September 15, 2017
Hey Mom,
I didn’t read
the electronic version of your hand-written letter yet because I really want to
have it from the mailbox, but I know you are thinking of me and love me. Thank you so much for your support. Last week I just complained and dumped
all my problems on you and I really regret doing that. So this week I kept
track of all things I could really write about. Language is still a huge
struggle but I don’t want to stress that anymore, you know how I feel. Now I want to focus on my experiences here at
the CTM (Brazil Missionary Training Center).
Saturday we
went out into São Paulo and proselyted, it was super crazy, especially when my companion
and I are both struggling with the language. Even with this though, we were
able to approach people and got 2 contacts off the street. We were able to briefly explain the concept
of eternal families and bare our testimony to both people about how we are so
happy for the knowledge and opportunity to live with our families
forever.
One of my Brazilian
roommates got engaged, that was pretty crazy! I love my district; they are all
so loving and helpful and also are good at keeping each other in high spirits
even with the long days.
We are able to watch church movies on Sundays. We have watched The Restoration the last two weeks Even though its repetitive I
have really felt the spirit and have strengthened my testimony on the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and
Joseph Smith being a prophet in the latter-days. I also read Our Heritage
this week and that has only added to the experience. It’s so inspiring to learn
about the trials of the church and beginning missionaries, it definitely has
given me a new perspective on my trials here.
I SAW SISTER
REID! She was here at the CTM for about an hour before she flew out to the
mission field. We were able to talk and
get some pictures. I will send those once I’m out of the CTM. It was so good to
see a familiar face, and I am excited for her to serve!
We´ve been doing splits
with Brazilians which is hilarious because basically the natives talk to each
other the whole time and the Americans are really quiet... I´m always clueless,
never understand anything, but the Brazilians are very patient and loving and
that makes this experience a little more bearable.
The pens
Austin said were really good I don’t think work the same on the other side of
the equator... I thought that was funny after he swore by them!
Power outages
happen quite often here, also my handy-dandy alarm clock with temperature gauge
keeps me informed that it is now 84 degrees in our dorms. The CTM doesn’t have AC just one fan, so I’m
already getting exposed to the heat! I
am missing the cold I had my first week... but it was gonna happen eventually.
I got a haircut
from the CTM barber, he spent a solid 3 minutes on it... definitely no Sportsclips.
I may just have an elder from the district do it for me next time because it
left much to be desired!
I love the
fruit here, fresh watermelon and pineapple are my desserts every day.
Also, good
news, my foot has finally healed up! It’s
kind of scarred but as far as I can tell that center mass of warts is
completely gone!! I still have a few
little ones in other areas but I may just cut them out myself if I see them
starting to spread or grow - I am not going through that again.
I hope
everything is going well back home, let everyone know I love them! Thank you
for your support, Mom. I will continue to do my best to endure and persevere
with faith as I struggle. It’s just hard knowing in a little over 2 weeks I´ll
be in the field, with a companion I literally will not be able to understand. But I will keep trying! Spiritual experiences
are what have been keeping me going. I am really learning to love the Spirit
and pray to have him with me every day.
Love you, MOM!
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