Feliz Navidad!!! SURPRISE

SURPRISE!

It's Christmas and the MTC Presidency surprised us with this! We get to email home! Whoop, whoop. Well today's been great. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Woke up. Got ready. Wearing my argile sweater with the red candy cane tie mom got me, just red and white stripes that looks like a candy cane. Ate breakfast, nothing too fancy. Opened presents with my district, but I opened my packages last night since I'm Chilean and that's how hispanic people celebrate. And I didn't want to 'show off' my gifts or whatever....apparently I was the only one who felt like that...hahah but I passed out my gifts to everyone. Everyone loved my '100 things that make u s district 55B' --- we all laughed. All the Elders loved the ties. And the Hermana's were very grateful for their gifts as well. Last night we gave a stocking with a card signed from all of us to Hermano Busath, our teacher, and I gave a bag of candy and a letter to Hermana Alanis --- a floating resourse teacher who is the best and super nice. I gave out some other candy with letters to the friends I've made at the MTC. It's kind of sad, like I'm making all these friends [outside of my district] and I won't get to see them for 2 years. and There's a slim chance we'll keep in touch. Boo. We had a devotional just now. And guess who it was. Elder David A. Bednar. Boom. It's so funny because I still remember when Alexa and I went to go see him speak in Orlando. He wasn't so duro this time. I wish Alexa could've been here for this time. It was just how to be more Christ-like, and he told a few stories about people he had met that were tear-jerkers. I love you family. Life is precious. I hope you've enjoyed your Christmas. No one responded to my email so I'm a little worried no one got it? But I know you were all super busy this week with enjoying your time with Aleksi and going kayaking [I got your dearelder -- hope you had fun] oh and if Kate reads this --- I'm pretty sure I get dearelders the day you write them, if you write them before a certain time. Next dearelder write when you wrote it and then I'll tell you when I get it. Family, I hope you're happy because I'm happy. I just ate the biggest Christmas Day feast ever. Turkey and stuffing, raspberry sauce and mashed tomatoes and pie and sweet potatoes with marshmellows [my all time favorite] and before the devotional with Bednar we watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and they sang "Carol of the Bells!" Seriously --- that MADE my Christmas. Also last night we got to watch 'A Christmas Carol' -- which was suuper good too. "Merry Christmas, and God bless us everyone" Thank you for all the gifts. For ALL the candy. Everyone. Thank you. Seminary class. Melins. Logans. Marissa. Dearmans. Sisters. Parents. I love you. Thank you. It's been a good Christmas. It's not snowing and it's only a little cold. OH and I opened my massive blizzard coat. MISTAKE. I just wanted to know what it would look like. aye. That thing is HUGE. but it'll keep me warm even if I look like a walking trash bag. I miss you family. My companionship is doing better. The other day was awful. Foster and Draper lost it and were arguing in front of everyone. CHUCABRAS! The next day we had to have a teacher come and talk to us. He was like, "Elder Poirier - you really don't have to be here" which was awkward. But I stayed because I wanted to give my two cents and help them work it out, but they were mature about it.

I'm getting through it.

I miss Mitchell's voice and Cassie's laugh and Aleksi's compliments and Dad's fish stories and Mom's singing.

I love you so much. I love this gospel. I love this work. My companions are LOCO but I'm not here to be frustrated, I'm here to learn and to teach and come January 23rd to bring people to the truth. Because that's what this is, it's the Truth. Christ lives. This is His church. He loves us. Our father in heaven loves us. and through the atonement of Christ we can obtain all that is in store in us. I hope you all find peace and joy this Christmas season. I love you. I miss you.

"Happy Christmas, Harry"

Love,

Elder Maxwell Poirier.

Merry Christmas!

Hark hear the bells, Oh silver bells, sing all the way, Loud though they ring, Marching their song, Screaming along, Oh how they ring, Filling the air, Ring- ding-a-ling-a-ling-Ring-ding-a-ling-a-ling-Ring-ding-a-ling-a-ling-Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas - Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas.
-My Favorite Christmas song, "Carol of the Bells" ---Those aren't the words, but that's never stopped me before so...I sing it all the time. I've heard it a few times, which has definitely lifted my spirits. Once it was on my way to lunch and someone was playing it on the piano, amazing.
Family,
I love you. MERRY CHRISTMAS. Merry, Merry Christmas. Thanks for all the emails and letters and updates. It's week five slash six at the MTC. I can now officially read spanish well, en voz alto y tambien puedo entender muchas palabras cuando leo. Es buenisimo! Estoy muy animado. Tambien puedo entender cuando mis maetros me hablan...Did you all understand that? haha.
Well. It is COLD here. It's snowed a few times but it goes away by the end of the day. A snow flake landed on my jacket one day - it was crazy. It was so defined and detailed. Simple pleasures. Mom, I started writing all the quotes you send me down in a little notebook. Combined with all my favorite movie quotes, HP, etc. And I have a new favorite scripture, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" It's found in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. But it's so beautiful, right? It's something Dumbledore would say. I think this Christmas I've realized how many treasures I have. Not treasures of five pairs of glasses or a few nice watches...but simple treasures. Having my family. A dad, who honors his priesthood and respects his wife. A mother, who's raised her family to be independent, strong, and intelligent. Sisters, who honor their virtue, are smart, beautiful and funny. and a brother, who's the example of charity and obedience. Friends who really care about me. A dog, who will always love me. A warm Home, filled will memories and laughter. Family, I miss you a lot this Christmas. It's hard being away from home. Hard not being there to help clean or wrap presents, or go to the beach, or sing christmas carols. But I'm here. and I'm happy. I am. I'm happy. I've made the most of the Christmas season. Remember how I had 8 scarfs....haha well now I only have four. I know, I know. That's still a lot. But I thought I'd trade them for ties - but I needed this other Elder (Elder Alvarez) to do it because I knew I'd just give in and trade for an ugly tie. So I gave him my scarfs to go and trade. I got one golden tie from this kid in my zone. Several districts make up a zone. My district is all of the people I always talk about aka Elder Draper, the hermanas, etc. I live on the international floor so we have people from Tonga, China, and South America. It's crazy and they have some nice ties. But before I knew what was happening I gave all my extra scarfs out for free. They needed them way more than I did. And now I see them walking around with my scarfs and it makes me smile. Merry Christmas to them.
Also mom, I think the Christmas card and letter look GREAT! I'm impressed. Was that photoshop? or did you use a different program? I like all the photos used and the letter was fantastico tambien. Miss the fam. I opened the box, because I wanted to preview the gifts you got for Elders Draper and Foster. and then I couldn't help myself so I looked in my stocking. and I love all the ties you got! Seriously, the one thing I wanted was more ties, we wear them everyday so it gets to the point where I feel like I just wore the one I'm wearing, thankyou! --- I got three! Mitchell's is so cool and the slim ties are the best. But I feel like I can't give Elders Foster and Draper ties, without giving Elders Bray and Soelburg ties. So I'm keeping them all for myself. Yes! Five new ties! Haha, just kidding. I really had to think for a while on this one, because I really liked those slim ties, but I'm giving one to Elder Bray and one to Elder Soelburg. So we'll each get a tie. Christmas. The time of giving. Also, I've split up all the twistables - so everyone will get 5 or 6. and I'm giving the hermana's the stockins filled with some candy. They like that sort of thing. And I'm giving my stocking filled with some candy from the district to our teacher Hermano Buseth, and I bought a 'thank you' card and we're all going to sign it. And I'll probably write a card to Hermana Alanis and give her some twix or something. You gave me so much I feel like it's not fair to not share it. That statement goes beyond my christmas gift. Meaning the gospel and the reason I'm here. "Train up your child the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it" Merry Christmas.
Ok, funny stories that have happened this week. Elder Draper. Dot. Dot. Dot. Roll my eyes and go. My district has this re-occuring joke that this one girl is my "twin" because she wears glasses. She also wears this turquoise jacket that is the exact shade of one of those skinny ties you got me. aka we're twins. So, at every meal or every time we see her - we point her out. I laugh. "haha, yeah that's my twin" but Elder Draper takes it to the next level. He'll literally point her out. Like point at her. Pointing. With his finger. Ahhh. So rude! I tell him to stop everytime but he doesn't think it's rude, so he continues. Well. Yesterday, we're eating and Hermana Davenport, who's sitting across from me says, "Don't look now Elder Poirier but Elder Draper is on his way over and he's bringing your twin" Whhhhaaaattttt. Lo and Behold - I turn around and there is Elder Draper with Sister Romero. She's super nice and laughed the whole time - and then we planned on getting a photo together after dinner. Elder Draper said that he was getting food and she came up behind him and he thought, "Oh man - here's my chance and told her all about how she's my twin, etc." She said she could see it. We both laughed. I got the photo and now we wave to eachother whenever we see eachother.
I think I told you that Elaine S. Dalton came and spoke to us. That's been my favorite devotional by far. My Branch Presidency - surprisingly - gave us all christmas cards and cookies. Sister Towsey - the Second Counsler's wife told us that David Archeleta is coming to the MTC after January 1st. hahah. But that's so cool right?! He's famous! kind of...but still. I love Sister Towsey because I can tell she feels the same way about President Evans that I do. That's he's unnecessairly strict and mean. For example, after devotionals like with Sister Dalton, we go back to our district classroom and talk about the things we like, struct us, etc with a memeber of our branch presidency. We had the Towseys and they're supposed to leave at 9 to go to a meeting, but one of our hermana's wasn't done and President Towsey was like, "we have to go, they want us both" and she said "no, she's not finished - I want to hear what she has to say and I want to add something" So she stayed and then told us about David Archeletta. hahah. That's so something mom would do.
Sometimes I do weird things like Cassie. Her "Roommate" laugh. I can't help it. I'm stuck together with the same people all day so I'm like 7x more sarcastic and 100x more weird. I love to make people laugh though. During volleyball - we have gym everyday and I play volleyball - hahah I know, right but my left leg has been giving me problems it hurts when I wake up and when I run but - everyone takes the game so seriously - and then there's me. Cheering on everyone - shouting out nicknames. "What's your name?" "Elder Thorolin" "Yeah, I'm gonna call you Thorwillow" --- It's not funny to you. But I've made so many laughs. I want people to think about me and think, "yeah, I liked him - he was super nice." I am. I'm really friendly. I wonder what Elder Foster and Elder Draper write home to their families....weird Florida kid.
Also for Christmas for my district, I wrote out 100 things slash memories about the time we've had thus far in the MTC and I wrote a nice letter to each of them along with the list. Since the temple is closed today and we ususally go do that, I have a ton of extra time...so I'm going to type out the list? I hope you don't mind. It's good. Elder Foster and Draper are taking naps and I'm on splits with Elders Bray and Soelburg and we're at the computer lab so...
1. The day we first me.
2. When we met our Branch Presidency. dun. dun. dun.
3. Just kidding. that wasn't that bad.
4. The day we met President Evans. DUN. DUN. DUN.
5. "Fue una broma"
6. All of a sudden it's Christmas
7. All of a sudden we have three weeks left.
8. Elder Slowburg.
9. When Elder Barroteran was in our district.
10. "Vi una columna de luz, mas brillante que el sol..."
11. Araceli.
12. "You lied to me! and whatture you --- a sheep!"
13. Do you guys want to what Jonny Lingo?
14. No.
15. When we saw Elder Christensen from the district in the cafeteria.
16. You just got Franced!
17. The cafeteria's orange juice...
18. specifically what it did to Elder Draper....
19. Hermana Davenports endless widsom and knowledge.
20. Pablo Sanchez.
21. That time Elder Foster prayed for "Pedro Sanchez"
22. When we walked into our room and the Avanzados were sitting in the dark reciting some poem they memorized.
23. Nevermind that was just me and Elder Bray.
24. Coquetear...you guys....
25. Elder Bray's coquetear historia...rude....
26. Elder Soelburg's "MP HP" story.
27. "Your mom has more FB friends than you!"
28. My mom always says, "You wil DIE!" --- Hermana Lucero.
29. Elder Bray's window seat....
30. That day I didn't get a letter...wait...nevermind....
31. When Elder Draper tripped on the stairs.
32. Elder Soelburg making us late for our temple session.
33. Seeing Hermana Bingam (our teacher) in our session and meeting her husband.
34. Being glad Soelburg made us late.
35. Nariz Cafe.
36. When Elder Soelburg laughed during Elder Draper's prayer.
37. "You know - I'm pretty sure they sell shovels at the bookstore..."
38. High Priest Group aka God's waiting room.
39. Elder Foster and the chulula incident.
40. "OH YEAHHHH!" deep, raspy Elder Draper voice
41. "Study time"
42. That day my companionship was late and had to take all the trays...
43. Those 17 other times we were late and had to take everyone's tray.
44. My twin.
45. "Hogwarts Hoggy Woggy Hogwarts"
46. Quiet dignity.
47. Your super cool totally awesome, radical gnarly haircut described in the santa biblia blanca on P day.
48. Our classroom.
49. Sitting in my corner I can stare at everyone without moving my head.
50. Half Way! 50 more nice things to say. I can do it!
51. Asking Hermana Davenport everything aka source of all spanish knowledge.
52. Playing volleyball together.
53. When the first group of Avanzados left...
54. Viitanen and Guzman.
55. When Ohara, Alvarez, and Hermana Read left.
56. When Hma. Davenport told us her roommate was named Hermione Granger.
57. "I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed, or worse --- expelled!"
58. "She needs to sort out her priorities."
59. When Hermana Franc ran 3 miles on the track!
60. "You go Glenn Coco!'
61. When we learned to pray in spanish.
62. Getting frustrated with Pablo.
63. Doodleing...or that was just me...and Elder Foster too!
64. Making "Michael Scott" and "Dwight" signs to Elder Bray.
65. Seeing Hma. Franc and Hma. Davenport on the screen during Tueday night devotionals (they're in the choir
66. Elder Foster and Soelburg too.
67. When we taught Maria aka Hma. Lucero aka disaster.
68. When Hma. Lucero was our teacher.
69. When Elder Foster and Draper missed our District meeting....
70. Hermana Alanis.
71. When we sang "A Child's Prayer" in parts.
72. Nosebleeds.
73. "Waiting for you is like waiting for rain in this stupid drought --- useless and disappointing!"
74. Yer a wizard 'Arry.
75. God speaks so we can understand, he speaks to our hearts.
76. By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
77. Most people are about as happy as they make their lives out to be.
78. God is love.
79. When district 55E surprised us with new desks!
80. Era una Broma*
81. When Pablo committed to be baptized (with a date)!
82. Crayola Twistables.
83. All our temple walks.
84. Hma. Franc passing out napkins at every meal --- thank you!
85. TRCs
86. Also I have determined all of our HP characters.
87. I am Harry Potter.
88. Elder Bray is James Potter. Athletic, funny, good at Quittich, etc.
89. Elder Soelburg is Professor RJ Lupin. Intelligent, knows he's scriptures, a werewolf, tall.
90. Elder Foster is Sirius Black. Likes to make people laugh. Good sense of humor. Can transform into a dog, you know.
91. Elder Draper -really is Peter Pettigrew, but being nice is - Ron Weasley. Blunt, sometimes insensitive but a good friend and trustworthy.
92. Hma Davenport is obviously Hermione Granger. Suuuuper smart. Knows all her spells - the sorthing hat's new song?! Spanish. The hair. Come on!
93. Hma Franc. Humble. Way nice. Witty. Funny. Yes, you guessed it Harry's loyal, spirited owl: Hedwig.
94. When Hma. Bingam left us and we had slash are having every other spanish teaching in the MTC.
95. TALL aka Mormon.org messages.
96. When we got our missionary name tags.
97. The moment our calling as a missionary 'hit' us.
98. Running back from our Temple walks trying to be on time for our district meetings--- plural because it's happened almost every time.
99. Hermana Davenport's knowledge. Hermana Franc's smile. Elder Draper's jokes. Elder Soelburg's laugh. Elder Foster's caricatures. Elder Bray's friendship.
100. You guys -- excuse me, you Missionaries, we've had our days. We've shined, we've cried, we laughed, and we've become great friends. I'm grateful you are my MTC district. You're going to become great missionaries and change the lives of many. Merry Christmas.
Well. You probably won't get all of our jokes. But the point is - I love my district. We're crazy and we get annoyed with each other all the time, but we're in this together. It's killing me to wait to give them their gifts, I just want to give it to them now!
Family and Friends, I wish you the merriest and happiest Christmas. I hope you think about our Savior and his love for all of us. There are so many great scriptures that decribe his love and his sacrifice that I've found and love.
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" 2Ne 25:26.
"I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: that he lives!" D&C 76:22
He is the way, the truth, and the life. He lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. Merry Christmas.
Mom and Dad, I love you.
Aleksi, enjoy the beach. Jump in the ocean one extra time for me.
Cassie, I love you sister, kiss chesney for me. I'm proud of you. I know it's hard being the only one at home. Bear with patience thy affictions for this shall be but a small moment. Such a small moment.
Mitchell, Merry Christmas. January 24th we will officially be missionaries in the field together!
Friends and Family, enjoy the blessings of the season. I love you!

One Month Out!

Dear my greatest family,
MERRY CHRISTMAS! Can you believe it? I've been gone one month tomorrow?! One entire month. Ahh. So crazy. I'm currently sitting in the computer lab listening to Christmas music on the lds.org website. I've recieved lots of letters and packages from you all and from friends this week--- all of which I'm SO grateful for. Mom - that candy cane looking tie - thank you! I loved it. My comps loved all the candy as well. Aleksi, those cupcakes were amazing. I love you and my companions all love you. "how old is your sister?" "Can I write her?" So they're writing 'thank yous' hahah but seriously - thanks sister. I forgot what real food tastes like. Haha, joking. Everyone complains about the food here. But it's seriously at least 7x better than UFs. So I'm happy. and the people that work in the cafeteria are waaay nice. They smile and say "enjoy your meal" which is sooo much better than the dirty looks and grunts from the UF workers.
So much happens every week and yet I have nothing to say. I did hear this really great quote today, I know mom will like it. Concerning missionary work "You can count all the seeds in an apple but you can't count all the apples in a seed" Sooo true. This week we had the BYU boys choir, excuse me -- mens* choir come and sing to us. like the LDS version of Glee haha. They sang some christmas songs, etc. but I liked they're "Little Drummer Boy" --- it wasn't as good as Dolly Parton's but it was close. Speaking of Dolly Parton -- Aleksi I got your CD buut bad news....it was cracked...so I'll never get to hear it. I also got the Morgan's Christmas CD - thank them for me - I'll send a thank you letter right after this email along with my chip of updated photos. So for christmas - for my district I was thinking of writing 100 things about our district - funny memories - quotes - relating everyone to a HP character, etc. etc. I have to be really creative because basically there's nothing I can buy them. Which brings me to you and to all my friends. I'm going to apoligize in advance. I know everyone was expecting a photoshopped photo or some other photo-related thing -- Cassie says that's all I give to people -- whatever....but it's looking like I'm not going to be able to do anything fancy gift wise. Which bums me out a little. I wanted to get you all something cool and unique but the MTC doesn't have much to offer.
I'm very happy and a little surprised the Logan's are meeting with the missionaries. When I was reading that I wanted to cry, I was so happy. I miss Elder Schmeil and Elder Mathews. I keep hoping I'll meet someone here like them...hasn't happened yet....
yes, Mom send me Pepere's info - I think that'd be so special to do his work. Unless dad wants to.
Ahhh! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA! I'm so sorry I can't be there to give you your birthday present - It's nothing big --- just SEASON 12 of gilmore girls, Cassie and I filmed it before I left. Since you'll probably never get to watch it here's what happens - Cassie plays Rory and I play her new long lost brother. We don't get along but we talk really fast and you have no idea what we're saying and then before you know it we're both laughing. And then Rory get's an A on her big test. and I have to move back to London. It's probably really good. So happy birthday to Emma.
Aleksi thank you sooo much for the cupcakes, seriously my comps and district loved them. I did too. Love you.
Dad and Mom thanks for all the packages - thanks for the Christmas package for my district - I know they'll be super grateful.
Cassie - keep 'em coming. That girl is...unique....bahaha. no really. but I love you.
Mitchell - Preparation days are stressful! guh! Laundry. Writing. Vomit!
I miss you family. Thank you for the continuous flow of letters and packages. Friends I miss you and I hope you ALL enjoy this Christmas time with your families.

I love you.

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing aloud for all to hear"

I love you - Merry Christmas!

Love,
Elder Poirier.

P.S. I forgot to mention how my district is HUFFLEPUFF. We live on the base floor - one floor below us - underground -aka Slytherin and two above us Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. We're all going to different places aka misfits aka leftovers aka hufflepuffs and we're all very different for example, I'm more of a hufflepuff-gryffindor where as Draper is more of a hufflepuff-slytherin. haha just kidding!

P.S.S

 ALSO!! a HUGE thank you to Saf for the cupcakes as well!!! That was really thoughtful. Estoy muy agradecido! Gracias!!!

MTC week 3

Fam-ily, 
Get it? Fam-ily = Family, I love you. Because ily means I love you. Wow, it's been quite a week here. Just kidding. Nothing has happened. I'm here. Still here. The food is still good. I still look forward to crawling into bed. I still dread waking up in the morning. and I still have THE greatest companions ever.  It's been another week of studying spanish and becoming frustrated, etc. etc. Just another week. We've completed three weeks here! whoo! and we've started week four! so I'm a third of the way done at the MTC, which excites me x10 but scares me x20. Teach real people? Leave America, the home of the brave? We'll see how I feel in 6 six. Six weeks?! Ok, I'll be ready. Well I don't know if I've formally introduced you all to my district, but I know them a little better now, so these introductions will be a little more accurate. Let's start with the Hermanas: Hermana Franc that's pronounced France, not Frank and Hermana Davenport as in Davenport. Hermana France is super friendly. She reminds me of High School Nathalie. Super quiet and shy but when you get to know her, she's really funny. story later She's going to Tampa, Florida yeahYEAH! and is from Utah. Hermana Davenport aka the mature older sister of the district. Always nicely telling us we're late - where we're suppossed to be - reminding us of appointments and all other things. She's nice. She's from Iowa and is going to Chile Osorno with me! Then there's Elder Bray from Southern California. He's really great. Interesting, knows why he's here, wants to be a good missionary, sings Tswift with me hahah. He's going to Nicaragua. His companion Elder Soelburg, is from Northern California and is going to Virginia. He's super simpatico and laughs a lot. For this week only - because the Advanced Spanish kids left - they have one other companion - Elder Barreteron- He's from Mexico - woke up at 3 a.m. to go to school in the US. He's incredibly humble and is helping us all with our spanish. He's going to Raliegh, NC- Krallis' look for him! haha. He leaves Monday though. And then we have my companions. I love my companions. We just have our moments. Elder Foster. From Salt Lake City going to Long Beach, California. He was in a band. Thinks Reagae is the best thing on earth. and Elder Draper. From Grantsville, UT going to Lancing, Michigan. Michael Scott from the Office. I'm not kidding. It blows my mind sometimes. He has to be the craziest one in our district. Crazy, in all it's definitions. Crazy nice. Crazy mean. Crazy sensitive. Crazy obnoxious. Crazy spiritual. Crazy intelligent. Crazy crazy. Ok I have a few stories to share to back me up. One: The Pepper Incident. We had just finished eating breakfast and were returning to our seat after taking our trays to the cleaners. Draper had left his cup there because he had one last sip of OJ that he wanted to gulp down before class. Wrong. After looking at his drink, he noticed it was covered in pepper. Instead of laughing at this small prank, he slams his cup on the table - storms out of the cafeteria and won't talk to anyone all morning. He's blaming me and the other Elders. "How dare you! You don't do that to people!" "That wasn't funny!" haha. Come to find out - Sweet, innocent Hermana Franc did it. And he flipped out. Story Two: Thankgiving. I might have mentioned this one before We were enjoying our Thanksgiving dinner luckily I ate fast and my tray was clear and Elder Draper Sneezed. A gag-worthy bloody sneeze. And guess who was sitting across from him. I wanted to puke. Blood spatter all over my tray - and my face. Angry, horrified, and 100x disgusted - I helped him clean it up. And then he was mad at ME for telling him he should've covered his mouth. "I can't tell when a sneeze is coming - gosh!" Puke. Story Three. Not about Draper (I told you guys this in a letter) but at one of our devotionals, on sunday and tuesday these girls played this song "If you could Hie to Kolob" on the piano and cello and it was ahhhmazing. So I wanted to tell them. I thought I was passing one of the girls, so I stopped her and told her how I felt. She was veela - beautiful and told me she wasn't the girl. AWKWARD. I was sooo embarrassed. Elder Foster told me "Don't worry about it, you'll probably never see her again." As my life would have it we see each other all the time now. but we smile and wave. haha. 
Well that's it, that's my district! Adrienne asked me what was my favorite part at the MTC. and even though we don't always see eye to eye = they're my favorite part of being here. We laugh. We roll our eyes. We cry. We share stories. We learn the gospel. We prepare to become great missionaries. Everyday. Together. 
Elder Draper showed me this quote: and I love it. I've heard it before but here: 
"One of the greatest secrets to missionary work is work. If a missionary works, he will get the spirit, he will teach by the spirit, and if he teaches by the spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no time for homesickness, no worrying about families. That's the secret - work, work, work." 
I miss you family. But it's not the homesickness kind of missing. It's the 'I know why I'm here - and I can't wait to share the gospel with families so that they can experience the joy we experience and I love you' kind of missing. 
I'm happy the house has become Christmas. That's my favorite version of our house. that and summer. 
and now for answering questions: 
Mom: Don't worry about the jacket thing. I have everything I need. I had a really awful but good experience this week. I was going around welcoming the new missionaries on our floor we get new ones every Wednesday and I met this guy from South America. He didn't have much, only speaks spanish and has to learn English. I can't explain what happened. all I know is that I'm grateful for everything I have. all my 'stuff' but mostly for you all. I'm going to be meeting the humblest people in Chile, people who don't have anything - and here I am - with everything and more. I was sickened. I don't want anything. Don't buy me anything. I'll trade ties and do what missionaries do - but I don't need anyting. I've been wearing my one jacket - with the zip out liner - I wear the warm version and leave the water proof one in my suitcase. I won't need it until the snow. It's only snowed twice. Not to the point where it lasts thank goodness - not ready for that yet I'm not sleeping in my sleeping bag, I'm waiting until I need it. aka Chile. or in the next few weeks. I'm bummed you can't figure out photoshop. Youtube it. I'm sure it's there. 
Dad: We don't have companion transfers at the MTC. We do have all the responsibilities in our district and zone. Our zone leaders are leaving for their missions soon, and I'm worried because I have zero desire to be zone leader. Vomit. but it's always in the back of my mind. You'd have to go to meetings with our awfully grinch-like Branch President and all sorts of dreadful things. 
Aleksi: I look for you every single day. Today we went to the temple and I keep looking around and waving at people hoping maybe you'd pop out. haha. I'm weird. I don't care. Did you get photoshop up? and what about my camera? And Nick...I need pics!
Cassie: grounded. Why am I not surprised. I have the Gilmore Girl's "la-la-elaaahhh - la-la- laaaaahhh, laahhhhuuuahhh" stuck in my head. But I like it, so I'm keeping it there. So you know the winter hat, mom bought me at Turrrget. Well. Everyone thinks it's funny. Draper gave me a look like "what the heck is that" when I put it one. bahaha. But I love it. And I wear it down, fyi. so you should be proud. "Those are strings pinocchio"
Mitchell: I love you. I can't believe in 10 months!? what!? time is flyying. 
I lost my first two friends this week. Elder Viitanen and Elder Guzman. Both were in the advanced spanish and left after 3 weeks to Texas and Mexico. 
D and C 31. Missionary Work. I love it. 
Week three complete. Spanish coming along. Food still good. District is great. Learning tons. Being nice. Making friends. 
I love you family, 
Kiss Chesney. 
Love, 
Elder Maxwell Poirier.

Foster on the far left, Draper next to me

TWO WEEKS!

Mi Familia,

WHOA SO MANY EMAILS! but that's good. Not good --- great. So, so great. Well, it's been a week. and two weeks since I've been here. Two weeks and a day. Time flies right. I already feel like I've been here for a month aka I'm ready to go to Chile. But then when I actually think about going to Chile and how little I know - I'm thankful for these next seven - s e v e n - weeks. Things are great at the Provo MTC. For everyone that I wrote pancking that I lost my notebook that had all my notes since I've been here and all my doodles since I started learning spanish ---- I found it. I guess I left it in church and the first counsler picked it up --- greeeeat. Hopefully he didn't open it up because I drew him a few times. I draw people that scare me [Branch President] and basically everyone else. Speaking of doodling. I got in trouble. hahaha. well, kind of. We have teachers who come in and help us with whatever part of spanish we don't understand [uh, where to begin] and while Hermana Lucero was speaking - I was drawing. And she called me out. Shoot. But then we had to write a story in the past using Imperfect vs. Preterite. So I explained to the class, in perfect spanish, how Mrs. Belinda [English teacher] would hold me back after class for doodling. It was great. She laughed. My spanish is coming along. Family, I know I sent like four letters home about how my companions are difficult at times- but it's better now --- slightly. It comes and goes. It's just hard being in a triple. I've come to really like my teachers. I told you guys this in the letter - but we have a fake 'progressive investigator' who is actually our teacher. but her 'investigator' name is Aracely - anyway - the last appointment I asked if she would work to be baptized - and she said 'YES' --- I know it's not even real - but I was giddy with excitement. So happy. I can't wait to do this forreal. We teach lessons every day to our 'progressive investigators' and they're all in spanish. no english. Nada. I was practicing talking to one of my other teachers Hermana Alanis [she's my favorite] and I told her the story of mom and dad's conversion - it was rough spanish but she got it - and she said she wanted to cry. and she thinks mom is really special and strong willed to have sought out the church on her own. She loves you too dad, for following mom's example. Her dad isn't a memeber - and she served a mission. She served a mission and her dad still wants nothing to do with the church. Isn't that sad?! Man. I love you parents. I'm glad you support me in this mission. But most of all, I'm forever grateful that you've given me this gospel. I'm here. I'm serving a mission. I'm going to share the truth - the thing that has brought me so much joy, so much peace, and has given me so much hope. Happy December first. Aleksi - you're an incredible example to me. I love you. Mitchell, you're an incredible missionary. I wish you were here and helping me learn the ways of the mission. Too much to learn. Cassie, beautiful Cassie. I love you. Be happy. Go to the beach for me. Friends - thanks for the letter's and support. Very grateful.

After all this time? ------- always.

Live. Laugh. Love.

I'm eating plenty. I'm sleeping as much as I can. I'm being friendly.

I'm on a mission!

Me?! Books, cleverness - there are much more important things - friendship and bravery.

I love you,

Love your son,

Elder Maxwell Poirier.

P.S. Chesney, McGraw and Baby Bentley - I send my love!