HELLO!!!

This is my final email from the MTC! It’s so crazy to me that this is my final day, and I am down to hours before I leave here, and I go to Bolivia!! I am way stoked to get started and to meet my trainer and do all these cool missionary things. I know I have so much to learn and it’s so crazy to think of it all, but I cannot wait to get started!!

I had some fun experiences this week, and it’s going to be sad to leave the missionaries here. I have had the amazing opportunity to get to know the other missionaries here. They are great people, and I have loved the amazing friendships I have made here. In just 6 short weeks, I have come to absolutely love the people here, and I can’t wait to do the same with the people of Bolivia!

Cool experiences of the week:

1. So I have been sick this week (which shouldn’t be surprising, because there are 700 missionaries and we are constantly shaking hands), but it hasn’t been affecting me too bad, nothing that the cough drops that were packed in my bag (Thanks Mom!) couldn’t help with. But on Thursday I started to lose my voice, and I didn’t want my first week in the mission to not only struggle to know what to say, but to be able to say it too! I asked the guys in my apartment to give me a blessing, and Elder Hansen offered a beautiful blessing. And the good news is that today I am feeling great!! Priesthood blessings are truly incredible and they can truly heal both physical and spiritual ailments!

2. More blessings! We did a district blessing night on Saturday night. We gave blessings of comfort to each other. It was so amazing, and we had a great spirit in there. Priesthood is powerful, and missionaries have an incredible spirit.

3. Fast and Testimony meeting. The first fast and testimony meeting here, I bore my testimony in my extremely broken week 2 spanish. Yesterday, we gave our final testimony here in the CCM, and I was able to get up and stand and bear testimony in the best Spanish that I have spoken since I got here. I can’t believe how far I have come and how much I have grown!!!

Thank you all so much for everything that you have all done for me! I have loved receiving all of your letters and notes. They have been a huge comfort for me, and I love hearing how everything is going back in the USA! I love you all so much, and next time I write, I will be in the field! Love and prayers to you all!

Love, Elder Newman

Dad, excited to finally get started!! I know I am going to see things that are going to change me forever, and I know I have absolutely no idea what I am doing yet, but I am so excited to get started. Here we go! Fist forward!! Love you dad!!

Mom, sounds like an eventful week of injuries in the Newman household this past week! Hope everyone is ok!!! I’m glad you had a great experience in the temple. Spanish is a truly beautiful language, and I am glad you got to appreciate it in the house of the Lord! Good to see the backyard is almost back in shape! Love you mom!!

Emma, first off, since I probably won’t get to write you on Wednesday, HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY!!!!! You are an amazing person, and you are growing into the beautiful young woman that Heavenly Father is so so proud of. Enjoy your special day, and I hope you have an incredible birthday!! I am glad you are enjoyed your time in Mr. Newman’s class. Tell him I said Hi!! Love you sister!!

Sarah, congratulations on student council! That’s so awesome. You are truly a light to your classmates!! Looks like that spacer is doing its job!!! And forward in your soccer scrimmage? Interesting!! Keep having fun!! Love you!

Callie, sounds like you had a fun week!! I hope you had a good time at your dance classes!! For Labor day, I am traveling to Bolivia, and writing you!! Pretty good if you ask me!! :) Love you Callie!

Mom’s Questions:

1. Did you get your last package and letters Friday?

I did, thank you so much!!  I am so grateful for the packages and letters you have sent during my time here in the MTC. They have been a true blessing!

2. Are you nervous about traveling to Bolivia?

A little, but not really! It’s just new, but I am really excited to get started!

3. Do you know what your first day will be like when you get there? Are you staying at the mission home overnight or heading right out to your new area?

I'll be honest, I actually have no idea.

4. What is your favorite thing about the MTC that you will miss?  

I am totally going to miss all of these missionaries. They are incredible people!! I am also going to really miss seeing my PG boys everyday, because it’s awesome to see them as often as I do!