MTC Week 4

Magandang Tanghali!‏

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From:	Michael Nay (michael.nay@myldsmail.net)
Sent:	Fri 7/29/11 7:09 PM
Kamusta!

First off, thanks for the packages/mail. The frozen eggnog was a lovely surprise. It probably would have tasted a little better if I had it while it was cold though. When I opened it at night it was still too frozen to drink so I let it sit overnight next to the ice thinking it would be a nice treat the next afternoon. As soon as I woke up and checked though, it was already kind of warm. So I chugged it all as soon as I got out of bed. :) If I do gain any weight in this place, a lot of it will be thanks to you! That gooey butter cake was scrumptious as well. Also, those PMG's are perfect! I'll try to send home a little package next week sometime with my memory card and some money from Elder Dickey and Mansfield. About the memory cards though, I have been hearing too many horror stories about missionaries sending their cards home and then having them jacked in the mail and losing all of the pictures. So I'm thinking that I won't be doing that once I get to the Philippines. I'll figure something else out though like maybe ripping them onto a cd. But they sell 4gb cards here for only 7 bucks, so I might get 1 or 2 more so I'll have enough for the whole mish.

For the past day and a half, I have had no voice. So that has been a blast. I woke up yesterday morning and could only talk in a really low voice and muster out every other word or so. It was really weird. I don't really have any other symptoms, just no voice. It made trying to teach our investigator last night interesting. I think its getting better though. But just because I can't talk, I know my branch presidency will call on me to speak on sunday. They give us a topic the week before, then randomly select 3 missionaries from the pulpit. Its a good way for us to get a good bank of talks that are pre-prepared. I'm glad I took those few from home.

The older district left for the Philippines this week, so there is evidence that people actually make it out of here! Haha. But that means a newer district came in, and we are no longer the young ones in the branch. It is weird that we are already almost halfway through the MTC. Time is starting to fly by like crazy.

Remember how my right big toe started hurting when I bumped it like the day before I came into the MTC? Well it doesn't really hurt when I walk normally, but whenever it bumps into something it hurts. So I decided to get it checked out and get it taken care of before I left to the Philippines. Turns out its a wart! I had no idea warts could look like that. It hardly looks like anything at all on the outside. I'll try to get a picture of it. But anyways, there's a podiatrist coming in on the 10th of August and he'll take care of it then. They offered to ship me out and have it done right away, but its not that bad and this way I don't have to pay the 40$ co-pay.

Today was the first time we could go to the temple. As always, the temple was great. I ended up seeing Brian Matthews, the guy that runs Hearthstone. He was working the initiatory desk and he proceeded to tell me how much he loved Don. I told him that for better or worse, he probably won't be forgetting him any time soon! Haha.

For the past 2 weeks or so I have been exhausted, 24/7. Even though I'm getting like 7 hours of sleep every night, it doesn't seem like enough. It seems like I fall asleep at least once during each day at times I'm not supposed to (classes, meetings, study time). It seems like no matter how hard I force myself to stay awake each day, its bound to happen. I just keep hoping for that extra strength that we're supposed to get as missionaries in times like this! During a fireside though, someone said that if you feel like you're tired 24/7 and always needing a nap, you're being a good missionary. So I guess thats a good thing! It doesn't help that I am on the top bunk. The top bunks are a pain. I feel like I'm doing a pull up just to get to bed each day, and making them is ridiculous.

That should be fun to have those folk fest people at the house for a couple days. It seems pretty convenient that they are both Bryan's age! I guess his dating strategy has worked-let them come to him! Haha.

Dad, that horse trip sounded like fun. Sounds like you got to see more wildlife there than you ever would at Wind Rivers! That should be fun too.

Time's up.

Mahal Kita!

Elder Nay

Week 3 MTC

Magandang Tanghali!‏

 

From:	Michael Nay
Sent:	Fri 7/22/11 7:03 PM
Kamusta?! Are you missing me yet?

I'm beginning to understand why Bryan always wrote the same exact things in his emails because it really is just the same old stuff, different day! Haha. A typical schedule is get up, sit in class for a few hours, personal study for an hour, eat lunch, go to class for a couple hours, companionship study for an hour, language study for an hour, eat dinner, use the language learning software on the computers for an hour, sweat, and sometime during the day is gym for an hour. Elder Rostedt and I have been doing volleyball. We did horseshoes and frisbee for a while... but turns out I am absolutely terrible in both of those, so it wasn't much fun. Haha. The soccer field is always way too crowded and doesn't look like much fun with that many people playing. And depending on the time of day, it is way too hot to be doing that much running around. I have already decided I'm not going to adjust to the heat in the Philippines very well. Oh well. On sundays we are either sitting in meetings all day or doing some kind of studying. And eating. Then every sunday and tuesday night there is a fireside/devotional. Most of them have been pretty good so far, but no big name people yet. The one last tuesday was really good. It was by Melvin Hammond of the 70 and he gave a really strong and powerful talk about the importance of the Book of Mormon. It reminded me of the one by Jeffrey R Holland a while back. Oh yeah, there were a bunch of cameras there to record the missionaries singing some songs for a church movie thats about to come out called "Put your shoulder to the wheel". I guess its about the church movement in Africa. But when it comes out you should watch it because there is a chance I could be famous! My whole district (12 of us) decided to be part of the choir so we also sung in the devotional. Elder Rostedt is really musical and so me and him have been doing a lot of singing (luckily he's patient enough to deal with my voice skills I've inherited!). Its really cool though when just the 2 of us start teaching our investigators by singing a hymn. Our district is practicing a piece to eventually audition and perform in a special musical number. We'll see how that goes.

I can't believe I've forgotten to tell you about E. Rostedt's hiccups! I guess I have just learned to tune them out by now so I keep forgetting. But he has had the hiccups for 4 years straight now and has a hiccup attack every several hours. It wouldn't be so bad if they were quiet, but every time he hiccups it sounds like someone just kicked a doorbell yiper dog. Not sure how that is going to work out for him when he is in the middle of a spiritual moment at an investigator's house.

About the mini PMG--my roommates E Dickey and E Mansfield would like one as well. So if you could get 3 English ones, color, quarter size, and no lamination unless it is free (it is 3 bucks to do it here), that would be awesome. And yes, I'd like fries with that! Haha. They said just let me/them know how much and they'll send some money. Thanks!

As for some of your questions, I highly doubt Bro. Sutherland saw me playing soccer because I have never played it. But I do see Josh every once in a while. And I have seen the Woodfields once, and the Millers twice. Whenever I talk to someone new, E Rostedt is start to catch on and say "let me guess, you know them from high school? College? They are your neighbor?" I do see people I know every day so it is weird. But my branch president is President Stott. He is a judge so he always knows whats up. It's kind of intimidating when he tells stories about how he sent people to jail. Haha. I do see President Taylor in the halls but I don't think he has the slightest clue who I am, so I havn't said anything. And I am just as curious as you to see if I have gotten any fatter! I havn't seen a scale since I've left. But I can only imagine at this rate, I'm going to gain a few pounds! I eat nothing but sugar and grease in here.

Dad, sounds like you are having some good times on the horse trips! Sounds like fun. Make sure and tell Buster hello for me. Oh, and Kimbal too. Haha.

Well it is time for me to push send or not send at all, so ramble random things to you next week!

Mahal Kita!

Elder Nay

 

Week 2 at MTC

Magandang hapon!‏

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From:
Sent:	Fri 7/15/11 9:17 PM

Alright mom, you can only read this if you promise to cry. Alright, now that you've agreed, I guess you can continue.

So how was Kyle's boards? I sure hope it went well! He certainly deserves it with how hard he studies his butt off. I tried to do my part by praying and fasting for him, so hopefully the Lord was able to fill in a few extra blanks for him! The fast was probably a good thing for me to do anyways just to give my digestive system some time to clear out some of this cafeteria food! Its pretty funny to hear everyone complaining about how this food has been tearing people up and having to go to the bathroom 2-3 times more than normal. Some days it tastes pretty good, and other days (like today at lunch) you walk away just trying to convince yourself that it will be able to fill you up and that it was edible.

My P-days will be on Fridays, so be expecting letters then. Last week was weird because it was a half week so it was on saturday. Also, instead of emails if people could use dear elder or snail mail (at least while I am in the MTC) that would be really helpful because I could read it and have time to think about how to reply rather than stressing out about this 30 minutes until the computer shuts down. Last week I managed to push send with 2 seconds left. Hopefully I will get better at writing in a rush. I have been looking forward to this P-day all week. I've always heard misisonaries are busy all the time, but I never really realized that every minute of every day was blocked out. I'm so busy the whole time I feel like I barely have time to pee! It also means a lot of carrying binders and books around. I wish I had the bigger fannypack. At least for here, it will probably serve me better once I get there and don't have to carry as much stuff. It has been a lot of long days sitting in class and trying to learn. Its not exactly the best self esteem raiser when you sit in class for 3 hours learning Tagalog and barely starting to understand it, then come back the next day and learn a couple more hours of material. I don't think my brain can hold that much info! I think its coming along okay though. I mean, I've only been here a week and a half. I already know more Tagalog in this week and a half than I did ASL in those 2 years. There are some Elders in my district that are picking it up really well, but I'm certainly not that lucky. We are the victims of a newer curriculum, so we have to teach and meet all of our "investigators" here in the MTC in Tagalog--no english. Needless to say, our conversations and lessons aren't very long. It gets really frustrating though knowing what you want to say but not being able to. I'm not too stressed though because its only been a week and a half and I can only progress from here!

Oh, also a big thanks for all my friends that sent letters. And mom, thanks for the package of stuff that I forgot/left. It sure was fun wearing those levis to sweat in! I asked why we had to wear them and it is "for our own safety" because we sometimes have to deal with harsh chemicals. Right....  And thanks for sending E. Rostedt a package. I can tell he was very surprised. He was trying to figure out how his family was able to send one so quickly.

Speaking of E. Rostedt, he has been trying to teach me an Australian accent. I wish I could say I was picking it up, but I am very much failing. He's starting to give up on me because "my American accent is too strong". Oh well. I guess I'll just stick with learning one language at a time.

Thats really crazy and random that the Labrums know my mission president! That will be an interesting conversation starter when I meet him.

I talked to my Zone Leader more about how he got his mini PMG. He said it used to be that you couldn't buy them, but recently Cougar Creations started selling them for I think 15 bucks. He said there were a bunch of elders that just left that just found out about them and had their moms send a big shipment in. So goodluck in your hunt for one! I can get the cover laminated here for pretty cheap. Once I get to the Philippines, I'm going to put my big PMG in a hardback cover.

So here are a few random facts about my roommates: E Rostedt lives about 5 mins away from Harvey Bay. Can anyone say scuba trip? Haha. E Dickey (the one from Ohio) has 15 siblings. Crazy!

I found a few Milo hairs on some of my clothes. It was pretty sad to take them off. How is that hairy thing doing without me?

I met another Elder Nay a few days ago. That was really weird. He was from Riverton. He asked if our last name used to be McNay in the olden days and I said... Sure! Haha.

Well sorry its so random, I just type whatever is in my head while I still have time to type. I best be going so I can push send.

Mahal Kita!

Elder Nay

 PS. Happy anniversary Stu and Chala!

Our first email from Elder Nay

Magandang Umaga!‏

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From:	Michael Nay (michael.nay@myldsmail.net)
Sent:	Sat 7/09/11 2:47 PM

Well since being here I have seen pretty much everyone and their dog. There are SO many people here that I know its pretty crazy. Just after I saw Elder Call, I walked through the doors for the first time with Elder Schumann (the elders quorum president at college). I don't think you would know most of the people I could list because most of them are from college. But needless to say, it feels like a reunion every time I go to a meal.

I am still trying to get used to this whole losing your first name and being called "Elder" thing. I still have to catch myself from just saying the last name or calling people I know by the first name. And I think I can thank Bryan for getting me to say "big guy" or "kid". Haha.

Well the thing I noticed really quick is that it must be a policy that unless you are sweating everywhere you sit/walk, it is too cold. It gets really hot in all of the rooms, and none of the windows open so the air just gets thick and musty. And did I say hot? They only have a couple fans to go around the classrooms, so sometimes we're lucky and able to have a fan during class. It gets really hot in there fast because the room is really small, and my whole district meets in there, which is 12 of us. 5 of us are going to the Cauayan mission. Everyone else is going to some other mission in the Philippines. My 2 other roommates are going to the Bagio (I have no idea how to spell it, the first time I even heard of it was when they told me where they were going. All I know is that it is pronounced Bag-eo). Their names are Elders Dickey and Mansfield. E. Mansfield is from Highland, and E. Dickey is from Ohio. They are both really cool and easygoing. I guess you want to know about my companion... Sheesh you're getting picky in your old age. Haha. His name is Elder Rostedt (pronounced Ross-ted) and he is from Australia. He has a pretty awesome Australian accent. I don't think we have too much in common, but he is really easy going and fun to talk to anyways. He is pretty into music and plays the guitar and sings. During all the hymns, he's the one thats always doing the harmony. I think we will do well together though. He is really dedicated to learning the language so we are always practicing words and phrases as we walk places. He also helps me stay focused too. But there are no complaints with any of my roommates/companion. We all get along really well and are able to crack jokes and fart around each other already. :)

Mom, job well done on filling out the immunizations chart. I do have to get another Typhoid though because they expire every 2 years, and I got mine 2 years ago. So I will be taking that orally sometime soon. I chose oral because when I asked the nurse which was cheaper, she said oral. Haha. So that will be 50 bucks. But I have enough money to cover it.

Thanks for the package! I didn't get it until Thursday night because I have been so busy and thats when we got our DL... I feel like I barely have enough time to pee!

Well I have 1 minute left, but I need you to send one of my pants in the next package. I found out I have to have them for service day, which is thursdays. Lame. Oh well. Also if you could swing by Cougar creations or something like that and pick up a mini PMG. I saw one floating aroundd and it looked nice.

Gotta go.

Mahal kita

Do you miss me yet?? I didn't think so. Haha. Well you are the only email address I remember off the top of my head so you have the task of forwarding it on to dad and everyone else. And whatever you do, DON'T cry while reading this. I know thats hard for you... :)