Mail Call!

Tyler spent the first two weeks in Guatemala without hearing from anyone because there is such a delay for the "DearElder" to get to them. This week made up for it...

"The dear elders came! Wow that was cool. I literally got 8 pages of mail, and the website combines everyones messages to condense space, so it was very interesting to read, and very fun :) Thanks again! Dont hesitate to send more :) And I got alot from others! Bro Kiker, Castanoses, Jack, and Kouryn, and Grandma. Very fun.

This week FLEW by! We are officially the only NorthAmericans here, and on Wednesday we got TWO groups of Latinos! There are so many. They are WAY cool. Our roomates especially. I love hearing them say things in English. They always pronounce my comps name as "Neelsong" (Nielson), and me as "Muurr" or "Muuree". Alot of the Latinos who have taken english know that E's are always pronounced like Spanish i's, even though it is not the case with our last name :)
Be sure to thank Sis Davidson for her postcards! She sent me two last week, and they are the craziest things I have ever read. I will try to write her soon. I also got a letter from Chase, Maggie, and Noah. Very exciting. (Noah is quite the artist.)

The temple is in both languages! It is very interesting. The session is in English, and theres a 50 50 chance that the end will be in Spanish, depending on who is working that day. It is actually very surprising but I am one of the best spanish speakers here! (That isnt saying much!) Most of these missionaries have never even had a class in Spanish. Its tough for them, but we're getting it. We get to go contacting at the temple once a week. Its always members, but very very fun. There is a Shell station right by the temple that the church has been trying to buy out for AGES. I guess they happen to make a lot of money there so it is difficult. Anyway, if they ever get it, they will have this whole street, and are hoping to make it into a sort of temple square! I hope it happens. It would be way cool!

Heres some stuff I learned this week!
Five Fun Facts about Spanish :D
1. The Guatemalans have a phrase like we do in English to say "Piece of cake." Its Pan Comida, which actually means Bread Food. Haha.
2. The Latinos who are learning or have taken English (a TON of the teachers are, and they actually require it now for when Latinos are on their missions) are TERRIFIED of the scriptures in English! Which definitely makes sense when you think about it. They say it is the hardest thing ever, and its funny to hear them speak in Old English thees thous and thys. :)
3. Prepositions--these are SO weird in both spanish and english. We have a lot that they dont have, and vice versa. They have almost 5 different ways to say Through, and they only have one word (Por) to say by, on, next to, because of, in behalf of, etc etc. Very interesting!
4. "Dar luz a un nino" is an idiom that means to give light to a child, and it means to give birth! When a woman is in labor, they call her En Luz, or In Light. Weird!
5. I tried to tell someone that my battery was dead, and they thought it was HYSTERICAL. Thats one of those english phrases that definitely doesnt translate :)

Two more weeks and Ill be in the field!
Love and miss you
Tyler"