Almost 3 Weeks Down!

Editor's Note:

Jim Pitchforth always writes a Pre(r)amble before his sons' letters, but I haven't come up with anything as clever. If anyone out there has a catchy suggestion so you don't have to see "Editor's Note" heading each missionary letter, let me know.

Marco Garcia is a boy from our ward who is finishing up his mission in Chile. The "sacrifice" Ian refers to is Marco's decision to go on a mission even though he may not be able to see his family again. He had to return to Chile for the church to issue the call legally and I guess the government told him he could not apply to return for at least ten years. His family cannot visit him because they will not be able to get back into the U.S. We do not know all the details of their circumstances, but the Stake President was very emotional a few weeks ago when he told us how excited he is for his son, Spenser, to return in a few weeks while at the same time Marco cannot return to his family. His mother told me that he repeatedly wrote home that he has no regrets and knows it is the best decision he's ever made.

The MTC is a vortex of church member connections. It's like the degrees of separation are down to 1 or 2. I guess part of it is that my friends around the country are all sending kids on missions. It's exciting to hear of his old childhood friends and where they're headed. It feels like we're reconnecting briefly to all the people we've watched pass through our ward.


July 16,2007

Hi,

Thanks for the letter.

First, one of the teachers here served with Marco Garcia, not as a companion, but with him in Antofogasta. His last name is Chandler. I told everyone the sacrifice Marco made, and they realize how foolish it is to feel sorry for themselves.

I don't need white clothes; the ATM account is fine. The only t-shirt I want is a yellow one from Hawai'i that says "Ainokea" on the back. Send that if you could.

I'm going to send some things home like books and stuff to save weight. Tomorrow the Ft. Lauderdale elders leave. I'm setting them up with our address and number, so look out for Elders Fitzgerald, Shick, Stewart and Mortimer. They're all cool guys.

On Wednesday I got to go to the Provo ER because my companion dislocated his finger playing basketball. His finger looked like a lightning bolt. It was at 6:30 a.m. gym, so there was no doctor at the MTC. We had to go to the ER. They make you sign all this stuff when you leave like you won't buy anything, etc., etc., but we left in such a hurry we were in gym clothes and didn't sign anything. Can you believe that the Provo ER doesn't have a single coke machine? It's the cleanest, most empty ER Ive ever seen. It looks like an upscale Pediatrician waiting room. I got to learn how to pop a finger back into its socket. Our nurse went to Resistencia. It was great to leave. I'll send a picture of my companion's finger.

Raquel Delgado, Brother Delgado's daughter, works in the mail room here. I saw her, but I don't think she saw me or recognized me.

Thank the Schwartz's for the package.

That's good Jamel sold the truck and is getting the VW set up. Ask him when he's going to take Alyx out in the kayak like he promised.

The consulate was fine, he just talked for 2 1/2 hours. He talked about each mission, and he made Resistencia sound like the gnarliest place in the world. "jaguars, anacondas, Indians, impenetrable forests etc." and then he made all the other missions sound like pansy missions compared to it. When it was question time, kids asked the dumbest questions I have ever heard. They are talking to the Senior Consulate of Argentina, and all these idiots can come up with is "what does dulce de leche taste like?" "Do they hate Americans?" "How much are the steaks?" and it just went down hill. Ignorance in youth of this church about the world is ridiculous. I can not stand it. Anyway, I raised my hand and said "is Che Guevara a good subject to bring up?" and he just looks at me, kind of cockeyed and goes "He is on lots of t-shirts, yes. But that is all he is, a t-shirt. He left Argentina as a young man and never returned, he went to Cuba, Bolivia, whatever. He is from long ago." Then he went on to incorrectly give some facts about where Che was born, etc. So, I know more about Ernesto "Che" Guevara than the Argentine consulate and he is "nothing more than a t shirt" to the government of that country. He asked us where in the world we have been, and some kids had been to Brazil and Mexico. I didn't say anything, and some kid (probably the dulce de leche kid) says all proudly, "Canada", and everyone including the consulate just started laughing. It was really funny.

Grandma Nan sent a bunch of envelopes with enough postage to go to Canada for my companion, along with a list of elders from Alberta who served in California in '82. It was nice of her. Also, there are pictures of missionaries in Osaka, Japan all over my floor, from '85 and that's when Chuck was there, yeah? I only have three minutes left, but find out Mitch's address at UCF and his email for me. Don't give out my email to my friends until I leave. I get an Argentine ID when I get there, too.

Love you,

Ian