September 29, 2009

Dear everyone,

I love Brazil, I love Portuguese, and I love the MTC (for now). Today was my first full p-day because my district went to the Sao Paulo Temple last week. The temple is beautiful inside and out, but I´m glad that I experienced Sao Paulo a little bit more today. We´re allowed to go anywhere within a small area surrounding the MTC -- it´s only a few blocks -- and I love seeing what this place really looks like. We made a district goal to smile and say hi to everyone we walked past today, which turned out to be really easy. I can´t imagine what the Brazilians thought when I shouted ´Good morning!´at them with a dopey smile on my face and my pants practically hiked up to my armpits. But I don´t care; I am so grateful to be here. I love learning Portuguese and struggling with it, and I am learning so much about the gospel from our church meetings.

On Sunday night we were supposed to have a fireside, but the speaker was unable to arrive. The MTC president, President Woodward, selected a few of the converts in the congregation to talk about how they discovered the gospel, including an elder from Mozambique. I enjoyed their testimonies a lot, but I took the most from the words of the MTC president´s wife, who spoke last. She spoke about the 130+ MTC workers who commute to work for hours every day to make sure that all the missionaries are safe and comfortable. She also talked about the dozens of meetings that have to take place every week at the MTC just to keep things in order. I had been thinking just before she spoke about how fortunate I am to have been born in the United States to a perfect family and in ideal conditions. And after Sister Woodward spoke, I realized how blessed (because I don´t want to say pampered) I am, even now. I am just so thankful that I can be here to prepare to help others discover the gospel. This is an amazing opportunity, and I try to remind myself that it shouldn´t be a sacrifice.

A new elder joined our district this week, so I´m not in a trio anymore. His name is Elder Tyree, and he´s staying in our room. I don´t hate any of my roommates or my companion yet, but I definitely see how the little things could pick at people. Elder Woodhouse is my companion now, and he´s a good guy. We both have some work to do on our Portuguese. It can be really discouraging at times because we don´t always work as hard as we should be. I just try to keep a positive attitude, and I think it´s working.

The MTC feels like a prison sometimes. But when I look out my window or walk along the cracked sidewalks, I still get the feeling that I´m on a different planet. I got my hair cut (really, really short) yesterday by an old Brazilian man who has been cutting missionaries´hair for twenty eight years. He sang in Portuguese the whole time, and I felt again like I was so far away from anything familiar or comfortable. And I love that feeling. This is such a great adventure, and it´s getting better every day!

Oh, but Jana still would have done a better job with my hair.

Everyone here is so positive and helpful. I love the spirit of fellowship that I feel in the MTC, and I can´t wait to start preaching the gospel to people who are waiting to hear it.

I am definitely going to miss eating waffles and watching General Conference in my pajamas, but I am excited to hear from the general authorities this week.

I miss you!

love
elder wiggins