May 21, 2010
Ola! Tudo bem?
Things here are super! I’m loving life, and enjoying every second here at the MTC. All we do is work, work, work. And usually I’d say that is a bad thing, but in this case it is really good. We are pretty much in the classroom all day, learning about the gospel and learning Portuguese. I love my teachers though, and they make it quite enjoyable. They have made learning so simple!
How are things back home? I’m glad you are killing it in tennis Mom, you make me proud. My teacher said he played tennis a few times while serving in Portugal, so that’s good news. Has Dad opened the new store yet? Fill me in about that! And tell him thank you for the NBA Playoffs update, a few of us in the district really appreciated that. So is school coming close to an end?
I hate that I only get 30 minutes to write e-mails! Anyways, we had a devotional this week about the importance of the Book of Mormon. It was awesome! My companion and I have made it a goal to read 100 pgs a week, and so far so good. It always makes my day better when I start off by reading. We have been playing a bunch of beach volleyball lately, the weather has been great!
There’s a bunch of kids shipping out from our zone on Tuesday (heading out to their missions). So we will be getting a bunch of newbies on Wednesday, and we will be the oldest in our zone ha, ha. This week I have to bless the sacrament in Portuguese… kind of scary. The language is definitely coming along great though. I can’t believe how much I’ve already learned in just two weeks! All of us can already carry a basic conversation, which is nuts. We are definitely being blessed. Yesterday, Elder Graves and I had to teach another “mock” investigator. That went really well! We teach really well together, and we are always on the same page. Teaching just seems to come natural for me, I haven’t found it too hard at all.
Every Thursday night we have Oreo Thursday. It consists of milk and Oreos and chilling in our room. This was started by Elder Tanner. It has pretty much become a hit in our zone. Our room is where everyone comes and hangs out at night. It’s the place to be.
Before I forget, could you send my uke?! I’ve been jamming with a couple kids lately, but they’re leaving Tuesday. So now I’m dying for mine! Maybe before sending it check out Chesbros, and see if they have a cheap carrying case for it. I would love you forever! Elder Tanner and I are going insane without music, so that would be a blessing.
I got your package today, thank you so much! Those treats will last me forever. I’m sure my companion and the other Elders in the district will love them as well. I can’t get on the regular internet, so I won’t be able to upload photos. I will have to send my SD card. That will change in Portugal though, since we will just be using like internet cafes. I don’t know if I will have the time when I’m there though. I think it will just be easiest for me to send the card. But here we just have a link we click on that allows us to check our e-mail. We don’t actually log on to the internet. It’s kind of like how entourage works or whatever.
How is everyone at home? Anything new and exciting? How are all the kids doing? Let them know they can write whenever they want. Tell Brit that I got his message, and I will write him a letter back. He will get it early next week.
I miss you guys, but know that I’m doing so well. There’s no where in the world I’d rather be right now. I love this so much, and I can’t wait for the next two years. This gospel is amazing, and I’m so lucky to be part of it. I’m so blessed, and so lucky. I can’t wait to spread my happiness to the people of Portugal. Even though I haven’t even been there yet, I already love them so much! I have grown up so much in just two weeks of being here, and I know that things will keep getting better and better.
Please keep writing, I love hearing from you guys! Even if you don’t have a lot to say, I don’t care. I just love to hear from you. I hope all is well! I love you guys more than you could ever imagine. I’m so lucky to be part of such an amazing family. I have been so blessed in my life, I don’t know how I managed to get so lucky.
Eu amo-vos!
Elder Porter
