From Your Fellow Slovenian
Hey friends!
First and foremost: Welcome home Elder Spencer!
Uhh so this is the final email from the CTM, I guess. It doesn't feel real. You're telling me it's been 40 days already and in 5 days I'll be in the field… teaching… at least listening. Idk how much teaching will be done, might have to leave that to my trainer.
Oh yes and I'm Slovenian. I got my legalization documents on Thursday and they messed mine up and put my birth country as Slovenia… so if I get deported, that's why. Jk jk I shouldn't have any issues, it should be fixed by the time I get to my mission home.
Final MTC Thoughts
Well the last full week of MTC is over. To be honest I loved the MTC. Yes I had my complaints but I can't imagine myself anywhere else in the world. I am so thankful for the kindness of everyone. Everyone just wants the best for you. My instructors are the most amazing people ever and I say it every week but my district is amazing. I can confidently say that we ended up together for a reason. I know for a fact I needed everyone in my district in one way or another. Although the MTC is tiny, the culture here is amazing. The relationships between people from all parts of the world are so amazing and so genuine.
The MTC was a fun chapter and I am so thankful for every experience and now we are onto chapter 2 of the mission… the field.
Saving Grace of Spikeball
My mom sent me Spikeball… BLESSING. It has made this last week so much more bearable. I've been cooking as always. I think I have only lost twice not to brag or anything. On Friday we taught some of the brand new Brazilians how to play and I had to use some of my broken Portuguese to teach them but they picked it up so fast and were so fun to play with. Vlogged some of it (Google Photos plug). Can't wait to run up spikeball with the MTC district when we are back and have our reunion (it'll happen, trust).
What Even is Class?
We took our language test today and let's just say it could've been worse. I got a 3.9 and my goal was 2.5 soooo… with that out of the way there's not too much going on. We still have classes but the productivity of those classes is on the decline. On Wednesday we had a 30 minute lesson, proceeded to take an hour worth of pictures, and then play a game for another hour… literally did nothing haha. We did have a sub on Thursday and he was a really good sub. It was lowkey one of the classes I have felt the spirit the most in and been most at peace in. It was much needed and I was so thankful for it. That being said, I couldn't do this with any other instructors and am so thankful for Calado and Holanda and their chill teaching style and genuine love for us. That's one thing I have learned, genuine love and desire to help goes so much further than forcing a lesson.
Random
I have to say goodbyes next week and IDK that I am emotionally stable enough for that lol
We went to the Campinas Temple again and it was so good as always
Signed SYL (Speak Your Language) contracts and highkey lasted about one class in only Portuguese then the English came back.
I got a milkshake. Much needed.
Crashouts may be inbound… I'll keep you posted.
I walked 8 miles in the hall while talking to my fam on the phone
Quotes
“I want to eat my snacks but then I'd eat my snacks and not have snacks” -Me
“Meu abençoe não é workie” -Elder Johanson
“She's going to break your heart and then you'll break your stomach” -Sub
God's Hand
People. As you will see in my spiritual thought I have been very focused on the people in my life lately and realizing that God put them there for a reason.
Health. I haven't got anything more than a runny nose and for that I am thankful.
Messages in Scriptures. As I read scriptures I notice things that I haven't noticed before but that apply now and I know God is helping me see these things.
Spiritual Thought
God puts people in your life for a reason. God knows. There are no coincidences. It's divine intervention.
This past week I have been thinking extra about all my friends and how significant each one was to my growth in this past year. God knew I needed them (Shout out Zuster Howe, the Sisters and Hermanas from 1204, my BYU roommates, TMM RMs, and everyone else I crossed paths with)
At dinner the other day we were discussing the randomness of our district and how we possibly all ended up together. The answer: divine intervention. I said this earlier but I will say it again. I needed everyone in my district for one reason or another and I know that that is the reason we are the district we are.
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
This week's email was kinda all over the place but thank you for putting up with it. Next you hear from me I'll be in the field! Crazy, I know. I can't believe it either.
Email me! I would love to hear from you! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you or pray for! Deus te ama!
Muito amor,
Elder Urbano
