Onto the Third Classroom

Well this week has been great! It's been another week of change, as we are now in our third classroom here at the MTC. This was a great change because the room we were in before was a bit like a bunker, no windows, loud from the class next-door (which was only separated from us by a curtain) and poor lighting. Now we're in a room much like our first with a window and an overactive air conditioner that the elders just LOVE. I, however, wear my coat much of the time. It's been wonderful to have set teachers again. We're all praying that they don't combine our districts after this week. I am truly blessed to be able to have Jen as my teacher. I thought it would be a little weird--and it is sometimes--but it's so fun to be able to see her so much and laugh about things from the past. There have been a few times where we've started laughing about something and the rest of the district just sits and stares at us with quizzical looks on their faces. We have Irmao Cuaira and he's hilarious. He has a very different teaching style than the other teachers, which works well for some of the elders in the district, so it's been good to mix up the teaching styles so everyone can learn well.

The two elders who got here two weeks ago and already speak Portuguese are heading out this week to their missions. It's a little bit hard to see them go, but I know that I need to be here. I'm seeing little by little how the Lord has placed me here for a reason. I don't expect to know all the reasons while I'm here, but I've been blessed to see some of them so far.

This past Monday we taught in Portuguese for the first time. It was SO much fun! I LOVE teaching in Portuguese! I was amazed at how much I was able to communicate and how I felt that I was being led by the Spirit to tell our investigator what he needed to hear. I look forward to teaching more in Portuguese...actually, only in Portuguese.

A few weeks ago we got a new sister in the branch, Irma Evans. She's from Mesa and is so cute. The three of us get along really well and have a great time together. She's very easy to get along with and is so nice. We've been rooming with three other hermanas here and that has been a great experience too. Right now Hermana Anderson is our only other roommate and we all get along a little bit too well. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing people. Next-door to us are our other Hermanas, who came in to the MTC the same time as us and are on our same schedule, so we've become really good friends, as well as the elders in their district. I have been very blessed to know them.

So let me again just say how much I love my district! They are so incredible to me and they help me to see why the Lord trusts we who are so young with this work. Whenever there's a little problem that comes up they want to resolve it right away, so we always talk about it, which has been very beneficial for us. They also really like the smell of girly lotion and found some Sparkly Peach lotion a few weeks ago that they use...yes, they use it. Sister Skinn brought in Exotic Coconut lotion yesterday that was a big hit with the elders. They keep me on my toes all the time. I really feel like I've gained 8 younger brothers.

I am doing really well. I love being a missionary! I had my interview with Irmao Cuaira this week and he asked me what my favorite thing about being a missionary was. I told him that it was being able to study the gospel and study the scriptures. It has been so wonderful to be able to have the time to devote to this study. It's so wonderful to have this be my whole focus. I love it!

This week at Relief Society the speaker talked about the Children's hymn "Nephi's Courage," and how it helped her to know that she can do whatever the Lord asks of us because He will provide a way. I know that this is true. I know that whatever the Lord needs of me, or of you, I'll be able to do because He has already provided the way for me to be able to accomplish it. I would encourage you all to study 1Nephi 3:7 and see why this scripture is important to you. I know that if you do this you will find comfort in the knowledge that if we rely on the Lord, He will provide for us.

I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Irma Laura Thomas