Hello Family,
Thank you so much for the letters you sent me! Letters are great to get. I can only write on preparation day so niether letters nor email are faster, but if you have questions its better to email because I usually can't remember them by time I get to a computer. Thanks so much for the blonde brownies. They are so good. The food here is good and there is a lot of it, but its hard on the stomach. I've pretty much accepted the fact that I'm gunna have a stomach ache for my time at the MTC. That's alright tho. The blessings outway the trials by far. I have two teachers. Irmao (Brother) Sorenson and Irmao Torgan. Irmao Sorenson served his mission in Portugal so he doesn't know Brazillian very well, but he is really funny and very helpful. He talks in English sometimes to help us out. Irmao Torgan is much more shy and reserved, but he is a native Brazilian so his Portuguese is very good and he knows what the common ways of speaking are. They are both great teachers. Portuguese is like slurred Spanish that sounds like French. It sounds really cool tho. Its not really immmersion. Church and other meetings and stuff are all in English. Normally church would be in Portuguese, but we have a mixed ward with English, Portuguese and Tai. The meetings are so good. So much spiritualness all the time. It's pretty exhausting. I'm starting to sleep a lot better now. I don't wake up during the night anymore. So much Portugese running through my head, it was a little hard to sleep, but I sleep very well now and I wake up refreshed. I know that this is the true church. Its true that a testimony is gained in the bearing of it. I bear my testimony about a million times a day here. I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. That is the most important thing that you guys can do is study the Book of Mormon to gain a testimony every day. I love you all so much. The blessing that the stake pres. gave me has been a blessing. I think about home sometimes, but I'm so busy that I never feel homesick. I only have 2 minuets before the computer logs me out so. I love you all! thanks so much for your prayers. They are felt here.
Elder Marc Skiles
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
eMail Dated September 20, 2011
Dear family,
The MTC has been great! Its like trying to drink out of a fire hose, but Heavenly Father gives you a big mouth. I never thought I could learn so much in such a short time. My email and laundry and temple and prep day is Tuesday. I get mail faster than email. Its great that you all do Drama and Scouts and Piano, and Trumpet and Violin. Those things will prepare you for the mission field and for life. I've changed so much already its crazy. I'm glad things are going well with all of you. Sorry about the triops. Its fun while it lasts right? Our schedule is really all over the place. We usually have two 3 hour blocks of language class. Some of those are devoted to our fake investigator. Last time we taught him, the lesson wasn't going so well because we were struggling with the language and trying to make sentences fit and we weren't teaching with the Spirit. At the end, I decided to bear my testimony. I felt the Spirit so strong. I have no idea how I made those words string together to make sentences. The words just came to me. There is no way I could have brought out the things I said on my own. We are truly learning two languages here. Portuguese and the language of the Spirit. Spanish is helping me and hurting me. It helps me understand the concepts of Portuguese, but I keep using Spanish pronunciation. Portuguese pronunciation is very difficult. The other day we talked to some Elders who are learning Hmong. At least I don't have to learn that. It has 8 tones. Extremely difficult to pronounce. Guess who my companion is! Elder Josh Underwood! He really is a great companion. He has changed so much. He is very kind. He's always opening doors for me and taking out my tray or changing my laundry while I'm sitting at the computer writing this email. He's a great companion. We both have a lot to learn, but we will make it there. That's really funny that the crossing guard thought you guys (Brent and Carlene) were my parents. I feel so happy here. Everything for my success is provided. I just need to learn to trust in the Lord and work my hardest. He will do the rest. I love you all! Thanks for your prayers and your love. They are very much felt here.
Elder Marc Skiles
P.S. My electronic Visa application came through which means my visa is SUPPOSE to come in two weeks, but some people had that months ago and still don't have visas so no guarantees.
[Note: Let us all keep praying that Elder Skiles and his fellow missionaries receive their visas in a timely basis. Bryan]
The MTC has been great! Its like trying to drink out of a fire hose, but Heavenly Father gives you a big mouth. I never thought I could learn so much in such a short time. My email and laundry and temple and prep day is Tuesday. I get mail faster than email. Its great that you all do Drama and Scouts and Piano, and Trumpet and Violin. Those things will prepare you for the mission field and for life. I've changed so much already its crazy. I'm glad things are going well with all of you. Sorry about the triops. Its fun while it lasts right? Our schedule is really all over the place. We usually have two 3 hour blocks of language class. Some of those are devoted to our fake investigator. Last time we taught him, the lesson wasn't going so well because we were struggling with the language and trying to make sentences fit and we weren't teaching with the Spirit. At the end, I decided to bear my testimony. I felt the Spirit so strong. I have no idea how I made those words string together to make sentences. The words just came to me. There is no way I could have brought out the things I said on my own. We are truly learning two languages here. Portuguese and the language of the Spirit. Spanish is helping me and hurting me. It helps me understand the concepts of Portuguese, but I keep using Spanish pronunciation. Portuguese pronunciation is very difficult. The other day we talked to some Elders who are learning Hmong. At least I don't have to learn that. It has 8 tones. Extremely difficult to pronounce. Guess who my companion is! Elder Josh Underwood! He really is a great companion. He has changed so much. He is very kind. He's always opening doors for me and taking out my tray or changing my laundry while I'm sitting at the computer writing this email. He's a great companion. We both have a lot to learn, but we will make it there. That's really funny that the crossing guard thought you guys (Brent and Carlene) were my parents. I feel so happy here. Everything for my success is provided. I just need to learn to trust in the Lord and work my hardest. He will do the rest. I love you all! Thanks for your prayers and your love. They are very much felt here.
Elder Marc Skiles
P.S. My electronic Visa application came through which means my visa is SUPPOSE to come in two weeks, but some people had that months ago and still don't have visas so no guarantees.
[Note: Let us all keep praying that Elder Skiles and his fellow missionaries receive their visas in a timely basis. Bryan]
Sunday, September 11, 2011
On Wednesday, September 14, 2011, Elder Skiles will be reporting at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He is scheduled to arrive in Cuiaba, Brazil to begin his proselyting duties after two months of training in Provo. He plans to return home in September 2013. After which, he plans to return to Brigham Young University in January 2014 to continue his studies.
Elder Skiles does not have his Brazilian visa yet. For those that wish to, please join us in praying that he will have the visa in time to go to Brazil in November. Thank you.
For those who wish to send a letter or a package to Elder Skiles, here is his MTC mailing address:
Elder Marc Austin Skiles
MTC Mailbox # 355
BRA-CUI 1115
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
Elder Skiles does not have his Brazilian visa yet. For those that wish to, please join us in praying that he will have the visa in time to go to Brazil in November. Thank you.
For those who wish to send a letter or a package to Elder Skiles, here is his MTC mailing address:
Elder Marc Austin Skiles
MTC Mailbox # 355
BRA-CUI 1115
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
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