September 19, 2013

First day in the MTC

 Hola Famillia,

How is it going? Sorry that it has taken me so long to email. Today is my first P-day. Thursdays are my P-days. I couldnt read your emails until today. If you want me to read emails right away then send them through Dearelder.com. If you email them here, I will get them on thursdays and if you send letters I will get them in 7-10 days. I love it here. The plane ride was long day. There were 6 of us that flew on the plane ride to dallas and 2 more going to Mexico. There was also an elder there that was going to the Dominican but flying 1 hour after us and going to LA. Then flew straight to Maimi. I do not know why. I did see Elder Murphy from rexburg in Dallas. He flew out of Idaho Falls to Dallas then to Miami with us. Very strange. When we got to Miami though it was cool to see all the missionaries meeting up with us. On our last flight there were 33 Missionaries going to Santo domingo. Half west and half east. Once we finally made it to the MTC it was very late. We were fed some food and sent up to the Lab to send you emails. There were so many missionaries and so few computers and that is why I could not email long.
The First day of the MTC was the LONGEST day of my entire life. I am not kidding when I tell you it felt like a week long day. Even the day after we were talking as if we lived here for ahwile. Though as days go on the days get shorter. Everyday still feels like 2 days. Its confusing to explain but in the morning we had a devotional and by night when we right in our journals we accidently say the devotional happen yesterday instead of thismorning because they really feel long. I feel like I have been gone for a month.
The MTC is small but not too small. I feel like I have been living out of one hall though. There is probably about 60 missionaries here right now. The new 33 missionaries and there is about 12 Haitian Missionaries and then a group of missionaries 14 days ahead of us. They are all going to either Santiago or Puerto Rico missions. They always switch groups off that way.
The MTC food is very good. I love rice and beans and want it all the time. Though sometimes they have some meat that is very questionable of what animal it is or wear it came from....
The building is very nice. We have airconditioning and hot water. No one speaks english though. All the teachers speak spanish so you have to learn fast. The spanish is very hard but im progressing quickly. Day 2 of the MTC my and my companion were teaching fake investigators in spanish. It is very difficult. Also something that is hard is when the Mission President askes you to pray in front of the entire MTC in spanish when you dont know spanish....
I survived though. On day 3 we went downstairs where some dominicans are because of the temple and shared our testimonies in spanish and TRIED to talk to them. It is very hard though. Next monday I will finally be able to get out of our little box and go to the university in Santo Domingo to really proslyte and teach. It will be so hard to be a real missionary after only 1 week and a half. I dont know why English speaking missionaries need 2 weeks when we teach after 1.
I have limited time to email and wish I had more time but its running down quickly. Im sorry for all the Typos. It doesnt have spell check or anything and I dont have time to fix it.

Love Elder Southwick

P.S. I love chocolate and miss it and I love frooties and will need more. I also need a laundry bag. The address for the packages is whatever you have. You know more then me. I ALSO NEED A CORD FOR THE CAMERA. If i am to send pics I need that cord because their is no SD slots.

Derek and President and Sister Freestone