June 30, 2013

Hey friends and family! Sorry I am just now getting these past two letters up--we just barely got internet at our new place. If you are like me you are already missing Sister Nelson! (Shimai means sister, in case you were wondering. The right way to say it in Nihongo is Ner-e-son She-my). If you have any questions, feel free to email me at melissankunz@gmail.com
Love,
Melissa

Konichiwa Mina San!  (Hello Everyone)

I have made it to my first P-day! So for the duration of my NINE WEEKS at the MTC, I will be able to answer/write letters and emails on Saturdays.

The MTC is really awesome. I have been learning a ton of Nihongo (Japanese) and also a lot about how to teach the gospel. The whole program centers on catering to the needs of the investigator. So my language study, personal study, and companion study all focus (Schu chu) on our investigator of the week (his name is Yuki. Yuki means Courage in Nihongo). 

In a meeting with our Branch President, he told us to not make the MTC academic. This really resonated with me because I am prone to tunnelvisioning on something until I get it perfect (Kampeki). This counsel was exactly what I needed to remind myself to focus on the needs of my investigator before my own. We taught our first lesson in Nihongo yesterday. It was....probably the most horrific lesson I have ever taught in my life. But that is okay, We are teaching again today! We (My companion and I) realized that we need to listen to the spirit and find the balance between having a set-in -stone lesson plan (keikaku) and winging it.

So my companion (doryo) is really awesome. Guess what Mom, SHE LIKES TO RUN!! Yep, I got a companion who loves to work out. Thank Goodness. Sorry we didn't have time to post a picture today, we are still figuring out scheduling and where and when to do what on our p-day, so hopefully by next week I can send some pictures. Sister Bush is so sweet and has such a strong testimony. I am lucky to have her as my companion for the rest of my time in the MTC. Sister Bush is from Maine and is studying elementary education at BYU.

Our district is HUGE apparently. we have 14 people (hito) with 3 sister companionships and 4 elder companionships. We all come from big families, so I guess its good that we have learned how to be patient with a billion other people in our living space. and by living space I mean classroom. We pretty much live there from eight am to nine pm with breaks for meals and other meetings/ workout time. Also, I am the oldest one in my district. Looks like I will end up being the mother. haha.

So we are on the early schedule. My day goes something like this: Wake up at 5:40, study vocab or hiragana, get ready, go to breakfast at 6:45, have personal study time, go to class to learn language or study the PMG. Have lunch or workout, go back to class, eat dinner at four ten (yes, that will take some getting used to.) Go back to class, study the language until about nine. Have personal time/study time/ etc/ planning time and be in bed by 10:30.

Our branch presidency is SO CUTE. They are so nice and old and  inspirational and really love what they do.

I love you all and can't wait to hear from you soon!!

Ai suru ( i love you)

Sister Nelson