BEM-VINDO AO CTM!! - SEMANA DOIS

Minha familia e amigos! Como tá indo? Eu amo e sinto falta de todos vocês! Here's a breakdown/long email of my crazy week! Enjoy!

WEDNESDAY 

Said goodbye to family... it was really really tough but I know now is my time. I love you all and miss you!!

Flew ALL day... Met Elder Gailey in AZ, he is not in my district, but he accompanied me for four hours from Phoenix, AZ to Atlanta, GA. Met up with  most of my companions in Atlanta, but meu companheiros Elder Kelly and Teuscher were flying in from New York. Our flight from Atlanta to São Paulo got delayed a couple of hours, and the flight was already gonna be 10 hours long, so we knew we were gonna make a fashionably late entrance lol. 

THURSDAY

I don't remember much of Thursday, I had dinner on the plane at midnight (early AM) and we didn't land until around 6am. Didn't sleep a wink, I was in the middle seat on the huge commercial flight. 

Anyways, we land and get picked up by a couple buses and we load up and head into São Paulo. The city is MASSIVE. Unbelievable. It was super foggy when we got there so we couldn't see super far, but you could make out HUGE builings looming just beyond the fog.

Arrived at the CTM!! Met the rest of my district, as well as my companions, Elder Kelly and Elder Teuscher. Super chill, very fun people!!

I don't remember the rest of that day, I didn't write it down, as I had not slept since Wednesday morning before my first flight hahah 

FRIDAY

First full day of a real schedule! It was super fun meeting my Zoom instructors in person. Irmao Cerquieda is HILARIOUS. He connects really really well with us youth. He's not afraid to tell us to shut up or teach us fun words in Portuguese lol. What a guy, imma miss him after my weeks here are up.

Back at our dorms Elder Kelly gave Elder Fisher a buzzcut in the bathroom with a trimmer he brought, and our entire floor (most of the Mexican and Hispanic district) came in to watch Kelly fade up Fisher hahah. After he buzzed his head, the muchachos wanted a turn and one guy turned out to be a pro... I will put the pics in hahah, enjoy.

SATURDAY

Today was a busy day, learned how to use the washing machine this morning. So fun. 

We also had our first Physical Activity time, which felt amazing. We chose to play basketball and of course, ya know your boy balled out for his elders. Elder Keele and I tore up the court fr. I'll add the pics. 

We also got to teach a short lesson in English to an invstigator, and we had the choice of which lesson to teach. We are all pretty comfortable with the Restoration, so we chose to go out of our comfort zone and talk about the first couple steps in the Plan of Salvation. Went really really well! However, its gonna be tough to speak my mind once we have to teach in Portuguese.

FUNNY

Come, Come ye Saints in Portuguese is absolute FIRE

If you wanna listen, you prolly have to Youtube it 

"Vinde, Ó Santos" 

TUDO BEM, TUDO BEM!!

Stuck in my head

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

D&C 123:12

"For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it"

Matthew 16:24-5

"24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

These two amazing scriptures have two different, yet similar meanings. In D&C, we realize that missionary work IS the WAY to FIND the TRUTH. That's the reason I'm in a faraway country to speak to people in a different language. They need to find me, and I need to find them, and tell them the wonderful truth I know and have a testimony of. 

In Matthew, we learn that those who live their own life not living by the commandments and covenants of God, will have no life at all. But, if we CONSECRATE ourselves to the Lord, and give their whole life to him, they will have ETERNAL life. I only am giving a small portion of my life to represent Jesus Christ, but I hope when I'm older, I can give the same amount energy to consecrating my life to Him. 

GOALS:

Previous goal : memorize missionary purpose? I posted myself saying this from memory on my Facebook! 

New Goal: be able to say a prayer in Portuguese, but say something different each time. (I can say an oração, but usually it's like the same three things.)

I'll give you an update next email!

Stay tuned for TEMPLE TRIP WEEK!! We have Tuesday AND Wednesday planned for temple trip!

PS

Yes, I do have Facebook and Messenger during my time in the CTM. However, they are strict, and we try to only respond during breaks and PDays. So if you want to text me feel free, but I wont respond right away. No calling at all, besides family on Pday.

I will not have FB or Messenger when I leave CTM. I will receive a phone number and WhatsApp and I'll let yall know. Thanks yall!

1. My new wallpaper

2. Elder Fisher's Buzz

3. O corte de cabelo dos meninos

4. Basquetebol (Teuscher didn't dress out, he is sick, but dont let it fool ya, he's a bucket)

5. Sister Smith! (Her parents hooked up my parents) so fun to see you!

6. Beautiful courtyard between dorms

7. My view from the CTM