Hey everyone! This is my first letter from the Mission/MTC. Wow. It has been a crazy few days! The first day was hard, but you were experiencing new things, so it wasn't too bad. It was the second day that was really a challenge. I really did want to come home soooo bad! But, I know it's the right thing to be here. And if I came home, I couldn't have had my break from Sarah ;-) You know I love you sister. My companions name is Elder Oakmen. He's way cool! He's way nice. That first night when we got back to our room, we found out that no one else shares it with us cause it's the smaller room. That means I have the bottom bunk, and I don't have to worry about 3 others snoring.
Sister Whipple, my teacher, is way awesome! Either she teaches Chinese well, or it's the gift of tongues. You just get it when she teaches! I've already learned how to pray in Chinese, so I get to pray a few times in Chinese a day. The schedule here was crazy last week, cause it's different for first week kids. This week we're getting into the groove of things. It's wake up bright and early, go to your class and have personal study. Then you learn Chinese mixed with church. Go to Lunch. Go back to class. Go to Dinner. Go back to class. Go to bed. Days really are so long!
I've seen a few people here that I know. I didn't see Elder Rigby or Sister Flores the first couple of days, and being down in the dumps, missing my family, I needed a good pick-me-up, so thursday night I think it was that I prayed to see them. Suddenly... BAM! I saw them both in the same day! It was most excellent. I almost gave Jaimee a hug, but resisted. It's great to be in the presence of a couple thousand missionaries! Last night we had a devotional and sung three hymns. It was so powerful! I went to the temple today. Although it's not very pretty on the outside, it's beautiful on the inside (as they all are). Oh. Before I forget, I had my first embarrasing moment on Thursday. We were turning in our immunization cards, and as I was walking through this room, I tripped over one of those chairs that are connected to a desk. I went flying across the room, and the desk flew in the other direction! I hear everyone shout "Are you alright Elder?" I started laughing way hard and reached for my phone to text the family, but you know how that ended. My arm is bruised.
My district here is WAY fun. We are all soo close now. There are two brothers from France/England and they're companions. They are going back to Paris and Toulhousse for their missions. There is another Elder from Southern California who has never seen it snow, or seen snow at all! It snowed yesterday and he was sooo excited. We had to stand outside for a few minutes and let him take it all in.
Well, time is running down (there is a red stopclock in the corner of our computer screen, and if we don't send before it hits 0, it logs us out and we are out of luck). Thank you all for the wonderful letters that you have sent me! Please write me everyone! The best thing ever is to get letters. And, I can't write to you if I don't have your address. I love you all so much and can't wait to hear from you (unless satan snatches me up here pretty soon)!
With Love,
Elder Mitchell R. Sorensen
Everyone WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE ME! please.
