Monday, August 31, 2009

First Day in the Mission Field-Augst 31, 2009

Hey Mom,
Apparently my email didnt go through last week. Sorry if it seemed like i
dropped off the face of the earth. The email system seems a little buggy. I'll
just copy and paste it in.

It's my first day in the Mission Field. P-day haha.I said goodbye to my district
this morning and we were dropped off at the mission office. We met the mission
president and met our companions. I'm with two other spanish/english speaking
missionaries until the visa comes. Elder Lugo and Elder Manjarrez both from
Texas. I'm still not quite settled in and I feel out of the loop but it looks
like I'll be alright. We have lots of appointments tonight and this week. Lots
of less active members, some referals and a few investigators. We have a car so
I dont think we have too much walking to do. It also looks like I'll be sleeping
on the floor for a couple weeks haha. We live in the basement of a members home
with a kitchen and all. There is a pretty sweet racketball court (I dont know
how to spell it) attached to the basement.
We're expecting 1-2 months for the Visas to come through, but in the mean time
all of the missionaries going to India are spread out over the salt lake south
mission and in Washington. We send email from the family history center here in
Sandy. The Mission office address to send me mail is:

Utah Salt Lake City South Mission
8060 S. 615 E
Sandy UT, 84070-0522

The mail will be extra snailish because I only get it on Mondays.
I'll be keeping in touch as much as possible.
Elder Wright



Friday, August 28, 2009

Snail Mail Rec'd 9/4/09-I'm getting my shots today

Hey Mom,

I got the package of cold medicine today. Thanks so much for the vitamins too cause I couldn't find any in the MTC bookstore. I'm sorry if my last letter was a little abrupt. Yesterday was not a good day for me. I guess I'll be feeling more pressure as my mission goes on.

I'm getting my shots today and picking up the malaria pills as well. We need to start taking them 2 days before we leave for India, and for 4 weeks after we get back. Our visas are expected to come in under two months. My branch president is giving me a debit card for a person already in India because they lost it but it's not safe to send in the mail. I broke a plate at lunch one day and Riley raised a fist in my honor. I splattered ketchup all over Elder Hinsdale's pants....Anywho, I have gym, I'll send my address as soon as I find out.

Love, Elder Wright

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Snail Mail Rec'd 8/31-My Hair is Not Legit

Dear Family,

This week has been pretty much the same. I'm getting sick, and I lost my voice. I'm just going to have to deal with it and hopefully I'll be over it by the time I leave. Our visas didn't come through, so we are being temporarily reassigned to the Salt Lake South Mission. We leave Monday the 31st. I'm taking it better than most of the district. We're all disappointed, but some of them are angry. We had malaria training and learned how to take our pills when we get there and how to protect ourselves from mosquitoes. Elder Scott spoke at the devotional on Tuesday and shared with us some of his thoughts about how to be a missionary.

Good luck dieting. You should try the MTC Diet. Some of the district is trying to gain weight because they know they need something to lose when they get to India. I gained a single pound during my two week stay so far. I don't think I'll get very far, but I'm trying to build muscle. I play volleyball at gym mostly. There are some good kids occasionally.

We got lessons 1 & 2 down and we're supposed to learn 3 tomorrow and 4 & 5 in the field. We're coming along but it's still difficult to ask questions that investigators can think about.

I'll send an address home as soon as I find out where the mission home is.

Love, (Elder) Rudy (Wright)
P.S. I had to take the bracelets that Ricey made me off.
P.S.S. My hair is not legit so I have to find a new hair style. I get my hair cut tomorrow.

Temporarily Re-assigned to SLC South-Week 2-Email

Hey Mom,

I'm living the big life here at the mtc. We got our flight plans this week, which would have taken use through germany then to India, but... our visas didnt come through, so we've been temporarily reassigned to Salt Lake south mission... Hopefully we wont be there for long. Some of the guys were really upset about it, but I think I'm handling it alright. We leave monday the 31st. It's only 3 days away but it seems like forever here. I cant wait to get out and the time seems to slow down as we get closer. Elder Scott spoke to us at the devotional on Tuesday. He spoke on how the Spirit can help us if we rely on it to teach. He left some pretty powerful words with us as he left and it just made us all the more anxious to get out of here.We had malaria prevention training yesterday, which was pretty intense. We're supposed to take our drugs every day, and for 4 weeks after we leave our missions. We also have to use lots of mosquito netting on the apartments we stay in and insecticides on all of our clothing. We went to the temple this morning and did sealings. We also ate at the cafeteria there which was sooo much better than the food we eat at the MTC. I'm still handing out candy and snacks every night to get rid of all my junk food that I cant eat. Being sick is definitely slowing down my system and i'm way tired by the end of the day. I should be over it in a week i hope, but it's still frustrating me to death. Last P-day of the MTC. I'll let you know my address when I find out.

Love, Elder Wright

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

"Hey Mom, this is your son, Rudy" About 5:45pm

I received an unexpected, but approved, 1 minute phone call from Elder Wright at about 5:45pm tonight saying that his Visa really hasn't arrived and that what he sent me in the mail was only his flight plans. Apparently, the ambassador to India is holding up the missionary visas so their wait is indefinite. In the meantime, he and his companion will be serving in the Salt Lake City South mission which incorporates Sandy and Draper, Utah until their visas are approved. Two of the elders in his district, also going to Bangalore, were sent to Washington state to wait it out since they are both from Utah. He mentioned that he sees cousin, Riley Harper, every day. And that he really doesn't need anything, he's still working on the candy we sent him. He sounded very upbeat despite the news and told me numerous times that the call was about to end. I just ignored him and kept talking. So, I will update the blog with his next address as soon as he sends it to us. Thanks for all your support and keep the letters coming through dearelder.com.

Max

I Got My VISA!!-Received via Snail Mail on 8/26/09

8/20/09

I got my VISA!! I fly to San Fran on the 31st, then we fly to Frankfurt, Germany, arriving at 10am the 1st of Sept. Then fly to Bangalore, India arriving at 12am on the 2nd. That's some long plane rides.

PEACE!

Friday, August 21, 2009

1st Email---"First Week"

8/21/09

Hey mom,

First week at the Missionary Training Compound. I finally get one day to take a break from all the busywork. We spend all of our time in a tiny little room underground and teach ourselves the lessons and learn teaching skills. Our days usually consist of 3 different things: class, food, and gym. There isnt enough gym time though. sad day. Even P-day is filled up with things to do. Laundry time is pretty much the only break we get. The food, has been described as disgusting, abombinable, and an abbhorance by the elder sitting next to me. Just to name a few of the better qualities. I can usually subsist on cereal for 2 of the 3 meals. I miss real food. My companion is pretty cool. Elder Hinsdale from Georgia. He's a little quiet but he has his funny moments. Our district is probably the most fun of all the districts here. When we're at the cafateria people look at us like laughing is against the rules or something. There are 6 of us going to India and 4 going to San Diego. Elder Powell who was in some of my classes at BYU is in my district and we share inside jokes from time to time. My teaching skills are getting better every day, and we've gone to the Referral Center a couple times so we get used to talking to real people. Teaching the fake investigators is really cool, but my companion and I are trying to find ways to realate the Gospel to the Hindu belief because that's what we will be doing the most of in India. We're going to be getting our flight plans here pretty soon, and we'll find out if we're going to India or if we will be sent somewhere state-side first until our visas get approved. I'm one week into the MTC and about a week left. CRAZY. The weeks go by so quick but the days take forever. If you can, use dearelder.com cause it's free while i'm in the MTC and really quick. It'll also be way more reliable while i'm in India but not quite as fast as conventional mail. I'm outta time, so I'll give you an update next week.

love, Elder Wright

Thursday, August 20, 2009

2nd Snail Mail Letter-Received 8/24/09

8/20/09

Dear Mom & Pop,

I've adjusted to the MTC life pretty well so far. The newbies came in yesterday and I feel like a seasoned veteran. I got really sick from our roommates though. I'm finally getting over it. Send more Zicam cause I went through my whole bottle and they don't sell it here. I appreciate the extra anti-diarrhea medicine. I'm sure I'll need it sooner or later. I couldn't even dream of eating any of the candy you sent without getting more sick. I don't even have time to eat it. I got it Monday, so the Kripies were a little bit like Rice-cakes but the district is still eating them. The temple food is about 300% better than the cafeteria (Refer to Ricey's letter). There is also no time to do anything here. Every second of the the day has something planned, including P-day. I have 1 1/2 hours to write any letters I want and 1 1/2 hours to have my laundry done. And 30 minutes every morning to shower, get dressed and be in class every morning. I'm slowly adjusting to the sleeping schedule. Gym is a nice break in the middle of class time. I play volleyball most of the time but I might start running a bit.

I'm learning loads already. We're learning lots and lots of teaching skills and how to ask questions and how to convey each message just right. We're still on lesson 1, but we're going super in-depth. I'm only a week in, but I'm pretty much halfway through the MTC. I think I learn lessons 3, 4 & 5 on my own in the field. The MTC just teaches missionaries how to teach themselves. It's kinda weird too. I like to learn. I started color coding my scriptures. And I do memorization in what little free time I have. Weird. Anywho, lunch & laundry time.

Love, Elder Wright

Letter to Remy Via Snail Mail

REMINGTON!!
Hola! Good job catching those fish. Don't watch too much TV and help Mom and Dad with the chores and stuff. We'll play Ping-Pong when I get back, ok? Miss you too!

Love, Rudy

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

First Letter Arrives Snail Mail-Received on Aug. 17th

8/12/09

Dear Family,


I survived my first half-day at the MTC. It looks like we'll be kept busy for the next 3 weeks. My departure date from the MTC is 31st of August. My roommate, Elder Hinsdale, is pretty cool. He's from Georgia, going to the University of Utah and majoring in aerospace engineering. There are four other missionaries going to the India, Bangalore mission in the MTC right now. It sounds like visas take a long time to go through so there is a possibility I could be in the states for a month or two but we'll see. Our district right now is us six headed for India and four headed to San Diego. The cafeteria food is EXACTLY like the Cannon Center, except with less variety. Classes seem pretty long and we don't have much time for anything at all really. Everyone just keeps telling us that if we make it to Sunday, we'll be fine. I know I was feeling kinda crummy when you dropped me off, but I'm feeling loads better now. The hardest part right now is adjusting to calling everyone "Elder" and "Sister" instead of "dude". I won't be able to send another letter until next Thursday so don't fret if you don't get one too soon.
Love, Elder Wright

August 12, 2009-The Big Day-MTC Curbside Drop-off














Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The Night Before Entering the MTC





One of the few requests Elder Wright made before entering the MTC and going to India was to go to Maddox in Brigham City, Utah and eat a steak.
He's shown here (top picture) eating a top sirloin steak
cooked medium rare.
The homemade rolls aren't so bad either.
Middle picture shows Elder Wright posing with brother, Remy, and his
Aunt Susan next to the "Eat Beef" sign.



Mom gave Elder Wright his first missionary haircut
the night before entering the MTC.




Saturday, August 8, 2009

The Open House-Saturday, August 8, 2009
















Thanks to everyone who came to support Elder Wright at his Open House.
Also, thanks to everyone who helped with the preparations of the yard, the house and the food to get us ready for the send-off!