Letter received 4/24/12

This is transcribed from a letter written 4/22/12 and received at home 4/24/12:

Dear Familia,

I am really sorry I have not written you yet.  I can't believe how fast time is going.  I will have been in the MTC for exactly two weeks on Wednesday.  I have to be honest with you, but I am breaking a rule.  I can not write letters any other day besides P-day.  I went and talked with my Branch President and told him I hadn't written my family yet and the email I sent was really short so he said I could write you guys.

So the MTC changed our horario on us.  So my P-day isn't on Tuesday anymore.  I don't know if Hermana Hope has told you this but P-day is now on Friday.  So we have to wait until Friday to do our laundry and stuff.  I have just enough socks to last until then... exactly 10 days worth of socks.  THANK YOU MADRE!!

My companion is Awesome.  His name is Elder McMillan.  He is from Bountiful.  I sleep with 5 other Elders in our room, I mean residence hall.  (We have to call them residence halls because it is a dedicated building.)  But there are 3 other Elders in our district.  We had ten, but one went home.  That was the saddest thing that has happened so far.

Our zone is Awesome!  We have so many awesome talented Elders and Sisters.  Our zone leaders are so awesome.  Everyone here is my new familia!!!  Sorry to tell you that but its true.

My first couple days in here were REALLY HARD!  I don't want you to worry, but I really wanted to go home.  They say the first couple days in the MTC is one of the hardest parts of a mission.  If it wasn't for the package you guys sent and for my companion and my district I would have gone home.  Everyone says stick it out until Sunday.  It is so true!!  After Sunday you get into the rhythm of things and you start to learn.  The first couple of days were like drinking out of a fire hose.  But after that everyone becomes your family.  Like the people I have only known for like a week and a half I love.

I love my teacher, Hermano Hardy.  He just got off his mission in Argentina 6 months ago, so it is so awesome talking with him.  I want to be an outstanding missionary just like him.

I love my Branch Presidency, President Bowman, Bro. Wright, and Bro. Doman.  Bro. Doman is like my new Dad. (in the MTC)  Sorry, Dad.  Even though I really only met him yesterday, I love him so much.

To answer your pregunta, Abby, the MTC isn't prison.  Yes it does feel like prison sometimes.  But in prison you can call your family and write them letters ever day and get hours of Rec. time every day.  Here you can't call home or visit family.  Only get like an hour of gym time.  But I love it.  It is so amazing here.  The toughest thing for me is sitting in a classroom and learning how to study.  But now getting in the groove is so awesome.

The food here is uh.........ok?  Yeah, it's better than I thought it would be, but it is alright.  It's really hard eating healthy but I try to get as much fruit and vegetables as I can.

My Horario

6:15  get ready for the day
7:00  breakfast
7:35  personal study
8:30  class instruction
9:30  companion study
10:30  class instruction
12:30  lunch
1:00  gym
2:15  get ready for next class
3:00  class instruction
5:30  dinner
6:30  class instruction
9:15  personal study
9:30  go back to residence

My schedule has changed a little bit but its basically the same thing.  And sometimes or like once or twice a week, we have workshops.

I am so happy right now.  I have never felt like this before.  I have my good days and my bad days just like everyone else but I had no idea I would love being here like I do right now.  Yeah, it is really hard sitting in a classroom all day, but its alright.  I just got back from a workshop and it was so amazing.  The teacher played "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and asked us what we thought of the song.  I cried.  Of course.  That is my all-time favorite hymn.  I cry every time.  But I love it so much because... [I relate to the lyric so personally].

Family, I would be nowhere without Jesus Christ and the Atonement.  All of us would be nowhere without Him.  I know I am here for the right reasons.  ... I want to bring people to the fold of God.  I want people to feel the love the Gospel has made me feel.  I know the people of Mexico are waiting for me to bring them the Gospel of Truth.  I need them to know that because of Jesus Christ and the Atonement it is never too late.

Family, Always Remember,
"It is upon the Rock of our Redeemer who is Christ the Son of God that ye must uild your foundation; a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  Helaman 5:12

Always and forever,
Your beloved son and brother,
Elder Michael Boyd Hancock

I LOVE YOU ALL

Don't forget to write me!!!