1st Mission Letter! 3/2/13

We'll I made it!!! :D
So I got dropped off Wednesday afternoon by my dad and sister. I unload my bags and my host took me into a building to get my nametags and some paperwork. My name tags came in a little manilla envelope. So we go drop off my bags in my dorm and we start walking to the classroom. I look down at the envelope and see Provard, Kenneth Micheal. I was like, "What the heck is his name doing on my envelope?!" I look the right of his name and see - Companion: I FREAKED OUT!!!!!! I probably freaked out my host too. Haha. So I got to the classroom and was the 2nd one there. I watched the rest of my District come in and sit down. The best part is, is that there is another companionship that is best friends. Freaking Awesome!!! So after we meet our teachers (Bro Morris and Bro Jacobson (served in the Sacramento California mission, Durtschi!)) We got to know each other and ask questions. I was like the only person who was asking questions so after my second question the banned me from asking any more questions. LOL. So I would lean over to Elder Provard (It's SOOOOOOO weird calling him that :) ) and tell him what question to ask. :D After that we went back to our dorm and found out our room mates were two Elders from our District, Elder Young from Idaho Falls and Elder Hirschi from Brigham city. I'm just gunna say... we have the best dorm EVER!! We have a great time together. On Thursday we went and discussed our purpose as missionaries and got assigned an investigator (teacher that is role playing). Elder Provard and I got assigned Jarrett (Bro Jacobson) We were going to teach him Friday morning. So ya you come to the MTC and start teaching right off the bat. We also meet with and had interviews with our Branch Presidency. There is Pres. Wenn (Awesome man and interesting note he is about 4'10" maybe shorter and he loves hugs! This guy is absolutely AMAZING!!!) 1st counsel Brown (who has a disability in his knee because he had polio when he was a child but has an unbelievable spirit about him!) and 2nd counsel Carpetner (Who also has an amazing spirit about him). After the interviews are zone leaders took us for a tour around the MTC and then we came back and I was asked to fill the roll of District Leader! :D I feel so blessed to be able to be chosen to serve my District as their District Leader. Elder Young and Elder Hirschi were called as the new Zone Leader but where as I started that day they start on Sunday. Also on Thursday we had gym for the first time and we chose to play 4 square, awesome game, and there was only one real rule... no diving. Ya you probably guessed it. On my third or fourth game I dove and was asked to leave. Haha sad day but all well, so I played basketball and ran on the track. Friday we taught our first lesson and it was ok, still a lot we can improve on, like for instance we barely got the door and then I talked almost the entire time so Elder Provard didn't get to say many things, but we've discussed it and feel good about it. We had gym in the afternoon that day and I tried to play 4 square once again. I got really close to diving again but right at the last second I put my had out to balance myself so I did not leave my feet. Also during gym it was only my District who played 4 square so that was a great bonding time. We also, as a District, have a set place to eat in the Cafeteria. :) We had classes on the Doctrine of Christ and What we are supposed to teach and How we are supposed to teach it. Today while we were getting breakfast we learned that we would be driving trucks in our mission too! AWESOME!!

I love being here and can't wait to get out and preach in the four corners area! I know the Church is true and I'm learning that more everyday, the only sad part about leaving the MTC is not being able to see my District everyday! I LOVE MY DISTRICT!!!!!

If you have any doubts about the church I ask you just to kneel down and pray about it because I know that our Father in Heaven WILL answer you!

Elder Chipman