Lindsay, CJ

Olá Irmãos e Irmãs, What a quick week! It seems like I just got done writing my last update. I guess the time flying by just means that I'm out here having fun. We got a new instructor, Irmão Campos, at the beginning of the week because Irmão Silva was able to get sealed over the weekend and will also now begin a new job! I'm so excited for him but also obviously sad to see him go. Irmão Campos is an incredible man, though, and I'm happy to have him as an instructor! You know how last week I was making Livin' on a Prayer references? You all won't believe this, but Irmão Campos is a huge Bon Jovi fan!... I know! Now you know why I like him so much. The group had a performance down in Brazil that he attended and bought a cup from. He showed me the cup and we had a good little discussion - in Portuguese, of course - about some of their greatest hits. "Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works." I lik...

Olá Irmãos e Irmãs, You might have already guessed since I went ahead and put it in the subject, but I have officially passed the halfway mark for my time in at-home MTC!  **There are a couple of things I feel I should address before I continue: 1) No, I was not breaking mission rules and listening to Bon Jovi before writing this email (the song's title is "Livin' on a  Prayer ," so I think we'd be good anyway) and 2) I'm not by any means saying I'm ready to be done with my MTC experience because it has been great and I've been able to meet some incredible people. I'm just saying I'm excited to get into the field and serve!** Not only that, but my official travel itinerary was sent to me during the week! I, officially, will be flying from Cody-Denver-Salt Lake City September 7th to begin my temporary assignment in Orem! "Why not take the direct flight from Cody to Salt Lake?," you may ask. I guarantee you it's because Heavenly Fat...

Boa noite irmãos e irmãs, I've got another short one for you today. Classes this week were great, as always... tough, but great. Though it is sad that it was my last week being taught by Irmão S á  and Irmã Baldino. Starting Monday, it will be all new teachers and no English.  We had a fantastic opportunity to be taught in a devotional by Elder and Sister Beck (Elder Beck is a former Young Men's General President and two-time speaker at General Conference). We've got a pretty studly MTC prez down here in São Paulo (or the online equivalent). I actually had two opportunities to visit the temple this week: once Wednesday night, where I was able to confirm the youth of the ward after they were done with proxy baptisms. That was my first time having the opportunity to do so and it was such a fantastic opportunity. This afternoon I was also able to attend the temple, but this time for a proxy endowment session. I know I've said it before, but I just feel so lucky to have a t...

Olá novamente irmãos e irmãs, My first full week of MTC is officially in the books! Holy cow, and I thought the first three days were a handful! While our instructors give us a hand when we're crashing and burning with the language, we are all using the SYL (Speak Your Language) initiative, which means we speak Portuguese anytime we need to talk unless we ask for and receive permission beforehand. Our teachers have been acting as "pessoas interessadas" (interest persons) at times during class and we have had opportunities to teach them lessons completely in Portuguese (if we try to speak any English, they pretend to not understand, haha).  Next week we begin "teaching" volunteers from the church who will act as investigators to the church. You might have guessed it by now, but no, they do not speak English. I'm excited (nervous, but excited) to prepare and see how it will go! This wasn't all that long of an update, but the MTC experience has very much be...