Mom! I'm sitting here in the computer lab writing my emails and I'm not sure where to begin. It has been such an amazing week. Thank you so much for your letters, they make my day 1000000000% better. I would like to quickly express my disappointment at my father and my two younger sisters, Abigail and Elizabeth. I have received no communication from them and it is only my first week in the MTC, not a good sign as I will be out for 1 year, 11 months, and 3 weeks more. If this continues, I will have to withhold more and more information from them weekly, until no emails are sent. See how you like that! My unit number is 58, and Dear Elder is seriously the best thing ever. Please tell everyone and anyone about it, it makes my day so wonderful. Thanks for giving me the update on everyone! How is the horse show prep going? How's driver's ed Abbs? It was the worst for me. I'm glad Liza is starting to share my same love of horses. How's school going for both of them? I miss and love them! That's super exciting about dad! Who is the new Branch President? I am sending my love and prayers his way during this super busy time. I have to say, I was pretty happy when I found out because it means you guys can't move to Utah. We have eleven missionaries in our district, and they are all so wonderful. I have some pictures to send you, but I have no idea how to do it. I'll send a second email with them if I figure out how. I don't have very much time, so if I can attach them I'll give you their names.
My companion's name is Erickson Chorro and he's the greatest guy ever! He's from Minnesota, but grew up in Seattle. He did a year of BYU before he came and is incredibly smart. He is way into sports and can name basically anyone playing any sport right now, it's super impressive. He also has virtually a perfect recall with names and where people are from. He's so humble and won't admit how smart he is, but he helps me so much with the language and with working hard, he's a great example. He got called as district leader and is doing a wonderful job at it. He is good at all the things I am not, and it is such a blessing to have him as my companion.
My teacher is so wonderful! Her name is Watanabe Shimai and she is the nicest, most smiley person I've ever met. She made our first week here go so well, it was such a blessing. She only speaks in Japanese and I'm starting to understand more and more of what she says. I have been working on my Hirogana and I almost have it completely down! Erickson Chorro and I race to see who can recognize and say all of the 46 characters on our flashcards, and I'm winning right now at 32 seconds. Learning Japanese is going much more smoothly and is much easier than I thought it would be, and that is mostly due to the Lord's help. It is absolutely amazing how much we have learned in just a week, we can already say simple prayers and know lots of church words. We have been teaching an "investigator," but really it's just a teacher at the MTC. We aren't supposed to know that though. His name is Yuki, and our lessons are going really well! We have already had four of them and we are giving our fifth today. I got a picture with him and I'll send it in the second email if I can figure out how to.
We have had some of the best devotionals I've ever heard here. We had one on Tuesday with Elder Goroy, the Brazilian member of the 70 who spoke in Portuguese at General Conference. He talked about what it takes to be a good missionary, especially Alma 26:22. It was so spirit filled and cup filling and motivating, I loved it. He said that we need to to repent to just be a worthy missionary, to work hard to be a good missionary, to pray continually to be a missionary that does great work, and to exercise faith to be the best missionary we can be and to work miracles. He asked us how we would feel if our parents were here with us for a few days. Would they be proud of how hard we were working? I am working hard and am trying to make you guys proud!
It is amazing how much my ability to love has already increased. I love my companion, my district, and my zone so much. Our zone is seriously the best in the MTC. Every night everyone comes into our room and says aishtaymas, or I love you. They are so nice about being willing to answer our questions and talk to us and love us. They are all such good people and all are hard workers. I am praying to love the Japanese people and their language and culture, and it's helping! I'm so looking forward to going out and teaching them and I know that I can better their lives with the gospel!
Gym time is the best, we have it right when we wake up, which I love. You only have to shower once a day, it gets you up and going, and you don't feel stir crazy the rest of the day. I play basketball very poorly, but it's super fun. There's a little guy in our district named Elder Cannon who is such a good player, it's ridiculous. He's like 5 5 but no one can stop him. I'll send you a picture of him next week, he's such a nice guy. There are some real ballers during gym, it makes it super fun.
The food is good, but super heavy. I'm really looking forward to the food in Japan. Lots of the Chorotachi here had their Dad's go to Japan and they are getting me really pumped up about the food, the people, the place, basically everything about Japan. I love it here! I love the MTC! I love my companion! I love you guys! I love the Lord and his Church and his gospel and am loving preparing to share it! Can't wait to get all those Dear Elder's you are going to send me this week! ;)
Lots of Love,
Calhoun Chorro
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