Loving the MTC!

Hola!!!! :) How is everything at home?? I hope everyone is doing great! That's funny that you thought my P-day would never get here, because if felt like i just had it!!! this has been one of the fastest weeks of my life! I have learned soo much! I honestly guarantee that i have learned more Spanish in the past two weeks than I have in my whole life... I am loving the language too! I feel like I am picking it up really fast! 

I made a goal to memorize the 13 Articles of Faith in Spanish before I leave the MTC, and i have already memorized the first two!!! its too bad that there is no song to go to the Articles of Faith in Spanish, because it would be MUCH easier ;) 

Well Elder Garrett is feeling all better now! It was soooo awesome to be able to stand in and give him a blessing! It was such a bonding moment for our whole district and is probably my best highlight of the mission so far. :)

That is so cool that you guys are getting a exchange student next week!!! you guys should just call him Blake the whole time he is there! haha!! Oh and that is sooo crazy about Mikey!!! That would've freaked me out if I was there!!! I hope he is ok now! oh and if you see him, tell him his hair is awesome from me. thanks. haha! 

The people at the cafeteria keep us all updated on the world cup, so that is so awesome that Argentina is in the finals!!! I sure hope they win! I feel like the people will be more happy and will accept the gospel better if they win the world cup haha ;) 

That's awesome that Bryson gets to see Elder Rohde today! I hope his back is doing better! I kept him in mind during my prayers. 

To answer your questions...

 I am still liking the food alot!!! They give us alot of seafood, so I feel bad for all the kids that don't like fish! ha! 

Yes we still go run every morning! My legs use to be soo sore! but now they are use to all the running we do.

I am pretty used to getting up in the mornings... The thing I am surprised about is I don't get tired during the day!! it's a blessing haha because some of the kids get so tired in class and our teacher is constantly waking them up. 

Yes I can pray in Spanish! We pray soo much here and I try to pray as often as i can in spanish! its a pretty basic prayer... but hey, at least I can do it :)

Today for P-day we basically are doing nothing!! haha we woke up this morning at6:00 and went and did service from 6:15 to 7:30... it wasnt too bad, we just clean windows and stuff like that. After that we went and got breakfast and then did our laundry. The Temple is closed up here, so we have an extra 2 1/2 hours to do nothing!! its pretty nice, but im excited to go to the temple again. :)

We play sports everyday! they give us about an hour and fifteen minutes to play, and we play in these giant bubbles!! they aren't buildings... they remind me of bounce houses haha! you will kinda see one in a picture I will send you. 

I dont really need you to send me anything, but one thing that I would really like to have is my tennis jersey. (the white, red, and black one) because I get sweaty in my other shirts, and i think it would be nice to have that just for gym times. you don't have to send it, but just think about it when you send another package ;) Oh and thanks again sooooooo much for the package!!! It made my week!!! 

Oh and tell Kamrie that Wet-n-wild will steal all of her money!! because thats what it did to me!!! haha

Wow I feel like I have wrote so much, but still have alot I would like to say...

I will just end with one more thing. :)

Neil L. Anderson (from the quorum of the twelve) came and talked to us on Tuesday!!! that was soo amazing! you could feel the spirit sooo strongly just when he entered the room! He talked about "The things that are not seen" meaning The Holy Ghost. it was very good! He also talked about how we want to become more like Christ, and a mission is one of the best ways to do so! Im very lucky that I got to see someone from the quorum of the twelve talk in person! and it was even in my first week!!

Well I love you guys sooo MUCH!!!! The church is True!! Thank you for everything you guys do for me!! 

Love, Elder Lawrence

 My best bud!!! Dalton is awesome and we hang out like everyday during gym time! He is such a cool kid and i'm glad he is at the West Wing too!

 Check out how small our class room is and check out how gangster we all are!!!

 WOOOO FIRST PACKAGE! :D

The whole District:)

Check out how beautiful West Campus is!!!!!!

Me and my companion Elder Mangum! He is awesome!!!!!

Oh i forgot to tell you, Elder Mangum is going to Cordoba, Argentina on his mission. Not Mendoza... cool huh?!!!

We got mail!!!!!!

First email from the MTC!!!

Hey! how is everyone doing without me there?!? :) I hope you are all doing good! ahh where to start... Well I am loving the MTC! I am really enjoying my companion and my whole district! oh and i don't know if you have received my letter yet that I sent on the first day, but you would never guess what my companions name is.... Elder Mike Mangum! isn't that funny! That is exactly bryson's best friends name!!! you will have to tell bryson about that!! Elder Mangum is from Houston, Texas and is the oldest in his family. He is 5' 8" too! He is way cool and just a really nice guy. Me and Elder Mangum are really close with Elder Hansen and Elder Garrett. They are in the room right next to us! They are way funny and good at spanish! Elder Mangum is really good at Spanish, so he helps me out alot! Elder Garrett got really sick the other night, he thinks he had like food poisoning or something... He is feeling a little better now so thats good!

 haha well I hope bryson had a good birthday! i love  that picture of all the cousins! oh and i really loved the Dear Elder letter!!! i use to think those were lame, but they are actually way cool! i really like those pics you sent from us at the airport too! it will be awesome when those guys leave and then we are all missionaries!! 

I really have been enjoying everything about the MTC. i was scared that i would struggle with sleeping at night, but i sleep like a baby!!!! haha and i really like the food alot! the first couple of days felt reallyyy long, but these past two have gone by so fast! i feel like i am really catching on with the spanish and i know that if i keep being obedient, that i will receive the gift of tongues and that will be amazing! 

Well the 4th of July was pretty awesome here! i didn't even realize that it was the 4th until that night when we did a big fireside on it! haha We listened to Brother Roach talk for a little and then we got to watch "17 Miracles"!!! i have never seen that movie before and i really liked it alot! after the movie was over, we got to go outside and eat ice cream and watch the fireworks! that was way cool!

Well there is not too much else that is big to write about... If i missed anything you wanted to talk about, just ask and i will try to remember to answer it next email ;) 

Just a couple little things to say: My P-Day is on Saturdays (which is the best day to have P-day) at least that is what my zone leader tells me! haha\

I have taken one of grandmas pills that she gave me, once everyday. im not sure if i am taking the right one or not though... haha i think its the right one! 

Well i hope you guys have an awesome week! tell Bryson and Kamrie and E-doggy that i miss them! and of course i miss you and dad the most :) I love you guys so much! the Church is so true! there is no way that it couldn't be! Talk to you guys in a week!!! 

Love, Elder Lawrence

And the adventure begins...

Elder Lawrence flew to SLC today and was picked up from the airport by his Grandpa, Lacey, Kenzee, Bryson and Ethan.  They all went to the Cheesecake Factory and had a yummy lunch and then it was time to drop Elder Lawrence off at the MTC. 

Adios Elder Lawrence

It was so hard to say goodbye to Elder Lawrence today.  Two years seems like such a long time but we wouldn't want him in any other place.  We're so proud of him for making the decision to go on a mission. He's in the Lords hands now.  Good luck Elder Lawrence!!!!

Best friends for life!  Zach, Kody, Lincoln, Ben

A brand new Missionary!!!

Elder Lawrence was set apart as a Missionary tonight along with four other missionaries. Three of them are going to Mendoza Argentina also.  Grandpa Ligtermoet, Bryson, and Ethan all drove up to Salt Lake today and they will pick Blake up at the airport tomorrow and drop him off at the MTC.

Elder Lawrence and his good friends Kody, Austin, and Lincoln

Elder Rasmussen, Elder Butler, Elder Lawrence, Sis. Keil, Elder Cahoon were all set apart as missionaries tonight.

Farewell Elder Lawrence

A Farewell and a Homecoming on the same day!!!!!  We are so thankful to all of our family and friends who came to support these boys. It was such a special day!!!