Week # whatever week this is

I don't even know how long I have been in the MTC. I think it has been... This is the start of my 3rd week? The MTC distorts time so much! But, time has flown by. I mean, it's already Thanksgiving! Next time I blink, it will be Christmas! This week has probably been on of the best weeks of my life. On Monday, I was feeling kind of down and not well. I don't know what it was; probably just being away from home and not being able to do a whole lot. But, then, during our class at night, our regular teacher, Hermano Hardy, wasn't able to show up to teach us, so guess who did? GORDON! When I saw him, I jumped up out of my seat and gave him a hug. It was so good to see a familiar face that day. I know the Lord knew I was feeling down and that he knew what to do. After Gordon showed up, I was feeling so much better. He taught our class, and then at the end, he became our "investigator", like Ramiro. It was so strange teaching him, because I actually knew who he was. But, I feel the lesson went pretty well. And guess what?! I don't remember if I told you this or not (because time is distorted and I can't even remember what day it is most of the time), but "Ramiro", the guy were teaching, BECAME OUR TEACHER. I still have a hard time not calling him Ramiro in class. (His name is Hermano McKinney.)

Tuesday was super awesome. I love gym time. We get to play four square! I love four square. I love gym! But, on Tuesday nights, we have a devotional, and guess who showed up?! Elder D. Todd Christofferson! It was super awesome and he gave such a great talk. He talked about being missionaries. He served in Argentina. His mission president was Richard G. Scott! How crazy is that?! Elder Cristofferson said that we missionaries are companions with the Apostles in spreading the Gospel, and a bunch of other stuff.

Wednesday wasn't as awesome, but still awesome. Every day in the MTC is awesome. I found some guys (Elders now) that I went on Heritage Tours with! Elder Wood and Elder Arrington. They are both going Spanish speaking; Elder Wood to Fort Worth, Texas and Elder Arrington to Argentina. Elder Wood was in my district on Heritage Tours.

And today is Thursday: Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving! I wish I was with you for Thanksgiving, but I know I am supposed to be out here, serving my mission. Today was supposed to be our P-Day, but Thanksgiving takes priority. Trying to do laundry this morning was a MAD HOUSE. Everyone who had their P-Day today, and some who didn't, we are trying to do laundry. It was absolutely crazy!

Well, that's all I have to say for now. I am just about out of time. A half hour just isn't enough!

Love, Elder Hunt :)

First Week in the MTC

Yesterday marked my first week in the MTC! It's only been a week, but it feels like a month. The time in the MTC feels so distorted. If I hadn't been writing in my journal, I would have forgotten what day it is by now!

Once last Sunday was over, the days have just flown by. Like Grandpa said, the days are long, but the weeks are short.

Elder Simmons and I have been teaching an "investigator", Ramiro, and it's gotten a whole lot easier. Our first lesson was absolutely horrible (we forgot to commit him to anything!). Our lessons after that have been 1000 times better. Just yesterday we had a lesson about eternal families. At the end of the lesson, we asked if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. He told us he had already been baptized (he is Catholic). Elder Simmons and I had gone over this in the lesson before, but I guess he didn't understand what we had meant then. So, I tried explaining it to him, and I used words that I didn't even know I knew! I could feel the Spirit coming into the room, and I could explain some things that I could not do the day before. It was an awesome feeling. We then asked him if he would read El Libro De Mormon and he said he would, so that's good! We don't teach him again until sometime next week, so it will be a while before we can find out what he did.

My Spanish is coming along pretty well! It has really helped that I took a few years in school to give me a basic understanding. I only wish that I had studied Gospel principles in Spanish before coming, because then I would be a lot farther along in class. We have LOTS of class time haha.

Well, my time almost up! I hope to see more letters within the next week ;)

Love, Elder Hunt

First Letter

Today is sort of like a half P-Day, so I get the chance to do email now. It feels so weird to be on a computer! I haven't used any sort of technology for the past 4 days (which really feels like weeks). They say here in the MTC that the first three days feel like eight weeks and the last eight weeks feel like three days. So far, it's been true haha.

My companion's name is Elder Simmons. He is from North Carolina. He's a pretty awesome person, and we get along pretty well. There are ten people in our district: seis Elders y cuatro Hermanas. They are all pretty cool people and I am glad to have them in my District. The first two days I was here, the teacher spoke nothing but Spanish. I understood some of it, but it got pretty frustrating to understand him. And yesterday, we had to teach an "investigator" and that was extremely difficult! All in Spanish too! I knew some Spanish before coming into the MTC, but none of it was Gospel related at all. I wish I would have studied that before coming in here.

We had our first gym time yesterday and it was AWESOME. After just learning and speaking after the first few days, gym time was a HUGE relief. I played basketball with a few other Elders in my zone. I am not that good, but it was a lot of fun just to do something different. I also know why some people gain a lot of weight here in the MTC. The food is delicious (most of the time).

I really like it here at the MTC. The Spirit is really strong and the MTC is just a wonderful place. The people are super nice. I am having a hard time calling people Elder (last name here) though. I found someone from school here and I always want to call him by his first name when I see him! It takes some getting used to. Also, being called Elder Hunt is very strange... It makes me feel so... Old! I have talked to a lot of people here, and the past few days I have said "Elder Hunt", "Saratoga Springs, Utah" and "Carlsbad California" more times than I have ever said in my life! (Because everyone is always asking me my name, where and from and where I am going, in case you didn't get that.

That's all I have to say for now. My P-Day will be on Thursdays from now on, so look for my emails then. :)

Love, Elder Hunt

This is not goodbye, it's see you soon.

Taylor left today for the MTC. He was nervous and scared but I think he was really excited to go. I told him to take lots of pictures so hopefully he will obey and then I can post them here for all of our family and friends to share in his new adventure. I hope that I can keep this blog up to date better than I do our famiy blog. :-)

The day started out with a haircut from Mom. His hair wasn't really long to begin with so it didn't take long. We finished packing & loaded up the car. Grandpa & Grandma Davis met us at IHOP in Orem for brunch. IHOP gives a free meal to missionaries on Wednesday before entering the MTC. After eating we still had about one hour before going to the MTC so we went to the Provo Temple and took some family pictures.

Then, off to the MTC. They don't do things the way they used to years ago. When my brothers and sister left on their missions we all went as a family to the MTC. We would all go into the building and sit for a short orientation meeting, then tell the missionary goodbye as they left through an opposite door from us. Nowadays you only get a brief hug at the curb before they are whisked away.

Curbside at the MTC are about 25 parking stations. You follow the missionary guides until you get to the number assigned to you. Ours was #23

As we pulled up to the curb a young missionary met us there, he greeted us and then helped Taylor get his bags out of the car.

We all got to hug Taylor and tell him goodbye and then the young missionary wheeled his 2 suitcases and they walked away. Okay, Taylor did wave goodbye before he left.

We are so proud of Taylor. He will be a great asset to the people of California.