8th MTC email

Hello family! Or in Cantonese, Leih Hou Gaa Tihng!

Well, the days left are really beginning to tick down. I've got a mere 2 weeks now - and the last 3 days won't count anyway; I'll just be packing and saying goodbye to all the Elders in my District who leave on the 1st October, instead of the 3rd. How kind of them to have me enter the MTC early - and then let me leave late!

I guess I shouldn't complain - did I tell you about my Teacher, Brother Matsumori (aka Chung Sam Hing Daih)? During his stay in the MTC, they had the SARS outbreak in China, so he got the joy of staying in the MTC for an extra two weeks while they checked to see how the situation would develop. So after 14 weeks learning Cantonese, they decided it was too risky, so they sent him to a USA mission instead, speaking English. Then after 6 weeks, he finally got to go to Hong Kong.

Temple Square was absolutely wonderful - I have loads of pictures to show you, which will take a week to get printed, so you'll have to wait. But it simply was amazing. I got to see the Salt Lake Temple (not actually go inside it or go through a session though - no time :( ) and one of Brigham Young's many homes, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, in which is President Hinkley's home chapel (which he gave the last Stake Conference Address to the UK from!) and the Tabernacle, the Conference Centre, the two Visitors Centres, the white statue of Christ, and a museum full of church artifacts. Too much to really talk about and do justice to - you'll have to wait for the pictures!

So I'm writing this in the morning, but will log off with some of my email time left. So you can write me a reply, and I should be able to respond to it today! Hopefully.

Love you lots and lots and lots,

Elder Loffhagen

Loh Jeung Louh (Jeung Louh means Elder - and Jedi.)