Letter #2...well, kind of...

Yesterday morning, I was almost in tears when noon came and went and I'd not heard from Quayd yet.  But, at about 3, he started typing away.  We did a little question and answer emailing for 45 minutes, then he left and returned and we did it again for another hour.  It was lovely because I have so many questions!  So, he didn't write a real letter this week, just our conversation.  I cut and pasted it all together into one letter.  Obviously, I leave out the family comments and personal issues, but here's a lot of his thoughts.  You can tell that he was answering some of our questions.  Thankfully, Doug was able to be home later in the day, so he was able to participate too!  The wait for that few extra hours was definitely worth it!  Quayd leaves for California on Tuesday!  I just sent his last care package to the MTC this morning.  He'll be receiving his first, a "Greenie" package when he arrives in California on Tuesday.  

Life is awesome! There’s been times where I don’t think I can do it and it’s frustrating to think that.  The adversary works hard!!!!! I think it’s because I don’t know how to ask inspired questions.

Life at the mtc… well, so far, it’s been weird thinking that I only have four more days left and leaving my brothers in the district. Monday was a horrible day.  Our older brothers, Elder Fata, Richins, Mullins and Child, along with Forth have left the MTC and are on their way to serve their mission in Australia.  Forth gave me a tiny wooden elephant.  It was a sad.  But, with sadness comes happiness.  I’m starting to be really good friends with our other district,  like Anderson, Kineski, Humpreys, Nelson and Johnson.  

Anderson’s very funny and loves acting.  In the hallways, we sing Les Miserables and I’ve taught them how to throat sing.

So, now there is just a loud sacrifice theme going on in the halls and the newcomers faces are precious.  My companion is awesome.  At times, though, he can get a little out of hand, like constantly telling me what to do.  I hope my trainer isn’t like that!  Haha.  I love my teachers, Brother Van Bloom and Tittle.  Tittle, however, I might not see again.  He’s in some lake.  

The MTC is great.  Yeah, in class, we do alot of role plays and I kinda suck at them.  I think the best roll play was being ___.  It brought tears into my eyes.  I almost cried playing him as an investigator.  I hope he finds his way back. 

The best thing I’ve learned… man, its hard to tell really.  During TRC, I try so hard to pay attention to the investigator and be kind to everyone during our discussion.  I feel like listening is key.  My companion is not a good listener,  however, he bears his testimony on everything.  But, I think listening and not teaching lessons, but people are important.  I’ve learned more about prayer and how important it is.

Yeah, I’m trying.  It’s hard though and frustrating, but, you’ve got to love him.  I’m going to miss Brother Tittle big time.  He is definitely a great teacher.

I can’t believe there are four more days left.  It’s hard to believe.  I don’t know if I shared before but when I first met my family, I had seen them before.  Every single one of them!  It’s weird to think that, but, it’s so true.  And I have met my teachers before.  I don’t know where, but I have met them.  Now, we are literally committing to go to each other’s weddings and family gatherings.  That’s how close we are.

Almost everyone has kissed a girl except for two boys  -  that’s Elder Poulter from Blackfoot, Idaho and Corbridge or myself.  Funny.  I told him my reason for not kissing and that’s exactly what he did, except it was $1000! Yikes!  That’s a lot!  And the boys in my district constantly start whining about their girls and writing them.  

Anyway, the food is getting a little better and I am getting a little fatter.  Yikes!  I need to work out.  Ball keeps me in shape though.  haha 

Oh, interesting… almost everyone going Redlands has contacts, so, I’m not happy that they disobeyed, even though it was a word of precaution.  I’ve had a little speech here and there, which is not really fun, but, hey, that’s the MTC.

Sorry, I’m slow at typing.  Hangers! Haha! Yeah, when i got to the MTC, I had no hangers, so, I literally hung them on the door knob or the railing in my closet.   haha But, Forth left some.  So, I have some now.

Sorry I haven’t written a letter, I’ve just been so busy.  I hope I can continue to be strong because it is hard but I know there are blessings that come with it. Oh, I don’t talk much in class, but the other day, we were talking about faith and obedience and I had a prompting to share a little story about Elder Lawrence Corbridge and his experience. I think they liked that.  

Well, I love you too I miss you and Dad and somehow, I kinda miss the girls but just a little. haha I love you guys.  I’ll be writing you soon.  I love you.  I miss you so much!  I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!

Elder Corbridge.

Quayd's first REAL letter!

This letter came this morning while Denise and I were having lunch on the patio near the river at Elements.  I was sitting there checking my iPad every other minute and finally one popped up.  Quayd wrote, "Do you want to hear my experience?"  That was the whole email!  I wrote back instantly, YES PLEASE!!!  35 minutes later, I received this letter.  It made me feel wonderful and my heart was full and I ached all at the same time!

My heart ached to think that he was feeling such strong emotions on his own, but I was overjoyed at his realization and that he figured it out without Doug or I there to tell him what he came to realize alone!  Oh how I love this boy!  Anyway, here is his first letter.  I'm still debating.  I may begin a blog for his letters.  I may just post them here.  I'll decide before he gets to California. The letter had to be edited for typos, but other than that, this is Quayd RAW.  Some of it may be more personal than I should share, I'll figure out what he wants to share and what he doesn't.  We are learning as we go here.  And I loved that he said, "Life is good!"

Well,  as you know,  when I got to the MTC, it was emotional, especially saying goodbye to my mother.  In a way, it kinda felt like Maze Runner, when Thomas is in the box (the car) then, the door opens and elders pull you out just like the Gladers did with Thomas. I immediately had to say goodbye to my family and my mom, then I was taken away from them by Elder Spencer. I don’t know why I wasn’t crying anymore, I just wasn’t.  

I said hello to almost every elder as they, repeatedly, kept saying, “Welcome to the MTC!” I went to my classroom and meet Elder Aeillo almost like “i yellow”, so that’s what we call him.  I talked to him for a bit and met Brother Van Bloom and Elder Tittle.  It felt like I had seen them before somewhere.  Weird? But, they were my teachers.

They pulled me out of the room to watch a couple videos. I came back and there was Elder White, Elder Aeillo, Elder Taylor and Elder Hill, my companion.  You know how we guessed what my companion was going to be like… Well,  he is tall, not very handsome, has a very cool personality and talks a lot! At times, I couldn’t say anything because he’s a talker.   

Then, out of nowhere, I saw Elder Duncan, a high school friend of mine. I was at his house that New Years Eve party.  He is in my district!  We hugged and were so freaking pumped to see each other!  

After that, we started class, then went to lunch.  The food isn’t that good, but, the ice cream – mmm, it is good!  BYU ice cream!

I don’t know why, but, I felt some intense anxiety throughout the first three days.  The first day was the hardest just trying to fit in.  We were teaching and some investigators were asking questions. I think that when I spoke, I recited the whole Plan of Salvation, which must have been overwhelming.  Anyway, studying lessons,  learning to talk to the investigators, I literally wanted to go home… but, at the same time, I didn’t. It was mentally challenging. 

I doubted myself many times. As my district talked about scriptures and such, I really felt like I was going to be a failure.  And my companion barely talked to me. And my district were like family, but I wasn’t fitting in.  I felt hopeless and a little... not really homesick, but, at the same time, homesick. 

We were teaching our lesson of the restoration to Brother Tittle.  We prepared and we started our lesson.  I talked about Joseph Smith and his vision and recited it.  That’s when I knew!  …Maybe, I don’t know scripture, BUT, I have a testimony that is strong!  Maybe I don’t know much, but, I can feel the presence of the Spirit!  Because when I told Brother Tittle that story, his eyes were glistening and I knew that, pretending to be investigator, (even though he was a member), he felt it!

So, I started to make a change. I started to know my personality and now, I’m literally the funniest elder in my district! We have made lots of friends. I have made lots of friends! It’s like my district are my brothers who, like me, are newbies and then, some of the other people in my district are older brothers, who have shared there experiences of teaching, like Elder Fata,  Elder Stevenson and Elder Richins.  They have been a big help and I’m starting to like it! 

Teaching is a little hard when Elder Hill is talking.  My district leader is a little too much obedient, but, that’s okay, I still love him.  But, I’m so grateful to meet these wonderful people, these wonderful friends and now, literally, my brothers!  

I haven’t taken any pictures so I need to do that, but, I have been writing in my journal each day about my wonderful preparation towards the Lord and the people of Redlands, California.  It’s been amazing!

I miss you so much.  Thank you for the scrap book.  It means a lot.  I don’t know… being here is like, for me, I have already been here.  I know somewhere in my life time that I have met all of these wonderful people.  Getting to know them more…it’s literally like I have passed the veil and have seen a glimpse of them laughing and talking up a storm.  They love me.  They literarily tell me, “Corbridge, I love you, man!” or “Corbridge, I’m so glad you are here!” or “Corbridge, can I date your sister?” 

There’s a couple like Elder Aiello and White and Lorenzen, who want to date Grace or ZJ! Haha! 

Funny… we were talking about moms and how you were converted by the former Elder Corbridge and they were like, “ooohh really, was she....?”  “She was hot!!!!” They all started laughing hysterically and then they asked, “Is she still?”  Yeah, she’s still pretty hot. It might have been weird saying that, but…

It’s just been great! I love my teachers!  Oh, something the girls should do - if they have a clear glass in a restaurant, put maybe a quarter of ice in the cup, get half cup of Fanta and a little bit of Sprite and then a drop of blue PowerAde in there.  It has two colors… just saying.

I love you guys so much I miss you and Zulu.  Anyway, life is good!  I’ll send pictures asap. Oh!  Listen to this band called the Nashville Tribute.  They are awesome and I literally cried 8 times listening to their music.  It is powerful, especially the missionary one. 

your son,

Elder Corbridge :^)

Oh, ps.  All the elders going to Redlands have contacts for the year!  haha

He loved telling me that because the letter from the Mission said No contact lenses.  We have gone the rounds about this since April.  I guess Quayd will be getting contacts for his birthday package in a 8 weeks. His letter was pure Quayd.  Love that boy!