Week 2 Letter - MTC

(this one came in the mail, so probably was written before the last one!  I plan on having this blog made into a book for him so that is another reason for typing these letters.)


I want to thank everyone for all the letters, it has been such a joy to hear from you all.  I saw Mason in today while I was in line for lunch but waited to get my food and by the time I got it he had left, maybe tomorrow.

So as we are learning to pray in Cebuano it is very difficult to switch to the english for stuff we don't know, and back to Cebuano.  It gets me every time.

But there are 100 or so new mission presidents here this week so things are kind of odd, and there are rumors of the prophet speaking .  It will be nindot (awesome).

And Grandma, my kauban (compannion) is from Frankston and the other elder in my room, who is originally from Australia, was born in Melbourne.


There are 8 people in my district, of the 8, 4 are going to Tacloban, and others are going to Cebu.  We taught our first lesson today and we were both nervous.  But luckily when Elder Mits is nervous he talks more and I talk fast so we still got our time and point.  Luckily this lesson was in english, but we had to get to know the investigators in Cebuano.

Sorry if my spelling is a little off, in Cebuano it's all spelled phonetically, so I've kinda gotten used to it.

(this is a picture of a picture, sorry for the poor quality)

Week 2 Email - MTC 6/28/2011

(I think I will have to make some edits/comments in this letter)

so dad wanted to know what i do on a day to day basis it kinda changes everyday some but i have gym 5 times a week (not surprising he would mention the gym time) i dont get gym on p day or sunday of course but otherwise i have 2 classes a day each three hours long 2 hours of personal study and an hour of personal language study mostly just memorizing words. we had the other cebuano branch (all the missionaries are divided into groups called branches) came in our class a couple of days ago to practice our cebuano and they told us they are totally jealous because our class is learning so fast

mom elder leichman is from centerville utah

 i have been hanging out with mason  quite a bit we have the same meal schedule and gym schedule so it awesome we have the same p day too so maybe ill see him in a minute when he comes to do laundry (Mason is Zac's cousin, he got to the MTC last Wed. and will going to serve in the Boise Idaho Mission)

so this week i am finally able to make my own sentences in cebuano its really helping instead of just memorizing sentences i hear and write down. im totally excited for class tomorrow to learn some more and make some new sentences. i started looking for dads freinds son but no luck so far. (he is the son of one of Jim's mission companions) hopefully ill see will (a friend from Memphis going to russia, he enters the MTC tomorrow) i see the russian speaking missionaries quite often its so cool. we were going to go the the russian translation of the testament(a movie about Christ) sunday but decided we would just fall asleep, any way, so we went to the english one. also the speaker sunday was amazing he is the director over all missionary work in the church and his daughter lives in memphis i wish i could have gone and talked to her but anyway cant. and i found out sunday on our temple walk that my district leader elder noland harris is freinds with porter(another cousin who will be entering the MTC in July) we were both talking about him working at the creamery and he was like whats your cousins name and ya he was like i used to work out with porter all the time small world its crazy. so all the letters i got are amazing i love hearing from every body it puts a smile on my face every time elder harris gets the mail and i get letters from all of you i love you all so much, so im gunna try not to type in cebuano because im not very fast at thinking in cebuano yet but in my letters ill try to include some stuff well im glad to know you all are doing great and i miss you

Elder Zachary Robert Coontz

(we got another email at about the same time that said)

ok sorry about the errors im still not to great at typing and there are no letters on the keys

Week One Email - MTC 6/21/2011

(I debated editing his email, you know, putting in actual punctuation, but decided to leave it as is.  Some of it is answering questions I sent him in a previous email.)

alright so here in the mtc the days are slow although the week seems to be going by so quickly my p day is tuesday and i do need speakers and maybe another pair of my b ball shorts that would be nice they sell just about everything in the book store so i have a journal while i have been here i have learned so much of the language its kinda crazy the way the blessing given by becoming a missionary helps me learn so much faster it seems we have taken and entire year of the language in a matter of a few days every class i feel i learn somthing ive never heard before im remembering scripture refrences its so amazing the way the lord works we have our first lesson on thursday and me and my companion elder mits the australian are preparing to teach in enlish luckily but we are doing greetings and testimonies in cebuano or visayin cebuano is the spanish name for the language i was told by my branch president i show great leadership skills after a few minutes and was told there was a chance if the lord wanted that i would be distric leader but luckily im not just senior companion its really a lot to take in we have great conversations with our roomates elder hatch and leichman elder hatch is also from australia its kinda crazy but i think there is a reason i was put with who i was we all have so much in coomon and get along so well i feel that i need pray more but its crazy to my how much we pray throughout the day it makes the spirt so much stronger even though every day i feel i know him beter everyday i reall miss you and hope you all the best and please dont forget to send letters i really want to hear from everyone i love you all and hope to hear from you soon dont forget dear elder gets here the same day as long as its before lunch time or noon here in utah

i hope this is enough if you feel you want to know something more spesific just let me know im not very good at telling everything so

i love you and i cant wait for next weeks email ayo ayo

First Letter - MTC 6/15/2011

(this letter came via regular mail, so I am typing it for the purpose of the blog!)

June 15th - I entered the MTC crazy right.  So the host guy escorted me to get my name tag and things and then to my room.  I was the first one there so then on to class, where the teachers don't speak english in order to make us think  on our feet.  I think its to make the whole situation even more awkward, but ya.  So other people show up to class and we move on to the computer where we did gym orientation so no one gets hurt.  It seemed like everyone was sitting in two's so I was starting to get worried with the empty seat next to me only later to learn my companion from Australia was supposed to be here yesterday and still nothing.  So as if the whole thing isn't  weird enough, no companion.  So I am in a 3 way companionship for now, maybe tomorrow will bring me a companion.

June 16th - Got up no companion.  Got ready, went to personal study the to breakfast, then to immunizations check then more personal study then lunch when my name was called over the loudspeaker
Elder Zachary Coontz please come to the front desk.  I was like UH OH. But I got my companion Elder Mits from Australia we have been getting along great.  I feel like the language is coming really fast...

Kamusta Ka!
Ako si Elder Coontz
Toga Memphis TN Ko
Naay pito ka tawo sa akong Pamilva

The bathroom is called the CR or comfort room kinda odd but ya.  So I learned a ton more but it's not all put into sentences so I say the language is nindot (awesome) and at times it has me very libog (confused) and its difficult to sabot (understand) But it's awesome I mean nindot

As we receive letters and photos from our missionary, we will be sharing them here.  So..  if you are interested in following his journey, this will be the place.