Ten Days

Okay, Primeiro, to explain, we got new schedules on Sunday because the teachers who basically all attend BYU just finished their semester and they had to rearrange class times. So normally, every branch has it's own schedule and every district in that branch has the same schedule every day. My branch has always had the same schedule but some districts are in a different teaching zone.  So, with the schedule change our branch is split up Monday through Saturday. AND because my district is split into two different classrooms, my half of the district and the other half are on completely different schedules. Different p-day and everything! It’s seriously so sad and we kind of hate it but it was "Sophie's choice". We could either stay with our branch or stay with our teachers. Oh, and speaking of staying with our teachers, apparently the teaching supervisors decided we just didn't need one of our teachers anymore and gave him a new district and now we have a new teacher. We really like him though, his name is Irmao Cannon and he's really funny and nice and INSANELY smart. Like crazy town smart.

Because of the schedule change, this has been the weirdest week ever. On Monday we had this weird like limbo day of everyone trying to figure out which schedule we were on because our teachers had been given the different one, and then on Tuesday, because we didn't have enough laundry to make it to our new p-day, we got like a half p-day to take care of stuff. Then on Wednesday we got to host! Which is basically just escorting the new missionaries around when they arrive, helping them find their residence and get their ID info, and then take them to their class to meet their companion. We had such a good time hosting and we get to do it again next week!

Yesterday was the only normal day we had, but it was also Elder Tucci's birthday! So we woke up at 530 and went and decorated their classroom and stuff, and then just in time for the end of the day, the wonderful Eric Kokkola had sent us some cup cakes to give him (Huge thank you. You are the best!) and we had found numeral candles so we made the extra 2 candle into a 0 and went and sang to him. He was totally surprised. It was so much fun and I'm glad we helped make his day. We have to do what we can here in the MTC ha. And so now today is p-day!!

 Last night we got our travel plans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We leave Tuesday the 8th at like 4:30 and we fly into Paris and then PORTUGAL!!!! What the heck! It's actually happening! We only have ten days left here!!! At first when we realized we only had two weeks I was getting terrified of going into the field because I don't feel ready with the language and it was all just becoming a little too real. I was just panicky a little and starting to doubt myself. But as soon as we got our travel plans in our hands I was READY.

I am so excited to be in the field. I'm going to forward a letter from one of the sisters I knew here in the MTC who has been in Portugal almost five weeks. She is such an inspiration and she describes really well what I'm about to get myself into! I'm so excited for this. I can’t believe it. I'm going to live in Portugal. Pretty soon I'll be speaking Portuguese for real! I'm going to be preaching the gospel! Whaaaaaat! This is craziness but in the best way possible.

Oh my goodness, probable the most important thing of all, on Sunday I had a miracle. I've always had a testimony that this church is true and that I need to be living it and that it was important, but I never really had that deep, completely ingrained in who you are, fundamental KNOWLEDGE that this church and believing the way I did was 100 percent correct and fact and the most important part of my existence. I'd always still had my moments of, what if this is just some kind of craziness and I'm doing all this for nothing. What if this really is just some farfetched thing I choose to believe in. Just those momentary like questioning it, because things were hard to do at times, kind of moments.

Sunday was the most amazing day though, and I had a moment where the Spirit was so strong, and suddenly something clicked, I just understood. I know now, in a way that I really can't quite explain, but I KNOW that this church is true, and that it is the reason I have every happiness in life that I have, and that EVERYONE needs to know what I know.

I am so excited and so grateful for the chance to be a part of helping other people get to the understanding I finally have after 21 years. Any way I can help, I know I need to. Everyone should go read Mosiah chapter 4. I love that chapter. It talks about salvation and understanding the need for the Atonement in our lives.

Once I get to Portugal I'll take the time to bear my testimony to you guys in Portuguese, but for now I want you all to know that this Gospel means the world to me. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true and genuine scripture and any problem we face can be helped through reading its pages. I know that God loves me and each one of you and he wants all of us to understand and love him too. You guys I love you all so much!!! I still miss you but no offense; I can wait the next 16 months to see you again, because I know how important this is.

ciao! eu amo voces!

 Irma dean