I know it's only been a week but it seems as if I have been here for years already. It seriously seems like a whole different world and whole different life from just a week ago. I have to remind myself that I'm in Provo all the time and that I'm only a hundred yards away from where I lived for the last two months. The only times I really remember where I am is when I see Y mountain or hear the bell tower! Other than that, I could be in a different country! And there's enough languages being spoken here that could second that!
The MTC is awesome. It was a little difficult to adjust to the time schedule of waking up at 6:30 every day and going to bed at 10:30. It's a little bit different from college..... But once I'm going, it's wonderful. I'm learning amazing new things about stuff I thought I already knew. I now know more than I knew I knew about what I know and knew or even knew I know, you know? It's quite the amazing experience. I'm honestly really glad I'm not going to be here for five weeks because if I wasn't going to be speaking a different language, which I'm not, any longer than 12 days would be too long. I'm getting more and more excited to head out every day.
I have two companions instead of just one, which is a little unusual. They're Elder Brown and Elder Cribbs. Elder Brown is from California, does track and field, and loves doing funny voices. He's awesome and probably the one I'm closest to here. He's super strong in the gospel and has a powerful testimony. He bore his testimony for the first time ever a few days ago and it was extremely strong and moving. He really knows why he's here and dives into everything. Elder Cribbs is from Texas and CONSTANTLY reminds us of it. He played football at his highschool and is super proud of his state and school. He's hilarious and always keeps us smiling. He's got a little bit of ADHD though, and it takes both Elder Brown and I to keep him focused. If we don't, he bounces off the walls for hours. You know, he actually reminds me of a first mate on a pirate ship. He's got that "Smee" feel to him. The other Elders in our district are Elder Riley (who looks a lot like my cousin Spencer) and Elder Cook. Both great guys and together we seriously could all be a pirate crew with Captain Brown and first mate Cribbs! (I call Crow's nest, Elder Riley would man the cannons and of course, Elder Cook would cook.) We have a wonderful time together. They love fun and love the work that they're doing. I got called to be our District Leader and so I get to meet with them and see them a little bit like the Lord does. They are wonderful missionaries and all are going to Vegas too. We also have 6 Sister missionaries in our district who are all serving in Atlanta Georgia. They're so awesome and fit right in. We've learned a ton from them. I'm so blessed to serve with them and serve them as we all adjust to missionary life. They're going to change the world, I can feel it.
The days are super long, but the week flew by. All the missionaries that have been here longer agree. They say the day takes forever to get over, but the week is gone before you know it. Kinda funny how that works. I could not keep up with the spiritual and mental strain if it weren't for the Lord. I've been relying on his strength to keep me going and He always helps me. A normal day goes like this:
Wake up, get ready, study for about two hours personally, breakfast, come back and add a little bit of extra study, class for 3 hours, lunch, more class for another 3 hours, practice teaching, dinner, interviews/more study, devotionals or meetings, then an hour to prepare for the next day and bed. Yeah, it's as exhausting as it sounds. The thing that best helps me is exercise and writing in my journal. It helps me relax. I've come to really appreciate exercise and look forward to it as we have gym time throughout the week.
The Lord is real. I'm learning every day just how much He really cares about each and every one of us. He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. He offers us the chance to come to Him every day. I invite you all to take it. Learn of Him and He truly can help you in every aspect of you life. I can promise that if you take the time to get to know Him, you will know that He knows you and loves you and wants to bless you with everything you need. I can promise that as one of His special servants sent out to tell people that.
Keep writing me, it makes my day so much brighter. I miss and love you all and pray for you all the time. Hurrah for Israel!!!!
Love,
Elder Norton
