My wonderful family! I hope you're all doing well! P-day is finally
here, and oh how nice of a break it was! I atteneded the temple this
morning with my district and it was so peaceful. I'm always nervous
that I'll see someone I know though! I can't believe a week has already
passed. Just last week I was a new elder just getting to the MTC ready
to start a new life, but now I "kind of" know Russian, and some more new
Elders are getting here. "The days go by painfully slow, and the weeks
go by fast." This past week has been the best week FOR my life though!
You have all seen a picture of me and my companion, right? Well. Last
Thursday, after being thrown into a new language (one of the most
difficult ones to learn at the MTC) we had our branch welcomed by the
presidency, who is full of great men of God, so right after that meeting
I was told I was being transfered to a new district because an Elder in
my room decided he was leaving the MTC that night. It was sad to see
him go and leave my companion after the first day, but I love my new
district AND my new companion! My new companions name is Elder Grover.
He's from Orem and he's hilarious! The other two in my room are Elder
Kennedy, and Elder Brooks. Great guys. Elder Grover has taken a semester
of Russian, so he knows a lot more than the entire class. As far as
learning the language goes, I can pray, bear my testimony, and kind of
teach in Russian. IT'S HARD. But I'M preaching, and the Holy Ghost is
teaching.
As of last Friday, I've sat in a room for 48 hours, and
taught an investigator named Boris 4 times. My companion is amazing
when it comes to teaching the gospel. The MTC makes me want to be better
and better every day. A typical day here for me consists of breakfast,
study time, class, language study, lunch, gym (different time every
day), TALL (more language study), dinner, "additional study time",
class, more "additional study time", daily planning sessions, then I end
my day unwinding and writing in my journal.
The temperature here isn't too bad, but all the Elders
in my room wouldn't mind a nice fan :) I have so many things to tell
you, but my time is limited to 30 minutes... Thank you for the hidden
letters, written letters, and emails! I love reading them, and I hope
you're getting my written letters as well! My time here has been an
emotional rollercoaster, but it's worth it. Even though I'm here for a
LONG time (12 weeks), I look forward to my spiritual progression,
and getting better at teaching in Russian! Hope you all know that I love
you and that many blessings will come from Heavenly Father because
He knows of the sacrafice these many missionaries and I are making. I
have the best friends and family in the world. Your support is felt and I
pray for everyone back home.
PLEASE LET EVERYONE KNOW TO SEND ME LETTERS, CAUSE I LOVE GETTING THEM! Love you guys! I'll email you next week.
