Dear Family,

Hey, so me and my companion got asked to be zone leaders on Thursday and of course we accepted.  I am learning so much about prayer and missionary work.  Every day we are studying for like 8 hours and in between we load up on food.  I am so happy that I came on a mission and I've only been gone for like 3 days.  It's an awesome feeling.  Some of the elders get mail from girlfriends already and it's funny because I am not even jealous.  The sister missionaries are all super awesome and so nice.  My teachers and branch president here are all awesome.

Thank you so much for all of the snacks! I got the package of those and also my pants and I was so excited! Every time I get a letter or package in the mail it makes my whole day better! So thank you! Make sure that you tell Ryan that I say hi.  Also, I got both of my investigators to commit to baptism this week--all in the same day! It was an awesome experience. 

My address will be changing to Arizona as of tomorrow so I won't be receiving any of the things being sent to Provo for a while. I am so happy that the MTC is not just another terrible like scout camp thing that we used to go on. It is so fun and we have all of these firesides and stuff, and on Sundays we get to watch Legacy and Character of Christ. It was amazing.

Make sure that you guys all keep me informed and post pictures on the emails of my two favorite nieces! I miss them and all of you guys a ton. Of course not enough to ever even think about coming home from my mission, but I can't wait to get home and be able to see them running around again!  My companion and roommates are amazing and I love them. It feels like we are best friends and I have only known them for two weeks. It is really weird how that worked out.

Well, I have to go do laundry so I will write you soon. I look forward to hearing from all of you.  I love you all a ton!

Love,

Elder Wallentine

Elder Wallentine's First Email!!!

Dear Family,

I am doing a great job at the MTC so far and it is a blast here at the West Campus. There are way less missionaries here so we only have to have four Elders in a room together and we all have a shower in our rooms. It is awesome. I really love the MTC and it has made my testimony of the gospel grow so much and it is amazing for a life experience. I love all of the Elders and Sisters here just like they were my own brothers and sisters. Hugging is really hard through since the age changed and the Sisters got even more attractive than they already were. The food here is good but every meal they have these doughnuts that are just disgusting and taste like they have been sitting out for days. They are gross. Today we went to the Main MTC for breakfast and they had a ton of good food that we don't get here. They had pancakes and bacon and eggs and it was all delicious. Tell Emily and Caleb thanks a ton for taking care of Charley and that they should only feed him crickets cuz he hasn't eaten the last two mice. I was really worried that you guys weren't mailing me back because I can't check my email everyday but when I got online I was super happy that I saw your emails. Well I will for sure write you guys more letters and the letter coming to you guys now has my address in the envelope that the MTC gave to me for my family.

Thank you so much for writing me and I look forward to hearing more. I will try to send you guys some pictures with my emails also.

Love you all,
Elder Brandon Wallentine