunity to feel even fatter than we know we are. ;) It's all good though. I have yet to find the self-control to just not eat the meal right before gym, but that's a lot easier said than done. Especially when I have to accompany my companion to the cafeteria anyway, and then there's all this food there, and just a little won't really hurt, and then there's a full course meal on my plate, and I go to gym wondering why I ate so much.

The food here isn't bad, but it's not all that good either. I was hoping with all the mission presidents here, that the food would get better, but instead they just divided the cafeteria off so that they're all eating wonderful, delicious things, and we get chicken patties on a bun.

I haven't gained any weight yet...at least that's what I keep telling myself. I really should be around 167, or...I would like to be around there, but the last time I weighed myself (after gym right after dinner) I was 174. So either I really am just eating a lot, and weighed more than I usually do, or I've gained a few pounds. I'm not giving up hope though. I'll win this battle yet. ;)

So, also with the mission presidents seminar here, there are quite a few general authorities. They've blocked off about 90% of the main building so we're not walking through, but I did see Elder Holland and Elder Anderson down a hall. :) Hehe. I thought it was pretty cool. I'm so glad we have living prophets in our days. They're all my heroes. We have a "special devotional" this Friday, and I'm hoping one of them comes to speak to us then. Apparently June is the month that all the Apostles take a break to be with their families, so we haven't had any Apostles come speak to us yet. They usually have one come every 2 or 3 weeks. Anyway, I'm pretty excited.

Well, my time is about up. I want you all to know that I know that this church is true. I didn't gain that testimony all at once. It was more of a life-long proccess. But I can say without a doubt, that this church is true. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to go out into the world to share that testimony with others.

Onward, ever onward.

I love you all,

-Joey

P.S. Frying pans! Who knew, right?? ;)

And then I wrote you guys an email.

Hello everyone. It's P-Day again. And what does Elder Cannon do on P-Day? He types stuff. Then people read it. Well...he kind of just assumes that people read it. He doesn't actually know. Except when people tell him. I guess that's happened a couple times. Also, forgive any spelling/grammar errors. I'm struggling a bit with this whole bilingual thing... :P

This past week was great. I mean...every week is scheduled exactly the same, but it was stil pretty amazing. Work, work, and more work. It's wonderful. We study for a couple/few hours every day, which is probably my favorite. Having so much time set apart just for studying is really helpful. I've started reading "Jesus The Christ" and I absolutely love it. It's a little tough to get into sometimes, but it's an amazing book. It's like Elder Talmage just took a magnifying glass to Jesus' life, and then described what he saw. The result was a 800-ish page book, filled with interesting details and insights about the life of Jesus Christ. This Tuesday, the General Primary President came to speak to us for Devo. The first few minutes of her talk, she had us singing primary songs. :) It was lots of fun. She told us a story from when she and her husband were mission presidents. She was at the grocery store late on the night before Thanksgiving, and she and her daughters were frantically throwing things into the cart, trying to get everything they needed before the store closed. They rushed up to the checkout and began unloading items on the counter. The man at the register started ringing the items up, and that's when she saw the sign that said "15 items or less." She told him that she could pay for what he had already rung up, and take the rest to another checkout counter. He told her "No, I just work really fast." She smiled and thanked the man, and then he said, "That man on your chest is my best friend." She looked at her tag, and was a little confused, thinking he was talking about one of their missionaries, but then she realized what he was saying. "I can tell that Jesus Christ is your best friend, by how kind you were to us." Then he said, "I can tell he's your best friend by the way you talk to your daughters." This story was very touching to me, especially as I've been reading Jesus the Christ, and trying to be more like Him. Is He my best friend? Is he yours? This is my challenge to each of you. If Jesus Christ is your best friend, then do everything you can to keep it that way. And if he's not, then maybe just spend a little more time with Him. Get to know Him a little better, so that one day people will be able to look at you and say, "Jesus Christ is your best friend."

I've been singing in the MTC Choir every week, and last week I got chosen (along with my companion, my district leader, and about 40-ish other missionaries) to be in a special choir that will sing at the Mission Presidents seminar. July 1st is when they switch out the mission presidents, and we'll be here while they're being trained. Also, there will probably be some general authorities. Hehe. :) That'd be exciting. Anyway, we have 6 songs that are supposed to be memorised in 6 days. I've sung through each of them once or twice is all...but we start practicing together starting tomorrow morning. I'm so excited to be in an amazing choir again. The MTC Choir is amazing...but there are usually about 500 missionaries singing in it every week, so it's not really the same. anyway, I'll let you know how it goes. I think it starts next Wednesday, and I'm not sure how long it goes.

Let's see...what else. Oh! The gash in my leg that I got in Moab finally healed. That was a happy day. That gash and I were never really friends, so I'm glad it's gone. Actually, that's false. We were friends for the first day. Because it looked so COOL! But after that it was just kind of painful and annoying. But it's gone now, finally. Oh! That reminds me. Hehe. Yesterday I wrote a "Dear John" to English. Like...we pretended as if we were going out with English, but we were breaking it off because we had found a new love named Spanish, and all that kind of stuff. It was a pretty hilarious activity. I really do love Spanish. Maybe not...quite as much as I love English, but I'm sure I'll get there someday. I do kind of hope I can still speak English when I get home. It'll be a little bit difficult to communicate otherwise. A couple of days ago, I went the entire day and only said 7 or 8 words in English. The first day I tried that, I pretty much just didn't talk much...and still ended up saying almost 60 words in English. But it's getting easier the more I speak it, and more enjoyable too.

Anyway, life is wonderful. I got a few packages in the mail this week. That was great. :) Thanks fam and friends. Y'all are the best, y'know that? You really are. I mean, any prayers said in my behalf are probably worth several packages, but the packages are still super-fun to get. ;)

I hope that life is treating you all wonderfully, in whatever part of the world you are. Stay on the strait and narrow, hold to the iron rod, and remember to keep your sights on what's at the end of this Celestial path. :)

I love you all. Carry on. The Church is true. Jesus Christ lives.

I'll talk at you all again next week. ;)

-Elder Moscas

P.S. I have a machete. Right here.