01/07/2011

So first off, to answer all of your questions. They won't tell us when the visas are coming in. But an Elder in a different zone said they bought tickets for the 24th. So idk if we will ship out then or not. I'm guessing we will. Maybe even on the 18th. Still I will write you when I get my travel plans. Something crazy though is that all the missionaries in my district are getting re aassigned untill they get their visas, so they will leave around the 24th also. Who knows? One could even go to Salt Lake City, south because they need to be close to go to the consolate there when they come. They are taking it pretty well. This week when I prayed at the devotional, it was pretty scary! I was pretty dang nervous, but it wasn't too bad. It was cool to sit on the stand with the MTC presidency. They are very friendly. It was crazy because there were two monitors on the pulpit that showed what the cameras were on. I could see my self too. The speaker was great a convert to the church and he is in the 70s. He told us how he doesn't remember what the missionaries taught, but he can remember like yesterday the spirit they brought and how they wanted to have that spirit with them all the time. I am very glad to have that spirit here with me all the time. It's cool because its normal here. It's always here. It will be wierd once we leave and not everyone you know has the spirit with them. We just had our teachers swithched. It stinks because we liked them so much. But the new ones are very good, and they have a good sense of humor so they work well with the other class. Something funny though when we got new districts into our zone. My whole class always says tenedor to them when they ask how we are doing in spanish. It's funny because it just means fork. But they say it to the teachers and other elders when they get asked now how they are doing ha ha. It's pretty funny though. But the most amazing feeling of the spirit which i had this week was when in companionship study we were reading from the white missionary hand book and it was about giving blessings and the ordaining to different offices. It also had directions on how to do so. When i started reading through the procedures and how it says "in the name of Jesus Christ and through the melchezidec priesthood" my heart started to burn and I felt so good! Like I could actually give blessings with confidence and have the faith needed to truly heal those who are sick and especially to do it according to the will of God. This to me was so special because I have always wanted that feeling of confidence so when I am called upon by others, I can do it with power and also with authority. This was truly special to me. My comp is doing loads better, working harder, and teaching more to help out with teaching lessons in Spanish. He is here to stay and doesn't get home sickness anymore. I'm thinking that our visas are here and they just scheduled flights. So we will see. The temple finallly opened again after 2 weeks of being closed. We went as almost a whole district and the whole room was full. It was pretty cool! I love being able to go. It will be sad if I can't in Bolivia, but I will be ok if it can't. Just to say, I need slippers again. Mine are tearing. Maybe some like dad's. More durable though. I love you guys so much and love your letters. I cant wait to hear from you and to write you again next week. Send this to Jay Markus and Mitch Dansie. They sent me emals but I lost them. love Elder Christoffersen