MTC Week One

So I'm in the MTC... And stuff.... I'm not exactly sure what to say because I haven't had any time to think. We jump from one class to the next and when we're not doing classes we're trying to make flash cards, learn how to pray, or bear our testimony.

Alright. So first day of class 'n' stuff:

They brought all of us into a big (I MEAN BIG) room with all the new Chorotachi and Shimaitachi (Elders and sisters) and told us we were on a mission. I fell out of my seat! No, sarcasm. They welcomed us all. I met my dorio (companion) in my first class and it was like- "Hey... I'm supposed to love you 'n' stuff." I didn't say aloud, but it was a prevalent thought. But yep. My dorio is an excellent young man. I was almost too prepared for him to be a disrespectful and rebellious choro that wanted to run away from me. But Neerp! He's an excellent man. He's a lot like me, but not really at all. He's like me in the fact that he wants to accomplish the Lord's will and he's willing to work hard. We both get distracted easily, but we're working on that. His name (which I should've already said) is Anderson Choro. He reminds me a bunch of Josh Fiso. At least his personality. But he's an excellent young man that takes suggestions with ease and gives them as well. I've had some times where I've had to breath hard and just tell myself that we don't have to do things my way, and that there's nothing wrong with walking a different way into the lunch room than I would think was best, etc. But HE'S REALLY RIGHTEOUSLY AMAZING!!! In all seriousness though, I love my dorio.

We have an excellent district as well. Everyone is willing to work hard, and it's not like high school at all. I thought people would make fun of the weaker and push them down, etc, but all that I see happening is people lifting each other up. "You can do it!" or "That's a really good idea, Elder!" Which kinda made me think everyone was being sarcastic and I was afraid, but they really mean it. Everyone is so amazing here and I love it so much! Some Elders are struggling, but everyone is there to support them. The great thing about a mission right now is: everyone wants to be here. It's an excellent thing. In classes the Senseitachi respect the Chorotachi and seriously accept everything they say. They respect the title to Choro and Shimai, and are willing to be taught by them.

So I'm here for nine weeks... Phechw. (That's a sigh with a smile at the end.) We're here the longest of all the Elders. I like it here, but I really want to go preach the gospel to the nihonjin.

So then!!! Nihongo class!

We're all sitting down not exactly sure what to do when a slightly older young man comes in and starts waving his hands and speaking nihongo at us. He didn't speak any eigo (English) at all! I just sweated though the class and tried to write things down, but it's getting easier. We also taught an 'investa-gator' (they're like alligators, but scarier... somimasen. I'm tired.) only in nihongo. We prayed from the book, testified from the book, read scriptures from the book, and frantically flipped though the dictionary every time he asked a question. It was.... rocky. But we're working on it.

I love the Lord so very much, and He has consistently picked me up every time I've fallen down.

But seriously guys, ( we're not allowed to call each other 'guys' here. Only chorotachi and shimatachi (elders and sisters) which is hard) the Lord exists. Take advantage of His marvelous Atonement and apply it in your lives. (Cool scripture thing Watanabi Choro was telling me: the Holy Ghost is the means of the Atonement's cleansing. Correct me if I'm wrong)

So missions...

Sensei was teaching us (like Senseitachi do) and Day Choro raised his hand.

"Sensei, I've seriously been wondering, does it get any easier."

Almost instantly Sensei replied: "No it does not. If it does, you're doing something wrong."

Yep. So it's hard, but it's a good hard. (Like when you run.) But the Lord will pick me up though all of this. I am His chosen servant that the prophet has called to represent me.

WHOA!!!! An Elder (who I don't know) just walked in and told us that the investigator that he was teaching was an actual investigator and he committed her to be baptized. It turned out the sister (investigator) was working for the Elder's father. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!@#$!@#$!!!! Whoa that just turned blue. Uh, I don't know if the Church is true because of that, but because I have felt it burn in my soul.

One last thing: It is righteous-ing me out (we can't use slang) that the rules aren't enforced. If we want to stay up late: we do. If we want to leave the MTC: we do. If we want to walk away from our companion: we can. If we want to use the phone to call home: yep we could do that too. Now, of course we don't do any of those things. But I was just amazed that there wasn't some leader staring over our shoulder at the computer, or someone checking on us at night. Obedience is a choice, and I've made the choice to be obedient. A mission is a choice and sometimes it's harder to work when someone isn't looking over your shoulder, but I've learned, and still am learning, how to work my hardest to be able to bring souls into the fold of God. If you're sitting and doing nothing, it's a wasted moment- and an investigator might suffer because of that. The Lord watches us and we'll be accountable unto him.

Well speaking of such, I've got to go.

I've been called to play the piano in Japanese sacrament. ALL IN JAPANESE!!!!

The shower water is hot, the drinking water is cold, and the Lord loves us all. What more could I ask for?

Love, Wheelwright