September 28, 2010

This week was pretty good, nothing to special. I am getting along better with my companion most of the time so that is great, the District is still awesome and we are learning some good things in here. SYL?? Well more so than when we got here, but still not as much as I would like, it is more of a group effort than a individual effort. You learn so much more when everyone is speaking the language and not just yourself. It is true though that it helps so much, but I need to do better. It is really hard to SYL when you don't know that many everyday words. Everything you learn is about the gospel, so those words are not that helpful in everyday cafeteria vocab. I am learning a lot, not quite as much as I would like, but it is coming. The older set of missionaries are leaving next Monday or so, so we will be solo for a week and then we will be the older group of Elders. It is crazy how fast the time flies, though it has only been three or so weeks. Jeff comes on this Wednesday and I am super stoked!!!!! I can't wait to see him. Then Maryssa's sister is coming in two weeks from now.

About my companion... He is a great elder and I think we would be great friends outside of the MTC or Mission Field, but here it is hard to get super close because he doesn't really like it here and is having a hard time learning the Language and it is kind of pulling me down a bit, which is also partly my fault. We don't get super mad at eachother or anything, but we don't get along as well as companions should. He doesn't like some of the rules and likes following them even less, so sometimes it gets frustrating. You have always told me that I would be learning patience on my mission, and oh that is so true. I am sure it is good for me.

 

This last Saturday we watched a talk by David A Bednar that no one besides people in the MTC can watch because it was a previous MTC fireside, I thought it was amazing. He talked about Arkansas and being stake president. It made me miss Arkansas and you guys a bit. It was really a great talk about the spirit and knowing when it is the spirit. All the firesides and Devotionals are really good, though sometimes they do get somewhat repetitive. 

 

So, I will tell you just a little bit about the things that have happened this week. Everything is great. Got a hair cut, shortere than I have ever had on purpose, so that is new. I am horrible at using a camera I found out. I have taken a whole 5 pictures since being here. So I need to learn how to be more productive with that. 

 

I am singing in the Priesthood session of General Conference and am really stoked for it. I know not too many people have that opportunity, so I feel super blessed. We are singing Called to serve, Hark all ye nations, and go ye messangers of Heaven. I am so excited to get out of this little bubble for a bit and go to general conference. I have not done that too much, let alone sing in it. So I am really really excited.

 

And something not so cool, I was just called to be the new District Leader for our District, of course I accepted, but truthfully I really don't want that right now. Just because not everyone liked the old district leader so much so they are kind of expecting me to do better. They were all saying that they really wanted me to be the new one and I was like, um no thank you! I don't like leadership roles so much, sometimes I think people get too distracted by power and authority that comes with leadership positions and it destracts away from our point of being on a mission. To serve and bring others to christ. I will do they best I can, but I am not looking forward to it so much.

 

I love you all so much and thank you for your support. I would also like to say I love you specifically to Grandma and Grandpa Fawcett and Grandma Mackley and their examples in my life. They mean so much to me right now. and will always have a big spot in my heart. Love you all, be safe, know that I love you, and wish you well.

 

Love Elder Fawcett.

September 20, 2010

The week went fairly well, no major mishaps or anything spectacular really. It seems I am having horrible luck with letter writing though.... Well the tones are not coming that great, but they are certainly better than they have been. It is all about the practice of course. And then the Lord stepping in helps out a bit. :) Yeah it is so awesome that Tucker is in my building, I wish I had known that all along, we talk some almost every night now. He is actually leaving this week unfortunately, but I am so stoked for him, he has changed quite a bit already, he is obedient and much more responsible than he was, so that really makes me happy!! He leaves this wednesday, but his VISA didn't come in so he is going to Sacremento California until it comes. He is going to love it, no cold places for him. He is so happy. So I went up to his dorm room and everyone sang God be with you until we meet again in spanish of course. I thought it was really cool. Haha. I am going to miss him, but he will do awesome.

I completely forgot that Dad was here in Utah, that made me a little sad to know that he was so close, and yet so far away. This little bubble gets somewhat tiring sometimes, but overall I really do love it. People make it sound worse than it really is. I saw the Fishers yesterday (Sunday) which was really cool and made me super happy. They said that they had just seen dad, so that was when I rememberd he was or had been there. It must be really hard for the family, especially you and him when he leaves. How is everyone taking that? How is dad doing, I don't hear much about him and I would like to. really love you guys. And I am giong to miss you so much. though I have to admit I get so caught up with the work and everything going on that I don't think about you very much, which is a good and bad thing i guess. 

I need to learn a lot of patience here. And I have been put with the perfect companion to learn it. Yeah me. I really do appreciate him though, it is just sometimes hard for me. I don't know why. Haha.

Sorry this is such a short email, I am really starting to get annoyed with how little time we get on the computer to write emails, or letters for that matter. Today the computer jipped me five minutes of my time, so I am not so happy right now. But life is really good. Today I just got 3 dear elders which was totally awesome. 

I love you all so much, just remember to be safe and to keep up the good work, let me know how everything is going with school mom!! I will try to right you some time soon!!

 

Elder fawcett (Fang Zhanglao)

September 12, 2010

Well the language is coming, but I would not necessarily say well. I am actually surprised at how hard it is, I don't know why, but the tones are killing me! The days go by so fast here, trying to fit everything in from studying the gospel and the language, and every night I feel like I am not learning enough, and am not where I want to be. But like you said, I am trying to stay positive and have faith that it will come.  

The food is good, the friends are great, and the atmosphere is even better. It feels like every day is Sunday but not at the same time, and there is no change from day to day so Sunday feels the same except for Sacrament. I can see why some people go crazy here, but I like it so far, and know I need to be here for a while for a reason. My companion says we are being brainwashed and losing our personalities when we don't laugh at his jokes during study time, but it is all good. We all really love eachother and feel a brotherly connection, especially within my room, the 4 of us are getting along really well besides little things here and there.

I wish that we had more GYM time, we end up really only having 45 minutes a day to have GYM just because the schedule is so tight. It is a good stress reliever though. Me and my district play softball! Haha yes I know, softball? But it is really fun, I almost wish I played in High school! I am pretty good ;) That always makes it better. We have not gone to the Basketball gym because they are redoing some stuff. So I am really looking forward to that.

Love you,

Elder Fawcett.

Fang zhang lao.

First letter from the MTC

Now onto the MTC experience!! So when I first got here, we drove up, Jeff parked on the curb and then I got my bags out gave him a hug and said thanks for the last couple of days and then I was gone. Then the next two hours or so we received all our materials and everything. I must say the first couple of days are extremely overwhelming!!!

It is really hard here, but I love it, we learn so much in the gospel and also in the Language. To tell you the truth I get discouraged quite a bit and it is really hard to stay positive, but I know I need to. I thought I had an okay background of the language, but I don't at all. I figured I would be one of the most knowledgable missionaries in my district but 3 of them have lived in China, and two of them had high school and college experience, so I am one of the last ones. There are three of us that are really struggling. Unfortunately two of them are me and my companion :) We have a lot of work to do that is for sure. The food is ok at the cafeteria, not the best but not bad. Just one thing I wanted to let dad know is how he told me to be 5 min. early to everything. That is very much impossible, let alone be on time. I know it is only the first couple of days and we have crazy schedules, but it really is not possible, they really book your day with so many different things.

Well I HAVE to get off now I have a minute left. You will have to tell me the Score to the BYU game this last weekend I don't knwo what happened. I could hear the cheering during my GYM time and it was killing me. That was the first of the outside world I heard and it was hard.

Thank you so much for your supoort. I love you!!

God be with you!!