Tchau Ingles!!; Missionary Training Center: Mission Week 4; Provo Utah - enroute to Brasilia, Brasil!

Getting better at Portugues and speaking less English

Tuesday we had the wonderful opportunity to hear from President Emily Belle Freeman the young womens general President. She shared a story from her youth about how once her family's seven or so sheep got out of a whole in the fence late at night and went and joined a much larger group of sheep down the road. Her and her dad knocked on the farmer's door and, the much confuzed farmer answered. Her dad then explained what happened and asked if he could get his sheep. The farmer of course wasn't going to just let them take seven sheep, but her dad said "I'm going to know my sheep, they'll come when I call." I'm sure that farmer was confused and concered for his and his sheep's wellbeing. But, much to her surpise, the farmer let her dad try. He opened the tailgate and of the truck, climbed up to the back, and started calling them in a low gravely baaaa. From wayyyy in the back seven sheep made their way to the truck and jumped in. That story is exactly how we are with Christ. He knows His sheep. He knows where we have gone when we have gone out of his fold through the whole in the fence. We just have to know His call and return when He calls. I hope that we can all learn from this analogy. 

Wednesday we got the opportunity to help host new missionaries again, and it's always such a wonderful experience. Then later that night our teacher was confused because our morning teacher had skipped a class and so he didn't know what to teach, it was quite something of a class and we all enjoyed it. Boa noite and tudo bem for the district. 

Thursday brought about another HOA in português. Boy oh boy. It was pretty great! We spent the time to prepare and we, for the most part, could understand and answer his questions. Later, when we got our scores back, they were pretty good and he felt a lot of good feelings. Elder Milne and I sure did as well. Although when we asked if he knew anything about Joseph Smith he started talking about Papa John's pizza so I'm not sure what that was about. Buuut, I know that we're doing as well as we are because of the magnifying power of the Holy Ghost. 

Friday was about as bland of a day as a lasanga. I hope that makes sense. It was a good day comprised of simple things to some it up. Nothing crazy, nothing bad. Just another day learning and growing. 

Saturday was the jalapeño poppers of a day for sure. We started off playing some basquete before breakfast and morning class. After lunch we had the wonderful opportunity to help serve lunch. Elder Sorenson, Elder Milne and I served chicken Alfredo and we had the line moving right along. (Unless I dropped a plate of noodles in the sauce or E. Milne dropped a bread stick). After our Portuguese tutor class and personal study, standing in line for the world's okayest sloppy Joe at dinner, we saw Elder Ronald A. Rasband standing in the doorway. How cool is that! To just even see an Apostle of the Lord across the room. And then later, for our night class, our regular teacher was not there. Instead we had a sub, Irmão Erying. The same brother Erying from the week before, Henry B. Eyring's grandson. That class was wonderful. And at the end we talked about Fala Sua Língua: where we have to speak in Portuguese at all times except to those who don't know Portuguese (like yall). The majority of my district agreed to start then so it's been (mostly) Portuguese since Saturday. Definitely challenging, but better more now than in Brazil. 

Sunday was amazing as always. Elder Vargas, our district leader, was pretty sick so we were able to give him a blessing before church. During Elders quorum Elder Milne and I gave a short lesson about the Book of Mormon. It truly does testify of Jesus Christ. There isn't a story or message in the book that doesn't point directly back to Christ. I absolutely love it. I truly testify of its truthfulness. And just as the introduction of the Book of Mormon testifies, I know that we can know for ourselves by asking God, in faith, if it's true and the Holy Ghost will testify unto us. And I know by that same power that Christ is the Savior of the world, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the church of Christ again restored on the earth. This is the Lord's work, He loves all of God's children. 

I love yall and hope that yall can find ways to see the hand of God in your lives, you just need faith (Ether 3:6-9). As always keep in touch! 

-Elder Hyatt

We Can Be Forgiven For Our Fish: Missionary Training Center: Mission Week 3; Provo Utah - enroute to Brasilia, Brasil!

We Can Be Forgiven For Our Fish 

Good wonderful Monday at whatever time of day you see this,

The adventure continues. All of my classes have been in full Portuguese for over a week now. It has most definitely been blessing, but not without it's challenges. I'm doing farely well to understand what is being said and what I've learned, but no where near where I'll be later, which is such an invigorating thought. I can truly testify of the magnifying powers of the Holy Ghost when it comes to language learning, seeing as how I went from not knowing anything just a month ago to being able to share my testimony, pray, teach a basic lesson, talk about the weather, get to know people, and so much more. 

On a sad, but glad, note, last Tuesday we  had the opportunity to watch President Russel M. Nelson's funeral, and gather together to mourn the passing of a prophet of God. What a wonderful life he lead. Every single person who spoke about President Nelson's life did so with so much joy and love for him. President Nelson was a true disciple of Jesus Christ, and reflected the love that Christ has for everyone. I know that he was a prophet of God and truly loved all of God's children. 

That same day my companion, Elder Milne (shoutout to my great companion right here), had our first Helping Others Appointment in Portuguese. I wouldn't say it was horrible, but it certainly can only go up from there. I understood most of what he was saying, and was able to respond to much less than what I understood. He took the first 10 minutes of our 15 minute meeting to talk about life. At some point asked us where we had gotten our ties since they were so cool. (His words, not mine, just trasnlated to English). I said I had gotten mine from minha irmã, my sister. And my companion, in full confidence, replied with "meu amo", which means love. He had meant to say "avó", grandma. The face on the guy we were meeting was of pure confusion. I then later said we can be forgiven for all of our "pescados" instead of "pecados" which means fish instead of sin. It was truly a learning experience. 

Later that night for the general authority devotional, we had the wonderful opportunity to hear from President Susan H. Porter, the Primary General President. She spoke about how great primary is for building gospel foundations while we are young. She emphasized that we have to Remeber, Seek, and Choose Christ in our lives, and that even though we aren't perfect, this is God's perfect work. We also have to have such a love for God and for His children: we just have to make sure to do the work for the right reasons. 

One thing I have greatly enjoyed doing these past few days, I think we started Thursday, was getting up and going for a run before getting ready for the day. It's just a wonderful start to the day and gets the blood flowing. The weather in the mornings has been wonderful as well for runs. Along with the six flights of stairs we climb three times a day to to get to our classroom, and playing basketball as a district after lunch most days, it's been nice to find ways to keep active. 

I have loved the weather out here recently. It has been perfect cool fall weather, which I definitely miss in Brasil, so I'm soaking it in as much as possible. After our class Saturday night, it was raining and the walk back to the residency hall was just wonderful, a nice cool rain was perfeito. And that view of the mountain doesn't get much prettier. 

Other news, I met this teacher here who served with my cousin Andrew in Curtiba, Brasil. Not only did he serve with my cousin, but he's also Henry B. Eyring's granson. How cool is that?

I've started reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese, and it's been wonderful to see how much I'm understanding and how wonderful the book truly is as I begin reading it again. I read the Portuguese then turn to the English and go through to make sure I understood what I read and to learn the words I didn't. As a result of the time it takes to read, I get to spend so much more time truly understanding what is being said and testified of. I invite yall to go back and read the title page, introduction, and all of testimonies in thr beginning of the book. There is power in every page of the Book of Mormon. 

Today we went to the temple like normal for Mondays, and as always it was awesome. I always have such a spirit of peace when I go.

I know that this work is truly the work of our Heavenly Father, and that he truly does love each and every one of His children. I have felt such an increase in His love for me, but also for all of the people I will go and teach and help bring that love to them, even though I haven't met any of them yet. I love all of yall and love to hear back from yall about your lives and what's going on with yall as well. 

-Elder Hyatt