so today, saturday, is our first "P" day. It isn't our official p-day, thursday will be, but new missionaries all have saturday as their first p-day. Things have been great. Right out of the car, an elder walks you to the main building and sends you inside to get your nametags, Take ID picture, as well as get your id card. Then he walks you to your room where you drop your stuff off and then off to your first class. Right off the bat we were in class and our teachers only spoke spanish to us. Apparently we're in some pilot program where they teach only in spanish rather than teach about spanish in english. I met my companions there: Elder Tempest from Draper Utah and Elder Sanders from Lehi. The trio is fine, but can get annoying when you have to keep track of two people instead of just one. Our class consists of our trio plus two other companionships along with a set sisters. This is our whole district. Us elders live on the same floor next door to eachother, and our whole branch is pretty much the whole floor. Elder tempest is great, he reminds me of James Ali and I 'm glad I have him in the companionship.
Our teachers are Elder Urquhart and Hermana Alvarez. They are really nice and great teachers, but it is still so nerve racking to speak in spanish. especially when they have us teach elder urquhart in espanol the second day as a mock investigator! Our district is really fun, and we all eat together. the cafeteria is SO much better than the cannon center. Portions are larger and quality over all is great. i got those dearelders, which was excellent. Kelly Anderson sent me a pack of cinnamon rolls, que bueno! We don't get much time to ourselves, but what time we do, we are supposed to be writing a talk which we may or may not be called on to give in spanish tomorrow!
It is kinda fun to get moveda round from class to class with elders you don't really know. The closest thing to the mtc to me is scout camp. I feel like that prepared me more than mini mtc activities or anything else, at least for the flow or culture of things.
We had gym time yesterday and went over to the fields by the temple. we had gym time with a bunch of other spanish speaking missionaries and it was fun to play futbol with them all. MEDIO! MEDIO! AQUI AQUI!! haha they all think they're hispanic.
So sad to hear about the hamster, but inevitable too ): My floor has the advanced spanish learners, along wiht intermediate spanish learners, so I think Henry will be on my floor!!!! I've been able to see so many friends from the dorms! Ben and I have the same lunch time, so we chat a bit everyday!!! I've seen isaac stevens, weston cummings, tons of acquaintences from Helaman halls, and Brad Otto! He lives in my building apparently!
Well, thanks for those dearelders, don't be afraid to send more!
Love you all,
Elder Blackwelder
