Dear Family,
well here goes the first letter. dont expect spelling or grammar to make sense because I dont have a lot of time... 25 minutes after reading your emails. Please please PLEASE use DearElder.com instead of emails if you can. that way i can read them during the week and have more time to write back :)
The first week at the MTC has been great. After i was dropped off, I went and got my paperwork and nametag. Such a cool experience. after that we went to my residence and dropped my stuff off then headed off to my first class. my teacher sister blonquist was only speaking in cebuano... kinda crazy to try and understand but we're all getting the hang of it. we decided to be an SYL district so we only speak Cebuano to eachother. its hard!!! lots of dictionary looking up and stuff. It's all good. The Lord will bless and strengthen me as I follow the expectations. My companion is Elder Shields. He's from Salt Lake City and fresh out of high school. He's an amazing companion. We've made goals to always be on time or early and be the most professional that we can be at all times. after 4 days of cebuano classes I can now pray and testify in Cebuano. the Lord is clearly blessing us with the gift of tongues. We also are teaching an investigator named Cixto (sis-toe) We've taught him two lessons (all in Cebuano btw) that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that families can be together forever. We've committed him to read the book of mormon and pray about it.
Ive seen so many friends here at the MTC! literally dozens of people from college and elder clawson from flagstaff. It's so nice to see a familiar face! The food here is alright... its cafeteria food made in bulk with a little bit of love. I'm also trying to finish PMG and Jesus the Christ before i leave the MTC. Tough stuff but all things are possible through Christ.
Yesterday we got to participate in the Brigham City Temple Dedication. It was a very cool experience. We also went to a fireside by Brother Stephen Allen (sp?) He spoke about accountability and accepting the Lord's will over our own desires. Really inspiring message.
I love my district. My district leader is actually YouTube famous haha. Look up Mormon on Drugs wisdom teeth and you will find a 20 minute hilariously funny video of my DL getting his wisdom teeth out... his name is Elder Tylan Glines. We have 8 people in our district. Elder Johnson, Kingsbury, Shields and I are going to Tacloban as well as Sister Robinson. Elder Glines, Reimann and Sister Milligan are going to Cebu. Sister blonquist actually served in Tacloban so hopefully by week 8 or 9 we'll learn some waray waray.
I'll try and figure out how to send some pictures home next week cuz i'm almost out of time.
My testimony has been so incredibly strengthened in just the few short days here at the MTC. I know that God is our Loving Heavenly Father and that He knows us personally. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and that through him the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. i can't wait to get tot the Phillippines and share this message with the people!
It sounds like everybody is doing well! i'll be praying for you dad and thanks for your letter. it really means a lot to me. Rick you learn that accordian so we can jam when I get home and keep taking care of the car :) Alyssa i miss your teasing haha... never thought i would actually write that but i sure do miss you and love you. Oh and the reason Cam gets the iPad is because he was the first to send me a letter ;) i love all of you and can feel all your prayers and love and support.
Ayo-ayo
Elder McGuire
