Hey!!

It's been an amazing first week here at the MTC! So many great things have happened here already! Well I left for Atlanta, and I was the only Elder on that flight (although one guy came up and fist bumped me.) I got to Atlanta and met up with about 25 the American Elders and Sisters traveling to the MTC from here. It was awesome to meet people at the terminal and know that we were all right in the same boat right away. Dallin Busby told me about an Elder Holm that would be coming to my same mission here, so I met up with him there and he's become one of my closest friends already! We've really gotten along great, and he's a funny guy. But before the flight took off, we look one row of seats away in the terminal, and there's Dominic Monaghan who played Merry in the Lord of the Rings!!!! And yes, I did metion that I was an actor, but it was in a very humble way haha. It was awesome and I was able to get a picture with him!! (Pictures coming soon I promise). Well the Atlanta flight left a little after 7pm Atlanta time, and arrived 8 1/2 hours later at 8:30am Manchester, England time. So as we flew 579mph at some points (amazing right?), the sun went down on one side and came up on the other all in the space of about 6 hours! It was crazy to watch.

 

But anyway, to the MTC and England in general: ENGLAND IS GORGEOUS. That's pretty much all I have to say. It rains quite a bit, but everything is completely green and healthy, and the way they keep the grounds here at the MTC/Temple is simply beautiful. We're staying right off the grounds of the Preston, England Temple and you should look up pictures of it, because its amazing. Really. And the back of the MTC backs up to this pretty large pond surrounded by greenery, so we get to look out over the water out the window during classes all day. President Hinckley once said that 'That pond is much too romantic for a Missionary Training Center' lol. And the 55 degrees here is alright I guess. ;)

 

To the actual work and training and such: It's going great as well! My MTC president and his wife are the coolest people ever! It's President and Sister Walker and they are the most loving, spiritual, and fun people you will ever meet. Sister Walker is President Hinckley's daughter, and she and president Walker served as the President and Matron of the Salt Lake Temple for 3 years! So basically, I'm in amazingly capable hands. I had my first interview with president Walker, and he called me as a District Leader! I'm the leader on the Ammon district, and have 8 Elders and 2 Sisters in my district. We apparently have a large group overall at about 50, so compare that to the Provo MTC! I've got the best MTC, seriously. But yeah, I've been able to get to know so many people here and they've become close to me, like Elder Christensen my companion! He's great, positive, and has a great desire to do the work of a missionary. He keeps me in line and is always serving others. He's awesome. But there is also Elder Holm, Elder Wilkerson, Elder Chong, Elder Jenkins, Elder Tinsley, and Elder Bytheway (Yes, THAT Bytheway, he's his nephew lol). These as well as many others are making my first week great.

 

I have 3 'investigators' at the moment. Ian Maclean, a very distractable 24 year old that we've been teaching about how God wants us to be happy. Adele Nelson, a VERY loud, VERY crude woman, who is as hilarious as she is inappropriate. (These are our teachers acting, but they do an AMAZING job with it) Adele had me crying because I was laughing so hard at one point.... And we have Emma, who has LDS neighbors and just wants to learn more. Overall things are going great, I get exercise time and have been playing basketball (I'm not THAT bad Dad, I was exaggerating). Also, we got to go to the Temple this morning, and that was a great experience as well

 

Anyway! I'm going to keep sending you updates and pictures, I know that the work that I'm training for is ordained of God and that I am on his errand. My testimony is growing and I can't wait to teach these people!

 

See ya!    

~Elder Crosby