Last Hola of 2009!

It seems like I wrote the last letter yesterday. Time is literally flying by. I'm so grateful for your letters. It's good to hear from everyone. Oh, by the way, I think I have enough Pringles now...and Jelly Bellies...although one of the missionaries in my district seems to like Jelly Bellies even more than me...I keep catching him sneaking into our room and eating them :).... Anyway, I'm so excited for David, Mike, and Josh to come next week. They're in for the time of their lives. I wish I could have been at the temple with them. It's awesome that they live so close now...for another week, I guess, then they'll be REALLY close to me. The temple here has been closed for the last two weeks for the holidays...it really stinks. We had a district leave yesterday morning but I think we're supposed to get a new one today. We're supposed to be getting a couple of Elders from Canada sometime today, don't'cha know? That's pretty cool, eh? Hopefully David, Mike, and Josh will at least be in the same building, but more than half the MTC is Spanish-speaking. I've only run into Elder Ward and Elder Roundy twice each.

It was awesome to hear from Carlene--I can't believe Cooper is already going on temple trips! That's so cool! Oh, and in answer to Carlene's question: my favorite flavors are cheddar cheese and pizza, but they're all wondrous...:).

It sounds like you all had an awesome Christmas. Sorry, but mine was better :). Elder Anderson came on Tuesday night and gave an EXCELLENT talk and then Elder Perry came on Christmas even and spoke about Christ's birth and the wisemen. It is the greatest opportunity of my life to be here to learn at the feet of Apostles and members of the Quorums of the Seventies. I'm so grateful for the simplicity of Christ's doctrine. I love 2 Nephi 31. I'm so grateful for the Savior's example and the opportunity that I have to know and follow it. I've been studying and learning a lot about faith lately. Elder Packer of the Quorum of the Seventy said something last night that was especially poignant to me. He said that when hope, belief, and desire are founded in true principles, they will blossom into faith and testimony which will become unshakeable through experience by knowing and applying the same true principles. I wish I had gotten his exact words--it loses a lot in my summary. I'm so grateful for the MTC. Here it is more like the butcher's knife and the surgeon's scalpel as we are prepared for the refiner's fire.

All the rumors about better food during the holidays are a myth though HAHA. Christmas Eve meals were just like normal meals (to be expected) and Christmas Day was just hilarious. Breakfast was cold cereal, lunch was a slice of turkey and a scoop of mashed potatoes and about 1000 scoops of broccoli, and dinner was a ham and cheese sandwich, chips, and a can of soda from a brown paper sack :). The real feast was during the devotionals (see 2 Nephi 32:3ish I think...)

The music I get to do here (other than singing approximately 12 opening and closing hymns each day (give or take 10)) is singing in the MTC Choir. But I guess singing to an Apostle is pretty cool too, eh?

Thanks to everyone who sends me packages! I've got more food than I know how to eat!

Elder Raymond

P.S. I like Pringles slightly less than last week, but I still love them!

P.P.S. It's been snowing for 48 hours straight and we have about 6 inches of snow and it's still snowing :)

P.P.P.S. Love you all!