First letter!

( The "please keep Dear Elders coming!!!" near the bottom refers to this service.  See details to the right for his info.)

Dear Mom,

There is a time on the top right hand corner of my screen, counting down from 30 minutes, when it reaches zero I wont be able to email again til next week. So, that is making me a little stressed!

I don't know exactly where to start, last week feels like a year ago, but it also feels like yesterday.

When I left, I was still actually in full on denial. When I got to the MTC, it was a little different, but I still didn't feel like it was really happening. The closest feeling I know is one you probably aren't familiar with. Parkour isn't supposed to be dangerous, because you only attempt that which you have prepared for. Nevertheless, no amount of preparation will make the jump not scary. You still stand there for awhile, assessing how ready you are, calculating the risk, etc. But then there comes a point when you just jump. But the way it feels at least, you don't hit the ground right away. First you fall for awhile, and there are no thoughts whatsoever, you let your body and your muscle memory take over. After falling for however long, you hit the ground, and then you find out what you go yourself in to.

I got here and I was still falling. We did a lot that night, hopefully I journaled some of it. I met my companion E..W. and the rest of my district. (more on them later) Basically, after a good, but long day, I went to bed, and woke up, but I still didn't feel like a missionary. Day 2 (or my first full day, however you want to look at it) was a really busy, but great day. I basically figured I'd just keep following the Elder in front of me, and try and get through this whole MTC thing. I didn't feel the least bit homesick or anything, because I didn't really know I was gone... haha. Anyway, So that night we met with our district and the branch president came, we had a little meeting where we talked about leadership and stuff. It was fine, and then he called me up and asked me to go into the other room with him. So I did. He said Elder Lonas, Would you accept the call to serve as District Leader?

And then I hit the ground.

I accepted of course, and since that moment I've been a missionary in the MTC. Right after that, I had a really cool experience. We walked back to the classroom, and he told everyone I was their DL etc, but as soon as I walked into the room and looked at the Elders in my district, I felt such love towards all of them. I liked them before, but now I loved them. I believe Heavenly Father gives us a tiny glimpse of the love he has for the people over which we have stewardship.

I am running out of time fast, I want to tell you so much more. I feel this way every night I journal (I haven't missed a night yet!) Lights out always comes way before I'm ready to stop writing.

My companion is E.W. and we are different! To give you a really general idea of what he is like... I don't know, but maybe the closest I can think of is L.   He looks similar, tall, glasses, very intelligent, and speaks similarly.  We have some great similarities, we both know why we're here and want to serve the Lord, we both played Ultimate and Parkour (now we both play volleyball too! He got me into it our first day at Gym. I LOVE it!!!!! I never thought I'd enjoy volleyball, but I definitely do, I look forward to it everyday) I think E.W. is a really great guy. The other night he taught me how to shine shoes. He comes from a far more humble background than I do.

We also have very different ways of doing things and thinking about things, so that can cause contention at times, but I really try my best. I won't write anything negative in here for the time being, nor in my journal, because I really want to only focus on all of his positive attributes!

I want to tell you all about every Elder in my district, every spiritual experience I've had, messages for you to give to everyone back home and stuff, but I just don't have the time for that.

Our first lesson went pretty rough, and I was discouraged. (I didn't have the tiniest grasp on how realistic and effective roleplay could be. The spirit can be there just like a real lesson)  I thought maybe E.W. and I wouldn't be able to teach together effectively, especially when I saw how well our teachers taught, and how well the Missionaries who have been here a little bit longer could teach. Our second one (it was on Friday, so just one day after our first one on Thursday) was worlds different. The learning curve here is absolutely unbelievable. When I compare the lessons we taught yesterday, both in our Progressive Investigator scenarios and in the TRC, with myself a week ago, it is just crazy. Shoot, running low on time. Just know that I am progressing so much! I still have so much to learn, but I already can't wait to get in the Field.

I absolutely love being a Missionary. I love the MTC. Its hard, the schedule is strict and busy, sometimes things are frustrating and hard, but I love this place.


I love you all. I love you all so much.  Please share this with everyone in the family, I have to go right now, please keep Dear Elders coming!!!! we check once a day. I love you all sooooo much, bye!!

Elder Lonas