November 14, 2012

Thanks for the talk. I often feel the same way about life as he does but it helps to remember that the good times keep on coming.

The cookies at Mr. Cheney’s are great. I’ll try the shake today. I’m sure my companion will be grateful that you got him one too. Thanks.

I can’t remember if I told you this story already. I don’t think I have, so I will tell you. The coolest thing that has happened so far in the MTC happened after I had been here for about 10 days. I was preparing to teach a lesson in Portuguese (my second one) and I offered a prayer that God would help me. As soon as I began teaching, my tongue was loosed and my ears were opened. All of the Portuguese I had learned thus far was available to me. For 15 minutes I was able to speak and understand Portuguese as I taught about the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost. It was definitely an awesome experience.

Elder Claudio Costa spoke to us today in devotional. He told his conversion story and some stories about missionaries he has worked with. I don’t have time to tell you those but he is a great speaker. I enjoyed listening to him.

Mom reminded me of how you two are both scouters now and attend roundtable together. That is pretty cool. Also the connection between the two Josephs was interesting. I think Mr. Haymond had mentioned something like that before.

I’ve read and reread the letters you sent with me. I love you, Mom and Dad, and those letters inspire me every time I read them.

I have written letters to each of the kids still at home. I will either mail them out today, or if you signed up for the Missionties thing, then they will be scanned and emailed to you today. If you are haven’t but are going to sign up, I will wait until next week to have them emailed to you because that will still be faster than sending them via the mail system in Brazil. Just let me know.

Today begins my fourth week in the MTC. The next time I email you I will be halfway done. But as I told James in the email I sent him, time in the MTC still seems to move about as fast as an armless man in a wheel chair. But it is actually speeding up. Which is good because I want to get into the field as soon as I can.

For the last week, the weather here has been very nice. It’s fairly cool; it rained only once. No snow here, so eat your heart out.

The Spirit here, as I believe I have told you, is very strong. I feel God’s power all around me. This week while we were teaching “investigators,” even though they were just actors, as I bore my testimony about the plan of salvation, I felt the Spirit bear witness of it to me. I have definitely never felt the Spirit as often as I do here.

I am grateful I have the opportunity to be here in Brazil. Even though the language is hard. I am so glad I have been blessed with the ability to learn a language. I have always wanted to be bilingual, and I feel that knowing this language will bless me in the future.

Today I finished the Book of Mormon for the third time. I read all of Mormon, Ether and Moroni within the last 3 days, and there are many things that stand out to me now that I am older and have learned about the world. Tonight I will begin reading the Bible. I plan on reading every book of scripture straight through while I am here on my mission.

Hopefully my emails are not too scattered when it comes to topics. I kind of have to just write what I think of, in what order I think of it, because of how limited in time we are.

Hopefully I haven’t forgotten anything.

I’m out of time now so I must bid everyone farewell until next week.

Thanks again for the update and the goodies.

Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for all of the long hours you have put, do put and will put in for me. Out here I am doing my best to make you proud.

All of my love,

Your Missionary,

Elder Morris