McPheeian sends his love from Osternack!

Good morning, everyone!

Snow in Brasil. It was a jaw dropping experience for everyone here.   -3 C.   It was Elder Bastos' first time feeling the magical white stuff. He was running around on our neighbor's roof, he was so happy. Our neighbor´s roof is below us -- we can simply walk onto it. It is the perfect spot to gaze at the stars at night. You can see so many of them down here. One of my favorite things to do at night is just sit on the roof (our neighbor's) and read. When you are without your guitar and facebook to guide your day, you start to find other hobbies on the mission. Like star gazing. :)

Speaking of my lost hobby of playing the guitar. I had a guitar contact. Yeeeeeah. :) Thanks to our Founding Fathers and their diligent pursuit of many different kinds of freedom, we have been blessed with religious freedom. One thing led to another, and Joseph Smith restored the same church that Christ established when He ministered on the earth. Many years later, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was born and went on to win Grammys. There is a story my mother can tell you of when I was an infant and was instantly calmed when she was watching the taped recording of the Choir singing at General Conference (because my birth got in the way on October 1). Ever since my early days I have adored music, constantly trying to find new genres and new ways I can express myself through music. Thanks to my family, with a father who played a slick clarinet, a mother who is the queen of the organ, and three brothers that play several instruments, I grew up in a home where music was always on at least someone's mind. Usually on the mind of my Mom and my brother Eric when they would try to schedule around each other's piano and drum lessons:)  I discovered John Mayer at Jonathan's mission going-away party. I have a distinct image of Jeff Meise and Eric playing "daughters" and everyone singing along. I think this is when my desire to own a guitar was born. Christmas of 2010 my mother surprised me with a brand new guitar. At the time, I didn't know that the wooden phenomenon would become my new best friend/ girl friend. The nights when I had nothing to do I would just sit and play "Charlize" (my mom can explain the name). I started playing at school. I met two awesome brothers at college and even started a band! I left for a mission and had several opportunities to play primary song medleys with members in Ohio, but never with a complete Brasilian stranger. Then, two weeks ago, Elder Bastos and I were in contacting mode and Elder Bastos pointed out a man with a guitar across the street. At this moment I was really missing my guitar while feeling my not-so-calloused-anymore fingers. I immediately ran across the street, a Fiat had to slam its brakes, and started talking to the young man and asked for the guitar (kindly) and Elder Bastos and I explained the Restoration in song..... and we now have baptism marked for this young Brasilian fellow.  Music is grand. :)

2 things I miss from home that can't be sent to me on the mission because they will get ruined  in transit.

1. Wawa Hoagiefest. Nothing like that glorious month exists here.

2. Water Ice. ditto. 

More found hobbies in the mission. Teaching ENGLISH! We have an hour to study the mission language and Brazilians have a chance to learn English if they have an English speaking companion. We have recorded some hilarious videos that I will have to transfer onto CDs and send home. 

OK, almost out of time, but here is a list of people to pray for:

Cida

Flavio

Amadeu

Isaque

Vanessa

Gilson

Daniele.

Pray for them.

Seding love  - stay sweet, everyone.

Elder Ian Forsyth

General Conference and a dusting of snow

Lights, camera...

Action:  And here we have....Curitiba

HELLO EVERYONE!!

Mother of Pearl where do I begin? Let's start here. The MTC is heaven on earth. Maybe a little smaller and more restricting, and heaven probably doesn't have foursquare or broken ankles in gym but you get the idea. It is such a special place during the holidays and General Conference. Every talk seems to to be about missionary work even though they aren't. I love how I am able to connect every talk to how I can further serve my companion, become more converted to gospel, or know how to utilize prayer more so I can know what my investigators need, etc. It is the greatest. I especially Loved Elder Bednar's talk about Chastity. We live in such a grayed-out world when it comes to morals and virtue. It seems like many people who aren't members just don't know where to draw the line and they forget about virtue. Bednar set the rules and made sure that he told the people of the world to set virtue as a thing to keep most precious. To all you young people from 8 to 82, make sure you heed his teachings. I know that if you do your lives will be so blessed and you will feel so squeaky clean all the time. Trust me it feels great. :) My second favorite was Tad R. Callister's talk about Deacons in the church. They have so much power to do good and I agree with brother Callister, they need to be pushed further. When I was a deacon's quorum president I am pretty sure I just coasted through the motions and didn't really understand the keys that I had. I wish I had prayed harder for those in my quorum and held more quorum activities outside of church. Unity is such a big part of everyone's life and everyone wants to have a family outside of their immediate family. The priesthood in a boy is as strong as the priesthood in a man as long as the power is used by worthy young men. His talk seriously made me want to be a deacon's quorum advisor when I get home. I love those guys and the sweet spirit they have. Let's raise the bar. :)

Mt. Timpanogos

I looked just like him right before I shaved my beard.  Representing the posterity of one of our beloved prophets, my g-g-g-g Grandfather, Brigham Young

By the way taking pictures of people sleeping in General Conference is hilarious. Mouths....wide....open. It was during Richard G. Scott's talk, after they announced and sustained all the new authorities. I have some of the greatest pictures. Those will have to wait until after the mission.

So P-days are the best. You can finally wind down from a really tiring week. And let me tell you, 6:30 to 10:30 straight is more tiring than it sounds. I love laundry. I know that sounds weird coming from a 19- year-old boy but laundry is my second favorite part of the day...besides going to the temple every Tuesday. I love that so much because everytime I go I try to answer a question and I just feel like I kinda get the whole concept more every time I serve the Lord. Anyways, laundry is muito chique (super tight). I get to chat with everyone in my zone, eat the cookies people send me and write letters home like this one. So bomb. Don't worry, I don't say so bomb...it is one of the many strange things mormon missionaries say to sound cool. It is absurd. But then again I say some weird things too, so to each his own. Be that as it may...i love laundry.

It snowed today and I love staring at Squaw Peak when there is snow on it. I am pretty sure the mountains are my favorite of all of God's creations. I just want to go run up them and breath in the fresh air...but I can't since the MTC is an island inside of an island called Provo. I love Squaw Peak. It is so majestic and beautiful. To all of my brothers...we are going to have the best Brothers Gone Wild when I get back. You can do whatever you want while I am gone but when I get back prepare for heli-skiing and more skiing. So, going along with the snow factor, President Hacking of the MTC granted all the elders the greatest gift. We don't have to wear jackets anymore unless it is a devotional or a district/zone meeting, including sacrament meeting. Right after that announcement, it snows and is 30 degrees. Clearly the Lord wants us to wear jackets so we look good. 

The game Ninja is still a thing even at the MTC. I thought it was a middle school/ efy/ youth conference 14-year-old game. I guess not. Maybe I am still as mature as a 14-year-old. It is the truth, you don't have to tell me...i've already accepted it. 

Everyone, please pray for more focus and humility (for me). I really feel like I can learn so much more. I know I can still muster more focus than I already have. I want to be able to go through the whole day without taking one 20 minute nap during my several scripture study sessions. I can feel all of your prayers and I can feel all your love. I am so extremely grateful for all of you. Stay sweet everyone. Elder Forsyth is out.......to fold his laundry. 

Love,

Elder I. J. Forsyth
(in case I ever become a general authority)
p.s. I love you mom. 

Provo Temple, Squaw Peak in background (before snow)