Another super fast and
wonderful week at the Brasil MTC! It has been
perfect overcast and plenty of rain here so it is kind of like back
home. Just super humid and at least 80 degrees, but man I love it! I am
just itching to go teach real people already! I love it here and I know I have
tons to learn but I am just ready for the labor, and I know it will be tough
especially at first but I am just ready!
Family, surprise, I get
to e-mail you on Christmas along with p day this week! Mom I got your
card a while back but I think I’m going to wait to open it! But I got tons of
cards this week! I am so blessed! I got Levi’s which was just hilarious
and I know he has been so busy but I can't tell you how good it felt to hear
from that stud! I am glad. I also got the letter you sent with the things from Sunday
school and that really cool thing that Chad sent to you. I really liked it! I
got one the wonderful card and letter from Grandma. That is so sad to
hear she fell. I will be praying for her! I am so sorry Grandma. The
primary children sent me cards also and it was so fun to look the
cute drawings and such. So kind of them. Thank Val for me. And of course I
got the wonderful letter from Sister Sharp! How exciting! What a perfect
mission for her and what a bunch of lucky Californians! I am very glad you
have all kept in touch! Please tell her I love her and a letter is on the way
by snail mail. Also don't send any more letters to the MTC by snail mail
because I’ll be gone when they get here!
Mom, please check up on Gary and Judy. Let
them know I love them tons and miss them.
So
many elders have been leaving the MTC but they are having trouble getting new Americans
here because of visas. I guess there are 100 at Provo waiting to come here. So
it kind of feels like it’s a ghost town right now and I don't think we’ll get
more until after we leave! The temple felt like a ghost town today! Usually we
fill up the room today we didn't get to half of it! It is really nice
though to be able to think and ponder without the greenies destroying the
spirit.
This week was great
though the CTM doctor gave a talk about
having a testimony of Joseph Smith. And to be quite honest I had always took
the fact that he was a prophet for granted. So this week I prayed to know, just
like I’ll be asking my investigators to pray to know, and the Lord answered my
prayers. I read in D&C 135. What a powerful section of scripture. I got my
answer within hours of praying to Heavenly Father. I love the power of prayer
so much and it is something I took for granted in many instances. Sincere
prayer is the difference between a day full of learning, joy, and the ability
of recognizing God's beauties and blessings for us and just any other old day.
I also wanted to know
what to study; I wanted more meaningful study, so I decided I would study about
the BOM missionaries. This week I studied Ammon and Aaron. It was super good
and I am so excited to study more of them. I learned so dang much about how the
Lord works and how missionaries can try so many different things to get to the
hearts of the people. I just loved it so much. I am so grateful to the Lord for
unfolding his mysteries through the Book of Mormon for me! I Love it!
Mom, how is Ashley and Miguel doing? I haven't
heard from them in a while.
I want to know more about what is going on at
home. Thanks so much for the letters. It’s ok if I run out of time. There are
great things happening for me here but I want to know about the greatest people
in the world too. Momsy, I love you tons. Dad and Lacey, you keep that dog
sneezing. Give him a couple from me ok.
I know this church is true;
the greatest happiness we can feel in life comes from the Gospel of Our Savior
Jesus Christ. This is His work. I know that he loves each and every one of us
here on the earth. He is the greatness and glory we thirst for in our lives and
he is my life. I love him and I absolutely love this work! I love you all have
a great and grand week! I love you! I’ll e mail you on Christmas!
Love Elder Paynter!
Hey.
ReplyDeleteWill you put Preston's address on the side of his blog? Unless you don't want it on here.
I'll see if I have it in my email.
Thanks!