First Email - YAY!!!!!

Mi familia y mis amigos!!!

How are you? I miss you guys already! The MTC has been a great place for me to start my mission off right. Let me tell you a little about our district but I only have about fifteen minutes to write every week so sorry if I leave out details. Our district consists of Elder Andersen (from Loveland, going to Mexico City), Elder Messner (from my BYU ward and Kansas City, going to Mexico City), Elder Haynie (our district leader going to Mexico City), Elder Condie (going to heramasillo, Mexico), Sister Baek (from Korea going to Seattle), and then I have my TWO companions Elder Sawyer (from Idaho, going to Tempe, Arizona) and Elder Marsol (a Brazilian from Spanish Fork going to California). This district works hard and has fun. We are already great friends and we love learning about the Gospel in spanish together. I have learned so much already, the first couple of days were jammed pack with information but I am starting to get comfortable. In fact, Elder Sawyer and I have been assigned to bless the sacrament on Sunday. We also have to prepare a talk for every Sunday when we are here because the Bishop picks the speakers five minutes before the meeting starts. Oh and all of that is in Spanish! Our branch presidency is great, they have assigned us to memorize a bunch of material in english and spanish so they see the potential we have in us. I now prefer to talk in spanish at all times during the day. The rest of the people in the district have more spanish background than me so they speak better, but I have tried to just say whatever I can with the vocabulary and understanding that I do have. When we open our mouths and do everything we can to speak the language all the time, we learn a lot faster. We have enjoyed all of our teachers who care a lot about us and speak almost perfect spanish. It is hard sometimes to understand but I am getting to the point where I can almost everything they are saying. I love the MTC!! There is a great spirit here and I hope I continue to keep learning at the same pace I have been these first few days. I love you all and miss you but I know this is the work that I must be doing in my life at this time. I know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us perfectly. He sent His Son to this earth so that He may suffer and die in our behalf. This Atonement gives us the opportunity to be strengthened when weak, cleansed when we sin, and return to our Father someday! I would love to recieve some more letters from everyone! They give great encouragement! The best way to contact me is through Dearelder.com. There you can send me letters free, without postage or print costs. I also recieve those messages the very day that you send them. I hope all is well. Todos esta bien aqui!

-Elder Stutz