Benny the Bet Bith

Nimen Hao!

I am writing this in the MTC laundry room. (I find that to be an unimportant detail, but you said to include everything, so... Here you go). I feel like Bilbo Baggins, sans pipe, leaning back in his chair before beginning to write There and Back Again. "Where to begin?" 

The full realization of what I'm embarking on took a few hours to set in. At dinner on my first evening though, it hit me. WHAM!!! I felt like Joe Theismann after getting steamrolled by Lawrence Taylor, lying in a semi-dazed state on the ground, only vaguely aware of what just happened. (Not literally, of course. I haven't any gruesome leg injuries, don't worry.) got my companion right off the bat. His name is Elder Tree. Somewhat disappointingly, he doesn't remind me much of Tree Rollins. Anyway, he is pretty great. Him and I have similar personalities. He's pretty quiet and soft-spoken, until you get to know him, and then he's a very nice guy. He has labeled me as our district's"wise sage" due to some of my responses in class. 

My district has a total of three companionships of elders, and one trio of sisters. That makes nine total missionaries, going to eight separate missions. I'll try to list them here: Oakland/San Francisco (Me), Wellington New Zealand (This is Elder Tree's, and I'll admit, I'm mildly jealous of his call), Hong Kong, Vancouver Canada, Birmingham England, New York City, Sidney Australia, and two elders are going to one of the Taiwan missions. I didn't realize that mandarin was spoken in so many different places. 

For you, Grandma, I have tried to clear my plate at every meal (even if it's eggs or something), and the only things that I haven't been able to finish are the mashed potatoes with southern gravy (which are just like school ones), and the egg breakfast burrito (which had no meat, I might add). I have only played basketball once so far, but have already established my dominance in the paint. My team was undefeated in three games. We didn't exercise on Thursday or Sunday, and I dutifully participated in my Zone's "Soccer Saturday" for our Saturday exercise. 

Mandarin is hard, but I'm pleased to announce that it's not the hardest language to learn. That honor goes to... Drum roll please... Cantonese! From what I understand, it's a lot like Mandarin, but with seven tones instead of five. (or, really four and one that is a lack of tone rather than a tone). We're speeding through the language, but I'm keeping up alright. Oh, and sorry for the lack of pictures in this email. I have not yet figured out how to upload them to the computer from my camera, and it's not like I have a ton of free time to figure it out. 

On a more serious note, I was deeply saddened by hearing of the death of Brother Allen. I was sort of in a state of shock when I got the news. Please give my sincere condolences to Steven and his family. We did a session at the temple this morning, and I put their names on the prayer roll. If it's possible, could you send me a few names? My zone does a session every Monday. Another thing I forgot to bring is my patriarchal blessing. My branch president said to tell you to send me that. And, a few sort of random things that I forgot, some lip balm and a key ring, and a folder. Everything else I was able to find at the MTC store. 

Sorry that this hasn't been a lecture email (or, I guess that's a your welcome for most of you). They'll probably grow to be more that way with time. 

Zaijian!

P.S. Make sure to tell grandpa to get better for me.

P.P.S. I did relent and join the MTC choir, but mostly because literally everybody else in my district wanted to.