MTC Week 4

So this week has went by so quick yet again and I'm struggling to write a journal because nothing that interesting ever happens so when I hit the field it will probably be more interesting. All the mission presidents came today so theres security everywhere and we can't go in certain buildings because theres apostles and important people here which is a little different than usual. We have a special devotional on Friday that is two hours and theirs a rumor that the prophet is speaking so hopefully that is true but even if it isn't it will be a few apostles. And then on Sunday we have another special two hour event so it sounds like were going to hear from some cool people this week. Also on Friday we went to spend two hours with our new mission president and since theres only ten of us going to Fresno it sounds like we will really get to know him pretty well. We hope he takes us out to some steak place because this food is tearing everyone apart. So these next couple days are going to be fun because its something new and out of the daily routine that we usually follow. This past week has been the same kind of thing, just studying and nothing too exciting to report. My studying is getting a lot better and I can really see my knowledge in Spanish and in the gospel growing every week. My Book of Mormon reading is going really well, I'm in Mosiah now and reading has been so good because it has given me new insight and has helped me spiritually. Our district is still struggling focusing which is a shame because theirs people that want to goof off and then theres people who want to study but we have to stay in the room so theres a little contention about that. I love the MTC some days but get sick of it on others but I love the mission so far and can't wait to hit the field. I would also like the book, Doctrines of Salvation. I've heard good things about it so I really want to read that.

MTC Week 3

This week went by really quick and I don't have anything amazing that happened this week, especially because all the days seem to blend together now. Our Tuesday night devotional was rumored to be President Uchetdorf and we all got excited and lined up an hour early to get good seats but it ended up being the Primary President so that was disappointing but it was still good. We haven't had any apostles or first presidency yet which is unusual but next week is when the mission presidents come to get trained so hopefully we have some good speakers then because the devotionals and firesides are defiantly the highlights of the week. The Spanish is coming along I guess but my companion still is struggling so most of the work is on me during the lessons so thats really tough to do all the talking while he just sits there but we get along great so overall its good. Two new districts come in later today so that is exciting because a district just left on Monday and the two new districts combined have 8 sisters and 14 elders so that should level out the testerone level a bit. I started reading the Book of Mormon on Sunday and I want to read the entire thing before I leave so will have to read about 18 pages a day but I got some other guys to do it with me; I'm excited to do this. It will be tough because we don't get much personal time because it's always language study. We also had a "come to Jesus" meeting in our district this week because one of the guys in the district wasn't happy about some things but it was cool because everyone got everything off their chest and there was a lot of crying in the room so that was defiantly a new experience. Thats about all the cool stuff that happened this week really.

MTC Week Two

This week has went by so fast probably because I never know what the day is because every day is the same routine so the days are blending together which is good because that makes the time go by a lot faster especially when your in a classroom all day doing nothing but Spanish. This week was kinda bi-polar, I had a lot of good days but had a couple of bad days which are bound to happen. I don't really like my two teachers, they are kinda weird and I just can't relate to them at all so its tough to listen to their ideas and opinions about missionary work rather than out of the book. Besides from the six hours of classroom instruction with teachers, the time has been really fun and I learn so much more when I'm studying without a teacher. My Spanish is getting better and I can know say a lot more phrases to get to know people and just have small talk. It's been hard this week because we've been doing a lot of fake door contacts and my companion does not know any Spanish so I've had to do the whole thing in Spanish while he just stands there so its tough on me cuz I have to do it all but it will just make me learn a lot quicker, its just a little stressful right now. One of the elders from our district left last Wednesday night so now we have 11 elders in our district instead of 12. And then this past Sunday another elder left from our zone so its weird to see all these people leaving. It's crazy to think that I'm already done 25% of my time at the MTC which is so exciting because I just want to get to Fresno to do it for real instead of teaching lessons to our teachers. I see Jake Walker a couple times each day cuz he's on the floor above me and we talk quite a bit when we are doing laundry and stuff so its cool to see him all the time.

MTC Week One

It's been great to get all the packages, letters, emails, and dear elders over the past week, its defiantly a highlight to get some mail. I hope I can respond to whatever you say because I only have 30 minutes. So I heard you finally got my letter I sent on Thursday, it took forever to get to Baltimore but glad it got there. It's amazing how busy they keep you here, theres seriously no time wasted throughout the whole day which is crazy. I know you got my letter so you know about the first couple days but the days have started to blend together because I wear the same thing, do the same thing, etc. I kinda feel like cattle here because we wake up, go eat, and then go study, eat, study, and then eat again so we don't move much and they are really fattening us up. The food is decent at best but its about quantity here instead of quality so I'm full after each meal at least. The Spanish is coming along well, I pray in Spanish and know how to bear my testimony in Spanish so its cool to see the progress every day. The firesides and devotionals are really cool and its awesome to see a couple thousand elders in one room and you can really feel the spirit when you have that many people singing, especially when all the songs are about missionary work. We do a lot of teaching to fake investigators that are paid to come in so we can teach them, its hard not to laugh during some of them but I guess their good practice. My p-days are on Wednesdays, just letting you know. I was falling asleep the first couple days during personal study but I'm in a good groove now so I'm staying awake. We have 30 minutes, five days a week to exercise so not much time, I've already gained five pounds so I hope the scale was off. My companion is really cool and the district is really awesome, their all really good guys and we have a lot of fun and are always laughing...maybe were having too much fun! Were about to go to the temple so that should be a good experience. My departure date right now is the 27 of July so we have 8 weeks left after today. The short time at the MTC has been so good so far, my testimony is growing everyday as our learn more and more and I'm excited to get into the field to actually teach the people. I'm very thankful to have been taught how to work hard and this has been a blessing because this is hard work and theres so many things to learn all at once but I know that it will come together. I know I'm forgetting some things but my time is up so I'll have to remember them for next week.