Brandon's second letter from the MTC

This morning we got to go to the temple. It was really nice, especially because you just have to sit there and do nothing and watch and listen. Today is p-day, but it is not really a break from anything, we still have personal study, companion study, and then we went to the temple, now I am writing this, then I will do my laundry, then we have more class at night after dinner, so it’s not too much of a break from activity. We’re still really busy. The week has flown by so fast. I feel like  I just wrote you a letter one or two days ago.

Nathan, that’s awesome that Gavin is walking and kicking soccer balls now. Wish I could be there to play soccer with him. Mom and Dad yes I did get my raincoat. It’s really nice and warm and the liner comes out so it’s small and light. Spanish is coming along little by little, I can kind of get to know someone now depending on how they answer and if it’s simple to understand. I memorized the present tense conjugations this morning. But there are 13 different forms so I have a lot more to do. I have begun to be very tired every morning and night but during the day I wake up. During gym time I play basketball. Last week I didn't get to play much since you have to make a free throw to get into the game and I wasn't good at making free throws. But in one week I have gotten a lot better at shooting free throws and yesterday I made like 4 or 5 of them. So I got to play the whole hour instead of standing around. Nobody that I know has every been to Guatemala besides my branch president. But he went there 40 or so years ago so I am sure a lot has changed. He told us that when they would come home from lunch they would take showers and change shirts everyday because they were soaking wet. My companion and everybody in our district is freaking out about how hot it is and how humid it is. Since we live in Illinois where it is always 90-100% humidity, I don't really see it being much more humid. You can’t get more than 100%. But ill find out in two weeks. We got our travel plans yesterday. We leave on Tuesday the 22. Everybody on our floor was mad with us, they want to get out of this place and on their missions. Some of the people on our floor are being kept because of visas and things. There is a district of 6 that has been here 11 weeks now. So they are kind of jealous that I am leaving and I just showed up. One elder compared the travel office to heaven. You know its there but you can’t go inside until it is your time to leave. Everyone here is just in a happy mood all the time and so everyday is hilarious. Every meal and every night I and my district die laughing about something. The batch of new elders going to Guatemala showed up on Wednesday. That was really fun and exciting not to be the newbie’s anymore. It’s nice to be walking around and hear someone that can't speak any Spanish any better than me.  Last week it seemed like everyone was fluent but now I know better. Thanks to sis j and everybody and also dad for the packages. It was really nice to get some. My room can barely eat all of the food we’re getting in packages.

Mom and dad can you get me Joseph and Johns, and Primo's addresses. And anybody elses, plus my brothers.

Love, Elder Gardner.