Derek: Mystery meat

Captain's log: week 3 

Thou shalt not take thy brother’s garment; (D and C 42: 54)

Ok, so it took me a full two days before I was able to find my whites, but I did. Apparently one of the sisters left their towel in my clothes somehow so as we were both looking for our clothes we would both think it was someone else’s because we did not recognize it. But I eventually cracked the case and because it was, "Elementary, my dear Watson" ( I hoped I used that right).

 Anyways, Thanksgiving was a total blast. We watched a live devotional of Elder Bednar as he answered live questions. Every one of my questions were answered even if it wasn't directly, which I think is super cool. But, the best part was I got to see Dylan (Sorry, Elder VanBuskirk) because he was singing in the choir for the devotional, which made my whole day! We also had a really nice American themed Thanksgiving Dinner and it was super good.

One of my favorite parts of the week was that we got to walk to the college nearby and hand out copies of the Book of Mormon to students there and get their contacts. It was just in Spanish but we had to ask them to read a verse, then we would ask them how it made them feel. The spirit was there. I knew it and they knew it. We got two contacts and they both seemed very exited. But, this also got me super excited. I can’t wait to go out in the field and serve these people. 

Everybody left last night to their missions and so there are just 8 of us still here by ourselves. Well, at least until tomorrow when a whole new shipment of kids come in. I really liked the guys that left and I know that they will accomplish great things on their missions. But I'm good because I got to trade all their ties for some of mine. Tie trading is a really big thing here and I am kind of holding the monopoly so that's good. 

The food here is alright, nothing to complement but also nothing to complain about. But I've already lost 5 pounds and there is this gross mystery meat thing here. Except the problem is that we don't even know if its meat. About every other lunch everyone always accepts this "meat", because we want to be polite, but no one has the guts to try it. We just stare at it. We try to dare each other to do it, but the handbook says don't eat anything someone dares you to eat. Any way, there is this "urban legend" here that everyone who has eaten it has gotten sent home for one reason or another, so no one wants to challenge it.

I had to give a lesson and a talk on Sunday. The lesson went well because it was in English, but my talk... It was on baptism and the Holy Ghost so I literally just read a google translated version of part of my farewell talk that I brought from home. My pronunciation was terrible and super slow but I heard the translator in the back translating it correctly so that's a good sign. My language is vastly improving even though I am the furthest behind. But If I keep studying and have faith I will be blessed with the gift of tongues. 

On Friday we had one of the seventy, Elder Alonso, give us a devotional here. He spoke at one of the previous general conferences. But he talked about the power of the Book of Mormon and the importance of it. It was super cool. We even got to shake his hand. Anyway, though that devotional, my personal study, and handing out copies of The Book of Mormon and the spirit it brought, my love for this divine book has grown so much and I know that is the word of God. I know the shure power this book can bring to any lesson and of the truthfulness of it. If you have not read this book yet, you should. Give it a try read it, ponder its words, then pray to God in the name of Christ to know if what it says is true. If you do I promise you will receive an answer though the Holy Ghost. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

Love, Elder VanBuskirk

Hi mom. Love you.

Hopefully that worked. If not then it should be on dropbox. When does Nate get back again? Any way so if you are going to send me anything again just to let you know Nutella is like gold here. And if you could get some cool cheap thrift shop ties so I could trade, that would be amazing. I bought the cases and they should be here next week. They were 100,000 pesos or about  200 US dollars so I may need some more money in the bank. He actually cut us a deal and I also got the Russian flag on the front of Dylan’s.

I love you so much and everyone else. I wish I was there when Nathan gets back, but I’m where I’m supposed to be. I love you.