First Week (kind of)

This is a picture of my companion, Elder Ruis, and me, after attending the temple today!

Hello everyone! So as you may or may not have heard, I am off serving the lord for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for 2 years in São Paulo, Brazil. Currently however I am training at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah for about 6 weeks while my Visa is finalized.  So far it has been both an absolute blast, and also one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Arriving at the Provo MTC Wednesday afternoon, December 4th, I was quickly introduced to the campus, and then immediately thrown into class after class of Portuguese study, and gospel study, as well as welcoming devotionals, workshops, and lessons.  The first day, even though I arrived at around 1:00 PM lasted so very long, and even once we retired to our bedrooms, my mind was so occupied with racing thoughts, that it took me forever to fall asleep. Nonetheless, this week has been amazing!!

My companion here at the MTC is Elder Ruis Morales, and he just goes by Elder Ruis.  He's Guatemalan yet lives in South California, and fits me really well actually.  He is a little bit quiet like me, but has a strong testimony, and a great sense of humor.  My other two roommates are Elder Paulson (who is now our District President), and Elder Castillo.  Let me just tell you, Elder Castillo is a big guy, who played football back home in Las Vegas, yet he is a hilarious guy who speaks fluent Spanish, and thus is very good so far at Portuguese.  All of my roommates are really nice, fun guys to be around, and it's been a blessing to have them to talk to, ask questions, and laugh with.  

Here at the MTC, the schedule each day can vary, but basically we wake up at 6:00-6:30 in the morning, get ready and go to breakfast, and then report to our language and gospel classes at 8:30.  Those classes typically go till 11:00ish, and then we go to lunch and eat a TON of good food.  After Lunch we might have some gym time to work out, play basketball, run on the track etc., and then we either report to our classes again, or have some sort of workshop to go to (although I heard now we will only be having workshops about once every week).  Finally we might end the night with a devotional, or a couple of hours of personal, companionship and language study, and then return home to our residences with lights out at 10:30.

Let me just tell you, the speed at which we have to learn the language is absolutely insane.  On our 4th day we were already expected to have a basic conversation with an investigator in Portuguese, and get to know them, offer prayers, and bear our testimonies in Portuguese. As hard as it has been, through hard work and study, and the power of the Gift of Tongues, I've somehow been able to keep up.  And I have to say, the Gift of Tongues is real.  There is no way any of us young 18-21 year old missionaries could possibly learn as much as we do in 4, 6, or 9 weeks here, without the Gift of Tongues, which is a gift that the Holy Spirit gives us in order to learn a language quickly.

I've found that being here is really making a difference in every aspect of my life, not just spiritually.  I'm breaking bad habits here, and starting new good ones that I know will help me in my life even after I return from my mission.  Spiritually especially however, my testimony of this church and of Jesus Christ is growing farther and faster than it ever has before. I'm perhaps most grateful for the spirit that has accompanied me while here, and has helped me to get through the toughest days.