Some News!

Hi Family!

 

It's been such a crazy week. Thank you so much for your support! I love you! Just a quick note, I'm going to send a little package to you with some things that I want to be safe at home and I'll include a knick-knack or two for you, but the truth is that your cool souvenirs will come from Brasil and not from the MTC Bookstore. I started writing a note that I will also include, but it's not done. I'll send a couple pictures. Look at the backs of the pictures because I labeled one of them.

 

I have some questions for voces. First of all, please please keep me updated on the "Board of Review". I want news as soon as possible. Second, Dad, about C.S. Lewis, I would start with Mere Christianity, it's the classic. Some of his other books will have a similar flow/feel, but will cover other topics about religion. How's the hunting going? Elder Palmer in my district is a hunter and I want him to come up to WA to turkey hunt with us. You'll like him. Mitch, how's marching band?? And the wife beater thing...haha you are the best.

 

You asked about the language, and I love portugues. It's an incredible language. I find myself forgetting Spanish, which is good I guess, but Portugues is so fun. I wish I was more disciplined and spoke it more, but I'm trying. I feel fairly comfortable with it. Cool Story for you. There is this elder who is from Acre Brasil. His name is Elder Da Silva Nogueira. Talk about someone destined for MMA greatness right? Well, actually, he's really skinny, and he just went through an episode of appendicitis, so it might not happen. He is 22 and he was converted when he was 15. He was called to the New York Mission speaking portuguese. Since our schedule just changed, I'm on the same sschedule as him now, meaning we have gym and other things at the same time. Because of his health, he just goes up to the field and brings his book to study English. Even though he's going Port speaking, he's here for 12 weeks to learn English, and I think he's pretty frustrated with it. So when Elder Powell wants to go up to the field, I like to find him and sit with him and talk to him. Oh and by the way, it's all in Portugues. We've maybe exchanged 10 english words with each other, only when I don't know how to say something. I don't say this to brag or anything, because it's quite hard to understand him. He speaks really fast and really low, and he even admitted to doing it. The other native Brazilians are much easier to understand. But we just sit there for the whole time and talk. He has to repeat a lot, but he has an amazing story. He is the only member of his family, and he's sacrificed so much to be one a mission. He's told me about his conversion, his parents, his mom's experience with the Church (she has had a Book of Mormon since 1980, but she never showed it to him), the death of one of his family members, how he wanted to serve a russian speaking mission, so many cool things. I've told him about all of you, the grandparents, my experience of opening the call. I love Elder Noguiera so much. We don't always understand each other with our words, but I think we understand you each as people pretty well. He's amazing and I can't wait to talk to him after I know portugues. So I don't have a lot of time left, but I just can't say enough about Elder Nogueira (we're going to take apicture today, and I'll send it to you someday...) I'll do my best with the remaining 8 minutes.

 

Like, I said, what a crazy week. And to be honest, it's been tough. I'm learning that there is a big difference between knowing something in your head and knowing something in your heart. I know with all of my soul that God is aware of us and He loves us. Last Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were the toughest days since I've been here I think. And do you remember how we have a devotional every Tuesday night? Well guess who walked into the auditorium that night. There are approximately 15 people in the world who we stand up for when they walk in to the auditorium. We stood last Tuesday. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came. Mom, Dad, Mitch, you all know how I feel about Elder Holland, I don't feel like I have to explain that. In every sense of the phrase, Elder Holland was sent from God. I felt like it was a miracle, a sign from God that He knew what I was feeling and He was going to prove it to me. I think if Elder Holland had been wearing a nametag, I would have been able to read it from where I sat. I wish I had time to tell you what he said, but instead I'll tell you how I felt. I felt God's love in a very powerful way that night, even after we left the fireside. It was the beginning of a miraculous week. Not miracles in the sense of loaves and fishes, a miracle in the sense of spiritual healing. The Spirit has been teaching me frequently and powerfully this week as I've continued to struggle at times. But we have to know the bad to know the good, and this week has been very very good.

 

Quick ending. I should be reassigned on Wednesday. And I think I get to make a 5 minute phone call on Friday. Good things are coming! I'm so excited! I'm where I need to be. I love you!