Letter Dated February 25th

Dear Mom & Dad;


So this week went pretty well.  Classes went fine, Spanish is still difficult.  Pretty normal week in those regards.  I did talk to Mykel a few days ago for a few minutes.  He is super lucky cause he leaves the MTC before me.  I am going to try to get a picture with him at the temple this week, and I will probably send it home.

Elder Stewart

This morning (Friday) we were surprised to wake up with 10 inches of snow!  We went from zero to ten inch in only a few hours.  So I got to were my new coat when we went to the temple this morning.


Also, Todd Taylor is going to Rome on his mission!  Pretty sweet.  Fatido should find out this week.


In my zone at the MTC we had a missionary who was here for 15 weeks because of health problems who finally left today.  He was a way chill guy named Elder Zollinger from Declo, Idaho.


Hmmm.... I got a haircut.  Which means my hair is super short.  And I blessed the sacrament in Spanish this last Sunday.

Mike & Elder Zollinger from Declo, Idaho

And I should tell you since I forgot last time, the Argentina Consul said that packages sent through their mail probably wont make it.  so you would have to send through a private courier.  Just so you know.


So anyway I haven't really had any problems here.  We did teach our 1st full Spanish lesson and I suppose it went decently well. Ha Ha.  It takes us so long to come up with a sentence that we couldn't teach very much, but oh well.  We are getting better though.  I've already learned more Spanish then I ever did in high school.

Picture Emma colored and sent to Mike for Valentine's Day

I am glad things are going pretty well back at home.  I am sorry Dad had bronchitis.  We had a few kids in our zone get that one.  Pretty much no fun.


Its cool you saw the Robotics guys.  I can't say I have talked to them for a super long time.


So I pretty much forgot Nate even had a birthday until I realized we all do (duh!).  But I must be honest I only know my birthday is in November and Nate's is in February.  And everyone else is in the summer.  Ha Ha.


Three weeks till I FINALLY get to go to Argentina.  Pretty much just want it to start.  But there is so much stuff to learn that I have to wait, impatiently.


Oh tell Jenny I received a letter from Emma (which was awesome), but I don't have time to write back this week.  So Next week for sure.


Con Amor


Elder Obray

Letter Dated February 18th

Dear Mom & Dad;


Well this last week was pretty good.  We had our last TRC in English and this week.  Now on it is Spanish only.

Elder Flamm (Virgina), Elder Vatelous (Boise), Me and Elder Kirchner (Ohio), all are going to Argentina.  All but Elder Kirchner will be in the Bahia Blanca Mission

When we go to gym my companion pretty much does whatever I do.  So I started to run this week around the rack in the upstairs part of the gym, and he kinda runs with me.

Elder Hair and Elder Flamm

So I can't remember what I told you already about my companion Elder Kirchner.  So he is from Ohio, Dayton I think.  He is a karate fighter, or was.  But its been like a year or so since he has done that.  He is really quite.  Not a social kid.  He didn't have any member friends in high school.  He is about my height, not super athletic.  Anything else you want to know about him?


I don't know how they choose people to bring in the new guys.  I think it is the people who leave really soon who do it.  I hope to do it some time before I leave.

Elder Gleason

Me and my companion get along alright.  We definitely have different views on many things, but we work this out most of the time.  I feel bad for my companion sometimes because he has...well different ideas and views on things then me and the rest of the District, so he sometimes feels a bit alone on things.  What I said might not make much sense, but I honestly don't know how to explain it.  Really he just has a different thought process.  But we get along and can teach decently well together.

Elder Stewart, Elder Hair & Elder Kirtchner

So as a spiritual thought I read through a few thing I wrote in my thought journal.  Moroni 9:6 (which means you should read it).  The interesting thing about it is Mormon tells his son to labor diligently for a fear they might be condemned if they don't.  So to apply this, in our church callings or mission in my case, we have these calling form God, thus we need to labor diligently in it and work as best we can, so that we don't have to worry that we might have missed helping someone and perhaps changing there life for the better.  I can't imagine how difficult it would be to find out we could easily have helped someone come closer to Christ, but we missed the opportunity!

Mike, Elder Gleason (head is hidden)  & Elder Gerary

How long is Dad going to be working in Pennsylvania?


So I know I asked you for pictures of the family.  I also wouldn't mind a picture of some friends.  So like the picture of the my farewell we had two group pictures that i would like if that is possible to get.


The Argentina consul came on Tuesday and we had to sign a paper in front of him.  He also talked to us about Argentina.  The people and the food there is going to be awesome. 

Elder Gleason & Elder Geary

He said that people will probably come up to us and ask us questions a lot since we will stand out a bit.  He also told us of things we need to avoid, like some of the Shanty towns would be very dangerous, while others are great.  It was fun to be able to talk to him.  And we got to see all the others going to Argentina.  There were probably 50 missionaries.  I didn't meet any other going to Bahia Blanca though.


So Mykel Thompson should be here,  I have yet to see him though.  I am going to keep looking thought.


Anyway, I hope your not to lonely with Dad gone.  I hope this next week goes well for you and keeps you busy.


Con Amor


Elder Obray

Letter Dated February 11th

Dear Mom & Dad;

Elder Flamn

I am doing pretty good right now.  Trying to catch onto Spanish & learn how to teach more effectively.


I don't remember what I told you about my teachers.  But my District has two, Brother Memmot and Brother Heap.  We have both of them for 3 hours each day except Fridays and Sundays.  They are way cool guys.  Brother Memmot served in L.A. Spanish speaking.  He has one of the biggest families ever.  Its in a world record book.  He has something like 30 brothers and sister!  He is married with one kid.

Mike & Elder Kirchner (his companion) at the Provo Temple

Brother Heap served in Mexico City.  His older brother is in the NFL and plays for the Ravens.  And he just proposed to his girlfriend last week.

During our gym time,  I play a game called 4 square.  Since they wont let us play soccer.   And everyone who plays basketball destroys me with their skill.  But 4 square is surprisingly fun.

Elder Gleason

So I would share like a spiritual thought with a scripture, but I forgot my notebook where I take notes and my scriptures.  (I write in the wash room while I wait) so next time.


I got my last shot this week, so that should be done with.


Once a week we go to a place called TRC, where people volunteer to be taught by practicing missionaries.  It is really pretty fun to teach these people.  But we have to do some of it in Spanish which is super duper hard.

Elder Hair and Elder Flamm

I figured out how to survive the food here.  Breakfast I have bagels and cracked wheat with sugar -- good.  Lunch I just each what they serve normally.  Dinner I just eat like a bowl of cereal and maybe a sandwich.  Otherwise the food literally kills your body.


So I am getting a surprising number of letters.  I usually get 3 dearelder.coms, 1 email (Aaron), and 4 letters.  So it keeps me busy on my P-day writing letters back.

Elder Vaterlaus

We have interviews with a Representative from Argentina this week when they sign our visas and such.  So I really will be going there in a little while.  Its weird that I have already been gone for over 3 weeks.  Almost a month.  Pretty sweet!


I am excited for Mykel to get here this week.  I am for sure going to find him during meal times.  he gets to leave the MTC before me though :( Ha Ha.)  I am a bit jealous.

Anyway, have a good week.

Happy Valentines Day

Con Amor

Elder Obray

Letter Dated February 4th

Not sure what this is about

Dear Mom & Dad;


Well I think I have plenty to write about this week.  We have all be working hard in our classes.  Learning how to teach, and learning a bit of Spanish.  Ha,Ha, we pretty much work 24/7.  We still all feel exhausted all the time.

Mike & Elder Kirchner at the Provo Temple

The devotionals and firesides are awesome.  One of the coolest things ever is to see hundreds of missionaries in one spot.  Fantastic.





So my P-day goes something like this:
    6:30              get ready
    7:00              personal study
    8:00              Breakfast
    9:00              Temple
  11:00              Companion study
  12:00              Personal time

Elder Geary

    1:00              Lunch
    2:00-6:00      Personal Time
    6:00              Dinner
    6:45              Class
    9:30              get ready for bed

So I usually write letters and do laundry from 2-3:30.  Then I try to relax, sleep, read, or just talk for a while to get a bit of a break.


Yea, I like the fact that you move around in the Idaho Falls Temple.  It would be cool to go the Salt Lake or Manti temple for a session.

So I actually check my email.  Aaron sent an email 11 days ago.  Whoops.  I only have 30 minutes a P-day to use the computer.  So its a good thing only he sent me one.

Elder Vaterlaus

The next part of my letter is a bit more personal.  As I have lived here, felt of the spirit, and come closer to our Heavenly Father, I started to look back at my life the past couple of weeks and realized just how far from the spirit I was.  Even if this was the only reason that going on a mission was right (its not the only reason), It has shown me the Power of Christ's Atonement, and I have begun to feel just what it can do to help the soul feel better.  I am already eternally grateful to have come to the MTC.  Its changed me in 2 1/2 week for than I could have imagined.  I have faith that in a short time I will have a portion of the spirit so that I can continue learning how to bring other to a knowledge of this gospel.


Con Amor


Elder Obray


P.S.  I would like some pictures of the family.