Letter #2!

Wahoo! Wow, I love it here. It is such a great place and I have learned so much! We pretty much live in the classroom, so I have been very creative at finding new ways to sit and trying out different postures throughout the day so that I don't get too sore. I have been having good posture though and doing my best so I can be tall and strong when I see you in two years again ha ha!

So, the first day was just crazy. There was so much to do and it seemed like so little time. It was a completely new experience, and I think I must have been in some sort of shock for a few days. It felt like a dream for about the first three days, and still kind of feels like a dream. Time seems to pass differently here, it feels like I've been here for forever! That is in a good way though :) The first Sunday was weird; it didn't seem much like a Sunday. You really have to set it apart in your mind, and EXTRA dedicate yourself even more than the other days because you are already trying to focus and feel the Spirit strong every weekday anyway. It's really wonderful how much you are just engulfed in the Gospel! I love it.

Sunday nights and Tuesday nights we have devotionals, and on Sunday the MTC administration head spoke to us and Tuesday Donald Hallstrom and his wife spoke. They did great and it was neat to be with so many missionaries at once. We did sing "Called to Serve" and it was pretty awesome! The other night though there was an elder sitting next to me who was singing so loud I seriously couldn't hear myself. I was singing tenor and bass switching off between verses and had the hardest time finding my notes because he was singing so loud (and not on key). I learned a really good lesson though. He was a super nice elder, and I could tell he was excited about being there. Whethere he knew he was singing off-key or not, he was singing loud and praising God! That's how we all should be; never be ashamed or worried about what people think, but do good anyway. We should fear God and not man. There's a scripture in Romans (8:16?) that talks about not being ashamed of the Gospel.

I haven't been sleeping super well; the first night I couldn't fall asleep until at least midnight and woke up at about 5:45 before any alarms or anything went off. I think I had so much going through my head and was nervous about being late and everything and so I didn't rest much. The next night was a little better, except that night I started having crazy dreams. I usually don't remember my dreams, but the majority of the nights here so far I have had dreams and remembered them. They are really weird. I have slowly been improving at sleeping though and am getting more used to falling asleep/waking up here.

They feed us tons, and it's not too bad. We get BYU icecream every Wednesday and Sunday and that's pretty good. They also have freezers with icecream bars in them and you can just eat however many you want at any meal. I'm getting my money's worth. I hope you are enjoying the Blend-Tec, I think it's just great that you bought it the day I leave. ;) No, I'm glad it will be there waiting for me when I get back. I hope you have some good recipes down perfectly so that you can show me the ropes.

My teachers here are really great! Brother Carlson and Sister Adkins are our main teachers in class. They really know a lot. Hmm... I only have about 3 minutes left, so I'm trying to think of the most important things to tell you. There's so much to say and just not enough time! I'm writing a lot in my Study Journal and Mission Journal though, so a lot of my thoughts are recorded then.

I love you all so much, I'm thankful for the letters and packages I have received so far! We get mail twice a day, and the Dear Elder's have been working just fine. They have same day arrival if you do it before noon I think. Anyway, thanks for writing me it really brightens up my day!

I guess I'll just tell you some of what I'm feeling. I am SO thankful to be serving a mission right now and there is no better place I could be! I love it here and there are a lot of good missionaries around me. Our district is apparently the "example district" so that's cool. I love my Savior, this is His church and it is true :) I know it! Please do all you can to share it with everyone around you.

I have to go but know I love you so much!

-Elder Beckett