I told you, I spent it with my Uncle in Alaska, hunting wolverines!

'allo.

Isn't it .............................................Time?

(If you don't know, that is a referance to one of those church TV ads from whenever they existed. I don't understand the point of the one that said that).

Anyway, now that we've all been introduced... How's everyone doin'? It was a little wierd talking to you on Christmas. Not the fact, necesarily, that we were conversing, just... The fact that we hadn't done such a thing in over a month. It was, in my eyes, a pleasent conversation, though. I was glad I got to mention a random football play (The river city relay). Brothers, you should be glad that the righteousness still hasn't taken full hold. My compainon spent ten minutes lecturing his brothers on how they need to read the Book of Mormon every day, and all this stuff. I'm not saying that's a bad thing to do, but I don't understand why you'd spend so much of you're time talking to family simply giving lectures that will make the person you're talking to annoyed and not want to talk to you any more. That's just my opinion, though. 

Since the temple is still closed, we're doing our laundry early today. I just finished eating a cheese bagel, since they sometimes have them in the sack breakfast room. (I always make sure to grab 2 when they do).

You'll have to tell me how the Utah game goes. I imagine they'll win. (Although as any good sportsman knows, one should not talk about the outcome of the game beforehand). Let me just say I hope they pull a Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland College.

Christmas was pretty good. On Christmas Eve, we viewed the film "A Christmas Carol". It was not the one that I have come to know as synonomous with the holiday, but it still was good. The next day, we watched probably the strangest, most pointless film I've ever seen in my life, "A Broken Horse Christmas" There are many, many things I could say about this film, but I will restrict it to one. Why was the mom British? 

The crowning event of the day was the talk by Elder Bednar. Since it was an apostle speaking, they broadcast it to all the other MTC's. I don't think if those talks are made available for the general public to view, but it was truly stupendous (Exept for when we had to listen to his grandchildren sing "Joy to the World"). We actually had good food, to. It was real, actual bacon-wrapped steaks, with roasted potatoes and all manner of other sides. I was very pleased. We also did some other stuff, such as watch a movie called "It's a Wonderful Life" (I imagine you've at least heard of it). It was pretty good. Then, there was a special guest. I'm not going to type the name of the person it was, but let's just say that I was mildly dissapointed, the individual was a 5' 5" male, and was accompanied by a pianist named Neil.

My companions and I were made zone leaders this week. We'll be so for the last three weeks of our stay here. It's odd that we are now the oldest district in the zone (And really, sice we've already been here for almost seven weeks, one of the oldest in the entire MTC).

Well, I'd like to close by giving my thanks to those who have sent me mail. I will be sending some more personal thanks, but I always like to acknowledge it in my letters, too.

Well, I don't have much more to say (before the inevitable "P.S.'s" anyway) so... Bye!

-Benny

P.S. I told you they were inevitable! Although I am greatful for everything I was sent, I will with heavy heart have to send some of it back to you. Some of the things I simply don't have the time for, or I just don't have space for. I hope everyone understands.

P.P.S. Ok, you can feel free to edit this part out, seeing as what I just wrote, but I have an explanation. If possible, could you send me one of my rotational puzzles? This is not to be something that consumes a lot of time, simply as something that I can make a few turns on before lights-out time to clear my mind and prepare myself for sleeping. That's also what I use the sketchbooks and pencils for, since I usually have 20 or so minutes after I'm done doing journal writing and everything else (Some of my roomates take a while to get ready for bed). If you will be so kind as to let me make a request, it would be actually 2: the 5x5 and the ghost cube. 

P.P.P.S. I feel like it's Kosher to quote "Lord of the Rings", since J.R.R. Tolkien has been quoted by gereal authorities (And, apperantly President Monson once quoted Home Alone in general conference, so I feel like you can get away with a lot).

"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails. When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. An hour of (inaudable) and shattered sheilds, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! By all that you hold dear, on this good earth, I bid you stand, men of the west!!"

I'll be honest, I don't know if that's the exact quote, but I figure it's close enough.

P.P.P.P.S.

It astounds me how much extra time one has when the temple is closed on your P-day. As such you will have to endure another letter, as there are several things that I forgot to say in my first.

So, my younger brother is coming to the MTC this wednesday, eh? My guess is that it will almost definatley be when I'm in class, seeing how it's on a wednesday, but you'll have to tell me what time anyway so I can be on the lookout.

Now, since I have no other time to go on sports rants, please allow me to mention some random and obscure happenings and/or people.

-Deacon Jones, "The man who never sacked" (Although he is estimated to have well over 170 throughout his career)

-Odd, how nobody seems to remember when Steve Largent layed out a defenive back twice his size and forced a fumble at the same time. (And, if that's not enough, he recovered it too)

-Ahhhh... Let us hearken back to the days when the Bills lost four straight Super Bowls.

-Earl Campell. The man whose thighs were larger around than my waist. (36 inches, I believe)

-And finally, heres to Benny Malone, the forgoten forearm.

Well, other than that, I simply would like to give you another gentle reminder to please not send food. At this point, we are starting to have to try to give it to other districts, and if they don't want it (which is most of the time) to throw it a way. It's horrifically wasteful. We appriceate everything we are sent, but... In the food department, we are litterally overflowing. (That's not a joke. our "pantry" has no more space).

Well, now you know for a surity that my sanity has fled. Once I leave the MTC, I certainly hope it will return, but, for now...

See you (23 months) later!