September 08 CTM

CTM
Hey Yall,
(RUN a spell check on this because I’m using a Brazil keyboard, and the computer is formatted for Portuguese not English. lol)
So this month’s activation code did not work. so I’m just sending a letter to you guys.

This week has been pretty hard, it’s been long and at some points you wonder if Hitler just left Germany for the CMT. Lol I’m kidding but really it’s really structured. So my days are pretty good you know waking up at 6:30 and getting dressed and to personal study at 7, and then breakfast at 7:30, companion study at 8:30 and then class from 8:30 till like 12:30 lunch then class again till 5 then dinner then more till 9 so I spend like 12 hours a day in a 10x10 room.

Today we went to the temple in Campinos. It was so amazing. It is so so so beautiful in and around it. It’s set on top of a huge hill overlooking the city so you really get a good view of the city and it looks amazing! A few things I’ve learned about Brazil since getting here,

1. The church is spending more money in Brazil than it is anywhere else,
2. Lands is for sale until the church wants to buy it then it doubles in price,
3. the church said it doesn´t have the financial means to build the buildings it needs here in Brazil because as soon as they plan a building out, they need another one, because the church is growing so rapidly,
4. If I work right I will baptize every week, and that’s committed members too.
5. The gift of Tongues is so real its so amazing the amount I’ve learned has been so crazy!

Now who is John McCain’s running mate? What’s the deal with Russia?? And football score!!??
Other than that things are going very good I love the people of Brazil already, and I haven´t even made it out of the CTM yet. My Portuguese skills are coming along at an amazing rate; I know how to pray bear my testimony, and all 55% of the grammar skills. I miss you guys’ lots!

Could you send me some pictures of the family, and stuff? I’m also sending you some letters you should get them in a week, there’s one for you guys, one for the Pearson family, and one for Mitch, Cortnee, Whitney, and Katie. It cost 2 hayies to send a letters here so I’ll get you their addresses if you could not read them and just forward those on that would be great. I’m also going to write a short blurb to a few people on here so forward it to them for sure and anyone you think would want to hear from me!

Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 5:41 PM
> Dear Parents,
> We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has
> arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and
> privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come
> through the front door of the MTC for the first time.
> They 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. The branch
> presidents and their wives, who are usually a senior
> missionary couple or mature Brazilian couple, will soon give
> them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their
> callings through the love they always develop as they
> embrace and watch over the missionaries.
> The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their
> health needs. He is assisted by his able wife.
> We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is
> abundant 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
> Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
> Important information is attached for communicating with
> your missionary through letters and other mail while at the
> MTC. Your missionary's district is (35-A) and the mail
> box number is (3). It is important that this information be
> written on all letters and packages that you send to your
> missionary. We ask that you send packages only in the first
> 4 weeks and after that send any packages to his or her
> mission home. We are not able to forward packages that
> arrive at the MTC after your missionary has left for the
> field. A package that you send that arrives after your
> missionary leaves will be opened. Only the most essential
> items are forwarded on and only those items that can fit
> into a 9 inch x11 inch envelope.
> We are also parents of children who have served as
> missionaries. And we have been missionaries who have left
> family. Please know that we are mindful of you and know of
> your love for your missionary.
> Your very important young person is about to make an
> eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will
> be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President
> Lorenzo Snow: "There is no mortal man that is so much
> interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is
> preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to
> the people who are the Lord's children."
> Please accept our love,
>
> President and Sister Woodward
> Brazil

--- On Sun, 8/31/08, Ray H Linford wrote:

> From: Ray H Linford
> Subject: Your missionary sons

Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 11:39 AM
Imagine my pleasant surprise when I welcomed Elder Steven Alan Linford to the Brazil MTC this past Wednesday. I am the Area Medical Advisor, Elder Ray H. Linford, assigned as the doctor at the MTC.
Our common ancestor was John Linford Jr. and his wife Maria Christian Linford, who came with the
> Willie Handcart Company to Utah in 1856. As you well know, John died at the fifth crossing of the Sweetwater on 21 October, the morning of the day the company was rescued. Maria went on to Salt Lake City with her three accompanying sons, George John (my great-grandfather), Joseph, and Amassa. Your ancestor was James, who had remained in England on amission. Youprobably have a copy of the "Black Book" which was prepared by Mary Hooper Blood Linford. It has the genealogy of the descendents of John Jr through about 1945. My roots go back as follows:
My father was George L. Linford, his father was George Albert Linford, and his father was George
John, who was the second son of John Jr. So that makes Alan and me third
cousins. The other missionary in this picture is Elder Sorensen.
They are a great companionship and are already doing well here at the MTC.

Sincerely,
Elder Ray and Sister Joanne Linford