First email :)

Wow this is crazy, this is my way of communication for the next 2 years its pretty weird to think about. Well first of all, my address is

Elder James Richard Gleason

MTC Mailbox #342

BRA-SPN 1031

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, UT 84604-1793

Also, a faster way to write me is to just go to DearElder.coom and its pretty self explanatory from what i hear and then the church prints it out and i'll get it in the mail. And that will also work while i'm out in the mission field you just have to pay accordingly but it'd probably be easier than hand writing a letter and trying to do all the stamps by yourself. It would also make it a lot easier for me to write back instead of having to print out the emails that people send me so i can write back individually. And yet another also, i need peoples addresses i came with basically no ones so i couldnt even write anybody today for my P-Day. That includes you Jenae..

So my companion is Elder Vincent, and he's from Sandy, Utah and he's pretty awesome and knows the gospel really well, and then in our room we also have elder horracks who ran track at BYU and knew scott maughn and elder tatafu who litterally laughs at everything and he's tongan so he's learning his 3rd language. All 4 of us are going to Sao Paulo North (if our visa's ever go through) and we came in with about 10 other missionaries also all going to Sao Paulo North which is cool knowing that we might be companions with these guys somewhere down the road. Pictures will be coming soon of my district and then my companion and roomates but the SD card slot for the pictures was down so i couldn't get them printed to send home. It's so cool to be able to see all my friends from BYU here, most are almost ready to go but some just got here so i'll be able to see them for awhile which is way sweet.

Alright so now for the other stuff, the first day was crazy, within the first few hours of walking through the doors we were already in a class starting to learn portuguese. And it hasn't stoppped since, its been about 6 hours of portuguese classes a day and our teacher almost never speaks english its nuts. But it definately helps a ton in learning the language when your forced into it and if you want to know what's going on you need to pick it up quick. i've already learned to pray, bear my testimony (sort of) and have a start up conversation all in portuguese. Basically the same amount of lanuage i learned in 4 years of french class in high school all in what 5 days?! How awesome is that, the MTC is definately an amazing place where miracles happen. Portuguese sounds so sick when your saying it/hearing the guys who have been here. Just a few weeks difference between us and some of the other missionariesgoing to brazil is such a hugh difference in the understanding of the language. It's crazy how much they already know and they haven't been here that much longer, and i know we'll be the same way in just a couple weeks from now. Oh yeah and for my visa, most of the guys here don't even have their electronic part come to them yet so its definately a blessing to be from NY (how often do I say that haha). But it could still be awhile before i get mine, a ton of guys just got reassigned to the states and they had already had everything sent it for awhile. So pray for me to be able to get it.

The other awesome thing about the MTC is all the firesides and stuff like that. But yesterday we had a mission conference and the President of the MTC spoke and he said something that I absolutely loved. "If you are not successful it is because you didn't apply yourself to be what you can become." The Holy Ghost is so strong here, when people say its like a small step down from the temple they are so right. Its crazy how often and strongly i feel it. And the speakers, teachers and leaders are all so awesome. You can tell they have been called of God and have served their missions righteously. I can't wait to get to brazil and have my own stories to tell and have people thati have helped to convert to the church!! The other thing that really touched me was something i read in Preach My Gospel this morning, it was a quote from President Heber J Grant it said "We have that which is of more value than all the wealth and the scientific information which the world possesses. We have the plan of life and salvation." I am learning so much while I've been here having a set schedule and time set aside to study the gospel is such a blessing in my life, i wouldn't trade this experience tfor anything and it's only been 5 days, imagine what i'll feel/be life after 2 years?! its crazy to think about!

Lastly since i'm running out of time, while i do miss home and being able to talk with everyone, at the same time i don't i have yet to feel homesick because i know this is exactly where i'm supposed to be right now. And i know and love this gospel. The church is so true, i know without a doubt i have felt the Holy Ghost confirm it over and over again in my heart.

Eu te amu!! (I love you)

Elder J.R. Gleason

Write me :D