"I made it through my first day at the MTC! Let me tell you... I am overwhelmed. Funny thing though, my companion is Elder Vance! The Elder we talked to at the Provo Temple. He is a cool kid. He is from California and really eager to serve on a mission. Luckily, he is just as ready as I am with the language. Also Elder Beatty, who we met at the travel clinic, is in my district. My district seems so cool! Everyone is really nice and just awesome people. My companion and I are getting along great."
"The MTC, WOW! It's crazy the first day and I'll admit... I'm very nervous, but I have faith that the Lord will help me. Plus come on, it's only the first day right? Dallon's little skit about the first day is pretty accurate. The language is hard, but not impossible. I'm super happy to be here and can feel the spirit strongly. I feel like I don't have everything I need... a notebook, stamps. I think I'll get them from the bookstore. I am feeling that there is so much stuff to do and not enough time. Everything is just thrown at you all at once. I really need to lose myself in the work because my head is all over the place."
"Second day was crazy. I understand more, but it is still difficult. I did understand the teacher more which I am really thankful for. We started learning how to say our prayers in Thai and it's great, but difficult. I'm getting it though. Our goal is to start saying our prayers without the booklet by Monday and I think I can do it."
"My District Leader happens to be my companion, Elder Vance. My district is: Elder Vance, Elder Beatty, Elder Keller, Elder Crump, Elder Watkins, Sister Bentley, Sister Norrell, Sister Downs, and Sister Jackson. My Branch President is Brother Jackson. They are all so cool. My Branch President interview was today. He said that I speak positively and have a very strong testimony. He hugged me and said that I will do great things. It really gave me some strength for the MTC."
"Oh man, I already miss all of you so much, but I'm not going to cry my first night, so HA! I really do miss you all and I love you so much. I don't know how I'm going to survive here. I feel like I know nothing that is going on, but I guess I'll get use to it. So far, I have seen Jake Stepan, Chelsey Tait and Peter Funero here."
"Hey, I love you all and I'm going to miss you for the next two years, but I want you to know that you will always be in my heart and I'll always keep you with me."
Elder Jacob Smith
"P.S. - My p-days are on Wednesdays"
