December 24, 2013

Dear Family,
I am so glad that ya'll are well this time of year. My district got a new Portuguese teacher because the old one is leaving to start an internship. It is a good thing because the new one served in Brazil and not Portugal, so we are excited.

It has been snowing for the past few days and so we have renamed Utah-Hoth. It seems fitting. Christmas is tomorrow but it almost doesn't seem like it because life goes on here at the mtc. Being here during this time of year has given me a unique point of view about Christmas. When we turn towards others, all of the little things seem to disappear/lose importance. That is kind of what we are feeling in the mtc. Because we are solely focused on others, all of the material things about Christmas seem to go away (don't get me wrong, I am still glad for the gifts :)).

As we were at our Sunday night devotional, I had an impression - when the angels went and sang to the shepherds of the Savior's birth, we were among them. So, whenever we do anything to announce Christ we should try to do it with that same angelic zeal.

It is rumored that we will be getting 2 apostles tomorrow for Christmas but nobody actually knows who they are so we are all waiting with baited breath. I have been reading the book "Our Heritage" and I am so grateful for the sacrifices that the early saints made to build the kingdom.

In other news, there is an elder in the other Portuguese zone on our floor who has correctly dreamed about 5 different missionaries getting their visas so i asked him to dream for me. I dont think that it will work but I figure that it couldn't hurt.

Taylor/Matthew,
Reason number 3 to go on a mission: the mtc is full of cool things and new experiences. My comp and I found a room full of pillows, and my district is spending P-day playing Dungeons and Dragons(I was skeptical but it has been enjoyable. I am a level 3 battle mage. lol. That sounded weird to say out loud). I hope that ya'll are good. Enjoy Christmas.

Taylor, Do your PT. The next time we play bball, I don't want to win because you are in a wheelchair.
Matthew, Don't take a lacrosse stick to the nose. It hurts.
Nicole, How was your Christmas party, did you do anything cool?
Leanne: Keep coloring. One day you will be great
Dad: Don't you just love tech support?
Mom: You are so awesome.

 

Love,

Elder Brett Wilson

December 17, 2013

Family,

I got my contacts. The language is coming along well but as always i wish it were faster. I am one of the best in my district with the language and several of them are getting frustrated at their rate of learning, so try to keep them in my prayers.

 

We had a devotional from Elder Cook about our purpose as a missionary. I realized that we have a sacred and special assignment and we need to do our best to fulfill that obligation. 

 

we had the BYU Men's Choir come and do a singing devotional for us. It was really cool.

 

In our Narnia holes we found some change, bubbles and a bow and arrow made out of pen parts and rubber bands. I got my Christmas package this morning, We are thoroughly enjoying the Christmas candy and thank you for the stocking and candy calendar. I look forward to opening my presents.

The MTC is amazing and I feel that I have grown so much more than I would have thought in only 2 weeks. The spirit of the MTC truly is a miracle worker. We finished up with our first investigator. He didn't get baptized. But that is okay because the investigator, Edgar, was being played by one Brother Whitaker who is now our other teacher. He was portraying a person he taught on his mission, and he didn't baptize that investigator either.

 

Congratulations Matthew on your calling. Remember that you have this calling because the Lord trusts you. Don't let Him down. Are ya'll ready for Christmas? It is rapidly approaching. Unfortunately, i will not be able to call home for Christmas because of the logistics of the MTC :(

Taylor/ Matthew,

Reason number 2 to go on a mission: You get to hang out with a bunch friends all day. The MTC/missions aren't easy but I am seriously having the most fun that I have had in a long time.

 

So, I heard that Mack Brown resigned and I shouted out with joy, " YES, Mack brown resigned." My companion comes rushing in because he was in the room across the hall and he heard "YES, my grandpa died" and he was wondering why I was happy about that. lol. I guess that you don't have to be speaking Portuguese to be lost in translation.

 

We got our next investigator his name is Cristem. He is not really interested in anything and when I told him to first vision in Portuguese from memory (impressive, right) he did nothing and thought that it was a cool story. so, Elder Voorhies and I have our work cut out for us. I learned this week from Elder Cook that when as a missionary you are righteous and working hard then you are entitled to revelation. So that is my week's goal.

 

Pet Scout for me.

Love Elder Wilson

December 10, 2013

Dear family,

I hope that this finds you well. I am thoroughly enjoying the mtc. My district is continuing to teach our first investigator: Edgar. He seems to be progressing in the gospel and is excited to come to church this Sunday. Elder Voorhies and I challenged him to be baptized but he says that he wants to learn more about the church before he commits to being baptized.

 

My district is learning Portuguese at an astonishing rate, the spirit of the MTC is really quite amazing. Our teacher is brother Lamperle he is a returned missionary of about 8 months. he went to Portugal. I have started re-reading to Book of Mormon with the goal of finishing before i leave the mtc because Elder Holland has extended that challenge to all missionaries.

 

I am doing well and staying warm. The other day it started snowing and naturally a mtc wide snowball fight broke out. It was awesome but at the end we discovered that a sister had lost her camera during the action. We prayed to be able to find her camera and after about 10 minutes of searching our prayers were answered...the power of missionaries. The people here are all so amazing and because of our missionary lifestyle they are all attuned with the spirit. I feel that the missionaries could literally accomplish anything that they set their minds to.

 

We also watched the Christmas devotional, then afterwards they showed all of the new missionaries a devotional by Elder Bednar: The Character of Christ. I don't know if you can find it since it is especially for missionaries but if you can I highly recommend that you look it up. I can't believe that I have been here a week already. I am learning so much about what it means to be a disciple of Christ. I thank you for the dutch Christmas it was a pleasant surprise.

Love,

Elder Wilson

-exact obedience brings miracles