This week was amazing. So many things have been happening. For example last Wednesday my district and some others got to host the new missionaries. That was such a cool experience. So what we do is pick up the new missionaries from their car help get their luggage, let them say goodbye to their family. Then after that we take them to the front office where they get their name tag, room keys and all that fun stuff. Then after that we go to the bookstore and grab all their books and language stuff (if they were speaking a language). I got to help Elders who were going to Texas, England, Ohio, Japan, and the Philippines. It was really great to talk with them and get to know them a little bit. We also got three new missionaries in our zone that day. They are really cool guys. Their names are Elder Geddes, Elder Bodiley, and Elder Noys. They are all going to Brazil. So they are just waiting for their Visa so they can go to the Brazil MTC.
So one day I went up to one of my teachers and asked if I could have a little more help on learning the language. And what we ended up doing is getting me my own tutor. He is SO SICK! His name is Brother Lempel and he served his mission in Portugal. Same place I’m going. I had my first lesson with him yesterday and I learned so much just in that one hour. He is going to help me every day. He told me he was exactly in my position when he was in the MTC. I believe that with his help and my dedication to learn the language I can learn it in no time. It’s hard to believe that I have been here for 4 weeks. That means I only have 2 more weeks and then I’m in Portugal. I am so excited to go. I have heard so many awesome things about Portugal and its making me want to go even sooner. So for tonight's devotional I think we are having one of the 12 apostles come and speak to us, which is getting me really excited. If so I can’t wait to listen and take notes of what he has to say.
Obrigado (Thank you) so much for that letters and packages of cookies I loved them. It was nice to get letters from Ellie and Lilly. They are so cute. I miss playing with them. I will have to write them a little letter back. Okay speaking about those cookies that you guys sent me. I shared them with my district and my teacher Brother Belchior. He especially liked the cookies. He didn’t have lunch that day and so when I offered him a cookie his face was super happy. He took about three cookies and just shoved them is his mouth. After he swallowed he said "thank you so much I felt like a starving African kid" He can say that because he is from Mozambique which is in Africa. He is so funny. I love having him as a teacher he makes it so fun to learn and he has the coolest stories form his mission.
So one day we had some time to take a little break in our classroom and we decided to take a nap. Well, I was the only one that fell asleep and they ended up taking pictures of me it was pretty funny. I will put the pictures up on Dropbox soon.
So a couple of days ago brother Belchior was teaching us and he had his personal computer with him. His computer got a virus on it I guess and he was joking that Satan had taken over his computer and that he was fighting a battle with him. He ended up winning. Another funny story about him is that I have a Portugal flag and I’m having people sign it and I asked if he would sign it and he said yes. He went to go write "Stay Holy" but ended up writing "Stay Holly" it was awesome. He makes me laugh. Sorry for not writing a lot of letters home is hard to find time to write letters. We literally have no time we are either in class studying or being taught by our teachers or eating our meals, did I mention studying? We do a lot of studying its insane. But I promise you letters are coming, it’s just taking time :) Thanks for all the prayers I can feel them every day and I thank you for that. I love you guys so much and think and pray for you every day. God is real he loves us and wants us to be happy. If you ever feel down you can always turn to him because he is always there for you. I love you guys.
With all my love,
Elder Rusnell
So one day I went up to one of my teachers and asked if I could have a little more help on learning the language. And what we ended up doing is getting me my own tutor. He is SO SICK! His name is Brother Lempel and he served his mission in Portugal. Same place I’m going. I had my first lesson with him yesterday and I learned so much just in that one hour. He is going to help me every day. He told me he was exactly in my position when he was in the MTC. I believe that with his help and my dedication to learn the language I can learn it in no time. It’s hard to believe that I have been here for 4 weeks. That means I only have 2 more weeks and then I’m in Portugal. I am so excited to go. I have heard so many awesome things about Portugal and its making me want to go even sooner. So for tonight's devotional I think we are having one of the 12 apostles come and speak to us, which is getting me really excited. If so I can’t wait to listen and take notes of what he has to say.
Obrigado (Thank you) so much for that letters and packages of cookies I loved them. It was nice to get letters from Ellie and Lilly. They are so cute. I miss playing with them. I will have to write them a little letter back. Okay speaking about those cookies that you guys sent me. I shared them with my district and my teacher Brother Belchior. He especially liked the cookies. He didn’t have lunch that day and so when I offered him a cookie his face was super happy. He took about three cookies and just shoved them is his mouth. After he swallowed he said "thank you so much I felt like a starving African kid" He can say that because he is from Mozambique which is in Africa. He is so funny. I love having him as a teacher he makes it so fun to learn and he has the coolest stories form his mission.
So one day we had some time to take a little break in our classroom and we decided to take a nap. Well, I was the only one that fell asleep and they ended up taking pictures of me it was pretty funny. I will put the pictures up on Dropbox soon.
So a couple of days ago brother Belchior was teaching us and he had his personal computer with him. His computer got a virus on it I guess and he was joking that Satan had taken over his computer and that he was fighting a battle with him. He ended up winning. Another funny story about him is that I have a Portugal flag and I’m having people sign it and I asked if he would sign it and he said yes. He went to go write "Stay Holy" but ended up writing "Stay Holly" it was awesome. He makes me laugh. Sorry for not writing a lot of letters home is hard to find time to write letters. We literally have no time we are either in class studying or being taught by our teachers or eating our meals, did I mention studying? We do a lot of studying its insane. But I promise you letters are coming, it’s just taking time :) Thanks for all the prayers I can feel them every day and I thank you for that. I love you guys so much and think and pray for you every day. God is real he loves us and wants us to be happy. If you ever feel down you can always turn to him because he is always there for you. I love you guys.
With all my love,
Elder Rusnell