Christmas Season

Hola Madre,

Ese semana fue muy bueno. There are three things that were big this week. At least that I can remember. Cause everyday blends together.

Let's start with the Service. It was painting a members outside wall. Just one side. Well I thought of my science lessons back in middle school and remembered that the sun is closer near the equator. And it really hit me when my face was a little fried and my neck a bit toasty. But I painted that house like a pro. Made it the best one on the road. Well while we were painting my companion told me to but on the Christmas music, he thought was beautiful. It was Last Christmas by Wham. It is funny knowing it in English. I also started to do a little dance and sing while I was painting. And saw that some Peruanans were laughing.

It lead to my next big event. Noche de Talentos. A talent show celebrating Christmas. The ward mission leader had told us we need to do an act. It was during painting I had the Idea to sing last Christmas. You don't need to understand us. Just seeing us dance and the voice was the funny part. So we practiced it twice through the week. The night was coming closer and my companion tells me he doesn't want to sing. What? Why? I just had to go for it and have others join me. It was so funny. We did little dances and random songs. The missionaries were half the show. I was able to get Obispo to sing another great talent. We did have more investigators then members which was amazing.

The last thing that is the best of the week. Is this sweet sweet old grandma. I was helping her out of the moto and she continued to hold on to my hand so I walked her all the way to the building. I wasn't able to understand completely. So there is a little background. Now the best part. Me and Elder Hansen are dancing in the back to another act singing. This hermana looks back and starts to smile. Claps everytime we stopped and was telling us to go up there. So my goal that night was to make her laugh and clap more. I did more than that. She started to dance a little. It was funny and really made the night good.

That was my week. Remember this week is about the greatest gift we could ever receive. Without Christ we would be in a fallen state from Adam and would not be able to experience joy or light. Christ brought Light into this world that day he was born. We have been given the chance to return once again with our Heavenly Father. I invite you to share this message and be a light as well in the example you set to others.

Love, Elder Cormack

2nd Transfer

It would be my 2nd transfer now. And I am staying in Paijan. Nobody in Paijan had received a call saying their going somewhere else. I see it as a good thing because we have so much fun. If you hit your knee just in the right place the leg goes up. Well one of the missionaries in the house didn't  know this and I had right his knee and the leg went up. He then told me to keep doing that and was laughing so much. We make the mission fun.

This week was the normal teaching. But Saturday was our Noche de Blanco. Where we try to have a lot of baptisms. My companion and I were able to baptize two people and then the other missionaries in our area had one person. The whole mission had 63 Saturday night. It was so cool getting the updates. I was also able to baptize one of our amigos that I taught. All in Spanish. He is nine years old. It was great to see how happy he was during the lessons and the baptism service.

                           

Then Sunday was church and in church people give talks. Well they told me I was talking and it is about the signs of Christ’s birth. I used lots of scriptures and some talks from a Liahona. It was great to learn more of Christ and share what I have found. And in some way, I went over my time limit.

This week has been very fun and fast. We were on our own this week with food since our pension got injured. But she is getting better and all is well. We also had a day of no water. That was very exciting and fun to look for water.

That is my week

Love,

Elder Cormack

Missionary Impossible

Hola, it is the 5th week of my mission in Peru

Let's start with a game I used to play all the time before my mission with family and Elders that have stopped by. It is called Missionary Impossible. The goal is to collect 21 weeks. There is a card that says six weeks all the way to one week. You just lay down a week card and build your set. But while you do that others can lay down trials. That is roaches, dog bites, bible bashed just a few examples. Then there is blessings and transfers that protect you from these trials. The trial I card I got this week was Montezuma's Revenge. If you don't know what that is I won’t say but google will.

This week besides the trial was very fun.  Lots of events. Thursday, we went to Trujillo for Zone Conference. The way to get there is by a minivan. So, we were being driven there but not by our usual driver. I fall asleep and enter Cormack time. I then wake up in Trujillo surrounded by Peruonios wearing Inspector Uniforms. All yelling in Spanish. Not being able to understand them all I looked completely lost. And total Gringo. I thought that at first was border control looking for people. And seeing a car with three Americans stop them. I also didn't have my residence card or passport because it was at the church office. I could be illegal. The district leader was able to relay that message to them. We are told to get out of the car and walk the rest of the way there. Find out later he did not have registration and they are not border control.

Then it was Zone Conference. I was able to understand so much more than the last one. After that was a Christmas program/ talent show. That was very fun and interesting to be a part of. I definitely won't forget parts of it. There was a magic show, lesson about Christmas in the States and Peru, and songs.

Last very big thing to happen this week would be the Temple trip Saturday with the recent converts. It is so beautiful any Temple that you travel to and is so worth the trip. I love the feeling I get while being there. There are also two lessons I learned from this trip. First is the Temple is a goal for all recent converts and a reason why all should endure to the end and be worthy of the Temple. Second is the any one can be a missionary and that is be doing work at the Temple. It allows the dead to choose these saving ordinances. You may not preach to the living now. But you are able to on the other side of the veiling and it is so amazing to see happen.

I studied 1 Nephi 13 this week and really found some connections from the Book of Mormon to actual world. Take a look and see for yourself. What connections you find.

Love Elder Cormack

Thanksgiving week without the Thanksgiving

Jake was able to send pictures this week, so there will be several. He was late calling and emailing on Monday because he was playing soccer with the Mission President.  He didn't do anything special or Thanksgiving.  They has fish and rice.  He is learning that the "Gift of Tongues" doesn't only mean speaking the language.  It must also include learning to eat foods you don't like.  

He's working on getting baptisms lined up for the 14th - noche de blanco (White Night).  The Zone has a goal of 16 baptisms.  Him and his companion have 4 lined up.

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Let’s start on the Tuesday since it ́s after the p-day I last talked. Here is what went down. I wake up and do some exercise. I get shower and get ready for my day. I then find out that it is an exchange day. And that exchanges are all day including the night. Greenies always learning something new. So, I got to go to Chocope and that is a different place. It's a nice clean little town. There aren’t many people which makes it hard to proselyte. But practice Spanish and contacting.

Now Friday I find out that I will be going to a wedding in Puerto. I don't  know things till it is happening because me companion speaks so fast and I don't  know words he is using. And I also found out that he could be lying to me when I ask what a certain word means. Like a hot dog could be perro caliente and he was telling me the tail. I didn't know he was lying because I am in a different place. So I am at this wedding and look lost and stand out pretty well. I've never been to a wedding before. So that didn't help at all. They did something different in the beginning with documents and then I saw the normal ring exchange. The wedding was for an investigator getting married to a member.

Saturday was baptism day. It was for the investigator that got married. What a great guy. I didn't teach him but transferred in towards the end of his lessons. My companion told me to grab my baptism clothes just in case I was baptizing which surprised me because. I don't know Spanish that well or how to say the ordinance in Spanish. My companion was asked to fortunately. But I did memorize it in Spanish for the next time. Which we are hoping is the 14th.

That was the big of this week. Still getting fish which is a surprise to how much I don't  like fish. One elder was saying I've ate more fish than he has and he has been out two months.

I got one scripture memorized this week and it is Alma 34:33 Don't procrastinate the day of your repentance.

Love,

Elder Cormack

Week 2 - Peru

Sorry this is late... it's been a busy week with weather, chores, school break, holiday...

Jake can view the blog - feel free to leave him comments, he'll read them.

He's doing amazing and has such a great and cheerful attitude. He's not "homesick", but does sometimes miss home.  No pictures this week, he forgot to take his cable with him to the internet cafe.

He said the best part is the culture and food.  Hermana Santos cooks all their meals for them and does their laundry.  She is super nice and he feels bad when they have appointments and can't make it back on time. She cooks great and always has lots of food.It's like Thanksgiving everyday.  

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The second week of Peru. What an amazing place. I don't want to brag but Trujillo North may just be the best mission. Always learning and seeing new things. This week I've learned exercise is a great thing and all this walking is a blessing because of the food. It's muy rico and mucho comida. I would say I eat like a king. Paijan is so loving with everyone we teach they give us a little something, either a snack or a drink. It's amazing to see how people treat us. 

Two big things this week.

First one was there was a birthday celebration for a recent convert. I've visited the family a couple times before. It was more like a family home- evening. We sang a hymn and I don't have a spanish hymn book so I hum along. They had cake and some other kind of cake and oh boy it was tasty. They also gave us some venezuela type of meal. From what I understood was fried planta (banana) and pollo with a little salad on top. Man it was good but I got full and couldn't eat more.

The second was stake conference. The ward isn't as big as like my home ward but still big. Paijn is a distance from CasaGrande where stake conference was. How do you get all of the people there. You take a bus. They had two buses going to it. I was able to understand it more than I did zone conference. What a fun time. They did have it outside under this giant tent.

That was the major of the week. Otherwise it was contacting and teaching which really is the best part and being able to use the spirit in testifying about Christ. He is the way to returning with God and becoming better.

Alma 26:12 and Acts 4:12

Love, Elder Cormack

Week 1 in Peru

Hola

We will start with the flight to Peru. I met Elder Smart and rode next to him to Atlanta. From Atlanta it was down to Peru. A great flight. Slept and ate the airplane food. It was good. It is now 12:30 when we arrive to Peru. I have stepped off the plane and am in line for visa. They start speaking and I just cry inside and say si. That is Monday.

Tuesday: spent the day doing legal things and getting a card that says I'm a resident for two years. Very basic day but still don't know Spanish and just look lost. After the legal they drop us off at the airport for Trujillo and the other places some elders may be serving. Since it was a group of us. So, we are there and again Spanish is very minimal and we can teach lessons that's about the only Spanish we got. We don't have our luggage and from what I understand is that it’s on the way so I don't worry. Later comes around and arrives another group of Elders. In that group is Elder Robinson. So, I got to experience the airport with him. We don't get our luggage until an hour before our flight. It was a lot of laughs.

Wednesday: It is orientation and meet your companion. He is from Cuzco Peru, and his English is minimal like my Spanish. During orientation they ask us to contact five people. That was a moment. I started with hola, we have a message then my companion took over. Then from Trujillo was to my first area. Paijan, it's a nice place. I can't speak the language but I love the people.

Thursday, Friday: Nothing special. Went out and taught families or at least sat there and tried to pick up on the Spanish. Wake up at 7:15 go for a run and then get ready for the day. Then it was out to teach and study times. Then bedtime at 11:30. The days get busy.

Saturday: Start like every other day and just like every day but went to la playa (beach). It's in part of my area. Tried fish again and it was good. Saw the beach. It was beautiful and amazes me every time. (coming from landlocked Severance, Colorado)

Sunday: One more day to go. I know it is long but it was a packed week. Showed up to church and again no Spanish. From what I got is bishop asks me to bear my testimony and if I can bless the sacrament. That was fun to do and new.  That was my week.

Matthew  10:39 If we forget about ourselves and do what Christ will like us to do and serve him. We will find a purpose.

While reading I was shown this other scripture that can summarize the blessings and why it is good to be here. Mark 10:29-30

His camera doesn't have the correct date, but here are a couple pictures.  The other pictures didn't come through correctly...

Elder Cormack

Safe

Just heard from Jake...

Querido Madre, Yo made it to Peru and all good. It has been a great experience. I've learned that i need a lot more spanish and the first months will be rough. My companion doesn't speak much english and is a native from Peru. Just saying I made it and I will talk to you more monday which is the new P day. Oh I also contacted 5 people already and that's when I learned my spanish is mal.  

Adios Madre. I love you all. 

Atlanta to Lima

At the airport

Elder Burnside's dad sent this to us from his neighbor who also happened to be flying out of SLC today.

Update: Just got another picture

He's on his way

Monday November 11, 2019

Jake checked out of the MTC at 4:45am.  He is on his way to Atlanta and then Lima,Peru!

I'm afraid this is going to be another emotional day for me.  I didn't sleep well last night thinking about Jake leaving today for Peru...  

• Will he make all the bus/trains transfers? 
• Will he know what to do when he gets to the airport?  
• Will he eat when he gets to the airport like I told him so he won't get a headache?  
• Will he make his connecting flight? 
• Did he pack everything?  
• What did he forget?  
• When will I know he made it?
• Is he ready?  I'm not ready!  
• The list goes on and on...

I am so thankful for the tender mercies all around us.  The first thing I saw this morning was a picture - Meilanie ran into Jake this morning at the bus stop as he left the MTC.  This is exactly what I needed.  As always, Jake is smiling and ready to conquer whatever comes his way.  I'm sure he wasn't thinking about anything I was worrying about.

posted by mom

Last Week in the Good Ol' United States of America

Note:  Jake has miscellaneous Spanish words through out this week’s email.  I added the English word for ya.

This is my last week in the good ol' United States of America. This week is gonna start with Sunday. We had fast and testimony meeting and then it was a mission conference oh how fun. It was a recap of past conference talks from the General Conference I saw in the MTC. After that we went on a temple walk as a zone and it was very beautiful and fun. After was classes. went and learned about faith and repentance some more. Went to choir that Sunday. It was the song Joseph Smith's First Prayer. It was just a practice. Went to dinner, same thing I have been eating for the last six weeks. I'm ready for a difference in comida (food).

We then had a Devotional from George Durrant a former MTC president. Very funny speaker. He had so many jokes but they all taught something in them. One thing he said that I loved was "Sometimes the lord makes the most handsome guys shy".  I can see myself as shy at times. The other part I liked from him was when he was ending and said I hope to see you again and that's in the Celestial kingdom. It was so funny. He then kept going and said that we don't have to be perfect and just try our best. And while here at the MTC I've learned it's about trying. He taught many things.

Monday was nothing special; more class and TRC. It was just another fun day.

Tuesday was a very good dia (day). I'll say that there was a General Authority and come back to him. Started with class and kept waiting around. Elder Anderson got his flight plans and I kept worrying about mine and wondering why long. Then we went to more Choir practice same song and it was so spiritual and beautiful. It reinforces my testimony that Joseph Smith couldn't make up the Book of Mormon and he had the power of God in him.

Now back to the General Authority… it was Dieter F. Utchdorf! It felt like a dream at times. He was amazing and taught us about success and the key is to control what you can. Very simple and powerful. It was so spiritual and loving. The vibe of the room couldn't be felt anywhere else. It was that cool!

Wednesday was more classes and another TRC.  It was the same person as last week and it was going so well. Taught about the Gospel of Jesucristo (Jesus Christ) and she said she wants to follow his example because of many blessings. You know what that brings up and we asked if she would follow his example and be baptized. We first got a no. But we asked why and what we can do. And she wants to know more and feel ready. We promised her she would be ready. So she said okay when I feel like it. So it was a maybe and that's great.

Thursday was class again and the last TRC for the MTC. We taught her The Plan of Salvation and used the wood object lesson pieces and it was divertido (fun). That's the majority of that day.

Last Friday and it was sad since it was the last time we got to see the teachers. We talked about the mission fields and how we can do better. It was a class of saying goodbye and finishing up some last minute things. It has been great here at the MTC and lots of learning. I am gonna miss it, but ready for the next step.

Love, Elder Cormack 

El Libro De Mormon

Hola, Madre. I am awake early so I can go to the temple earlier…

Sunday, we had a devotional from President Rahlf and he talked about why our church is different than others. It was a good devotional.

Then Monday we had classes again. Played soccer every day of the week even if it was cold. Nothing big on Monday just more learning about the language. Some of the Mong elders left sporadically through Monday and Tuesday. I had TRC on Monday and it went okay. The Spanish is better and easier to talk.

Tuesday was class in the morning. Then a devotional that night. Elder Basset of the Seventy came to speak. His talk was really good. One of his points was get up and keep working and that you will forget the hard times. Love the people you serve. In between classes and other activities, we get study time. During study time I read in the Book of Mormon and starting the Old Testament. What I remember about the old testament was the children's book. It is way nicer than what actually is happening.

Wednesday was class again. More Spanish was learnt. And the English is slipping. TRC again and this time wasn't so good. We asked what she wanted to learn and she had said all of it. That is good for us so we start talking about lesson 1. After TRC we got feedback and she said we didn't teach to what she needed. That was a bit hard to hear. We got more districts for our zone. Most are English speaking or tagalong.

Thursday came around and it was Halloween. Some Elders from my district and another Elder from the Polish district dressed as the Ninja Turtles. Meaning we wore ties that correspond to the turtle. Went to class again. TRC one last time for the week. I asked her about any specific questions to help with understanding and it seemed to go a lot better. Kept studying en el libro de Mormon.

Friday finally came and it was P-day eve! We learned about the Word of Wisdom in Spanish. La palabras de Sabiduría es muy importante porque we like to be healthy. The morning class was bueno. After that was lunch and study time. Read about the garden of Eden and then we had exercise time.  

After exercise time we just sat around for a while and relaxed. That is when the district started getting flight plans. Except for me, my companero, and Elder Anderson. We are still waiting for them. So, it may be Monday. But I also heard that you don't know about visa till Thursday and they just plan it out for you getting your visa. It is all good and things are going to work out for the great. Then it was the last class before p-day. It went by quickly and then bedtime. Watched the new El Libro De Mormon video. Es muy bueno. 

That's my week.

Elder Cormack

Happy Halloween

Sorry - we got distracted watching the Oregon Ducks throttle USC.  Here is a quick post from Halloween.  Tomorrow we'll get the weekly letter posted.

October 26

Let's start with Sunday. I didn't have to give a talk. They pick people to give talks two minutes before during the sacrament meeting. So you always have to prepare. The Devotional was President Lesaur the MTC president. He talked about faith and how to reap it. That night I started to watch "On the Lord's Errand: the life of Thomas S Monson". It was very good and the part I saw was about the priesthood and always stay worthy.

Monday came around and it was class in the morning then study time and exercise. We played soccer for exercise time. Elder Jeffries was on the other side of the field and booted it over to me. I lightly tapped it and made a goal! (It was very lucky). I may have been the only one to score. TRC also happened today and it was a rough one. We didn't use Preach My Gospel. It was a great way to experience it and learn from it. So, there is always something good to find in the bad times. 

Tuesday was service. That day Elder Ingman left for Mozambique (Southern Africa). We said goodbyes and then went to service. We had class and the normal schedule of study and exercise. We played soccer and some volleyball. Devotional that night was Walter F Gonzalez of the Seventy. He talked about how we should be when sharing the gospel – Be normal and natural. Don't compare ourselves to others. The lord has prepared people for the way you are and your personality can help their needs. 

Wednesday is new missionary day. And today the district got to host. So, we get to lead the new missionaries to their residence and help them settle in. I hosted an Elder from Nevada going to Cape Verde, Portuguese speaking. Then I hosted a Sister but was only able to take her to the building where she gets her name tag and other things and then a sister took her from there. She is also going to Cape Verde, Portuguese speaking. She said she knew someone going to Fort Collins Mission. TRC was way better this time and felt the spirit a lot better. The lesson was planned out and we didn’t just wing it. 

Elder Snapp left this morning. He is a Portuguese Elder going to serve in Brazil but doesn't have his Visa so he is going to Boise Idaho for now. We spent the morning with him before class. They were whistling the sad song from up. He was so funny and made it to where there was never a dull moment.

Thursday is “P-day Adam” because Adam came before Eve (ha ha ha). Normal schedule of class and studies. Exercise was volleyball and it was so funny. So many laughs and it wasn't an actual game. It started 4 on 4 then went to 6 vs 2. Elder Ostler and I were the team of 2. We weren’t keeping score because I'm at the MTC and we’re missionaries. But we won that game of 6 vs 2.

TRC was also great and it was our last one with Nandy. This upcoming week we’ll teach someone new. 

Friday was class as well and then studies. During class, a newer Spanish class came in and practiced on us. It is so cool to see the difference from day three to three weeks. In the afternoon class we practiced teaching the first lesson in Spanish in a matter in three minutes. It was a little hard at first but I got the hang of it and got better. After three minutes, the time was reduced to two minutes then end 1 minute. At that one minute I spoke Spanish with no breaks and felt amazing with it. It may not be grammatically correct but the content was there and made sense.

That is my week in the nutshell.
Elder Cormack

Bellota

Bellota

I have no idea why the Subject of this week's' email was "Bellota", but we'll go with it.

The day after p-day being Sunday. It was the first church service at the MTC because of General Conference. It was as a branch. The branch contained the Mong speaking district, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish speaking districts. We have to prepare talks before Sunday because during sacrament meeting the one conducting will randomly pick five missionaries to talk. I lucked out my first day and missed it. Two Mong elders got picked and it was really cool to hear the language. We also had Priesthood and Sunday school.

We had a Devotional at the end of the day. Anytime we had between stuff Sunday was for us, which meant naps or studies. The Devotional was someone that wrote biographies for some  Prophets and Apostles. She talked about some missionary work and President Nelson going around gathering Israel.

Monday was classes and more Spanish learning. We had TRC (Teaching Resource Center) in Spanish this last week and it was kind of rough. I couldn't understand a lot and my vocab was basic.

Tuesday classes again and another Devotional. This time Elder Quentin L. Cook came and spoke with us. He talked about the Book of Mormon and how important it is for missionaries to use. He brought a historical artifact guy from the church that brought the original manuscript of Alma 34 and the printed manuscript of 3 Nephi 16 and Alma 34. It was amazing to see these pages and the work put into them. I had tutoring on Tuesday as well to learn Spanish better and how to actually study it.

Wednesday was classes again and TRC was bad. Still in Spanish but with a lesson. Monday was just getting to know them. We even had the teacher observe our visit. Which is a good thing otherwise I wouldn't have been able to answer her question. We had a basic idea of what she was saying so my companion did his best to teach the restoration which was hard because its past tense verbs and we are now learning it. She saw that we struggled and wrote down her question for us to plan around. I just felt bad and realized how hard this Spanish really is.

Thursday was classes and the last TRC for the week. Knowing her question my companion and I were able to prepare for the question she had and taught about the Savior’s time on earth, the great apostasy, then the restoration one more time so she got a better idea. Thursday I was able to understand more than I used to.

Friday or P-day eve was classes again. Classes all week just to know the gospel and Spanish. It's like being in high school again. Classes all day and the food isn't the best. But the days start to blend together. The food is starting to reappear and same things every day. The 5th week is going to be crazy and jokes are going to be so dumb.

The Mong elders are here for 9 weeks and they have only 1 left. The whole branch is on the same floor in a residence hall. So we see how everyone is feeling and meet others. Well, the Mong elders built armor out of cardboard boxes and had a knighting ceremony.

For exercise time we played lots of soccer and this week some volleyball. I kicked the volleyball with no shoes and hurt my big toe. Then playing soccer I ran into some one’s foot very hard and hurt it more. I am walking it off.

That's the week in a nutshell. Oh, and bellota means acorn.

MTC Day 10

I got to talk with Jake today.  It was so great to hear his voice. He's doing so well and didn't sound homesick at all.  He said they joke about "Cormack Time" which means nap time.  He seems to fall asleep occasionally. :)

Don't forget to look for you tie!

Hi mom and familia,

Here’s my update – I'm not dead. Still alive and having fun. I am getting bigger from the food, it’s good. Makenna complains about Utah, but it’s beautiful with fall and the mountains.

They gave us about 8lbs of books and stuff. I also got another set of English scriptures. The MTC is a great place and I’m learning a lot. Very spiritual. I have been playing soccer every day to keep up with fitness and not get completely fat. I may have pulled a muscle, but it was still a good time.

Jake was playing with his (magnetic) name tag and got it stuck on the ceiling...

The district I'm in is very funny and good. My companion is very funny and makes time fly by quick. We had a thing called TRC and it's where a person can come to the MTC and ask to be taught by missionaries. So we got to teach an actual lesson to someone. And it felt very amazing sharing about what I know. It felt like she was enjoying the time and wanting to keep learning. It made me happy to teach. Next week’s lesson is in Spanish so that will be a real test.

Jake and his companion Elder Barnes

Thanks for the pretzels, they are amazing. All of the Elders love them in my district. We were eating breakfast one day and they started mixing stuff in one cup. Like milk, bagel and cream cheese, syrup, and other things. And they were joking about drinking it. I told them whoever drinks it can have a bag of them and one Elder actually did! It was gross. I almost threw up.

Jake and his teacher 

I'll keep sending pictures. I hope your week is great.

Love,

Elder Cormack

P-day 1

Below is a combination of several emails back and forth with Jake this morning. 

We've asked for pictures...

P-day 1

Hola, I'm allowed to only respond to emails and write on p-day. I can always read them just can't respond till p-day. The MTC is fun right now. My espanol es bueno. I am learning a lot about the gospel and Spanish. All the elders in my district are waiting on visas to Peru. 

Saturday is my P-day. My companion is Elder Barnes. My companion is also from Salem Oregon but the south side of it. He was made senior companion but that is from his last name being the first in the alphabet.

My schedule varies day to day but mostly class on the scriptures and Spanish. Tuesday and Thursday, we teach a person and try to get practice in for field work. We get to watch all sessions of conference including the Women’s Session.

Our district and branch is pretty cool. There is Polish, Hmong, Portuguese, and Spanish in the branch. They have this thing called syl speak your language. So, I've heard when they give talks it's in the language they learn. And that Hmong is cool to hear and funny. The zone leaders are learning Hmong and the first day they came to say welcome and show us campus. One of them prayed in Spanish and it was weird to hear. For church we got to service as a branch,  so five districts.

I've been speaking more Spanish. I've learned how to pray in Spanish. The food is great and water is as well. Makenna is wrong about it. It may just be MTC that has it right. One night we got steak it was a good piece. They had hamburgers and pizza. So, I am probably going to be gaining weight here. We get an hour to exercise but I laid on the yoga mat and meditated (napped). The milk tastes like the chocolate milk from home. There was nothing special. I haven’t tried the cookies and cream yet. Lots of fun with my district. All of us are excited to go and preach the gospel. 

Love Elder Cormack