Ola familia e amigas!

Wow what a week! So much has happened I don't even know where to start!

Awesome experience with our investigator.

So we've been teaching Kevin, and we always get really nervous because Portuguese is still sounding a little.. well.. not good. Ha.

But we agreed not to take notes into our lessons so that we could fully rely on the Spirit. We were teaching about faith and how we must act on faith. The first few minutes were a little rusty because language. But - no notes, just the Spirit.

And the most amazing thing happened. Sister Kehr said that I started speaking, making sense, using words that she didn't know.

THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS REAL. Kevin even commented saying that my "Portuguese e bem!" haha. But wow. The Spirit is so wonderful, and I'm grateful we get to utilize the blessings we've been promised as missionaries.

Biggest update - I GOT MY VISA!! Heading to Brazil bright an' early tomorrow morning at 5 am (: Excited by REALLY nervous. I love the sisters in my district, and I love the comfort of Provo, knowing I'm so close to home. But I know that so much more growth happens out of the comfort zone. 

Our Portuguese teacher Brother Machado is such an outstanding teacher. Fun fact, he is from Brazil, which is cool (: He makes me want to learn Portuguese, and meet/love the people and culture of Brazil! Grateful for all of his patience as we're struggling through the language haha

CHRISTMAS AT THE MTC IS THE BEST. THING. EVER.

The day started out so utterly fantastic because we woke up to snow. I mean hey, with around 2,000 missionaries praying for a white Christmas, how could Heavenly Father say no?

We had a wonderful devotional with Dallin H Oaks and his family <3 musical numbers, testimonies, the works. I love one thought that he said that I thought applied to all of us.

He said: "Great events often go unnoticed." Don't let significant moments in your mission/life pass by unappreciated.

In the devotional, we sang "I Believe in Christ" and the spirit was so strong, I started tearing up. I know without a doubt that my Savior lives. I know that He is real, and that He loves us. What an answer to prayer. I love the line - "I believe in Christ, so come what may." No matter what happens rely on Christ. I can promise you that everything will work out exactly as it is supposed to happen.

Calling family was wonderful! I'm so glad I got to talk to you even if only for a quick 30 minutes! Love and miss you already!

And of course, to top off the entire night, DAVID ARCHULETTA came. Merry Christmas indeed. All of the girls were freaking out and it was hilarious hahaha.

But for anyone that hasn't heard it, go find his song called "My Little Prayer", and read the caption. It's about a conversation that he had with Heavenly Father in a dream, and the Spirit is always so strong every single time I hear it. I love this song. It hits me on a personal level, because I feel like saying. "You just talked to Dad?? What did He say!?" Love it. Watch and listen if you haven't yet.

Well, currently doing laundry and getting packed up for Brazil tomorrow!

I'm so grateful that I came to Provo, even if just for a short time. Heavenly Father totally knows us, and that this district/companion is exactly what I needed.

So long USA! Next email we'll be in BRAZIL! Love you all!!

Sister Hill

Ola from the MTC!

12/19/2016

Hello everyone!

I can't believe I'm finally here! 6 months of waiting finally paid off! Haha. And no, it's not Brazil, but Provo is fantastic in it's own way (:

I've only been here for 6 days, but we've already learned SO MUCH - the gospel, Portuguese, planning, Portuguese, our purpose, Portuguese - did I mention we're learning a lot of Portuguese?

Haha but really - we study A LOT.

The first few days really just went by in a blur. We got new schedules, companions, and we're pretty much changing our entire mindsets to Portuguese! So that's basically our life now. Ha.

Meio compeinera - Sister Kehr!! She is great and we get along really well! (Sidenote: she reminds me of a mix of Alison and Desi - so I'm in good company haha) She is from well, everywhere essentially, but most recently Tooele. She's a military brat (minus the brat hehe) so we relate on a few levels. We also have the same sense of humor, and we talk to each other so much, and we're constantly making each other laugh and smile! I'm glad we get along so well. She just graduated a few months ago, and I'm the senior comp, so it's like she's my little sister and I love it (:  And crazy coincidence - we were both in Japan around the same time! Her dad is in the Marines. Small world, eh? The other sisters in my district are Sister Faz, and Sister Atkinson. We all click really well, which is good cause us sisters gotta stick together (:

But the MTC is so great. A few highlights from this past week:

- This was the best thing. Right as I walked into the MTC after getting my name tag and my books I saw none other than Sister Amanda Walker!! After she gave me a huge hug, she headed off to her class but it totally made my first day at the MTC that much more fabulous <3 I've also seen Sister Laura Brand in the past few days!

- Friday - two days after getting to the MTC, we taught our first investigator (AAAHHH) Kevin. Our teacher, Brother Machado, challenged us that even if we didn't know the language very well, to just rely on the spirit to teach... which was nerve wracking because HELLO. WE JUST GOT HERE. Sister Kehr and I were so nervous. But we went in with faith and scriptures in hand and it actually went okay! And Brother Machado was spot on - the spirit was so strong. Even when we didn't seem to be making much sense, it all seemed to fall into place. We walked back down the hall to our classroom hugging and smiling because through the Spirit our weaknesses can be turned to strengths! And I know that I'm going to need that A LOT the next 18 months, so I'm just incredibly grateful.

- Also, we decided to join the MTC Choir, and it is just a lovely time. Me and Sister Faz sing soprano together, and it's a beautiful Christmas song that we're singing in devotional tomorrow. The conductor is so fun and I didn't realize just how much I missed singing until we were going through the song. I LOVE IT.

- One more - Sunday was our devotional, and who showed up? The Piano Guys! Not too far from home haha. They gave talks/testimonies and then we heard a few songs from them. And it was absolute perfection. Music speaks to me on a different level, and I felt the spirit so strongly. Heavenly Father really does know us. I can testify of that 100 times over.

Here's a little excerpt from my journal that I think sums up this week pretty well:

"I feel so tired, yet surprisingly so happy! The Spirit here is incredible, and it's amazing to see what happens when you learn to rely on Him."

I love this gospel and I'm grateful for the chance to be a missionary and I know this will be one grand adventure. 

Love you all!

Sister Hill

P.S. If you Dear Elder me I get your letter the DAY OF and I would love to hear how you all are doing <3