MTC Week 3

(I told him Tuesdays were now my favorite day of the week....) 

I love Tuesdays too!!  haha  Gives me a time to breathe and sleep!  I'm doin' great! I'm not District Leader anymore because they wanted to spread out that training to other people here, but I guess I did well.  My district loves me and didn't fall apart.  I've been pretty lucky as far as struggle goes.   I'm mean Satan likes to whisper things to make me think I'm never gonna get it or never gonna be worthy cause of my path I took earlier in life, but I say a quick prayer, and it goes away.  I've prayed so much -- like more then I have my entire life!  I don't think I've ever recognized promptings until I got here, and man is that COOL!  Like Sis Bohling says "This gospel ROCKS!" haha. 

I've been reading Jesus the Christ and my patriarchal blessing and can see things happening and ambitions that I have and the end result will be something in my blessing! It's really cool to see! I felt a prompting to watch Legacy on Sunday, and the main character said something that really hit me -  it was "Help God keep His promises"  That's kinda the mind set I've had as I read my blessing. You know, planning for now with the end in mind. It's really nice to have that kind of direction.

Ya, I was so jealous that you guys got to see Bro. Halverson in the Question and Answer thing on Sunday.  I wish I could've been there to hear him one last time. I always learned so much from him! Who did Jess invite and how did that person you invited go?  

I'm teaching two investigators now and this last lesson with one of them I was like "I need to show this investigator this scripture to read and pray about tonight" and I turned right to it!  I knew it was in 3 Nephi, but I didn't know which chapter then BAM - it was there and that was so cool!  My companions were like "Elder, that was the perfect for her!"  It was a super faith booster!!

I had an awesome learning experience with a song.  It was "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd"  Anyway, I learned about how much God loves the ONE and wishes for them to return to the 90 and 9, and that's essentially what I've been sent here to do... leave the 99 (ya'll) and go after the one (Brazilian brothers and sisters). Three Missionaries got their visas this week.  It's super exciting news -- it gives us all hope for ours!!

That's exciting! about Dad's possible job!!  I've been praying for Dad to get that interview every night and whenever I think about it.  :) I really hope he gets it! 

Love ya'll 

Always thinking of you and prayin for ya'll,

Elder Sharp

PS. I LOVE the package!! thanks!! and I loooove getting letters!!! 

MTC Week 2

Hey that's awesome about the half marathon! Proud of ya'll!   I love it here!! Did you get my last email?  I'm doing awesome! I wrote down most of the details in my journal so I can remember it and tell you later.  Haha there's too much to say!  

I was praying all week to know what the Spirit is like how to listen to it and then for the devotional the subject was on recognizing the Spirit and knowing it. The speaker basically addressed all my fears and destroyed them.  Then that night we watched the Joseph Smith movie in Portuguese. I didn't understand most of it, but the Spirit was so strong.  Then I got promptings for me to write down something Pai Celestial [Heavenly Father] wanted to tell me.  It was soo cool!!  Also, I got the prompting for you guys to watch it, too, and that if Dad could watch it in Tagalog, I think it would be super powerful for him....  I also saw how Alvin was as an older brother and thought of him as a good example to Dustin for how an older brother should be. 

I think that's awesome your calling is missionary work.  That's awesome that I get blessings from you just like you get blessings from me!  It is so much fun and even with the fake investigators -- I'm loving every minute of it. 

Tonight they're doing a world wide devotional for the MTC, and the Choir sings at the Tuesday night devotionals. My teacher, Ìrmão Cope, said it might be online if you wanna watch it... it's suppose to be a big deal!! Like Apostle or higher!! Thinking of you always and praying for ya'll!! 

Have Jess email me if she wants!! and Also I have an elder in my District and he hasn't gotten any letters....you think you could go on Dear Elder and write him something....it's crazy what letters will do for your confidence and mood.

Love you guys so much! 

Elder Sharp

 Elder Brewerton and Elder Peterson (my current comps)

 My District

 Elder Wood - my first companion

 Smelling the Tree (smells like creme soda!!!)

 Elders Being Elders in our Apartment

My zone leaders

MTC Week 1

(I wrote him telling him how awesome it must have been to watch General Conference while in the MTC)  

YES!! It was amazing and It was awesome singing those songs with all those missionaries there haha. I have never taken so many notes in general conference. Ya I learned a lot about being a good husband and treating my wife and daughters with respect. I also, of course, learned that I gotta be humble to teach the gospel and a lot of other cool missionary things. After conference we had a huge devotional where Vocal Point came and sang to us and talked about their missions; it was pretty sweet.  Then after that we listened to a talk that Elder Bednar gave called the Character of Christ. It was Mission changing - like a huge different look on life! He just told us how it was and chastised us - haha. Definitely suggest looking for it is a Christmas MTC devotional.

How was Kody and Julie at the game? (should probably have dad answer about Kody:)) And that's really cool about the Homecoming Queen! I think anyone can email me, I haven't been told anything about that....I'd probably wait to write them back till after the MTC, but feel free to give it out just tell em I may not answer.:)

So I saved the best stuff for last ;) ......I AM DISTRICT LEADER! It's so cool - kinda stressful but I see how it's preparing me for my future (I've been reading my Patriarchal Blessing).  My district is awesome, too. I love them all so much, and they all respect me and want to follow the rules! I had them write goals for us as a district, and we turned them into cool Portuguese ten commandments.  It's pretty legit! I had a Companiero (sorry Portuguese may slip in) his name was Elder __, and he was SO cool and loved him but he got his visa! So he left this morning.  It was really sad, but pretty exciting! I got to give him a blessing to comfort him, and I was so nervous, but it happened and I think it worked haha.  He seemed more at ease so we'll see haha. My voice got sore from talking and singing so much!  

So on Friday we had to teach an investigator....YEA first three days here and we're teaching. Oh, did I mention it had to only be in Portuguese ! haha it was insane! But we did surprisingly well.  We taught her how to pray and committed her to pray every day till we came back then we came back and didn't do very well, but we learned a lot about teaching people not lessons. It was great and I'm so grateful for the gift of tongues.  Thank for the letter, by the way.  It's crazy how much those lift you up.  Feel free to tell people about it :) but not everyone... of course I don't want kids in my district to be jealous....AGH!!  There's soooo much to say so little time to say it in. But my Laundry is done, and I gotta do study, shine shoes, study, sing in choir, and just in case I forgot to study some more haha.  It's ok though my district knows so much about the scriptures especially an elder named Elder Richins. That's like his hobby....any way gotta go 

Love Ya'll,

Elder Don Sharp Jr.

PS:  Oh I forgot to tell you I went to the temple this morning and did initiatories and got answers to my prayers - it was awesome!! I forgot my camera in my residence so I'll send those when I can SORRY!