So everything is going well. My companions are still amazing and we're learning so so much. For Thanksgiving yesterday Elder Holland came and spoke to us and it was absolutely incredible. He taught us so much about the Atonement and our purpose as missionaries in relation to it. It was the neatest thing. You could feel it when he walked in the room, and the spirit blessed me with a powerful experience of empathy, to feel what Elder Holland felt as he walked in and heard us singing about the Savior. It was an amazing feeling. We are more powerful than we realize. He also had all of his grandchildren there and they all came up and sang that one primary song about the song of a bird and the rain on my face, the touch of a velvet rose, the smell of a lilac tree, etc. I think it's call "I know Heavenly Father Loves Me" but I'm not positive. Regardless, it's one of my favorite primary songs and I was so touched to hear his sweet grandchildren sing it.
Anyway, the Thanksgiving dinner was good. It wasn't as tasty as it is at home, and they only had the tiniest dollop of whipped cream for our slices of pumpkin pie, but it was good. I miss the family, but I'm doing well.
I did finally recieve mail today after we got back from the temple. The letters you and mommy wrote to me were the answers to my prayers. I needed them today, and I was so grateful. I cried as I read them on our way to lunch and asked my companions if we could stop off at the bathroom so I could blow my nose before entering the cafeteria. They were perfect. Obrigada.
Oh, and Mommy, you would be so proud. Last Sunday I went with my companions to choir practice, so that we could sing in the MTC choir for the Tuesday devotional. We sang "Come Thou Fount" and it was beautiful. Funny story about it though. So Sunday we got there a little early and had spots close to the front, and then in walks my friend Art from EFY this summer. He was filling in as our conductor that day. It was so awesome to see him. I had almost not gone since Sister Wegener didn't really want to go and I didn't have my heart set on it, but luckily Sis. Dangerfield talked her into it, and so I was able to see Art. It's funny, Both of my companions went to BYU and are from Utah, so every day they bump into someone they know from school or from home etc. Plus sis. Dangerfield worked in the MTC cafeteria for 3 years so all of her friends work here and she's always saying hi to them. So it was wonderful to bump into a friend.
Oh, so the devotional Tuesday was from Per G. Malm from one of the quorums of the 70 and he was from Sweden. And it just so happens that his wife is from the same town as Oscar. I just know if I had had a chance to chat with her we'd be best friends forever. But regardless it was an amazing talk that he gave. He told several incredible stories that applied so perfectly to us.
Anyway, time is almost gone, so I'll wrap it up. Hopefully this email works, but I'll be sending a real letter today as well, just in case. And spread the word to everyone you see that I would love love love any and all letters. Sister Wegener gets soooo much mail every day, and it's hard not to be jealous. I have heard wonderful things about Dear Elder as well. From what I understand it's a website and you can type in the letter and the print it off and deliver it here same day.
Anyway, I love you all. I miss everybody, but I'm doing wonderfully.
I'll talk to you soon,
Paige.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
First MTC Letter
Hello from the MTC!
Alo!
So today is our P day and I have just a few minutes to write home, but I am so excited about it. Tudo Bem! (Everything's Well!). It has been an exhausting few days, but oh so rewarding. The spirit is so strong and I'm learning so much. Although, Mommy, I did not get a picture in front of the MTC sign since they're doing construction in front of the campus and it is no longer there. So I'll have to make sure to take a picture in front of something else to distinguish that I'm at the MTC.
So I have two companions and they are Sister Wegener and Sister Dangerfield and they are incredible. We were best friends on the first day, and it just keeps getting better. They're both from Utah, and just the sweetest girls ever. Our district is a blast as well. All of our elders are just so much fun. I did see Elder Casey the other day in the cafeteria as well as one of my boys from my very first week as an EFY counselor three years ago. It was really neat to see him. Though since both of my companions went to BYU they see people they knew all the time. So it was fun to see at least two different people that I knew before I came here.
So portuguese is going well. It's hard and kind of overwhelming, but our teachers are excellent and we're starting to learn quickly. We were challenged yesterday after learning how to pray in portuguese to say every prayer in the language, and even though it's hard it's helping already. Though sometimes when I try to pronounce certain words my tongue just feels thick. but the more I practice the easier it feels. El evangelho (the gospel) is especially hard though. That lh combination is tricky. But it's all going good, and we're slowly replacing words like thank you and hello with their portuguese counterparts in every day speech.
Eu quero prestar meu testemuho com voce. Amo este evangelho e meu Pai Celestial. Meu Salvador vive, e A igreja de Deus esta aqui na terra. Eu nome de Jesus Cristo, Amen.
We learned how to bear our testimony the other day and had to go and bear it to at least two people outside of our district. It was scary, but the elders we found were spanish speaking so they couldn't tell how much we butchered it.
But in addition to the language, we've been learning so much about our purpose as missionaries and how to talk to people. It's an incredible work we're doing, and I'm just starting to realize the power that I've been set apart with as I learn to rely on the Lord. Even though the language is hard and the schedule is rigorous, and it just feels like there aren't enough hours in the day for all that we have to learn, I know that we are the Lord's servants and it's his work we're doing and he qualifies his servants. I love this gospel and so far I'm just loving the mission. I love learning. I know at some point I'll probably have a melt down, but I'm so so so happy so far.
I love you, and I hope everything at home is just dandy. I am so grateful for all of your support and love. It makes it easier for me to know that my family is behind me one hundred percent.
Love,
Paige
p.s. Packages and letters are like gold here. And we're all greedy for them.
p.p.s. We've heard a lot about sisters and elders getting reassigned because of visa issues. But I'm actually ahead of a lot of missionaries in my district having already filled out the online visa application. But I've heard that might not even mean anything. All we really know for sure about it is that it's unpredictable. But we're all hopeful.
p.s.s. The chocolate milk is indeed delicious, and the food has been good as well. But with all of the excersize I've been getting I don't think there are any major concerns about my gaining weight. So hopefully I won't come home with that mission 15.
Alo!
So today is our P day and I have just a few minutes to write home, but I am so excited about it. Tudo Bem! (Everything's Well!). It has been an exhausting few days, but oh so rewarding. The spirit is so strong and I'm learning so much. Although, Mommy, I did not get a picture in front of the MTC sign since they're doing construction in front of the campus and it is no longer there. So I'll have to make sure to take a picture in front of something else to distinguish that I'm at the MTC.
So I have two companions and they are Sister Wegener and Sister Dangerfield and they are incredible. We were best friends on the first day, and it just keeps getting better. They're both from Utah, and just the sweetest girls ever. Our district is a blast as well. All of our elders are just so much fun. I did see Elder Casey the other day in the cafeteria as well as one of my boys from my very first week as an EFY counselor three years ago. It was really neat to see him. Though since both of my companions went to BYU they see people they knew all the time. So it was fun to see at least two different people that I knew before I came here.
So portuguese is going well. It's hard and kind of overwhelming, but our teachers are excellent and we're starting to learn quickly. We were challenged yesterday after learning how to pray in portuguese to say every prayer in the language, and even though it's hard it's helping already. Though sometimes when I try to pronounce certain words my tongue just feels thick. but the more I practice the easier it feels. El evangelho (the gospel) is especially hard though. That lh combination is tricky. But it's all going good, and we're slowly replacing words like thank you and hello with their portuguese counterparts in every day speech.
Eu quero prestar meu testemuho com voce. Amo este evangelho e meu Pai Celestial. Meu Salvador vive, e A igreja de Deus esta aqui na terra. Eu nome de Jesus Cristo, Amen.
We learned how to bear our testimony the other day and had to go and bear it to at least two people outside of our district. It was scary, but the elders we found were spanish speaking so they couldn't tell how much we butchered it.
But in addition to the language, we've been learning so much about our purpose as missionaries and how to talk to people. It's an incredible work we're doing, and I'm just starting to realize the power that I've been set apart with as I learn to rely on the Lord. Even though the language is hard and the schedule is rigorous, and it just feels like there aren't enough hours in the day for all that we have to learn, I know that we are the Lord's servants and it's his work we're doing and he qualifies his servants. I love this gospel and so far I'm just loving the mission. I love learning. I know at some point I'll probably have a melt down, but I'm so so so happy so far.
I love you, and I hope everything at home is just dandy. I am so grateful for all of your support and love. It makes it easier for me to know that my family is behind me one hundred percent.
Love,
Paige
p.s. Packages and letters are like gold here. And we're all greedy for them.
p.p.s. We've heard a lot about sisters and elders getting reassigned because of visa issues. But I'm actually ahead of a lot of missionaries in my district having already filled out the online visa application. But I've heard that might not even mean anything. All we really know for sure about it is that it's unpredictable. But we're all hopeful.
p.s.s. The chocolate milk is indeed delicious, and the food has been good as well. But with all of the excersize I've been getting I don't think there are any major concerns about my gaining weight. So hopefully I won't come home with that mission 15.
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