Dear family and Friends,
How are you? Thanks for the Halloween Package! It got here ok, and didn't smell like fish. I would love more later down the road! I shared the salmon with everyone, they all thought it was amazing. One of my zone leaders, Elder Pryor said he wants you to adopt him so that he can eat fish like that all the time. He's a really great guy, so I wouldn't mind. Haha. This is a comparison picture between my care package and Elder Nielsons, who's family loves him very much.
The second week has been really great. Our two investigators, John and Jasmine, made great progress, and John said he wants to be baptized! He's a 72 year old Navy vet. who liked to show us pictures of his past. Jasmine is a college student who refused to pray until our last lesson, because she was scared she wouldn't get an answer. She got officially engaged the day before our last lesson with her. Both John and Jasmine are what we call TRC's. TRC's consist of a mix of non-members and members pretending to be non-members, but all of them are seeking guidance about something in their lives, and so come to the MTC to be to be taught by the missionaries and actually get paid for it. All of them feel like real investigators.
I'm excited about going to Idaho, though it will be weird to just have one other missionary around all the time. My senior companion will be chosen on Friday, and we leave for Idaho next Wednesday morning. Elder Peterson (my companion) is really cool. He's a really good scriptorian and he's good at math. He took a year of college at BYU Provo before his mission and majored in statistics. Hes pretty down to Earth, but he's a fun guy. His fastest time solving a Rubiks Cube is 24 seconds, and he memorized 314 digits of pi. He's recited all of them for us too. (His knowledge of Pokemon also rivals mine, he started it Dad.) My original companion, Elder Wagner, has a different companion, Elder Healy. Elder Healy is the only elder not going to Boise. He's going to Salt Lake City South, so he actually leaves Tuesday morning. Here's a picture of Elder Peterson and I at the Provo temple.
As the district leader, it's my job to receive reports from the companionships, give reports to the Branch President, pick up the mail, plan meetings, assign teachers, conduct meetings, go to branch council, address any concerns, ect. It's hard work, but my love for the district has grown a lot because of it. Yes, I was led by the spirit for the blessing I gave, it was a sacred experience, and I felt that the words I spoke were not my own. It really emphasized to me that as a missionary, my job is to be a conduit for the spirit. A perfect tool in the hands of the Lord.
Yes, the Character of Christ was the video that the missionaries back home mentioned. If you can, please email me a transcript of it. The transcript can be found on google. The talk is The Character of Christ by Elder Bednar. It really is one of the best talks I've ever heard. Elder Stevenson came and spoke to us about Preach my Gospel and the characteristics of Christ. It was really great, and I got to sit right up near the front. We also got to hear from Mitch Davis, the director of The Other Side of Heaven, yesterday, who spoke on how to become a dedicated missionary.
I've been unable to find the tree yet... but I will. I love you all, and I loved receiving all of the things you've sent me, especially the letter from Boden. I bought a binder, and I've been saving everything, like you've said. I hope you all are doing well, remember that Heavenly Father works through us to teach his gospel. Every member a missionary!
Love,
~Elder Quiner
PS: My camera is garbage. It's all grainy and lame. I'm probably going to need a new one at some point. All the pictures I've sent have been with Elder Petersons camera.
