Half Way Done with the MTC

 Hi all!


I just finished my third week at the MTC which marks halfway. I think I've said this in every email so far, but I can't believe it's already been another week, and that I only have three more weeks before my MTC experience is over and I enter the mission field. 

This week was a little exhausting. I made the goal to learn 50 new words in Portuguese every day, and that along with the usual work and expectations of the MTC made sure I was using every extra minute to work on something. In preparation for this coming week when I switch to instructors who will only speak in Portuguese, my teachers used more Portuguese and less English. The added attention required to try to understand Portuguese also made class more exhausting. But I think I'm making really good progress with the language, and I am loving everything I'm learning so I don't mind being a little extra tired. Plus, I made it to my P-day which hopefully is a nice break before I jump right back in next week. 

This week we have done a lot of role-playing and teaching practice. It has been really interesting to try and simplify the things I want to say enough that I can communicate them in my very broken Portuguese. It has also taught me a lot about how to be an effective teacher, and how to invite the Spirit while I teach. 

This week I have also had a lot of fun with my scripture study. I bought a scripture tabbing system called Holy Tabbs that lets me mark and tab scriptures based on the topic. What's awesome about Holy Tabbs is it's based on the lessons in Preach My Gospel, so I am able to mark and tab the scriptures that correspond to the lessons and topics I am discussing in my MTC classes. I have learned a lot of really cool things as I've studied those scriptures. 

This week we studied the power and importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It has been powerful to reflect on our Savior Jesus Christ, and how central it was in God's Plan of Happiness so send the Only Begotten Son to make the greatest sacrifice of all. I am so grateful for the peace that it brings to know that when I mess up I am able to repent and be made pure through the Sacrifice of Christ.

I am really loving being in the MTC. This week has been another great week, and I'm excited to keep working hard to learn the language and to learn how to be a better missionary.

With love,
Elder Hill

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