James' first week

I finally got the chance to write at the MTC. Pday couldn't come soon enough. I've loved getting all of your emails. I miss you all. This is probably the hardest thing I have ever done. We are scheduled from the time we wake up to when we go to bed. Fortunately my companion is great and we have a good time together. Elder Tuinei and I are night and day. He is into rap, hip-hop and breakdancing. He loves being fashionable and doesn't like most sports. He's never hungry. I'm always hungry! In spite of our differences we get along great. There is a lot of open communication between us. We laugh about our differences. I followed Athena's advice and we talked about our goals as a companionship. He is a good guy. He can feel the spirit and we have a really fun time, mostly just laughing at each other. I am so blessed to have a companion like Elder Tuinei. He has helped me so much with Korean. I feel like I am just not picking up on it like the rest of my district is. That's another thing, I'm the district leader. It felt like all of Sunday I was in a meeting.

The Korean branch is the largest at the MTC. We call it the Celestial branch because all of our classrooms and residences (dorms) are on the third and highest level of the buildings. It's a bit of a workout. I am doing stairs all day.

My district is Elder Tuinei and I then two other companionships. Sisters Morton and Erikson are great. Both are from Texas. Morton Chao mai niem (Sister Morton) is 22 and Erikson is 20. I think at times they get tired of being around a bunch of 18 year old boys but they add so much to the district. The other companionship is a threesome. We were supposed to have another Elder but he was too sick to come.This may be the largest blessing I have seen since we came to the MTC. As DL I need to deal with companionship relationships. If Elder Glover's companion had come that would have left Elder Quiros and Elder Willis alone and they would have killed each other. That is an exaggeration but kind of true. Elder Quiros is a know it all and Elder Willis doesn't like being told what to do. I think they are both great guys  but they push each others buttons. I've been working with them and things have gotten a lot better. 

This is advice to anyone who is going on a mission, be able to deal with people who are different from you. Be tolerant and above all loving.

I don't have a ton of time so I'm going to wrap up. This has been the hardest week of my life. I can also say that this has been the best week of my life. There are so many stories I could tell. I could write a full book about everything that has happened. I have learned so much. Korean is hard. The food is fine. I've seen plenty of people that we know that my mom would like to know about. My companion is different but we're doing great. I'm feeling the spirit. I know I'm in the right place and doing the the right thing.

I love you all,

 Harkness Chang no niem (Elder Harkness)

P.S. The computer is being dumb so I can't send photos. Please send me athletic socks (we exercise daily and I only have three pairs) thanks for all of the things you have sent. The district loves you mom.