The MTC is crazy already and they are throwing this language down our throats. It is very hard and we are all struggling, a few Elders are doing pretty well in it but it is very tough.
When I walked into the MTC, it was an awesome feeling and there were so many people. All of the people that have been in the MTC for quite a while kept greeting us by saying, "Welcome to the MTC!" so it was cool knowing that I was welcomed there. After getting our books and everything, I went up to my room and dropped my stuff off.
My escort then took me down to the classroom where I met my district.
There are eight elders in my district and cuatro hermañas (four sisters). I instantly connected to two of the Elders, Elder Leich and Elder Knudson. I then met my companion and he is pretty shy and soft spoken, but if any of you guys know me, I can change that real quick! His name is Elder MC Adams, he is from Star Valley, Wyoming. He is a flipping giant though, he is 6 ft. 7... I mean, I am kind of short for my age but standing next to him makes me feel like one of the seven dwarfs from Snow White.
My room has four elders in it and we are so good for each other because we all think one another is funny and it makes for a good time. The first night, we were all up until about 1AM talking about ourselves and our lives before our mission. They were all shocked that I worked at In N Out because they all worked at retail stores where they just messed around in the back, so I was kind of jealous of them haha.. It was a great time and I made memories already on the first night!
The next day we went to our classes and learned more Spanish and we actually learned the Missionary Purpose which is to Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Now I have to learn it in Spanish and I do not know what I am going to do because I am what Spanish people call, a gringo. After class, we went to lunch and the food was not as bad as I thought. I mean, partially because every day, I kind of lower my expectations just a little bit and I am like, "Oh! This is not bad at all!"
After more class and studying, we had the opportunity to meet our Branch President and he is an awesome guy! Of course he looks at me and says, Elder Sorenson, "Can you bear your testimony for everyone in your district?" so that happened.
Yesterday was just full of stress and laughter. Elder McAdams and I had to prepare a lesson en español, and teach an investigator later that night, so I was organized and prepared my part of the lesson and introduction and thought I was ready. So all day, we were preparing to speak to him and going over the lines in Spanish, we met with him at around 6 and as soon as we walked in the room, my companion goes, "Oh shoot! I forgot the scriptures and my part of the lesson." So if that doesn't explain how the lesson went, I do not know what will. I tried improvising and saying stuff in Spanglish, but it was so hard and my companion was laughing the entire time. I was a bit frustrated but hey, its okay! So we then all went to our dorms and I wanted to get to know the elders in the other room, so I sat in their room with them and we talked and told each other about what we want our careers to be and that stuff. Our district struggles with calling each other, "Dude" a lot. I think it is because we have already made a huge bond with each other. But as Elders, we are not supposed to call each other that. So we made up a game where, if someone says the word dude in their sentence, they have to eat a Kit Kat. I know it does not sound like a punishment but after saying it 9 or 10 times, that is A LOT of Kit Kats! One elder, Elder Hirschi, struggles with this a lot and I kept a tally and in one night, he ended up eating 15 or 16 mini Kit Kat bars. At about one in the morning, I woke up to the sound of a liquid going in the trash can, so yes...he threw up last night. So the point of this story is, if you want to mail me something, please include a bag of Kit Kats for the sanctity of us becoming better Elders!!!
I am having a lot of fun and learning so much every day. I found out when choir practices are and so I am going to do that and I got every single person in my district to join too, so I am happy that I have some sort of an impact on them. I hope I can touch each one of their lives and make them realize how great of people they are. Te amo mucho and I will see you guys soon!
Love Always,
Elder Sorenson
Sounds like a fantastic start! Good luck to Elder Sorenson in the weeks to come!
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