Buon Giorno Famiglia!! Okay I'm gonna be somewhat quick.... I'm gonna tell as much as I can right now and then save some minutes to respond a little later when they dear elders come in.... How is everyone?? Everything's great here in Provo, WOOO!! I'm just gonna get to the point.... BEST WEEK EVER!!! Mission President Seminar and this place was CRAWLING with General Authorities.... So Friday night we had a special devotional.... We got there about four hours early, in my new dry-cleaned suit, layed on the ground in the middle of June for a church event.... Yes this is the same Ian, just a little more pumped for things like this.... The wait was finally over and we made our way inside, sitting behind 150 Mission Presidents and their wives, I sat down on the front row of the back section.... SOOO worth the wait.... Not even thinking to look up, about fifty feet in front of me, Elder Holland sitting with his wife.... Can I just say wow...... I was shocked, just watching him.... Peter, James, John, Elder Holland, that close, that real.... The spirit was so strong it was amazing.... And then it began.... Elder Dallin H. Oaks.. Elder David A. Bednar. Elder Russell M. Nelson... Elder Richard G. Scott.. Elder Todd Christofferson, Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder Niel Anderson, Elder L.. Tom Perry.... Like really? Are you kidding me?? Remember when I sat outside the Spectrum up in Logan for 24 hours to watch the Cougars get slaughtered and I said that was so worth it?? This was unbelievable.... There spirit was so strong, I was like a little boy in F-A-O's.. It was the most amazing thing.... Elder Oaks spake and was absolutely phenomenal.... I couldn't believe the Spirit that was present.... They truly are called of God.. They are Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ and it doesn't take sitting twenty rows away to know that.... What an amazing thing.. Following, it got even better.. We got to meet President and Sister Kelly!! They are WONDERFUL!!!! Oh my goodness, Mission Presidents are the absolute most amazing people.... We talked for over an hour with them, all those that are going to Rome, took pictures, talked about the mission, the Temple.... All of it!! It was so amazing.... The entire week has been amazing.... Let me just tell you something.. Sunday I woke up.. Something was different.. I love it here and am excited for each and every day, but Sunday was just, I don't know, special.... The campus has twenty different buildings, most of which are 5 stories or higher.... The campus extends half a mile in each direction.. 2 thousand missionaries, and well just one Thomas S. Monson.. We got to class in the morning looked around at each other and just knew it.... He's here.. He is called of God.. I never saw him, a few General Authorities attended our Sacrament Meeting, my best friend Elder Dugdale got to sing in the Mission President's Sacrament in which President Monson spoke, but it was just unbelievable.. I'll never forget that feeling.... Just knowing that a Prophet, in this day and age, in the dispensation of fullness of times, where the wickedness continues more than ever and yet the Gospel goes forth at a rate that many never thought would even happen and still don't think will happen, that a Prophet was here.. I love you all, I'll write again soon tonight.... Con Amore, Anziano Gatchell
Okay I'm back on.... I don't have a ton of time and Elder Dugdale's didn't send so he's gonna use a little bit of my time at the end so yeah.... Well I just wanted to tell you all that I love you and that I have seen Elder Eames and Elder Nelson both.... Kimball is three doors down the hallway, it's pretty awesome.. ..Of twenty buildings and a hundred floors, we see each other every day.... I actually just sent his e-mail for him cause he was late, haha greenies.... If you see Patty make sure she got it.... He's doing great, has a great companionship with two others.... Elder Eames I've seen a couple of times.... Haha his companion is so awesome for him.... Like a cross between Sam and Jeff, if that makes sense?? Mom, I really need Jim Downey's mailing address.... You should know who that is.... 2nd counselor in the Blazzard's ward.. Umm.... What else to say? I'm doing really good on everything, language is coming along.... I taught my first lesson in Italiano! It was amazing.... I had no idea what I said, the Spirit was so strong and I just went with it and they said it was an amazing lesson and my teacher said I taught a thousand things that we have never even gone over.... All I can say is that it wasn't me!! I had no idea what I said !! The Gift of Tongues is real, so amazing.... I love it here.... We just played a prank on Anziano Roe (See pictures) at dinner.... We had this fake snow sent to us that rises with water, during dinner we totally freaked him out cause he's always praying for snow because he sweats like crazy, haha so awesome.... It's so wierd, I literally have three real weeks left.... Everyone says that the last week is just a whirlwind and all of the sudden you are just gone from this place.... I can't imagine, I have so much more to learn, it's almost July!! Can you believe it?? Of course you can believe it because you're going to the lake every single day! Haha oh also, we get to all get excused and stay out late to watch the fire works from Stadium of Fire.... Pretty cool huh?? Well I Love you all.... You know I do.... Pray always, He listens, He knows, He answers.... From Provo, Utah.... ..ARRIVEDERCI!! Your Roman, Anziano Gatchell....
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