6/13/14 First Letter

Dearest Loved Ones, DRUM ROLL PLEEEEAAASE!!!! I am now Elder Webb. There is so much to tell you all. My biggest two realizations is that I am the exact same person I came out as and that missions are just a lot of self-motivated hard work with an amazing goal ahead. I wish I could remember everything I've thought and felt since I've been here to share it; I will do my best! The initial reception was warm and the MTC is NOT anything to worry about. They treat you nicely and the food, rooming, etc. is all fine. I was way nervous about it unnecessarily. They did this cool thing with pretend investigators sharing their stories to show how missionaries need to be people first who share the Gospel, not problem fixers or preachy. This stressed me out a little bit because people will have such real problems and I feel inadequate to help them. Thursday gave me my peaceful realization. Missionaries are truly endowed with power and if I work as hard as I can here, I will be a vessel to answer the questions and say the things I cannot do on my own. And then in Mandarin :) Speaking of that, I WILL FLY TO ENGLAND JULY 1!!! They put me on the advanced language thing, so I got a new district and what not today. So my classroom stuff will be in English with a bunch of internationals or bilinguals and I have to self-study Mandarin with a tutor. I am so excited, though nerves will soon come, you wait. I have a lot of Chinese learning to do! My companion was from West Point, Utah. He will be a very humble and amazing missionary in California Riverside. The two others in my dorm were from Michigan, different parts, and will go to Manchester. I can't believe two others are Chinese speaking to England with me in the MTC. I like them both and am excited to work with them, once they know Chinese hahaha. So my new companions are Elder Bryan Brown from Holladay going to Montreal (he already knows French as good as my Chinese) and Elder Thiago Fanfa from Brazil going to Salt Lake. They are like model elders already, so no hard companions yet haha. I will be with them for two weeks. My Mandarin district was a little bitter I was leaving early I think, but I can tell them how it goes at least in the field. It's weird to be here. I sometimes look at myself in the mirror and almost laugh of joy and surrealism that I am wearing the tag now; it's not real yet. The days here are SO long and tiring. I feel like I've been here a month. I am so happy I am not going to be here for nine weeks, even if the field rushes in like raging water of trial and difficulty. It would be a long time. I think the hardest thing about the MTC for me is that it feels like regulated faith. I understand why it is that way and I can still learn so much, but I'm glad to leave a little early after working hard here. I feel like Alta put tags on and walked into the MTC. There are so many stories and personalities. I am not jealous of how some elders have responded; I pray they find strength in the confusion and overwhelming nature of missionary work initially. I certainly need to. It's so weird how young the sisters are. It's hard to explain but I don't like interacting with them haha. So I will email on Fridays and my new mailing address is the same but change AUG 12 to JUL 1 and change Unit 2 to Unit 73 or whatever. It might just be "2" but change it to "73." I think there is something like "Dear Elder" where you can write me without actually mailing a letter, I don't know. Thank you all for your advice that I got before coming. It has helped me be excited for what is ahead and dive in now. I know I am truly a representative of Christ and it has almost brought tears to my eyes thinking about that on several occasions. This really is my life now and I anticipate trying to enjoy every moment of it. The work is incredible and the things I have learned so far are really all I have to start with, so thank you all for what you taught me. Anyone coming out soon, remember that you come out with what you have and know and are, so make sure you are happy with that. It's funny to have to stop saying "guys" and other goofiness. I am already becoming dorky, things are funny to me that should not be funny. I love you all so much and I will be coming home from this a better version of myself, I can tell you that already. It's so funny how everything is versus what I thought it would be. Sorry if this letter is uber long, but I bet you all loved it. I love you all and know the Lord is sustaining me in every minute of this. I hope you can find the same in your own lives. Wow, this is all so crazy! Love, Elder Webb