News from MTC

Dear Kids & Mike:
We made good use of our extra week at the MTC. We had 2 tutors a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and a private room to study in. We put in 7 hours a day on Espanol. We still don't know much, but we did learn a few things, and we know how to study it. We will continue our studies once there.

Our visa has been approved by the Ecuadorian consulate. It is expected (or hoped) to arrive in SL on Monday. If it arrives then, we will be off to Ecuador on Tuesday.

Saturday was our "P" day. We went to the mall in the morning. In the afternoon Debbie and I took a hike up Rock Canyon. It was beautiful. It is a passageway between two fairly steep mountains. There were a number of rockclimbers practicing dangling from the sides of the mountains with pitons and ropes. It was a beautiful warm sunny day. Very nice. I think we saw a condor. It was a huge raptor type bird that didn't look like an eagle and was too large to be a hawk. After supper we attended the temple. It was a full day, and most enjoyable.

Sundays are always enjoyable here. Speakers are always great. After Sacrament meeting Espanol)we went and heard a broadcast of music and the spoken word. After that, Debbie went to RS and I went to two priesthood meetings, both spanish, except for the lessons, which were excellent.

The afternoon consists of naps, Skype, email and reading.

We found out on Thursday that our visa has been approved by the Ecuadorian consulate. Travel figures they will get it on Monday. If they do we will most likely be flying out on Tuesday. We have a tentative schedule for this week consisting of more tutoring and study, until we leave. As useful as the study is, I would much rather learn Spanish by immersion and less of the formal study. Debbie seems to really like to study, but I get pretty restless after an hour or two.

We are back to working out in the morning. We are too pooped by the end of the day to do it.

Should try to get in a little walk this afternoon. It is a beautiful sunny day.

Love, Dad