Week 2 - "Short but Sweet" (Email)

Hello,

So this is my second PDay and it’s already running smother than the last one.  So in your letter you had many questions for me and I can’t remember them, but I’ll try my best.  My room is a fairly large area with two bunks, I sleep on the bottom.  My companions name is Elder Theobald.  Also there are two other missionaries in our room, Elder Cuttler, he is part Korean and he is from Utah and Elder Hatch, I think you’re talking to his mom, right?,so you know a little about him.  These three are the only ones in my district besides the three sisters.  My typical day goes like this. I get up around 6:30 am and start my day. Then I go to a classroom and do personal study until breakfast.  From there I go back to class and either taught by a teacher or I do a preplanned study.  Oohh  I’m going to cut it short for now. I miss you guys so much, but not too much.  As for your letters, I enjoy reading them a lot, I only wish I had more time to enjoy them.  The language is coming along pretty good, I would say.  I know how to read, write, pray ask question and more in Korean.  I have so little time left to write, I hope next time I can write faster.  I’ll send you another letter, bye for now….

Love your son,                                                                                                                

 Elder Westarp

Week 1 "First week at the MTC"

                                               

(안녕하) Hello Mom,

It was my first Pday today (Tuesday) & I was so excited to write home.  The MTC is okay over all but most everyone seems restless & tired.  The food is not bad & all the old Elders (장로)  are really friendly.  So far I have learned soo much. The alphabet, how to pray, & bare my testimony all in Korean.  The first few days were ok, but Friday……… No Saturday was tough.  The whole day you could tell we were all tired, that was the worst of it all though.  I miss you guys & I’m beginning to realize I’ll be gone two years, but Korea is still a dream to me.  My companion’s (동반자)’s name is Elder Theobald.  Also in our district there two other Elders & three Sisters going to Seoul.  I received yours & Rhylie’s letters & the package.  Thank you ! I needed to have those papers.  I found out that I leave June 6^th, so I have a long time to learn at the MTC.  I haven’t taken many pictures since there are so many restrictions on where you can use them & when.  I’m trying to get as many as possible.  The feeling here is great & I feel fine.  So many of the other Elders are sick but I haven’t seemed to be affected by them.  Oh, MY ZONE or all the other missionaries going to Korea are awesome.  They have tons of respect for everyone.  They look out for everyone. They even help us with the language.  I really enjoy my zone, something else about the zone, is that they say they are the cream of the crop ! What? is the first thing I thought, but later on I found this to be more & more true.  The first thing they did was write us a letter for when we first arrived.  Then as a tradition, the old Elders make our bed the first night. They told us that this happened to them as well.  It was nice since they were weird sheets and I didn’t know how they went on.  To explain what it was to make myself not look stupid helps. It was a mini mattress thing, weird.  After that they got to know everyone and told about themselves.  Most everyone is going to Seoul.  The last things or main thing is just for the Sister missionaries.  They stand up when a sister comes to the table & then take their trays.  We are the only zone that does that.  They respect everybody & that’s nice.  I hope to hear from you soon.

Your son,

Elder Westarp