First email from MTC

Bonjour! 

 Comment ca va?  My companions name is Elder Hastings.  He is from Rexburg, Idaho.  He is going to French Montreal as well.  There are four of us going there in my district (Elder Noel, Elder Yan, and our companionship).  You spend like your whole day in a classroom learning French we have this Englishman and another girl as teachers. French is really easy actually. 

 We taught Rafael, an investigator this week, and I understood 95% of what he was saying and I asked a lot of free-lance questions.  Most of them don't know much french.

 I've seen Elder Gass, Elder Finch, Elder Wilson, and Elder Archibald.  I've seen Elder Tyler but haven't talked to him yet.  They all love it here.  he says he's gained a ton of weight. 

 My schedule is basically wake up, get ready, eat at 7:00, go to class to study french or other gospel things for a couple hours, eat lunch, study again, maybe workout, Study some more, teach an 'investigator' and then plan then sleep.  It can be boring if you don't focus at the task.  But really the MTC is a peice of cake.  Everyone made it sound like it was extremely hard.  I mean I need to work on working even harder but even then I've done and pushed through way harder things in my life!  And it's not really about me.

  I watched the video Character of Christ and it reminded me that.  Even Christ was never thinking of himself so I should do the same (not preaching just telling an experience).  At first it was a little awkward with Elder Hastings and I but it's gotten better.  We still need to work on some stuff but no ones is perfect.  I haven't really worked out that much this week so I think I need to more or I'm going to get fat.  The cafeteria food is alright but I can see how people get sick of it fast!

  I have a South Korean person in my district.  Elder Choi, pronounced che, is the first Korean to Africa!  Everyone is super funny!  At first I was in shock when I was here, but now it's not that bad.  Elder Hastings and I will be the new Zone Leaders next week (crazy soon!) and I'm excited for that! 

 How's life going?  Don't worry too much about me I will do what's right and try my best and the Lord will do what he sees fit is best so I'm safe no worries!  I don't know if you can find it but if you can look up Characters of Christ devotional by Bednar.  It's awesome!  Well, not much has happened this week but tell me about your life and stuff! 

 Love you much,

Elder Kimzey (the one who can speak english)

Dad,

Bonjour!  That was a good thought thanks!  I wasn't actually too tired!  I think it was because I was sitting around a lot.  My first day was a little weird having a companion follow you to the bathroom.  It's been really good though.

  In my district we have Elder Yan (from texas going to speak Mandarin in Montreal), Elder Noel (From Seattle Area, Montreal- French),  Elder Hastings ( From Rexburg, Idaho, my companion and same mission oh and same birthday crazy!), Elder Choi (Pronounced che from South Korea, super funny, and going to Madagascar!), And Elder Hufford-Reynolds (from Colorado/England, super nice, and going to Washington D.C. French).  I really like it here.  It can be mind numbing sometimes so we've decided that if we are fading mentally that we just take a walk or something real quick. 

 I haven't done much.  My first Sunday was awesome we went to sacrament, I said the prayer in french, went to study, eat, then priesthood where we learned of the analogy/ dream of the tree of life!  I will respond later when you write me again, today please!  But I will only have thirty minutes left so keep that in mind.  I also went to a devotional and was told about picking an attribute of Christ to work on and so I'm going to try to do that.  My fake investigator, Rafael, is French and his wife is LDS but he is passive about the Church.  I can understand most of what he is saying but some things he says are so fast!  Even our sister teacher says she speaks fast to her and she is fluent!  We are going to teach him the Word of Wisdom (La Parole de Sagesse) and really tell him he can be a better father because of it (he is about to have a kid).  I know he isn't actually an investigator just so you don't think I'm naive!  The MTC is an amazing place.  Tell the priest quorum that I say they need to step it up! (that way they can just blame me instead of you haha)  They really need to reshift their priorities.  In the long run sports and friends fade, but God is always there for you so He deserves your attention.  Not trying to be preachy, just wanted them to know that because I saw a lot of wacked priorities when I left and I want them to be happy.  Well, write me again!

 Love ya,

Elder Kimzey (with a C...oh wait)