I'm sorry about not e-mailing last week. Things were a little awkward, and I did not have time to get on the computer. (By the way, there are as many computers here as on any modern school campus. I never need to stand in line... although I do have to hunt for an open seat, some days.)
This week is my teaching week. This means that I only get two hours of instruction a day. The rest of the time is spent studying and teaching. On the whole, it's a lot easier than I thought it would be.
I'm sad at the thought of leaving my district. It’s amazing how close we've gotten in so short of a time. They're like my brothers, and I love them all. Only one of them is going to Chicago with us. The others are all headed to Dallas or Fort worth.
The other night, at the fireside, the speaker (current head of MTC national and international operations. I can't just say president because almost all the male staff here have the title of 'president') said that most of the missionaries in the MTC have said that the MTC is the hardest thing they have ever done. I took a moment to think, and decided that this wasn't actually, the hardest thing I had ever done. In fact, my time here in the MTC has been relatively easy, for all of the intensity of it. I'm only studying two subjects, which in practice aren't unrelated; my time is almost entirely planed out for me, which makes life easy; I have a responsible, caring companion who is not afraid to nag me back on task. I do not need to cook, or to care for anyone besides my companion and me.
Now, I know much of this will change when I get to the field, but the fact that this has been so easy concerns me; have I been less than diligent? I have been pushing myself hard; I've learned how to make goals, (not well, but I can do it, which is more than I could say before,) and study independently (fairly well, actually) and how to teach. (I've never been so quiet and pensive in my life!) I'm more organized than I ever believed I could be, and I'm waking up on time every morning. I'm sleeping easily (not that I recognized I had a problem before) and every evening, I have just enough time to organize my thoughts for the next day. But it hasn't been difficult, per say. Challenging, yes. Stretching, certainly. Not difficult. Not hard on my mind or soul.
I'm out of time. Love you all, and hope you are well.
Maren
