MTC 1

Here is the first e-mail from Elder Davis in the MTC!!!

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas in the MTC has been an awesome experience. It’s hard to be away from family today, but I couldn't think of a second best place to spend Christmas. It is very cold here in Utah and I think this is my first white Christmas ever! Earlier this morning all of the missionaries in the MTC 1,031 of us gathered together and had a Christmas devotional. Russell M. Nelson of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to us and gave a great Christmas message. This Christmas has been special because I have been more centered on Christ with my thoughts, actions, etc. than any other Christmas. I hope all of you take the time to remember what this special day, and this special time of year is all about. I'm so thankful for Jesus Christ, His birth which we celebrate today, His life, and His atonement. 

 

On a different note, today is my 6th day in the MTC. In some ways it feels like I've been here for years, and in some ways it feels like I just barely got here. In the MTC, it is commonly said "Weeks feel like days, and days feel like weeks." For those of you who aren't familiar with what goes on in the MTC, I can explain it to you very simply. We wake up at 6:30 (Every morning including weekends and Christmas), Study, eat Breakfast, Study, eat lunch, study eat dinner, study, and then go to bed at 10:30 (Every single day). It is quite a repetitive pattern, yet every day is exciting and new. I have already learned and grown so much.

My district is made up of nine different missionaries; 3 sister missionaries and 6 elders. 4 of the elders (including me and my companion are going to Paris, France) and the other 5 missionaries are going to Montreal, Canada. We are all studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ together and learning French together.

My companion is Elder Allan Williams. He is from Orem, Utah and will turn 20 in January. He is Native American, so I'm jealous of his tan skin. He plays guitar, played football in high school, loves cars, loves the gospel and is a great missionary.

I found out the other day that the current MTC President (President Brown) is going to be released next month which means I will have 4 different mission presidents over the course of my mission (President Brown, the New MTC mission President, President Poznanski who is in France right now, then 6 months before I come home the Paris France mission will get a new mission president).

 
I said it before, but I'll say it again. The MTC is awesome. It’s all decorated for Christmas and there is snow everywhere which is cool. Another cool thing is missionaries will often just randomly break into song in different languages singing Christmas Hymns. That probably sounds pretty strange to some of you, but it’s really cool. I've heard Several Christmas Hymns and "Merry Christmas" in more languages than I can count. The true spirit of Christmas is truly here.

Oh, we found out that in a few weeks we (The Paris France missionaries) are going to be flying to San Francisco to visit the French Embassy. We have to go there to pick up our visas. From what it sounds like we leave early in the morning and fly back the same day. It'll be a quick visit but the missionaries who already made the trip said it’s awesome and that I'll get to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

As far as learning French, I'm really learning fast! I came into the MTC with a pretty good foundation and I’m really starting to get the hang of it. Our teachers and instructors have either grown up in France or went to France on their missions. When they teach they speak ONLY French. They never speak English to us. On Thursday, elder Williams and I are going to have an SYL day (Speak your language day) where we go the entire day without speaking a word of English. Only French!

Oh, before I came out on my mission I thought my P-Day would be on Monday.... But it turns out I was wrong, MY P-Day (Preparation Day) is on Tuesdays and will be until I leave the MTC. Right now it looks like I'll be in the MTC for 9.5 weeks (until February 19th). That’s when I fly to Paris.

Sorry that my email is pretty thrown together and poorly written. We only have access to email for 30 minutes a week so I'm typing very fast!!

Thank you all so much for the letters, cards, packages, prayers, etc. I am very thankful and will do my best to respond to all of them. The only time to really respond to letters though is on Tuesdays.

Oh, the best way to contact me is to use dearelder.com (I think the link to this website is on my blog somewhere); ask my family if you need help using it. I get dear elder letters every day so that’s much better than email because I can only use that 30 minutes a week.

Oh on Sunday we had Church pretty much 100% in French. It was super cool because I actually understood a lot of it!!

Anyways... my 30 minutes is just about up so I have to go! I love all of you, cherish being with your families for Christmas, and God bless!!

Love,

Elder Davis

Here are some pictures that he sent along with the email:

 #1 Elder Salmon on the far left, is companions with Elder Anderson, grew up in Utah, loves hunting.... Elder Anderson (on the right of Elder Salmon, his personality reminds me of David Jorgenson, comes from a family of 11, great guy, awesome missionary), Me, Elder Williams my companion. We are all going to Paris. Elder Anderson and Elder Salmon have been in the MTC since November. I love them all!

#2 Me and Elder Williams studying some French in class

 #3 Look mom, I'm doing laundry! (12/25/2012) I have never been so excited to do laundry on Christmas morning at 7 am! I was running out of clothes.

#4 Me in classroom with Elder Platt (Left) and Elder Stoker (Right) they are the other two elders going to France in my district. They are both from Utah

 #5 Me with my district. 9 missionaries. The 5 on the left are going to Montreal Canada; the 4 on the right are going to Paris. From left to right: Elder Cowling from Idaho, Elder Ruby from Colorado, Sister Pocheco (Convert from AZ, went to ASU), Sister Vernin-Delgado convert, is a Spanish/English/French speaking missionary, Sister blousil from Pennsylvania, Elder Stoker, Elder Platt, Elder Williams, Me.  

#6 On Sundays we get to walk around the Provo temple.

 #7 The district in front of the temple.

 #8 Today (Christmas) we did a secret Santa. This is me with Elder Cowling and the MTC water bottle I got him for Christmas. He is a great missionary. We were able to get on the computer for a little longer than normal today because it’s our P-day and Christmas. Normally I won’t be able to spend this much time on the computer.

 

Merry Christmas!! :)