Week 1 First Letter Home

March 22, 2011

To family, and friends.

Wednesday after drop off I was greeted at the MTC was shown where I would be living and then taken to my classroom where I met my companion Hermana Kitto (like Kiddo).
I was in class most of Wednesday until night time when I returned to my room. My class is my district. We have 6 elders and 4 sisters. All of us are going to Chile but in different areas. I am the only one going to Santiago the others are going to Concepcion, Osorno, and Rancagua. I have so much fun with my district in class. We are always laughing while learning it is a great environment. My teachers are Hermano Law and Hermana Verwer. Both of them served their missions in Chile so they are able to give us some information specific to Chileans. I have already learned so much Spanish. I just hope and can continue to learn and quickly too. I think the one thing that will hold me back from being able to teach is learning the language.

I share a room with my companion and 4 other sisters. We also have a lot of fun and unfortunately rarely get to sleep at 10:30. We're usually talking in our beds for a little bit afterwards. The few days last week were great but very stressful. As a new missionary there is so much to learn and orient yourself with in those first few days. When missionaries find out your new to the MTC they say just make it till Sunday and you'll be fine. It's so true Saturday was crazy I felt overwhelmed and pretty stressed but as it came to Sunday everything calmed down. Sunday's are awesome. There is such a wonderful spirit. There are so many meetings and in all of them the spirit is felt so enormously.

Today (Tuesday) is my P-day it is already my favorite day of the week. Not only that but on Tuesday nights there is a devotional with a general authority. I don't know who it is they usually don't tell you. Also today I got to eat lunch with the MTC president. Pres. Brown. he cam and sat down by my district and started talking to us and getting to know us. He scared me pretty bad though cause he asked us if we wanted to speak at mission conference on Sunday. I hesitatingly said sure I won't pass on a opportunity to speak, how could you say no to the MTC pres anyway. Luckily he was just joking and I don't have to talk.

I went to the temple today. I love that place and always loving the peace that is there. I have had so many great experiences here, one of which was the TRC yesterday. It's a place where you go to to teach investigator's most of which are volunteers. I was really nervous before. We had to introduce ourselves and get to know them in Spanish. Luckily I have a companion who's spanish is much better than mine. When we went back in to teach him the lesson I think he taught us more. We were teaching him and he was telling us about his experiences. He brought such a great spirit and I loved what he said.

I'm out of time. I'll write to you next week and mom look for an extensive letter coming in the mail.
I love and miss you all.
Hermana Howe.