Elder Brigham Blackhurst: Work hard, play hard, but we don't have fun

Just kidding. We totally do.

Nǐmen hǎo！Another fantastic week. MTC life is same as anyways - lots of studying, lots of classwork. I've had a number of requests for my daily routine, so here's kinda what I do everyday:
6:30 Wake up
7:15 Breakfast
7:45 Exercise
9:15 Planning
Following planning is always a large chunk of time - three or so hours. Di yi shi ge ren yan du, di er shi tongban yen du, di san shi Zhongwen yen du.
12:15 Lunch
1:30-4:30 Classroom instruction More study time until dinner.
5:30 Dinner
6:30-9 Classroom instruction
9:30 Zone prayer
10:30 Lights out

So that's my normal day. Schedules vary throughout the week, but that's the bulk of it.

I've mentioned a few times that here at the MTC, we teach
investigators as practice for the mission field. Forgive me for not specifying: these are teachers and actors who are doing their best to embody the personality, language and problems of someone they personally met in the mission field. So everyday, I teach a lesson in Chinese. Having been here for only 20-ish days, it's still a struggle. And as our Chinese improves, our teachers take on more… Let's say, temperamental roles for our mudaoyou. But, we are persevering. I had a nasty incident in a lesson not being able to tell the difference between "four o clock" and "dictionary". It's a struggle. Still. I'm learning to love this language for what is is (and sometimes for what it isn't: namely, English grammar). One of the highlights of this week was something they call TRC. The idea is that they find Chinese or Taiwanese members in the area who speak Mandarin and bring them in to just converse with the missionaries. It's the best thing. My companion and I had the opportunity to teach three middle aged women, and then a 25-year-old man who named himself Teancum after the Book of Mormon hero. It was the most incredible thing. I love this culture and I love these people and I'm so excited to become a part of it. Especially in a place like the land down under.

Speaking of "culture", here's a funny story. The MTC is split up into branches, which are split up into zones, which are split up into districts. All of the elders in our zone are on our floor. Because elders arrive every three weeks, districts leave the MTC at a staggered rate. So, last night, we prepared to send off the nine week missionaries to their respective missions. Branch 2 has a few particular traditions I got to be a part of. They mostly consisted of the old zone leaders passing down the torch to the next two... and by torch, I mean the cardboard banjo, a paper dragon, pink crocs, and a
"dragon scroll" that suspiciously looks like it's a roll of bathroom towels someone stole and started doodling on. But they claim there's a dragon on the inside, so I guess we'll have to wait and see. It kind a looked more like a really bad wedding ceremony than anything else, but I'm not gonna ask questions. It was a lot of fun. And we're going to miss those others a lot. I know my District is eager to step in to the
place they're leaving. It's a fun bunch, and we've got the best zone in the world. Can't wait to introduce the next batch of newbies this Wednesday.

I think this week was a pretty special reminder of how important it is to use your particular gifts and talents and blessings to bless the people around you; I say this, especially to all of my beloved singers back home, who I miss so very dearly. Music is a special thing. Love it. Cherish it. Go record the things you're doing in the music you're
making because those are things you you'll want to hold onto forever. D&C 25:12: For the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. We've all got some talent. Make someone's day better. (Also, if any of you have any MP3 recordings of the more reverent pieces we've sung in the last several years, I'd love you forever if you sent them to me.)

I love you all. Xiexie for the packages and support and prayers. It's humbling to see and feel the blessings of missionary life. I miss you all lots. Keep doing your best. Keep turning out and serving when pride says turn in. Can't wait to hear from everyone.

Elder Blackhurst