Hey great news! My worst fear has come true! I'm a Molly Mormon now! I hope I made G-ma proud ha! But really, being here at the MTC has really given me a new perspective on the church, and badabababa I'm Lovin' it! The moment I got here, all my nerves disappeared instantly and walking around the gardens made me feel like I was back in Hawaii, just got that really happy giddy feeling ya know? Goooood vibes here. My companion is Heremana Ahlmer, she is from Draper, went to Alta/Corner Canyon highschool, looks like Stevie Henderson, and I love her.
Things to Know About Your First Week At the MTC
1. When you first get here, you are instantly taken away by your host. The MTC here feels like a maze (it still does, we get lost every day) but your host will know where to take you so no worries!
2. And yes what you have heard is true. You are thrown into class on your first day and if your speaking a foreign language, that's ALL they will speak in. No english period. You might question if you accidentally got put in the German speaking class, but I promise you're in the right place!
3. Get your lanyard right away! You have these ID cards you swipe to get into every building here, and those lanyards are heaven sent. Trust me on this. But make sure where you clip feels secure, because loosing your lanyard is almost as scary as first arriving at the MTC. I would know...
4. THE RUMORS ABOUT THE ORANGE JUICE ARE TRUE. Don't drink it! Warning: causes blehhness all day and super weird vivd dreams. I'm also going to add soup to the inedible list. Don't ask.
5. Eat the salads. It does the least amount of damage.
7. But if you are an elder, forget everything I've said about the food. You're immune to it.
8. The chocolate milk here is also muy bueno :)
9. Don't be alarmed if you see people sniffing trees here... It's perfectly fine. You would too if you've been sitting in a classroom all day.
10. After a couple days you'll be completely in awe of seeing cars, stoplights, mountains, anything that doesn't look like brick buildings. Soak it in when you get the chance!
11. Don't walk... RUN. You seriously spend like eight hours (feels like more the first 4 days) sitting in a classroom. My knees were KILLING me from sitting like a statue. When you have exercise time... Use it! Running saves lives! Dad, you must be proud!
12. When you can, spend your exercise time out in the field! It's the nicest change of scenery and there is grass! I would recommend playing volleyball in the sand pit.
13. BE POSITIVE. There is such a difference when you have the best attitude about everything. The day will go by faster, you'll learn things easier, you'll love everyone around you, and it invites the spirit into everything you do.
14. Make best friends with your district and roomies because they're your family now.
15. All the sisters will want to know about your dating life before the mish so if you don't have one... Get one. Or just make one up like did/do.
15. You'll pick up the language I promise! I've only been here about a week and I'm speaking more fluently than I ever did with 2 1/2 years of Spanish in school.
16. If you think you won't see anyone you know here... Think again! You'll run into friends from school, sports, efy, the grocery store, everywhere!
17. Join choir! There is something really special about all the missionaries singing in unison... Angels I tell you, Angels.
18. You'll be teaching the second day you're here in the language you're learning... Just prepare, use what you know, understand the first time will in the words of Hermana Ahlmer, "a trainwreck" but it will get SOOO much better after that I promise!
19. If you are like me and every (I'm not the only one dad!) sister missionary in my district and have exceeded the 50 pound limit for the bags you're checking... It's cheaper to pay for a third suitcase rather than the fee for exceeding the limit. They sell suitcases here that are 40% off for missionaries!
20. Don't worry about the showers. They're not gross. And feel free to join into song if the person in the shower next to you is singing.
21. You will go to bed every night wide awake with either hymns or words from your language stuck in your head... I still have "Lead Kindly Light" stuck in mine since 8 last night. The other night I kept repeating "Orara?" and "Corelador es por su blusa" as I tried to sleep. Just embrace it.
22. There are extra blankets in your residence hall if you need one! (Mom, I wouldn't mind one from home though...) I would recommend using 5. It's cold in the buildings here!
23. Two words... DRY SHAMPOO. You're welcome.
24. There's this thing called "DEAR ELDER" here at the MTC where you can send letters to your missionary any day you want and they can read it that day... Hermana Ahlmer has gotten 5... another sister got 4... I'm still waiting for mine *clears throat*
25. Don't worry! You are doing an amazing work! I can't accurately describe the joy you feel from being a missionary. You would have to be one to understand, but there is just so much joy wherever you go. Heavenly Father trusts you, and all what is asked of you is to trust him.
Well that's all for now,
The Church is True
The Book of Mormon is blue
And I Love You!
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