Merry Christmas MTC Style!

O Christmas Tree!!

My Own Winter Wonderland

What presents are under the tree!! 

Santa's little Helpers!! Ho Ho Ho!

 MTC dosen't mess around when it comes to celebrating Christmas.  All the sisters in our district got tons of presents and packages, so we saved them all until Christmas morning to open them all.  The day was filled with tons of events including breakfast, Russell M. Nelson talk, some free time (which I love) a talent show, and then the Christmas Carol play.  I also saw Mr. Kruger's Christmas which I had never seen but totally loved! 

I have been here at the MTC for six weeks!  Crazy!  We taught our first lesson in Porteguese on Wednesday.  I was nervous the whole week before.  I was praying every second I had to have the spirit with me when I teach and the gift of tongues.  So, the beginning of the lesson I was totally shaking, but at the end I was holding my O Liuro de Mormon in my hand testifying of Joseph Smith.  It was amazing!  I just went in not caring about the language and just went with the spirit.  I didn't feel like it went as well, but the feedback from TRC was that I knew the language and that I was just scared.  Also, despite the fear I showed, I brought in the spririt.  I was on cloud 9!  The gift of tongues is real.  The Lord loves me and totally made up for what I couldn't bring.  I have heard it all happening, but couldn't attest to it until it happened to me.  I was really nervous when I was called to Brazil.  I thought to myself that it was going to be too hard.  But, in my time here I realize that the Lord doesn't care what language I am speaking.  It is the spirit I am to bring when I teach.  It was an eye opening experience.  So humbling! I love that we can come to the Lord anytime.  It is when we hit the hard times we sometimes forget that he has already gone through it.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is amazing.  I mean who really wouldn't want that in their life.

A Glimpse of my Daily Life in the MTC

My Companion Sister Jones

 My District of Powerful Women!

 Learning to Teach!

 Walking in Christ's footsteps!

 Temple Day!

 The Elders that I can't get enough of!

Well, believe it or not, I am getting used to this crazy Utah weather.  I mean, I can tolerate it.  I am still unsure why anyone would want to live here but whatever.  Well, Sister Jones had our first TRC experience a few days ago.  Our district was gearing up for the the TRC and we were told on our way over that our door to door contact had to be done in Portuguese!!  I was like ummm WHAT!!  So, we said a prayer and went and did the deed.  It was a disaster!  Sister Jones defaulted into French.  I was thinking, "What are you doing?"  The last people that we door contacted, we went back and taught the first lesson to.  We asked them if we could talk to them in English.  They said YES!  They were Brazilian and asked if we could speak slow so that took the edge off.
Julie B. Beck came and spoke to us on Tuesday. It was awesome.  She spoke about Brazil and afterwards Sister Jones and I went and hugged her.  It was the greatest hug of my life!!  I am trying to teach without my manual on my lap upon Sister Jones prodding.  She thinks it sounds like a script.  So, when we went to TRC, I decided to put it into action.  I thought to myself, here it goes.  And of course I OWNED the lesson.  Dropping scriptures, asking questions, the spirit was all up in the mix too and I was like  hey hey hey! It was pretty rad!
The Visa's around here aren't looking really good for anyone heading to Brazil so in about 4 weeks I might get reassigned to a state side mission.  That will be interesting. 
Enjoy the Pictures!

Loving what I am doing

Brock Katzakian

So, it has been a blast here at the MTC!   I found a workout buddy! She is hardcore!  While the rest of the sisters are gaining 10 pounds from the nasty food here, I have lost 10! It is like the workouts I use to do at home and it really kicks my behind.  Portuguese is amazing!  The Lord's gift of tongues is coming along somehow.  We had Jeffery R. Holland speak to us. It was awesome!  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!