Portuguese Replaces English

Erika ran into two relatives while in the Missionary Training Center. Her great-aunt entered the MTC last Monday to serve a mission for Jesus Christ in the country of Japan. She saw her cousin, Leah, while standing in line in the cafeteria. (Her cousin works with BYU's food service and was substituting for someone at the MTC when Erika saw her.) Leah was so surprised in seeing Erika that she accidently burbed out, "Jennae" (Erika's sister's name.)

Erika says of the Portuguese language, "So this Portuguese is starting to take hold of my brain and English is becoming difficult. The other day I was talking to my district leader and this is what came out, 'I think we need to work on focolizing'. This is what I meant, 'I think we need to work on focusing'. The Portuguese word for 'to focus' is 'focolizar'. . . .so focolizing."

"This past week while I was sitting with my district and waiting for the Sunday night fireside to get started, an elder sitting directly in front of us turned around and asked me 'What is your first name Sis. Riggs?' I told him my name and he said 'I knew it! You were my EFY counselor!' I looked at him a little harder and he totally was one of my youth during the summer I was an EFY counselor in Provo! I asked him if he kept in contact with anyone else from our EFY session and he responded 'Ya...this guy' and he patted the back of the elder sitting in front of him. That elder turned around and I totally taught him, too!"
"Seeing these elders reminded me of why I am serving a mission and what really made me want to serve that summer of EFY. The spirit I felt while teaching those youth, especially about our Savior's love for us is something I will never forget. I was able to teach those youth with the spirit in the hopes that someone's life would be changed for the better. That feeling is what I want to have always as a missionary now."

Patience

From Erika: "I've been praying and fasting. . .But, there were no visas. . .at all. I'm having to learn that everything is on the Lord's time and I have to remember that although I may not understand why there are visa problems, the Lord has a reason and I need to practice patience if I ever want to learn what that reason is."

Photos Arrived For Christmas!

Due to the large number of missionaries in the MTC, it would be near to impossible for all of them to call home on Christmas day. Though we were not able to hear Erika's voice, we were blessed to open up a wonderful gift from her. . . . . . photos!!! I am sure that she would love for me to share some of these with you. Enjoy them. MERRY CHRISTMAS, from Sister Erika Riggs!!!

"First day with my companions. (L) Sister Kessler (R) Sister Knudsen"

Hallway of the quarantine building. . ."No, none of us have died from weird diseases. . .yet."

"Just doing some laundry."

"We made "We're Thankful for You" turkey hands for all the elders in our district for Thanksgiving Day."

"Aunty Renee sent me goodies!"

. . .and she shared it with her district. "Shaka for Aunty Renee!"

"With our American Sign Language missionary friends, signing 'I Love you!'"

"With adopt-a-district. . .they reported the same day as us." In front of the Provo Temple.

"The day Sister Kessler left for Brazil and the 'tri'umphant became a regular companionship."

Holy Ghost, The Testifier

"This week has been exciting! For starters, yesterday 31 visas came in! All the visas went to missionaries that have been here over their planned 9 weeks."

As Erika's devotes herself to serving the Lord, she has been experiencing spiritual growth. She writes of an experience that she had: "This experience really helped me recognize that it doesn't matter that I don't speak portuguese very well. What matters is that I teach with the Spirit. The Holy Ghost is the testifier, not me. This is a huge help to me and I know that I will remember this experience as I go through my mission, trying to speak in a language I barely know."

Visas Are Coming Through!

Two of the missionaries in Erika's District have received their visas. One of them was from her threesome companionship.

Erika states about learning the Portuguese language, "Every week we have a personal interview with our teachers to discuss how our MTC stay is going and more specifically how the language and gospel lessons are going. Starting today we are only allowed to speak Portuguese in the classroom. That means...no English at all! I am so stoked because I love Portuguese and now that we will be forced to speak and listen to it, we'll learn it a ton faster. Well one of my teachers...Irmao (Brother) Flanigan was the one that interviewed me. He told me that he was impressed with my ability to pick up the language (Erika has been there for 4 weeks and can speak as well as some 9 weekers)."

As most of you know, Erika loves to sing. "This Sunday the Sisters in our branch are going to be singing the Primary hymn 'Mary's Lullaby' in Portuguese. I love music and the spirit that it brings. Here in the MTC they tweaked the words to 'Bring the World His Truth.' In the MTC it states: 'We ARE NOW the Lord's missionaries.' So true! We are now the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth."

Coordinating Sister

Calling: Erika received a calling (special assignment) in the branch (congregation unit). She says, "I am the coordinating sister which is basically the zone leader for the sisters."

Physical Fitness: "I dove again this past week and got a gym burn on my left knee. Volleyball is super fun!"

Thanksgiving Day: "We had the usual: turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie. . . .setting up tables for the service project the MTC did later that day. . . .For our thanksgiving devotional in the morning, our speaker was Jeffrey R. Holland! He is a wonderful speaker that speaks with such great power and with the Spirit."

Highlight: "Last Sunday our fireside speaker was Dallin H. Oaks. For reals! Two general authorities in the same week! Things like that make me greatful that I am here in Provo."

Training: "I memorized the first vision in portuguese. . .Today we get to teach an 'investigator' the first discussion. It's where volunteers from the community come in and we practice carrying on a simple conversation with them in Portuguese and then we teach them one of the discussions. "

District Chupa-Chupa

Erika writes: "I really am loving my district. We have dubbed ourselves district chupa-chupa. One of our teachers served in Mozambique and told us that means lollipop. Our other teacher served in Brazil and said that chupa-chupa translate to mean suck-suck. . .not lollipop. We got such a kick out of it that we made it our motto. So. . . chupa-chupa!"

Apparently, Erika lives in the quarantine building (where missionaries who are too sick to be with their companions stay). Due to the overload in missionaries at the MTC, Erika and her companions live on the 4th floor of the quarantine building. (The quaratine floors are actually the 2 floors below Erikas floor. . . . )

Every Sunday the missionaries have a special teacher for Relief Society (women's auxiliary) and Fireside. This past week Sis. Oaks taught Relief Society and Sis. Sheri Dew was the fireside speaker. Erika sat in the 5th row and had a great view!!

Erika also wrote: "My new love is volleyball. In the mornings I run a mile on the track and then go down onto the court to play volleyball with my companion Sister Knudsen and elders from other zones and districts. Neither of us are very good, but the elders are excited to play with sisters and show off a little bit, so they don't mind. Yesterday I was getting into it and totally dove for the ball. I got it over the net. . . I also got burns on my knee!"

"Today we got to go to the temple for our p-day (preparation day). I love the temple!"

Stacy, Nat, and Amy: Erika gets to see Elizabeth at least every Tuesday night. Elizabeth sings in the MTC choir that performs at the Tuesday night devotional.

Everyone please note that Erika's address has changed slightly.