3, 2, 1 Blast-off!

Hey guys!!!

Sorry, I thought I would be able to email you guys when I arrived at the MTC, but I was a couple hours late because I went to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa. It was worth it though. It was really nice to see them, Jim, Erik, Brenda, and Jake!

My flights were both fine. From the plane, I saw you guys waving and I cried really hard. I could tell the big hairy guy next to me was kinda uncomfortable. But the flight was good. In Dallas, I took the tram over to the next terminal. I got off at the wrong stop, so I had to walk from one end of the terminal to the other (I'd estimate about 30 miles). There were multiple American Airlines flights going to SLC, so I was a little worried about which one to take. When I got there, I saw a group of four or five elders. I knew it was the right spot. A couple of them were returning from Brazil. They kept accidentally speaking Spanish to us. One was going to Logan! There was this guy there with a USU bag, so I asked where he was from. He said Logan, so I asked if he knew the Mom's family....and he did! Apparently he was good friends with Uncle Mike in high school. When I told him who my mom was, he couldn't believe it! Small world!

When we drove up to the MTC, my heart was pounding harder than after any race. I was flat out scared. But when I walked in and got my nametag, I wasn't nervous at all. It was so weird! It was like I just forgot about everything else (not you guys of course). I left my luggage in the hall and went into this huge meeting with all the other new missionaries. There were probably 250 or so. The MTC presidency welcomed us and we sang some hymns and stuff. Since I was late, I was put into a temporary companionship with two elders going to Fiji. We spent the rest of the day together and they were super nice.

I must've heard "Welcome to the MTC" about 900 times my first day. I just thought everyone was super nice, but then I found out that If they say that then they get an ice cream at dinner. Ha!

Dinner was great. Christian and Kep, it's just like the Cannon Center. Afterwards we went into one of the small chapels (there must be about fifty of them here). At one of the meetings, I just happened to sit down next to my actual companions (I'm, in a trio). They are both really really nice and ready to work hard. Elder Jubeck is from Florida and Elder Seffker is from Utah. So I left the Fijian Elders (my first transfer?). I'll send pictures next week when I have some worth sending (right now I just have some of us unpacking) Our zone is made up of districts going to Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand. Everyone is super relaxed and motivated.

The next day we went to class. Christian...it is almost exactly like Startalk. Complete immersion. Our teacher is pretty awesome. At first, I had literally no idea what he was saying. I walked in and he greeted me ("Mauri! Ko uara?") and I actually knew what to say back ("Mauri! I marurung.")!! In our first day we learned a ton. He gave us a four-page packet of word and phrases that we have to memorize by the 15th. We even learned how to pray. When he asked if anyone wanted to say the closing prayer, I remembered that Dad volunteered to say the prayer in German on his first day. So I did too! It was pretty basic, but I think I did all right. We teach our first investigator on Saturday....speaking only Kiribati!

Also, at our zone meeting last night, I was called as the district leader! I don't really know what that entails yet, but we have training on Sunday. So we'll see how that goes.

I hope you all liked the stuff I left you! And thanks for the letters. They were really special. I'd love to hear from you (email or letters). As district leader, I get to pick up the mail. So I'll get it right away!

The MTC is really special. I've only been here a handful of hours, but I have felt really happy the whole time. I know that it's because of the Spirit. I'm really excited to keep learning!

Guys, I really miss you. And I'm not just saying that. I really really really really do. But I'm also happy with my decision to serve. I'm only a couple days in, but I already love it.

Love you all!!

Elder Barker