Dear Family and Friends,
Yes, I am infact fluent in portuguese...HA! Not! But it is coming along. We have prayed and bore our testimony in portuguese quite a few times. It is hard and I want to say every word the way it would sound in spanish but I'm working on it. I really can feel the Lord helping me to understand the language and learn words a little at a time. One of the Elders in my district asked me today "Sister, how do you know how to say all of the words already??" And half jokingly said "The gift of tonuges". And I by no means think that I can speak so well or am patting myself on the back for how I am doing. But the half that wasn't joking really can feel the hand of the Lord working to help me to learn as much as I can while I am here.
Ok so my companion is Sister West, she is from Moses Lake, WA. She is really nice and optimistic. We are really learning a lot from each other. She is open to my ideas for study and we're getting along pretty well! Our district, which is the group of Elders and Sisters that we spend the most time with and go to all of our classes with. There are only five of us in this distict, that is really small for the MTC. And we're losing two more on Tuesday. Sister West and Elder Phillipy (phillip-EE) both got their visas. So I know your first question is about me...so yes I will not have companion for the rest of my stay at the Provo MTC. And your second question is WHEN AM I GETTING MY VISA???? Well let me tell you. I've got a while to be here. After you fill out your visa application you have to fill out an electronic application and all of the Elders and Sister in my district filled it out at least a month ago. And once you fill it out it takes about 4 weeks to get your visa. I asked the people in the travel office about it and they said they would probably call me in soon to fill it out. Notice the use of the words "probably" and "soon"...that basically means nothing. So I wait and I learn and grow in the mean time. When we first found out that those two were leave and it is just a matter of time before the other two leave me as well and I'm all alone I was really sad and jealous. But then I realized that the Lord has a plan for me and the very first day they told us "it is by divine design that you didn't get your visas and you are here right now". So I really took that to heart and I'm doing great. I know if I put my trust in the Lord that I will be able to accomplish everything that He wants me to.
So everyone told me about the spirit that is here and for the first few days I was like well...yeah I mean it's great but I didn't have that feeling. And then yesterday it was like the heavens were opened and the Lord poured down his spirit upon me. I don't know why He trusts me to do this work but if he has that much faith in me, the only thing I can do to repay him is to put my faith and trust in Him as well. I can't do this without him. It is too much, I need Him, you need Him, we all need Him.
A few of you asked about how my days are, they are LONG! And I'm still getting used to them. We go to class ALL day...literally! But it is great I feel like I have been here for weeks becuase of all of the knowledge I have gained. It is wonderful, it is beautiful, and it is hard. One of the first things that our teacher said to us was "If everything was easy, we would miss out on opportunities to grow" UH...DUH! That is so simple! And that is what I am doing here, it is hard, but I am growing and the Lord is shaping me into the person that he wants me to be.
When new missionaries get to the MTC they have a host Elder or Sister. My host sister was Sister Jackson!!!! We were in the same ward in Provo, I love her to death, she is my FAVORITE! It was the biggest blessing EVER! She took me around and showed me where to go, where my room was and it was just such a comfort to have a familiar face nearby. Speaking of my room, it is only Sister West and I in there and so when she leaves, I'm going to have to switch rooms...super glad I already unpacked...NOT!
Thank you for all of your letter of love and support. I just have one thing to tell Bishop Busch, in one of you letter you said something along the lines of "we will not be praying for you" so...thanks! Haha! But I did know what you meant. My district was so jealous about all the mail I got...THANK YOU!
Anyway, I want you all to know that I have a testimony of the this gospel. I know that God lives and that he loves us, I know that with him we can do anything. I know that this is exactly where I am supposed to be at the exact time that I am supposed to be here. I know that God listens to our prayers and he cares about us and what we are doing.
Sorry my time is up! sorry this email is so long, I'll try to condense next week! Love you ALL!!
Sister Brooks
