Best day of the week after p-day

Dear family,

Hi guys.

My third week at the MTC felt a lot like the first two. I´m running out of things to say in my journal because every day feels pretty similar to the last. Time is moving faster now, and I understand Portuguese a little better every day.

General Conference was great, wasn´t it? I´m not just saying that because I´m obligated to, I swear. All 400-ish of the American missionaries watched it together in the auditorium. I was surprised how short it felt-- by the end, I just wanted to hear from President Uchtdorf or Elder Holland again. Speaking of which, Elder Holland was amazing. I bet his address about the Book of Mormon will be remembered for a long time, and not just because he gave it in a fire-and-brimstone preacher´s voice. To be completely honest, I have been questioning the strength and even the existence of my testimony since I arrived here. They don´t give you time to find your testimony here. We learned how to say "I know the Book of Mormon is true" in Portuguese during our first week ("Eu sei que O Livro de Mormon e verdadeiro." SUP.), and they don´t ask whether you really know it or not. They just expect you to. Anyway, I´ve just been thinking a lot about it all lately, so I think I drew the most meaning from Elder Hales´s and Elder Holland´s talks. As much as I love the meaningful stories and lessons that most of the general authorities presented, I found it especially powerful to hear direct testimonies concerning Heavenly Father and the Book of Mormon. I didn´t take many notes during their talks, but I really felt the Spirit. And just to clarify, I know that I have a testimony of this gospel, and of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I just get a little discouraged sometimes, so I was especially grateful to listen to Conference.

And I loved hearing President Monson speak about giving service and being slow to anger. Even though I´m still in the MTC, I am already beginning to see how important it is to put others before yourself. I´m doing my best to be selfless and kind.

I can´t think of many things to say about life in the MTC. It feels like a mix between the dorms at BYU, Sunday school, and the Shawshank Redemption. We have time to study by ourselves, with our companions, and as a district every morning. Then we have gym, which is surprisingly the best part of the day. I just play volleyball and try not to think about the eight hours of class that will follow. We have either ham or bologna sandwiches for breakfast every morning except for cereal day, which is the best day of the week after p-day. For lunch and dinner we usually have some kind of meat with beans and rice. Wednesdays are pizza days, which are also the best days of the week after p-day. I don´t even know what I would do if cereal day and pizza day fell on the same day. I´d probably just die.

Anyway, class is fine. I love learning Portuguese and studying the lessons in Preach My Gospel. I always feel a bit silly and self conscious when we practice teaching, but I know it´s all worthwhile. We get to go proselyting during our fifth and seven weeks, and I´m really looking forward to putting all this training to use.

I want to send pictures of the city to you, but we´re not supposed to take our cameras outside the MTC in case we are robbed. I have a great view from my bedroom window, though, so maybe I can send a few next week.

I love you. All of you. I think about and pray for you every day, and I hope that all of you are safe and happy.

love
elder wiggins