Week 3 MTC  May 16, 2012

Dear Family and Friends

So another week is down in the MTC and as Michael so kindly pointed out to me I have got 3 weeks down 101 to go ha-ha. He thinks he is funny. Anyway, right after I sent my email last week my companion and I got to go off campus to the dry cleaners, so we got so see the outside world, which was nice for a change. We will be going to the dry cleaners again this week after we get done with emails today.  We need to go pick up his things. So it’s nice that we get to do that.  It is looking a little cloudy outside today so hopefully we get a rain storm or something. They are awesome!!! As you know I sprained my ankle last week and so instead of playing basketball, which I love to do, I had to resort to playing four- square for a few days. I need to let my ankle heal... They take 4- square quite seriously here. Just a heads up to those who will be coming in soon! Ha Ha   Get ready & practice up!!!!  Every so often during our class time we get to watch a video about the district or something that is beneficial and every time I see that coming up I like scream "YES"! Everyone looks at me funny but I think it’s cool to just sit down and watch a few minutes of video…….. they are the best!!! I don’t know if I mentioned this, but on Saturday nights we all go and sing Russian hymns, which is so cool and I get to practice up on some reading. It is really helpful to work on that and enjoy singing the hymns at the same time. Friday we again had “Field Day Friday” and I had to kick left footed because of my ankle. I kicked better when I did that……….. so maybe I’ll continue  with my left foot. It was fun and I actually got to run the bases and not just stand in line. Each night when we get back to our residence it’s like a party. People are always all over the place and it’s a mad house some nights, so we have to keep our door closed or else people will come into our room. They like us I guess…….. for whatever reason.  Ha  Ha    It’s fun sometimes to relax and just chill but other times it’s nice to have some time to write and think. To learn the colors in Russian, we played the game “Signs”, which was fun but super hard at the same time. Not only did you have to remember their sign but you had to remember how to say the color and do it to a beat.  It was like a mix of ”Signs” and “Big Booty” for those of you who know what those games are.    It was fun!   So this last week……. I have had the worst cold of my life! I swear, I have had horrible headaches and a runny nose and it’s not been the best, but I have kept a positive attitude and I continued to work hard in my studies because I know the Lord blesses us when we are obedient and when we are trying our hardest. I am almost over my cold so hopefully it will be all gone by next week………. I love my district & we work well together and support each other!!!! Oh so sad news……. we lost our funny & exciting teacher. We now we have a new teacher who we only have had once. He said that he taught this class before and his kids were sleeping and playing the rubber pencil games.

 I don’t know how he is going to be, but hopefully we can learn a lot.

 Yesterday during devotional we got to hear from L. TOM PERRY!!!!!!!!!!!  It was so great to hear from another apostle. He talked about the priesthood, but what got me………. was that he told the story about how this boy was talking to an older man. The older man asked if he had read the Book of Mormon. The boy said, yes!   He asked the boy if he knew the three witnesses.  And he said yes. The older man was Martin Harris. It just hit me that the beginning of the Book of Mormon, before 1st Nephi, is just as important as the rest of the book. I read that today and found a lot of new things in there that I never knew.  It was really cool. We got to go to the temple, which is always the place to be, to get a piece of mind and to just think about whatever is on your mind. I love the temple, it will be sad not going every week once I get to Ukraine……… But I know the blessings will still be there. 

Now on a funny note, my companion and I get bored when we walk sometimes, so we find new things to do.  The other day we were walking in exact unison and he kept trying to walk opposite of me, but I wouldn’t let him. It was just a dumb little thing that we did, but it was fun.  Sometimes you just have to entertain yourselves!!!!  Well I don’t know what else to say, since the weeks are pretty much the same.  But I’ll try to find new and exciting things to talk about each week.  No promises though!    Ha Ha  . I love you all and want you to know I pray for you every night and I know that the Lord is blessing all of you. Love you all!  Thanks for the support!!!  I love getting your letters!

Love Elder Litchfield