Nates first letter from the missionary training center 9/11/15

 Hey! It's hard to know where to start because there is so much stuff to talk about. My companions are Elder Finlinson and Demke. At first I thought it would be super weird to be part of a trio, but it has been awesome because they are both super cool and fun. Between the three of us there is never a dull moment. Last night I'm sure we woke up the whole building we were laughing so hard. They have made it really easy to fall right into life at the MTC. Elder Finlinson is serving in the Sydney, Australia North with me and Elder Demke is in the Brisbane mission, but his twin will be in my mission too. Funny enough they got they're calls same day, report date same day, and to the same country. Elder Finlinson is from St. Louis, MO and he played Water Polo. Elder Demke is from Lehi and he played football. So we've been talking a lot of sports which as you know makes me feel right at home. 

We taught our first lesson to our teacher who role played as an 18 year old from NC who has a girlfriend in the church and is starting service in the military in 4 weeks. We taught about the Restoration and we did ok. I led off with Genesis 1:19"in God's image" and we got rolling but it was difficult to keep a smooth transition between God, Christ and the Atonement, and Joseph Smith. I think some of it has to do with being new, learning how to plan better, and maybe having 3 point of views rather than just 2. But in the end we brought it together and it really did feel like we taught with the Spirit despite it being a practice.

I was made the District Leader while in the MTC. It is kinda cool but mostly I just am responsible for getting everybody's mail. Otherwise I just lead District Devotionals and get Weekly Reports from the Senior Companion on how they are doing as a companionship, spiritually, and with their training. I also have to report on our District as a whole to the Branch Presidency. Anyway our district is awesome, and we have a ton of fun learning and hanging out. We have 4 sisters and 5 elders so its pretty balanced and we all learn and build off of each other really well. We have become such good friends within the district that sometimes we all get a little distracted during personal study haha. Of course as soon as ladies are off limit my charm explodes off the charts. All the sisters think I'm hilarious and though they try hard inevitably end up flirting with me haha.

I saw Sam on the first day in the cafeteria. Sharla will be pleased to know I ran right up to him gave him a big hug and kissed him under the ear like she told me to. He looks like he is doing really well now. We talked for like 15 min straight just filling each other in on eveything. Thursday we saw each other again and got a pic and I'll send it. And just today we saw each other again just started joking around like old times. It was really awesome to know that some friendships are to strong to ever be broken, especially by something so life altering as being in a new place with new responsibilties, and so on a so forth. Jase Penrod and Wryder Richards are here too and I've gotten to talk with them as well. Jase is going to Long Beach and Wryder is going to the Philipines.

Megan wanted to know who my teachers were and they are Elder Wright and Sister Lyons. My suit pants got caught on my Velcro of my bag and frayed a littler what should I do? Also a near disaster is i busted a button on my shirt doing a pull constest... Good news I won and also Elder Parkinson who is in my district knows how to sew and he put it back on. 

All in all I'm having a lot of fun and I am learning a lot. I love you guys so much and I'm missing you but not too much so don't get worried about me getting homesick because I'm doing really great. Send this to a bunch of people and use my Instagram to give out my email and ask for people's emails and send them to me so I can start writing more people. Anyway I got your email keep them coming. Hope you guys are doing fine.

Love you,

Elder Miles aka Nate