¡Hola familia y amigos! This first week has been absolutely crazy here in the MTC, or as its known down here, the CCM. It feels like a month has gone by, not just a mere seven days since I boarded a plane in Pheonix. Rest assured that the seven days have been very well spent, and that I'm going to bounce around quite a bit as I tell you all about it!
First off, I would like to mention that I have my compañero! His name is Elder Jensen, and he is from Logan, Utah. He was a professional Ultimate Frisbee player before coming out here, and he loves music because his dad is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Though he tends to be a bit of introvert out in public, he has certainly proved to be a spiritual giant. He has the faith to succeed, and we get along incredibly well. We've spent a week in each other's company, and have only had a single heated discussion, which was quickly soothed over with stories and hugs and the Spirit. He is an incredibly fantastic person, and I am very glad to be blessed as his companion over the next five weeks.
The two airport greeters that didn't know any English were only a shadow of what was to come. In a real sink or swim situation, seventy gringos (The first foreign missionaries to be trained in Mexico! It's a really big deal here, apparently. News reporters and people working for the church are always trying to find some unprepared missionaries and ask them questions. Some of the elders even had paparazzi tailing them as they got off the planes haha) were thrown into a complex where the vast majority of staff did not know a lick of our native language. And the people who did, refused to speak it haha. The Latino Elders and Hermañas were ready to bombard us "Greenies" with complex Spanish, but were incredibly nice during the artillery barrage.
But thank goodness for it all! I'm actually having a bit of trouble writing this letter to you all in English, since I've spent the better part of a week writing predominantly in Spanish haha. We're all speaking the language just as much as we do our native tongues, and its a whole lot of fun realizing that I understand so much more of what is being said in conversation. I've learned more than I did in two years of Spanish in High School, though what that says about my study habits back then I'm not ready to admit. It's a wonderful language, and the learning process is a joy! When that strange word finally clicks, or when a phrase becomes readily understandable because you understand its meaning rather then its translation, oh the celebration! The Maestros and Hermañas involved in the teaching are wonderful, enthusiastic, and well prepared to help us all individually. Though the CCM is turning more towards Gospel study rather then language preparation, learning is still here in plenty. The Gift of Tongues is being doled out here, and the end result is something fantastic to see. We've already given three simulation lessons to investigators, a half hour long each, completely in Spanish. I can't wait to come home and be able to speak in this great language with all of you! Funny story, I actively used the phrase "Escuchar me" (Listen to me) when I bumped into people around campus for almost the entire first week. I left many confused faces after I demanded their attention and walked away each time.
We are so busy here! Every day, we get up at 6:30 and start rushing through the day! Classes, meals, gym time, and more are all on a strict schedule. The focus and intensity is a bit ridiculous, and I love it. We get stuff done, and are exhausted in such a good way when we get back. By the way, the food is one of my favorite things about this place. There's always something new and exciting on the menu, and there is plenty of it. The portions are impressive, but we burn through with all that we do and are starving by the time the next meal comes around! We rarely have something I have tasted before, and each time, it is absolutely fantastic. The side bars contain all the fruits and side meals one could ask for, and they are usually changed up for each meal, so no meal has been the same as another. Drinks and desserts are usually strange concotions only found south of the border, each a strange taste but a very, very good one. It is wonderful! I understand why Missionaries mention gaining weight during their time at the MTC, because despite any feeble attempts by Elders here to eat healthier, we are enjoying a whole lot of heavenly comida every day, three times a day. After our 24 hour-ish fast though, we had hamburgers for lunch, big great hamburgers with fries and sodas. The Elders were cheering and high fiving, and there might have been more than a few tears shed in the festivities.
Gym has been a lot more fun than expected. We're at a bit higher elevation here, so for the first few days, winded and passed out Gringos were a regular occurence. Basketball is very popular, and the games are very intense. The fitness room just opened up, and the bycicles inside are always in use. My time at the YMCA certainly prepared me for that! Elder Jensen and I have been trying to find new things to do each day, and the results have been pretty good so far. An indoor soccer game (I was goalie, and actually did pretty good! Watch out Chile, here comes Elder Richardson!) and an attempt to play volleyball are our noticeable go to's for now. I say attempt because the Maestros kind of claimed the sand court, and we were a little too not profesional enough for their standards. Its great!
Most of all, we have classes. Classes to teach the language, classes to learn the Gospel, classes to prepare for classes, classes where we study on our own, you get the picture. Our teachers have simply been fantastic. Hermaños Findley, Silva, Cruz, and Arnold are joined by Hermaña Olmos and several Sisters I haven't interacted with. They are so enthusiastic! Oh man, when the teachers walk in and hug the Elders right out of their seats, you know you're going to have a great time. Class is always energetic, always bouncing. Though we spend hours and hours in those silly plastic chairs, it certainly doesn't feel like it! By the way, I ddi get to see Will, now known as Hermaño Ramsey, after he arrived. His plane was delayed by the volcano erupting in Mexico City, but it was a pretty joyous reunion after he made it. He also has turned out to be a pretty swell teacher, giving my companion and I some pretty excellent tips on remaking our language study plans. Also, his love for soccer has already shown in his ties, and that's a fun topic of conversation.
The investigator teaching was probably the biggest part of the week for us. For a half hour, we lock ourselves in with Miguel Ruiz, our District's investigator, and try to teach him. It has been difficult, to say the least, to speak entirely in Spanish and answer his questions, but the Spirit is strong and when we do well, our smiles are as big as they've ever gotten. We've committed him to baptism, though the question was the point of contention between my companion and I. That was not the most fun that I've had here. But everything is settled now, and the Spirit is back, so now we can continue to teach and ploan in harmony.
The Elders and Hermañas here are already great friends of mine. My District has eleven people, four companionships and a trio of sisters, and for now, our branch is limited to one district. All ten of these people are absolutely wonderful! In particular, Elder Stewart, our ever cheerful leader, Elders Roberts and Watson, the wonderful working companions, and the others are all perfect and great people to be around. The Missionary work is in good hands, and the vast majority of us are going to the same mission! One sister, though, is going to pheonix AZ. If you ever meet a Hermaña Welch, say hi for me!
I wish I could tell you more, and I will certainly put much more ina nother letter when I can, but we only have an hour to write these emails! Mail isn't really an option, so we're told, so we are allowed to write family and friends from these computers, though we only have that limited time. Feel free to share this address with any friends of mine, since getting your letters has been a joy beyond compare. I love you all, and want to bear my testimony to you.
I know this church is true. I know that the words I am teaching and the Spirit that I teach by are of God, and that His work is spreading fast through out all the Earth. What a joy it is to be part of this great work! Questions are answered, problems are resolved, and people find the strength to become the greatest individuals they can be. This is a message of love and caring, and the Spirit testifies to all of the truth of the Gospel, of Jesus Christ the Son of God. It is absolutely wonderful to be out here, and I am looking forward to serving in Chile with all my heart. Thank you everyone, for all of your love! I pray that the Lord will be with you all in times of joy and times of sadness.
With love,
Elder Richardson
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