What a crazy week it was.
I finished my last week at home MTC which was very similar to the first, just a lot more Portuguese. It is pretty cool to think how much I've learned in just a small time. I've gotten to the point where I can now form sentences off the top of my head and carry on a conversation without having to look at my notes. It's an ongoing process and takes consistent effort everyday, but I have a lot of fun in learning.
Saying goodbye to family and friends who have supported me for my entire life was not the easiest and something I dreaded going through. However, I find peace in knowing there is a greater work for me to do and that I have a responsibility as a missionary to give people an opportunity to change their lives. We talked with our mission president in the CTM about the Brazilian people and their culture. He told us that the gospel can completely transform the lives of these people that come from absolutely nothing. Hearing something like that puts the whole thing into perspective and makes it a lot easier to take the next step.
Saying good-bye for two years to some of his basketball friends.
Elder Copeland enjoying dinner with his Uncle Craig and Aunt Cassie and his cousins at a favorite restaurant before heading for the airport.
And it's off to the airport.
I'm forever grateful for my family and the person they helped me become.
After saying goodbye to them, I met up with the other missionaries and got ready for a 10-hour direct shot through the night. I was able to get a few hours of sleep despite a baby crying the entire time in the seat behind us lol. Nothing better than that.
Landing in Sao Paulo was a bit of a shock. Finally realizing that this was real life and that I was officially on my own was scary. Barely knowing the language and being in a foreign country in what seemed a blink of an eye was surreal. But this is exactly why you go on a mission. To force yourself to grow up and put your efforts toward someone else. It's supposed to be uncomfortable. It's supposed to be hard. It is supposed to push you to your limit and that's the beauty of it.
First day in the CTM was awesome. Eighty percent of the people are Brazilian and speak no English. Every missionary is happy and proud to be there. It's a ton of fun to test my Portuguese and try and have conversations. The locals love it and are also super helpful. Seeing kids in the same situation as me was really motivating. The food is great and the location of the CTM in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world is seriously the coolest thing!
Yes, there is a great place for getting some exercise here at the CTM.
I will be here for the next month learning the language and preparing to enter the field!
If you are interested, my grandma is keeping a blog of my mission that you can follow at https://elderjaxoncopeland.blogspot.com/.
Elder Copeland
Pic of the Week
Last Sunday with the guys in my ward getting ready to head out on their missions. Bishop Porter is a biker so he got us all bike ties. Jeremiah Burgoyne (Brazil), Marcus Dougherty (waiting for his call), Merik Porter (Oregon spanish speaking), Bishop Porter, Me, Tanner Herlehy (New Mexico), Joseph Cline (Chile)
