First Letter!!

Hola Familia!

This keyboard is very different! But Mom, it is wonderful to hear that all is going well and that you are getting by! I think about you all the time and hope you are doing well. Don´t worry about me, the CCM is a very blessed place!

Luckily you get to hear from me sooner than usual! We arrived at the CCM and were in our dorms around 1 am. I am in a trio companionship with Elder Chapman and Elder Miller! Elder Chapman is indeed Logan Chapman, the awesome elder I left Salt Lake with! And Elder Miller is the missionary from Albuquerque. They are awesome! We are in a trio because one of the missionaries went home, so things are just getting figured out I guess.

They let us sleep in until 9, but I couldn´t sleep very well last night, I got some decent sleep on the flight in and so I just felt like there was more to do! But I got some decent sleep, it was cold though, I just slept on top of the mattress (this morning I finally found the pillow and blanket in the closet!! so now it will be much better. haha) We are in a room with 2 elders going to Cuchacamba, Bolivia, or the same mission Lantzen Toomer is in! They have been in here for 4 weeks and one is a DL in his district. Another missionary is from Layton, I didn´t catch his name or where he is going though. Apparently there is a sickness going around the CCM right now, and the DL and the elder from Layton are sick from it. But I´m carrying around my handy dandy hand santizer for cleanliness! Don´t worry, I will do everything I can to not get sick. They call it the siempres o nuncas. The¨always or nevers, in English, so lets just say it might not be fun on the digestive track...

Today I just got my nametag! I´m going to take some selfies when I get back to the dorm. haha but today we have gotten pictures and supplies so far, and unpacked, and later I believe we have meetings with the CCM Presidente and his wife, so it will be exciting! P days are Thursday.

As for Darrin, [Collin's friend, Darrin Nielson, is also in the Peru MTC, preparing to go to the Peru Chiclayo Mission] I did not sneak into his room, although it is right by my room!! I thought about it, but then decided I better not, in fear of waking all the others. but then this morning when I was meant to be sleeping, the door was slightly cracked open, and I saw him and another walk by! So i was like, I know he is around here! And then I was talking to the DL in our room, and I heard his fantastic laugh coming from the hallway! So I scurried down the bunkbed ladder and opened the door, and there he was!! And so was Elder Kaden Watkins and my second cousin!! [Mason Rich] so we all hugged and talked! Darrin is doing great, he was giving me the down low on stuff, apparently these first two weeks are very imporant for your spanish, so I better pay close attention! Elder Watkins is sick sadly, but hopefully he gets feeling better, he´s been resting a lot.

I hope all is well out there! I am excited to hear all about the adventures going on over there! All is well here, it is all very new but exciting! I drank coca tea this morning!! but alas, it really needed brown sugar. And I also had this orange juice, that Elder Miller described perfectly. you know the taste of oranges during little league soccer game half times? Where the team comes together and eats orange slices? imagine that in juice form, it tastes just like an orange!! it doesn´t sound as exciting now that I´m writing it down, but it really was incredible to us. haha!

Thank you mom, for the letter! I loved hearing from you! And thank you for attaching the blessing notes that Grandma took, it was great to look at those and remember some of the AMAZING blessings that were given to me. I strive to do all that is right to be worthy of those blessings.

The Church is True! I love it! Sometimes the church asks you to do seemingly crazy things, like send your son to PERU! But I know that when we do what we are commanded and asked to, that great blessings come in return and unparalleled joy can enter our hearts!

Please send this letter around, so all may know that I have not died in the wilderness long ago, but I am still alive! haha Send me questions so I can try to answer all of your wonderings about my adventures in the CCM! I love you all very much! Keep choosing the right!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Collin Russell