mission week 5

I have been super busy, and I apologize for not writing a letter last week, but I was using my time for some 'different' purposes. On that note, I have a stack of letters that I need to respond to. I hope that you will all understand if they are a little late for some purposes I will try and explain... 

 

I really don't want to sound arrogant with the way I say this, but I think I have had one of the most unique MTC experiences out of anybody. Not only have I seen each of my parents twice in the last 2 weeks, I might be one of the first missionaries sent home on medical leave for a cough! It's only a stupid lingering cough, but there is a slight possibility that I have Pertussis (whooping cough). Honestly, if it is whooping cough, then the MTC would have to essentially quarantine itself and give everyone boosters. Could I have single-handedly infected the entire MTC??? Never mind, that's giving myself way too much credit. ;)

 

Other than the constant running around to doctor's appointments, and worrying about what might happen to me, things have been going pretty good. I've had the chance to listen to 4 different general authorities (2 of them emeritus). I especially liked what I heard from Elder Vaughn Featherstone, and Elder Gary Coleman. They both talked about changes we can make in our lives to become better missionaries, and be more Christ-like.  My entire district is awesome, and they constantly look for ways to help me out. I truly appreciate what they do for me, and I try my best to reciprocate that kindness.

 

The Provo Temple finally opened up yesterday, so today I got to go there for the first time in about a month. I absolutely love the temple, and performing different ordinances in there gives me a feeling that I can't get anywhere else.

 

I find out later today whether or not I am being sent home. I'll try and keep you all posted on what ends up happening.

 

Love, Elder Chris Porcelli

 

"Any excuse no matter how valid, always weakens the character."

-Vaughn Featherstone quoting Thomas S. Monson

I really wish that I could say my week has been eventful orexciting, but most of it was just spent in bed. I still have a horrible chronic cough, and my nausea just started acting up last night. I went in for chest x-rays on Monday, and the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with my lungs. I was then sent over to the counseling office here at the MTC, and I was completely cleared psychologically. So that means the sickness isn't being caused by stress. At this point we have no idea what is causing it. I have my own suspicions about a killer virus that can't be found until it's too late, but that's just a little hint that I have. I am awaiting a steroid prescription that will supposedly help my lungs, but I'm skeptical about that working if nothing else has at this point.

 

I have fallen behind quite a bit with the language because I haven't been in the classroom at all, but I think that I'll be able to catch up pretty quickly.

 

At this point, I don't have much else to say, my week was pretty uneventful. Other than seeing a few people here that I wasn't expecting, nothing has happened on my end. I promise that my letters will get longer again, but right now I'm only writing as much as there is to report.

7/5/12

 

Just to start out with, thank you to everyone who has sent me letters or packages during my time here. I appreciate all of the love and support everyone has shown towards me.

 

I used a lot of the advice that everyone gave to me regarding my companion Elder Judd. It seems as though we are getting along well, and that any problems we had with each other are behind us. I have had a pretty stressful week otherwise, so I'm glad that I didn't have to deal with my companion as much as I thought I would. I have been sick for the last week or so. Other than for serious surgery, I don't think that I have ever been this sick before. I have been into the health clinic here at the MTC twice in the last 4 days, and both times I had different symptoms and received different prescriptions. I got Claritin for nasal congestion, and Ranitidine for acid reflux and intestinal distress on Monday. Today I went in and got a cough supressant, and got an inhaler for breathing problems (apparently the doctor thinks i got asthma by moving 20 miles south). I have been in a lot of pain and discomfort, and I have completely missed the last 2 days of classes because I was confined to my residence hall. As of now, we are only treating symptoms, because we can't seem to figure out exactly what I have. I have another appointment scheduled for this next Monday. My guess is that I'll show up with completely different symptoms than before, and I'll get 2 more prescriptions. The one thing that we can almost assuredly drop out of contention is that I got all of this from missionary stress. I actually did think that stress might have played a big role in all of this, but I guess that I really am sick. Oh well.

 

On a happier note, I have really been humbled by this experience. I've only been here for 2 weeks, and I feel like it's been 2 years already. I feel like as soon as I stepped into this blessed campus I pretty much forgot all of the outside world. All that I have now is family and friends.

 

I am still struggling with the language, but that is to be expected at this point. I am eating healthier, exercising as much as possible, and it seems to be paying off for the most part. Other than being deathly sick with the plague, I have felt really good about my health.

 

As a side note, I get to read letters throughout the week (including dearelder emails), and I only get to read other emails on Thursdays as well as write my email and other letters.

 

I forgot to add in my last letter that I saw Koy Ash, Rachel Black, James McKinnon, and Boone Smith last week. No new missionaries this week that I recognize though.

 

Love always, Elder Chris Porcelli

 

P.S. write more dearelders!!!

My first week in here has been incredibly difficult, and I hope that it will start to get much better. We've been teaching an investigator for the last 4-5 days already (all in spanish). My grasp of the language really isn't very good, and I seem to be stalling a little bit with my learning. For the most part I've been having a pretty good time here at the MTC, but I really feel as if something is missing and I can't quite get over it. I'm trying my best at everything that we do in here. I think that I am one of the advanced missionaries here in regards to knowledge of the gospel and how to apply it to daily life.
I think the hardest thing about life here is that my companion is very contentious. He seems like an angsty version of me from 2 years ago, but he's 24! I feel really bad about our strained relationship, but he tries to find something wrong with everything we do, and the majority of that is focused at me. Other than that, life has actually transitioned pretty smoothly. I am still my regular happy-go-lucky self ;) My district is awesome, and we are all pretty tightly knit already. There are 5 of us in my district that are going to McAllen, so that was pretty surprising, and really cool. This morning was the first real break that we've been able to take all week. Our P-day is each Thursday (not counting last week, which is why you haven't received any letters yet). I am looking forward to the feeling of relaxation that comes with P-day each week. We went to the temple this morning and had a really good endowment session. The spirit was really strong, and for once I didn't feel like punching my companion. This week we had the amazing opportunity to have L. Tom Perry speak to us. They have been training all of the new mission presidents, so there were 10 of the apostles that sat on the stand for the devotional! I have seen many other missinoaries here that may or may not be of interest. Alex Christofferson, Trey Dougher, Ty Fox (who left on Monday),Isaac Fox, Ethan Harris, Sam Piccolo, Eric Emery, and Brandon Fanaika (who is in my zone, and is super awesome btw). Thank you for the letters and packages over the last week, I appreciate all of them and I'm very thankful for all of you. Please remind anyone who might interested in contacting me that dearelder.com is free! Also, I love getting food in the mail, but I would like to ask for not as much from now on. (if you haven't noticed, eating a lot of food right now isn't going to help me too much) :P Again, thank you so much for the love and support. I'm looking forward to our family fast this Sunday, and I hope that we can all receive many blessings for it. I love you all so much, and I already want to be out in the field. Love, Elder Chris PorcelliP.S. Emily, sadly the answer is no, I'd love to let you use it, but It's something that I cherish very much. Don't worry, you'll be ok

Chris is in he MTC

I'll post pictures and letters here soon... Check back often