The youth of our ward submitted questions to ask the missionaries. Here are the questions and Michael's answers: (His time is limited, so he probably didn't have enough time to answer all of them!)
Lighthearted / Fun Questions:
1. Have you gained or lost weight? How many pounds?Neither! I've stayed the same. The benefits of being in Brazil, is that you eat a TON of realllly good food, but also walk so much that none of it stays on you!
2. What was your MTC experience like?MTC experience was seriously awesome! I love the spirit there and the focus that everyone has.
3. Describe the culture, landscape, and climate of where you serve.
4. What is the most interesting thing you have eaten?Think you've had a hamburger with everything on it? Think again. Try one with bacon cubes, beef cubes, hamburger patty, cheese, fried egg, tomato, lettuce, fried potato sticks, mayonnaise, and corn. Then come and talk to me.
5. Do the people where you serve have any interesting holidays or celebrations?They have a holiday called Corpus Christi. Yes, like the city in Texas. It's to celebrate some saint I think. And lets not talk about Carnival. Mainly because no one here wants to even mention what goes on, so I don't totally know!
6. What was the hardest part of learning another language?
7. What do you do on Preparation Day?SLEEP. That afternoon is sacred nap time before you get to work at the end of the day.
8. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you so far on your Mission?
9. What do you feel has changed the most about you since starting your Mission?
10. What do you miss the most from home?
11. What do you wish you had learned from your Mother before you left on your Mission?
12. What is it like living with a companion 24/7? Who has your most interesting companion been and why? I just try to think of it as preparation for marriage. It's hard at times, adjusting to new people. But I make sure to love my companions and serve them and everything works out great! My favorite companion so far, was Elder Marciano (or Elder Martian in English). He's from Rio de Janeiro and is super cool. We worked great together and became seriously great friends.
13. Have you been persecuted (rocks, spit, yelling, threats, etc.)? How did you handle it?
Thoughtful / Spiritual Questions:
14. What is your favorite scripture and why?I've always loved the faith and strength you can get from 1 Nephi 3:7, and the example he gives to us to always trust in the Lord, and that we can do all things with his help.
15. What aspect of Missionary Work were you not fully prepared for?
16. What do you wish you had done differently / in addition to prepare for your mission?Scriptures is a huge thing I wish I had learned and memorized more of before my mission. It's hard to use that powerful scriptural evidence in lessons if you don't know where to find the right words!
17. What principle of the gospel has been the most difficult to teach for people to accept?What really gets a lot of people here, is that there can only be one true church. Lots of people think that whoever speaks the word God has been ordained from Him to save other people. We give lots of explanations about the authority of the priesthood and how it's necessary to speak and act in the name of God.
18 Can you give an example of how you have seen the gospel change someone's life?
19. What is the biggest lesson(s) you've learned while on your mission?
20. How has your testimony been strengthened?
My testimony has been strengthened in every way imaginable.There's really no way for me to relay that any better. Every time I bear my testimony, I feel the Spirit testify to me that these things really are true.
21. What has been your observation of Sister Missionaries and their contribution to missionary work? What would you tell a Young Woman who isn't sure if a mission is right for her?The Sisters help a TON! We need so many more Sisters who are willing and able to serve. It's so much easier now for you with the age change, and everyone is needed to help spread this amazing work.
You are needed! I promise! If you are wondering about whether to serve or not, it's because you have a desire! And like D&C 4 says, everyone who has desires is called to the work! If you're on the fence, Just start to turn in your papers! Have faith that Heavenly Father will stop you if he has a different plan for you!
22. What advice would you give an Aaronic Priesthood holder who has not yet decided if he will serve a mission?You have no reason not to serve. Unless you have some ailment that restricts you from serving, you are absolutely needed. Remember, that this work isn't about you. It's about serving the Lord, and helping
tons of His children return to His presence. You will be blessed. It will be hard. But God will help you and give you the strength that you need to serve. He needs you, and has given tons of commandments to go
forth and serve Him. Just go read the New Testament. I know that you will be blessed a ton for this. You will learn more here than you can possibly learn outside of the mission field. If your concern is college, marriage, or whatever else, I promise as a representative of Jesus Christ that you will be better prepared for those things AFTER serving a mission. You have no reason not to serve, and every reason to serve.
23. Please share your feelings for the Savior and Missionary Work.
What more can I say? This church is true! Christ lives and loves us! Everyone can benefit from missionary work! This really is a marvelous work and a wonder, and is our awe inspiring privilege to work hand in hand with the Lord to bring about much righteousness and help His children come to know of the blessings He has in store for everyone! I love my Savior and feel much closer to Him now. He really does love you and wants what's best for you. I know this better and better every day as I work with Him in His vineyard to save souls. There is no greater blessing or opportunity than this! I am immensely grateful for my time as a missionary and will spend everyone second I am given to help other people receive the blessings I've had and continue to receive. In the sacred name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!
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