Mitch is a DL!

Dear Diary,

There are two new districts coming in tomorrow that will be in our zone. 9 missionaries in each district. Its going to be weird being the old ones now. Also, thank you Papa for the Astronaut Ice Cream! we had an ice cream party last night...well not really, but i have already eaten 6 or 7 of the astronaut ice creams...they're out of this world. This Sunday i was extended the call of District Leader, and it is my job to rookavadeet nash kroog...to guide our district. we are now writing talks in russian for sundays, and the branch presidency picks two people each week to give their prepared talk. Sundays are very busy, just as busy as any other day. We have several meetings, and the temple walk is always super fun, and now that i am DL i will have more meetings to attend. I bumped into David Olson on Sunday, I didnt remember him at first, but he was my friend in the fourth grade when we lived in South Korea. The only thing i remember about that ward was that i broke a glass window in one of the doors in it...ummm we start learning how to teach the 2nd lesson in russian on thursday. Elder Ablett and i are getting significantly better at teaching the first lesson Parooskee...As far as a list of the difficulties of the languages, im afrid no such list exists any more, however, i think russian is in the top ten. Finish, Korean, Cantonese and Mandarin are definitely up there. The Provo temple has now opened and i was able to attend this morning- absolutely love it. I also got my hair cut today and from what everyone tells me, the bald spot on the back of my head is clearly visible- absolutely love it.

Its become almost a competition here in our district to see what kind of crazy stuff we can get in our packages. so feel free to send me a venus fly trap or a dolphin fin or something awesome like that. oh and please dont send me any more gum, because missionaries dont chew gum...and im out of time, so thanks for everything

LOVEly bones, Elder Paul

Lifes Good in the MTC!

Dear All,
Because I forgot to choose a scripture for my plaque, i will choose one now: Isaiah 40:11...it says "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." I like this scripture because it expresses the true nature of how missionary work should be done. Rather than simply baptizing people, i will be lovingly leading and guiding people toward Christ. This past week I had the opportunity to go with my branch to the Mount Timpanogos Temple because the Provo temple is currently closed. I love every chance I get to go to the temple, and i can't wait until next P-day when the Provo Temple will be back in business. Tomorrow i will be going to the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) and I will be teaching the first discussion, or at least certain principals in it that pertain to the needs of the investigator, entirely in Russian. The Russian tongue is really starting to come together, right now, over me. I’m scared out of my mind! even though it is only a fake investigator. Yesterday, elder Ablett and I ran into A senior Missionary Couple going to our mission. They were very nice, but I forgot their names. I told the Sister that I can’t wait to have some of her home cooked meals. She asked if we could be her temporary children while she was away from her own...so sorry Mom, but it looks like I now have a temporary Mom for two years...you can still send me packages though! just kidding...but seriously. The Natives and the older district has left and District 10C is now the big cheese. Oh, someone complimented my tie yesterday in Russian, and instead of saying thank you in russian, I accidentally said "Savior" Oops! So thats whats goin on in the MTC. If anybody wants to send me mail I would love it...also if someone could send me Pokemon cards, it would be much appreciated. and I still havent gotten any astronaut ice cream yet...ummm that’s all i need really, now that I have an ample supply of underwear. oh, and i bought chopsticks today...just sayin.
Thank you all for whatever!
Much love and happiness comin your way,
from Elder Paul

Thank you to all thse who are reading this and who are supporting Mitch! It means the wrld to us as his family!

Almost a Big Kid

Dear all,

As far as the Empty Sea goes, everything is still the same, except in another week the older districts will leave and my district will be the big kids on the block. I have seen Elder Poulsen and we took a picture in front of the temple that i will send to you in due time. Elder Whittle is doing swell, I bump into him all the time. What more can i say about the spirit prison? ummmm. i bought a new shirt, this ones from Austria- the land of the mountains. well thanks for all your letters and i want to specifically thank Sterling Gregory Adams for his wonderful artwork that he sent me. CONGRATS to Brian on his mission call! Until next time!

Love, Elder Paul

Pictures!!!!

(Mitchell and Elder Ablett)


(District 10C)


(Studying Wicked Hard)

Same Old Mitch

Here are some excerpts from this weeks e-mail. He may be in the MTC and learning Russian but it is the same old Mitch we all know and love : )

The days are long and the weeks are short here in the MTC. My nights are entirely consumed by sleep...not to mention pain. Just kidding...The language is hard and the desk is harder...needless to say, I havent gained much weight. O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people.

ummmm
to whomever: please send me a package consisting of these things:
-astronaut ice cream
-home baked brownies
-a list of famous russian authors complete with brief biographies
-recent photographs of people laughing
-a picture of a horse drinking a beer
-a cadbury crunchie

That is all I ask for. Thank you for all of your support.
Your's Truly, Elder Paul

Week Two and Doing Well!!

The second week in the MTC goes a lot faster than the first. Its hard to imagine it has already been two weeks. This week we had a fireside where I think 7 of the apostles were present, and Elder Oaks spoke. After the fireside, Elder Ablett and I went to meet our new mission president. President and Sister Sorenson are great! They too are learning the Russian language and are heading to Russia the first of July. Church is mostly in Russian, but sometimes talks are in English. The Elders and Sisters in my zone are going to other places in Russia, as well as Ukraine. Chances are that when i go to renew my visa it will be to the Ukraine- probably Kiev, which is great because in a couple months, they are dedicating a temple there.
The language is steadily progressing. Tomorrow we are required to get to know someone, ask about their family, tell about our family, relate family to the gospel, ask about hobbies, ask about work, and set up an appointment with a posing investigator...all in Russian! and then we have to teach them the first discussion in English. We dont start teaching the first discussion in Russian for a few more weeks.
In the MTC bookstore you can buy shirts with the flag and name of your mission on it. I thought that was too boring and predictable to get one for Russia, so I ordered a shirt with the Virginia flag on it. Speaking of strange behavior, Elder Andrews came in last week. He is in the MTC for 9 weeks learning tagolog. I have the same lunch time as him, and although i dont eat with him, i talk to him a bit, and we exchange humorous phrases that we have learned in our languages.
I am going to develop some of the photos i have taken and send them home in a week from now.
There are 5 native Elders that are in the MTC right now learning the discussions for a few weeks until they go back to Russia to their various missions. One of the Elders is going to the Moscow mission, so I might have a chance to serve with him. He speaks no English, and i can hardly understand any of the Russian he speaks! I have a long way to go.
My time is just about out- I only have 30 minutes to email before it logs me off. Its good to hear from you, thanks for all the information of events. Hasta Luego!
Love,
Elder Paul

We got Mitchell's first e-mail!!!

We got Mitchell's first E-mail! Here are some excerpts of it for you!

Its been about a week in the MTC and i have already learned more than i have learned in 4 years of High School.. I am now saying simple prayers and bearing a simple testimony in Russian. We learned the alphabet in about an hour or two on the second day. This first week has felt like at least 3 or 4 weeks. My companion is Elder Ablett, from Cambridge, and our district consists of 8 elders and 2 sisters...My zone consists of two districts, the other district only has 5 missionaries, so church on Sunday had about 20 people. I conducted and attempted to sing the Russian hymn at the same time.. I am learning so much and having a great time.. My companion and i get along very well, which is good because we have to spend every minute together....we even have to go to the loo together..

PS.. some interesting things about my mission: we will have cell phones, the moscow mission is now almost entirely in the city of moscow, so chances are, thats where i will be for my whole mission.. I still dont know who the new mission president is, but they come in for training tomorrow along with the twelve apostles, so i might get to meet him, and we might even get a visit from an apostle! there are something like 14 branches in my mission, but i can't quite remember......well my time is out now, so talk to you again in a week!