This week has been completely awesome! The one thing I'm quite frustrated about right now is I just spend a half hour typing up a huge letter and then all of us had to redo it because of some really lame computer thing so I'll try to get as much in as i can before the time runs out.
I've had a great time here so far! The first day was defintitely overwhelming and I just felt like I had no idea what was going on and was pretty much being rushed around everywhere and not knowing what was going on. The first few days felt like years but luckily since I've seen a few Elders here that I recognise from home that's really been cool. My district and my companion have also helped me feel at home here. My companion Elder Riepl is from Boise, Idaho and when I first met him I wasn't sure how much I'd like him or even if we'd get along but I decided that I was going to just do my best no matter who I was paired up with and that i was going to make it work and luckily he had the same attitude because we really have both made it work and he's one of my good friends now. In our district ( there are 12 of us) 7 are going to argentina, buenos Aires south, and some Buenos Aires north. there is 1 going to uraguay and 4 of us going to Colombia, Cali. I love them but i've definitely had to excercise a lot of patience at different times of the week so that I could just remain calm and just let it go.
Dad wanted to know the schedule so quickly I'll just say that we get up just before 6:30 and work till 10:30 at night at which point we go to bed. We have 6 hours of class (usually, but sometimes only 3). We have a few hours of self guided personal study and usually 1-2 hours of language study each day. Mixed into there are devotionals, meals, and gym. It's a super busy life to get used to but I've learned so much so far and really love it. I'm sorry I can't write more it feels like the clock is counting twice as fast as it should.
I'm sorry I couldn't get to you on your birthday Jordan, there are some seriously strict rules here but they're all for a good reason. I just wanted to let you know Happy Birthday! And that I think about you and tell everyone how awesome my little brother is. Have a great year being 17 and I love you so much.
I've grown a lot spiritually and when it comes to the language i feel like I can understand so much more compared to when i first got here. Some things I've learned in devotionals and talks and I've really learned a lot in my own study of the scriptures. Briefly I'd like to tell you about some things I learned while watching a talk by Elder Holland. At this point in my mission I haven''t had too many hard times. It's been difficult getting used to the schedule and it sure is a lot of time to be focused on the gospel but more then that the things i've been working on are: loving the people who bug me, and I think i'm getting a little sick so that kinda stinks too. But I know that once I get to Colombia it'll be quite a lot harder. So there are a few things like this that have been happening in my missionary life but when I listened to Elder Holland it put it all in perspective. He talked about how there will come a time in my mission where I'll ask, "why does this have to be so hard?" I mean this IS the true church but from what it sounds like it's a hard job to find people who want to listen. What he said about this is just that, "salvation is not a cheap experience. It never was, never will be, and was never meant to be." I realized that if i want to be representing Jesus Christ out in the world then I'm going to have to spend a moment or two with him in the garden to really feel how he feels about some of His children. Elder Holland explained that Jesus has chosen to retain the wounds in His hand and His feet and His sides. They're the symbols of His messianic mission. He will carry evidence that there is sacrifice involved in serving God the Father here on Earth. He asked that, and I won't get by without some price to to say, I stand with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I don't have much time but I just wanted to mention another thing that I've learned this week and it comes from moses 6:26,31-34. I really feel like Enoch right now as he said, "Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad... I am slow of speech." Yeah that sounds familiar. I really am slow of speech in the language that I''ve been called to preach in. but my favorite part is the ending part where it says, " Open thy mouth, and it sahll be filled... my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will i justify; ... thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me" that's just so powerfull because I Have chosen to walk with him and its so awesome to know that i've got the Lord by my side who is going to help me with everything that i'm going to do because I'm on His time and I'm here for Him and the people of Colombia.
Sadly I haven't had much time to type this letter but I just wanted to tell you all that I appreciate all of your support and prayers for me because I really do feel it helping me out each day. Thanks for the letters, I love them so much! I'm having a great time here and love learning the things I know i'm here to know even if that involves learning them from annoying people i'm forced to be around. Hah. Well I really like my companion and I love knowing that each second here I spend is for the Lord. I'll let you know what all is going on this week I know some awesome stuff will happen. Along with that I realized that i'm writing a lot of stuff down and i realized that I'm going to need another notebook soon so if you could please send me a notebook. I saw a guy in my class had a "Moleskin" bound little journal sort of book that i really liked if you could find one. If you have any questions send me a letter and next week i'll try to let you know an answer. Also, if it would be possible for you to send me a picture or two of my friends from that i took at my farewell that'd be so nice. I love showing everyone my pictures of you and I love it here. I really have made some great friends and one of my best friends is in my district. Elder Rushton. I love the guy.
I couldn't talk about it today but you should try to read through moroni 7:48 and try to understand it because it truly is amazing.
Sincerely,
Elder Stucki
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