Last Week at the MTC!!!

Hello all!

How are all of you doing? I am doing great! im super excited because my last week at the good ol MTC has arrived!! FINALLY!! Im super stoked to go to Portugal next tuesday morning!!! I get to take a pit stop in New York for 4 hrs then Paris, France for 2 hrs! hopefully there are some cool buildings to see from the airport!

I am so ready but also nervous to teach real people in a foreign country. Its crazy how as missionaries we can learn a new language in weeks. The gift of Tongues is so real! its a great blessing.

Throughout my time at the MTC i have really felt the comfort of my Heavenly Fathers love. I have felt the spirit so much more than I ever have in my life!!! Yesterday we were teaching a "Progressing investigator" and we taught her about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I felt the spirit so strong as I taught her about Christ's suffering in Gethsemane, him dying on the cross, and his ressurrection. I know that through Christ we will all have the opportunity to be resurrected. And i am so grateful for this. Tragedies happen in this life. But we can find comfort knowing that through the plan of our Almighty God, we don't need to worry! We will see our families again someday through following Gods plan. 

I have been having a great time on my mission. These guys are some of my best friends and its so crazy that I just met them 6 weeks ago!! I'm sad to leave them as some of them are heading off to Mozambique, Africa this sunday. But we are all planning on meeting up at BYU after the mish! 

Hope you are all doing well and have had and will have a great week. 

Obrigado por seus oracones

-- 

Elder Brandon Michael Haroldsen

A Igreja De Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Ultimos Dias

4 WEEKS DOWN

Hello friends and family!!!

How is everything back home? Another week down for me! Counting down the days to get to Portugal!!! I cannot wait. 

These past couple weeks have been awesome. I have felt the spirit like never before. I can truly feel that this is the place the Lord wants me to be as his representative. 

The weekly devotionals are my favorite. We had the opportunity to hear from Russel M. Nelson (President of the Quorum of Apostles) last week and this week we heard from a Mormon band called Nashville tribute. They were so spiritual and they sung about Joseph Smith and the first vision and Jesus Christ and Missionary work. WOW I felt the spirit then like crazy. They sung a song called "The hardest thing I've ever loved to do." Its such an awesome song.

I'm going to keep this short to be able to hopefully send some pics.

Love and miss you all! I'm doing great. Portuguese is coming like a miracle. Mission work is awesome. God loves you.

Love,

Elder Brandon Haroldsen 

"consequences of wrestling in the residence hall....rug-burn"

3 Weeks Down!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

Oi! How is everyone doing? Good I hope. 3 weeks down! It's so crazy. I am considered a veteran here at the MTC now haha. The time has gone by in the blink of an eye. Yesterday I got the chance to leave the MTC for the first time in three weeks to take this elder to the doctors in provo. He has to go home to get surgery unfortunately. But it felt like freedom for me and my companion who went with him. We were so excited to ride in a car again! lol I took a nap during the 3 minute car ride because I'm always so tired. As a missionary you are tired 24/7. I can fall asleep just by not moving! its pretty bad haha. But ill be able to get plenty of sleep when i am dead as my dad would say. Its time to work hard no matter how tired I am.

I have realized that the best way to enjoy things is to laugh. Alot. My dad always told me... if youre not happy, you're not doing it right. I make it a goal of mine to laugh every day. And we do! we all have so much fun together. Every day during gym time we run out to the sand volleyball courts and ball it up as a zone in volleyball. its the best thing ever. Y'all better watch out for when I Get back. im going to be beast at volleyball. (That was for you heather and michaella) 

  My portuguese is getting better every day. I can understand everything anyone says and I speak it well. Every once in a while I just don't know a word but thats it. It all comes smooth.

So let me tell you about the food. IM SO SICK OF IT!!!!!!! Every tuesday, just like today, we go to the temple early and after hit up the breakfast in the basement cafeteria. bomb.com! Best food ever! and its super cheap!

3 more weeks left! 3 week stretch till we tear up the streets of Portugal! Yeahhhhhh! Im so excited. Its going to be so awesome. I feel confident in my portuguese already and im barely halfway through! Eu sou muito animado para ir.

Thank you guys for all the love and support you offer me. Im doing super well! Tudo bem! Having the best time of my life. Love you all and hope you have another great week! Eu amo voces.

com muito amor sempre,

elder haroldsen

MTC- Week 2!

Dear Friends and Family,

Whats up?! Wow. I've almost been here at the MTC for two weeks now and the time has literally flown by! Every day is a new day here and it all starts with the hardest part, waking up at 6:30 AM haha. It sucks having to wake up so early every day and get on my knees to pray while half asleep, but it is worth it because obedience brings blessings. Being a missionary isn't very easy because you study for over 12 hrs every day, but at the end of the day you are exhausted but grateful you are here as a missionary. I am so glad that I am a part of the Lord's army to accomplish his work here on earth. I know that if I work my hardest, I will be able to strengthen others. So far throughout my mission I have learned how much love our Heavenly Father has for us. He has SO many blessings in store for us as long as we follow Christ. We need to have faith in his plan and hope for his grace and mercy. I have realized that no matter how Christ was treated, he always turned out to serve and help others when the natural man would have turn in for himself. I am striving to love others as Jesus Christ loves me. Today I am a little bit sick with a sore throat and a cold, but I'll be okay. An elder in my room went to the doctor and found out he has strep throat so hopefully I don't get that lol. Every Sunday we have the opportunity to watch a movie from a couple selected videos the MTC has for us missionaries. This Sunday we watched "Meet the Mormons". This movie really hit me because there is a part where a young man is preparing to serve a mission and it shows him leaving his family. I felt homesick for the first time as I walked back to our room that night and couldn't help but think of my family and friends. I started to tear up as I thought about not being able to be home to help my family move, not being able to be there to comfort my siblings, not being able to go on hunts with my boys (Dad and Kyle), and not being able to do things with my best friends. But I remembered that this mission is only two years! I'll be home in no time to do everything. I miss everybody because I love them and that's how its supposed to be! I realized that I have been called to serve by a Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ. This work is real! It is not just a waste of time. There are families out there just like mine that need our message. I am putting all my trust in the lord and I rely on him. He is my advocate with Heavenly Father and he is ultimately my Savior and Redeemer. I know that this work I am doing will bring blessings to others and my family. I know with all my heart that this church is true. Missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ. We can receive comfort knowing that Christ lives, and because he lives, so will we. I love you all and hope you have had and will have a great week. Keep up the letters even if I don't write you back because I am really busy... sorry! But you are my motivation when you do.

Com Muito amor,

Elder Brandon Haroldsen