My first week in the MTC

dear family, 

thank you all so much for the love and support! the mtc is going really well, and i actually enjoy being here. i miss you all sooooooo much. so much that it's hard for me to sit here and think about, but i've never felt more absolutely sure that i'm doing the right thing in my life. i've been praying daily and the language is coming really well. through hard work and the spirit, anything is possible. we've been able to teach the "investigator" here pretty well with the exception of elder H replacing the word atonement with hang-over. long story short he told sister kim that jesus was hung over so we can live again.

my district consists of myself, elder H, elder G, elder W, elder, Q, sister E and sister M.
i love everyone i'm here with, especially the elders!

my comp (elder H) is like a ginger (name protected). he ran track, played in marching band and orchestra, sang in choir. very utah valley mormon boy-esque, but he's nice. he does struggle with the language a bit tho. for example last night he said "heavenly father, please bless the gospel" while we were praying with our investigator, and then later on handed her the english bible rather than the korean one for sister kim to read out of.

elder G is funny in the way that an eighth grade math teacher from sandy utah is funny. hilariously uncomfortable with different cultures and he finds language barriers to be the funniest thing in the world.

elder W reminds me of (name protected), except not retarded. he enjoys gooning around. we talk a lot about reddit and the sitcoms that we've watched. i can tell i'm going to be good friends with all of these elders.

elder Q reminds me of oscar from the office. he likes to tell people what to do, and correct them aaaallllll the time. funny thing is he often doesn't know what he's talking about. oh well, he's nice enough i guess.

the food here sucks. it's a step above cafeteria food, which still isn't much.

i share a dorm with Elder H, and two other elders, elder T and elder F, very typical boys you'd meet in utah. one of them is thespian who reminds me of a more spiritual (name protected) and the other is a fitness guru who banged out a year of college physics in eight weeks.

i'm currently doing really well as far as supplies go. thank you so much for the packages and letters. it feels so good to know that you're all doing well and are alive and kicking. i have the most mail out of anyone in my district and it's a running joke that i have a million girlfriends writing me. i miss you all so much. and honestly, after being out here, i could see spencer being an excellent missionary.

tell pk and sawyer and the rest of the clan that I say hi. don't mention to pk that i think he should be out here as well. i'm learning to be way more productive and effective in my studies than i've ever been.

brooke, i'm glad to hear that you're enjoying high school. junior year is such an awesome time. you really come into your own as an individual. there's so much fun to be had when you open up and allow yourself to be friends with everyone.

eliza, i'm so happy to hear that you're inspired to serve. start studying now though. you'll be leagues ahead if you're familiar with preach my gospel and the standard works. keep me posted with how volley ball is going.

lilly, i'm sorry to hear about your arm. the cupcake and lemonade stand sounds like a blast though, and i think it'd be awesome if you could do backflips by the time you were home.

katie, thank you so much for your sweet letters. i miss you so much. it's not the same without a little sister to goon around with and sit on, seriously though.

spencer, stay strong, bruh. everyone is enthralled with the stories from home i've been telling. i feel like you with the way these elders quiet down when i speak up to talk about something we've done together, or when i recount scout camp/1211FIVE stories. i'm so stoked to hear about how you grow as person in the next two years. write to me about your patriarchal blessing, when you go through the temple, college and the blessings you receive in general. if i can offer any advice to you as a younger borther i would say to pray always and be familiar with the doctrine of christ. i can feel myself becoming a better human being and my capacity to love others has grown in a matter of a week. you've taught me well, man. i'm staying intact with my personality and passions tho. i recite rap verses daily that in hopes to remember them through my whole mission.

Mom and Dad, I'm doing so well. also, i go to the temple thursday afternoons. i mean this in the nicest way possible, but please don't come. it'd break my heart to have to say goodbye to you again.

i also find it important to mention that i've met a bboy, a hip hop dancer, and a producer/rap enthusiast since being here all within my district/class building. the lord places friends in our midsts.

also, if there's a way for me to write a generic post to send to extended family, please help me to do so. i don't feel like there's enough time in a day.

i love you all so much and am doing well. i guess  that's all i have to say as of right now.

with love,
Elder Samuel Loa Tuinei

p.s: the shift key on this computer blows.