Letter received on October 17th...

This letter was sent to Nick, but we thought we'd post it because of the great advice for missionaries entering the MTC:

Nick,

Brotha! How are ya punk? K so (cheese), I've been thinking all week long about different ways my brothers could prepare for their misisons. And since you are first, I have addressed this to you. These are some things to do before and when you leave and will help at least during your time at the MTC.

#1. Pack duck tape...Bro. Filichia is a genius for giving it to me. If you don't use it, someone will. Half my roll is gone. Haven't used the bungees yet.

#2. Bring many changes of P-day / gym clothes. At least 6! Trust me, you don't want to use the same gym clothes twice in a row, and you don't want to wear your gym clothes for P-day - YUCK!

#3. Learn the language first. 2 years of spanish helped me. I understand almost everything and its easy to learn. Ya, you don't know what language you will be speaking. Take a guess and learn it. If it's not the right language, you will be tri-lingual.

#4. Don't drink the chocolate milk and don't eat the seafood salad in the cafeteria. Trust me, just stay away...

#5. Bring 8 alarm clocks. It's just fun to wake up to 8 different sounding alarms at the same time.

#6. Bring a warm blanket. These ones suck!

#7. Get used to cold showers. Enough said.

#8. Know how to beat-box. Everyone loves it and it puts on a good show before bed.

#9. Work on your BUM muscles. Blunt, I know, but when you are sitting and studying 12 hours a day...OUCH!

#10. Bring lot so pictures of family and friends. Makes me smile.

#11. Forget fear. When you need to do something, have faith to just jump in and do it. Be the leader.

#12. KNOW Preach My Gospel! It will help. I dind't know it and I wish I did. The same goes along for the scripture references in it.

#13. Know how to write in your journal. Yeah, its boring, but ya want it.

#14. Learn how to get along with everyone. Should be easy for you.

#15. Have people use http://www.dearelder.com/. I like letters everyday. (big smiley face)

#16. Bring a cup.

#17. Pack some air deoderizer. Febreeze, AXE, anything that can get the smell of a roomates' stinky feet out of the air. If only I had one for Elder Barnes...

#18. Know your friends addresses before you leave.

#19. Don't ever forget your lunch card. You use it for everything.

And finally...

#20. Don't PANIC. (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Thank You!) Overloaded with information is normal. Just take a deep breath, count to 3, and imagine a bottle of cream soda...

I will probably have more effective ones before the 2 years are up. Be buff, keep the green, and (in the famous words of Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley) "Don't be stupid!"

Drink a cream soda for me.

Much love a stuff,

Elder Johnson

PS - The church is true!

Write ELDER JOHNSON in the MTC!!!

Elder Johnson has requested that you send letters (for free!) through http://www.dearelder.com/. His MTC address is:

Elder Nathanial Bert Johnson
MTC Mailbox #216
NIC-MAN 1205
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

His projected departure date for Nicaragua is December 5th.

You'll also be able to send POUCH mail to him through dearelder.com. He is requesting many letters! He has one companion that gets about three a day. Nate would like to get 3 or 4 a week!

New Missionary!

Elder Nathanial Bert Johnson was called to the Nicaragua Mangua Mission to begin service on October 3rd. He entered the MTC on that day along with his good friend Elder Greg Malone (called to serve in the Richmond Virginia Mission).

Elder Johnson's First Letter in the MTC!

Oi Moms and Pops!

Day One...CAKE! Remember how everyone kept asking if I was nervous and I said no? I wasn't lying. This is just an extended version of Nauvoo. I wish I could remember everything that happened, but they crammed so much info down my throat...I already forgot my first name! So I will do my best.

After you left me I went into a room where they gave me some stuff and took my picture. Then they sent me to get flu shots, where I was placed in the wrong room/like three times! When I finally got it, and a sucker, I went to the bookstore where I got MORE stuff and searched the world for my room. I found it and met my companion, Elder Bean, from New Jersey. He's pretty kewl and quiet (underlined because that defines him). I'm in a room of four, all going to Nicaragua.

Let's see...we had an hour to unpack, which took fifteen minutes, then we explored. We went to some mission orientation (in which I fell asleep on and off briefly) and then dinner! Dinner was YUM. I saw Elder Bostwick...WOW! He is so animated, excited, happy, and spiritual. I never saw him without a smile or not speaking Spanish! Totally missed him last month.

Then we had a couple of hour Branch - Zone orientation meeting, a tour, and came home to our room. I started my journal and this letter but we were attacked (welcomed) by all the ancient (1-8 week residents) missionaries. And now this...

I sleep at 10:30pm and wake up at 6:00am. You probably (mom and dad) are giggling at every sentence - I'm glad I could give you some cheer! Sleep well, I'm alive, and this letter isn't that exciting so you don't have to share it with the ward or elders quorum or anyone outside our family. (Our family includes Thomas, Chandler, Marcus, Aaron, Reshea, etc...)

Goodnight & I Love you,

Elder Johnson