Nov. 1, 2010 - 1st Letter from MTC

Area: Mission Training Center, Provo, Utah

Companion: Elder Gregerson (Woods Cross, Utah)

Roommates: Elder Caprio (Sandy, Utah) & Elder Wilson (Watertown, NY)

Language: Tagalog

Hey everyone! Today is Monday which is my P day and it is good to finally get to write home! I got a letter from Brittney and it was good to hear from her! Well it has been pretty good so far. Not going to lie, I was pretty homesick the first couple days but it has gotten better with time.

My companion’s name is Elder Gregersen and he is from Woods Cross, Utah. Also in my room is Elder Caprio from Sandy, Utah and Elder Wilson from Watertown, NY. My companion likes other things than I do. He likes to sing and do choir and stuff. He also likes Japanese comics and stuff like that. The Elder next door (Elder Peterson) is who I try to spend a lot of time with. He played football at Bingham. My teachers are awesome. Their names are Brother Slade and Sister Maiello(my-yellow.) My Tagalog is also coming along better than I anticipated. We have already learned how to do basic prayers and also bear testimonies. We probably hack our testimonies but who knows haha. The senior companions that have been here for a few weeks are really cool. Elder Green is from New Zealand, and Elder Christensen (yes, same last name!) is from Firth, Idaho. We also have a lot of Samoans that are really loud but pretty funny most of the time.

So far the food has been really good. Everyone says they get sick of it but it has been good to me, although I am not very picky!

Yesterday was Sunday and we had a really good day. We walked to the temple and hung out there for a couple hours taking photos and playing around. Then we had sacrament and priesthood meetings. Afterwards we went to a fireside. Right after the fireside we watched a movie called "Legacy" about the pioneers and Joseph Smith.

I have seen Mike Sharp, Brock Liston and Kaden Leavitt quite a bit. It’s good to have friends around to see every now and then. Since yesterday was Halloween we had a little "trick or treat" thing in our room where people would come and eat candy, haha, it was pretty fun. Gym is a good break from everything. We get it for an hour every day. We play basketball and volleyball and it is sweet. We also watched Elder Holland's talks from some conferences and he is a stud! There is a store here with stuff like pens, some food, and hygiene stuff so you don’t really need to worry, Mom.

How is everything going there? The weather has been nice here except the first day I got here it was snowing. There are some negative things about this place, like waking up at 6:15 every morning. Oh boy it’s not that sweet! I am sure glad we did mission prep because I am ahead of most the people here. It is pretty weird how everyone is so happy and loves you, plus they all call you Elder which is strange, haha.

All I can really think about that I need are a few more garments because there is no store here and with gym daily I dirty more than I have, I would also like some more photos of our family and stuff because mine didn't turn out very well. You could always send me some jerky too cuz it’s a hot commodity. Also send me that camera memory card that I accidentally left on the kitchen counter, and then I will send you my memory card. You should have Macy and Breck give me there address because it would be easier to write them and read if it was a letter cuz I am rushed on time at the computer. That’s why there are probably typos in this letter that I haven't noticed. I hope everything is going well back home and Dre is still alive :)

Love you guys like crazy!

Ingat (goodbye)

nagpapasalamat po namin para sa pamilya ako (I am so thankful for my family!)

PS...I have spent a little more money than expected :)

Love You