MTC Provo Week 2

Selections...

The MTC is amazing. I'm growing so much. It's good to be here, and I really don't feel ready to fly to Lima next week. We already have our flight plans and our room check-outs so that's exciting. We don't find out whether we have our visa's until later this week. A ton of Elders/Sisters going to Mexico are still delayed because of them, but I heard Peru is good with them. If all goes well we'll be in Lima next week by Thursday. I think we get in over there at 4:15 am so we'll probably be a little weary from our flight :)

If I could email longer I'd tell all about everything that I'm doing here. It feels like I'm learning something new even when I sleep.

Remember, if you send me a letter I'll send one back, if time permits. I miss all of you very much.

First Letter

This was an exciting day. We received the first letter from Elder Layton since he began his missionary service. Here is an extract. Generally speaking, from now on his comments will be italicized.

Basically the MTC is just GREAT. When Elder Simspon said he studied 10 hours a day it was probably an understatement. We do a lot of it here. We figured it out that we study an average of 52 1/2 hours (not including meetings). I miss everyone but it doesn't really sink in until I'm staring at my ceiling at night. I love the gospel, and I'm still figuring lots of things out but I've worked way hard to be as obedient as possible. My companion's a handful :) He's way strong in the gospel, and has a huge testimony. La Iglesia de Los Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias es verdadera. Creo en el espiritu y la restoracion del evengelio. (I'm not sure if any of that was right) Spanish seems to be coming way fast though.

Email time is limited and he had to take time to set up his email this week. So this first letter was short, but believe it...the letter was very, very sweet.

Greenest Greenies in the Field

On June 25th, 2008, our family entered into a chapel near the MTC, listened to a short program, and said goodbye to Elder Layton for the next two years. There were many emotions going through all of our heads and hearts, but the two that dominated were seemingly diametrically opposed to one another. We were excited for Elder Layton to embark on this journey, but we were also very sad to let him go.

On the other hand, Elder Layton seemed to be all smiles. While his sister and littlest brother hung on and on, he seemed to have only one thing on his mind...to get on with it all. Soon enough, he was walking to his left and we to our right out opposite doors. As we left the building, we were able to catch one final glimpse of Elder Layton along with the other new missionaries boarding the bus that would take them to the Provo MTC. So, this call to serve has officially begun.

The name tag looks good, doesn't it? Okay, so, he's got a dork dot. But you're only this green once.

The family just to the rear and over his right shoulder was bringing their son to the MTC to begin his mission the same day and going to the same mission as Elder Layton.