Eu Amo Vocês!

 Hello!

Another running joke in my district, is eu amo voCs, which means I love you all. After each class, our teacher ALWAYS without fail says, eu amo vocês, then bares their testimony. So we joke that it's like in the handbook or something and they have to say it. So when in doubt, we always said eu amo vocês, or YOLO. ;)

This week has been AWESOME! I capitalize awesome, because it literally was! So many amazing things happen I don't even know where to begin. And don't worry, I have like 5 billion pictures to share. 

First, Portuguese is just getting better and better. We taught our third lesson with Katarino yesterday and it went phenomenal! I feel like Sister Ames and I will be ready to go straight to Brazil and speak the language! That most likely won't happen, we'll get re assigned stateside first, but I can dream can't I? I can carry on a conversation with people easily now. I feel like it's mostly because of FSL, and the Lord, obviously. FLS is fala sua lingua, which means speak your language. So my district and I will have English fasts, so to speak, and only speak Portuguese for 24 hours. It's so hard, but totally worth it! We've only done it a couple times so far, but we'll have plenty more chances to do some more! 

Last Wednesday was my halfway mark! I've been here for 3 weeks and have 3 more to go! I had the opportunity to be a host for the new missionaries, which was way cool. I got to be there for the new babies and show them around and help them out. It was such a surreal experience because it feels like just yesterday that I was a little baby, brand new to the MTC. Nope, I'm a mom now, and pretty soon I'll be a grandma! Que triste! :(

Ready for the best news yet thought?! I GET TO SING IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY BROADCAST! The RS choir is having MTC sister sing at the broadcast! I couldn't be more excited. Mostly because I get to leave the MTC for a day, haha! But also because I get to see the prophet!! I've never been to conference or been in the presence of someone who holds such high authority in the church! I couldn't be more excited! But wait, it gets better! We had our first practice today and the general relief society presidency was there! Sister Linda Burton, and her counselors! It was so amazing! AND!  My companions and I got a picture with them! I'll upload it next week! It was so surreal to meat them! They were all so nice! But, there's more! If anyone has seen the movie 17 miracles, I saw a character from that movie! First off, 17 miracles is my FAVORITE church movie, by far. So, when we got to the practice, I almost peed my pants. The mother who leaves her drunk husband in the beginning of the movie, to find Zion, IS ONE OF OUR CHOIR DIRECTORS! I went up and talked with her afterwards, and was like I LOVE YOU!!!!! I told her I needed a picture as proof and that I met someone famous! She laughed. I didn't have my camera with me, so I told her I'd get a picture next time. So, I'll upload a pic of that next week, too! 

So, I'd say this week has been pretty eventful. I love the MTC! I don't love all the boring classes, and the food, but I love the atmosphere, and the people!

 Eu estou feliz por este opportunidade a ser um missionario. Eu amo este evangelho, com meu todo coraçao. Eu amo a CTM e meus profesoras. Eu se que Joseph Smith fui um profeta verdadero, quien traduçe o Livro de Mormon, por meio a ajuda de Deus. Eu se que Thomas S. Monson e um profeta hoje. Eu tenho um grande testimonio de o dom de lingua, e eu se que solomente com a ajuda de Deus, eu estou poder a falar Portuguese. Eu amo meu missão! E EU AMO VOCÊS!! 

I am happy for this opportunity to be a missionary. I love this gospel. with my whole heart. I love the MTC and my teachers. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet who translated the Book of Mormon, through the help of the Lord. I love the Book of Mormon! I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I have a huge testimony of the gift of tongues, and I know that only with the help of the Lord, I am able to speak Portuguese. I love my mission and I love you all!!! 

Line of the week:

Me: I need some chocolate

Sister Ames: I need a life...

Good one Sister Ames!!! Hahaha

Tchau,

Sister Hallmark

Ps, I wouldn't complain if anyone wanted to send me some Dear Elders. I LOVE getting them! It makes my day! Just go to that dearelder.com and you'll be able to figure it our from there. I think.. Haha if you have questions, ask my parents. My mission is Brazil, Belo Horizonte, and my mailbox number is 123. Oh and my departure date is October the 7th, if you need that. I don't know. Eu amo vocês!!! :)

My district!!! :)

This is my twin, Sister Holmes. We switched name tags, because we're cool. But seriously, she's awesome. We were literally twins, separated at birth. Everything we do and say is the same.  Literally. It's scary. Her mom's even hearing impaired too... How scary is that?! Hahaha. I love her! She goes to Utah State so I always say I'm gonna come live with her once I'm done with my mission. And she's going to Belo! Maybe we'll be companions!! Hopefully! That'd be awesome! Haha

I literally have no idea where this came from. I looked down one day and saw this huge scab/scratch. Literally I do not have ANY recollection of anything happening.. haha, too funny! 

 

Our Relief Society music for the broadcast! We're stoked!  

Conseguir Bades

These past two weeks have been amazing here at the MTC. I'm so happy to be here! I don't even know where to begin!

First, we got new Portuguese teachers and they're awesome! The language is really coming! It's awesome! We've been doing SYL, which is speak your language. So that means we've literally only been speaking Portuguese here, and it's made such a difference! My companion and I are learning so much! We love it!

So the other day I just was not having a good day, and I was doubting my ability to serve a mission. I thought I would never be fluent, and I was just really discouraged. So I got a blessing from the elders, and it made the world a difference. I have noticed myself being for alert and focused in class, and picking up on more Portuguese, which is never a bad thing! Haha I feel like I can conqueror the world!

Sister Ames and I have begun our lessons with our second investigator, Catarino. He's so great. I already love him. His entire family's been baptized, except for him. So, sister ames and I are really working hard on him to be baptized. Yesterday in one of the lessons, I was talking about Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon and started crying, I felt the spirit so strong. Once I started crying however, I completely lost my train of thought. It was the worst. Then our of no where, I started speaking, fast and continued on with the lesson. Only, words were literally just coming out of my mouth, I had no idea what I was saying in Portuguese. It was the best feeling ever. Then, after the lesson, our teacher pulled us aside and was like "Sister Hallmark, don't ever doubt your ability to speak Portuguese! I was so impressed, you did so well!" I was in shock, I didn't think I did that good, but it was nice to be told that! Haha Sister Ames was like "I want a blessing now!" Haha. I have such a testimony of the gift of tongues, I know that through Heavenly Father, that was the only was I was able to speak during that lesson. I am so grateful.

Sister Holmes and I auditioned this Thursday for me to sing at a devotional and her to play flute, (and elder mccleve to play piano for us) We auditioned with Savior, Redeemer of My Soul and it went horrible. Probably the most embarrassing moment of my life. So here's the story, we didn't give elder McCleve much time to practice the song, but he still did pretty good! Anyway, after the audition Sister Nally (the MTC president's wife might I add) was so rude. The first thing she said when we finished was "ohh, how nice of you guys to attempt that song, it's such a pretty hymn." Then she patted Elder McCleve on the shoulder and was like you missed a few notes. Maybe you guys could audition again with a real pianist." We were all SO EMBARRASSED. Literally. I would have cried if I were Elder McCleve, he took it like a champ though. So, yeah. Most embarrassing moment of my life, thus far. Haha, gotta love the MTC though!

I've got four more weeks in this place. It's only been two and it already feels like eternity. I love it, it's just a tad bit repetitive. We wake up, do language study, eat breakfast, get taught Portuguese for 3 or 4 hours, eat lunch, get taught more Portuguese for 3 or 4 hours, GYM (the highlight of everyone's day!!), dinner, then get taught Portuguese for 3 more hours, go to bed, then wake up and do it all over again. I love it but dislike it at the same time. I'm just glad I've got a great companion and awesome sisters I work with! I've truly been blessed!

I love this gospel, I love my companion, and I'm so happy to be here, even though it's boring at times! haha. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet who, with the help of The Lord, was able to translate the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon truly is the word of God, and was written for our generation. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet in these latter days, and hold all priesthood keys on this Earth today. I know that Jesus Christ lives! I love him so much! I know that whenever we need him, he's always ready and eager to hear from us. I am SO grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission, and am so happy and excited to get out to Brazil and invited the Brazilians to come unto Christ! 

Ti amo todo!

Tchau,

Sister Hallmark

I got this Dear Elder, and it truly is a dear ELDER. My name is SISTER Darci Hallmark. SISTER. 

Not ELDER! Hahahaha

We went on a temple walk and found this sign. So cute! Haha

We went to the temple and saw THE CUTEST dog ever!!!!!!

Sister Kron got her re assignment to Detroit Michigan! Her last night with us! :(

Sister Ames and I are cray! I love her! Haha

VIVE BRASIL

HELLLLO EVERYONE!!

I've been at the MTC for 9 days now and it feels like eternity, let me tell you. I have so much I want to say, but like no time to write. So I'll try to tell y'all everything I can, haha. The first day of the MTC was not as fun as I imagined. It was SO hard, and long and tiring. But I made it through! My companion, Sister Ames, is the best! I love her! She's seriously awesome! My district and zone are awesome! Portuguese is coming along.. The first day I got here my teacher only spoke in Portuguese, I was like ummmm. Haha, but I totally understand everything she's saying now. I can bear my testimony, pray and teach a lesson in Portuguese. It's pretty awesome. I got here Wednesday, and Friday Sista Ames and I were teaching our first investigator, Pedro, in Portuguese. It was rough. But now when we teach lessons, it's super easy. Portuguese really isn't that hard. I mean, I thought it would be much easier since I know Spanish, but no. It's not. It a COMPLETELY different accent. Some words are similar, but the accent is hard to get down. I know The Lord will help me through it. I've had so many spiritual experiences since coming here, and my testimony has grown so much! It's amazing. 

Line of the week:

Sister Dangerfield: *speaking in portuguese then asks a question.* The class is silent because NO ONE knew what she said. 

Elder Mourino: It's like she's trying to communicate...

SO. FUNNY!

Eu sei que Jesus Cristo vive, e que nosso Pai Celesial e Jesus Cristo nos amo muito. Eu sei que este evangelho e verdadero e que O Livro de Mormon e um palavra de Deus. Eu amo este evangelho e a CTM. E EU AMO VOCE TODO!!!! 

I'm sorry this isn't a very long post I don't have much time! But, luckily I live my life through pictures, so I have a bajillion and one pictures. You're welcome in advance. 

Chi amo todo muito!

Tchau!

Sister Hallmark

 

Finally got my nametag!

  

 

                                               Found Belo Horizonte on the world map! 

                                                                The best district ever.

If we leave the classroom, we're supposed to write where. And this is what elders Christenson and Mathews wrote.... Hahaha

TOO. MUCH. PORTUGUESE.