Wow, how crazy it´s been! Sorry that this is my first email, but the CTM was super crazy and we really didn´t get a lot of time. Also, sorry for any typos, but Portuguese keyboards are weird.
CTM
When I first arrived at the CTM, I went upstairs and met my companion, Elder Christensen. He was super awesome and is also going to BYU. He is from Oregon. We hit it off right away. We jumped right in to learning the language and studying. My district and my instructors were super awesome. We all became super tight friends. Saying goodbye was super hard, but luckily, six of my CTM district are serving in Sao Paulo Leste!
Five days after we arrived at the CTM, Elder Christensen and I were called as Zone leaders. It obviously wasn´t like being a zone leader in the field, but I really liked it because we got to go to meetings with the CTM President and had some other responsibilities.
Later that week, someone from our District went home due to serious depression and anxiety. It was super sad, and really hard for all of us. His companion, Elder Wolcott, was placed in a trio with Elder Christensen and me. Being in that trio turned out to be super fun for all of us. We became super good friends. Unfortunately, it didn´t last. After we had been in the CTM for 3 weeks, we went up to our dorm room one day and found a new missionary. He was on the same week as us and had just been transferred from the Provo MTC. I was split off from the trio and placed into a companionship with the new elder, Elder Smith. This turned to to be super hard for me. One of my mission goals was to be Christlike to all of my companions, but Elder Smith really tested me. I had so much fun with Elder Wolcott and Elder Christensen, and I loved being a zone leader. Elder Smith and I had nothing in common. But I guess being a missionary is not all fun and games, so I tried my best to be a good companion. I ended up learning a lot about myself while I was his comp.
In the CTM, I had the opportunity to go to both the Sao Paulo Temple and the Campinas Temple. Both were incredible. I also was able to here President Nelson speak by way of broadcast twice. I learned a lot from what he spoke on to the missionaries and to the people of Brasil.
Cruzeiro
We left the CTM last Tuesday. The group going to my mission is huge. There are about 20 of us! When we arrived at the Mission office, we quickly met President and Sister Miller (both of whom I really like). He interviewed each of us, and then took us upstairs to assign us our trainers and area. My trainer´s name is Elder Wilcken. He is from Texas and has already taught me so much. We are serving in a town called Cruzeiro, the farthest possible area from our mission office. It took us a long, long time to get there. We had to wait in a bus station for two hours, and then we had a five hour bus ride. We got to Cruzeiro at midnight. Two other missionaries from my group are being trained here as well. Their names are Elder Tuttle and Elder Stewart. There are eight missionaries in our area because President Miller wants us to build up the area. There are barely more than 30 people in the branch. Its super hard to find people to teach. I have also realized that the Portuguese I learned in the CTM is nothing like what is actually spoken here. Everyone slurs all of their words together, and I can´t tell what they are saying. It´s pretty hard, but I trust the Lord and the gift of tongues. This is a really hard area, and is different from anything than I ever expected, but I think that the Lord will really help me grow. I am excited to be here and to my best to help the people of Cruzeiro!
Love you all!
Elder Warren Dudley
Pictures:
#1 Our District. In Cruzeiro. From Closest to farthest: Elder Ward, me, Elder Wilcken, Elder Zundel, Elder Jaime, Elder Oliveira, Elder Stewart, Elder Tuttle
#2 I was so tired after the long bus ride that when we got to the house, I feel asleep sitting down.
#3 I was still tired the next day, and when we taught English Class at the church, I feel asleep behind the pulpit as I was studying verb conjugations.
#4-8 Our apartment in Cruzeiro. Elder Zundel, Eldeir Oliveira, Elder Wilcken, and I lived in that apartment. The other four elders lived in a house down the street.
#9 All of the missionaries from my group with their trainers.
#10 All of the missionaries from my group at the mission office.
