How art thou? It’s officially 3 weeks since I’ve been a missionary. It’s been the Longest and the Fastest 3 weeks of my life. I feel as if I’m in a time warp. It’s crazy…

Tonikaku, Everything is going great. Only 2 weeks til I am in Nihon! I feel so grateful and blessed each day that I’ve cut my time here in half. I really couldn’t have wished for any better guidance or miracles than that. It has helped me keep motivated. Nihongo is coming along well and I’m learning more and more. 11 hours of class is rough! But It’s needed.

I made a goal with 1 of my comps, that we’d only speak nihongo from here on out. Needless to say, there is a lot of silence and hand actions sometimes. Haha. But it’s great benkyo. Itsumo SYL. I’ve been doing well, but still not sleeping well at all. That Tempur Pedic bed has really ruined me. These MTC mattresses aren’t comfortable at all, plus I have to share a room with 2 other chaps. And we all know how well I sleep with that. Thank goodness they don’t snore. (Yet another tender mercy)

I really enjoy gym time here 5 days a week. I usually go out to the field and we throw a frisbree around and I run around. It really helps relieve alot of the stress from being so confined in this area. I am eating alot and rather well, (not like your cooking though mom).

PLEASE!!!!! Don’t send me anymore candy, I’m eating waaaay too much of it. haha. I think I’ve gained 7 pounds so far, so it’s time to cut back on the sugar a bit.

Elder Bennett and Elder Provost (my 2 friends I’ve made here) are golden. They are always there to help me out when I’m in need, sharing a scripture to lighten me up, testify to me. It’s so great. I know that NOW is the time for me to serve, not when I was 19. I have so much to learn about life, and this is a stellar experience for me to go through in order to learn it. I have also realized the power of influence that I can have on people. I testified to a bunch of the young kids (a.k.a. everyone besides me) 2 nights ago about what missionary work means to me. How everyone needs to sacrifice something for missionary work, regardless of what it is, we all sacrifice and no one’s sacrifice means more than another elders’. The fact that we came out here to serve for 2 years is what matters. It was a great experience for me to hear the words come out of my mouth without 2nd thought. it was like I actually believed what I was saying, it was really cool to have that moment of realization. I’ve gotten letters from a few friends and it’s been lovely to hear how they are. It brightens up my day to receive mail. All the other elder’s in the district are jealous that I get so many packages, I tell them that I’m just a better person and that’s why I receive them. (Only a joke….. sometimes)

My district is good, it’s nice to be surrounded with motivated people, there are a few missionaries that aren’t motivated in my district (9 people) and it frustrates me at times, because we only have 2 weeks left, I would want to cram in my little brain as much nihongo as I possibly could. But I’m also really opinionated. So I’m getting through this process and learning about how I can be more charitable.

I love you all so much! 2 weeks til I hit the homeland and I’m stoked! Keep me in your prayers. Stay faithful & Lead by example. Until next week,

– Elder Purcell

This week has been great.  Talk about such a transition here in spirit prison (the mtc). Haha.  I’m used to it a lot more now and am enjoying the days a whole lot more as well.  I love the firesides and devotionals. Classes don’t seem long enough and there’s always so much more nihongo bunpo and tango to learn.  But that’ll come with time.  My nihongo speaking skills have come back far faster than I imagined and I’m learning far more than I thought was possible.  It’s great stuff.  My 2 comps. (Elder Brox and Elder Palmer) are great. I get along well with Elder Palmer.  He’s my DL and a motivated person.  Get’s a lot of work done and he’s happy to be here.

I taught the 2nd discussion in Nihongo last week thursday. Haha. What a fun experience.  I hardly know japanese and here I am talking about Chie no Kotoba and Sukui no Keikaku.  But it was great, I learned alot and it just gets me more and more excited for Nihon.  I leave June 9th!!!  I’ll get my flight plans next week I believe.

I’ve made 2 real good friends here.  Elder Provost & Elder Bennett.  Both are great guys and have been looking out for me and helping me out a lot. Just friendly people who always have kind words to say and lift my spirit up.  I def. know that this is the right time for me to be on a mission. This is MY time to seve and i’m so grateful for this opportunity and for the friends that I’ve already made.

Last week tuesday night, an apostle Russell M. Nelson came and spoke to us about missionary work.  It was great.  I enjoy tuesday’s and sundays a whole lot.  I’m stoked to be here and my attitude is happy and my kokoro is shiawasse.

Keep praying for me and I’ll keep you in my prayers as well.  I love being a missionary and working through these challanges.  I really miss working at superior threads tho…. But taking a little break will  do me some good.  Keep working hard, stay faithful and lead by example.  I love you all!

-Holler at your boy.

Elder Purcell

Wow.  Almost a week here and talk about rough stuff!  I don’t think that I could’ve possibly prepared myself for such a shock and adjustment here at the MTC.  It’s just so different, not a bad different. But so foreign to me.  I’m confined in a class for 11 hours a day, don’t get out to the sun except for gym (thank goodness! I need that Vitamin D), eat a lot of food (which I’m not used to), and hardly sleep.  Oh how I miss my tempur pedic bed.  I sleep on a mattress that is older than me and has stains on it that I care not to dwell on…

I’m doing well now, my spirits are up and I’m happy to be here serving a mission.  The first few days were rough, so I poured my heart out to heavenly father and fasted on friday asking for help.  I am not going to quit serving a mission, but I’d just so much rather enjoy the experience as a whole vs. not enjoy it but stick with it.  I understand that life isn’t always as luxurious as I’ve known it to be.  That’s why it was a difficult transition for me.  Like you said mom,  I’m used to having such a free life and world so this is so different.  (preface) on Thursday in the morning I spoke nihongo (japanese) with my teacher and was told that there would be a possibility for me to move up.  I didn’t hear anything after that during my night classes, so I assumed that I wouldn’t be moving up.  3 months here wasn’t looking so bright for me.  So friday is when I fasted and prayed a whole lot.  Friday morning my sensei (teacher) didn’t say anything regarding moving up.  What a bummer, then something amazing happened.  My prayers were answered.  Friday night I was moved up to the senpai (advanced) class.  Which means that instead of leaving the MTC on July 22nd for Japan, I will now leave on June 10th.  I’m so happy. That cuts off 6 weeks of my stay here!!  I’m so excited to go to Japan and serve the people there, be out in the city and meet real people.

The language is coming along rather well and I’m amazed at how much is coming back as well as how much I’m able to retain.  I truly have a testimony of prayer and the fast.  I’ve always known that God answers prayers, but I’ve never had a moment where I felt so weak and humbled and then was lifted up so much.  It was the best news to be moved up.
I’m in a 3some with Elder Palmer(from SLC) and Elder Brox(from Las Vegas).  They’re both good guys, work hard but are normal. I think we’re all brainwashed here already, but I realize that I need to be in a different mindset in order to stay focused on the work.

My schedule is this- Class for 11 hours a day studying Nihongo mixed in with the Gospel.  Study alot of Preach my gospel.  Thursday I teach the 2nd discussion in nihongo, I have no idea what I’m going to say or do about that. Haha. There’s so much tango that I don’t know.  But i’ll get it down.  I’m fully confident that I’ll get the language down.  I don’t even worry about it.  My p-days are on tuesday here and I only get 30 min to email.  I’ve been writing this email for 20 min now. haha.  Dang it takes a long time.  I’m eating alot of good food which is weird cause I didn’t eat at home.  I don’t know if I like it all that much.  I can’t wait for the Katsu Sando in nihon.  That’s where I’ll gain some weight. haha.  My sensei’s are good, all served in Japan and I’m older then all of them.  It’s strange being here and being 24.  But it’s good, I don’t feel old, in fact I feel rather young and innexperienced.

Love,
-Elder Purcell