Hey, could I use your guyses phone for a sec?

Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here today to discuss the threat of Mordor.

It is, as they say in the deep south, a blizzard. The snowfall has not ceased since it began, in the wee hours of the mornin'. I don't know how it is for everyone else, but it's still fallin' at a pretty good clip out there.

Well, enough small talk. Lets get down to the real business.

My companions have abandoned me. One has been on a plane since yesterday afternoon, one is probably waiting in the airport as we speak (I hope the snow doesn't mess up his flight!) I am now companions with some fine Elders who go by the names of Elder Duncan and Elder Bell (who are going to Taiwan, and are waiting for their visas) for the next day or so. If you recall, good 'ol Elder Duncan (or Deng Zhanglao 邓长老, as we usually call him) made a guest appearance when I called on Christmas.

On that note, on to the issue of the airport call... Now, whilst waiting in the airport, as you know, we missionaries are allowed to call folks. It was made aware to me, via letter, that there was a possibility of a phone being sent that I could use. It also seemed, by the description of the phone that it would be what the kids call a "smart" phone. (Assuming that's what was meant by my old phone). If that is the case, I would prefer for you to not send it, as I don't know what the rules are concerning this phone, and I would not want to have, even for just a day or two, a non-church approved device. (If, on the other hand, I misread this letter, or you meant by my "old phone" that flip-phone I had in seventh grade, feel free to send it). I would simply prefer to not have all the knowledge of Babylon at my fingertips. I might be able to use a pay-phone or something at the airport, but... We may just have to restrict it to emails until Mother's day.

Here is another issue. I noticed several emails sent by "argeorqui@gmail.com" Is this the address you would like me to instead send my letters to?

I mentioned a while back that the MTC had gotten a new presidency. The MTC president, President LeSueur (luh-sweer), is a jolly, boisterous man whom everybody loves. He has said many interesting things already during his short time at the MTC (one of which being that "peas with honey" poem I sent, which he recited at a devotional). The President LeSueur quote of the week for this week is: (describing an elder he knew way back when) "He wasn't just handsome. He was beautiful." 

Now, I will tell you of some of the odd dreams I've had over the last few weeks. I think my mind is going through football withdrawal symptoms, because I have had two very, very vivid and detailed dreams about football games. Let me describe them to you:

Dream #1: It is a normal Sunday at the MTC. Until, that is, we find out that, for the sunday night devotional, we will be watching an NFL game that will be played on the MTC campus. The game is advertised as being Chiefs vs Steelers, but when we all get there we see that it was a misprint, and is actually Chargers vs Steelers. We walk into the stadium midway through the first drive of the game, and the Steelers are marching dow the field. The first play we see is a long pass to Antonio Brown, who makes a spectacular, Antonio Holmes-esque toe-tap grab on the sidelines to put Pittsburgh inside the 10 yard-line. The very next play seems to move in slow motion. Ben Roethlesburger snaps the ball. He rolls right, looking for an open man. He finds his golden boy- Antonio Brown, again, in the back fo the end-zone, and fires a pass. It is a perfectly placed ball, but Brown bobbles it up into the air. He dives to try and save it, but not quick enough, as it is intercepted by an incoming Chargers linebacker. At this point in the dream, my companion had to go to the bathroom, so we left and didn't get to see any more of the game.

Dream #2: This one is shorter. It is now the super bowl, Chiefs vs Rams. For some reason, I'm still at the MTC. We don't go to the game this time, but we do watch it in our classrooms, and for some reason you're all here, too. During the game, Patrick Mahomes throws a bad pass, with is picked off by a Rams defender. This defender then, for some reason, launches a perfect deep pass to the end-zone, which one of his teammates catches for a score. The refs let this touchdown count.

So, now you know what's going on in my head when I'm asleep. Weird, huh? Oh, and a brief note on the super bowl, (You  never would have heard me say this a year or two ago) I hope Brady and co. wipe the floor with those upstart Rams.

I am mildly irked that you watched "First Man" without me. That film was a work of art, from the opening scene to the last few moments. Plan to watch it again in 22 months.

Well,  can't think of much more to send you, this time around. The next time we communicate, it very well may be when I'm in my field of labor. Expect to get another package of stuff I don't plan on bringing.

Ben "Denathor's Folly" Rivera

赖长老

P.S. I have no idea why I chose that nickname