IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS...

Alarms raised because of 50-degree temps last week give way to reports of 83° this week, so it looks like Elder Max will focus on other endeavors:

December 1, 2014 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas... probably where you are. Here, it’s swimming weather. People are playing Christmas music, and there are trees and decorations and stuff, but it kind of just feels like “Haha, silly Mexicans, celebrating Christmas” and not really like Christmas. But whatever.

Hey! How are you? How’s your day been? I’d love to hear from you. Hopefully you have my email.

My computer’s being dumb, so maybe no pictures this week. We’ll see if things pick up.

First off, I have seen parts of both the Novelas, and of the Luchadores, and I would like to propose a cross-over to make things more interesting. So now, the cowboys with perfect hair from “Shadow of the Past” will hash it out in the ring, and The Hunter, The Mask, and The White Girl can have a complicated love triangle and much drama. I’m going make millions. Also, Nacho Libre was actually pretty close with the way they fight. They are chubby, extremely athletic, and not very good actors. 

I have some lists!

First, some words I can no longer say in English, and their Spanish pronunciations, more or less:

-Joseph Smith (José Smeet)

-Thomas S. Monson (Tómas Esse Mone-Sone)

-Baptism (Bautismo)

-MTC (CCM)

-Sandwich (Sahndweech)

Next, here is a list of things I’ve learned from the kids here:

First, my kids will not have video games. I have seen children entertained for cumulative hours by marbles, a battery and a magnet, and a pillar. Literally, they just ran around a pillar in circles for like a half-hour. It was awesome.

I have learned to enjoy small things, like when balloons pop, or when people trip, or when shoes don’t fit.

I have learned to be proud to be Mormon. Maybe it’s just part of the culture in Utah, but I feel like through High School and after, I used to apologize for being Mormon. But after being here, and seeing how proud Reyna was when she told me that she was living the Word of Wisdom because she told her grandma she didn’t want coffee, I am proud to be Mormon.

Finally, I am the world champion at the balloon game. In case you didn’t have a childhood, this is the game where you keep a balloon from touching the ground. Specific rules vary in different circuits, but the basics are the same.

Here’s something you weren’t expecting: I heard the Wallace and Grommit theme played by a Mariachi band the other night. I was pretty excited.

This week, we taught a fella named “Dommy”, who is a Jehovah’s Witness, and I gained a testimony of the Apostasy. I learned a little bit more about their doctrine, and it’s just wrong. It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. So much of what he said was just incorrect, but he wouldn’t listen to us, nor to the Spirit. It was a good lesson, but we’re not going back. We’ve taken to saying “Nah, he’ll figure it out in the Millennium”. 

Daniel got baptized this week! It was awesome. We had a triple baptism with the other Élders in our district. I also had the opportunity to confirm him a member! It was really cool, and the Spirit is really unique in each of these ordinances. Unfortunately, Britany was really sick, so we’re postponing her Baptism until next week.

This week, I learned something about the Spirit. Whenever we learn something, whether it be about the Gospel, about ourselves, about the world, about math, science, technology, whatever it be, it is because the Spirit testifies of truth. All truth, or all true knowledge, comes from God. Therefore, when we have that “Eureka” sensation, when something just clicks, or makes sense, it is because the Spirit is testifying to us something about an absolute truth. How exciting, then, that those of us who have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost and are worthy have the right to His presence all the time! What a responsibility we have not to waste this opportunity to learn, and better ourselves, and become more like Christ. Remember that our purpose here is to become more Christlike, and that one of his attributes is a perfect knowledge of all things.

One more thing, from personal experience, it’s difficult to feel the Spirit while the owner of the internet cafe is playing “Wiggle” by Jason Derulo. Good thing I have MoTab and headphones.

Love y’all. Yes, even you.

Élder Webb