2nd letter from the MTC

For everyone: Hey everyone, I wish I had more than 30 minutes to tell you how everything is going. I love the MTC!!! It is great for everything but sleeping, and I'm not graded on anything haha I love my class, my teachers are probably in a hall of fame list of MTC teachers somewhere in Heaven. I have one teacher, Irmao Shaeffer, he is amazing. He probably teaches us until he drops, he has so much energy and love I learn so much from him all the time. I have been extremely blessed with the language, I spend all of my free time speaking with the other brazilian missionaries. It is such a beautiful language, I am glad that Heavenly Father has chosen me to learn it and serve him in this way. I have been so blessed with the language, I think that because of the base that I gained from my studying back home has helped me a lot! My companion is also growing rapidly, when we are alone we have decided to only speak to eachother in portugeese, it is helping both of us become better at the language.

I recently had one of the best days of my life here, I came into the TRC and I heard that we would not be able to do a door approach, I was very sad, but then Irmao Shaeffer came in and told me that that is not what the TRC is about, he explained to me that there are chjildren of God in those rooms that need to feel the spirit, he said that even the mightiest members need the spirit sometimes. But then when it came time, I was blessed with being able to do a door aproach in portugeese anyways, luckily they let us in and we were able to teach her the first discussion, the spirit was so strong, and I know in my heart that my companion and I touched this person's heart. Then I walked outside and ran into none other than the great Johnathon Fisher!!! Seeing Johnathon again was definitely the cherry on top of my TRC experience.

I have also done many other fun things, including our first successful tie coordination (thanx for the idea Jason;) Everyone was so surprised, some of the other people overheard me telling my district to wear red ties and so they wore red ties as well, when I got to breakfast that morning there were so many red ties that when I was waiting in line someone said, "Is there some sort of red tie fundraiser I don't know about?"

Life here has been amazing, I have been doing the best I can to help my fellow missionaries learn Portuguese and strengthen their testimonies. I want to take my last minute and 22 seconds on this computer to commemorate everyone who has helped me to reach this point, I am so glad to be here, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, and Uncle Trav, and Aunt Emily's family, thanx for the note:)

Dropping Christian off at the airport January 19 2011

first letter from the MTC

Here is Chrsitian's first letter from the MTC:

Right after I said my hoorah for Israel I went over to my gate where I ran into a young man in a suit, I asked him, are you a missionary, brother? He said "yes" and our adventure began, he told me that he was going to Maceio, Brazil and that he was excited to serve the Lord, I showed him the 3 book of Mormons that my dad gave me to hand out on the plane, I figured he would want to join in on the fun, so I gave him one. I got on the plane where we were separated, the person next to me was more interested in sleeping than thinking about my excitement for a book she wasn't interested in. So, I decided to look out the window, it was a beautiful sight, I saw the sun rise over the beginning of my mission, I thought of what Heavenly Father had planned for me, I thought of my first 50 miler and thought of watching the sun rise with my dad, Now I was watching the sun rise with my Heavenly Dad, I made a promise in my heart that I would do the best I can to make Him proud.

Then I got picked up by Uncle Jesse and Aunt Danny, along with Maddie, and Dafny, kicking it with Maddie and Dafny is always encouraging, and of course I was with uncle Jesse and aunt Danny so of course we ran into a General authority, haha Then I stopped by BYU, said goodbye to my friends, told Uncle Mark I would give the people of Brazil Heaven for him ;) Then I was off to the MTC I got to the MTC and was given a companion. His name was Elder Gage, the same Elder I met earlier that day, he is awesome, and I have loved working with him! The MTC is a piece of cake! I love it here, we just read scriptures and learn Portuguese all day long it is the best! My teachers Irmao Dodge and Shaeffer are awesome!!! I am so glad to be here, much love to everyone in Seattle and BYU, Justin, Heather, Gregory, stay strong, and Mom and Dad, enjoy life!!! Talk to you guys next week!

For Kleber&Juliana, Paulo&Lusciana and family, and Naotom&Caterine and family, and for all of my other Brazilian families:

Thank you for all of the help with reading and the language, my teachers are very impressed, and I have gained a lot of respect from my district for my knowledge of the language, I am learning more everyday, but thank you so much for the base you have given me. My teacher said something on my first day and I said Que Masa!!! He laughed so hard!! Thank you for all of the sacrifice you have given to help me!!! Kleber and Juliana, I can't write you while I am in the MTC, but I am sure you will get this, thanks for everything, I miss you guys!! Caterine, thanks for all the language training!! And thanks for letting me spend time with all of you!!! I am running out of time, I will write more later,

I send my love to all, good luck and enjoy life back home!

Christian at the MTC in Provo, Utah

We had an incredibly spiritual visit by President Tanner at our home on Tuesday evening. We had grandparents there, and Christian was able to teach us a principle. Each person was able to say something to Christian and bear their testimony. Christian also was able to say something to each of us. It was one of my favorite days of my life. It was so wonderful to share sweet messages of love, faith and appreciation. I felt like a Queen in my home. President Tanner placed his hands on Christian's head with his father, and grandfathers and acting on behalf of President Monson, gave him a blessing from the Lord for his mission.

We took Christian to the airport at 4 a.m. When he got out of the van, he gave Heather a hug, Justin a hug, and reached into the van and signed "I love you" to Gregory who signed it back and they touched fingers. Then Amy and I took him into the line. As he went through security the man next to him said, "where are you going?" And we watched as Christian started explaining his mission and asking the man if he had ever talked to missionaries before?" And so it starts...

Christian got dropped off at the MTC yesterday after an amazing day with his Aunt Dannie and Uncle Jesse. They picked him up from the airport and took him to breakfast at the Joseph Smith Building, and they had the privilege of meeting Elder Kieren. They went to the Cannon Center, where he was able to say goodbye to many college buddies, saw his Uncle Mark and got to hang with him for a while. They went to the Sky Room where he was able to bid farewell to many of his co-workers. It was such a great blessing that he was able to have so much closure before entering the MTC. He was greeted by these kind "hosts" and off he went at 1pm to start his journey!

We are packing!

So, we have had Christian's last meeting at church, we have been packing, and packing, and doing more packing, and we are almost completely ready for our last minute check-off. Christian had the opportunity of singing "Called to Serve" with Tanner Paxman, Andy Howell, and Noah Krulish. It was amazing! They did the first verse in English, and then in Puertugese, which was something they have all been working on, and studying for. It was wonderful! Only two days left!