Some Details...

Sorry you haven't received much from me yet. I have just been super busy. Tuesdays are my p-days, so that's why it took a while for you to get my first reply. I know I can write during the week but it is very difficult to find time. I'm constantly learning and studying. Any spare time I have I usually use to practice my Dutch. Ok, so now for some details. My companion, Elder Bosco, is Robbie Bosco's son. He gets that a lot. In my district are Elder Besendorfer (our District Leader) and Elder Womeldorf, Elder Losee and Elder Bean, Elder Sudweeks and Elder Elkins, and Elder Peterson and Elder Lindstrom. Everyone is 18 except for Elder Lindstrom who is 19. Elder Lindstrom is cool because he has all of the same interests as me! Our entire district is the best best. We have so much fun and have bonded very well. Elder Losee and I see each other more here at the MTC than we did at home. Except for the eight hours when we are asleep we pretty much see each other every second of everyday. In fact, he's sitting next to me right now. Our teachers are Brother Van de Graf, Brother Klippel, and Brother Wells. They are all amazing. It's crazy how much Dutch we have already learned. I've probably learned more Dutch in two weeks, then I learned German in three years. I can say complete prayers in Dutch, bear my testimony in Dutch, and teach quite a bit of the first couple of lessons in Dutch. Recently I've learned a very important lesson: strict obedience. My first week and a half here I was always way tired in classes and struggled to stay awake throughout the day. This was due to the fact that I would get to bed a few minutes late with the rest of the room. After learning and reading about obedience I decided to try something. On Saturday night I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help give me strength and energy to make it through the day so long as I was obedient to the sleeping schedule. I went to bed about ten minutes early and the following day I wasn't the least bit tired. Even without two meals, I was able to stay awake and focus with ease through over six hours of studying, two hours of mission conference, one hour of sacrament meeting, a half hour temple walk, an hour devotional, and another hour talk/video thing. I strongly believe and know that what they have told us is true: obedience brings blessings, but strict obedience brings miracles. I have applied this to the days following, and I have continued to go about my days without being weary. It's crazy to think that I've already been here for two weeks! I had a friend from school come in on the same day as me, and he left yesterday. It's so strange. I'm already one of the experienced Elders here at the MTC. Well, that's all for now! Tot ziens!

                                                        ~Elder Fowkes