Thursday, July 10, 2014

First P-Day and Learning the Language

Hello Family,

Today is my first P-Day and because today is the first day I am in desperate need to do laundry!! The MTC is crazy!! There is absolutely no sense of time and I typically forget that there is an outside world. 

On the first day, I got here and just threw my things in the room and headed straight to class and the teachers just started asking me questions in Indonesian and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying! At this time I can teach basic gospel principles and know a lot more vocab in this crazy language than I could ever imagine of knowing in one week. Also, there are 8 Malay missionaries and the language is literally the exact same minus a few words so we like to talk to them. With that being said, it is still very difficult to understand and there are new things to be learned about it every single day.

In total, there are 12 missionaries heading to Indonesia; 10 elders and 2 sisters. My companion's name is Elder Campbell and he is from Pleasant Grove, Utah. Let me tell you now, he and I are like complete opposites but we get along. He plays basically every instrument you can think of and I play sports! :) Personally, I think he is quite but who knows we make things work. The Indonesians are split up into 2 districts and our district is super funny! 

The best thing that happened was probably being able to see Elder DeCoursey! I love him and it was so cool just to see him and eat with him right before he headed out into the field.

The Lord has helped open me up and turn outwards towards others. We watched a MTC talk about the Character of Christ given by David A. Bednar and that was deep. Also, on our Tuesday devotional, Neil L. Andersen talked to us and I was able to sit about 8 rows from an apostle of the Lord. It was one of the greatest experiences so far.

A daily routine for me consists of waking up early, eating, class, eating, class, eating, and then personal, companionship, and then language study and then off to bed. Sometimes there will be few kinks in there.

On the 4th of July, we got to watch 17 miracles and actually stay up to watch the fireworks. Hopefully I can figure out how to upload some of the pictures because I have some good ones!

We only get an hour to email so my email will have to come a little short because the printer broke and so I spent time reading the emails and that counts. ;( I love you all and keep you in my prayers as well as Mrs. Fortune as that news brings tears to my eyes. I talked to him everyday of the school year and can only imagine what that brings to the people there. Please send my concern to others.

Sampai Nanti (until next time)


Elder Hayes

P.S. can you please send a few stamps in a letter?





1 comment:

  1. I got teary eyed when I read this. He's doing so well already!

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