Letter Dated March 28th

Dear Mom & Dad:


Sorry you didn't hear anything. They were suppose to send an email to you hmm...Wednesday or Tuesday. I don't get to call or anything. My P-day is on Monday, so usually I can send probably a quick note in an email and hopefully write a letter, I didn't have time to write one this Monday cause we had a ton of stuff to do, but it will come. From what I understand about the letters is it could take about two weeks for them, I will be sure to send you something each week so you know I am doing fine. Oh and I don't know if you already sent a package, but they want you to use the mail system and the address you should already have, and make sure it doesn't weigh much. I have to pay a decent amount for it.

The Mission President and his wife and the Elders in my Group.

Pretty much what happened since I called. Well its a ton, but our flight to Argentina was delayed till about 11 that night, so we kinda had a rough night, when we got to Argentina we ended up taking another flight to Bahia Blanca, where we pretty much were taken to a missionary apartment and slept till Wednesday. Wednesday they took us and we did a ton of paperwork stuff. Boring, haha. Then we went to the Presidents house, which is super nice where we ate some good food (no idea what it was haha chicken something haha) then ice cream and fruit mixed. That was cool, then we had interviews with the president, went over the mission goals and rules. Then they told us where our mission area and who are companions where and sent us out on different buses.

President Jorge E Detlefsen and his wife Adriana Detlefsen

My mission area is a place called Mar Del Plata. It is a tourist town. Normally a population of 400,000 but during the summer its more like 1,000,000. My Companion is Elder Brown from Ceder City Utah, he is going home next transfer so I'll only be with him for a bit, he is really cool. He is nice, smart, and funny. So pretty much awesome.


The weather here is pretty nice, warm haha. The people here are generally pretty nice, but not very easy to teach. Most are catholic or evangelicals. And don't really want to listen, or at least that's been my experience so far. We probably have about 2 family investigators and then 2 people, so not that many. We went and knocked doors all day on Saturday, and we got into zero houses haha. So its a bit rough. But its pretty fun. I can't say I ever really know what is going on though haha. Its hard to hear what the people are saying. The members here are super nice, and they talk slowly so I can catch at least a part of what they are trying to say.


So one story I want to share really quick before my computer  time runs out.  I gotta make it short so you wont get the details, but a guy stopped us on the street who was probably a druggie. He was pretty skinny and small, (this story is weird) I didn't understand anything he said really, so I was confused the whole time. But he gave us his number wanted us to stop by his house, my comp wrote the number in his planner, but the guy wanted him to write it in his phone.  As soon as my comp pulled out the phone the guy says ¨follow me I have a pistol¨, which he didn't, haha, it was pretty obvious. So we followed him for maybe 10 feet then he told us to sit.  So we all sat, he went through our bags and such, but we don't have anything.  Then he asked us where the ¨chain of gold is¨ haha.  He looked some more, then it became clear we didn't have anything so we all stood up, the guy shook our hands, said he was sorry and that somebody paid him to do this and rode his bike away. He didn't take the phone or the 3 pesos we had.... Me and my comp stood there for a few seconds trying to figure out what happened. So that's the story. Apparently everyone here gets robbed at least once, I'm not sure if that one counts or not, haha. Hopefully that doesn't scare you, its really not that bad here, so I am outta time, I'll tell you more next week


Tell Aaron I was stoked to hear about his call, I can't email him anymore, but I am sure he will dominate in his mission. Its going to be way fun. Anyway hope you are doing well. I am doing awesome. Things here are pretty good.


We already have had some interesting experiences.   Shaha.  It was way funny.


There are dogs everywhere here. Every family has one. And then every person could have one with the amount in the streets. Some of the dogs are pretty scary cause they are super diseased  and sick. They just lounge in the roads. But some dogs are awesome, haha. Just depends.

Mike's zone in his first area

Socially things are way different here, by the age of like 16 or 17 most of the girls already have one kid, that's a bit weird, and nobody is married, and if they are married they are living with someone they aren't married to. It's a mess, cause if they want to join the church it takes 6 months to get divorced and then get married here. Blah. Oh and everyone smokes and drinks to. So there are a lot of problems here, but the people are way nice. When you do get into a house they always offer water and food. which is cool. I was also surprised that probably every other active ward member guy here serves a mission, that's pretty good considering how little money they have.


Also most the people here look Italian, then Mexican, then white, then like native American Indians. So they got a pretty diverse country.


Our house we are living in is in the backyard of a guy. Its fairly small. The same size as A Rockland apartment for two people. Maybe. The kitchen is annoying. Honestly, only one person can be in the kitchen at a time, that bad, haha. The shower is warm for 5 minutes. Oh and the sleeping bag is awesome. Super nice. But apparently your suppose to bring sheets, not a big deal though, haha. the sheet we got was wrong.


My Spanish is terrible, but I would say its improved a decent amount this week. The people talk to fast though. But I am excited to be here. Especially when I can speak Spanish and I am here, haha. As it is when I contact people, its a bit rough.


I hope my story didn't scare you about the guy who maybe tried to rob us haha. Tell you what, Friday we walked for like 10 hours. Whew I was super tired, even my comp was pretty much dead tired.


I can attach photos to my emails, so i am probably going to see if i can buy a cord from the camera to the usb drive, so or something cause that would help a ton.


I talked to my comp about packages. And he has never lost a package. He received all sorts of stuff, so it shouldn't be a problem,  haha. I guess we will see though.




love Elder Obray

Traveling to Argentina

Mike left the MTC and flew out of the Salt Lake City Airport with out any problems.  He arrived in Atlanta, Georgia on time and waited for his flight to Argentina.  He was able to call home while waiting in Atlanta and we talked for maybe 15 to 20 minutes.  Mike expressed his excitement to finally be able to get out into the field and put into practice the things that he had learned in the MTC.  He was also nervous about leaving the States and going to a place that he had never been.  The fear of the unknown left butterflies in his stomach.  The flight ended up being delayed about 3 hours.  That is a long time to wait when you are nervous and excited to get going. When I went to bed at 10:30 p.m. on March 21st his plane had just taken off on the long flight to Argentina.   When I got up the next morning, I logged onto the airline and was able to track his plane until it landed about an hour later.  It was a long night for Mike and the other missionaries traveling with him.  They were finally there safe and sound and now the fun and hard work was about to begin.

Letter Dated March 18th

Dear Mom & Dad;

Elder Flamm, Elder Kirtchner, Mike & Elder Vauterlaus

So this should be the last letter you get from me from the MTC.  Pretty sweet huh! Ha Ha.  I am pretty nervous to go.  It is going to be awesome, but super difficult for a little while.  I hope to get an awesome Senior companion to help me to get the hang of things.  Guess we will find out what happened pretty soon.  Monday is going to be an interesting day.

Elder Flamn, Elder Kirtchner, Mike & Elder Vauterlaus

Elder Flamm, Elder Kirtchner, Mike & Elder Vauterlaus

I was disappointed not to know where Aaron is going for his mission.  I was hoping to find out before I left.  But oh well.


I was surprised to hear about the change in the bishopric.  Did Matthew Smith just get back?  Or was he the one who has been back for a while?

Mike's District at the Map

You gave the same kind of advise that we have been hearing all week.  It is great advice.  Since we wont be able to speak much, our job is to smile ha ha.  Sometimes just being super happy is enough to convert people.  We are not suppose to pay attention to the "average" baptisms in our area per month, the Lord prepares tons of people for us, if we sincerely try and ask the Lord for help, listen for the Spirit, he will help guide us to people when they are ready.  Every missionary can baptize.


I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well in our family.  I am sure things will continue to go well.  Not a ton of super exciting things happened this week.  This was my district's "teaching week".  So me and my companion have taught 25ish lessons in Spanish.  Which is pretty good.  At least we got lots of practice.  So far we haven't heard anything about visas, but we assume we are going.  If not I guess you will get one more letter from the MTC :(, which would be lame!


Off to Argentina! Help Bring people to Christ.


Con Amor


Elder Obray

Letter Dated March 11th

Dear Mom & Dad;


This week went awesome.  Mostly because we got our flight plans on Wednesday.  Here it is for March 21st:

MTC District, back row, Elder Stewart, Hermano Heap, Elder Flamm, Elder Geary, Front row:  Elder Hair, Elder Gleason, Mike, Elder Kirtchner, Elder Vauterlaus

Delta/ Flight 1046 /Salt Lake City to Atlanta, Georgia /Leave 12:15 pm /Arrive 5:48 pm
Delta/ Flight 101   /Atlanta, Georgia to Buenos Aires   /Leave   7:50 pm /Arrive 6:50 am

Elder Colebeck

Elder Vaterlaus

So that is what is going on in 10 days!


Mykel doesn't have a copy of the picture.  Next week I will send home from the MTC the SD card with all the pictures I took, so I would wait till you get that to give his parents a copy.  he should be in Florida now.  


Yea, it was cool to run into John Cutler.  I saw him before there, and I new I recognized him, but it wasn't till he came and talked to me that I remembered.


Thanks for the package you sent full of goodies.  it was a surprised since I didn't expect anything, ha ha.  


Sounds like you had a pretty interesting week at home.  I was glad to hear Emma still know who I am, I expect her to remember the Haaaaaaay thing when I return. 


Yea, so Aaron keep telling me how boring home life is since everyone is gone.  I feel bad for him, and at the same time, glad I am gone, life would be way boring at home I am sure, especially in comparison to the busy MTC life.

Elder Flamm & Elder Stewart

You will only get one more letter from me at the MTC.  I have heard we call home before we leave for our missions.  But honestly it might only be for people who get delayed.  Guess we will find out.


When you visit Nate, if you haven't already, tell him he can get married, BUT he owes me some delicious food! Ha Ha.  J.K. I know that he will get married with or without my permission.


Not much exciting happened beside our flight plan, just lots of studying, learning, teaching, sleeping (joke we don't sleep here), and eating.


I got a few more picture too.


Anyway have a stellar week.


Con Amor


Elder Obray


Mike did send his SD card home but it was damaged in the mail or I did something to it trying to download the pictures.  It was completely destroyed, so the only pictures I have are the ones that Mike printed and sent home.  Those pictures I have spread throughout all the letters that Mike sent home.

Letter Dated March 4th

Dear Mom & Dad;


So I am sending home some pictures.  I wrote on the back of them a bit about them.  I found out I could print pictures off here so enjoy them.

Mike & Elder Mykel Thomson at the Provo Temple

Two weeks left, which is awesome.  Its pretty difficult to wait patiently.  But oh well, time goes by pretty quick here anyway.


So the last District that is older then mine was suppose to leave this coming Monday, but their visas aren't here yet, so they probably got another week.  Poor guys.


Pretty much this week was, well normal.  Just went to class, where they try to cram information down our throats.  Then we practice teaching in Spanish.  Pretty normal stuff.  I couldn't really think of any super exciting things that happened.  I am sure Argentina will be a bit more exciting.

Mike and Elder Mykel Thomson

As a spiritual thought this week, I found in Moses 1:4, 6, 7 and D&C 121:7.  One of the first things God says when he talks to people, is that he lets them know they are his sons.  There is a lot of power in knowing this.  Further in Moses 1:12-13 Satan tempts Moses saying "Moses, son of man worship me!"  Moses replies "who art thou, for behold I am a son of God!"  Its important for us to remember who we really are and think about it often.


One thing I've notice that's changed since I got here, is at first we seemed to have lots of time to prepare to teach, and study.  But now the time for preparation and study goes b to fast, its weird.  I feel like we need three more hours in the day to get things done.

Elder Gleason & Mike's Companion Elder Kirchner

Well, I am doing well, just stoked to not sit in class all day in a few weeks.  Still haven't heard where Aaron is going.  He should get it soon.  Mykel should be leaving the MTC after this week.  Then I should leave the next week.


Con Amor


Elder Obray
P.S. I'll probably send a few pictures home every week.

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