20 what?

Dear Family,

I don't know if you knew this, but I turned 20 last saturday. Happy birthday to me. I feel the same only I got to open the goodies mom sent with me. It was candy from halloween, which surprisingly still tasted ok, and a cd player and MoTab. Thanks mom! too bad we can't listen to music at the MTC. I guess it will have to stay in packaging until I get to Cape Verde.

Grant got home and has already written me more dear elders and letters than everyone but merilee and neal. and mom. Christian you bum, write me.

Also, there will be $94 charge on my bank account mother, it's from a few shots that I got here. Namely Polio (i guess it's a big problem over there so I had to get a booster) and Hep A part 2. So don't worry about it.

My companion, Elder Teilor, left for Canada Tuesday at 5:00 AM, so I have been assigned to another companionship in a trio. It's been a wierd transition and I was sad to see my first companion go after 4 weeks, but I'm getting the hang of it. He left early because his parents are Brazilian and he understands all Portuguese. He only had a little problem with speaking because he would usually talk to his family in enlglish even though they spoke Portuguese. Hopefully he's doing great work bringing the people of Toronto to the gospel.

The language is coming. Next week we go to all Portuguese. That means that our teachers will no longer speak english in any of the lessons. Both gospel and Portuguese lessons will be in Portuguese. Trial by fire here we come.

Food at the MTC sometimes is as ambigiuous as the things mom cooks. I've gained like 5 lbs so far. I don't plan on putting on much more. I am eating as healthy as I am in the mood for. which means that in the mornings I eat fruit and oatmeal with milk of the white and chocolate varieties. Lunch and dinner always have fruits or vegetables with them, and the entrees for the most part aren't that unhealthy. Unless you go to the combo line which is always the most unhealthy choice. The first few weeks I went to that line. I've been not going to that line recently. I'm sure that has something to do with my decrease in gaseous emisions.

Sarah- Thanks for more pictures of Cylon baby. Thanks for the stickers. I will put them to good use. Thanks for writing. you are awesome.

Cookie- Thanks for writing. I hope you get those pictures to me soon. Thanks for the camera, I will put it to VERY good use. I don't know if I can send pictures from here though, so i'll probably just print them off and send them in snail mail.

Jim- I'm Utah, managed to escape getting stuck in Branson. Glad you found Grant. He's been gone for quite a while. Yes you can have my pie.

Christian- Write me yo.

Mom- Glad you could get some work done. Thanks for the birthday goodies.

Neal- Thanks for writing. The pictures of Sally were awesome. I love getting pictures of my way cute niece. I'm glad to hear she still remembers me and talks about me. I hope that keeps up while I'm gone and that none of her other uncles will take my spot as favorite. Fat chance. Don't work too hard. The less you work the more you can write me. *wink wink* *nudge nudge*

Merilee- thanks for sending me your blog. You live such an interesting life. And if that isn't the case, you certainly tell it in such a way to make it seem so. Keep it up. I did hear about your great fall. That sounds painful and I hope you are doing better. Try to keep your cougar-esk tendencies at bay. Keep rocking the Miley since I can't. How's the mission stuff coming? Papers submitted and all that jazz? waiting on the call? exciting.

Thank you everyone for writing me! Merry Christmas! Don't have too much fun without me.

~Elder Canute Peterson