Three Down, Three to Go

Dear Family and friends. 

I am technically halfway through the online MTC experience. They have told us we will be done in three more weeks. Then I have two weeks to wait before I am shipped off to Texas.

As of right now it is a good thing that the first part of my mission will be English speaking, as I have yet to master Portuguese. Learning German seems to have been a bad choice for a future Brazilian missionary, as it has done little but confuse me. My teachers are fed up with me accidentally switching over while trying to say something to an investigator. I am still at the point where most phrases are memorized jumbles of sound that don’t mean anything to my own ears. In all honesty, I am the furthest behind in the class, considering all the other Elders studied Spanish for several years in their high school. But i'm working through it, and I’m sure I will learn it.

I’m grateful that they offer extra classes and learning options for language while in a reassignment, and I will be sure to leap upon any extra opportunity to learn. My reassignment is looking okay overall for several reasons, a large one being our ability to use bicycles there. In Brazil, the mission president has expressly forbidden the use of bicycles, due to accidents and misuse. As you may know, I enjoy riding my bicycle and was saddened to hear that I would be unable to on my mission. When my reassignment arrived, my mom joined the Facebook community for the Fort Worth Mission. They immediately gave her a list of bike related instructions for my packing and preparation. I have watched all the safety videos related to bicycling for missionaries. So there is a bit of happiness in this change.

Lately, on my P-day, me and my family have taken to riding our bikes, and driving over to Liberty. The latter coming about because the view directly outside the window I sit in front of all morning is of Powder Mountain, and the pass by it over to Liberty.

We had recently heard of some lovely bike trails on the mountain and went over to check it out. I felt woefully out of place at the top, due to my twenty year old bike, held together with electrical tape (but still my favorite bike to ride on!), and my name tag.

I’m particularly self conscious while out in public with it on. As teams of professional riders passed us on the thin trail we wobbled along and somehow got through the long and rocky ride. As we passed one group of people, a fellow called out “good day Elder”. After the bike ride, we stopped at a small outdoor diner for a small lunch where the waitress discussed schooling and missionary work with me while taking our orders.

After that a family with a daughter about to enter the MTC talked with me. (She was reassigned to Texas Forth Worth as well and would be there Aug. 18). I have yet to have a negative encounter with someone, but always fear the day. I am also fully aware what the mission is going to be like. I continue forward in faith, trusting in the Lord to assist me with the language, and know that the work is good.

Trusting Always, 

Elder Peck