Alex's last MTC email

 OLA Minha Familia!

Maybe last PDAY in MTC!! I find out either today or tomorrow so expect a phone call from me soon! Remember to be home tomorrow around 4 or on thursday just in case.

So this week was kinda long, and probably the most challanging og them all. But

I'm grateful for that! I got kinda sick this week. oops. haha but not anything to bad. I had to go to the doctor but it made for the best story ever!

 So Im grateful! So in the doctor I had to go get some medicine. THey told me to go into this room and I accidently went into the carentine room

 (this is the room where they lock the people up when the are super sick) and I shot the door behind me and was locked in!

I knocked and knocked and knocked but no one heard me! IT WAS DREADFUL! and honestly I was a little worried. lol

The lady finally came and got me 20 min later. It felt like a lifetime.

 

On Wednesday I get to be a host. So when you come to the mtc you get dropped off

and handed over to a missionary. I was that missionary! It was fun and sad

because families where crying every where!

I loved the two missionaries I hosted.

They will be amazing missionaries.

 

This week I learned how much I love my district.

I literally am so grateful that I havent recieved my visa yet

Just because I have gained so many sisters and brothers.

This week one of our elders had a hard time

and we just supported him so much.

We all love each other like a family.

I have learned so much from my district.

 

I am also so thankful for Sister Mann.

She makes me want to be better each day.

I am so sad that I am leaving my best friend soon.

 

The hardest thing for me in learning port. is pronouncing things.

I blame louisiana. lol

It reminds me of the times that Mom used to stay up with me allllll

night teaching me how to read.

It is so humbling basically learning to read all over again. I LOVE IT!

Literally I do! It makes me so grateful for the times that I speak right.

 

TRC this week was so amazing. The girl we taught was from Brazil!

It made me realize how important a simple but profound testimony is.

My simple words in port. combined with the spirit can do all things :)

 

Sister Mann and I have a goal this week to share our testimony in port to someone random every day.

We shared it 3 times yesterday.

The last time we did yesterday I witnessed the gift of tongues. I spoke portuguese the best I ever have.

I felt the words spill through my mouth.

I felt Gods love being spoken through me.

 

Today after our temple trip we walked outside

and a family of Brazilians where outside the temple.

They are just visiting america!

our whole district got to talk to them.

 

SOOOO Challange to all who read this.

Please send me your testimony through dear elder or email (because I dont know when I am leaving)

My address should be on here.

But my email is alexis.powell@mylds.net

I dont care what faith you are :)

A testimony is a testimony.

And one must share it or they will lose it.

Also share how you gained it.

 

Also Valerie from EFY! (sorry if I spelt that wrong)

can you send me your address?

I was so excited that I accidently tore it!

I love you! I think of you everyday!

All my EFY participants!

I love you :)

 

 

SO let me start the testimony with mine.

Again I want to say I love you all.

I know this is where i need to be. I know that all my blessings in my life after this will be because I served my Savior and Heavenly Father.

I want you to know that I know that God lives.

That He blesses His children.

I know this because I am a witness to those blessings.

Everyday I see His hand in my life.

I feel his strength pour through me.

 

I know without a shadow of a doubt that Joseph Smith saw God and His Son Jesus Christ.

I know this because I know that the book of mormon is true.

It was written of prophets of old.

You can know this too if you read with a pure intent and pray if it is true.

 

I also know that the Bible is true.

It is a wonderful testimony that Jesus Christ lives.

It was also written by prophets of old.

 

I know that we once lived with God and that we can again.

God loves us so much and the wants us to be happy.

The only way we can be truly happy is if we accept His gospel

and keep his commandments.

 

Jesus Christ died for us.

He suffered for us.

He atoned for us.

To also be happy we must accept His atonement.

We must repent.

 

I love the Gospel so much.

 

 

Keep on writing.

PS. Austin Holleman write me.

And Rebekah Ray! I love you!

pps. Send me pics of my puppies!

 

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From Alex: Week 4

Well my pday is now tuesdays!! yayyyyy!!!! Syds is on friday so we swapped :)

 

Nothing really eventful has happened since 4 days ago but we had an awesome Sunday!

Sunday was so amazing and made me feel so much better :) The speaker said that we are at war

with Satan. Satan hates Jesus so much so he also hates us and will do anything to take us down.

So he messes with our minds while we are here at the MTC. Makes us doubt ourselves and think we are not good

enough to be here but we are. With Jesus as one of our companions we can do all things. How amazing/scary is that? Good thing we have

a Heavenly Father that loves us so much and whose greatest want is all of His children to live with Him.

During relief society we had the new General Young Womens Pres. speak to us. She is amazing. Her husband was called to be a mission pres. when she was

25 and they went into the MTC a week after she had her baby. Whoooaaa. haha She said that when her and her husband picked her up they wondered why a sister

and an elder where together. haha

 

When she was called to be the Young Womens President she was really scared and she was sitting with the 1st presidency and she said

to President Monson, "But President... I dont know how to do this." And he said "Well of course not! We just called you!" hahaha

I love him :) It made me realize that it is okay not to know everything right now. I was just called to be a missionary and Ive only been

one for 3 and a half weeks.

 

Monday was really good also. Irmo Buttars took us outside and said "In the spring of 1820 a boy of fourteen years old said a prayer.

That prayer was answered and it changed the world. Almost 200 years later you stand here in consequience to that prayer. You carry the message

that God gave a boy all that time ago. I want you to go and pary to the Lord about why you are serving a mission and then tell the Lord all of you insecurities and weaknesses

and leave them behind." He said that in our missions we will start ourpath to becoming perfected beings. So we went and prayed. I can say that I felt my Saviors love.

I know how much He loves me and how selfish would I be not to bring that message to the world. I am who am only because of the religion. I am so happy because of it.

 

"Heavenly Father loves you. God has given you so many blesseing but many times when you are in pain you

cant see the blessings. The gospel gives you that opportunity bc it gives you the knowledge of our Saviors sacrifice.

Which lifts your burdens and pains. You realize that through your pains you can grow and see that trials are given

because God loves us. We can handle all things with the help of our Savior. No gospel brings so much joy."

 

I am so excited to leave my insecurities behind and trust the Lord to pick me up/

I lovee this gospel so much.

 

We have a new teacher. Irmo Butters quit :( which made me so sad! But the new teacher Irmo Nothum is really great. Our new investigator's name

is Jameson. He is awesome. He doesnt believe in God but he has a desire to. So thats what we talked about. We told him that faith starts with desire

and all we have to do is try and if you do you will obtain faith. It was an awesome lesson and I spoke pretty well. I love the spirit. He really directs you when you need

help.

 

Funny Moments of the week:

 

So when we found out that Irmo Butters quit we all were so sad. We couldnt make it through the song because we

were all laughing so hard because it was so tragic. I might have started the laughing... But I laugh when Im sad.

haha

 

Sister Mann and I were walking to this Hill and we saw the most beautiful spot in the World. So we decided to sit there and I looked down at my skirt and there

where thousands of ants on me. I started freaking out and screaming. everyone was looking at me. hahaha and then someone informed me that the ants dont bight here... well oops. haha

 

Sister Mann and I laugh all the time. I seriously love her so much. I wish she went to BYU.

Shes my best friend!

 

Something I have realized here at the MTC is that I am really short. I cant see the top dryer. And those were the only ones open.

So I did my laundry and went back to the room and I accidently took all of someones underwear. How tragic is that? Everyone was laughing about it

but I just felt so so so bad! I mean some sister was probably spazzing out because she doesnt have any underwear! haha Im still sad about it...

I brought it to the lost and found...

 

I love my district. They are seriously the brothers I never had. I love all the sisters too. Sister Romney and Sandberg are awesome. I have to

be with them quite a but because sister mann is the coordinating sister. So I really have come to know these Sisters.

Salvador Brazil doesnt know what they are getting.

 

Well that is all that has happened in the last couple days. I should get my reassigment next wednesday if my visa doesnt come! SOOO Ill get to call home!!!! WOOOOO!!!
So be home at a good time mom on that day :)

 

I know that the Gospel is true. The Church of Jesus Christ is the same church that was set up by our Savior.

I love  being Gods missionary. I love Him more then anything in this world.

 

"I know can say with all certainty

That I know and love the Lord.

I can testify with them of old

As I preach His holy word.

 

I know what he felt in Gethsemane

Is too much to comprehend.

I know He did it all for us;

We have no greater Friend.

 

I know that He will come anew

With power and in glory.

I know I will see Him once again

At the end of my life's story.

 

I'll kneel before His wounded feet;

I'll feel His Spirit glow.

My whispering, quivering voice will say,

"My Lord, my God I know."

Pres Packer

 

:)

 

Love you all.

Write me!

 

From Sydney: Week 4

Oi! Familia! Bon Dia! Como Vi? Tudo ben! Bon Noche!

 

Did you like my intro? Basically all I can say in Portuguese, I am not complaining though. That is way more than I could say before I got into the MTC. YAY! Positive thinking. I have been working on positive thinking this week. This week has been verrrryyy interesting. First off, I need to tell you something que legal. I had a dream that Sister Corbitt and Sister Alderdge got their visas. It was a super vivid dream, and in my dream, Sister Parks and I were companions. We taught this horrible lesson, and than I woke up. I told the Sisters all about my dream. We laughed and said nahhhhhhhh, and then GUESS WHAT. That Wednesday, Sister Corbitt and Sister Alderdge got their VISAS!!! I am basically like Lehi. Just call me a profeta or something! Que chique! Cim? Agora Sister Parks is my companion. Sister Corbitt is now in Brazil! I am so excited/happy for her! I know her main concern was aprendering the language and now she will get an awesome Brazillian companheira, and will totally learn the lingua super quickly. This week has been quite the transition. I was honestly so exicted to become Sister Parks novo companheira. I was like: We both gonna struggle with the lingua, e she likes to plan you know I like to plan, e she is super legal. Ela is super bom. But, I guess Sister Alderdge is like super mais legal than mim. Sister Parks likes me, but I am not Sister Alderdge. I am nao bom with the lingua, e not as legal. Lessons with Sister Parks were like Sister Corbitts and I's primeiro lessons. Sister Parks is super bon at the lingua. I just sit there, waiting for a pause. She always feels bad when she walks out, but like dang, companheira doesn't even breathe when she talks. Our first night as companheiras was rough. She stood up all night sobbing her eyes out, and I stood up all noche begging Pai Celestial to be a bom companheira por Sister Parks. I senti super triste and inadequate. My Branch President probably thinks I am just a sob story right now. I don't miss minha companheira like Sister Parks, don't get me wrong, I totally amored Sister Corbitt, we started to really get the hang of things, but I am just way to feliz for her.

 

Since Sister Parks was que triste that noche, I only got two hours of dormir. Que triste:( I woke up once again begging the Lord to be a bom companheira. I woke feeling so pequeno e so inadequate. My excitement was crushed, and I was feeling triste and sozinha. I can't remember why, but later that dais, when it was going so well, I felt impressed to read Doctrine and Covenants 50:44. The scripture was kinda a slap in the face. It says: Wherefore, I am in your midst and I am the good Shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon the rock shall never fall.

I was just like, Dang Sydney! What wrong with you? The Lord is with you! He is the greatest Shepherd EVER! If I try hard and am worthy, he'll help me feed his sheep.

 

I still get a little triste, Sister Parks still talks all the time, but I can be patient. She feels inadequate too, especially after the lesson about authority and she couldn't explain it to our investigators, and got in a small argument with them. She is a little frustrated with herself, so all I can be is encouraging. Next tempa, cause we didn't really get anywhere with the lesson, I am just going to be assertive and falar portuguese muito!

 

I really do love Sister Parks though. She is so bom, and I know that she will help me improve a whole bunch.

 

SO basically that was my week. Last week eu was sick and puked on my investigator. It was a good departing gift for Sister Corbitt:)

 

Also, my Branch President makes us read 14 pages of the Livro de Mormon every single dias. It's super impressionete, and totally ajudar muito. So I think y'all should do it to. It is possible. And it blesses your life like crazy. I feel so close to the Salvador. It's honestly so awesome. Also, could someone send me some pictures of the family and my friends. AND I found this awesome Livro de Mormon with all these quotes, so could someone email a lot of quotes that I could print out and continue the tradition? And I was wondering if someone could find me Rebekah and Theo's home address so I could send them their anniversary present. It happened in April, but someone never sent me their address (McKenzie). And Bradyn, write me a little letter or something! Get with it man!

 

I just want y'all to know that I love you and that I know this church is true. I love the gospel, and I love the Spirit. I love the Livro de Mormon and the Biblia. I JUST LOVE THE SCRIPTURES!!!! I love the trials in my life that make me stronger. It is super cool how blessed I have been with how hard the MTC is. I am getting reassigned next Wednesday! YAY! 10 more days of the MTC and then I am going to do what the Lord wants me to do!

 

OH! And Mommy, could you send me the Lyrics to Hold On from Secret Garden the Musical or even if you can the sheet music for it? Understandable if you can't.

 

T-Amo!!!

 

Sister Powell

 

(P.S Expect some photos next tempo:))