It's nice to get a letter from you -- on P-days when I do emails, it's hard for me to remember things and focus on writing -- and if you didn't notice, my reply was quite scatterbrained. I feel bad not giving individual attention to Colby, Rorie, Caitlin, Nate, Regan, and you and Dad in my letters but I hope you understand that it is just because I don't have the time. But I am thinking of each one of you and I love all your personalized letters!
To be honest, I am not extremely nervous about leaving for NJ on Monday. And it's not that I feel over-prepared or anything, but confident in the Lord and his help to me. And I've had the realization that teaching the basics to people isn't as hard as it may seem. As far as basic principles and doctrines go, I really haven't learned anything that I didn't already know before I came to the MTC. I think the job here is to refine the missionaries, in order to help them teach by the Spirit and teach effectively.
That's awesome that you go to meet another NJ missionary mom! I have made tons of friends in the MTC via connections like that. I bump into someone and it turns out their my long-lost cousin (not really, but you get the point).
I hope you get my letter to Clark soon! He was the first person to write me in the MTC. I also wrote letters to Elder Parkinson and Elder Hatfield, and I was hoping you could mail them for me. I left instructions on the envelope. Sister McKay sent me a package today! It was a box of cookies and they were super good. Bummer that Hayden still hasn't received his call... it must be something special! Make sure she gets my thanks even though I will be writing her back.
I play basketball at the MTC, by the way. The field is just too far away and I like basketball more anyway. My roommate Elder Duncan plays with me and he is actually really good. Neither my companion or my other roommate play basketball. We only have an hour, but it's a blast. On P-day, we still wear our missionary attire because you need it to eat in the cafeteria. Otherwise, I'm in sweats and a shirt.
I'll answer some questions that I forgot to answer in my previous letters:
- Sundays are the busiest days of the week, and frankly I don't enjoy Sundays all that much for that reason, especially now that I am a zone leader.
- You're not bugging me by writing a lot! I can't write back to all of them -- you know that -- but I still enjoy the letters you send me.
- The girls in the pictures are sister missionaries from our district. We have four, one of them going to New Jersey. She just got reassigned yesterday, however, to speak Spanish now (same mission)! She is no longer in our district. I was half hoping they would do that to me, we'll see.
- My other roommate is Elder Walker. He's from AF and he's super funny. He's my favorite.
- Tell Rorie her handwriting is super impressive. I thought I was reading Regan's letter, and then I saw it said "Love, Rorie"! I was surprised and very amazed.
- I got a haircut yesterday, and it looks great. Really.
- I also got your envelope today with all the Facebook stuff and that letter. I loved it! I miss Clark, but I'm glad he got my letter. Thanks also for mailing my letter to Dylan! I will buy a calling card and will call you between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. from the airport. And thanks for mailing my stuff to NJ.
- Tell Rorie I am doing just fine, and that I loved her letter with hearts on it. The thing that I liked the most about the MTC is either gym time or TRC, which is wherever come and volunteer as investigators and we teach them just like in the mission field. Thanks so much for the quotes too! I love D&C 4. I've got one for you that I have always enjoyed:
- "We would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- One other thing that I found to be amazingly great is to read all of Joseph Smith-History in the Pearl of Great Price. It's awesome.
- Tell Colby that I miss being around to play ping-pong and what not with him. Let him know I love him and I'm praying for him too. And thanks for the chocolates!
- Tell Nate he's the man and I apologize -- I never fully read his note until a couple of days ago and so that's why I didn't write him back. But I am thinking of him too.
- Tell Regan I'm happy for her and I wish her the best of luck in her endeavors. And I feel back writing short-length replies to her awesome letters to me, but I'll make it up to her.
- Tell Dad I love him, and Caitlin too. Dad is my best example and Caitlin is just too kind.
I love you Mom, thanks for all your support! I miss you.
Much love to all,
Tab
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