Martin's District at the MTC

(Click on picture to view larger.)

(Click on picture to view larger.)

MTC Week 4

Another week goes by, and it's almost been a month!

The older group of missionaries (Senpai) are about to leave, next monday.  They have a donation box, where they put all the stuff they're not taking to the mission field.  By the end of the week, it should be filled with tons of food and books. 

 My district has 11 people.  One of them is leaving next week with the Senpai, because she already knows a lot of the language.  8 of us are going to Tokyo, and 3 of us are going to Sapporo.  Sapporo is the very northernmost Mission, and they are called the 'Frozen Chosen'.

 So far, the MTC field is open each gym.  Gym is at a different time each day, but so far the weather has been alright, so we go out to the field nearly every time.  I normally just run around the field, and most people play soccer or sand volleyball.

Anyways, my laundry is nearly done.  Thanks for all the letters!  I'll be sending a few more by mail, but I think this concludes this Tuesday Email!

-Elder Mumford

-Ja, Matta Ne!  (See ya later)

Martin's Room In The MTC

Companion and MTC Roommies

Martin's Companion- Elder Jaysen Draney from Wilsonville, OR

Martin's Roommate- Elder Tangren from Utah

Martin's Roommate- Elder Petersen from Kelso, WA

NO FOOD PLEASE!

Excerpts from a letter dated September 15, 2008

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LETTERS AND PACKAGES!!!   It's always wonderful to get them.

Also, Thanks so much for not sending food.  Every one of the missionaries in my district is getting HUGE tubs of cookies and bags of candy every week. People are constantly trying to give away food because no one can eat it all.

If you want to send something, please send pens and mechanical pencils.  I can always use those and the bookstore does not have those in large quantities.

Thanks!

-Elder Martin Mumford

3rd Week in the MTC

Last Tuesday night, we got to hear from Elder Uchtdorf!

All the Japanese missionaries in my district are either from the Northwest, or from Utah, and they either have lots of Japanese experience, or none at all.

All missionaries, no matter how much they have taken before, learn together.  There is only one person in the entire Japanese area that is being pushed ahead, but only because she lived in Japan for 10 years and is nearly fluent.  Everyone else follows the schedule, so those 10-weekers are actually part of a seperate district.

It's impressive, because throuought the week, at all times of day, there are people leaving for the airport.  It's also cool to be greeted in so many different languages each day.

(In this Picture, Elder Mumford is imagining what it will be like to ride a bike in Japan) RUN FOR YOUR LIFE  EVERYONE!

Also, the stories of bike accidents are starting to scare me.  It seems that every single missionary who went to Japan has been hit by a car while riding their bike.

I hear the hospitals are very strict, in that they won't let you leave for a very long time.

So, it sounds like the things I really need there are:

1) A good bike

2) An electronic dictionary (Every student in Japan has one of these.  They would always whip them out whenever I talked)

3) Waterproof everything (It rains HARD, even in the middle of summer)

Anyways, you have probably spent more on postage for me this past month, than in my whole life combined.  

Thanks for all the great mail!  

-Elder Martin Mumford

-MTC

Typical Day In The MTC

Not much to report, because the schedule is pretty much the same every week... just learn, learn, and learn some more.  However, my Japanese is rapidly improving.

Thanks for all the letters everyone!  Even if it's just a few words, letters make people's day here.

Typical day at the MTC:

6:30-7:00 Get ready

7:00-7:45 Personal Study

7:45-8:15 Breakfast

8:15-12:30 Classroom Instruction                                                                                                      

12:30-1:00 Lunch

1:00-5:30 Classroom Instruction

5:30-6:00 Dinner

6:00-9:00 Classroom Instruction

9:00-10:30 Planning and get ready for bed

So the VAST majority of our day is in the classroom.

P-Day is the same thing, but substitute laundry + temple for the classroom instruction times.

We have an all-Japanese speaking ward of about 30, and all talks, testimonies, prayers and hymns are in Japanese.  Next week, we all will prepare a short talk for Sunday.

My Companion is Jaysen Draney, from Portland, OR.

First Letter From The MTC

Dear family,

Everything is going well at the MTC.  We are learning a lot of Japanese here, and I'm really glad I took some in college before coming here.

There are 1600 missionaries here right now, but by the end of September there are supposed to be around 2500.  It's amazing, every Wednesday, about 500 new missionaries arrive.  I arrived with 20 other new Japanese-speaking missionaries, and we're all studying together.

There's a bit of a 

competition between the Japanese-speaking and Korean-speaking missionaries.  Each Saturday night, we all sing the same song, and see who can sing the loudest in our respective languages.

And just so Mallory knows, the Cannon Center serves the leftovers from the MTC.  It's the exact same food, but here it tastes amazing.  So, whenever Mallory goes to dinner, she can think to herself, "Martin almost ate that, but decided not to." :)

I saw Jacob Hill here, I think he's going to SLC, and there are a ton of people here from May Hall.

It's difficult, but fun.  I miss the cats, and of course you too.  You're probably enjoying the quiet time at home without me and Mallory, and I'm sure Madison is thrilled to do all of our chores.

Just so dad knows, they don't do the sticker dots anymore, but just about everything else he said is still the same.

So, I'll write next Tuesday!  Make sure to write me here!   martindm@myldsmail.net

-Elder Martin Mumford

Excerpts from the first letter he sent by mail. (Written the first night in the MTC)

They provided an overwhelming amount of study materials, providing all the standard works and a Japanese "Preach My Gospel"

I'll be sending home most of the Japanese books I brought, as the MTC ones are way better.

Sorry Mom, there was no "secret pizza party" behind the Missionary Exit, but the food here is extremely good!

Oh, and they have guitar hymn music playing in the laundry room.

I am enjoying every minute of it here, and my companion is extremely nice. *Pictures soon to follow*

Sorry for the brevity of my communication, I am trying to fit everything in before 10:30. (they let us write the first night.)

Also, this maybe the last few chances to sound intelligent (with English) before I begin at a 1st grade level of Japanese.

Thank you for all your support!

-Love 

Mumford-Choro 

(Elder Mumford)

Checking in to the MTC

On Wednesday, August 27th, 2008, Martin checked in to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah.     Time to say "Goodbye"!

          

 This volunteer's job is to un-pick the top pocket on all the  missionaries new suits, to make room for the name tag.

                                        

Check in and final instructions.    

It's official!  He's a real missionary now!

Last Time Together

One last family picture together at the Provo Temple.  

This is the last time we will be together as a family for at least two years.

Everything Martin will need for the next two years 

must fit into 2 suitcases, and be under 50 lbs.