October 16, 2015- Week 3!! - Portuguese is still hard, but I love this Gospel!

Hey All! 

This week has been great!  For those who know about the MTC, it has been about the same as every other week, haha. A LOT of time in the class room, and a LOT of eating. I still struggle to speak in Portuguese, but I would say that I can understand a lot more, of gospel talk that is. When someone talks to me about real life stuff, and not the PMG lessons than I feel very humbled. 

Just got back from the São Paulo temple and it was amazing as always. Both times I've gone I think about that picture of you and dad there! It is a wonderful experience!! This gospel is so awesome! The power of prayer is amazing, and the gift of tongues is real. My testimony has strengthened so much in these last couple weeks. 

Yes we get to go out into the city on P days and the city is massive! Buildings as far as you can see. Our room window looks out over the city, so it is a great view. I don't think the stars or the moon exist in São Paulo. My companion is from Georgia along with one other Elder in my district, so we get in these big arguments about how there isn´t a better state than Utah.

I can´t send pictures in the CTM so I´ll send them in about 3 more weeks. My district is super awesome and we have a lot of fun, sometimes we get a little distracted. My Brazilian roommates are awesome and I have learned a lot from them, but they just left yesterday so that's a bummer, we will probably get some new ones in a couple days.

I hope you all know how much I love and appreciate you all. Sorry for all the scattered talk and errors we only get 45 minutes and they stand here and watch us so it's hard to think straight. I love you all and you have all played a large part in getting me here. I love this work and I know for sure I am doing God's work. I LOVE this gospel and the work has to be hastened. Keep praying, and keep collecting those tiny flecks of precious spiritual gold. 

Have FAITH in FAITH!

Love you all thanks for the prayers and all the support!

Love,

Elder Millard

October 9, 2015- CTM- Week #2

Hey mom, I just want you to know how much I love you! The CTM has been good. I can truly testify that learning a language is extremley hard!! I have enjoyed everything, the only thing that is kind of demoralizing is Potuguese, but the gift of tounges is real! I have progressed a lot from the first day so I am confident!
General conference was so AMAZING!  we got to listen with headphones in english, and it was so powerful. When Holland gave his talk on moms it had every missionary in the CTM bawling. hahah All the talks were just so incredible. We just got back from the São Paulo temple, and it was amazing! It was so beautiful!

About life in the CTM: We live on the 6th floor of the building so we climb a lot of stairs. The food is GREAT and yes we eat rice and beans every single day. I like my district a lot, my companion is massive. We are basically sit in class all day everyday, but a couple days ago we got our first exercise which was very much needed. I saw the Elder from Colemans mission ward so that was cool. I can´t even describe how awesome Conference was. We do mostly language study, not a lot of gospel but we teach about 2 lessons a day, so that helps.

I haven´t struggled at all with my emotions, but I honestly do lay in bed everynight just trying to comprehend how much I love my mom! and I can testify that the power of the priesthood, and the gift of tounges is real.
Make sure dad knows how much I love him, he is the one who has been that amazing priesthood holder in my life, and I am eternally grateful for that. I would love to be out hunting with dad and jake, but I know of assurity that I am doing the right thing here in Brazil. Make sure my everybody know how grateful I am for them. The whole community, my brothers and my amazing sister!

I love you guys all so much and I will keep on working hard here in Brazil to hasten the work.We have been blessed!

Elder Millard

September 29, 2015-Letter from the CTM President!

Dear Parents,

Sister Swensen and I are very happy to let you know that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil Missionary Training Center.  What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they begin their missionary experiences with us. We will surely take good care of your missionary.                                                                                                     

The missionaries now have companions and are settled into their rooms.  They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study.  Their branch presidents and wives, will meet them this Sunday.  These wonderful couples are richly blessed as they work with, motivate, and interview the missionaries assigned to their branch.

The MTC has a full-time live-in physician to care for their health needs.  He is assisted by his able wife who is a nurse. We are also happy to report that the cafeteria food is plentiful, healthy and very good.

Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple.  This will be either Wednesday or Friday, depending on individual assignments.

Your missionary is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of many others. President Lorenzo Snow said: “There is no mortal man that is as interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the Gospel as is the Lord who sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord's children".  We love these missionaries as if they were our own.  We will watch over them carefully to ensure they are ready for a wonderful missionary experience after the rewarding time they will have in the MTC.

We thank you for preparing such a wonderful representative of the Lord.

President Robert Swensen and Sister Julie Swensen

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . . .  

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PACKAGES to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will be serving not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC, please understand that the package cannot be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name. Your missionary will provide you with his district and box number. Also, please DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers.  The cost to process this type of correspondence is exorbitant.