First Week Jazz, 11/16/2010

Dear Ones,

Please note that Skylar's new e-mail address is skylar.call@myldsmail.net.  Kevin writes him at that; I have been using dearelder.com (sending him a letter), which is free while he is in the MTC.

I believe he will leave the MTC Tuesday, Nov 30, 2010, probably BEFORE that day's mail is delivered at noon.  Once he leaves for Spain, I plan to use the U.S. postal service.  Either, then, will cost $1.

If any would rather not be included in receiving these Skylar updates, please send me a separate e-mail with that request, and it shall be honored.  I'm supposed to post this on his blog.  Tomorrow :-), I hope!

Love you!--LSC

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Skylar Call <skylar.call@myldsmail.net>
Date: Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 4:02 PM
Subject: First Week Jazz
To: loriecall@gmail.com

The MTC is a choice experience! It seems like most of my "Intermediate" district comrades are in the same position as me. Just minorly talented in Spanish but now all of us are regularly speaking in Spanish. My companion, Elder Littlefield from Orem, however, actually lived in Mexico for 3 years. Also his father has worked at the MTC perenially as an instructor and Elder Littlefield worked as a professional scrubbing hand here over the summer. So as a result, he just tested up to advanced, but I'll see him later because he is going to Barcelona, too. The food here will certainly put some meat on your nubbs. The second day in I was temporarily called to be district leader until the Branch President could interview us. And the next day, for the second week in a row, the District leader stayed the same after inspiration from the Bishop. Also I had 10 Elders and Hermanas in my district, but now it is just 6. Three Hermanas tested up, as well as my Companion, because they all took several years of Spanish in college. One of my duties as district leader is to pick up the mail twice a day, as well as going to a bunch of leadership meetings. So, even though there are about 3,000 missionaries here, I am bound to hear from you pretty promptly.  We only write e-mails home on Tuesday P-days, however. But I can send letters in the mail whenever. Consistently since I have been here, I have been able to say prayers and bear testimonies in Spanish almost in the double digits each day.   We are picking things up pretty quickly. On Sunday we had a devotional from a general authority that was over the church pageants throughout the world.  He has consequentially visited about 60 different countries in the last few years. I've also met with some pretty sweet missionaries from places like the Ukraine, Dominican Republic, England, Germany, and plenty of other kickin' places. We also study about 7 hours a day in class, plus about 4 or 5 hours on our own, or in companionship study. I have now made the goal to speak exclusively in Spanish until I rendezvous in Spain. This should be a ludicrously good time! Also my new companion is Elder Davis from Texas. Cheers!

Elder Skylar Call

This is so Choice!

Well, this is the first and last time I will post on this blog from Alabama until I arrive back from Spain two years from now, about November, 2012.  I'm beginning this new adventure 11/10/10, and want all of you to be a part of it!  No snow nor sleet nor sleep deprivation (a more likely case right now) will prevent me from getting this blog set up for you.  Point of contact right here.  Hey, you are worth it.

What you will soon read is a record of my experiences in the land where Don Quixote tilted at windmills, more commonly known as Spain.  But first comes the Provo MTC (Mission Training Center), where I begin instruction on missionary life, rules, and Spanish.  We also study at the feet of apostles for a spiritual boost that defines and focuses our path--for you see, we are the beautiful feet that publish peace and salvation (Isaiah 52:7).   My soccer feet chortle at the thought, but remain delighted.

My long wait, thanks to visa issues, is now wrapping up.  MTC time can take 3-9 weeks; mine should be 3 weeks, followed by 6 weeks more when I fly to the Madrid MTC for more specific Spanish language and culture.  Then I'll be packaged up and shipped to Barcelona in North East Spain, my destination.

I will say that after flying into the SLC airport, it was a total treat to watch families parading their gaudy signage in anticipation for their returning brothers, sons, sisters, and daughters.  Eventually I, too, will make it back, but until then a quick quote: "A wise gardener never quarrels with his rake." So in other words, I'm off to work, and it agrees with me.