My First Week in the MTC

This past week has been slightly awesome. We arrived,
checked in, took our stuff to our residences, and went to our class. Our district,
from what I'm told is pretty different. Most of us have different calls,but all
Spanish speaking. When I first walked into class this kid looks at me and says
"DEVIN!!" At first I had no idea who he was, but after he reminded me
of his name I remembered that we had lifeguarded together for a couple summers
during high school. My companion, Hermana Johnson is also from Arizona. She
actually went to high school with my best friend, Kenna. Anyway, from the
moment we got into class the teacher only spoke spanish to us. I was so lost!
That's pretty much how class goes, they speak spanish and we try to catch on.
Amazingly, it works. I already know more than I ever learned in high school.

Our schedule is slighly hectic, and there is nobody to
supervise us. Luckily our district is awesome and we are always where we need
to be doing what we need to be doing. Okay, I have to cut this short, I only
get 30min on the computer and I currently have 1 minute left! But, if you want
to know more,write me! got to DearElder.com and enter my name and mission
(Honduras San Pedro Sula)! It's free, too. I think you might have to put
provo mtc, but I don't know. I want to hear from home/ texas/ Denver! okay, got to
go, bye!

I'm Going on a Mission... Tomorrow!

From this very moment, right now as I write this, I am approximately 16 hours from boarding a plane headed to Utah. I'm all packed and ready go! I have all the stuff I'm not taking boxed up at stored at my mom's house, and my computer is now in my dad's possession. I'm so excited to go, but I feel like I just ran out of time. I didn't get to spend as much time with family as I wanted to, plans with friends got cancelled, and I failed to visit some other family friends while I was here. I left myself two weeks to spend in Arizona, but it was hardly enough! I feel bad if I hurt any one's feelings, but fact is, I'm coming back! 18 months doesn't even sound long when I say it. Time flies when you're having fun and working hard! (I'm not naive, I know there will be times, many times, where I'll hardly consider it "fun", but I'm ready to work hard.)

Anyway, I'm excited to go! I love my Heavenly Father, and can't wait to share His love for His children and the message of the Restored Gospel with the people of Honduras! Feel free to write, my MTC address is to the right and it's also on my Facebook. (On the right, I couldn't break up the separate lines of the address, so when you see "::" that's a break. Maybe I'm special, or maybe Blogger is. Let's just go with Blogger.) My sister-in-law will be posting letters from me as my blog updates and updating my address, so check back in!

Revamped

I decided it was time to change the title of my blog, so I went ahead changed the colors, too. Nothing too fancy, I'm not good at that kind of stuff. As I have stated in previous posts, I struggle with such things, like loading pictures and getting them place where I would like. Hopefully my sister in law will do a better job while I'm gone.

I have six days left before I head to the MTC. People keep asking me if I'm nervous. Well, not really. I'm just ready and excited to go. It's something I've always wanted to do and now the time has finally come, kind of surreal. I'll definitely miss my friends and family, but when I think about that past 16 months, from the time I moved to Texas until now, and how quickly that time has gone by, the idea of being away from friends and family for 18 months hardly seems like a long time at all. I'll be exchanging letters and emails with them, so it won't be too bad. 18 months is nothing. However, letters would be appreciated! I'll be posting my MTC address on the sidebar here, and my sister in law will update it as I move around.

What else? The past week and a half in Arizona have been amazing. I have spent a lot of time with my family, especially Chris, Brooke, and their kids. Chris and Brooke have been awesome. The advice and their support is beyond measure. Brooke has told me many times "we've got your back, anything you need, let us know." It's pretty awesome having the amazing siblings I do. All of them have offered to be there for me when I need something while I'm gone, and are doing different things to keep my affairs in order. My sister is making me an 18 month calendar with pictures of my friends and family, too. How awesome is that? And Kyle & Tara supplied me with suitcases. I've also received amazing support from other friends. My friend, Cat, has been awesome. Constantly telling me how proud she is of me and even supplying "a little" $$ for missionary stuff. She has been an amazing friend and I know I can count on her for letters :). Sister Heiden, my Young Women's president through high school also supplied some cash, cause she's awesome. Even more, she came and supported me my when I went through the temple for the first time. That meant a lot to me. She taught me so much as teen and was a big strength to me throughout high school. My parents have been awesome, too. My mom keeps asking me what I need, as well as my dad. Cindy has been amazing as well. I have been blessed with an amazing family and spectacular friends :)

I have spent a lot of time with my friends, Christie & Kenna. I love them so much and am so grateful for them! The good times, the bad times, the hilarious times, the lessons learned, and the love and support I get from them is priceless. I wouldn't trade them for the world. As for my other friends, you suck. Just kidding. I am grateful for all my friends. From Arizona, to Texas, and to Denver, the Lord has blessed me with amazing people in my life that have helped me to learn and to grow and to become a better person.

Okay, so enough with the mushy "I love my friends and family" stuff. I have five more full days to enjoy before I leave. FIVE! So exciting. I can't wait to serve our Heavenly Father and spread the good news!