Week 5

Yeah I'm sorry that I don't write a lot to you. I just have 45 minutes to email and I do email other people. I just haven't had time to set up a string mail thing just yet. And I honestly forget what happens during the weeks because everyday is just so similar.

My companion Elder Holder more or less hates me right now though. And its really strange because I have no idea why. I've asked him about it all the time and he just doesn't talk to me anymore. So with just a couple of days left till we leave I'm honestly not too worried about it. Like it's sad that we don't get along and there is no Spirit around us unless we are teaching. So that's something new.

The meals are really different and some aren't that good but I try them all at least. My favorite now is salad. I eat a ton of salad and rice. The meat they serve is usually hit or miss.

I am getting really excited to leave. Maybe that's why Elder Holder is made at me. Because he is terrified to leave and I'm really not too worried about it because I know Heavenly Father has my back. And he just doesn't get that all you read about in the scriptures is exactly that.

It wont be a big deal if I don't get the cd player. I'm sure I can find one at my actual mission. I just don't have anywhere to go here. The boundaries around the CTM are super tiny and we don't have much of an area to walk around. Please don't feel bad about not sending me as many packages!!! It is totally fine!! I'm not worried about that. I know that I am loved.

I try to speak Portuguese all the time and usually I can. But its just hard to talk about not gospel related things. Because that's all they teach. So I have to learn that stuff either by myself or out in the field. But before I forget I've lost 12 pounds!!!

I love you Mom. I think I cry every time I write you. Everyone laughs at me but I don't care. Something I forgot to mention in the previous email was that I leave this next Tuesday and so I won't have P-day on Wednesdays anymore so I wont email till the next Monday probably.

I love you Momma. Rex

1/29/14 Week 4

That's SO awesome to hear about everyone!! I miss everyone so much. That will be so much fun to go to Flordia with Dad for a little bit. I'm jelous at least.  I cant belive that Sarah still isnt getting better. Tell her that I am preying for her and Im going to fast for her on Sunday!! Shes too awesome to feel like this.

 

I cant even tell you how gratefull i am for you Mom. I feel so bad that it toook 90 dollars for my package. I promise I'll make it up to you!!!

Um this weeks been pretty much the same as usual. We did get a new Branch Presdient and New Mission President For the CTM. HE is a super cool guy. They both are!! And the Mission Pres teaches gospel doectrine and it feels like a pep talk and I just get a boost everytime we go.

 

We stay for 6 weeks and Ill be leaving pretty darn soon!! Im so excited to be out there!! It's crazy to think that in 25 days that I've learned more than I ever did in two years of Spanish. But at the same time not so surprising because the Spirit is here and the Gift of Tounges is totally real!!! But this week has been awwesome one of my districts left this past Tuesday and I was really sad to see them all go. But they are going to be awesome and some of us have been talking about rooming together in Rexburg!! So thats awesome!!

 

Love you momma!!

1/22/14 Week 3

No I don't have a CD player. It really stinks!!! I've looked around and haven't been able to find one and I asked on of the instructors if he knows of a place to get one and he said around here it would be super expensive. So if that could be something that you send to me that would be awesome.

It has gotten a little rough lately. But today was the best day I think. When we got to the celestial room today I prayed just to have some reasurrances about my mission and to know that I was doing the right thing. And I just had this picture pop into my head that Alex and Grandpa were standing next to me and just hugging me. And felt the Spirit so abudently and I had such peace just wash over me. I am ready for these next two years. Thank you for always being there for me and giving a extra push when I needed it and just being there for me. I hope things are going well at home and I pray for you guys all the time. I love you so much Momma!!!    

Well most days I get up around 6. and go take a shower. then at 7 we have breakfast and have personal study after that. That is usually for and hour and after it our teacher Irma Da Silva comes in and teaches us. We usually spend 15 minutes with her in companionships and "teach"  her. Its used to be really difficult but now I can pretty much give a lesson and bare my testimony to her. Class is usually 3 hours or till 1130. and then we have lunch. after lunch is personal language study. after that Irmao Arujo comes and teaches us till dinner which is at 430. then we have additional study for 2 hours and we prepare lessons during that time or practice the language some more. After that we have gym time. so that's about it really and then we have companionship planning till about 10 and then its bed time. That's about how it usually goes. Tomorrow we get to go out and give out copies of the Book of Mormon. Love you

Elder Holder is from the D.C. area he's super genius smart and is a really good guy. Elder Beck is from Austin and he used to live in France and he is fluent in French. He is a super cool guy and a really good friend.

1/15/14 Week 3

Yeah sorry I thought I told you that they asked me to be zone leader... Anyway they asked me the first Sunday to do it. It was scary at first but I am loving it now!! Its been SUCH a good week.

We teach two lessons a day in Portuguese. It can be really stressful but its so much fun at the same time!! Its crazy to think that its only been like two weeks but I can already pray and kind of bear my testimony and teach a lesson. After we emailed last week we went to a meat on the stick walk around restaurant around the corner and it was outstanding!! And it was super cheap!!! So BAM!

That was awesome!!! But its good to hear that Sarah's nerve block went well. I hope and pray that she gets back to normal now!! I lover that kid so much!!! I think I have either 4 or 5 weeks left here at the CTM the only thing that I want are some more CDs!!! I am dying without music!! And the mission President said that if the music was uplifting that I could listen to it. I asked if that meant like music that had been playing on the radio and he said that that was ok!! SO if nothing else I would like the song Best Day Of MY Life by American Authors!! That is the best song in the world and it makes any day the best!! Love you got to get off now but I love you some Much momma!!!

Also the EFY music that is on LDS.org I really like that stuff... So if you could send me that also.... That would be awesome. I feel bad for asking but LOVE YOU!!!!!

1/8/14

Mom I am having the time of my life here. I just feel at home here in Brazil. I miss you guys like crazy and miss home but this is just where I'm supposed to be and I am loving just about every second of it. The food is super different. We eats more rice and beans than I've ever seen and the fruit is to die for. We also eat some pretty weird stuff too. Like yesterday they made this ribs thing,... It was pretty bad. All kinds of fat on it and gamy. But other than that everything is awesome. The language is slow but its amazing how much I can understand just after five days. Spanish is helping a ton its very similar. We taught a lesson our second day. It was super crazy, nerve racking. But we got through it and it was actually pretty good. Speaking it is so cool and my brazilian roommates get on to me when I switch to Spanish to mess with them or if I just accidently switch. But all is so good here. I am so excited about what's to come!! Its going to hard. We watched a talk given by Elder Holland at the Provo MTC. He talks about if it was hard for the Lord why would it ever be easy for us, the missionaries. It was a very humbling talk and so spiritual. I haven't cried this much in forever. and its a good cry. My district is so close and we just are a big family. We had testimony meeting yesterday after Devotional and we all pretty much just cried. It was amazing!!! I love you and hope that my emails are long enough for you and have just enough. By momma, I love you.

Um I don't think I really need anything right now. We are about to go out into Sao Paulo. But my brazilian roommates are really helping us out a ton with the language. And yes it is so hot here!!

The brasilians think its really cool that I got to come straight to the MTC here,  but some of the other elders from America are pretty jealous.

I went to the temple today!! Mas falo un poco portuges e os mais dificil. But i speak a little portuguese but its very hard. I have to go now - But I love you So much mom!!!

1/4/14

Hey Momma!! I made it safe if not a little late. All has been well the past two days! We jumped right into learning and it has been insane. I can kind of pick up what the instructors are sating because Of the spanish I took in high school. Its been wicked cool so far and I really haven't had a bad expericence yet and I'm getting along pretty well with my companion and the other new missionaries. They're only giving us 10 minutes so I'll email you Wednesday!! Thats my Pday while I'm in the MTC. Love you!! Talk to you soon!!