Elder Roland Miguel MTC Mailbox

Elder Roland Miguel

The best way to send mail is through the "pouch" (but letters and cards only)

Elder R. Miguel
Guayaquil North Mission
50 E. North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-0001

otherwise use (less reliable address below)

Elder Miguel
Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission
Casilla 16160
Guayaquil, Ecuador

Parents: Roland & Rocio Miguel - Rosiemgl@aol.com
Address: PO Box 2261 St. George, Utah 84771

Serving the Guayaquil, Ecuador Mission

Extracts from Letters from Elder Miguel

#1 Letter 11/8

The food is just like everybody says...It's GOOD! I'ts great being here at the MTC. Everything is in Spanish, I'm trying to speak S[panish all the time if possilble. I began to read something in English today and it is a little strange after sooo much Spanish. If you have any questions for me -write me OK. I have to decide whether I stay in the Intermediate or I go to the advanced class?

#2 Letter 11/13

I''ve decided to stay in the Intermediate Spanish Class, because the last part of our Spanish class we had to hear some native speakers...-What I learned is that I need a lot of practice. The Lord answered my prayers- and your letters extra confirmed this. My companion is Elder Wright from Littleton, Colorado. I'm looking forward to a devotional tonight, possibly a General Authority, I do'nt know what to expect, this will be my first. Aside from learning the discussions I have to prepare 2 talks each week so our personal time is basically study/prepare time. I'm hoping to see Israel Noriega tomorrow. I'd write the letter in Spanish but my mind isn't quick in Spanish and I want you to understand it. LOVE YOU ALL MUCH.

Letter #3

(I can't find letter 3 because we have too many kids taking the letter to read it and not returning it to me..... This is what I remember from it) He was very happy to see Elder Noriega with short hair, and he was happy to see that he was actually taller than someone else in the MTC. I believe he was headed for dinner when he saw him. He said it had'nt snowed yet, only on the mountains but it was pretty cold. He told us about the variety in foods and desserts. then he just asked question after question about what's going on at home. He said "don't worry about me I'm doing good".

Letter #4 11/17
I loved the pictures (we sent him pic's from the farewell). I'm not freezing yet. It's nice outside. The few times I was really cold were in the morning. Finally got to do laundry yesterday after more than a week. I'm doing good.
Thanx for the letters & the suit I won't have to wear this suit for 8 straight weeks.
Once I go to Ecuador I'll only be writing on prep day. but for now I get sometime every now and then. I have to get ready for tomorrow they assigned talks to about 50 of us and two get chosen at random, have to be prepared. Love you all!
Elder Miguel

Letter #5 11/18

Since the MTC houses 2500 missionaries, I will not be able to call on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year's Eve/Day.-There are only 4 telephones at the front office-it would be Chaos.-
Coulld I have a copy of my line of authority? forgot it at home. It would be nice to give it to people when I give them the Priesthood.
On Thur. we won't have any classes, we'll have a devotional- FHE. It will be a break from the tight schedule. No snow yet. It rained though. Love you all lots.
I'm still doing good. Elder Miguel

Letter #6

I'm doing great. Elder Vaughn Featherstone spoke to us. He kept us interested with his good stories.
We had Thanksgiving dinner for lunch. It was good.- We were also the first misionaries to view the movie "The Testaments". It's a good movie. We got sack lunches for dinner so the employees would get the night off.
(lMany questions for Erik)Has not snowed here yet, I'm sending you my schedule so you have an idea of how they divide my time here.
Ex: Monday
Arise and prepare
7:00 Breakfast
8:00-8:50 Gymn
9:00-9:15 Personal time
9:30- 10:15 LAB (I don't exactly know what this means)
10:30-10:45 Update Missionary Personal Study Plans
11:00-11:35 Discussion Learning-Introduce & inspire others to Change their Lives
11:45 Performance Checks
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:45-1:00Review Missiony Personal Study Plans
1:15-1:30 Learning words and phrases/ Grammar
1:45 Practice Week
2:00 Performance Check
2:15- 3:00 Read BOM in Spanish-out loud & Class
3:15-4:15 Gospel Study Large Group Meet.
4:30-5:15 Dinner
5:30 Review Missionary Personal Study Plans
6:00-6:45 Vocab lesson/ Grammar/ Discussion Learning
7:00-8:15 Attribute Worksheer Review/Class
8:30-8:45 Companionship Study-(Classroom)
9:00-9:15 BOM personal Study
9:30-10:00 Review day's activities/ Companionship Prayer
10:15 Quiet Time
(every day i'ts a little bit different)
-------- ------- ---------
(Answered many questions for the kids)

I've been to the Temple a couple of times, they do it in English, I kind of wanted it in Spanish. I should probably write in Spanish.
Bueno, Gracias por todas las cartas. Me encanta recibirlos. Yo se que mi espanol no es perfecto, pero yo estoy tratando. Mama gracias por tus letras. Vas a ser acostumbrado a llamarme Elder Miguel en unos meses. Y tambien gracias papa por tus letras que has mandado. Anoche teniamos The Navidad luces lighting. La MTC es muy bonita afuera donde luces estan. Les amo mucho. Dan besos y abrazos a todos( whoever reads this part first)
El Ecuatoriano, Elder Miguel
P.S. Have una gran dia de Gracias! Chao!

Letter #7 11/25
I woke up this morning and what did I see?....nothing really, outside was a blur, then I put on my glasses, and saw that everything was covered in 3-or 4 inches of snow. It looked really nice. It was strange to see the landscape totally different. Thanks for the package & the photos they're great- I got them on Thur-Thanksgiving-. I'm going to finally dry clean my suit tomorrow. I got all you letters too.
(answering quetions) Elder Wright is going to Salta, Argentina. Adrian thanks for updating me on the headlines around the house, Robert thanks for telling me about David. Tha'ts why you should never get chicken J/K. I'm glad David's allright. Thanks for keeping me informed-don't worry about the OJ. I'm getting better at basketball which is the main reason I'm here, to improve my game--That's what the MTC is all about. Sandy I don't know exactly what to write about because your second letter was very similar to the 1st-I love you anyway. I'll send some pics as soon as I can.
Erik good luck singing-just have fun doing it, you'll do great. Be careful driving up here
I'ts been snowing like crazy. Thanks for the info on Ecuador Guayaquil mission, it's interesting. Elder Noriega manda "saludos".
I love you all, appreciate yout letters, Elder Miguel

Letter #8 (more like a note) 11/28

Here are some pictures (I'm trying to upload some of these, so you can all see them)
I have to study the discussions and get them down. I've memorized the first one, but I still have to review it. I also have to write in my Journal. I'll havetime to write you on Fri. to answer questions. I got Maria's letter a couple of days ago.
Erik, it's awesome that you're singing. Good Luck! I love you lots!
Hasta the next time I write, Elder Miguel

Letter #9 11/30

I got your letters a couple of days ago, but this is the first chance I have-my prep day-to write back. I did send some pic's., I hope the envelope wasn't too heavy, if you don't see the pics by the time you read this letter, it's probably because I needed to put two stamps. (the envelope was heavy-but the mailman was nice enough not to send it back)
I got a haircut today, i'ts a pretty good cut I've been wanting to have one since the beginning of this week.- It's still snowing, It snowed all day yesterday and so far, all day today. Hermano Tea told me that church was cancelled in SLC because there was too much snow, and school was cancelled the next day too. It's fun to see the snowfall and have everything covered with a 10 to 20 inch layer of snow.
Adrian Thanks for your update. Elder Wright got a little Christmas tree in the mail so that will be our Christmas tree this year.- So there's snow in Pine Valley- sweet.
Erik that's cool that Spence is letting you guys ride on his scooter. Glad to hear that you are wearing DI protective gear.
Alright! you finally got a good KV event, i'ts about time they gave you a good one.
(He writes a lot to Erik-no one would understand) keep having fun and studying the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon. I know that's what you are studying right now. I learned something yesterday in my class. In Alma 36, i'ts like the BOM condensed. It's also a chiasmus (Hebrew from of poetry, remember?). Just start with verse 1,2 & 3. They have their individual themes, then go to 27,28,29, & 30. They'll match the theme in the opposite order 123-321 get it? If you look through, you'll also see some similarities on each side of the main idea. The main point of the chiasmus is in verse 17, Jesus Christ and the atonement which is basically what the BOM is about. It's a neat chapter. Read it. Bro. Ford(Their Semminary teacher)showed us that other chiasmus in Isaiah 41. If you don't remember about chiasmus you could probably look at that chapter starting on verse10, you probably wrote some notes there. Thanks for writing your lyrics, Thanks much for your letter.
Sandy where is your letter? That's alright if you didn't send one, it would be hard for me to send one if I didn't have P-day. Well, hope you are having a good time over there. Love you.
I'm doing good mom. The suit wasn't wrinkled when I got it. It was in good shape, the pants fit perfect. Thanks for sending it. I cleaned my other suit this week- I don't think the letters take up very much weight, I think it will be OK for now. I got the Pierce's letters. I loved the pictures. Gracias por tu carta.
We just heard from Elder Perry on Tue. night, and word is that Elder Eyering is speaking on Christmas. We've got connections with the cafeteria supervisor Bro. Justice. He has to make their meals so hhe get's to know who's coming. Yup, we get to go to the Temple every Saturday. We usually go to the 1:30 Session.
We have an early dinner- but you get used to it.
Mi espanol esta empezando a ser mas facil. Estamos aprendiendo del subconjuntivo ahora. Hoy dia tenemos la leccion final de gramatica pero todavia no puedo hablar sin pensar por algunos segundos en lo que voy a decir-Durante el segundo semana yo estaba tratando de pensar en Espanol pero esta semana mis companeros hablaron bastante Ingles y es dificil hablar en espanol cuando tu companero no entiende lo que estas diciendo la mitad del tiempo.
Yo se que todos los miembros pueden ser misioneros y es como debe ser. Deben empezar un "member Missionary" class y deben asignar hermanos y hermanas a asistir esa clase. Es muy importante. Voy a hablar mas de esto un otro tiempo. I Love you all. Les amo muchisimo XXOO - Love, Elder Miguel

(sent us a little flyer)
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A ttention Families and Friends of MTC missionaries
The following criteria must be adhered to with packages you send to you missionaries this holiday season.- They are rules you should follow all year too!-
-Address all letters and packages with the FULL NAME of your missionary. A return address must be on everything.
-PLAN AHEAD and send your Christmas packages in plenty of time for them to be received before Christmas day. Don't wait till the last minute to mail/send them!
With the extra security measures in the Post Offices these days, mail is taking longer to reach the MTC.
-DO NOT SEND PERISHABLES ITEMS TO YOUR MISSIONARY- They will not be delivered! this includes pizzas, fast food, and anything requiring refrigertaion.
-If you will be using LOCAL delivery services to send your packages to the MTC, make note that FRIDAY DEC 21 is the last day we will be accepting deliveries from these businesses.
Thank you for your help with these requests!
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Letter #10 12/7

Hola everybody! I'm sorry I didn't write sooner (me too)but it's my Prep time right now so I've got some time.
I'm doing good, this week has gone by fast. We had a good speaker on Tue., He's one of the seventy, most people haven't heard of him, Elder Kofford.
We're supposed to have one of the seventy's come and inspect our rooms for some reason. We've got this massive stack of soda pop cans. I'll send a pic when it's done. I'm doing good with the discussions. I memorized six principles last week and I got five so far this week as of yesterday, so I'm starting to move along with those.
Sorry you're leg got hurt Adrian. I hope & pray that you feel better.(writes some more to Adrian-stuff we would understand)
Robert it's good that your playing basketball in the mornings for a merit badge, just remember to have fun, don't take the games too seriously, just have a good time. My team rarely wins here at the MTC in basketball, but we have fun & that's all that counts. I've got my good basketball days when I make most of my shots, and my bad days when the ball keeps getting stolen- but I just try to have a good attitude about it.
So Sandy....(writes about her friends). All the sister missionaries are not ugly, I'd say only 98.9 % are ugly. The other three sisters aren't really ugly at all.
I was freezing yesterday only because it was raining & it was cold. But It's been colder than usual the last couple of days. It snows like every other day. ..and I don't mind if it's not pretty paper.
Erik just tell everyone I'm doing good & when I get some spare time I will elaborate some more.
You've got the Pantheras(I'ts a dance group from their school) over there, but we watched the missioneras perform at 7:00 yesterday-It wasn't very good-. Then we stayed a little longer and a General Authority came to speak to us and to wrestle with our Mission President. It was cool. The GA won.
In the dormitory here people tend to lock their keys in the room and they can't get back in . So we have this complicated process to open the door(they use floss,hangers, electrical cords, envelopes whatever they can find) They really should have some spare keys somewhere. (answered more Q's for Erik).
Mom, we've got two Christmas trees in our room. one is just over a foot tall and the other one is two feet tall and it spins and changes different color via fiber optics.
My whole district bore their testimony in one of the meetings-it was nice-. Good to hear that you are going to the temple too. I'm good with money and addresses for now. THANKS.
All is well with me Dad, everyone in my room..all four of us are eagle scouts. Thanks for sending my line of authority-(Asks questions for Dad) Thanks for all your support and letters. I love each one of you very much. Continue or begin to read the Book of Mormon each day. The Book never changes but the reader does. I pray that all is well over there. Love, Elder Miguel

Letter #11 12/14

It's my preparation day again. I used to be able to write earlier in the week but I haven't found time, because I've mostly been memorizing the charlas. I'm almost on the 5th discussion. I'll probably start on it today. At the begginning here at the MTC it went really slow, it felt like a month or two, but the weeeks after that have just been flying by. Once we hit Friday, the weekend, it might as well be Monday, because it's even faster on the weekends. The latest we're suppossed to stay up is 10:30 because that's light's out. On Monday I had to stay up so I could get this long principle down. It was 12 or 15 paragraphs, but I had to get it that day, otherwise I knew that I would spend or waste too much time on it during the week. After that it's been great with principles. I got 3 in one day, and I'm almost done with the next discussion. (Erik) Sounds like you've been having some adventures with vehicles. I'm seeing that quite a few of my faith and prayer experiences have dealt with cars in some way. The food here is like catering food. That's what it reminds me of. Do you have any photos of that concert, I'd like to hang some on my wall. I've got some pictures of Jesus, a large picture of Joseph Smith, my picture on Halloween, and a picture of one of the Elders sliding down the hallway on his belly on the wheel part of the trash can. I'll write the other family for sure I just don't know when. As always I'm praying for you guys everyday 17 to 23 times daily. I don't remember if I told you but they made me District Leader on Sun., so I have a little added responsibilities. I'ts not too bad. Love you all, sorry for not writing sooner.

Letter #12 (card) 12/21/01

I'm doing good here. I've just got one more principle to go before I'm done with all the discussions. I'll try to get it done today. I read in a letter that you sent a package I haven't gotten it yet, i'ts early morning maybe this afternoon. Glad to hear your leg is doing better Adrian, I got kneed yesterday on my thigh playing basketball. It was a little harder to walk afe=ter that but i'ts fine now. I saw Elder Robbie Potter (a friend of his, he used to work with here) at dinner on Wed, we talked a bit. I think we have the same Gym time. Elder Brent Judd (school friend) is on the same floor as me just a few doors down, I played on the Tennis team with him. It snowed in St George an stuck huh? I hope ypu took some pictures or videotaped it. I want to see it too. It snowed here (stormed) as you'll see on the photographs. The first couple of nights we had much snowfall, we had snowball fights. we didn't get to organize a snowball war, because the MTC presidency banned snow throwballs. Well, mom i'ts not me or Elder Ricks who were trying to build cans up to the ceiling, it was the other two in our room, our companions. They got two notices to recycle the cans, so they finally took it down last week. Hope Sandy's project on Bolivia went well. One of our favorite teachers left Hermano Lovestedt, he's going back home then Argentina. Of course our ward (Middleton) was the best at the stake fireside, we've got the most missionaries out, and half of a band. One of the Elders in my district got an inflatable Christmas tree, I don't know if you've ever seen one I'ts funny and neat, it has inflatable ornaments and a star.. As district leader I have to conduct all of our meetings, I try to say something after each persons comments, I've also got to report on my district. How they are doing, their health, I'm also responsible for the conduct of those in my district. I saw about four snowmen built here the first week it really snowed, but someone kept knocking them down. I'm not going to receive my flight plan until 1 1/2 weeks before I leave, so I don't have it yet. Thank you for your letters Love you all very much. Have a Wonderful Christmas!! Love A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22)

Letter # 13 12/27/01

Hello Everybody!
I had a great Christmas, I hope you alll did too. Thanks for the package you sent, with everything wrapped up, that was nice. I opened it the same day Thanks for every thing. and for the chocolates too. The'll come in handy when I have to bargain with the natives.
On Christmas eve I got a package from the Yancey's, yup I got banana bread, and some other stuff. Later that evening I got a package from Eric Nelson, I saved it for the next day. Christmas Day, although we didn't have classes, our schedule was still full of things to do. Before my district went to lunch we were told to wait til 1:15 because we'd see & meet Elder Eyring, and we did. We saw him walk down the hall mobbed by people and we waited till he came to us and our district, followed behind him and his family, cutting in front of other people waiting for their Christmas meal. We sat in the table behind Elder Eyring, my back to his. We're good friends with brother Justice (cafeteria Manager) so we sometimes get these special priviledges. I didn't take any pictures there wasn't enough time to. Elder Eyring would have been taking pictures forever.
We listened to Elder Eyring and he gave us an apostolic blessing in his talk. Then we had some fun with the next meeting because the MTC Presidencies family came and prepared things for us, such as songs and more songs. But they were entertaining. At the end of the night we watched a 60 minute special on the Tabernacle Choir, and a short piece on Mormons, getting rid of myths. Then we watched "I'ts a Wonderful Life". During the first kissing scene someone yelled out "Two more years"!.I'ts a good movie, That was the end to Christmas day. It was a good one, different, but good. We took a walk on Christmas too. To the Temple. We waived at alot of people, they would come by beep and wave
'Adrian it's good to hear someone is having snowball fights. That's the way snow was meant to be used. We're not allowed to throw snowballs here. Robert thanks for the bookmark. Felicidades Sandy I probably would have made it too (some dance tryout)
but I'm over here. Mulan Rouge is definately an innappropiate song, I don't remember how it goes, so don't remind me. You should use some classical music or Bee Gees, good luck finding a song. The only thing besides hymns are Christmas songs that we listen to.
Estoy muy bien, Si me encuentro bien. Glad to hear you got the photos before Christmas. It' getting colder now, I have no idea what the temperature is but I've never lived somewhere where it gets this cold.
I'll get the flight plan today-it's now Fri Dec. 28th. Well Dad I'm just trying to memorize scriptures and prepare for the Monday when I leave. I want to see how it is over there, get aquainted with the people and the water. Missionary work is really important for missionaries and members too. We should try to be friends with all our neighbors, wether they be members, inactives or nonmembers. That stone cut without hands- man did not cut it out. It was God. The gospel will consume other kingdoms.
When you travel up here I urge you to be careful because I have seen a ton of ice. I'd feel more comfortable if you didn't come- but I guess you really want to see me- I'm fine, really. I just feel it may be best to follow the rules. You'll see them on my flight plans. The same in Miami. It says please no visitors. This comes from the church. Pray about it. I don't want you to waste your time**
Getting back to the letter, I know I am a representative of Christ. we are constantly reminded of that. I have given one blessing so far on my mission, but it was a while ago.
Love each one of you. Once I go to Ecuador who knows how long it will take for my letters to arrive. But don't worry. I'll write every week. I was looking at the map and saw some islands under the Galapagos wich are part of my mission. Do you know if I might have a chance to go there? If there's people there? do they speak Spanish?
Love you a bunch! have a Spectabulous New Year 2002. Be smart, play safe
**I'll repeat. Pray about if you should or should't come up to see me off. I don't want you to waste your time. I know you really want to see me. I want to see you too. The thing is, is it the right thing?. I love you. Two years will come soon enough. Then I think it would be very appropiate for the family to gather when I return-in Miami-, but not now. I don't know why, but these thoughts have just entered into my mind today, I prayed about writing this to you too. Do what is right. Don't worry about me, The Lord is watching over me. I'm never alone. I Love you much.

Letter 14 1/4/02

My dear family. I really appreciatte your letters. I recieved all four of them yesterday I also recieved a letter from mis abuelos and a check Thanks! I got my last shot on Wednesday so I'm ready.
I too wanted to see you, but as I was reading my flight schedule, the paragraph about no visitors seemed to stick in my head, so I took out the letter and added what I was feeling to it. I forgot to tell you that I will be able to call you from the Airport!, You'll probably get this after I call. Sorry, I wanted to write sooner but I didn't know your response til yesterday.
The time really isn't that long. You'll wonder where the time went. I love you all.

For New Years we just had some Martinelli's, took some pictures with the district & went to bed about 11:00
(Answers many questions the kids had)
I'm really sorry about the change but I'll get to talk to you, I'll send photos whenever I can. Ecuador is about the size of Nevada.
I had my last gym time yesterday, Friday night, it was also the funniest gym. I played basketball the whole time, and I was unstoppable, I got my glasses knocked off once but I played better after that. Pretty much everything I threw to the hoop went in-just a bunch of lucky shots- One of the Elders asked me "How much do you pray"? I said "many times". Every missionary prays a lot, or should.
We're going to sing "El Ejercito de Helaman" tomorrow for my district going away cancion. We play a game here similar to the one you have but it's called "Big Duty" we all have a big duty here.
Thanks for the family cards (these are some genealogy reference cards w the family pic. we took in Miami) I wanted to show them to my teachers. Thanks for what you sent, thanks for the advice too. I hope I'm not repeating myself but this letter is about two days old, I've had to find time to write. I went to the Temple today my last time here, they needed us in the laundry room, so we folded for two hours.
I'll tell you how the trip goes & I'll write as soon as I can.
I love reading your letters. Have a great New Year, I love each one of you a bunch. I'll be fine don't worry if you don't get a letter for a while. It's not me it's the system. Love you's, Elder Miguel

[Note from Rocio]

As some of you know we did get to speak with Elder Miguel on Jan. 7th he surprised us with a call from the LA Airport, he was accompanied by 9 other "greenies" but he sounded up-beat and was happy that he was already on route to Ecuador. He was already using his Spanish skills together with his group, they were able to give out 3 BOM. How about that? He said he was kinda glad that we didn't meet him in Salt Lake. He mentioned they were still trying to calm down a huge guy that had seen his family. All of you guys from Miami can kick me later for not letting you know. He was at the MIA airport at about 5:00 a.m. on Tue. Jan 8th His flight left at 7:30 a.m. He also called us from there. Everyone here had a chance to chat with him. What a thrill it was for us! He is very focused, and assured me the Lord is watching over him and that two years would come quickly. He also mentioned that the experience at the MTC was one of a kind. He's also hoping for a big reunion when he comes back. He sent his Love to all. THANKS again for your support!
We really don't know how he is right now or where he is sleeping but hopefully he'll write soon enough and we will all now, for now patience and faith.