From Sydney

hey family!

Right now i am writing on a computer where the shift button does not work. so yeah. That's why some words won't be capitalized. 

i entered the mtc calm as donkey from Winnie the Pooh. I was dressed in this adorable outfit that Kenzie bought me. I walked in excited to meet my companion and ready to get on with the work. Pulling my luggage was a struggle, but it was worth it to finally enter my room. I have the top bunk and Charles (my pillow pet) laughs every night. I went to my classroom (first day) and I was thrilled to meet our sub, Brother Buttars, who served with Mckenzie. I also met the girls in my awesome district: Sister Alderidge, Sister Nerenberg, Sister Seely, and Sister Parks. My companions name is Sister Corbitt (I always for some odd reason call her Sister Cooper). The people in Brazil will call her sister Corbitch. It's almost like Corihor (Jk Sister Corbitt, and probably not missionary appropriate:)). Sister Corbitt is awesome and loves the gospel a whole bunch. She is very determined to learn the language. She is nineteen, and I can tell why the Lord wants her and every younger missionary. I am kinda jealous of them. They have such strong testimonies and a great understanding. The first day was fine, but when I went to sleep that night, I was so sad. I cried and cried and didn't sleep very well. I had no idea why. And I really still don't understand why. The second day went well, we met our teacher, Irmao Deherden, who reminds me of my New Testament Professor, Brother Smith. Big compliment. I am struggling with the language, but the language will come at the Lord's time, not mine. We found out that day that our investigator was English, not Portuguese. Which really means that the Lord wants me to learn the language of the gospel right now. I met my Branch Presidency. They are such sweet men, and the wife was such a great woman (the men don't share a wife I just don't know whose wife it was). She told me that the people in Brazil want to help me with the Language so I shouldn't worry about it. To just study the language during the assigned times and then study Preach My Gospel the rest. Preach My Gospel is seriously awesome, it truly is the way to preach His gospel. My interview was with the second Councilor (I have no idea how to spell that). He really like me, and I liked him a whole lot. He made me take off my constant companion, my Brazilian Bracelet. And there came the tears once again. Nothing was going right. I once again cried that night. I kept losing my missionary card, I couldn't sleep, I was lonely, I lost my wallet, I felt like I butchered the lesson with Jason, I was behind my companion in gospel and language, and I was questioning myself. I really wanted to go home. The third day, Friday, after the lesson where I felt like I was so inadequate, and I barely got a word in, and the one thing I was inspired to say (and I really was, me and Jason have a lot in common), Sister Corbitt said the worst words anyone can ever say to me: "You don't understand", and at that moment it was the worst because I felt like I didn't. I just lost it. I cried and cried and sobbed and lost my patience. It was horrible and embarrassing, and Sister Corbitt was so nice. We chatted (or I cried while she talked). I finally sucked it up, and we went towards dinner where I saw my name was on the board to go to the front desk. There waiting for me, was the most beautiful thing: my wallet and missionary card. The poor guy at the front desk must have thought I was crazy because I just started crying. Thank you so much Bradyn (by the way, where is your classroom again?). My first prayer in the MTC was answered. We went to dinner, and I couldn't eat. Despite the moment of happiness, I felt a horrible dark feeling I couldn't explain. I entered the classroom after dinner and there were only two elders and two sister. I kept thinking I should ask the Elders for a blessing, but I was too scared. I started to study, but everywhere word was like a foreign language (because it was) and I began to cry again. I made poor Sister Corbitt go to the Restroom with me so I could cry in front of a couple sisters who felt sorry for me. After that, I knew I had to follow my prompting. i  barely got the words out when I asked Elder Rockwood and Elder Wright for a blessing. I was sobbing once again. It was the sweetest blessing I have ever received. Elder Rockwood really listened to the Spirit and I felt like the Lord was speaking to me. He told me that the Lord loved me, and valued me as a Missionary. He was proud of me and the sadness I could not comprehend would pass and I would be able to feel the love of the Lord, and be able to concentrate. I didn't tell him anything, and he knew exactly what to say. It was amazing. The power of the Priesthood is real. The sadness fled away. That's the only way I can describe it. I still get nervous, but I am able to concentrate. I haven't cried since the blessing. Carrie, your letter and poem was amazing and a blessing. Thanks to you and Randy for the Bracelet. I can wear it! One night I went to take a shower, and some sister stole my underwear. It was weird. General Conference was amazing, and I truly felt the saviors love. When Elder Nelson said "This is my beloved Son, Hear Him" I remembered why I was hear and that the Lord will soften the hearts of the people I teach and say: "This is my beloved Daughter, hear her." The second lesson went Jason went awesome, I don't know if he felt the spirit with Joseph Smith's prayer, but I did. It was amazing and I hope he also felt it. But I invited him to church and he said yes! (He is going to be our next teacher, and he doesn't know Portuguese, which is weird). The MTC is long and hard and terrifying, but I am learning. I just have to trust the Lord. Please keep sister Corbitt in your prayers. She is sad and needs the Lord's help and love. I know this church is true and I am grateful to all of you for allowing me to be here and encouraging me. I know the gospel is true! I love all y'all and I keep you in my prayers always. I pray a lot here.

Love,

Sister Powell (Sydney)