What is real life?

I've been in the MTC for 12 days. In some ways I feel like I just barely got here and it's weird that it's already been 12 days, but in a lot of other ways I feel like I was born again when I got to the MTC and I've been here for an eternity. Seriously though the MTC is a pretty chill place. There's nothing like it in the universe! I'm getting along swimmingly with my companion, Elder Duffin, and the other guys in my district. We had a "campfire" last night in our room. The older district that just left the MTC left us this set of orange Christmas lights and the tradition is to have "campfires" which is turning all the lights off and sitting around a garbage can with the orange lights in them. So we had a really deep talk and I seriously have so much respect for all these Elders! My whole life I've wondered if I any of my dad's language skills were passed on to me, and since I've never really tried to learn a language up until now I haven't known, but I'm pretty sure I do. Also, the gift of tongues and the Lord's help is very real. But I feel like I am grasping Chinese pretty dang well! It's so weird to write emails because I feel like I could talk about what's been going on for hours but then again nothing really sticks out! The MTC is a strange place. Sundays are the best days here because of temple walks and Sunday night choir/devotionals. Last night's devotional was incredible and it was one of the best talks I've heard, Steven Allen talked (if you know who that is(I didn't)) and we all sang "Come, Come, Ye Saints" and the spirit in the room was reeeaaaaallllll. I'll try to write down things that happen during the week to write in my emails or just bring my journal with me next time, but that's all I got for now! 

Elder Poon

​Me and my tongban (companion)

First Week at MTC.

Monday May 18, 2015

Ni men hao!!!

My first few days at the MTC have been quite interesting. So I'll be completely honest and say that the first two days sucked. However, after that I have started to really enjoy myself! My companion is a guy from Idaho Falls named Elder Duffin! I was seriously praying so hard before I left that I would have a cool companion because I feel like patience is probably one of the things I need to work on the most during my mission. My prayers were answered. Elder Duffin is way chill, but is a really spiritual guy and even though he's kinda weird we have somewhat similar senses of humor. We share a room with two other elders, Elder Porter and Elder Calder. Elder Porter is a really cool guy but is kinda annoying cause he thinks he should be the leader of everything, but I have the most in common with him then any of the other elders. Elder Calder is legit the strangest human being I've ever met, but I already love him cause he tells the most hilarious stories. They are hilarious because he builds so much suspense and makes himself sound so cool, but they end up being literally about nothing. Elder Duffin and I have made it a goal to not make fun of him so much but it is reeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyy easy to. Anyways, I have already felt the spirit more in the last few days than I have in any other combination of days and it's so awesome! Sundays are the dopest cause we get to go walk around the Provo temple and it is absolutely beautiful! I have also learned more Chinese than I would have ever thought was possible by this point! Sitting in class all day obviously kinda sucks but I'm already finding ways to focus better. Also, you know how people always say that after a while in the MTC, you'll find joy in the simplest of things? I feel like that is already happening to me. I wasn't too sure the first couple days, but I know now that I'll be able to make it through the MTC and even have a good time while I'm here! I've been pretty sick with a nasty cough which is not very fun but the first few days I drank a ton of orange juice cause that usually helps a sore throat. So on Friday I had a ton of people come up to me and tell me not to drink the orange juice or else you'll be praying as hard as you can in the bathroom. So that scared the crap out me (lol), not literally though, the orange juice had zero effect on me good or bad. Thank you Asian parents for the awesome metabolism! Anyways, because my illness has been pretty annoying, I had the opportunity to consecrate my oil and my companion with the help of the other elders in my room gave me a sick blessing. That was two nights ago and I think I'm starting to finally feel better. Well, that's all I got y'all. Love you and hope you guys have an awesome week and I'll write you next Monday!