First Week at the CTM

My first week was pretty good. I'm not gonna lie, the CTM is the hardest thing I've ever done.  It is a 16 hour work day doing 18-22 different activities a day.  The leaders here don't speak very much English which can be frustrating, but it also helps a lot with Portuguese.  I'm surprised by how much Portuguese I've learned in a week, like I already have the missionary purpose, the baptismal invitation and the points of the Restoration in Portuguese memorized and I can pray (poorly) and hold a small conversation in Portuguese.  The gift of tongues is very real. 

Our district is so much fun. You get like 2 or 3 times of physical activity a week where you have to run 5 laps then you can play volleyball or basketball or run more or whatever. My companion is fun, Elder Lehmann from Provo Utah. He worked for a year before coming out, got a girlfriend back home, and will be starting his first year at BYU with me. He also got a 35 on his ACT. The food is fine, a bit repetitive. Haven´t eaten any beans yet though! Breakfast is honestly the worst, it is literally cheese, ham, and like a roll and if you´re lucky and early enough to breakfast, you can use one of the like panini makers and grill it, if not then it stinks. 


Anyways, it is so so so much fun here at the CTM (centro de treinamento missionario), sorry for any spelling errors, Brazillian keyboard and all. We´ve had to teach an investigator twice which is really hard when you don´t know the language. They push you really hard here and sometimes it is literally impossible to achieve what they are asking but the effort of trying hard to reach what they set blesses you so much in learning and whatnot. Customs was fine, didn´t like declare anything, they just looked at my passport and sent me through. We can only take pictures on Wednesday which is our actual P-Day, only everyone has to email on Tuesday because there are so many missionaries.  They spread out laundry so I actually did my laundry yesterday. Elder Lehmann, Houser, and Knebel and I share a room and we combined all our darks into one and then did our whites separately. Everyone is a part of the choir.  We have choir right before the devotional on Wednesdays and Sundays and it is required to come to that.  I don't mind, it's fun to sing. The devotionals can be difficult though because we have to listen with headphones because you know, we're in Brazil.  I do hope that an Apostle or someone comes and visits during my stay here though, that would be awesome.

We go to the temple on Wednesday morning too and we switch between the Campenas and the Sao Paulo one with the Brazileros, only the Sao Paulo one is closed the next couple of weeks for cleanings so I think we will all go to the Campenas one tomorrow. We´ve got to get up an hour early, at 5:30 tomorrow to go to the temple. We also can´t upload pictures to the computer at the CTM so you´ll have to wait 6 weeks for any pictures. 

The most surprising thing was on day one.  We get here and they give us a bag with stuff including name tags.  So we put it on and Elder Knebel who is now my DL and will be going to Porto Alegre North, goes 'Elder Mangum, that isn't right!"  They accidently gave me the Sister Mangum name tags!  We all laughed and they quickly switched them because the Utah people got to the CTM a couple hours after everyone else.  Coincidentally, Sister Mangum is one of the two missionaries in my district. In my district in Elder Lehmann and I, Elder Knebel and Houser, Elder Berkheimer and Carrell (all 8 of us going to Porto Alegre Norte), Sister Mangum and Bucio, and Elder Frost and Stoker, all 4 going to Landrina. 

Things are good here, hard, but fun. I love all the people and getting to meet new people and learn Portuguese. I´m very surprised at times by how much I know, Spanish helps definitely with conjugation and some of the cognates, but I have learned a ton in the past week, like it is crazy for me to think that a week ago, I knew no Portuguese. It feels like I´ve been here forever and I love it, although I am ready to get out of this building tomorrow and get to walk around some.

Much love,

Elder Mangum 

Safe Arrival

Elder Mangum left Houston at 6 pm last night, flying to Miami, had a short 45 minute layover and caught a connecting overnight flight to São Paulo, Brazil, landing at 8:30 am.  He took a shuttle bus to the Brazil Missionary Training Center where he will spend the next 6 weeks studying Portuguese and missionary training before heading to the Porto Alegre area.

Centro De Treinamento Missionario - Brasil

He was able to send a short email home letting us know he arrived safely - 

My flight was good! There was one sister missionary on my first flight and two on my second. I haven´t met my district yet or my companion, but he will be Elder Lehmann. Our P-Day is Tuesday. The president of the MTC will post on Facebook in the group´: Centro De Treinamento Missionario - Brasil. Will write more then to everyone on P-Day, only can write this much. Also this keyboard is hard to use.

Love, Elder Mangum

Headed to Brazil

Today Elder Trevor Mangum left for Brazil.  We love you Trevor!

Leaving Home

Traditional Cracker Barrel send off meal

1-2-3 Sure Love You!

 

Airport NASA Cow - Last Group Picture

Saying Goodbye 

See you in 2 years Elder Mangum!!

Setting Apart

Tonight Trevor was set apart as a full-time missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by our Stake President, Dean Andersen. It was a wonderful blessing, filled with inspiring counsel and blessings.  We are all so excited for Trevor as he begins this next chapter in his life, serving the Lord and teaching His gospel in Brazil.  

Family Temple Trip

Today we took an early morning trip to the Houston Temple for Trevor, his family & cousin Max and Mangum Grandparents to participate in Baptisms for over 40 family ancestors.  

"The temple is a beautiful, serene place, and it is unique among buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church members gather in meetinghouses for weekly worship services. There, they enrich their lives by studying the gospel; they minister and serve among each other. But they attend the temple in part to bless and serve those who’ve gone before them. Every person who has lived on the earth is entitled to the opportunity to receive the blessings of eternal life and eternal family relations. Performing temple work by proxy for those who have gone on before allows God’s blessings to extend to all of His children." - Mormon.org

Open House

Trevor's Open House was an amazing event hosted by Bishop Crawford and his family at their home that has been transformed due to Hurricane Harvey last fall.  It has become a favorite place for all the youth to hang out and Trevor jumped at the chance for one last gathering there.  Thanks Crawfords and everyone who came out to support and say good luck to Trevor!

Trevor's Farewell Talk

"I’d just like to end with my brief and simple testimony.

I know that we are God’s children and that He loves us.

Eu sei que somos filhos  de Deus e que Ele nos ama.

I know that Christ is our Savior and that through Him comes true happiness.

Eu sei que Cristo e nosso Salvador e que atraves dele recebemos  felicidade

I know that this Church is true and holds the fulness of the gospel.

Eu sei que esta greja e verdadeira e [tang] a plenitude do eu angelho 

These things I bear witness to you in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Thank you to all the Houston Stake Youth who participated in the Musical Number, the EFY Medley: As Sisters in Zion & We'll Bring the World His Truth.  It was beautiful!  If you aren't familiar with the song, here is an original rendition of it:

The Houston Temple

Trevor was able to attend the Houston LDS Temple this evening with family and close friends.  What a wonderful experience to feel of God's love for each us and participate with Trevor in these sacred ordinances in the House of the Lord. 

To learn more about LDS temples, here is a great introduction:

Trevor's Priesthood Ordination

Trevor was given the Melchizedek Priesthood today and ordained to the office of an Elder.  In the ordination we were all reminded that the Priesthood is a sacred opportunity to serve & bless lives of others through the Lord and to be able to have a greater understanding of the love the Lord has for each of us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  

Mission Call for Elder Trevor Mangum!

A few weeks ago Trevor submitted his paperwork to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  His mission call arrived in the mail yesterday and we have all been so excited to see where he will be serving the next 2 years of his life!

"Dear Elder Mangum:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Brazil Porto Alegre North Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.

You should report to the Brazil Missionary Training Center on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Portuguese language...."

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Thanks to all the friends and family that came to support Trevor on this special day, both in person and via Facetime and Facebook Live.  We are so excited for Trevor and the opportunity to serve the amazing people of Porto Alegre Brazil!!