Nate emailed Peter and me on Saturday, September 23, 2017.  He made comments on things we had told him, or answered questions we had asked him.  I will preface each of his comments and answers below with a brief explanation (in italics) to provide some context.

Peter told Nate that his dad had a heart attack last week but is recovering well.

Nate:  Thanks for telling me. I hate hearing it, but I need to know. 

Peter said that learning a new language is hard, but that the gift of tongues is real and that Heavenly Father will help.

Nate:  i certainly hope so. 

Peter reminded Nate that he can avoid lots of contagious illnesses by being careful not to touch his face unless he knows his hands are clean.

Nate:  thanks for the tip, I'll try to do better 

Nate had asked me to water his bonsai tree while he is gone, and I had asked him how much water to give it, and if he used the little cup sitting next to it.

Nate:  I did water it with the cup, but It needs 2-3 of them once a week or just till the water gets to the surface level of the plant.  

I sent Nate a package last week.

Nate:  Thanks for all the stuff you sent. I was very excited. 

A friend had told me missionaries at the MTC could read their emails every day, but weren't allowed to write back except on their P-days.  I asked Nate if this were true.

Nate:  You can read emails whenever if you have an Ipad, but I don't, so no, I can't.

I asked Nate how his Spanish study was going.

Nate:  The language is fine.  It's not easy, but I'm learning.
  

I asked Nate where his companion, Elder Gibby, is from.

Nate: He is from the Layton area. 

I asked Nate how the MTC food is.

Nate:  The food is okay, but I don't always want to eat it.  Sickness goes around with everything because of the close quarters, and lots of people do get sick from food.  During prayers at the devotionals you can hear coughing the whole time all from different people. 

I asked Nate if he had heard about the big earthquake in Mexico last week.

Nate:  Nope, I don't hear anything here. only things they want us to know.  kinda like a utopian empire. 

There you have it!  I will try not to ask Nate so many questions next week, and maybe that will free him up to write whatever he really wants to!

Nate sent us the following email on Saturday, September 16, 2017:

Hey Pop,

     Time is definitely weird here. The days seem to last forever, but they fly by too.  I'm learning a lot of Spanish and it’s cool, but I know it will take a long time to get good and that is annoying.  My Spanish in school hasn't really done me any good, but I guess it was still good to have.  The food is okay.  My companion is a good kid. I think we will be fine.

     Just so you know my bonsai tree was in Skibby’s room, so just make sure it gets water. Thanks for the scripture.  [Peter had sent him this scripture:  Alma 36:3, "whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials and their troubles and their afflictions and shall be lifted up at the last day."]

Nate and his companion, Elder Gibby, are on the far right

We dropped Nate off at the MTC on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.  Two years feels like a long time, but he was ready for the adventure!  He sent us the following email a few hours after we dropped him off:

They just want me to say that I'm still here. I'm at the top of the new building, so I can see out pretty far.

Nate's P-days are Saturdays.  We got another short email from him last Saturday, September 9, 2017:

I'm fine in here. We stay busy so it's okay. I live on the top floor of the residence, so I take lots of stairs every day. My classes are in the new building and it's all very nice. The MTC is okay, but I'd rather be in the field, but I also know I'm not ready for that yet.