We're All Just Fellows

So week 3 down. From how it's looking I don't think we'll be going to the Colombian MTC. Everyone that was supposed to go there has just been here for their nine weeks. I met an elder going to my mission and he just got reassigned to Colombia, South Carolina until the Visa stuff gets worked out. On one of my companions letters today it said that our departure date has been change to the 22nd of October, so it will at least be that long until we leave. Thanks to everyone so much for the dearelders and that package you sent me mom and family....... wow..... it's been almost a week since I got it and the "nuts and bolts" is gone haha. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!! And I stingily share a candy bar with a district member every now and again. 
So Spanish is coming along more and more every day. I went a whole day almost without speaking any English because I wanted to see how well I could do and try and pick it up faster..... I didn't talk much. We got some new elders in our district this week and I wanted to look really impressive, so whenever they're around I recite the First Vision in Spanish and act like I'm conversing with them, but they don't know. They all just think that I'm some super-genius who can speak fluently after only 3 weeks, but once they figure out what I've been doing they probably won't be as impressed. 
The devotionals this week were really good. The member of the 70 who spoke this week was really funny, and he had a super cool accent. He said "Just remember that we're all just fellows, so just try your best. The Lord has called you, not what you think you should be." That might not be the exact quote, but close. 
I had one of the meetings with the branch president that we have about every 3 weeks on Sunday. He's intimidating, but really nice. He said I have a nice smile and seem like a nice kid which are really important in missionary work. Then I told him that I'm nervous about Spanish, so he said that I need to quit worrying and that I'll be fine haha. 
So there are 3 kids in our zone who always come in talk and distract us, but they're super funny. And they were just called to be zone leaders... Everyone laughed, then said "seriously," but it'll be really fun. 
How are all of your lives? K great! That sounds wonderful! If I haven't answered any questions just resend them and I'll write back or something.
Adios! 
Love
   -Cole

Hola!

HOLA! (That's Spanish for hello) So another week here in the MTC. Some pretty big news is that my companion went home last week on Thursday night. So I am now in a trio with the two other Elders in my district going to Barranquilla. I get along with one of them which is really nice, but the other one..... eh. The one I like is Elder House. He is from Modesto California and played football at Fresno State, but hopes to play football or even just go to BYU in the fall. The other one is Elder Otteson. He is from Fort Worth Texas (and reminds you of it every day at least four times), likes to sing any song that you're singing but about ten times louder (as soon as he starts singing a song I'm singing I start singing something else and then he stops and sings that too, it's a fun game), and changes his mood more that a cat in a washing machine, so I'm grateful for Elder House haha. 
Spanish is coming "pocco un pocco" which means little by little. I have learned a ton and for that I am grateful, so I'm doing okay! A new district came into our zone this last week so we are already veterans. They're all really cool. We had our first TRC (Training Resource Center) experience yesterday and that was AWESOME! The people just volunteer to come and listen to a message, so it's basically just Home Teaching and people are so nice. We taught this guy yesterday and all I could say was my testimony and he just thanked me for it even though it was like maybe a minute long. 
We had our two firesides this week and I really loved the Sunday one. He just talked about how important the Book of Mormon really is and it got me so pumped that I wish I could just read it all the time, but we have a lot of things to study. He showed us the opening song to the Tony awards, from the Book of Mormon Musical, then talked about what the church has done to capitalize on this opportunity. Did you know that the church has ad space in the playbill? It was probably the funniest thing I had ever seen since it said "The book is always better." The other fireside was good too. I sang in the choir and the song was just awesome, but I can't remember what it was right now. 
A recurring theme that I've noticed this week here is how much more we all need to focus on Christ and coming unto him. I can't tell you how many times this week I heard people talk about how we need to focus more on that, rather than learning the language, but that's still important too haha. 
P-day's been really nice. We went to the temple today and that was SUPER nice. We also ate in the cafeteria there and it was...... divine. haha. 
So... as far as leaving for the Colombian MTC next week... It's looking like a thumbs down. Everyone here who's supposed to be in that MTC  is just stuck here for a little longer. I actually met another kid going to my mission and he finished his 9 weeks here, even though he was only supposed to be here for 3, so he's going somewhere in-state for awhile, but I think my visa should be here within the next 9 weeks at least. 
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you send me a dearelder include your address (not family, but Edward I need you to send me one with your address)
Thank you all for the love, support, cookies, candy, and letters! 

Love, Elder Morgan

WOWZERS!

1% That's what the end of this week signifies! It's only been 1% of my mission and if this is what happens every week then WOWZERS! I have learned a ton just in one week.

I was the only person who hadn't taken any Spanish in my district but it's okay because you learn so much so fast here! My district is just awesome and we all get along so well, but we maybe get along too welll because it feels like we talk more than study, but I just take my companion and we go study outside which is SO nice with the birds a chirpin' and the bees a buzzin' and such. I have seen so many people I know here so.... ROLL CALL! Dylan, Brodie, Daniel,Brandon Call, Elder Zack Morgan (second cousin who I've never met but I saw a picture of him and he's going to Colombia too), Spencer, Conner freakin Nelson! (He was in the room RIGHT next to me), TANNER! and honestly a whole bunch of other people that I can't even remember who they are.

We had to start teaching our first "investigator", Antonio, on Friday speaking only Spanish, so luckily Preach My Gospel has a direct translation and I could just copy word for word out of the and reggurgiate it back onto him. My companion and I got him to commit to baptism which was cool, but it helps that my companion already understands all Spanish so he basically talked to him while I just smiled, but they told us that a bright countenance and the spirit are more important than actually speaking Spanish, so... I think I helped haha.

Everyone here who's learning Spanish is so nice! They come up and start speaking Spanish to me and then try and help me understand what they're saying, and they give me lots of tips on things here at the MTC. I talked to some elders that just left our zone to go to the Guatemalan MTC and it sounds cool so hopefully the Colombian MTC is the same way, but I've already talked to quite a few people who were supposed to leave for the Colombian MTC, and apparently there is some trouble with visas there. So hopefully they clear that up before I'm supposed to leave.

My branch presidency here is super nice and willing to help with anything! But at church on Sunday they call two missionaries out of the congregation to give a talk in Spanish, and that scares the begeezes out of me, but it wasn't me last week so that's good! My zone leaders here are super nice and cool and another elder in my room got called to district leader and I really like him to! His companion..... eh. But hey it's all part of the experience, and both of them as well as my companion are also going to Barranquilla! So I'm not going to be the only "gringo" in that mission. I talked to a teacher here who went to Colombia and he saidhe never had an American companion, so hopefully I learn Spanish REAL fast!

My companion and I get along pretty well. He said before here he hated all the kids at Jordan because they seemed rude, but I think I kind of changed that haha. At least that's what he tells me to my face.

The food here is good but I see why everyone gains weight. I've actually lost weight in the grand total, but I think it might sneak up on me real fast. BUT I've been running a mile every day in gym! Between games of four square which is probably my favorite thing about the MTC.

The spirit here is so strong which kind of counteracts all the negative things sort of... like homesickness kind of.. haha. The devotionals are so cool and the choir is fun!

 

If you send me a dearelder or a letter, make sure to attach your address! I don't want to seem rude and not write back! I really appreciate the packages and letters! I hope all is going well at home!

Love, Elder Morgan

Pre - MTC

Here are a few pictures of Cole before we left for the MTC on Wednesday.