This week was my first week of missionary training. Since Covid, the first week has been online at home for everyone because the Church decided it helped missionaries assimilate better than just throwing them into the deep end.
Every morning at 9:00 I had a 3-hour long Gospel Study class. This would be followed by an hour-long workshop for everyone doing the online MTC, with topics like emotional resilience, The Plan of Salvation, and becoming lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. The workshops would end at 1, so I would eat a late lunch, take a short nap, and then play a card game or bake with my mom until my 4:30 language class. This 4-hour class was taught entirely in Spanish and so far has focused mainly on the fundamentals of grammar, asking and sharing about families, and praying. After this class finished at 8:30, I’d go for a walk with my family before getting ready for the next day of classes. It was exhausting, to say the least.
Saturday was my Preparation Day (P-Day), meaning we didn’t have classes. I was able to go watch my little sister’s cross-country race and then my family went to visit my grandma’s and aunt’s grave sites.
From my District (group of 10 missionaries), my companion and I are going to Salta, Argentina, 4 are going to Buenos Aires, 2 are going to Guatemala, and 2 are going to California. Most are from Utah, but a few of us are in Idaho, and there’s one each in Nevada and Colorado. On Tuesday, we will all fly to Mexico City, where we’ll spend the next 5 weeks doing more classes before all heading off to our separate missions.
Jesus loves you!
Elder Hansen
Sounds like a lot of work. Good luck and have fun!