Hello everyone,
It's nice to hear from all of you and I'm so grateful for all the letters. I've been doing great and everything has gotten so much easier from the first week to now. The spanish is coming along great and it feels so good to know so much spanish. The only hard thing is that I don't know how to say what I feel yet. That makes it a little difficult to teach. Although that is hard, I have learned to pray, bare my testimony, and hold simple conversations with my investigators. We will be learning all the past tense and future tense stuff in this coming week and that will make things easier. Me and my district are all getting along well and it makes things a whole lot easier. The only problem is that my comp snores sooo loudlly! We have had such an awesome time though in the past 2 weeks and i can't believe we are already starting our 3rd week! Everyday seems really long, but then the weeks seem like they were a few minutes long. Last tuesday Dallin H Oaks came and spoke at our devotional and it was incredibly amazing to hear from an apostle of God in person. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I can't wait til the future devotionals to feel the same thing. So for the past 2 weeks we have had what we call a progressive investigator, here in the MTC they are just volunteers. They have you start teaching her on your 2nd day in the language. But this past friday we found out that our volunteer is actually our teacher. So now the lady that we had a hard time teaching to in spanish is teaching us. It feels so weird but I can't believe how much i have already learned from her. Some fun things we do around here wouldn't be so fun at home, but they are a blast right now! We got a nerf basketball hoop in our room and we have district speed tournaments in the bedroom. It's such a small space but it is so awesome! also we have a lot of fun while singing Taylor Swift in the showers, I know its really manly, but the bonding time is what really matters. Who woulda thought that Taylor Swift could work such wonders? I have ordered some pictures and they should be in within 3 - 7 days. I know its a big span, but in a couple of weeks I'll have some pictures sent home for you guys. Another great experience is that we get the opportunity to go to the temple every monday, It is such a great feeling, especially a day after taking the sacrament, it just makes you feel so incredibly clean. Well my time is running short and I have lots to do, so let everyone know I love them and I am really greatful for everyone and everything! Keep writing please!
Monday, 26 March 2012
Thursday, 22 March 2012
*Note*
If you do sign up to send letters through DearElder.com you will need info from his mailing address.
The First Week
Justin has been gone for a week now. On Monday we got our first e-mails from him. Yesterday we got two letters from him. Here are bits and pieces of his letters:
March 15-
"The first thing we did was meet our companions and our district. Five of the eight people in my district are going to the same mission. One is going to Canada and two to Tennessee. One of the elders in my district is from Mesa. Later we had a meeting with the MTC presidency. In the middle of the meeting a man walked in. He was the ambassador to Mongolia. He spoke to us and helped us realize that not only are we doing missionary work but we are helping bring nations together. The MTC president spoke and then asked all the people from other nations to stand up. Then he went through each state and asked us to stand up as well. There are about 12 people from Arizona here right now. Our district already feels like a family. The main lesson so far has been that it's not about us, it's all about the investigators."
March 18-
"This has been the longest weekend of my life. Day 3 and we already had to teach an investigator in Spanish. I thought it would be extremely hard, but when we walked in the room I knew so much Spanish. I have already learned so much more than I did my first two years of it in high school. We have anywhere from 3-6 hours a day of pure Spanish studying. Our teachers aren't allowed to speak English either. The 1st counselor in the branch presidency was raised in Gilbert."
He goes on to ask about Payton Manning and the NCAA tournament. His scheduled departure date for Argentina is May 15th but that is dependent on his Visa coming through. They had an Elder that was at the MTC for 11 weeks because his hadn't gone through on time.
He is enjoying getting letters. The easiest way to get them to him is through DearElder.com. It doesn't cost to send letters to the MTC. You set up an account and then you can write a letter to him. If you submit before noon Utah time then it will be delivered that afternoon. I am adding his mailbox and e-mail address to the blog. He loves getting the letters and e-mails.
March 15-
"The first thing we did was meet our companions and our district. Five of the eight people in my district are going to the same mission. One is going to Canada and two to Tennessee. One of the elders in my district is from Mesa. Later we had a meeting with the MTC presidency. In the middle of the meeting a man walked in. He was the ambassador to Mongolia. He spoke to us and helped us realize that not only are we doing missionary work but we are helping bring nations together. The MTC president spoke and then asked all the people from other nations to stand up. Then he went through each state and asked us to stand up as well. There are about 12 people from Arizona here right now. Our district already feels like a family. The main lesson so far has been that it's not about us, it's all about the investigators."
March 18-
"This has been the longest weekend of my life. Day 3 and we already had to teach an investigator in Spanish. I thought it would be extremely hard, but when we walked in the room I knew so much Spanish. I have already learned so much more than I did my first two years of it in high school. We have anywhere from 3-6 hours a day of pure Spanish studying. Our teachers aren't allowed to speak English either. The 1st counselor in the branch presidency was raised in Gilbert."
He goes on to ask about Payton Manning and the NCAA tournament. His scheduled departure date for Argentina is May 15th but that is dependent on his Visa coming through. They had an Elder that was at the MTC for 11 weeks because his hadn't gone through on time.
He is enjoying getting letters. The easiest way to get them to him is through DearElder.com. It doesn't cost to send letters to the MTC. You set up an account and then you can write a letter to him. If you submit before noon Utah time then it will be delivered that afternoon. I am adding his mailbox and e-mail address to the blog. He loves getting the letters and e-mails.
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