Hello Family!
I was successfully dropped off at the MTC at exactly 1:09pm MST on Wednesday. They definitely have the Drop Off system down pack. Who knew Henry Ford's work would make it as far as the MTC?
Before I even had time to realize what was going on, or where I was going, I found myself sitting next to my first companion, Elder E, of the bustling Metropolis of Malad, Idaho. He's 6'2", a buck 66, is LEFT handed, and loves the gospel very much. I'm very excited to work with him. We have a District of 12 Elders; the largest in our Zone. We are packed like Sardines in our classroom. The 12 consist of 6 Elders going to the Salta, Argentina mission, and the other 6 of us are going to Resistenica, Argentina.
Wednesday evening, all new comers to the MTC -- 433 in all -- had the opportunity to hear from President Brown, the MTC president. Talk about a moment you will never forget, when all of us Elders and Sisters sang the opening hymn. The Spirit was overpowering.
Yesterday, Friday that is, Elder E and I were given our first chance to teach an investigator.* It was our understanding that we would do as much Spanish as we knew and then speak English for everything else. So you can imagine the shock we felt when Alejandro ONLY spoke Spanish. I think we said somewhere between 4 and 5 sentences in Spanish..(we won't even talk about our structure of those sentences either..) The weird part about it was that we were in there for nearly 15 minutes. Can you say, "many blank stares" anyone?? I'm glad we had the chance to go through this experience though... It definitely humbles you faster than anything. Only problem with getting through that rough first appointment is; we've now got to do it all over again tonight! Yikes.
The moment we've finally been waiting for FINALLY came last night at 7:15. Gym Time. Luckily our entire District is into sports. O how great the competitiveness it was! We all needed it badly, too. Two full days of eating 3 large meals and sitting in a classroom does not bode well at all for a bunch of 19 year old guys. And guess who I played in basketball?? none other than our very own Elder Kyle Collingsworth! I scored even. not bad for a 5'9" guy with no vertical, huh? Nah, I'm just messing with you. I wish! But I did pass him in the hall leaving the cafeteria the other day. Very tall!
I hope everyone is doing well! I love you all!
Always,
Elder McMurray
PS--This isn't my usual P Day. We normally have it on Thursdays, but since it's so long until then, they let us do laundry and emails today. Hope to hear from you!
*A person who is investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
