Hello All!
I've made it through my first week
here at the MTC. All is well and I'm doing great. So much has happened
and it has been a little crazy. But I'll start from the beginning.
I left Houston on Monday in the afternoon, bid my
mother and sisters goodbye at the airport (my younger brothers had left
for scout camp the previous Saturday) and got on a plane to Utah. The
flight was uneventful. I arrived in Salt Lake that evening around 7:30
and was picked up by my aunt Janet and uncle Bart. I stayed with them
Monday night. While I was there it was so nice to get to sit and talk
with them as well as my grandma, uncle Allen, and aunt Marlene. I very
much enjoyed that time with my extended family. The next day we were
able to go to the Salt Lake temple in the middle of the day. It was a
great experience. That afternoon I got my stuff together and went to
David and Karee. It is always great to spend time with their family,
especially the younger cousins. They showed me their impressive garden
in their backyard. Everything there was great and I was glad to have
that time with my family before I was to report the following day.
Later that evening they drove me into Provo where I met
up with Blake Scoresby. He served his mission in Houston and just got
home a couple of months earlier. While he was in Houston I got to spend
some time going out and working with him. It was good to see him again
and talk.
As a quick side note, I have only 30 minutes a week to email, so I'll pick up the pace a little now and get to the MTC parts.
So
I arrived at the MTC around 11:30 last Wednesday. I must say, the first
couple of days were so long. After the second day I could not believe
it had been only a day and a half. So the first day we got moving
quickly. I met my companion, Elder Payne from northern Utah and my
roommates, Elder Fortney and Elder Mills. All of us are headed to
Guadalajara, so it was neat to be in the same room and start getting to
know each other.
Everything moved along, though slowly, and we made it
to Tuesday night. That night we had a meeting with the Branch
Presidency, the men called to be our ecclesiastical leaders while we are
in the MTC. They make sure we are doing all right and serve in a
similar role as bishop and his counselors. That evening they interviewed
each of us to see how we are doing. After the interviews they came back
in and made some assignments. Each companionship has a junior companion
and a senior companion. I was assigned as junior companion. Then they
extended the call for me to serve as the district leader. As district
leader I would be responsible for the 10 Elders in our district. I had
to make sure we followed the schedule, made and stuck with goals, and
look out for the needs of each missionary. It was a humbling call. And
over the next couple of days I would grow and learn a lot as I tried to
help not just myself, but 9 other 19 year old young men adjust to a
lifestyle and schedule that is incredibly demanding.
Regarding the schedule. Each morning begins at 6:30 (my
companion and I always get up at 6 to get more done) and goes until
10:30. Each minute is scheduled. We are either in class, studying in
the classroom, eating, exercising, or teaching for 16 hours each day. It
has been a bit of an adjustment, even with the rigorous schedule I am
used to.
Okay, so with just a few minutes left I've got to get going here.
When
I arrived I was in the beginning level Spanish class. Most of the
Elders there knew little or no Spanish. It was a little stressful to be
there and know that I could understand and speak better than the others
because I was anxious to learn and wasn't really. But after about 4 days
I was settled in a little and had become a big help to the district. I
was able to answer questions and help with phrasing and pronunciation.
But then, I was called down by some leadership and asked to move
districts. They spoke with me on Saturday and set up an appointment to
speak with someone else the following Monday. So the weekend was
interesting knowing I might not be in the district for much longer.
So Monday came and sure enough, they asked me to move. I
am now in the advanced district. What that means is that instead of
being here in the MTC for 9 weeks, I am here for only 3. So by now, I
have only a week and a half left to go. It is crazy! I have a lot to
learn, but my Spanish is coming along nicely. I can understand well and
have been able to teach quite a bit. At this point I need to focus on
the different tenses and expanding my vocabulary. It is going well and I
make a conscious effort to stay positive and happy. That has served me
well.
The food here is great. It is as much as you can eat,
so I try to find a good balance. We exercise for an hour each day, and
that is a huge blessing.
Ah, about the leaving in a
week and a half. If my VISA doesn't come through in time, I may be
temporarily assigned to a mission in the states until it comes through.
When I was first moved into the advanced district, I
was in a trio with Elder Baker and Elder Jarvis. Elder Jarvis is also
going to Guadalajara. So I've been really lucky to meet a few folks
heading to the same mission. Just yesterday someone else was moved up to
the advanced district, so my new companion is Elder Rasmussen. We seem
very similar and I think we are going to get along very well.
Well I'm out of time, but let me make a few final comments.
I would love to hear from all of you! Anyone thinking of sending anything, I'll tell you honestly, more
than anything I would just love to get a letter telling me how you are
doing and how things are for you. Since I can't write very much in these
short 30 minutes, I will be able to hand write responses to the letters
I receive.
My time is up. I have more to share, but I'll await
your letters and questions and I look forward to telling you more about
all that is going on here. I know this is a rather general overview of
everything that has happened.
Know that I am well and very happy. It is crazy and hard, no doubt, but I am growing and learning a lot.
With love,
Elder Brighton
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