One thing I heard (a lot) at the beginning of my MTC experience is that "the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days." Honestly, the literal last thing I wanted to hear was that each day would last a week... for 700 more days. I hate to say it, but they were right! Each day lasts forever... but the weeks zoom by. Like how is it possible that I'm leaving in a week and a few days?!?! Crazyyy.
Now, not that the beds here are terrible, but on Tuesday I got fed up with not having any space for my stuff! So, I had a big brain moment. I yanked my mattress off my bed and threw it in a corner, and started digging through my suitcase. I think my roommates thought that I'd finally lost it! There I was, sitting on the floor in front of my mattress-less bed surrounded by assorted randomness from my bag. Eventually, I found it. My highly prized ENO camping hammock. I carefully set my new sleeping system up between opposite bed-frames, and cautiously tested it. I am proud to say that I have comfortably slept in my hammock for the past week. Honestly, it's kind of a spectacle. People come from all four floors of my residence hall to see my green and blue hammock hanging in place of any old mattress.
Just a quick spiritual thought for y'all: I've been reading this book called "Jesus the Christ," which basically teaches about the life of Christ. It's actually wayyy interesting! Anyway, one day I was reading, and I came across a part that I really liked. It talked about the miracle of Christ turning water into wine at Cana. Albeit being an incredible miracle, we often overlook the miracle of a grape plant growing in the first place! Before leaving on my mission, my amazing mother taught a "mission/life preparation class." One of her favorite things to talk about was flying pigs. Referencing her favorite talk, she'd say, "if one day, a pig sprouted wings and flew, we all would be speechless. What a miracle! But we often overlook: how amazing is it that a pig can walk, or even live in the first place."
Friends, miracles happen! But when you open your eyes, you'll start to see miracles all around you, some that you wouldn't normally think of as miracles! Right now, I'm waiting for my visa to come in. I'm hoping for a small miracle, as the odds are that it won't come in time! However, what an amazing miracle it is that I could even get the opportunity to serve the people in Ecuador!!!
I love you all so much! Keep on keeping on! I absolutely love to hear from you all. ¡Hasta pronto!
Elder Jones
Pictures: Me with some friends in my district, me and the boys in front of "the wall", me and my favorite member of the branch presidency
