MTC Week 1

Hey Family and Friends!

Today is my first P-day so I finally get to e-mail and write back to everyone. We have about 30 minutes at night to kind of wind down and such, but they wont let us write letters during that time. We can only write in our journals or study more. You will be happy to know that I have written in my journal every night so I can look back and remember the craziness that has transpired the past week. Writing these e-mails kind of gives me an anxiety attack because there is a little red timer in the top corner of the screen telling me how much time until it kicks me off. Anyways, it seems like I have been at the MTC for about two months, it has been the longest seven days of my life, but at the same time I woke up this morning and thought to myself, wow a week has already gone by. Someone explained it that the days feel like weeks, but the weeks feel like days, and I have to agree with them. My district is pretty chill. Elder Stokes is my companion, and lived in May Hall at BYU, Elder Sabey was in my ward, Elder Maxwell lived in Heritage, and all of us are going to Buenos Aires. Elder Mills and Elder Klein are also going to Buenos Aires, and then there are four more in the district going to the Dominican Republic, including our 25 year old district leader Elder Fannin, who we now lovingly call Abuelo(sp?) Everyone told us that if we make it to Sunday we had gotten past the worst part, but I don't know what they were talking about. The first three days weren't bad at all, but Sunday is nice because it is the only day we can take naps. This weekend was the Mission president seminar for all new mission presidents, so I got to meet mine, President Benton. He is a real firecracker! He already knew me because they saw Dad's blog with the entry about my new mission president. He seems pretty easy-going about certain things but so excited about missions. He told us that on P-days down there he wouldn't mind us playing golf or going fishing and things like that, and that he was going to let us e-mail anyone we wanted, not just immediate family. He told us that in the first meeting they had, all the first presidency was there, and 10 of the 12 apostles. A lot of elders were really mad because we weren't allowed in places where they were at, but it is understandable. Also, at the Sunday night fireside none of them were there and I was flabbergasted at the nasty horrible things some elders were saying. Stuff like The First Presidency doesn't love us, and oh, they only care about the mission presidents. I finally told the guy in front of me to cut it out and get over it. It seriously was the most immature thing i had ever seen. We finally did get to see some Apostles at last night's devotional. Elder Hales was the speaker and it was on the Atonement. It was soooo good. It was like deeper than anything I have ever heard in General Conference. Along with Elder Hales, Elder Perry, Elder Scott, Elder Holland, and Elder Christofferson, were on the stand, so all the cry babies should have been satisfied. One of the things Elder Hales mentioned was when The Savior was in Gethsemane he found the Apostles asleep three times when the Lord needed them most. It really got me thinking about things. What I do with my mission is up to me. I don't want to fall asleep on the Lord when He needs me most. Only five minutes left. Sorry if i didn't answer any questions you had. Expect another e-mail next week. And i will be writing letters to others as well hopefully. Thanks for all the letters and the donuts dad. I still have to tell you about my teachers, but i will next week. I see Elder Anderson almost everyday. His class is on the same floor as me, so during breaks and stuff we talk a lot. other than that everything is going well. I caught a cold but have actually been taking medicine, you would be proud mom. I love everyone. Thanks for all your prayers. i can feel the Lord running to my aid whenever I need Him, and I know it is because of all of your prayers.

Love Sean