MTC Days Continued

Hi,

Things are going pretty well here.  The MTC is finally starting to go faster. We had snow here this week.  I was so happy.  I love the snow and i'm going to miss it alot.  We had a snowball fight which was a lot of fun.  We're not sure if thats allowed but no one has said anything yet.  The weather is absolutly beautiful today though.  High 60's.  We went to the temple today and did sealings.  That was an amazing experience to see what goes on.  Makes so much more sense and makes me want to stay worthy for those amazing blessings.  What a gift!  Its always great to feel the spirit of the temple too.  Its probably the only reason i make it through the week is because we go to the temple every P-day.  Just the best ever!

The visa situation is making us all super annoyed and angry.  Its like they don't even care about us.  The travel office here is a bunch of ignorant people.  They say they don't know anything about our visa's.  Isn't their job to find out for us whats going on.  We can't do it.  I'm not sure about that electronic visa thing.  There have been people that haven't done it and gotten their visa...and vice versa.  If you ever get time maybe you could contact the LDS travel office and see what the real problem really is.  Because we've heard so many rumors and we're getting a little tired of feeling like no one cares about us here.  There hasn't been a single visa for Brazil issued since i've been here.  I guess i'll stop ranting...but it'd be really nice to be in Brazil so we could really start learning the language.

Last week we prepared our talks in Portuguese, so for the rest of the time they're be in Portuguese.  I don't think i'm picking it up super fast.  But i'm also always hard on myself and expect a lot so i really don't know how bad i'm doing. There are 13 missionaries in our district...and around 300 people going to Brazil here all waiting for visas.  

We had Elder Scott come and talk to us on Tuesday.  It was the most powerful talk i've heard in a long time.  It was a truely awesome experience to be at it.  He bestowed many apostalic blessings on us...very humbling experience the ones i remember off the top of my head were the gift of tongues and the blessing of greater success when we get back from our missions...or something to that effect.  It was quite amazing! 

Elder Parsons

Another day in the MTC

Hey,

It was good to get a letter from you.  Reading letters are probably my favorite thing to do during the week.  Reminds me that i have family and friends still.  Thanks for the encouraging words on the language.  I know that i need to be more patient.  Its not one of the christlike attributes i was well gifted with.  But i'm getting better thats for sure.  I am trying to fill my batteries here.  Its funny that you use that analogy Russel M Nielson gave a talk on tuesday here and used the same analogy.  It was a really good talk and it was awesome to see a general authority so close.

 

That is terrible news about The CEO.  His family will be in my prayers.  It really does make you think about how fast life can be taken away.  I am so thankful for the knowledge that i have that familys can be toghether forever so that those situations can be handled as best as possible. Its a comfort.  

 

Thanks sending the package.  I didn't know my debit card wouldn't work in Brasil.  I thought it was just a fee to use it there?  I guess i'll just have no extra money if it doesn't work.  

 

I miss the hockey season.  It was good to see that most of my teams are doing well except buffalo needs to pick it up.  I was right in thinking that toronto and tampa were going to do well this year.  We will see if they can keep it up and make it to the playoffs.  Have they starting laying ice there yet? It has been really nice weather here.  Cold in the mornings but nice and warm like 70's in the afternoon.  They opened the field so we've been playing beach volleyball.  I love it so good to get outside.  It is a little harding being in a classroom for that long everyday.  But its worth it.   I'm learning a lot and my testimony is growing.  We were able to go to the temple today that was great.  Last week in class we watched a talk Holland gave when he visited the MTC a few years ago.  It was super powerful and a great pump up.  He talked about how rewarding and important a mission is.  He said if you leave it will ruin your life.  I'd look it up if you ever have time.  It was really good and showed a side i've never seen of him. 

 

Hope all is well.  Its always good to hear from you.

Love,

Elder Parsons

A New Experience--First days in the MTC

Hey,

 

I am doing well.  The MTC is completely different than i thought it would be.  They are a lot more laid back.  They want you to be the proactive one.  You have to be motivated to learn on your own.  Which is fine.  My comp is super cool.  He is from California.  We get along really well.  Sometimes its a problem because we get sidetracked way to easily and don't focus on learning the language or gospel.  But we are having fun.  We've pretty much broken every rule by accident...welll nothing serious just stupid little rules.  But we are starting to learn the system.  Its been rough getting to class on time because we are so bad with keeping track here.   

We've had gym everyday.  That must be a new thing because Andrew said that they didn't get gym until the 2nd or 3rd week. But the gym is gettho here.  Way too small for how many people there are.  I can't complain too much though because its exercise.  The food is ok.  It hasn't been setting well with anyone really though.  But i'm not going hungry thats for sure.  I'm eating way too much food.  

They do expect a lot of us quickly here.  We are suppose to be doing discussion in portuguese next week.  We go to lab and the people may be members or investigators we don't know.  Talk about nerve racking. I can barely say hi in portuguese let only keep a conversation.  We also have to write a talk in church every week and then 2 elders are picked to give theirs.  By week 4 they have to be in portuguese.  I hope that i get it before then.  

My district is really cool. The people are really cool and it is amazing how much we have in common.  It just goes to show that this isn't random.  Pretty much all of us have a background in German.  Maybe we are suppose to teach some x nazis or refugees.  Our floor has a lot of missionaries going to french speaking places and it makes so much sense.  I can't really stand any of them.  They all seem super aragant...very french like.  I'm so thankful i'm going to Brazil because we are so much more chill.  Another thing that is very surprising is how many older missionaries there are.  I don't feel very old here...more like in the middle of the pack.  But you can tell instantly the missionaries just out of high school...they are super immature.  I have to stay away from they cause they annoy me.  I've also solidified that i'm not going to BYU when i get back...i can't do it anymore.  I'll go back to the U of I before i go to BYU.  I see what there like and its just not me.  I also have found out that i don't want to go to BYU Hawaii.  My roomate went there and is going back after he gets off of his mission.  It just doesn't seem like a school for me, especially if you're white. Even though my comps white.    

Portuguese is so hard.  Spanish is so much easier.  Especially to pronouce word...its a lot more dificult in portuguese.  But i think portuguese sounds cooler/better than spanish does.  It will be awesome when i can actually speak it...but thats a long ways down the road.  

It feels like i've been in the MTC for a decade.  Its going to be a rough 9 weeks if its like this.  They just pile so much onto  you that you don't know what to study or prepare for.  I'm just glad that pretty much everyone feels this way so i normal i assume.  I'm hoping that our district gets our visas at the same time so we can all go to brazil together. I'd rather go to Brazil with support than try and tough it out to the MTC without companions.  But whatever happens will be for a reason.

    I thought school was rought at times.  I'd take school work day over this any time.  There is literally no time to do anything really besides church stuff.  From 7:40 till 9 we are in classes/person/comp study.  There are breakfast lunch dinner breaks too but they are only 45 minutes and go really fast.

I hope that you are all doing well.  I love you all.

Garrett

Leaving the nest

Elder Parsons left for the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center) on October 6, 2010. He has been called to serve in the Brazil Salvador South Mission, speaking Portuguese. He will leave for Brazil once he receives his visa. He will be a wonderful missionary and we are very proud of his decision he has made and the life he has led to be worthy to take on this opportunity. This blog will be emails/ letters that he would like to be shared.

Elder Parsons with little sister Brianne

Ready to leave!

Pictures with Dad and Sister before leaving

Proud Mom

Both Happy Parents!