Week 2

Hello Everyone!!

First, Happy Thanksgiving to you all! In the very spirit of the day, I want to thank each and every one of you for all that you have done for me to get me to this point. It has been a crazy journey, and some days I still can't believe that I am in the MTC about to leave for Canada for another 23 months! What a trip right?? Today we have some cool things planned, first we just do whatever cause it is still pday, but at 10 we have a devotional with an apostle! That will be crazy cool! We don't know which one yet but the rumor is Elder Holland!! I can't wait for that! Later we have a humanitarian thing! Thanksgiving dinner is at 11:30? That is not okay... haha oh well.

The last week has been really good! still a ton of learning, which I need, but a whole lot of overwhelming sometimes! The advice I received though is not to be too hard on myself, and don't set these crazy goals for my learning! Which as you all know is probably the hardest thing anyone could have ever asked me! I am definitely my hardest critic, but that is all right! another challenge I will face because the Lord knows that is what is best for me! I have learned already that through everything i face, I have to turn to my heavenly father in prayer, or there is no other way I could do this. A mission definitely is not easy, and I can promise you that! some things make it easier, like an awesome district, but at the same time some things are impossible! Yesterday I talked to my teacher and she said when I teach to just be myself, which goes back to what you all said! funny how that works right? But yesterday was definitely one of the harder days, but funny how the Lord works! at that point the dinner was country fried steak(one of my favorite comfort foods), later our investigator wasn't there so I got to just relax and kinda gather my thoughts cause he had car trouble, and then that night I got a package and letters from Baylee and two of her siblings. You don't know how much all of those things mean, and how they can brighten any day!  I know there will be much harder times, but already I have seen kinda of a pattern that I can overcome everything! I just need to relax!!!!!

I love all the letter and packages! Thank you so much for everything! You have no idea the level of happiness things like that bring! Even the small little things and notes mean so much! and definitely make me feel like I am still in the world! haha two weeks and I already feel like i have disappeared! I am telling you, this place is a prison! I see the same 4 places everyday!! and walk in the same 50 yard x 200 yard place! haha i am going crazy! I do not know how anyone could ever handle being here 10+ weeks!! routine is going to breakfast, hour of study maybe, 3 hours of class, lunch, three hours of class, zone teach, dinner, study, teach! everyday! Nothing is different! They are already gearing up for all the newbies rollin in soon though! it's weird how things have already changed for 'em here!

I can't believe that next Tuesday I am going to Canada! I have to be at the travel office at 3 am!! Then my flight leaves at 6, layover in Denver, and I am in Canada around 11:15! Pretty exciting stuff! What's the weather like up there right now? I can't even fathom being in -30 weather! I'll cry. well maybe not! I really can't wait though! It is scary, I mean come on, this is people's eternal salvation!! I just hope my senior companion is one that I can learn from, and someone that will really set the tone for my mission!

I look forward to hearing more from all of you! I hope you are all doing so great! The next email I will send, well besides maybe later today, I will be in Canada! Think, almost a month down already! How crazy is that, okay not really, it has been like half a month, but I am positive! you have to be on  a mission, or you will drive yourself crazy!! Only one more Thanksgiving away from you all, then I will be there again! I love you all so much! I know this email was much shorter, not too much has happened lately! I am still skinny though, that's a relief! I'm telling you, this is THE place to get chubby. haha The MTC is making me crazy. I'll talk to you all very soon! Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Elder Drake Dennis McFall

Week 1-2 letter excerpts

The following excerpts are from letters and emails received since arriving at the MTC:

Night 2 "I came down with the flu at 2 am. that mad the night rough. I was already struggling and that did not help...I welt to the doctor, got some medicine, and ended up being directed to take a nap! A rare missionary moment! ha!"

"My companion is quite the character...he doesn't contribute much to the companionship and it makes it so hard to plan. It's already testing me! But my district is awesome...."  "Companion has started to talk more but he struggles to talk from the heart...reads a scripture and says 'I think that's wonderful'. This is real progress"

"I need letters so bad. I feel so alone. this is so difficult. I't trying everything I can think of. I'm constantly on my knees..."  "It has been so good to hear from you! Packages and mail are so much fun to get! You actually feel like maybe you are in the real world still!!! haha. But really, it's a prison in here...."

" My district is really awesome! Elders Grandstaff and Ganly are the greatest! they are hilarious and we have a lot of fun which makes this so much more palatable! The MTC kind of blows. I love the learning, I love the friendship, I love my teachers, but it really is overwhelming. I feel like I will never know enough, but I will! The Lord will make sure of it!

"There is a lot going on but you can feel the Spirit so strong, and the experiences already are so cool! I wish you were here to feel all that's gong on!"

"I learned something cool 'Gospel" means good news, but then NEWS is an acronym North, East, West, South. The gospel gives you direction, but also extends to all stretches of the earth!"

"Things have been going great! I can't believe that I only have 6 days left now in the MTC...I definitely have come a long way, I'm starting to feel good abut teaching and everything... It's crazy how much I have learned! Definitely some serious personal revelation!."


"I've lost weight. I'm like one-of-a-kind in the MTC! I should write a book!"

First Pictures from the MTC

Select mission pictures:

View from the classroom at the MTC

Elder Drake McFall and his first companion, Elder Patrick Layerle

Drake's bed - notice that it is made! Showing respect for the quilt that Baylee made him!

Classroom instruction - an all day endeavor

Keeping it organized

Boys will be boys! At least Drake's area of their dorm room is organized!

Elders McFall and Layerle - Canada here we come!

Group photo at the Provo Temple: Elders Layerle, McFall, Carter, Ganley, Bair, Jeppson, Butt, and Silva

Dining Hall

Elders Grandstaff and Ganley

Elders Grandstaff, McFall, Butt, Ganley

Travel itinerary to Edmonton: United Airlines via Denver. The day starts at 3 am

Daily schedule in the MTC

Elder McFall and Elder Layerly



Elders Lee and McFall

Mailing Addresses and Companionships

Email: Drake.mcfall@myldsmail.net  (only receives on p-day which is Monday)

DearElder.com – you need to set up a profile (see below). This service will print and mail your letter for the cost of postage. An easy and convenient way to send letters and care packages.  

Mail:      MTC

Elder Drake McFall

MTC Mailbox # 177

CAN-EDM 1127

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604-1793

Mission Home: use for all packages and mark contents as “gift” for customs purposes

Elder Drake McFall

Canada Edmonton Mission

8925 51^st Avenue Ste 305

Edmonton, AB T6E5J3

Canada

Residence in field

All mail should be sent to the missioin home address above.

Week 1

Hello Everyone!!

So today was finally P-day! what a relief. it was long overdue. well not really! it's crazy to think i have already been here a week!! with all the new elders yesterday i was able to see how I looked when we came in a week ago! It's crazy to see how I have changed over just the past week! Not in the way that i am some sort of freak now, just the fact that I really rely so much more on the Lord. 

We have been just doing all sorts of learning, we honestly wake up, breakfast, then class for three hours, lunch, class for three hours, zone teach, dinner, teach. And in the class times we teach too, it's such a good opportunity to learn! the first few lessons were really tough because my companion basically refused to talk. i don't think he really has social skills, and so I then prayed, and prayed, and prayed. he knows so much about doctrine, it really is amazing, but he has no idea how to say it. i just pray that he will be able to articulate what he wants. well finally yesterday he started to come out of his shell a little bit and it definitely helped having him there during the lessons. there is so much going on! so much learning, it is definitely overwhelming at times, but you can feel the spirit just comfort you. Last night though we had a serious breakthrough! he finally seemed to open up, and it was the first time that he told me like "i feel like i taught with the spirit there." which was so nice! I would come out of a lesson with a feeling that the spirit was so strong, but he would just say like oh that was an all right lesson. How frustrating!!! how could someone with so much love for the gospel not teach by the spirit? It was just too confusing for me. But i prayed he would come around and we would be able to click while we teach, i wasn't so worried about outside of teaching yet, i just wanted the lessons to go well because they are such great opportunities to feel how it is like to teach. I also gave him a blessing the night before all of that, either way prayers are answered and the faith grows!

The first couple days weren't too bad besides getting sick. The only time I felt super homesick was when my branch president or whoever just kept talking about families, honestly I wanted to tell him to be quiet. That is whatever though. I can feel all the prayers you all send my way, and i know that is why I am still here with the mindset i do have. The spirit really is crazy strong here and you can just feel the love everyone has. Its crazy to get into firesides and think, "everyone here is going forth and has the same goal" that is honestly too crazy! but its fun to be able to see how once you begin to let the Lord into your life how much you feel the blessings. I heard something i liked, it was like, "do your best, and God will do the rest", and then we talked about how me going on a mission will bring blessings to me, my family now, and my future family. What an amazing promise!! And that helps so much. I just have to give the next two years everything I can and the blessings will come for the rest of my life.

Okay though, what don't i like about the MTC? well always having a comp. isn't easy. especially with one like elder leyerle...I don't really know how to explain him. i'll send a picture.. HA but he is just different. i still think possibly some sort of disability, or maybe just a social disorder. he takes forever to do things and that stresses me out. we are late to practically everything. and that just stresses me out! i can't even handle it. i pray for patience!! he also spends about 10 minutes minimum in the bathroom everytime, we are unsure as to why. he does mysterious things while he is in there. but if you ask him he just gets really upset and seems like he might cry. that's how it is for a lot of things, he is gradually starting to open up, but it is definitely taking time! that's fine though, i just pray it continues. The food isn't all that great, it isn't bad, but it just feels so heavy. every meal i just feel like i get fat, so i watch what i eat a ton! and then i work out like everyday!! i am watching my weight!! its possible i may have lost some weight?? i will let you know!! probably a first! 

My district is so awesome though, and without them i feel like i would have lost my mind! but they bring such a great spirit, and joy!! two elders, elder grandstaff and elder ganley are probably two of the funniest kids ever. they just keep me going! they definitely remind me of my friends back at home, which helps so much! it's weird how those things don't make you miss home though, you just are like, 'i know the lord had a hand in how this developed.' and that is the coolest thing!! I hope those two are ones i keep in touch with!! 

The nice thing though is that the leaders can see how having a companion like i do can be such a struggle, and they are always trying to help. it helps so much! i love it! they are definitely called of god. 

i know there is a lot of things that i am not saying, but i will think about them and hopefully send another email today, i am kinda breakin the rules and i am in here early to do laundry so i will probably get another chance, well hopefully!! just know i love every single one of you, and your prayers are felt. i appreciate it so much! it's weird to think its been 8 days, and time is cruisin by. They still say i leave the 27 but we will see.. i need the time to learn! i have learned so much over the last 8 days its incredible, but i have so long to go! i love getting all the emails and the letters. They are the best!! They are such a source on inspiration. keep em comin!! i love you so much! keep writing those letters, you are all slacking!! you are all in my thoughts and prayers!!

Love, Elder McFall

p.s. sorry for the lack of capital letters and such, the shift key is broken! it bugs me too, and i know my you will lose your mind dad!! Dad, make sure this gets forwarded accordingly. LOVE YOU!

MTC

Elder McFall entered the MTC in Provo Utah on Wednesday, November 7th at 1:00 p.m. He was greeted at stop #25 and quickly whisked away by the Elders to begin his journey. As a family, we spent the prior hour on the grounds of the Provo Utah Temple where we were able to say our goodbye for the next two years. Drake reports that the first day at the MTC was a bit overwhelming and that there is a lot going on. He states "You can feel the Spirit so strong, and the experiences already are so cool! I wish you were here to feel all that is going on!"  He goes on to say "It's a lot of fun...sort of! I'm liking it so far thought!" His p-day at the MTC is on Thursday and he is tentatively scheduled to leave the MTC to Edmonton on the 27th of November but this could change with the shorted MTC times.