First Email from the MTC

Below you will find Gregory's first email from the MTC. I have posted it just as he wrote it. Those of you who know him well will enjoy his unique spelling and grammar. If you would like to email him or send him a note on dearelder.com, contact me at gscadden@gmail.com and I will give you his addresses. He only has email access on Wednesday but dearleder.com notes are delivered hardcopy to him daily.

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I hope that one of the random email addresses I typed in can get to someone who can send it to everyone else and post it on my blog. So this is excellent though that I do indeed have email! I am only allowed to email my immediate family, though I am told that anyone can email me, and I can read their emails, I just can't respond. If that turns out not to be true, I'll let you all know. Fortunately reading emails does not take up more than 2 min of my email time because I get to print off emails. Lastly, before I get into talking about my first week at the MTC, I wanted to tell people to PLEASE use dearelder.com as much as they please, as long as they have a knowledge that there is a slim chance I'll write a letter in response, simply because I get alot of those (which I love to recieve, I am able to find time to read them). If you would like me to write you back, please send me a snail mail letter. As for my immediate family, I can probably reply to any emails you send me, atleast briefly.

OK, The MTC!! This place is crazy. My day starts at 620 and ends at 1030. I am in class for most of that time with exception to Sundays and Wednesdays (wed is my P-day), but even on Sundays I am in a lot of meetings and on my Pday I have class til 930am and class from 6 to 9pm. Oh well, this Pday has been excellent. I avoided taking a nap, thankfully, because thats not a habit I want to get into. I am healthy, despite the serious cold and a number of people in my branch being sick, however I do not sleep well. Thats no suprise, and I am extremely blessed because the Lord gives me awareness and strength that I shouldnt have.

Albania! We've been learning alot about the place. Apparently it is terribly corrupt (controlled by the albanian mofia potentially LOL), but the people are loving and amazing. I've got some weeks ahead of me though before I find that out. The language is hard. I can't really begin to describe it, it doesn't relate well to english at all in grammer or spelling. Though I can say that learning it has been XHAM FARE (jam fareh) which literally means totally glass, or translated for meaning, Awesome! (keep in mind you must say it with the lowest voice possible). I can already bear my testimony and pray in Albania, though it is halting and quite simple.

Currently I have the privilage of serving as District Leader. It is not too tough a job, essencially I am to keep the district (those elders and sister that are learning albania with me) on task, and from doing anything stupid. I also conduct a couple meetings. My district is full of wonderful Elders and a sister, all of whom have unique personalities that sometimes led to interesting conversations, or comments. But they all have a good knowledge of the scriptures, I have already learned quite a bit from their insight, and their they also have a testimony of the gospel. Elder Fisher (my comp) and I get along alright. We are both adjusting to being around someone who is not very similar to eachother, especially since we are discouraged from talking about a number of the things we share in common (We both enjoy call of duty 4!) But we are learning to work well together, and we have not had any heavy clashes. He is a good Elder with a strong testimony, and he is neat and clean, that sure is nice!

Oh, my room. Normally its 4 Elders to a room, but Elder Fisher and I have a room to ourselves, it is very nice. The other 4 Elders in my district live together down the hall from us Everyone, you would be impressed with us, I don't think I've ever lived in a room that I've kept THIS clean hah! The beds arn't that great though. And I am also very cold most of the time. I need to get another blanket, I should get one tomorrow.

So I mentioned we aren't allowed to talk about things like CAllof duty 4. That is because we have something called The Babalonian Wall of Shame in our classroom. Whenever someone mentions something from the outside world aside from family and friends, its considered babylon "all I hear coming out of your mouth is Babylon Babylon Babylon" hahah! We started this rule yesterday, and already everyone but elder Fisher has an infraction at least. I got mine talking about the political barriers to solving world hunger. hahah!

Anyway, the food is tolerable, but not always. I am trying to eat healthy, and am doing a good job. We get gym time 5 times a day, and it is good that we have it!

I haven't shared much spiritual insight in this email, but I have learned so much in the short time I've been here (though this week as felt like forever, the first week is apparently the slowest) All I can say is that the Lord has poured out blessing after blessing upon me. I know he loves us. I know this is His work. It might be tough, but through him we can accomplish this task. I miss you all, please keep writing, or deareldering and praying for us. Take care! God be with you.

Love
Elder Scadden