September, 11th 2017

Hey y'all! 

It`s been a full week. So Wednesday the 30th I went into the mtc and let me tell you, it was a LONG day. I had no time to unpack and go to the bathroom. They said, "drop your stuff and I'll show you where to go to class." And I'm like "sayyyy whatttt?" (In my mind) I just got here and you want me to go to class already? I got to meet my companion, Elder Olsen from Idaho. He's a good companion but hard to get along with. It's hard to always be with someone that I have to rely on. I'm just so used to being able to do things on my own and do it at my own time. When I met my district, I found out there's another Elder Newman and he's from Spokane Washington, so that was cool. There are 12 elders and 4 sisters in my district. I hate how the bed is so small and uncomfortable, it kinda makes it hard to sleep. I saw a lot of kids I know from Bountiful and Shanghai and it was good to see them. It was also nice running into Ali Blake who works with the senior couples. Classes have been boring but it's been getting better but the food sucks. The most favorite thing that I learned in class is the restoration of the gospel. I know about it but never went into depth. 

It's been pretty hard to wake up at 6:30 but I'm trying so I guess that's what matters. I'm actually writing in a journal which surprises me that I'm writing. One of the scriptures that I learned about more in depth is in 3 Nephi 27:19 and it reads: "And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end." And I really like this scripture because it's telling us that no clean person can enter into his kingdom, but we must be baptized, repent and have faith. 

The other day I was helping some Taiwanese sisters to get in the right class with little Chinese I know and I was talking to the missionaries who are going Mandarin speaking mission, so that was cool. Ok, Sunday is a day of rest, well not for us missionaries. The day is long and we're soooooo busy, it's like another weekday too since we're in church clothes all the time which I'm still trying to adjust to being in all the time. I wish the dress code was shorts and a t-shirt. On Monday, I had the best day and dinner because we had Chick-fil-a!!!! But I wished they served waffle fries and the shakes. We go out and play every day on the field and play spike ball. It's so hard NOT to dive and of course, the people in my district play sports so it's our natural thing to do. Thank you for the letters, notes, and packages. And also for the scriptures. As I was reading in the scriptures the other day, I read 1 Nephi 8:15 and it reads "And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit." I was thinking about that scripture, that I am that "loud voice" and I'm going to preach the people of San Diego to come unto Christ take partake of the gospel which is the fruit. And that the "fruit" is the best one, well the true "fruit" on this earth with is the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

This past Tuesday we had a devotional and Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his wife spoke, so that was pretty cool.

Literally, I'm in classes all day and it gets kinda boring but I'm learning a lot, so that's what my week is like, just classes and it's not really different than going to other classes here. I really like my teachers, Brother Bullock and Sister Linford are pretty chill. I still don't really like the mtc but I had a change of heart this past Tuesday when I was talking to some kids learning English. They were 4 elders, each was from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shanghai. I talked to them in Chinese and English and helped them a little bit and they helped me. They were telling me that they are here at the mtc for 9 weeks, I'm glad I'm here for 3 weeks. I love and miss y'all. Sorry, my structure is all out of place and I'm just typing what I'm thinking. 

Love, Elder Newman