Baptism by Fire (literally and figuratively)
Hey friends!
How does one write emails? I have read so many emails but now that I have to write one I have no clue where to start... oh well I guess we are both in for a treat.
Home MTC
Last Monday I started home MTC and I didn't know what to expect but being greeted and taught in strictly Portuguese for 6 hours straight on my first day was NOT it. I was humbled real quick. Hence the title of this email... they just throw you straight into the deep end and just tell you that you will get it eventually. The good news is things started coming quick, although I can only pick out words here and there, I still can get some general context and piece together sort of okay responses... ish. Hanging in there.
Classes were long, after the initial shock of Portuguese, my Portuguese class was actually pretty fun and kept me engaged. I loved home MTC, it was a great way to ease into missionary life (plus I got my own bed). My instructors are so sweet and so patient with us when we just blankly stare at them because we have no idea what they said. I love them with my whole heart.
Meu districto (My district)
I freaking love my district. They make me so so happy and are so fun. We just all click so well it's great, I can already tell they are going to be the reason I survive 5 weeks in the CTM (prison but with the Gospel, we will get to that). My companion is dope, we yap a lot. We will get our task done in like a quarter of the time we are given then proceed to just talk each other's ears off. It's great (shout out Elder Johanson).
When we all met up in the airport it was so fun. Sister Lear came up to me and said "woah you're actually real" and I was like yep that is exactly what I was thinking. After we got the hellos out of the way (and our last Chick-Fil-A) it was straight to business. And by business I mean spilling our life drama to each other. It was fantastic and let me tell you... we got some good stories in this group but those conversations are confidential.
Now time for part two of the title. Baptized by fire (the spirit). During home MTC we told our conversions stories and holy cow the Spirit and strength of these peoples testimonies was unreal. I started tearing up multiple times and am so glad I got to hear everyone and how they drew closer to Christ.
Travel and CTM (Prison but not)
I faced my biggest fear! Flying over bodies of water. I wish I was kidding. The flights went smooth but guys. Sleeping sleeping on a plane is not easy. I slept for five hours total but woke up every hour, on the hour. Besides that travel was fine and I got to do it with my new best friends so I can't complain.
We got to the CTM and one guy pointed where to go so we started walking and then all the sudden there was no one but us for as far as we could see. No instructors no nothing. A group of brand new missionaries wandering with no clue what to do... it was all okay though the CTM is tiny so there is no way you get lost and if you do just keep walking. We got our phones (a lot of us have crashed out because of how bad they are lol) which is a blessing so I can talk to all y'all.
My comp and I got in trouble already... We had showered and were walking around in P-day clothes because it's p-day and we weren't going anywhere besides our room to rest but apparently I gotta have on dress clothes during that walk... whoops. We toured the CTM with most of our district and yeah this place is gonna get super clastrophic super fast so please pray for us. The good thing is we get to leave a handful of times a week so that will be nice. Oh and consistent with our baptism by fire... we have gotten no instructions or anything so we basically just do something until we are told not too.
We had choir practice which was so amazing. We sang in three different languages which was sick and also the presence of the Spirit was so strong and made me so happy. Afterwards we had a devotional with the whole CTM, all 327 of us... or 317 I can't remember. Much less than good old Provo. The devotional was good but all of us Americans were nodding off during it. We are exhausted. Looking around you would just see us slowly slumping down. It was funny.
Meals
Our district is rating meals so every week I will tell you the best and worst as rated by our district.
Best: Dinner (Chicken Stroganoff over rice) with an average score of 6.83/10
Worst: Breakfast (cheese bread) with an average score of 5.5/10
God's Hand
(every week this will be how I saw God's hand in my life that week)
people being so kind in the airports
I got some sleep
Rain... I love rain
Got to Brazil safely
My best friend gets here in a week (shout out Sister Aguilar)
I got all my stuff done before I had to leave the states for two years
Sunset with the district
The moon smiles now
Singing in three languages with all the missionaries
All of you guys and your support
Spiritual Thoughts
If you will always be grateful for all that you have and give that gratitude to the Lord then you will see an ever increasing number of miracles in your life.
"If you love the Lord then take care of his sheep"
"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us." (1 Nephi 7:11)
This scripture got me through home MTC. As fun as home MTC was I was struggling with my testimony and was constantly questioning why the heck I was doing this and then I opened my scriptures and got smacked in the face by this verse. I remembered why I am here. I have seen the Lord's hand in my life and the miracles he has made happen for me. His hand and his light has made me so happy and I want others to be able to feel that same love from him that I do. That's my why. If you ever find yourself questioning why you are doing something, remember that verse.
Thanks for reading along! Hopefully I didn't yap too much. I don't know how long to make these yet. Tune in next week for edition two with a special guest! Alright, I need to go to bed. God loves you!
Muito amor,
Elder Urbano
