Holla Familia y todo que yo amo!
For those of you who did not take a year of spanish in high school, that says hi family and everyone I love! I titled this email as "How crazy!" because that's all I can think of at this moment! This is just my 4th day in the MTC, and I've already begun to learn so much here! I'd like to start off by apoligizing to my wonderful mother who I told I would email the day I entered the MTC. The problem was that I actually had NO CLUE when I would actually be able to email her, but I'm doing it now, so hopefully you're happy now, madre! For those of you who know me, you probably know I like to talk a lot. And for those who know me even better than others probably know that that is an understatement. But it's true! haha! So, I'd really love to tell about each and every experience that I've had here, but since I only get a total of 30 minutes of computer time a week, I'll have to restrain myself from writing a novel every time.
Anyway, I'll get on with it! My companion's name is Elder Oldroyd, and he's not as talkative as I am (surprise), but he's pretty relaxed and definitely a very great and sincere guy. When I saw his name, I for some reason thought that he was gonna be some huge guy who played football and could eat me for breakfast (the "royd" part of his name reminded me of "steroids"). But it was quite different when, instead, I was greeted by a 130 pound dude from Utah (sound familiar, Dad?). We are a district of 12 and when we all get together is can get a little bit crazy. In a good way, though, of course. Just as crazy as a group of Elders following the Missionary Manual can get. We're all Spanish speaking and going to mostly all different missions around the U.S. and Mexico. However, one elder is Spanish speaking in Australia! What the heck? Yeah, it sounded pretty crazy, but I think it kind of helps testify that the leaders of the church know what they're doing and they know where to put missionaries so that every person has the oppurtunity to hear the message of the gospel in their own language. Even for people you wouldn't think about, like the hispanics in Australia!
On the first night I was here, all of the missionaries with dorky orange dots on their tags (signifying that we're complete newbs) we're gathered for an "Investigator Activity." I was sitting with Elder Oldroyd and we were all waiting for this thing to start, when suddenly some random dude who had a Tanner beard and was wearing shorts and a T-shirt asked if he could sit next to me. I told him "Sure, man!" and asked him what his name was. This guy, Steve, had apparently had been invited by his member friend to come to this thing. Steve agreed that he would go if that friend could beat him in a pickup game of basketball. Needless to say, he lost. Haha! Surrounded by missionaries, though, he seemed a bit freaked out, so I just started having a good conversation with him about basketball, and when I told him I was from Dallas, Texas, he was like, "oh no! I HAD to sit next to a Mavericks fan!" That was pretty funny, but I was still wondering what he and a few more non-member people were doing with us missionaries. Well, to cut the long story short, we kind of taught them as a huge group by getting to understand their personal needs. When we as missionaries teach people, it should be for their sake. We don't teach to get more members in the church. We do it because we know what is true, and we want to bring happiness into the lives of others.
I have to go now, but I love y'all! I'll email soon!
P.S. this is my mailbox number
ELDER CHRISTIAN PATRICK HUTCHINSON
MTC Mailbox #118
MEX-MEXW 0822
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793
