"Enfermos"

Well this week was great and fast as usual! Just more class as usual...I'm grateful for it though! It's much needed! I will be leaving on Tuesday...and from what I've heard, our trainers will be picking us up here! I'm going to miss Elder Warren. He has been a great companion...he's a hardworking potatoe farmer from Aberdeen, Idaho and loves to get to work as fast as he can. We get along really well! So I will be missing him!
Well...I feel like in the past my letters have just been info info info...so I'm trying to make this one have some emotion! My room mates are cool! Elder Soto and Elder Martinez! We're pretty good friends! Elder Soto always calls us Elders "Enfermos" which means "sick". haha because the food does things to our body! Not good! It hasn't been that bad though! I miss you all! I pray for you a lot!! But I'm focused...when it's time to work, I put my concerns in the Lord's hands and leave them there. I'm getting better at that. Something should be said as well...of course I want to think of you! But I know the harder I work, the better it will be for the ones I love, my investigators, and myself! So I am working and am so grateful for your support and letters! They mean the WORLD to a missionary!

Right now I'm wearing shorts and my BYU shirt and sandals because it's Preperation Day! I LOVE being a missionary! I haven't even been out in the field yet...but the Lord is definitely with you always! You also have to be very good at kicking Satan away...I can't say I've been thoroughly tempted...but any temptation is easier to avoid the earlier we cast it off...and with the Spirit, we know how to do it all! OH! The other morning we went on a temple walk...and saw THE CUTEST little black girls! They were 8 years old and twins! With their brother who was 11. Waiting outside for their Mom to get out of the Temple! They were so cute! But my beautiful nieces are still cuter!

When we have power points...I'm the computer guy and help the President operate the computer while he's up front talking! Uh...I can't wait to get out and serve! It'll be incredible...and I haven't been sweating nearly enough!!! I'm quite interested to figure out who my trainer will be! I love you all and HE LIVES!

Elder Ethan Mecham

Dots & Swedish Fish. . .

Ethan will be entering the Mission Field on March 30th!

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Hola!

Love Being a missionary! SMILE! :)‏

Hola Familia! All is well! I will try to make this a super good Email! :)

First of all, I saw my Mission president right before lunch today!!! Just shook hands…he’s awesome! Whenever you send another package…perhaps Swedish fish…dots…lots of dots…haha stuff like that!

I still haven’t got your package or letters yet! Still waiting! If you could…please let me know when you get my letters and stuff! I just never know if you get them or not! Tell Shawnie happy Birthday! :) It is going great! I’m have my rough days…but there is an endless supply of turning to the Lord :) I’m so grateful I was raised in the Gospel! I love this Gospel…I love my Savior! I’m so grateful for His sacrifice!

Why are there Riots at the University?

No se! I mean…I don’t know! :) Español!

Can you see the Beaches or have you seen your Sunset yet?

No beaches…and I can see sunrises when I go down the stairs to Breakfast! Sunset is just over the trees!

What is it like to be in a acutal companionship?

Much different?NICE! Less to worry about! And making progress is a lot easier!

What kind of success have you had at the University?

We place a lot of pamphlets and at least a book of Mormon each time! It isn’t to hard to place things here…usually they are just happy to receive things!Is it intimidating to talk to the College Students in Spanish?With the Lord…No! With the Lord I am able to understand quite a bit and respond…but I of course still have to say...lo siento! No entiendo! (Sorry! I don’t Understand!) But yesterday we taught two 22 or 23 year old girls about the Word of Wisdom…in Spanish! That was quite an accomplishment! NO COFFEE! Just accept it!! Haha

So does chocolate melt pretty fast there?? I was going to send you something but I dont want to have it be melted when you open it

Not here…I want some…but I’m thinking it melts on the plane? Or in the delivery process…but if you do send any… :) send the boxes with Snickers and musketeers and milky ways! The sams club ones! :) or whatever works! I was just craving that the other day!

I love you all! I’m doing great…I love being a missionary! I’m already scared for the day I have to drop the badge! We’re going on two months…crazy!

Love you All.
Elder Mecham

Sweat, Blood, & Love

Hello Family!

I miss you all so much! …. We went yesterday to the University instead of the usual Tuesday because there was a riot on Tuesday! We do service on Thursday also where we usually clean the University but today there is a riot again, so we will be here!Spanish is great! I feel like I'm excelling quickly! Only thanks to the Lord! I'm working hard at it and loving it! Well, this week was great. WAYYYYYYYYYYY fast. I know they all will be. OH!

I got the flu on Friday! The worst flu I have ever had by far. I didn't sleep at all on Friday night...threw up all of Saturday, got a blessing for Elder Warren, and was back up the next day. I have never been that sick...but I have never been healed that quickly! Priesthood! As of 20 minutes ago, I am now, for the first time in a companionship!. It was an answered prayer to stay in my room and my District, just because I am comfortable there. I will make sure I show the Lord I'm grateful for this! I just got done weeding the temple grounds! It was great! Physical work for my Lord! Love it! One kid (Elder Winter) said I reminded him of his Dad. "My Dad was raised in Morgan and he is always WORK WORK WORK. You'll do good in your mission" That made me feel good. I was working my tail off! But I enjoy it...& it's the Lord's House...Why shouldn't I be? Tell Grandpa and Dad thank you for the "work blood"! :) I'll make them & their name proud. Promise. I'm so grateful for my farm job!

Okay, I don't really know what to say...but I am doing great! I miss home and my nieces and my mom, and work, and service around Morgan a lot. But the Lord helps me snap out of it. I think it will be easier when I can literally GO & DO in the field. Not just....okay ready....LEARN! haha it's kind of harder...but I'm working my hardest in class too!
I love you all!
**Just a note from a hand written letter we got from Ethan the day after he got there...
Ethan Said that they let you take naps there, but he said he is not going to.. LOL A nap how funny!!..

Mmmm Dryer Sheets & Pop Rocks!

Hello Family!

You were close Mom! BuenAS DiAS. :) Haha good to know you're learning Spanish! The reason for the Subject of the email is just because I was reading about my nieces...and about Zane's itch for Golf...& Judy Johnson...and all of those little things about home...it made me tear up...but please tell me all the little things about life! I'm doing good! It's flying by! The more focused you are, the more you get done, and the faster it goes! I don't necessarily want it to go quickly...but in the awkward MTC stage..it's a little more difficult not to think about it! The way you did the questions is great!

Here it goes!

How is your food?

It's good! Breakfast, juice, oatmeal & cereal (raisin bran, corn flakes, & fruit loops) and bread, lunch, sancocho (a soup which is interesting...I described it in autumn's letter I'm sending today), or most commonly, rice, chicken, & beans! Dinner, same! But it's good! The body definitely has issues with natural laxatives! haha

How many are in your room?

Just 2! My companions! Elder Finn & Elder Warren! Good Companions! We have fun! The Haitians leave next week & the D.R. Natives come! But since we're at trio...I don't think we'll have anyone come into our room! That will be kind of nice! I am on top bunk...I like it because it's more personal up there and you have a little space!

Do you have the same basic schedule each day as the MTC?

Pretty much...it's a little more laid back here...with rests on sunday and what not. But at the same time...I can't find time to study my spanish notecards!

What is the University all about?

We walk over to the University, (North-West) of here. About 10 minutes. And teach! We get pamphlets (folletos) and L.D.M.! We have placed four, committed one to church on Sunday, & talked a lot! The language is going good thanks to the Lord!

Have you met your mission President?

Nope! But he lives in a tall building RIGHT next to us!

How is your health?

Good! I'm getting a cold right now...sore throat, but I will be able to fight it off quickly I think.

Is the CCM airconditioned so you wear your suit?

Yes it is airconditioned! But no suitjackets! That's nice! Just on Sunday During meetings!

How often do you go to the Temple?

Once a week! Thursday! P-Day! I went earlier today! All in English again!

How is your Laundry doing?

It is doing great! I do laundry tomorrow! I would like dryer sheets! They don't smell like anything when they're done!

Thanks! Que mas....hmm...OH!!!! The best day this week! Monday! we went and did some Haiti

Relief! FINALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK! We transferred over a thousand bags of rice from one trailer to another! :):):):):) it reminded me SO much of home! Especially Lances farm! I was working my tail off...I worked so hard. It was such good therapy! I was taking on two jobs. We did assembly lines, and so I would be at the end stacking, & then when people would drop any along the line, I would go and pick two or 3 up. I LOVE that kind of work! And man did I sweat!!! wow! But it was incredible :)

On Tuesday I showed the Haitians pop rocks...they were FREAKING OUT. They had never seen anything like them! This gospel is true! The misssionaries need your help! Find so they can teach! I know this is the best work! Press forward! :) love you all, I'm doing good, the Savior suffered more than any of us! See you soon! Haha! :)

Elder Mecham

How Sweet

Ethan had these roses sent to Mom. .

such a good boy!!

We sure miss him!