Letter dated 7Jan2012

Dear Family, I made it to the MTC with no problems! The airplane rides went smoothly and I found out where I was supposed to go in good time. I am thankful that I was able to get a ride from Brigitte and Doug because I enjoyed seeing Grandpa Wilson and Aunt Elaine. The visit was nice and it was good to sit still in a familiar house after the several hours of flying. As some of you know, I did have a bit of a meltdown as we entered Provo but it was the best meltdown in the world. It finally hit me as to what I am going to be doing for the next two years in my life and why I´m doing it. I felt the spirit so strongly that afternoon and it was amazing to finally arrive in the MTC. My host helped me with my things and everything went smoothly and orderly as I was shown my residence area and then my classroom. We had several other tours in the previous nights and I feel like I´m getting used to where everything is that I need to go to throughout the upcoming weeks. I am serving in a trio companionship, with Elder Lindsay and Elder Rockwood. They are both very different from myself and each other but I am so thankful that I am with them since they are both so much fun. Elder Lindsay is from Boise, Idaho and Elder Rockwood is from Sandy, Utah. (Should I tell people I am from Auburn, Bay City, or Detroit. No one knows where Bay City is but I say that since I´m from the Bay City Ward, but I think they´d be a bit more impressed if I told them I was from Detroit. Just kidding, but seriously.) Lindsay is very down to earth and he is the best at Spanish out of the three of us. Rockwood has lots of energy even though he says he feels super lazy now that he´s in the MTC but he and I both didn´t take Spanish courses in school, so it´s nice to learn the basics with someone in the same boat as I am. Out of our district, we are the only ones going to Spain. Four Elders are going to Conception, Chile and the other four are heading out to Honduras all in 9 weeks. My companions recieved estimated departure times to leave for Barcelona on March 3rd, but I recieved a notice that said my estimated departure time is on the 24th of January. I am keeping an open mind and don´t expect to leave that soon, since I don´t think my visa is going to be ready that soon, but it would definitely be the best experience in the world to finish my MTC work in Madrid with the other Elders and Sisters serving in Spain. All I can do is pray, but it would be cool it they do send me out and I stay for a bit as a tourist for a short time before my Visa is all finished. I´m upset that I only got a boring forwarded message from dad this week, but none of you knew my P Day so I gues it makes sense I didn´t get any letters or e´mails. You should all jump on Dear Elder though, that site is sick. You may send me anything then, but for e'mail I´d like to hear from you all (ha, just kidding. You dont need to write me). Thursdays are going to be my PDays here at the MTC after today, so I am looking forward to hearing from you. But as you might be wondering, my Spanish is... coming along. It´s not bad but I wish it were better. I´m picking up lots of new information each and every day and it´s amazing to look back and see how far I´ve come in four days but I know I need to work harder. We have our second lesson with our MTC investigator tonight and thankfully I´m not stressing about things but I just know that I need to memorize all I can and keep it fresh in my head throughout the day. I´m picking up phrases little by little but that is how you learn language, so I know I´ll do fine. Send my love to my friends and to the Elders at Bay City! Tell them the MTC is a blast and I can´t wait to see them in the future. With mucho gusto, Elder Schindler P.S. Alright, so down to buisness. I did forget a few things in my luggage before I left on Wednesday. If you could find time in your schedule and show that you love me, could you send me the following items? Shoes(service and RUNNING. Dan knows my black running shoes, I need those most of all. Batman Hat Exercise Socks Thumb taks or pins Pictures(on the Mac´s desktop, I left a folder that says Weston´s Pictures. I have a folder with some pictures of the Saymons I took, so if you could, could you send those to them? Also, the folder with my name, could you print those out and send those to me in the upcoming weeks? I may be here three weeks, or nine, as I said before. Thanks) Could I get three address´ from friends? I need Becca Engebretsens, Janelle Saymon, and Janelle Rose Carey´s address´ so I can write them! But I need the shoes first and foremost. Some oreos would be delicious though!