MTC week 5

       So this week I made a goal to only speak English when necessary. I have done pretty well with it and it helps my language improve a lot. I bet I could get by speaking, reading, and writing Portuguese, but listening and understanding is muito dificil. We are done learning new grammar in our district, which is really fast compared to the others. Our teachers give us a lot of praise but maybe they say those things to everyone. Now we just review grammar and ask questions. We also are now teaching each other as investigators. I like to pretend to be an investigator and make things a little more interesting in the lesson. One day this week my companion and I were teaching the trio of sisters in our district. They were asking questions that led to repentance so I brought out a picture of Jesus holding a lamb and asked them who they thought the lamb was, or at least I hope I did. You never can tell with Portuguese. I know the spirit was there however because they all started crying, and my teacher who was standing in the hall outside started crying as well and she didn't know why, so she came in and just sat down and started reading her scriptures. My companion turns to me and says, " put that picture away its too powerful". I have loved the knowledge of having the spirit with me. Before I was never completely confident that the spirit was with me, but now I am. On Tuesday President Kearon of the seventy presidency spoke to us. He is the elder with the British accent that spoke about the refugees one general conference. He gave a great talk on not worrying so much in the mission. We got our flight plans this week which is exciting. We have a twelve hour layover in Lisbon before we go to Cabo Verde which will be a new experience. I am not allowed much weight in my two bags for the inter island flights. Our group of sixteen leaves Monday morning which is less than a week from now. I will get my haircut Friday and be packed by Sunday. Today we went to the temple for the last time. It will be two years before I can go again. Since I am district leader I go to branch council every Sunday morning. Our branch president was having me share something I learned in the white handbook when the mtc second councilor walking in. I had to finish for him and he liked what I said. The sisters made our district sing a song in Portuguese during sacrament. We didn't do so good because most of the elders were sick. I have really grown close to the guys in my district. On Sunday one of them got a bloody nose and it would not stop so he went to the front desk who sent him to the ER. They had to cauterize it and he is fine now. The weather has gotten a little colder which is nice, though hopefully it does not get too cold as i have no jackets besides my thin rain jacket. We did a Skype member lesson on Wednesday with some members in Texas who spoke Brazilian Portuguese. The one who was actually from Brazil was hard to understand but the American was easy to understand. We taught them about obeying the prophet and apostles. Next week I may not be able to post so I guess well will just have to see. Soon I will be in Cabo Verde.

MTC Week 4

   To start off we had a devotional Tuesday night by Elder Oaks. He is a great speaker and I love how he explains the doctrine of the church and the doctrine of Christ. We also had a speaker last night who was a former BYU tight-end. His name was Chad Lewis and he gave a great talk on the savior and his own football career and his mission. After the devotional last night we had to run over to another building to get a seat for a movie they were playing. They fill up fast so if you don't go you won't get in. The movie ended up being The Testaments which was great. Probably the most entertainment I've had since I have gotten here. Hosting on Wednesday went great. I was able to host two missionaries, one going to Salt Lake City and the other going to Japan. I felt awkward standing by their car while the family and missionary were bawling. Basically what I do with that is take the missionary and his luggage up from the underground parking garage and bring them to the main building to pickup some necessary stuff and then to their residence hall to drop their luggage off and then straight to their classroom to see their teacher, and district. I tried my best to talk words of comfort and encouragement to them. So far being District leader is going well, I have whipped my group of men and women into shape in the past week. Just kidding they are already pretty good. Since I have been here I have had to give or participate in four priesthood blessings. People either are sick, in pain, or just need comfort. I have been sick the past two weeks though not very bad and no where near needing a blessing. Just a sore throat and stuffy nose. Some people get stomach problems from the food here. And because of that we had to evacuate our classroom for an hour one day. Our teacher was laughing so hard she started crying. We could see the BYU football stadium from the the top of one of the buildings. You could hear the crowd screaming on Saturday night. My Portuguese is constantly getting better and it really is a joy. Even when others are discouraged I still try to keep positive because that is the only way to improve. Our teaching skills are improving as well. This week we taught district meeting about study habits, and on Tuesday we taught some volunteers. One guy we taught had just returned home three weeks prior from Cabo Verde. It was great to talk about what it was like and he even took our picture to send to our moms. He said that the Creole we have to learn is no big deal because they speak a lazy Portuguese where there is no conjugating verbs which sounds easy. We don't need to speak creole just understand it. He loved it in Cabo Verde and I'm sure I will too when I go. It has been nice to have a chance to simplify the gospel and in reality the gospel is very simple. Everything we do in the church can be related back to Christ, and his resurrection. I love being around the great guys whom I have come to call my friends. I know my savior lives and loves me. And he loves all of you guys too.

MTC week 3

      Each day that passes is a little faster than the last one. This Wednesday is my halfway mark, and my Portuguese is much better than when I first got here. Ever since the second day here I have been teaching an investigator almost every day in Portuguese. Right now both of my teachers are acting as investigators for us so we have two people to teach. When I first began to teach them with my companion we used scripted lessons and even read our prayers. One day about two weeks ago we decided to start teaching them without any notes whatsoever. The improvement in our lessons was extraordinary. The spirit was much stronger and we began to learn the language faster. Now all that we go into lessons with is our Portuguese scriptures and a sticky note with words we need but haven't memorized yet. Our teachers/investigators make it realistic by dropping stuff on us like not being legally married to their spouse or acting drunk when we walk in. Those are some interesting discussions. It is still hard to understand people who speak Portuguese fast, especially when they have Brazilian accents. Both of our teachers went to Brazil on their missions which is funny because our class is only people going to Portugal and Cabo Verde. A lot of learning the language is on us. We are expected to put in a lot of time learning verbs and grammar and phrases. Yesterday was fast Sunday and it was nice to give my body a break from the food here. In choir we sung 'Lead Kindly Light' and it was beautiful, the music leader, Brother Aggot, told us some great stories about the person who wrote the song. We practice Sundays and Tuesdays and sing in the devotional on Tuesday nights. A lot of days when we study our district goes to the new buildings because they have amazing study rooms there. There are twelve rooms with pictures and soft music playing. The temple was closed today because of labor day so we had the morning free. This Wednesday our district gets to be hosts for the new missionaries. It should be exciting. Yesterday all of the district leaders were released and new ones were called. So I guess I am now the new district leader, but all that means is I conduct the district meeting and get the mail. Yesterday after the devotional by the mtc presidency I got to see a great video on Joseph Smith, and it was really inspiring to see how the church has grown from a small gathering of people in Kirtland, Ohio to a global church with thousands of missionaries spreading the proclaimed gospel. I memorized the first vision in Portuguese and whenever I bare testimony of it to an investigator I know that what I am saying is true and I know that they are feeling that confirmation as well. I also taught priesthood on Sunday with my companion, it went well. I can't say I love the MTC but I also can't say I hate it. I certainly am grateful for the things I learn here and the teachers and leaders who make everything work. I guess I appreciate my family a lot more out here. I will be very happy to see them in two years.

MTC weeks 1 and 2

       The first two weeks here at the MTC have been a whirlwind of work, adjustment, stress, and accomplishment. I am sorry I wasn't able to post last week but the LDS missionary computers wouldn't allow it. I was nervous on the flight over, mainly about missing the shuttle, but I didn't miss it though it was an hour late. I still got the MTC early and I waited with some other missionaries and got to know all of them. Later that day I met my companion and district and teacher. They are all really great in their own way. Being the shy person I am I wasn't comfortable being around them until about the end of the first week. Elder Coleman, my companion, is a great missionary. He is always striving to be exactly obedient and a strong missionary. There is a companionship in our district, Elder Morrow and Elder Piscione, who are the funniest pair in the world. I have some pictures: The red head and the guy next to him. Our teacher will only speak Portuguese to us but we have learned to understand her pretty good. Actually, we now have two teachers. The second day we were already teaching an investigator in Portuguese which was scary. It was hard until we decided to stop using notes in the lesson. The spirit and the gift of tongues allowed us to help him to feel God's love. We committed him to be baptised, but he was actually our second teacher. We could kind of tell. I don't get to stay in the new buildings, but I do get to study in them. I have of picture of some of the beautiful pictures in the new buildings. The food here is okay, that's all I have say about that. Exercise time is my favorite, we play four square, basketball, and volleyball. The other day some guy slugged someone in my district in the face for no reason. I guess they worked it out with the branch president. Our zone includes all of the Portuguese speaking elders and is actually one of the best behaved in the MTC. I went to the temple last Monday and this morning. It was great, it was so calm and peaceful. About 15 elders in our zone are headed to Cabo Verde. Sundays are full of meetings, classes, no exercise, and a devotional at night. Before the devotional there is choir practice which I go to because the director tells great stories. After they show videos of talks or LDS movies throughout the MTC. I saw two great talks by Elder Bednar and Elder Holland. The hardest adjustment has been learning to work all day everyday. You don't really get free time or time alone, but I am pretty used to it by now. Some people here struggle with stress but I have not really felt any because I know that all I need to do is my best. Portuguese is coming along fine, though it isn't easy. Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to be a guide or testifier for the mtc tours. They are over now but it was great to talk to people from the outside world. I saw sister Stringham and the Burys. I can't wait to get to Cabo Verde however. The most important thing I've learned here at the mtc is that this mission isn't about me, it's about bringing other's to Christ.