Week 11- Letters #12

Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 9:55 AM Hola!! (To dad) QUE EXELENTE!!!!! Sounds like it was an awesome graduation you had dad. Its crazy that you graduated and I know that you will find a lot of different options from graduating from college, and not to mention much success. I am grateful for your example to graduate from college. I really enjoyed the chapter (in Jesus the Christ) too. It was full of awesome facts. I really liked the part that explained when the birth of the Savior was. I really think it was made clear.I liked how it explained the part that said "in the commencement of the year". I am trying to teach through the spirit and trying to have the spirit with me and I think I will be able to do this more as I have more time in my mission and can understand better. It is difficult for [investigators] to go to church especially since we have church at 9 am. My area is pretty big. We hardly use public transportation because of the cost and because we need the exercise. I think my Spanish is coming along pretty good. I enjoyed your testimony too. I know too that this is the true church and that we can repent through the atonement of the Savior. Love, Elder Corbin Hola, Yeah it was weird when I ask him [his comp], "what do you do for the 5 of May/" he said "what is the 5 of may?" But i think it is just the American celebration of a war. But you should definitely still do it. Try Jaimaica. It is a juice. You might like it. I think it's pretty good. It is different though. Yeah, we normally eat pizza like once every other week. Not much. I usually wake up at 6:30 then I eat and get ready. After that I study language and doctrine until 12:00. Then we go teach and find new investigators. We then normally return at like 9 pm and plan for the next day and then go to bed. It was good to hear an update on everyone. Sounds like things are getting challenging, but I know that if anyone would be able to take these challenges, it would be my family. Keep pushing on and I know you will be blessed. Also, the Lord is always there for us. This is one thing that I have learned a little bit about, and am continuing to learn about each day. I feel that [our family] devotionals helped me prepare for my mission by learning to devote time to the Lord. Each day we would spend time that we could have been sleeping to talk about gospel topics, and to learn doctrine and give thanks. So in a summary it taught me to love the Lord and prepared me to spend all my time, 24/7, [devoted] to the Lord. I enjoyed what you said about the scriptures and oh how true it is. The scriptures have every answer you would ever have a question to. We actually aren't teaching any families as of right now, but I will tell you about them when I begin teaching them. There are mostly just individuals that live alone and maybe are dating someone. I am able to exercise a lot and I am trying to eat as much healthy food as I can. That would be awesome if you could send me more garlic. I would definitely take it more, if not every day. I love you all; adios! Elder Corbin

Week 10- Letter #11

Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 3:55 PM Buenas! Sounds like everyone is doing pretty good. That sounds pretty cool- a Cinco day Mayo party. Apparently in Mexico they don't do anything for Cinco day Mayo. My companion is from Mexico City and said that they usually don't do anything. Maybe its just an American thing. But yes, I love the food here, it's very spicy. The pizzas here even come with little hot sauce packets just in case you want hot sauce on your pizza. Haha. Thats awesome to hear that Brett has a job at DQ! Sounds like a pretty fun job. Does he get free ice cream and shakes?!? Thats cool as well to hear about his Eagle and that he is in the Priest presidency with Riley. Im sure that they both do great jobs in their positions, and have great unity. So DaeNeese is progressing with her papers then? Thats pretty cool. It will be cool to see where she winds up going. Conner tried out for philharmonics? Did he make it? That's cool that he goes and plays in the after school games. Sounds like Eliza is doing well too. Yeah, Family devotional has definately helped me. It has given me the day by day spirit to help me in the long run to have the spirit with me. Do you still have family counsel with the N.'s? So are you enjoying the calling to the Stake? I only talked to the man with the hurt knee once (Jacobo is his name), because we had splits this week on the one day that we had an appointment with him. But we asked him to be baptised this coming Saturday and he said he will pray about it. We will see what happens with that. We walk a pretty good amount each day. Im not sure how much exactly though. Every day is pretty hot though. I put on sun screen most days, but sometimes I forget. that's no good to hear that Sis. B had to have surgery. I sleep well every night. I actually haven't made anything besides cereal haha. We usually eat at members houses. We have a couple stores nearby equivalent to a half of one maceys grocery store. We walk everywhere. I actually took a taxi the first day but that was because I had suitcases. We havent really seen any sights yet though. I have been pretty healthy. I have enough garlic to take one every week so I have been doing that. I will go look at the store though to see if they have more. I also eat my vitamins every morning. It was good to hear from you. I hope all continues to go well for you guys. It sounds like life is pretty exciting with everything going on. Les amo, Elder Corbin

Week 9- Letters # 10

Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 7:53 PM Hola! My address is Ernesto Berde #301 Col. Amp. Los Ángeles Torreón Coahuila CP. 27148. My companions name is Elder Camarillo, and he is awesome. My apartment is awesome. We actually just switched after the first week! Pretty funny. But yeah Ill be sending the card w/pictures of it probably next month. My mission president is awesome but I have only seen him like 4 times. not much. His wife is pretty cool too. Everything is awesome. The food is really different than the mexican food there, and at times it is tough because I am so full and I cant eat any more but I have to eat it. Lots of walking too. Love you guys! ALSO... Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 8:18 PM Hola again! It is awesome to hear from you guys!! Sounds like everything is going awesome!! So did I call you guys on Spring break? That's awesome to hear that Dana is engaged!! Muy Chevere!! Disneyland huh?!?! Sounds like a blast! Thats cool that you got to see the Turner's too. I actually don´t have my camera with me but I will send it next month if thats okay, when its full. Or if you want I will bring it next week. That's awesome to hear about your calling mom!! You'll do great! That's good to hear that Conner has a job, and that Brett is in the search. That's cool to hear about Eliza too with her growing tall. Pretty cool. Yeah I will try to send cards but if all Preparation days are like today I'm not sure if I will be able too. But if you could wish Ashlyn and DaeNeese a happy birthday from me that would be awesome. Sounds like everything is just very awesome down there. Thats good. But yeah I love the food down here. Very Spicy. There is so much work to be done here. We only have 17 active members in our ward out of 35. We actually already have 3 baptism dates just from this week though. I can see the spirit's hand in helping us out in finding these people. On saturday we were knocking doors when we came accross a man who kind of interested but not sure. He said that he would think about going to church the next day when we invited him. He later told us that his knee was hurting him and that he was not able to walk much. We offered to give him a blessing and he accepted. The next day at church we are just hoping that one of our investigators would come in but no one was coming. With about 10 minutes in I looked at the entrance and he was standing there looking for a seat. We welcomed him and sat by him. He later told us that after the blessing his knee began to be much better and he WALKED to church! What a miracle!! There are so many awesome things like that here and they continue to happen. I know that this is the true church and that we can all receive eternal life if we are righteous. Love you guys!! Elder Corbin

Week 8- Letter # 9

Mon. Apr 9, 2012 at 4:20 PM Hey! Just letting you know that we are in Torreon now! It's awesome! It's kind of weird to see all the billboards be in Spanish but I will get used to it. Here is a picture of the President and I. Our pday is on Monday too just to let you know. LOVE YA!!

Week 7- Letter 8

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 at 1:15 PM ¡Como estan! What a crazy week it has been. At the beginning of the week I got assigned a new companion who had hurt his ankle named Elder L. His district has all left and he has to stay behind until his ankle heals. How rough is that huh? He is taking it pretty well though. It was weird though because I went to physical therapy with him at the Utah health clinic (the place where I was checked monthly for my ACL). It was weird to be out of the MTC for a little bit. But he is going to be reassigned on Monday to work with the missionaries who work on fb and referrals. Yes, I have seen David Archuleta. It was kinda weird, I was expecting him to be sort of tall but he is only like 5'3, and when I saw him I just thought, "Is that really David Archuleta?". Pretty funny haha. Anyways, I am so pumped for conference!! I can't wait. There are always great messages in conference. I would like to challenge you guys to have a question before going into conference and listen for an answer during it. Just to let you know I am not in the MTC choir so don't try too hard to look for me. There are some people in my district who are in the choir though. Probably the most exciting part of the week though, is yesterday I came into class to find a paper on my desk. I looked at the paper and found out that I am going to Boise on Monday to sign the VISA and I will be leaving on April 9 to Torreon!!!! I am so excited!! I was really shocked to see that my visa is there. Anyways how are you all doing? I will be sending the picture card on Monday and hopefully that should get to you soon. It was good to hear from you! Les Amo, Elder Corbin

Week 6- Letter # 7

Fri, Mar 23, 2012 at 2:18 PM Hola, Hows everyone doing? It is good to hear from you. That is crazy that Brett and Conner have their liscences! That's muy chevere! I do remember his project! haha I don't know why but I couldn't think of it last week. So thats good though. Thats cool that he is making progress, and really close to the end. K yeah so I will send the pictures to you guys, and continue in the system. Aparently things get stolen out of mail from Mexico sometimes, so would you like me to continue that in Mexico? You guys got the treadmill huh? Thats cool! Yeah everyone says that they don't understand how I eat so much and be that skinny. And I continue to stay pretty much the same weight. That's pretty cool to hear a little about B. How is his situation with going to church and stuff? I remember that when I left they were trying to be his friend and help him come to church and stuff. Yeah thanks I got the picture. Looks like you guys had a blast! I used the Debit card and it worked. I havent heard anything else about finances though. That's awesome to hear about the lesson for FHE this week. The one for this week is Humility. Just a reminder it is in row from preach my gospel. That was awesome to hear about the Joyfully Read potential!! That is really cool. Especially coming from that guy. How are Josh and Justin doing? Does Blake still hang out with Justin? That was nice of you to help out with the Wilson's wedding. Thats cool that the Neeses got a new dog too. Do they like it? I also wanted to wish Brett a happy Birthday and hope he enjoys it. Oh and thank you for those awesome cookies! they were way good!! If you ever have any extras lying around, don't hesitate to send any to me. ;) I have felt the Savior's love for me and that he cares for me during this MTC expereince, and I have had my testimony strengthened. I love all of you guys and hope all continues to go well. Nos vemos, Elder Corbin