You would not believe how excited I am to be emailing you guys rn!!! The MTC has been great! The Spirit is so strong here. I cant begin to tell you guys how much I've learned and felt. I'll try to start from the beginning. So, get here at the mtc, with my companion, instant buds!!! My companion's name is Elder Mortensen, and we room with Elder white and elder T. We've been learning the language like crazy! I cant keep a normal conversation or anything remotely close to that, but I can teach people in very broken portuguese parts of the missionary discussions. In fact, the second day here, we taught a guy named Mateus a lesson in Portuguese!! What?!?! I was basically reading off a script, but it was so cool! I felt the spirit strongest when I bore my testimony; I learned that the spirit is what truly converts when teaching the gospel! you guys probably think I already sound like a missionary!! I actually can only say things in missionary portuguese language!! haha!! But I can truly feel myself being changed for the better and becoming truly converted to the Lord. It's been really nice actually having a schedule too! I'm going to be honest, the first night was long and hard. But, I've really started enjoying the mtc and everything about being a missionary! It gets better each day!! Oh, and by the way, those snacks and letters were the best surprise ever!!!!!! I'm already halfway through all the bars!! All of your notes touched me sooo much, I may have gotten a little teary eyed. Ellie, I laughed so hard when I pulled out the math worksheet and little cracker, that was awesome!!!! I also loved reading your guys' emails!! Chloe, congrats on Mr. Snotty, hehe, snotty; all I have to say is boa sorte which is good luck in portuguese! Carter, I cant begin to tell you how much I miss our bro nights, before I read about the part where you talked about driving the jeep in the puddle, I was just thinking of that and how much fun that was, great minds think alike!!!! Mom, el Centro is awesome, I would never make toooo much fun of you for that!!!! And yes, the food, especially the costco bars and hi chews were a pleasant surprise. Dad, I am happy to say I did not forget our 50 pushup challenge and I've been doing it everyday, except for the first day. Emails are perfect too, you dont have to have the mtc print it out and sent it to me. Just so you guys know, I can read emails any time I want, I just cant write back to you any day, only on pday, which is monday, today. Anyway, I've really enjoyed study time and trying to learn portuguese. I even had a neat experience where our "investigator" (he's not a real investigator) asked us a question, and I felt prompted to say a specific answer. I even looked down at the exact right spot in my notes to confirm what I was going to say would actually make sense. When I answered his question he was like "ohhh, ohhh, ok, ok," and it made me feel so good!!! The gift of tongues is real!!!! I'm also referencing my journal so I dont miss any details, I'll have it there for when I get back. The food is pretty good, for cafeteria food. I've been eating lots of meats, fruits, and salads, which actually isnt bad at all. They also have BYU creamery stuff here which is fantastic!!!! We also just started our gym time on friday which was fun. The first day we played tons of basketball and the next day, I ran for 4 miles, you know, its whatever, showin off the big guns, haha!!! I've seen Elder Birchall, Elder Gokeritz, and Elder Heath so far. A couple days ago, Elder T found out he had some things he had to resolve at home, so he had to go home early which made it so Elder White joined our group and we became a trio. We were all super sad when Elder T left. I was extra sad because I felt right then was when we were becoming the closest. We also became in charge of the sacrament, which I actually enjoy having some sort of extra position or calling. Sunday was amazing. Me and my companions decided to fast for breakfast and lunch for Elder T. We had a great sacrament meeting, the first hour was in portuguese for the most part and the next two were on english. We also have to all prepare a 3-4 min talk, which isnt that bad, in portuguese because one of us will be called on randomly each sunday to give a talk on the assigned topic!!! After church, we went to lunch, although we didnt eat anything, and then we went to a talk. After that we went to choir practice. We wont get to sing in general conference or anything, but it was so awesome. I really like singing together with the other missionaries. Especially in class or sacrament when we sing in portuguese. After that we went to dinner, I was super hungry as you can imagine, and then we went to a devotional. A musician name Brother Kenneth Cope came and gave a talk through singing songs. I was really cool, he basically sang about how much our heavenly father and Christ love us. I really felt the spirit. Then we watched a talk be Elder Bednar when he spoke once at the mtc. I dont think I've ever been so inspired in my entire life. I felt the spirit so strong and I felt I gained so much guidance. It really made me think about my purpose coming here at the mtc as a missionary. The base of his message was that we must obtain a testimony AND be converted to the Lord through the strength of the lord and learning of the Lord. I just remember feeling the spirit so strong and writing really big on the side of my notes "I know this is true." It was just a super neat moment. The spirit is so strong here at the mtc. I miss you guys so much!! I've definitly been getting lost in the work, but I still cant help thinking of you guys!!! I just want you guys to know I am super happy here at the MTC and that I am healthy and well fed, emphasis on the well fed. I love you guys so much!!!
Love,
Elder Barton (ya, kinda weird ending with Elder Barton)
The mtc also doesnt let us use google drive so I have to send photos through email
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Me and Elder Mortensen (my companion) after a little study time in the new mtc buildings, you cant really see it but the provo temple is right behind us. I also forgot to mention we just went to the temple this morning to do some endowments, super cool!!!
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First day at the mtc!!!!! (mirror selfie)
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Make sure Beau sees this!!!! thought I'd keep the tradition going!!!! I'm on an ironing board!!! It was pretty strong, dont worry!!! looks like im running on the wall, at least thats what I was going for!!!
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starting from left: Elder Mortensen, Me(super handsome right), Elder White, and Elder Tyler
We were in the new buildings studying, we like to study there, they have some really cool pictures and paintings in the new buildings!!!!
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Me and Elder Birchall, dont know why my face looks so red
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