Week One: The MTC

(Elder Zilles and Elder Hales, Provo MTC!)

Hello my beautiful family.
sorry it has taken me so long to write you. as you know i had to wait till pday. today is my first pday, christmas eve, and it marks me making it through the first week. they dont ever tell you how hard the first week is really going to be. first day was fine, but honestly on the second and third day i was wondering what in the world i was doing here.
My comps name is Elder Hales he is from salt lake, he comes from a family of 8 and he is your typical perfect mormon boy (nothing like me) but he is a great kid, and i know if i allow myself to i will be able to learn alot from him. i just have to forget about my feelings for him and let the feelings taht the lord has for him take over. someday i will know why the lord put him in my life and i know he has a very good reason for it.
My district is absolutely amazing, ill tell ya a bit about everyone. First we have Elder page he is from arizona he is 6 foot 5 or 6, very big boy, his comp is elder manu, and yes manu is a very big samoan boy, he is from california and gave up a full ride football scholarship to university of Oregon Ducks to come on a mission, very respectful, he is prob my personal favorite. next we have elder shaffermeyer from hyrum, he is our district leader, his companions are elder jensen from blackfoot, and elder staugher from latin. next elder holmes, he is a farm boy hick from corrine utah i like him alot, his companion is elder jones, he is from somewhre in utah and is one of the 18 year old elders. elder lund is from latin and is also 18, his comp Elder Caserio, is from california, i call him Elder CAferio baha.
i believe that is all of them, we are all going to either new hamp or detroit, prettty cool. The classes are very very long and i have gained five pounds already, isnt that soooo awesome, yea i thought so.
 yesterday was sunday and it was probably my favorite day so far. WE had a fireside last night and richard allen the president of missionary stuff spoke. he talked alot about the steps of repentance, i forgot my notes back in my residence or i would tell you them so that will have to wait for a later time. I would like to challenge each of you to read in the doctrine and covenants, that is wehre i am reading right now and i am learning soooo much. please pray each time before and after you read it helps. Lou i sent you a letter today so be waiting for that in the mail. Ive seen elder bob and elder olsen many times they seem to be doing very well, o and also elder bensen. Sister rupp as well seems to be doing very well its fun to see her smiling face around town once in a while. Just always remember that i love you guys, and you are constantly in my prayers.
Take care of everything back home for me, and its been unseasonably warm here in provo quite nice. Tomorrow is christmas and someone very important is coming to speak, they wont tell us who, but my bet is on the prophet. Elder hales and i auditioned for the choir and both made it. our choir is bigger than the tabernacle choir by about 200 people. its very neat. I hope you guys have a wonderful christmas tell all the family hello and that i love them.
Gotta go finish laundry, love you guys, talk next monday, tahnks for everything.
Pray night and day with a sincere heart, talk to the lord in your prayers, dont just say words, but really talk to him, and i promise he is there he will answer you