Hey Everybody! So, I tried to send an email last
Thursday, but it apparently didn't go through. Anyway, It's been quite
the experience here at the MTC, or CCM in Spanish, so far! For the time
I've been in Peru, I don't think I've seen the sky once. It's constantly
overcast in the winter, albeit not all that cold. I'm wondering whether
I'm actually going to be using all this winter gear I packed.
Here's a brief recap of how the week has gone so far:
I got to the MTC at about 3 in the morning on August 1st, and
went straight to bed. The following morning we got to sleep in till 9,
because of how late everyone got there. It was the primary orientation
that day, so we didn't really have any classes yet. I got to meet my
companion for the next six weeks, Elder Wesemann. I'm rooming with four
other Elders, Elder Bridgewater, Elder Langford, and two Latino
roommates I don't know the names of.
Every meal that I've had at the MTC has been an adventure. No one
knows what anything tastes like, so my district and I are always trying
to guess what tastes the best. But so far, I'm pretty sure every meal
has had rice. Lots of rice. I'm pretty sure when I get back from Peru, I
won't want to touch a plate of rice ever again.
The second day at the MTC started our classes. It also
started my head spinning. They try to force as much Spanish as they can
into our heads, and try to teach us how to teach in Spanish, while all
of the teachers are speaking "Spanish." It's very difficult to even
understand the concepts they're trying to get across. However, as time
progresses, I'm sure that it'll get easier. The gift of tongues, right? After about the third day in the MTC, the Spanish started getting a
little bit easier. Lots of classes and lots of principles give Daniel
headaches. Oh, and one of my roommates accidental broke the little alarm
clock that I'd packed, so that was fun. He did get a new one for me
when we went out shopping on P-day though, so it's alright. It was
really nice of him.
This last Sunday was the first Sunday in the MTC, and it was also a
fast Sunday, so I fasted since lunch on Saturday till lunch on Sunday,
and I think it very well may have been the first time I've ever fasted
for 24 hours. Anyway, Sunday was pretty relaxed, and all we did that day
was sit and listen to our meetings.
On Monday, we were preparing to teach our first "investigator" that
night. It had to be in as much Spanish as we could muster, and it very
well may have been one of the hardest things I have ever done, ever.
Anyway, we spent most of that day memorizing as many words and phrases
in Spanish as we could.
This brings us to today! ¡Hoy! Today was the first p-day in
the mission field an so far it's been quite the experience. We woke up
at 6:30 just like we do every morning, got ready, ate breakfast, and
went outside the wall. There is an about 8-16 foot wall surrounding the
whole MTC, and today was the first time I really got to go outside of
it. The Elders and Sisters in my district, about 12 of us all crammed on
an already packed bus with some other Elders who've been here for a
couple of weeks to go into the city. Oh! And some interesting things
about the roads, there are very few traffic rules, everyone who drives,
especially taxi drivers, are some of the worst drivers I've ever seen,
and also the cars have the right of way. They don't have to stop for
pedestrians, so the roads in the city are really dangerous. Anyway, the
bus dropped us off in the city right across from the temple.
We couldn't
go to the temple today though, because it's closed down for
renovations. We will however be able to go next week. I think. So we
stopped by the temple shop across the street where I got a really cool
leather coin-pouch. It's a good thing I have it too, because most of the
currency down here is dependent on coins. I seriously have about 50
coins from when I went shopping. Anyway, after we went to the temple
store, we walked down the street to a big store that's kinda like Peru's
version of Walmart where I got a few interesting candies and a 3 liter
bottle of Inca Kola. It tastes like bubble-gum. I also got some hangers
because I didn't have room in my luggage, and there were none in the
closet when I got to the MTC. After we left the Walmart-like store, we
walked over to Metro, which is like an open mall with a ton of little
privately owned shops. This it where Elder Bridgewater got me a new
alarm clock. I think it's slightly better
that the one I brought. Maybe. I'll see tonight.
One more interesting thing about Peru is that pretty much
everything is dirt cheap. The little leather coin pouch I got cost 7
soles, which in US dollars is about $2.50. It's not some junky little
thing either, it's really nice. So, that's one good thing about the
economy here. Oh, and sole is pronounced sole-lay.
Anyway, that's about all the time I have to write today, but I'll
be sure to write a lot more next week! I love you all! ¡Hasta luego!
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