November 1, 2012 - MTC Life

Dear Family & Friends,

Always a jokester - Nick dressed up with Hermana Wright for Halloween as Popeye and Olive Oil

This week was great. I'm starting to pick up more Spanish every day. I also found out my dad was over stating how many words he was memorizing a day..."lists on lists of hundreds of words." Maybe we read that many but memorize, not so much.

The weeks here go by like days and the days go like weeks. My companion is a little emotional & Spencer could clean his clock. He is great though. He wants to work hard, and he can have lots of potential as a missionary.

This week I almost played a practical joke. Then I found it unkind and didn't do it. I would start it out a bit with a comment, "Elder, no matter what happens, know that Elder Pinegar loves you." He was pretty scared, then I decided not to prank him to be obedient.

My teacher at the MTC was having some questions about some family matters and I told him a story that had happened to me. That experience helped him and me grow that day.

I'm needing help in being a better leader*, not sure what to do.  This week I really enjoyed Ether 12. It was a great example of what faith can and does do for us all. I love that chapter.  Also please read Nephi 1:1-20 and think of the Joseph Smith story. It will really be profound, the similarities of the stories.

"Spencer--write me back--this is a you write me I write you relationship-LOL"

Mucho Amor,

Elder Pinegar
*Nick is serving as a District Leader in the MTC

This is a poem written by Nick's companion on 10/21/12
The Man of Glass

Think of each of us as made of glass. Every time we make a mistake, or get hurt in life, a piece of ourselves gets chipped off. We do our best to repair ourselves with the materials we have, but we are bound to lose a few pieces or make imperfect fixes. In time, we become very broken, and very scared. Some even shatter, and don't always get back up. Our beautiful bodies are glass are cracked and damaged.

Think of Christ as perfection. Through Christ, we can be made whole again. If we promise to serve him, he promises to put us back together again. And he continues to do so, over and over again. So long as we are good servants, and keep asking him to. Our bodies, and our souls, can be beautiful once more.

Even on our darkest day, when we are on our knees and ready to fall apart, we are made pristine again, as all of our hurt is washed away. Because Christ make us perfect through his love. You can always be made beautiful.

- Inspired by Elder Nick Pinegar-the man of glass