My dearest friends and family,
Here I am! I've officially survived the first 168 hours of my mission! Most of you have already been through this wonderful place but Imma tell you about it anyway.
So that first day, June 17 (it feels so long ago...), was probably the craziest day of my life. Mom and Dad, after you dropped me off and Dad shouted "Aloha!" I went into hyper-focus mode. My host and I weaved through the entire campus getting papers and information (from what felt like every corner of the MTC). I got my name tag very first (it came with a pretty snazzy lookin' orange sticker too ). We dropped my stuff off at my residence and we went to a classroom where my escort dropped me off and I met my companion and the district.
To make the rest of this long story short:
My companion is Elder Durfee (he is awesome, his hair is super curly like Jacob's, and he is very good about reminding me to take my medication.
I was made District Leader on Thursday night at our first Branch meeting.
The elders and sisters in our district (24-A) are ALL wonderful people.
Our teachers Sister Spence and Brother Crosby are both amazing.
We've already taught three lessons to "TRC" investigators. That means they act like they're not members, but the could be.
Of the eleven other missionaries in our district, they come from Sandpoint, ID, Cliff, NM, Greenbelt, MD, Chicago, IL, and Sacramento, CA, Michigan, Indiana, and Utah.
I love this place so much. It's easily the greatest place I've ever been in my life. I've heard more languages here than I knew existed, and I've met people from so many places and cultures. One sister in our district is 25% Iranian. Isn't that so cool???
Oh, also, one of our assistant teachers (Brother Farrales) who helps Bro. Crosby served with Christian Johnston, so, Mom, you should tell Christian.
Thanks for the letters, packages and DearElders (http://www.dearelder.com/). By the way, I just got nine letters today (broke the district record), but I haven't had a chance to read them yet.Oh, also, tell Grandma Shelton and Grandma Johnston I loved their cookies and letter respectively, and that I'll be writing back today.
I have a whole bunch of pictures, but I'm unable to upload right now. It'll have to wait until next time. This is my only P-day in the MTC so I won't be able to email again until I get to Hawaii. June 29, Delta Flight 1105, SLC to HNL, take-off is ~12:00.
Until then,
ALOHA!
I love you all.
-Elder Shelton
Here I am! I've officially survived the first 168 hours of my mission! Most of you have already been through this wonderful place but Imma tell you about it anyway.
So that first day, June 17 (it feels so long ago...), was probably the craziest day of my life. Mom and Dad, after you dropped me off and Dad shouted "Aloha!" I went into hyper-focus mode. My host and I weaved through the entire campus getting papers and information (from what felt like every corner of the MTC). I got my name tag very first (it came with a pretty snazzy lookin' orange sticker too ). We dropped my stuff off at my residence and we went to a classroom where my escort dropped me off and I met my companion and the district.
To make the rest of this long story short:
My companion is Elder Durfee (he is awesome, his hair is super curly like Jacob's, and he is very good about reminding me to take my medication.
I was made District Leader on Thursday night at our first Branch meeting.
The elders and sisters in our district (24-A) are ALL wonderful people.
Our teachers Sister Spence and Brother Crosby are both amazing.
We've already taught three lessons to "TRC" investigators. That means they act like they're not members, but the could be.
Of the eleven other missionaries in our district, they come from Sandpoint, ID, Cliff, NM, Greenbelt, MD, Chicago, IL, and Sacramento, CA, Michigan, Indiana, and Utah.
I love this place so much. It's easily the greatest place I've ever been in my life. I've heard more languages here than I knew existed, and I've met people from so many places and cultures. One sister in our district is 25% Iranian. Isn't that so cool???
Oh, also, one of our assistant teachers (Brother Farrales) who helps Bro. Crosby served with Christian Johnston, so, Mom, you should tell Christian.
Thanks for the letters, packages and DearElders (http://www.dearelder.com/). By the way, I just got nine letters today (broke the district record), but I haven't had a chance to read them yet.Oh, also, tell Grandma Shelton and Grandma Johnston I loved their cookies and letter respectively, and that I'll be writing back today.
I have a whole bunch of pictures, but I'm unable to upload right now. It'll have to wait until next time. This is my only P-day in the MTC so I won't be able to email again until I get to Hawaii. June 29, Delta Flight 1105, SLC to HNL, take-off is ~12:00.
Until then,
ALOHA!
I love you all.
-Elder Shelton