10/7 Letter

10/4--Hey, Family. Well I'm using some time before Conference to write a quick Hello! I am only supposed to write you on P-day, but the rumor is that on Conference weekend writing is allowable. But you can write me as much as you desire, and please do not hesitate on sending me cookies and snacks!

Well, first session is over now, and I loved every minute of it. To be honest that was probably the first session of Conference ever where I didn't fall asleep. After, I was thinking of how often Conference is, and after this weekend there are only 3 Conferences left till my mission is all done. . .It's almost scary how short an amount of time I'm giving up. Sometimes it seems like forever, but really it is no time at all.

10/7--Buenos Dias! No, I wasn't in the Priesthood Choir during Conference. I don't have time to go to choir practice, but even if I had, the guys who were in the choir were just randomly selected out of those who "applied." As much as I'd love to sing in choir (they sing every Tuesday at Devotional), I'd rather use the time to study.

So, I passed the half way point of my tenure in the MTC, and when you get this letter I'll have less than a month left here. Crazy. I've been thinking about the full 9 weeks here . . . that's 1/12 of a mission. And it drags on, yet flies by. I don't know if you understand, but it's too hard to explain.

I can now teach a rough first lesson in Spanish. The bigger problem is gauging the understanding of the investigator. Since they understand in Spanish, and answer in Spanish. But I feel ike my Spanish is around the same place as the district that is leaving for Chile on Tuesday, so that's good!

Conference: I have lots of comments to make for you, because it really did have more meaning for three reasons: 1) I'm a missionary, 2) I took notes, and 3) I didn't fall asleep in any session--first time ever. I took 19 pages (front and back) of notes. All of the talks were incredible.

Saturday Morning: I loved Elder Perry's first address when he encouraged us not to let stress get the best of you, and talked about a simplified life. I really liked Sister Allred's admonishing of everyone when it comes to writing missionaries (ha ha ha). But the best talk Staruday morning was definitely President Uchtdorf's. He talked about hope. It was incredibly uplifting and inspiring.

Saturday Afternoon: Elder Wirthlin was hilarious! And I quite enjoyed his talk. Elder Holland's was quite out of the ordinary for him, but still very good. He talked about angels in our everyday lives. I enjoyed, and have enacted, the guidelines of how to make prayers more meaningful in our lives (Bednar). It was awesome!

Priesthood Session: Elder Scott told us that we all needed to appreciate the women in our lives. Actually that seemed to be the general topic for the everning. President Uchtdorf's talk was again inspiring. His quote for the evening was "Lift where you stand." Awesome. President Eyring also addressed not feeling overwhelmed and how to help others. President Monson's first address of the Conference was awesome as always. Best quote from his talk: "The Lord will shape the back to hold the burden placed upon it." He also gave us 3 imperatives in life: 1) Learn what you should learn, 2) Do what you should do, and 3) Be who you should be.

Sunday Morning: I quite enjoyed Elder Hales' talk about "Christian Courage." But my favorite talks were Sister Dalton's and President Monson's. Sister Dalton talked about virtue. I really liked the part about spiritual training "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." President Monson gave us advice for life--Adapt to the change, review what's important, show your loved ones love, and find joy in the journey. Two best quotes from the talk--"If you pile enough tomorrows you'll find a lot of empty yesterdays," and, "Nothing is as constant in this life as change."

Sunday Afternoon: Elder Nelson's talk was good, but would have meant a lot more to me in later years since it was all about temple marriage. William Oswald's talk was awesome. He taught us how to be better teachers: show love, teach from scripture, encourage pondering. I also particularly enjoyed Elder Cook's talk (the third one about trials and feeling overwhelmed). The best line from his talk was "Sometimes the things that are best for us in this life are the most bitter."

So, it was awesome!! How was Idaho? No, I do not know Elder Reintjes, but he'll be in my travel party if we came in on the same day.

Everything is good here! Send Snacks!

Love, Elder Arntsen

9/23 Letter

Everyone,
Elders Lee and Murphy are leaving for Guatamala today and that leave only 7 in our District. It's an extremely small district at best. Tomorrow will be 3 weeks in the MTC. Aaron Daybell (friend from BYU) came in last week and lives on the same floor as the rest of my zone, so I see him every day! It's pretty sweet. I'm staying healthy and everything.

President Uchtdorf came a while ago and gave us all his apostalic blessing (he also gave his blessing to all our loved ones so no worries!). I am a third of the way through my MTC time, and can't wait to bounce outta here!

Thanks for the letters and stuff. Please send articles about Y football. I hear BYU is all over the media! I so wish I could see the games, but hopefully they will be just as good in 2 years.

The weeks are flying by here (which is really good because it seems I'm working hard). Thanks for all ofyour support, everyone!

Yesterday I was talking to a Honduran and I am a little scared (tengo miedo) of the "Spanish" he spoke. They drop S's in the middle of words and vowels at the end of words. So, "Como esta?" (How are you?) turns into "Com et?" (pronounced "Com eht-eu"). Tengo Meido! but now I have a renewed desire to learn the language, so that's good!

I love this Gospel so much more, and now that I have been studying the restoration and the antonment (in "Jesus the Christ"), I have a renewed appreciation for all that I have.

Love you all!
Elder Arntsen

9/16 Letter

Hey, everybody! Thank you for the letters. Okay, you wanted to know what my schedule is like? It goes something like this: Wake up at 6:30, get dressed, eat at 7:00 am, class until lunch (11:30), lunch, class until dinner (4:30), class until 9:30. There is an hour of gym time in there somewhere and also random other things. Tuesday is my dia de preparacion, but it ends at 4:30 not 6:00. We go to the temple at 1:00 pm and do laundry at 8:00 pm. Every Tuesday there is a fireside, and last Tuesday it was President Uchtdorf!! It's always someone from the Seventy, but not very often an Apostle. Those can be pretty awesome.

The food . . . is the Cannon Center. 'Nuff said. Thank you for the updates on football, please keep them coming. Also, how are the Rams doing (St. Louis)?

As for e-mails and letters, I can only write back on p-days. So you'll have to wait until right now for answers to your questions.

I'm not sure if I told you but two Elders in my district are going to Guatemala next week. They'll be serving in President Balwin's mission (crazy, huh?). As far as snacks go, one package is never enough. If you feel the need to bake cookies in my behalf, I would love that.

I have been studying very hard, and the language is coming fairly easily. My testimony is growing so much, and I'm learning to read my scriptures and use them as a crutch.

Hope everything is going well in AZ. Keep me updated on football, please. And don't hestiate to drop a line!

Love you guys,
Elder Arntsen

New Contact Information for Michael

Michael has e-mail while in the MTC. We aren't sure whether there will be e-mail in Honduras, but at least until 11/3/08 he can be reached at michael.a.arntsen@myldsmail.net.

Also, his new MTC address is:
Elder Michael Alan Arntsen
MTC Mailbox #308
HON-SPS 1103
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

I have been called on a mission to the Honduras San Pedro Sula I will be there for the next 2 years so from September of 2008 to September of 2010. If you wish to contact me, you can do it in several ways. First of all, I will be in the Provo Missionary Training Center for my first two months. My address there will be:

Elder Michael Alan Arntsen
Honduras San Pedro Sula Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

Once I am in Honduras you will have to use the Church's "pouch" service. The "pouch" service will take one to two weeks to get the letter to me. To send these letters, it needs to be on one sheet of paper, folded into three-panels, and taped at the top only (no envelopes). This is the only way letters can make it to me without any fines given to the church. My "pouch" address will be:

Elder Michael Alan Arntsen
Honduras San Pedro Sula Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150
USA

If you love me enough that you want to send a package of any kind there is another separate address:

Elder Michael Alan Arntsen
Honduras San Pedro Sula Mission
12 Calle, Avenida Circunvalacion, S.O.
Edif. Yude Canahuati, 3 Nivel, Oficiana 4
San Pedro Sula, Cortes
Honduras

The last, final, and easiest way letters can make it to me is by using DearElder.com. This is a nonprofit organization put together by some members of the Church. On the home page, you select the "Write a Missionary" tab. From there you can select where you would like the letter to be sent. For me, you can select the "Provo Missionary Training Center" while I am in Provo, or select "Honduras San Pedro Sula Mission" when I am in HOnduras. You would then fill out all of the required information by filling in my name, etc. DearElder.com will print the letter out either in Provo or Salt Lake and send it off to me for free.

From here on out my mom will be doing this blog with all sorts of stuff so feel free to stop by!