Week 7 from Sao Paulo

Zack will be at the CTM in Sao Paulo for two more weeks. He is antsy to get out into the field to start proselyting full-time. Here is an excerpt from this week's email:

"This week was probably the most spiritual week we have had thus far. Our classes have switched from being all about language . . . to now being all about the gospel. The focus of much of the study has been on faith. You could never imagine the depth of this topic. Ask yourself if you really know what faith is or how to have it . . . if you are like me you will realize that you have absolutely no idea what it is! We actually taught the first lesson in English for the first time since week 2 so that we could undertand the importance of teaching with power, faith and the Spirit. I would just like to tell any of the guys preparing to go on missions that the biggest blessing you can receive in your mission call is being able to preach in your own language.

This Friday is our last opportunity to go proselyting, and we are going to this big park which I have been told is the best place to go. I am very excited to go and preach once more. It is definitely the best thing about the MTC. As far as the language is going . . . well it's going, haha. When I read it I can understand almost every word that is written. Understanding is tough because of accents and my stupid mind translating so slow. Speaking is the middle ground. I speak wrong because of the many different ways to conjugate and talking to fast for my mind to do it correctly, but I can get my point across. I feel confident with the lessons. Elder McGruder and I do not use any notes when we practice teaching, English or Português, which is awesome-- especially for Português. I am hopeful for the field and confident that I will one day be able to teach in Português with the same Spirit as I can in English."

I am very excited for him to get into the field full-time down in Santa Maria. There he will get to know the people--members and non-members alike. I know he has been well guided and cared for in the CTM, so it is a bit scary for me to have him go out into the field where he is more on his own. I know and have faith that his Mission President and the Lord will love him and keep a careful watch over him.

Until next week . . .