Another Week at the CTM

The adventure continues.... Daniel reports that his time in the missionary training center seems to go by fast and not so fast. He feels like he got there yesterday, but it has already been over a month. But, when he looks forward, it seems like "forever". Pretty typical feeling I think. I suspect once he gets out on the street, the variety will make things a bit better from that perspective.

Daniel really appreciates everyone's letters and emails. We have had trouble getting a file of email and postal addresses to him, so he has had a hard time replying to everyone. I did post his "official" church email address here on the blog, so feel free to email him. Realize he only gets to check this official email site once per week on p-days. So, letters are nice cause they come at any time. But, if you could provide your email address to him, it is much easier and cheaper for him to reply via email.

In the CTM, the Elders get a chance to exercise and play basketball. One of the Elders he has been playing with is Elder Devin Peterson. Took a while to recognize it, but Devin and Daniel are related (distant cousins), so that was a pleasant surprise for him. Devin is into sports too, so that worked out well for Daniel, but Elder Peterson has been there a few weeks longer and left the CTM this week. Kind of a neat coincidence!

Daniel expressed his love for everyone. He's particulary missing his Mom (and her cooking), his Grandmas, and his nieces and nephews. He's sad to miss Melissa's baptism next week but wants her to know he will be thinking about her. And, of course, he's missing sports -- I sent him another sports update this week! With regard to food, he's getting a little tired of beans and rice (and wants us to send him some Gas-x). He misses his Sunday dinners with Grandma Beverly.

He reports that the language is coming slowly but surely. His Brazilian roommates are helping him learn. He had to go buy some face wash, and of course the whole transaction was in Portuguese, so it was a little tough. But, it worked out.

He reports a typical schedule:

Wake up around 6:20 have breakfast at 7:00. Then, personal study from 7 to 7:30. Then, companion study from 7:30 to 8:30. Class with Irmão Soares from 8:30 to 11:45. Lunch is from 11:45 till 12:45. From 12:45 till 2:30 he has MDST (missionary directed study time). From 2:30 till 3:40, it's gym time. From 4:15 till 5:15 is dinner. Class with Irmão Barbosa from 5:15 till 9:15. Planning time is from 9:15 till 9:30. Then, he showers and writes in his journal from 9:30 till 10:30 and goes to bed.

I'll close today's entry with Daniel's testimony:

I love this gospel. I like to bear my testimony. I know this church is the true church. I know that I am doing what I am supposed to even though it has been the hardest thing ever. I know that the Book of Mormon testifies of Cristo in the Americas. And, I know that by reading it you become acquainted with Him. I know that when you pray, He will answer. I know that our Redeemer lives and that when we die we can live with Him again. This mission is great, and I cannot wait to get out of the CTM and teach the people!

News from Brazil & Pictures Too!

Got a couple of notes from Daniel this week -- one was sent via snail mail the first day he arrived in Brazil.  Took almost 4 weeks to get here.  A good reason to do email instead!

In that first letter (written in "Daniel font" - another good reason for email), Daniel described his flight down.  On the leg from Boise to Salt Lake, he was pretty emotional.  He sat next to a lady who was very nice, and they had a nice chat.  She was a non-member but told him she would pray for him on his mission.  He got to present a mini-discussion, so he was pretty hyped about that.

Then, to his relief, a group of missionaries joined him for the flight from Salt Lake to Dallas-Ft Worth.  Then, on the flight to Brazil, there were 28 missionaries, so he felt pretty good (as good as he can when flying).

He couldn't believe the humidity once in Brazil.  He felt like he was swimming all day.  He liked what he saw in Sao Paulo but said some of the buildings didn't look structurally sound.  Even though the mission home is on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, there are still skyscrapers everywhere.

The tone of this first letter -- very homesick!

Then, we got the email he had written just this week.  Four weeks make a difference!  He's enjoying the mission.  He talked about the various pictures he was attaching to the email.  At the end, he had to add a postscript cause system limits didn't let him send all the pictures.  He is still enjoying working with his companion, Elder Young.  He was selected to go sing at the capital in Sao Paulo for Mormon Day.  There were only a few of the missionaries who were selected to go, and he ended up by the microphone and thought that was cool.  This from the kid we couldn't convince to take choir in high school.  

He also got to attend the temple again and pressed all of us to do the same.  He told us when we send pictures, it is best to just paste them in emails rather than attach them as an attachment.  Then, he closed with his testimony:

I love being here so much.  I love this gospel I know that it is true.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I know that with the Bible, they are the fullness of the gospel.  I love being on my mission even though it is so hard and will only get harder.   I miss being home so much but this is where I need to be.

Here are some pictures:

Companions - Elders Young & Parkinson...

District 17B at the Sao Paulo Temple...

A hazy morning in Sao Paulo - view from Daniel's room...

Daniel and his companion plus a Brazilian Elder (we think Elder Wilber Da Silva) flexing...

Can't wait for next week!

Beginning Week 3

Daniel began his 3rd week at the Sao Paulo CTM this week.  We were expecting to hear from him on Wednesday, same as last week.  But in pops an email on Tuesday!  

His first concern was to make sure people have his address and email address.  The mailing address at the CTM is posted here on the blogsite, so that's easy.  His "official" email address is EDanielJP10@myldsmail.net.  Last week, we asked if there were any restrictions on who could send him emails to that address.  He answered all our other questions, but not that one....  So, I thought I'd just release it to everyone and see what happens.  The only "downside" with that address is he only gets to check it each p-day whereas he can receive letters any day.  Another option that Daniel has recommended is the use of a service called Mission Ties (www.missionties.com).  We are experimenting with that to see how well it works.

The theory behind Mission Ties is that the missionary can write as many people, as often as he has time, using the service.  He sends his letter via local mail to an address in Sao Paulo.  The Mission Ties people scan the letter and then send it email to the person he is writing to back home.  On the flip side, we can write him an email (with an attachment if desired).  We send the email to the Mission Ties site.  The email is received in Sao Paulo by someone who will print it out, put it in an envelope, and mail it by local mail to Daniel.  The advantages of this is avoiding some of the cost of international mailing while typically getting the letter there in a day or so.    Apparently, they also have an online store so you can order and send packages to missionaries.  This means the product you want to send must be available in Sao Paulo though.  That may not always work.  In any case, we'll let you know how this works out.   Take a look at their website if you want to know more.

Then, Daniel's next question -- no, not how is everyone doing or anything like that.  He asked for info on the NBA playoffs and on his Mariners.  He tells us other missionaries are receiving updates on their favorite teams, so he's sure it's alright if we send him info.  He was also interested in how his car is doing -- and would like a picture of it.

But, his heart is in the right place.  Here is an excerpt from this week's email:

"I believe this is the right place.  The language is not coming as easily as I had hoped.  I guess it will come in the Lord's own due time.  I've got to try to be patient which has not always been easy for me.

My companion and I are like best friends now.  One of my teachers, Irmão (brother) Soares is way sweet.  He's moving to Utah in 3 months or so, and he wants me to look him up when I return from my mission.  The best thing is when I get back, I'll be able to talk to him in Portuguese instead of English.

I love being here in Brazil and the time is flying by fast.  I love this gospel!  I know that our Father in Heaven called me to do a work here.  I know that God loves me and that he knows me personally.  I know that Deus e Jesus Cristo revealed themselves to Joseph Smith.  Eu Sei que o Livro de Mormon é verdadero. Eu sei que está igreja é verdadera."

Finally, he closed by asking us not to forget him out there in the mission field.  He would love to have letters from everyone about what is going on [sports updates optional].  

Thanks to everyone who has talked to me about this blogsite.  It seems like a hit, so I'll keep it going.  Even Daniel was able to view it!  We'll update again as soon as we have something.  

First Contact!

Finally, our first note from Daniel since he got to Brazil!!  The note from his mission president told us to expect an email either Tuesday or Wednesday, so you can be sure we were checking the computer both days!!!  I even came home from work at lunch today to see if it had arrived.

 Here is an excerpt from the email (slightly edited):

 

Now that I am here in the CTM, it has been so much fun.  My companion Elder Young is a really fun person to be around.  Sometimes we have a hard time being serious all the time.  But I mean how could I be serious 24 hours a day?  I have to sit in like 5 hours of classes, then eat, then 5 more hours in class.  Plus waking up at 6:30 in the morning is not going so great right now.  But this time in the CTM and mission field has been a blast.  All the missionaries that we came with on the plane are way sweet, so we have all gotten pretty close.  

 

I have learned so much and am growing very close to the Spirit.  Plus, I am actually picking up the language pretty well (moito bem).  I am loving Brazil.  The atmosphere has been amazing and on Sunday, they had a soccer tournament and the whole city was going nuts.  It sounded like we were in Iraq.  The Brazilians love my Ronaldinho jersey, and we talk about soccer all the time together. 

 

Brazil is so beautiful!   We went to the Campinas Temple today, and that was such a neat experience to see the country more and to realize that the Spirit and the endowment session are the same everywhere.  Even if you can't understand everything that they were saying.  I love being here so much, and I know you are probably getting sick of me saying that, but it has been great! 

 

The view outside my window is so amazing!  The cool thing is I was told that my mission is even more beautiful than where I am at now.  Not to mention the Brazilian people, or at the least the ones that I have come in contact with, are so nice.

 

Daniel included a few comments for specific family members that I have passed to them, and then he closed with a message for the family:

 

I love you all so very much and miss you.  Always think of me in your prayers.  I will be doing the same for you.  God be with you until we meet again.

 

It was just a short email, but it really helped to hear from him.  Even though he is certainly having a great experience, there was just a bit of homesickness evident.  So, if you have a chance, please send him a short note (see the address here on the site).  Our stake president counseled us that he only gets to see email once a week, but he can get snail mail every day.  I’m sure Daniel would very much appreciate that!!