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Mi querida familia,

Hola! from the MTC. Things are well. My companero y yo get along well; he's becoming a good friend. Within a day or two I think I'll really settle in. Classes are great, as well as los maestros. The espanol es coming along - my district (the 11 other Elders that arrived the same day as I did and are also going to Venezuela) is in a new Spanish program, designed to get the entire 1st Charla memorized completely, rather than a brief look at every discussion. All the teachers are liking this one better, and in it's 4th week it's doing it's job well. There are some Elders here who are going to some place where a mixture of spanish and like indian are spoken, so they have to learn both languages. There are some who need to learn spanish and then spanish sign language, and one Elder I know is headed to Madagascar (French). I am still really excited to go to Venezuela. As you can see, the Valencia mission is humungous. Uf! The food here isn't bad, but yes, it is pretty gassy. We're told that it's because we eat so much and exercise so little. Which reminds me - I saw an Elder practicing some capoeira during gym time, so I'm going to go talk to him tomorrow. Hopefully he won't be gone by then.

I plan on joining the choir with one of my other roommates, Elder Stanger. My companion and his can be companions while we're at practice. Look for me on T.V.!

I've got the 1st paragraph of the 5th principle (El Libro de Mormon es verdad) of the 1st Charla memorized. Wahoo!!

Today, Sunday, is pretty unique. We have no breakfast any Sunday, and today is fast Sunday, so we'll only get dinner tonight. We had branch testimony meeting (Districts A-E [I'm in A]) and then went to Missionary Conference. It's like a mini-General Conference. The MTC President spoke, his wife, another lady, and both of his counselors spoke. That was until 11 a.m. and now our next obligation is dinner at 4:45. Until then we have Personal Time, Personal Gospel Study time, and Book of Mormon personal study time. After dinner we have Personal Time til 7, then we have an hour long Fireside, then Temple Preparation Seminar from 8:15 - 9:15 and then sleep at 10:30. Phew!

The bookstore carries almost everything, mom. From scripture cases to work out equipment to Tylenol to gas relief to lamination and engraving. ( I'm getting my name on mi Libro de Mormon, La Biblia, y los hymnos) to shirts and ties to stationary and pens to candy, and back again. It's good.

Well, I ran out of things to say (finally). Chao!

Elder Onken P.S. Please send me a bigger backpack! :)