Elder Justice Hirschi's Mission: 1st week at the MTC

Dear Family,

I am sorry for the short email last week. Our presidency wanted us to give a quick email just to let our parents know we were okay, and that we made it here. First I would just like to say that the MTC is amazing! The spirit here is so strong! Every lesson we teach you can just feel it all around you. I had an experience a few days ago with learning the language. I was feeling really down on myself in the morning. We had gotten up really early, and I was very tired. I felt like everyone in class was so far ahead of me in the language. My companion took 2 semesters of Japanese at Harvard University before he came here for crying out loud! As i felt behind the rest of the class my teacher took me outside of class to do coaching. She told me she was amazed at how fast I was learning. She said that everything was going to be alright. In that moment I felt the spirit so strong, and I knew that I would be able to learn this language. It's not an easy language. I know some days are extremely difficult, but I am so very blessed to have these incredible teachers. They teach so powerfully with the spirit. I am also blessed with an awesome companion. He is the nicest guy in the world, and we get along very well. I miss you guys a lot. Out here my district feels like they are part of my family. We may have only known each other for a week, but it feels like we have known each other our whole lives. I know that the Lord has prepared us to meet each other here, and to learn and grow together. Mom I just want you to know now that I have been taking quite a few pictures haha. I will send you some in this email. I just want to say that the first few days I felt very overwhelmed with everything, but I now know with hard work I can do anything. I got the shampoo and body wash just fine. Thank you for that. I got Brinly's letters, and they are so cute. Please tell her that I love her very much and thank you. I will send you guys some soon (when I can find the time ha). I got Slade's and Dad's email and I will send you guys some individually or some letters when I can. My P-day is every Thursday. We get to go the the temple every P-day. I was wondering if you guys would mind sending me my white tie I forgot it. Also we have gym every day, but Sunday so maybe a few more socks, t shirts, and shorts. Don't worry about sending it soon I am fine without it, but if you can that would be great!. My companion is from Manhattan, New York. We get to play basketball pretty much everyday, but Sunday! It is so awesome! The food here is pretty good, I am trying to eat a little less so I can lose some weight. I think the best food we have had is alfredo noodles, of course haha. My companion is great, the most interesting thing about him I would say is that his mom sings in the Metropolitan Opera. Also he took a year of schooling at Harvard of course. Some days I feel really dumb because he is so smart, but he is always so encouraging and knows exactly what to tell me. I have learned so much here already! We have already learned how to pray and bear our testimony. Something fun in Japanese: Watashitachi wa senkyoshi desu. Watashitachi wa Iesu Kirisuto ni tsuite messeji ga arimasu. (We are the missionaries. We have a message about Jesus Christ.) We also like to say ai shitemas a lot which means I love you. We teach an investigator every day, but P-day and Sunday! So we are learning very quickly. We taught our first investigator on Friday 3 days after being out here. To be honest I was extremely nervous. I had know idea what to say. We had only learned 2 days worth of Japanese, and we were already told to teach someone; however, I know without a doubt that the spirit speaks all languages. Even though I didn't know what to say or how to say it, the spirit was able to teach our investigator through my words. We are just instruments in the Lords hands. Even though I may not speak Japanese very well the spirit does for me. How is St. George? How is everyone doing? I really want to hear about everything from you guys because I miss you tons. Is there anything fun you guys have been doing lately? have you been doing much boating without me? How is the summer? Is Logan doing well in class because I pray for him every day. I hope to hear from you guys soon I cannot wait to read all of your letters and emails. Thank you for everything you do for me. I will send a few pictures, but I have a lot more. (I'll send some more because they won't fit in this email.)

First day me and my roommates.