Week 5

Que pasa ese!

Hey family! Its P-day again... already.  Its crazy. I don't really comprehend time here. The days seem like years but the weeks seem like hours.  So important new events: the nitty gritty.  The apóstoles are here this week along with the first presidency.  All of the new mission presidents are here and getting set apart, or trained or whatever they do with them.  Its really cool!  Some kids in my district saw Elder Holland yesterday and waved at him as he was driving away.  Sick!  My roommates just came into the room and started yelling that they just brushed shoulders with Elder Oaks! Insane.  So I should be able to meet my mission president this week so that´s pretty dang sweet.  So my roommates starting doing this thing.  Its called the "Thorntonism of the day. "  Apparently they think  I have good quotes.   Funny quotes.. I guess.. who knows with them.. jaja.  We did an endowment session today and that was really cool.  I learned a whole bunch about all of the symbolism everywhere.  Lots of elders here know a lot about it and explained it to me, so that was really cool.  Also I got released as a zone leader so that´s a huge load off my shoulders.  We´re training the new ones this week and then I´m free at last!  Finally get to study and stuff like a normal missionary.  Anyway!  that´s the gist of what´s been happening here!  

Mum, thanks for the pictures and letters and the book you sent! That was really cool to get.  Also, Still cool you´re learning Spanish! We´ll be able to talk and stuff, jaja.  Also, sometime before I leave here I´ll be able to call home so that will be in like 3ish weeks.  Just a heads up.  I´m leaving the 18th of July.  Also, I don´t know where to send a letter so that it´ll get to Mons.  He sent me a letter and I don´t have his new address. Can you get it for me?  Thanks!  Those pictures looked awesome! Elk Ridge looks like a blast.  Well, Thanks for everything mum!  I wouldn't be here without you.

Dad, wasshappenin?  YOU GOT INTO POINT TO POINT? Park city? that's so cool!  I've heard that that's the big race to do..  That's so cool.  and Lance is doing it too?  That will be a blast!  How much climbing is it?  What's your goal for time?  What's lance's?  That's so cool.  And you've been riding 6 days a week? You animal.  Like I said, THE DIESEL.  Legit.  Thanks for the letter and the pictures and stuff and keep taking pictures so I can see what you're up to and stuff!  That's awesome that all those jobs are starting to come in.  The Lord's blessing us as always!  Don't let it go to waste! Pray about everything.  So I've got this workout that I started doing,  the original is like 600 push-ups a day but I tried to cut that in half to 300 and I still couldn't do it... but I will!  I'll be huge when I'm back! jaja You, Craig and Austin better watch out! jaja.  Well thanks for everything dad! You taught me how to work and very grateful for it so thank you!

Austin, I'll send you a letter: but I would like you to send me one more thing before you send the package.  lyrics to "I can see the Light" from Tangled.  That's all I do here is sing because we can't listen to music but I don't know any of the words!

Ellie, don't be Harry Potter and the prisoner of marzapan.  *(We love PSYCH- if you watch it- you will understand )

Brynn,  stay happy OK?

Girls: I'm sorry I don't have a lot of time so I'll write a letter

I love you all! Stay fresh.

TTT

PICTURES!!!!!.... Finally!

Elder Alex Jay Trump (Companion)

I think this looks like Tanner Ellsworth??

District

Coldplay? In The Book of Mormon?

MTC Matrix!

Half Way There!

Wasssup, what's happenin'?!  How was bears ears? It sounded like it was a blast and stuff.   Every thing's still good here! Just living the dream as always.  Comp and I are just chillin here in the computer lab typing as fast as we can... he's a lot faster than I am.. Jaja.

Mum, HIIIII! How's it going?  I hope everything's going well.  Yes, I've had a haircut... not nearly as good as when you do it but it still wasn't bad.  Yeah I share a room with three other Elders including my comp.  We have 2 bathrooms on our floor that are shared by everyone on our floor. It kinda stinks when your waiting in line and stuff.. but you know, whatever.  I think I sent you a letter of describing my comp and stuff but I can answer more questions if you want!  I think I'm gonna send my card home today for pictures.. I don't want to have to pay to get them developed.. jaja. Also, (this is super duper importante) I'm gonna send my five fingers home.  They didn't stretch like my first pair and I don't like this model.  So, can you get me a new pair? The one's that I had before? They're the women's KSO black size 42.  And yes they have to be women's.  That would be so awesome if you could do that for me! Thanks mum, you're the best! And that's way cool that you stayed in Flag and stuff and ate at Fratelli's and stuff.  It's some pretty darn good stuff:)

Dad, HIIII! How goes it?  How's the riding going?  Were you able to sneak out of bears ears for a bike ride at MOAB?? I sure hope so.. that would have been awesome.. thanks for sending me the Honey Stinger waffle about a week ago.. That was awesome:)  I ate it right away! I don't think I've been more excited.. jaja.. well, I hope everythings going well! Put in a few miles for me next time you go:)  Also, you should have your priests start to memorize D&C 4.  Its 7 verses but its all about missionary work and I think that its important for them to know.. I just memorized it in Spanish last week and it was well worth the time spent. Also, happy Father's Day on Sunday!!  I'll send a letter to you as well.  You're the best dad!

Austin, What's going on stud? I'll send a letter..

Ellie, How's it going cutie pie? Are you keeping those boys away?  Make them work for you.. Jaja just kidding..  I hope everythings going awesome with your summer!  Filled with water activities etc.  Are you excited for lake Powell?  You better be! I think you're gonna clear the wake this trip. :)

Brynn, Hey cutie pootutie! How's your summer going so far?  I hope its going great!  Are you swimming across the street a lot? I sure hope so.. How does it feel outside? Super warm? Well, tell me what's been going on!

Roxy,  Hey good girl! What you doin? Nice dog:)  Listen Roxy, I know you're getting old but you cannot die until I get back.. Don't you wanna see me?  Just hang in there and I'll see you soon. 

Trader, What are you  doing crazy white dog? You're pretty alright... just stay frisky!

Shaggy, You're a spaz but that's OK.. I'm just glad you're not my spaz.. Jaja.. But you're pretty alright too... I guess.. Jaja just kidding:)

Well anyway, Things are great here! My comp and I should be getting released from Zone leaders here pretty quickly.  Its gonna take a huge load off my shoulders.  today's P-day! Went to the temple this morning.  It was awesome.  Rosemary Wixom came to talk to us on Tuesday.. The general primary president... That was very cool.  We got to sing primary songs and taught me a ton. I really liked how she stressed what a privilege it was to be able to wear Jesus Christ's name on our chest (mine says Jesucristo)  But it was really really good! Jesucristo es mi mejor amigo:)

"I'm glad they called me on a mission,

Look at me, I've grown a foot or two,

I hope that now I am ready,

To preach and teach and do as missionaries do" 

I love you all!

Shorty

Quotes

¿Que Pasá ese? (Austin)
What's going on brother? "Don't let your dreams be dreams"- Jack Johnson  Go up and get those stars and don't let anyone tell you different.  Plan for your mission. Up until now, the mission is the most important thing that I have ever done in my entire life.  this mission is going to mean absolutely EVERYTHING to me and i know it'll be the same for you. Anyway- I love you bro,.. more later....

Ellie,
How's it going sister!? "Good , better, best, never let it rest, until your good becomes your better and your better becomes your best!" Do your best with everything and that's all that matters... have a good week!

Brynn,
Thanks for the new bear! sorry I lost the other one.  I like the tie! I hope everythings going well!  just keep hanging in there and reading your scriptures and saying your prayers and asking for help!  He'll be up there helping you out!

                                                                                            Love, Elder T
So any way... adding to the email...
I have 3 other roommates.  we are all going to El Salvador... they are all going to the west/Belize mission though.  That one kid I met at the police station is actually my roommate and he's wicked good at drawing! My comp is a sprinter/football player... he's a running back and huge!  My other roommate was a wrestler and does legit parkour.  So I'm learning some pretty cool stuff :)  They all work hard... My comp and I laugh like non-stop. Which is exactly what I need! Anyway... still playing basketball!  I'm pretty much a baller now-ja ja- Just kidding... I wish I was. I love you all! <3 Elder T

3rd Week at the MTC

Hey Familia!

 Thanks for all the letters and love and support and prayers!  I got a lot this week not only from you guys but also from lots of friends.  Including our whole other Thornton side of the family... you know: Duane, Diana and like all of their kids and families all wrote a letter and but them all in a box and then filled it with candy and a tie and a few other doo-dads and sent it off to me! It was a huge surprise and I was very grateful.  It was cool to see the drawings some of the little ones drew of me also:)  I also got your package full of chips and salsa and stuff! That was a nice surprise and my district/people from my zone really loved and enjoyed it as well:)  then I got another with my card and the book and the new bear... Thank you for getting all that stuff for me!  Now I just have like a butt-load of letters to respond to as always.. But its good!  What else am I going to do on P-Day right?  Anyway.. so the picture my roomate drew? Yeah, my comp is really buff and that one kid is like 6'5" and those things you thought were bags are missionary name-tags of two elders that got transfered to advanced spanish and left yesterday.   That's cool that you're thinking of using those rosetta stone things.. That would be fun! We could talk spanish and stuff...And you coached primary softball? That's cool! I guess they just always want Thornton's to coach or something...jaja:)  It sounds like you guys are gonna have fun at Bears Ears!  Tell everyone Hi for me! And take pictures... you know, because I've never been there and stuff.. jaja.  And I'll send my card home like two weeks before so you can send it back... It would take too long to upload on these computers.  Last week I sent my email with 8 sec left on the timer and then it logged me out... jaja.  So I use like every second they give us on these computers.  That's pretty crazy how big austin is getting... I'm gonna be a malnourished gringo salvadorean when I get back... He'll be like a Tongan! So scott got mouth surgery huh? That kinda stinks... but at least its over right?  And that's cool that you guys went over there to have the church lesson.  I did forget my headlamp... but you can keep it until I get close to leaving or am already there... I've got a flashlight so I'm all good!  So Dad, you went to Eldon last week? That's so cool.. How was the weather? I bet it was a ball... That's still the only thing I miss doing.. pedaling up a mountain.. torturing myself... weird that I miss that, right? haha... But it sounds like it was a blast and THE DIESEL is getting super strong:)  And it sounds like Youth conference was awesome!  I bet you all did awesome.  Austin, I'll send a letter. Along with ellie and brynn.  I'll probably actually be sending another letter for everyone regardless... But let's get down to the nitty gritty.........

This week was pretty good. We had a great fast and testimony meeting on Sunday and mission conference which was really cool.  Then on Tuesday, Yoshihiku Kikuchi of the seventy came to talk to us.  the same guy that spoke at out stake conference when Tim was called to the stake presidency.  that was super cool.. He is such a great speaker and he's funny and If you remember his conversion story... it was awesome... maybe i'll have enough time to write it in a letter.   Anyway... no new districts inour zone this week so that took a huge workload off my comp's and my shoulders..  Just chillando now! Also, if you can find a way to look it up: look up elder holland's miracle of a mission devotional that he gave to the MTC a few years back... It is absolutely amazing! Anyway... I'm doing well and so is my comp.  Thanks for everything! I wouldn't be where I'm at today without you guys and one of the presidency members told me to thank you for him as well. I love you all!

2nd week at the MTC

Que onda familia!

So once again its P-day.  We went to the temple this morning and that was awesome.  Did some initiatories.  It was the first time I did those since I went through for myself so I learned a ton!  Still learning a ton of Spanish... we have to (get to teach) the whole first lesson in Spanish this Saturday.  My comp and I struggled through a lesson in Spanish on Monday and it was a TRAIN WRECK.  But our teacher said we did good for our first time so that was at least a little comforting.  I'm still loving it here in the MTC! I tell my comp I love him every night just like Elder Driggs used to do.  Its crazy to think we've only known each other for 15 days and its like we've known each other for years.  I finally figured out who he reminds me of!... btw... He has the same sense of humor and smiling "habits" as Cole! Jaja. As soon as I figured that out, I started laughing so much more! Remember: "you can win a crowd with a smile" Plus: believe it or no, it releases endorphins into your brain to make you into a better mood.  Fun fact for you guys.. Jaja. Yeah so zone leader is going good! I just don't have hardly any personal time anymore because I've always got something going on.. So each district has anywhere from 6-12 people and our zone consists of five districts with usually a new district every week.  So our main responsibilities are to orient the new districts and meet with the district leaders to make sure everyone is in line.. Jaja. It's awesome, but I am secretly awaiting the day I get released... Jaja.  So it sounds like every thing's going good at home! Dad's clocking in some good miles as always... "THE DIESEL" You probably put in at least a seventy mile ride once a week right? that's awesome... that's the only thing that I seriously miss doing: just pedaling.. But that's ok! So Mons is going to Chile!!! I'm so excited and proud of him! He sent me a dear elder and said now Cody, me, and Mons and Hunter can make fun of our wives in Spanish now.. jaja. That is going to be a good day.  now Austin just needs to go Spanish speaking!  It sounds like all the seniors did awesome in their talks.  Scott is sodding hilarious..jaja.  I'm still getting lots of letters from people which is super cool.  I hear Katie and Andrew are keeping in touch? that's nice of them.. Anyway, all is well here!  Brynn: I lost your bear.  I'm sooooo sorry! i took pictures with it for three days then hid it in my front pocket and it fell out somewhere... can you make me a new one please? I know you put a lot of work into it..  All of the hermanas loved it and thought it was the cutest thing in the world.  Our 5 hermanas are a huge blessing in our district.  They've got a spirit about them.  Thanks for the nice letter by the way.. i love to hear from you guys.  Ellie sounds like she's doing awesome and having tons of fun!  Hanging out with the boys.. jaja..  Austin:  stay fresh.  I'll send a letter:) Don't be exactly half of an 11 pound black forest ham.  So yeah anyway! I'm actually getting kinda good at basketball.  Weird how you can get good from playing an hour everyday.. Jaja  Anyway, two more thing: can you send me two talks? both by Elder Holland. one is called safety for the soul and the other is called none were with him.  Please and thank you! anyway I love you all and can't wait to get your letters!

Elder T-wizzle