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| Elder Gruber and others at the airport on the way to San Francisco |
Bonjour family!
Its good to hear from all of you guys. Mom- Sorry I
couldn't call on mothers day... You know what they say about the MTC
and prison. They're the same thing, except you can use a phone in
prison. On sunday night devotional President Brown said some mother
called him in a rage about the fact that her son couldnt call her... I
was pretty sure it was you.. hopefully I'm mistaken haha. Dad- You're a
champ. Time has changed dramatically. Weeks literally go by in what
feels like a day. Time is sooo bizzare in here. I understand why
everyone says the mission flies by. Well I actually have a little more
time to write today. I figured out a great new way to approach p-days.
We woke up at 5:30 and threw our laundry in, got to the gym by 6:00, put
our clothes in the dryer immediately after, showered and went to
breakfast, then picked up our clothes. Then we did our weekly temple
trip, and now we're done til 5. Feels good man!
Well anyways this week was kind of exciting! Last P-day
after I wrote you guys I had to hurry and shower and get dressed up
because the ambassador to the U.N. from the Dominican Republic was
coming to our room to observe our class with Elder Hinkley (Gordon B.
Hinckleys son). The back story was a week or two ago in the middle of
class this dude came into our class panting and was acting like there
was breaking news. The first question posed to the class, "who the one
in here that loves guns?" it was awkward for a moment and nobody spoke.
Somehow we mosied our way out of the question by giving blank stars back
at him. He proceeded to tell us that the U.N. guy was coming in to
visit the MTC and they had chosen our class to be the one for him to
observe (I'd like to think its because we're the best class in the
joint... but let's be honest here, is was because of Brother Lepretre).
The relations guy claimed there would be upwards of 20 security
personnel all armed with high powered rifles. He said that this was
dire, and could make or break if LDS missionarys get visa's into the DR
for the next couple years. Then he debriefed us like we were about to
meet the President. He told us that he might just come in and tell us
not to ever baptize people and just leave them alone, or ask super
"piercing" questions. so basically we were all very nervous about this
encounter. All in our sunday best, we waited for the ambassador and his
"militia" to arrive. We started class, every little crank or creeking we
mistook to be the ambassador and his army marching towards our room.
Finally they show up. Not a security guy in sight, little Carlos shows
up to our class room with a big smile. He's accompanied by his son
Carlos Jr. (which reminds me, Id do about anything for a double bacon
western cheeseburger from there) and Elder Hinckley. The guy that was
guiding their tour started asking really weird obvious questions about
how our class works haha it was really awkward. eventually they sat down
for 10 mins and participated in the lesson. Afterwards we all took a
picture together and they left. Carlos was one of the nicest dudes I've
ever met. The whole time he was just saying how grateful he was for
young men like us coming into his country trying to make his people
happy. So on and so on he just proved to be a really nice guy. Much
nicer than Elder Hickley haha... I was kind of disappointed with that
guy. Lets just say he wasnt exactly the warm and friendly type. So that
was our epic build up/encounter with Carlos.
Later that night we had our weekly devotional. We were pleased to
hear from Elder D. Todd Christofferson. His talk was good, he asked a
question and called on elders and sister in the crowd to answer them.
Anyways, in the very top back row of the auditorium there are nice
removable seats with extra leg room and what not. So naturally Me and my
district make sure we sit in those seats every devotional. Well long
story short im in the very top right corner seats with my legs stretched
out and my arm resting on the railing while I innocently took notes,
while I suppose you could say lounging, of his sermon. My arm could have
been mistaken for the arm of an eager young elder ready to answer a
question. Elder Christofferson says, and I quote, "Yes... way back there
in the hinter lands... the very top corner back there.." My heart
stopped for like 5 seconds and then started racing haha. The way I
remember it we made eye contact for a minute while the guy walking the
microphone around briskly paces up the stairs in my direction. Startled,
I sit up staright and fix my tie. But alas, a young first week elder 2
rows in front of me was the one he was talking too. Relieved I slid back
down into my seat. Haha classic...
Welllll think I can say I witnessed my first miracle
this week. Remember my comp that accidently told Erik last week that he
hopes to one day have several wives? Yeah this story is about him.. He
still is having a tough time with the language but he's got a good heart
and we work super hard. So last week one morning we're having a lesson
with Brother Wilcox and with a discouraged countenance Elder Call raises
his hand and askes our teacher if sometimes Elders dont ever learn the
language. Brother wilcox proceeded to tell him about one of his senior
comps that could never fluently speak french. Mind you, Brother Wilcox
was trying to make this a comment about the foi and diligence of his
comp. Anyways E. Call took it to mean that theres a chance he'll never
learn french. He had a sad frown on his face after that story. Fast
forward to later that night when we were teaching Erik. We decided on
finished the first lesson with him that night. So Elder call stumbled
through the first half of the lesson, and I had just finished explaining
apostasie with erik. Now it was E. Call's turn. He started out just
like he had earlier, slow, not conjugating verbs, etc. Until he got to
reciting Le Primier Vision. The spirit filled the room as soon as he
started. He began saying each word flawlessly, and successfully
recounted The First Vision with out any slip ups. I was super duper
impressed but it didnt end there. Erik asked a follow up question and I
told E.Call to flip to a Galatians and read him a verse. I explained to
Erik while my comp turned to it. once he found it he read it to him and
then went on to elaborate on it. E. Call went on for what seemed like
all day about the spirit. Conjugating perfectly, using words and tenses
he's never learned, and completely expressing his feelings to Erik. It
was one of the times I've felt the spirit strongest in my life. I was
sitting there overcome with the spirit. It was one of those moments
where you just sit there and think to yourself, wow, this is so
real/true. In was so miraculous that simultaneously me and Erik both
starting chuckling and smiling because we couldnt believe what was going
on! It was crazy. Then later that day we went to TRC and E. Call
couldn't even form a sentance. Further testifying to me that with God we
can do literally anything. The spirit is so powerful. To quote one of
mine and Tim Tebow's favorite scriptures, "I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me".
Forever Love,
Elder Benjamin Gruber 
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