Learning Lots

Hey Hey everyone, Things have been pretty busy for me lately. Mostly due to me getting my Visa, and going to Brazil!! So these past two weeks have gone something like this. Last Monday, I have class, and in the morning, I got a message to go to the travel office immediately. So me and my companion go, and we both find out that we got our visas. So that was exciting. But then I asked them when were leaving, they told me tomorrow morning. I kinda freaked out a little bit! Because it was just kinda a shock to leave on such a short notice. Nonetheless, I was super excited. So I packed for the rest of the day until that night. Said goodbye to all the people in my district, then left early Tuesday morning. We flew to the New York Airport, missed our flight to Brazil, so we had to wait an additional two hours. We finally got to Brazil, and that was crazy. So now I'm here in Brazil!!! and it is very green in Brazil. And the mission field doesn't give you a break even if your tired. The day we got there, all of us were still tired from jet lag, but whatever, because we spent the rest of the day going through orientation, then studying more Portuguese.Now what is the Brazil MTC

like: (or as they say, the CTM ) Its one big 7 story building. That's the whole mtc. People here are very nice, and most people here don't speak English. All our teachers don't speak English, making it sorta challenging here and there. but the food is fantastic. Half the time I don't even know what I'm eating.  Which Is kinda scary I guess, but the food is still super good. Mostly because its all homemade!! Unlike Provo food was all pretty much processed and came out of a can. Sao Paulo is HUGE!! 20 million people in the city.So this is something pretty unique to Brazil MTC compared to the Provo, but for our P day, we are able to walk around the city around the mtc. that was totally cool. A drunk man followed us, and eventually said hi, then walked away smiling, haha. and people are way nice there. The drivers are crazy, and it is SO GREEN in Brazil!! Also, everything is so cheap in Brazil. Ive learned so much Portuguese though, well, more than I would have had I stayed in Provo. I still have so much work to do, I feel inadequate in every way to speak the language, because I just have so much to learn, but the miracle of it all is that I know more than i ever would have learned without the help of the lord. The Gospel is something where if you don't try it out, and act on you faith then you will never truly know. God will NEVER give you unearned belief!

Everyone has to work to come to a knowledge of this gospel. If that were not the case, then We would have no choice than to just believe in God. And that in itself would be a violation of Gods character.

There is so much I'd love to share, because it makes so much sense to me, and brings me joy.I'm grateful to have made it to Brazil. Its great

here, and I know its were I need to be.

Elder Shurts   

This past week has been pretty crazy though, We were able to out and proselyte with our district, and that was super fun! We gave away six books of Mormon and stuff, and got to taste free ice cream that was there. Don't worry, I'm not sick or anything. I have so much less time here in this MTC than I ever did in Provo. Its crazy, Such a busy schedule we have here. So we've been teaching a lot of lessons to mock investigators, and we've done a lot of TRC too. Ive learned so much Portuguese. Ive made such good friends with a lot of the natives here too!! Its so fun. A lot of them call me "little Boy" or Bikani which means little...a silly joke that Ive heard my entire life, but nonetheless funny when it comes to them saying it. And then I told them that I also speak German, and they all freaked out and were like ^teach me some German phrases^ and so I taught Brazilians German phrases translating them into Portuguese so that they could understand what it meant. It was really funny!! but, they've also taught me a lot of Portuguese, and help me out a lot, and Ive gotten much better at understanding them and responding. Pretty funny! Gym time is good. We play volleyball, and I spike it like crazy!! haha, its so fun. We also went to the Police station this week and are now allowed to stay in this country!!

Yay!! I'm now Legal!! haha. Anyway, that~s my update, Chao! Elder Shurts