Things I have learned while being at the MTC

so... not too interesting of a week... i was writing devon back and he asked to hear about how the mtc is and everything that im doing... well, i couldnt really come up with anything exciting to say about it... haha... its the same every day... wake up, early morning sisters only aerobics class, eat and study, study, class, study, eat and study, gym and study at gym while i run, class, study, sleep, then repeat. haha but its fun and it definately keeps me busy!
so, to those that have written me letters... im sorry if i am a few weeks behind in getting back to you... i am trying... it is just super busy and i dont have a ton of time to write back... i get like 5 letters a week (ill send a picture of me and my mess of letters next week) and then i have like 2 hours to write back to all of them and wash clothes and email... haha. its all good though.

so.... here are some things that i have learned while being here at the mtc... learn from my example all of those that will be serving missions... :) (ashley bunting and of course my lil bro...)

> > 1. dont try and study while walking down 5 flights of stairs... you WILL fall.

> > 2. when using the foamy purel hand stuff that they have positioned all over the place here, dont high five someone with a handful of it... it WILL get in your eyes and it DOES hurt.

> > 3. dont stretch by the volleyball courts after running... you WILL get smashed by Preston (elder simper...)

> > 4. dont get a roast beef sandwich... it WILL soak the bun in its nasty blood... and then you WILL go hungry because you dont want to die from poisoning.

> > 5. dont assume that because most elders hold the door open for the sisters that the newbies will... cause they WONT and you WILL end up with a hurt nose from running into the door. (yes its like efy, the boys take your trays and open the doors for you. and stand when you enter a room or sit at the same table)

> > there ya go... learn from me :)

> > so, anyways... we are on the 5th week where we only get to speak portugues in class. you end up with a headache by lunch that doesnt go away until youre asleep that night only to get it again the next day haha. but its all good.

> > my comp and i have also started english fasts two days a week... they are so hard!!! but, its so good! and i can tell that it helps my portugues which desperately needs help!!

> > so... i have some scripture questions....

> > matt. 22:23-30 uh... kinda confusing...

> > also, where do the catholics get their sprinkling with water... we are supposed to follow christs example according to the bible... and it teaches that he was baptized by immersion... confused...

> > when were the temple ordinances on the earth before the restoration... like sealings? we were wondering... found some scriptures that touched on it... but not too much...


> > alright, 5 min left... and i have to tell you the coolest thing from this week... so, you know how there are tons of scriptures about hungering for the word of God? well, ive never really had that experience... and this week... it happened! i started reading the book of mormon with others in mind... and i am recording all scriptures and thoughts that i think could help a future investigator (weird at first, but amazing!!!) and i seriously couldnt stop thinking in class or at dinner how i just wanted to get to my personal study time so i could read the scriptures!!! its amazing!!! i love it! alma 32:42-43... this is how i feel! I have been harvesting the seed (kinda my testimony-ish deal) by doing the things ive been taught like reading my scriptures, praying, attending church... and ive finally found the fruits from that in a great way! i have such a hunger for the scriptures its crazy! I cant get enough... and im at the mtc!!! :)

well, i have to go... but i love this gospel and i am so excited for this opportunity i have to share it with the people of portugal! i know that i made the right decision to serve, no matter what i miss out on, or how hard it is... it will be worth it. thank you for your support and prayers and love!

love,

irma graf

The Lord Will Provide The Way

so... about this week... i dont have much time... but here it is...

we taught our first lesson in portugues at the trc this week... the whole 45 min in portugues!!! uh crazy! i am horrible... luckily my comp is amazing at it... so she did most of the talking! love her. it was way cool though because i was able to feel the spirit in the lesson in a diff. lang!! awesome!

this week for one of my personal studies i read about enos... uh, he is awesome! not because he prayed forever, but because you can learn how to pray and he is such a great example of sincere prayers! i have definately learned to rely on sincere prayers this week!!! i have had a way hard week with the language and how hard it is. i get really discouraged because of the language, but then when im starting to hit bottom, the Lord definately steps in and picks me right back up to an even higher start than before (if that makes any sense).

also, at a meeting someone prayed in spanish and i understood all of it!!! its awesome how similar they are! I cant wait to be able to understand tyler, devon, jarred and gary when i get back... too bad it will be hard for them to understand me... supposedly portugues is harder for them to understand... especially portugal port., but the argentina elders told me that buenos aires would be able to understand me more because they supposedly sh their s's more like I do.

My testimony is growing so much here and i love it! I am continuing to LOVE the scriptures... i now understand why Gary would get so giddy when we would go to institute or we would find something new in the scriptures... they are so amazing and such a help to our lives if we use them. the difficulty of the language has turned me to the Lord more than I have ever turned before and I am so grateful for that experience however hard it is during. i know that it will turn out okay, its just hard while youre in the middle... i know that the lord will provide a way just as it says in nephi 3:7 and also john 14:26-27 "... bring all things to remembrance and not let your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." I know that if i do all that i can now to prepare, when i need His help He will be there guiding and directing me.

also, thanks for the answers on the questions last week! those were really helpful!!!

um... im sure that I am missing something... but I am running out of time... :/ sad day... thanks so much for the prayers and letters (im trying to get caught up on responding :) )

"Elle Woods" at the MTC....