February 11, 2011 - Letter

Well, its Pday all over again. Time is flying by so fast. Seeems like just yesterday was our P-day, but oh well

The days fly by so fast. Some days I dont even remember what we did earlier. Its tough. But we're speaking only portuguese in class now. We kinda had to because our teachers dont "understand" english anymore. But its good. Its helping me to learn faster and better i think.

Oh ya. Parker O'very got his reassignment to Tallahasee or somewhere in Florida. Dont know if you knew that or not. But I heard that the mission president down there has been asking if the reassigned missionaries can go there. I guess there are a lot of Portuguese speakers in the southern states. Florida, Alabama, Georgia. And no. North Carolina is not in the south. So if i get reassigned, I'll probably go to one of those three states.

Um, we had a fireside on Tuesday. Someone from the seventy. His wife bore her testimony in spanish, portuguese, and English. It was really cool. It was simple, but very powerful. The spirit was very strong.

We taught at the TRC on wednesday. We taught about the plan of salvation. He seemed to feel really good about it. He prayed and read the scriptures. He felt the spirit both times. He told us he had been baptized when he was born. We told him that he needed to be baptised in Christs name to get to the celestial kingdom. He said he wanted that, and if thats what God wanted he said he'd do it. I know it wasnt a real lesson, but it was still my first opportunity to commit someone to be baptized. It was cool.

Im doing good though. I feel like im getting fat. I eat a lot here. 3 meals a day, snacks throughout all day, and then we only get 50 minutes to excersice. Its not enough time to burn off all the food im putting in my body. But oh well. One of my teachers, Brother Dodge, lost 60 pounds on his mission. He had some disease, and had worms in his stomach, but still. 60 pounds. So i figure what ever i put on here, i'll just lose it with diseases.

Also, there is a teacher who went to Recife. He said its really poor. There are favelas? Super poor area, lots of houses dont have addresses. But he only got a gun pulled on him once, so not too bad.

Any way, im doing great. I only ghave 30 seconds so i got to go. I love you all. The church is true.  Bye

February 4, 2011 Letter

Wow,

 

It's already been 2 weeks. It feels like its been so long but also like its been no time at all. Its weird to think about how we've only been here for 2 weeks and We'll be doing it for 2 years. Man, it's crazy.

 

 

Well mission life has been great. It's been tougher this week though. Its tough being district leader and trying to keep everyone else happy. Its hard to know how to help them. But I think we're doing pretty good. We've really tried to transition from listening to our teachers speak portuguese and us answer in english, to everything in portuguese. Its really hard. I can never say what i want or feel like saying because i dont know the word in portuguese. I hope it starts coming quicker. But the language is great. It sounds a lot prettier than spanish thats for sure. They dont sound as beautiful as us amazing portuguese speakers. haha. Just kidding, but really it's true.

 

About the mission thing.... Thats pretty tough. I dont really know what to say. I mean, i've always wanted to, and known that i would serve a mission. But my advice would be along the same lines as melindas. Just get out there and do it. You know its the right thing, the Lord wants you to go, and it will help out so many people. Just dont be selfish and do 'your life stuff' for two years and make hundreds/thousands of people suffer because you wernt willing to go. I know that its tough to think about, and tough to get over, but i know that its true. I've heard so many experiences of missionaries blessing the lives of so many people. One i heard today, a missionary didnt get his visa to brazil so he got sent to florida. He had a brazilian flag over his window. In the middle of the night, some guy knocked on their door. He only spoke portuguese and wanted to know more about the church. The Lord knew that this man needed to have this missionary put in this spot. If he hadnt gone on his mission this poor man could have never heard the gospel. Just dont be selfish. I know the Lord has blessed us all so much. Its the least we can do to help more of His children, and our brothers and sisters, return to our Heavenly Father.

 

Im so grateful for the opportunity to be serving a mission. I can not wait to teach people the gospel, and to see their "faces light up" as Melinda said. I know that there are people in Brazil that are waiting for me to teach them the gospel. So that they can be with their families forever. Im so happy for this gospel. Im grateful for all the blessings that i have, and that we all have. I know this Church is true and im so thankful for it. I know that President Monsen is the true prophet called of God on this earth to help us. I know that if we listen to what he says, we will be blessed.

 

I love you all so much. Thanks for your support and i'll talk to you all in a week. Bye

 

January 28, 2011 Letter

Well, first real P-Day. So far so good. We went to the temple today, our whole district did endowment session. It was a great experience. The temple is so cool. Its such a beautiful place and the spirit is so strong. I've always liked the cake temple, now i've been inside it.

   

Ok, i'll tell you a little more about our district. Names, Elder Shokes, Elder Becker, and Elder McCloskey have a trifecta going on, Elder Gage is really funny guy, companion is Elder McComber. Elder McComber talks a lot and is kind of annoying, but oh well. I guess i'll have to deal with it, or learn to get through it. How ever you want to word it. Then there's Elder Judson( weird guy) and Elder Mclean. Elder Mclean is kindy shy but a really cool guy. Ok, then there's the sisters. There's Sister Averret and Sister Jensen. Sister Jensen remindes me a lot of Grandma Tracy. Sister Jensens been having a really tough time here. There's Sister Goodwin and Sister Berrett. They're both really nice and really funny. Then there's Sister White and Sister Brady. Sister White is kinda shy and Sister Brady's the complete opposite. Sister Brady busted her big toenail off and broke her toe. It kinda stinks but i think she\'s alright. We're all getting along great so far. I hope it stays that way.

 

It's great to be here serving the lord. Me and Elder Clark went to a tutor to help us pronunciate better. He showed us a scripture where it says the lord spoke to him in his own language. Thats why its so important for us to learn the language, because we are representatives of Jesus Christ. We do his will. That includes talking to his people in their language. It allows them not to just feel the spirit, but to know what it is and act on it. I thought that was really cool.

 

Alright. Time's almost up so i'll start saying goodbye. Bye

 

January 28, 2011- Letter

Well, first real P-Day. So far so good. We went to the temple today, our whole district did endowment session. It was a great experience. The temple is so cool. Its such a beautiful place and the spirit is so strong. I've always liked the cake temple, now i've been inside it.

Ok, i'll tell you a little more about our district. Names, Elder Shokes, Elder Becker, and Elder McCloskey have a trifecta going on, Elder Gage is really funny guy, companion is Elder McComber. Elder McComber talks a lot and is kind of annoying, but oh well. I guess i'll have to deal with it, or learn to get through it. How ever you want to word it. Then there's Elder Judson( weird guy) and Elder Mclean. Elder Mclean is kindy shy but a really cool guy. Ok, then there's the sisters. There's Sister Averret and Sister Jensen. Sister Jensen remindes me a lot of Grandma Tracy. Sister Jensens been having a really tough time here. There's Sister Goodwin and Sister Berrett. They're both really nice and really funny. Then there's Sister White and Sister Brady. Sister White is kinda shy and Sister Brady's the complete opposite. Sister Brady busted her big toenail off and broke her toe. It kinda stinks but i think she\'s alright. We're all getting along great so far. I hope it stays that way.

It's great to be here serving the lord. Me and Elder Clark went to a tutor to help us pronunciate better. He showed us a scripture where it says the lord spoke to him in his own language. Thats why its so important for us to learn the language, because we are representatives of Jesus Christ. We do his will. That includes talking to his people in their language. It allows them not to just feel the spirit, but to know what it is and act on it. I thought that was really cool.

Alright. Time's almost up so i'll start saying goodbye. Bye

First Letter!

Wow. It's only been a couple days but i feel like its been forever already. The days go on forever. It seems especially long because they only speak to us in portuguese. Its soooo hard to understand, but im finally starting to understand a couple words. Lets see, I know dad was wondering about the food, right? Well if not i'll tell you anyways. There's a menu on the doors that say whats in what line and such. You can eat as much as you want but your not supposed to waste food. Um, I havnt drank the orange juice3 yet. I might take a risk later on but we'll see.

Oh ya, my companion is Elder Clark. He's from San Francisco area in California. He's really cool guy. We're really similar. He went to college at the U, he's 20,.... I dont know what else to say. We're the only two in our room. Um, our district has 9 elders and 6 sisters. Me and elder clark are the only two in our district going to hecife. Um, on thursday we met with our branch presidency. We introduced ourselves, bore our testimonies, and such. Then we got interviewed by a member of the presidency. I got called to be district leader. Im so overwhelmed. I dont even know whats going on, but know i have to help teach my district. oh man, its going to be tough. But i know the lord will help me.

Our schedule is a little weird this week because it's the first week. Normally our P-day is on fridays so thats when to expect an email.

Oh ya, also gym, right? Um, we've had gym early in the mornings the first two days. Its kind of nice just to roll out of bed, exercise to wake up, then shower and get ready. Um, they have basketball, volleyball, 4 square, weight room, and a track. You can do whatever you want for 50 minutes. It's weird to play sports just for fun, not competition. Its just for fun i guess. Its going to take some getting used to.

Uh, lets see. Spiritual experiences. Uh, Brother Shaffer told this really cool story of when he was in Portugal. He and his companion were talking with people in a park or something. They saw this one guy with a mohawk and tatoos and earings and they kinda passed him up. They tried to talk with other people and dint have much success. Later on they decided to go back to that guy. They started talking to him, didnt have a great time. But as they were leaving they gave him a pamphlet of the plan of salvation. He just looked at it, then back at them, then just kinda sat there. Then after a while he asked for them to come teach him more. They got his address, went back the next week. When he opened the door they just stood there and stared for like 10 seconds. His whole countence had changed. I guess someone in his family died recently and he needed to hear about the plan of salvation. 3 weeks later he was baptized. I just think it's so cool that the Lord and spirit will help teach us what we need to teach them. It was cool though because brother shaffer was talking in  portuguese. we couldnt understand everyword he said, but the spirit was so strong. It was the coolest thing i've felt. Ever. Its so awesome here. Everyone is doing the things they should and you can really tell.


  Love you all. I know the church is true. En nome de Jesus Criisto, amem

MTC here I come!

Taken after getting set apart as a full time missionary!

Saying our last good byes!

Here I come!

Mitchell's Not a Farewell Talk

This is just a reminder about Mitchell's talk on Sunday.  Church starts at 11:00 a.m.  It is in the brown church, (2700 West and 13400 South.)  We wont be leaving right after sacrament meeting but you can come over to our house around 2 if you want for a little luncheon.  Mitchell would love the support! :)