I´m so glad to have been born in the united states! The americans sang the national anthem the night of the 4th in front of all the Brazilians and it was powerful. It was the first time that i felt the spirit and patriotism at the same time! Even the Australian, Elder Mafi, in my district sang with us!
Mom, i figured i should let you know what i bought at the temple store. I bought a Portuguese quad, with tabs, synthetic leather. They are nice. I´m glad to hear you guys are getting settled in. Not much is happening here. I´ll try to send some pics that i took last week. I haven't taken any this week bc we do the same thing everyday. The temple was awesome today as always.
Elder Taylor, i cant believe you ate a frog... that is freakin nasty!
Dad, the MTC is like the cleanest place in the world, no joke, it is just that it is connected to the city plumbing system and that is how it gets dirty. I love the MTC but i am feeling ready to leave the classroom setting every day and finally do some real work. The food is as good as the Christensens, the MTC chefs are amazing! My new Brazilian exchange companion that i got to teach with twice this week went home today, I love that elder and i look up to him for his humility and submission to the Lord. You can see it in his eyes and he hopes to return in one month. He is an amazing teacher and i am grateful that i got to know him.
David, i cant watch your burning shirt vids because i´m on mtc computers... only one more p day here left!!!
Mom, i love your testimony of the gospel. I still reflect on it almost every day and i know that you will bless tremendously the lives of your new seminary class (especially without having a super disruptive super senior in your class this year trying to teach lessons and stuff :)
It started getting warmer this week. No more blanket, i´m just sleeping with a sheet. I love the weather now. I watched a recording of a devotional from last year on tuesday and guess who i saw in the Provo MTC choir??? Macey Lane Smith!!! It was so cool. She was singing Be Still My Soul (nice to hear an english hymn) at a devotional with President Nelson! Felt the spirit so strong.
Two days ago i accidentally broke one of the sound buffer things on the wall in the auditorium. I thought that they opened up and so i went and pulled on it and accidentelly tore off a piece of the wall with it haha. It was so funny. they had it fixed within 2 hours. They have an amazing maitenance staff here.
Send me pics! sorry i cant send many from here, We can only take pics on pday and have to send them by going to a store. My companion is great, we had some challenges this week but we are closer now because of it. My new Brazilian roomates are awesome. One is from a family of 8 and is the only member, the other one is from a family of nine. The one from a family of 8 is from Fortaleza and he hopes that his mom will join the church while he is on his mission. Read the scripture Mosiah 2:41 and see how you can be a better example to those around you and also read about the spiritual gifts in Moroni chapter 10! those are my faves from the week.
Good luck in Peru Porter, enjoy the CTM there. I love my district, I was placed in my district for a reason. I have learned important lessons about myself from each of my district members. I CANT WAIT FOR THE FIELD! The new mission presdent in my mission is just getting settled in and i can feel that the people are just ready to hear the gospel! I´m studying now in my personal study time how to recognize the spirit better.
I cant believe Travis is home! Have him send me an email and give me some inspirational words as i go into the field. I love Portuguese even though i sound like a 2nd grader when i speak, i´m understanding a lot more now too. Portuguese hymns can be beautiful too.
Dad how is work? Please send blueprints of the renovations. Dogs any bigger? David, what can i do to testify with more power? I feel the spirit but i think the isnt message getting the to investigator with a ton of power. Portuguese frase of the week, "Muito Lindo" mostly because i think about Grandma Blue saying "que lindo" to Dad everytime i hear it haha! Love you guys, Stay fly and listen to Michael Jackson´s Man in the Mirror for me alright! I´m gonna go buy some meat and a chocolate filled churro from a street vendor!
Elder Sanchez
PS (the pics you might recieve today are of me and my old roomates, and my previous brazilian exchange companion who reported to the field, and my favorite teacher in the world Irmá Correa w/ my district!!)