Portugal, here I come!!!

Portugal, here I come!!! 3/20/12

Doctrine and Covenants 68: 6: "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord and with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."

2 Nephi 10:23- "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves- to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."

Choose to be happy. The Lord is on our side!

Oi Familia!!! I appreciate your efforts in helping me be prepared for the field in which I will probably only get letters on P-days, but I am at the MTC for another week and can still receive dearelders- I would LOVE to hear from you!!! Also, how much money do I have in my account? I bought some things (backpack, scripture covers...) and I forgot to write them down so I don't know exactly how much I have on my card.

WOWZA. This week has been INSANE and AWESOME!!!! Because I am from London, I am counted as an international missionary. So I was blessed with the privilege to go with all the other international missionaries to take a trip to Salt Lake City! We did a session in the Temple, had a tour with some temple square sisters (saw one sister who i knew in the MTC - that was weird to see her in the field), and then we did a tour of welfare square. We had 3 sisters and 4 elders from Korea, a sister and an elder from Ghana, an elder from Germany, an elder who is in my zone named Elder Hailei (High-lay) from Ethiopia- first missionary from that country!, and a sister from Somoa and some elders from Tonga, and an Elder from Manchester. It was SO fun to be with them!!!! These wonderful missionaries are going to be leaders of the church in their countries. I felt so privileged to be with them. I sat with Elder Hailei on the bus and he was so excited. He recorded pretty much the entire bus ride there and back. The spirit was so strong in the temple with these amazing missionaries.

My companionship had a tough go this week. Sister Rojo fell ill and it was really hard to be stuck in the residence hall. We weren't sure after a while if she was really that sick or not, but I have had some amazing experiences with this situation. I learned about humility, courage, and patience. I so wish I had more time to go into detail, but I simply don't have enough. The Lord really strengthened me to do what is right. I got this idea from another sister, but we made a list of "100 coises eu amo sobre Irma..." (100 things I love about Sister...) we wrote a lists of 100 things for each comp. that we loved and read it to each other yesterday- SUCH a good experience.

This week has been extremely rough for me. But I have felt so much love from my God and Savior. I am learning so much about myself and what I need to do to be a consecrated missionary- we MUST trust in the Lord completely and always, sempre, put Him FIRST. I need to stop worrying and get to work. I am SOOOO STOKED FOR PORTUGAL!!!! My flight from SLC leaves at 4:50 (please do not meet me at the airport!) I just tell you in case I have time to call. I arrive in Paris at 11:15, and then leave for Lisbon at 1:20 and arrive at 2:50!!!! I think I am allowed 10 mins. in the airport to call home! AND because I am an "international missionary" I get to call home for 2 mins before I leave- I think on Sunday. I will try to do it before it gets too late in London! It is so surreal that I am actually leaving to go preach the gospel to Heavenly Father's children FOR REAL!!!! I have LOVED the MTC and I will miss it and the friends I have made. It has a very special place in my heart. The spirit is unreal here. I have grown a TON. But I am ready. I want to give my entire soul to this work. I can't hold anything back. -Thank you mom for your last words to me on the curb "Give it your all. Hold nothing back." I am trying my best.

This week I am going to picture the Savior next to me in all that I do. I know I will grow closer to Him and rely on Him more and strive more to act like Him. Irma Wilde does that and I am excited to try it.

Be careful what you pray for. I prayed that I would be able to know how to better serve those around me. And I only tell you this because I want to share this amazing experience that i have had this week. Last Sunday I was called to be the coordinating sister. When President Crosby asked me if I would accept, I must have not hid the shock very well and prob. looked pale because he asked if I would be alright and if I was sure I could handle it. I assured him that I can do it. I was COMPLETLEY overwhelmed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I was completely humbled and again, overwhelmed. But this week I have felt the trust of the Lord in me. I have done my best to listen to the Holy Ghost and I have been able to have so many experiences already to be a tool in His hands. I have learned SO much how to better serve and get to know the sisters around me. I treasure the lessons I have learned through this calling. Even though it has been really difficult, I am so extremely grateful for this calling and what I have learned and felt. I have gained more confidence in what I can do with the Lord on my side. I know it was an answer to my pray- but I will definitely be more careful about what I pray for in the future! :) This is the Lord's work. Not Thomas S. Monson's, not mine, not yours, the Lord's. We need to give everything we can to assist Him- to be worthy to be a tool in His hand. This work brings so much joy. Even though my investigators are "fake" I feel so much love for them. I have felt the Holy Ghost speak through me. This church is true. Jesus Christ lives. He loves you so much. I love you so much also. I love being a missionary. I love Portuguese.

Eu sei que essa igreja es verdadeiro. Eu sei que, sem duvidas, Jesus Cristo vive. Deus quer voces voltar para ele. Eu amo sendo uma missionaria! Eu amo falando Portuguese! Eu amo o Livro de Mormon. EU AMO VOCES!!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Irma Tingey