December 13th, 2010

This Wednesday Elder Araujo, from the seventies,  is coming to the mission to speak at a conference.  I am so excited because I will be going to Marilia and staying in the house in the area Palmital.  I finally get to go back to my first area!!  Hopefully, I will get to see some of the people from there.
Things with our investigators are like good and then bad and then good again. We found out that Guilherme's drinking problem is worse than we thought.  He actually slept a day in the street this week and come home totally hammered.  It is sad because he is only 19 and has had such a hard life.  I think he really wants to change, but doesn't know how.  Our other investigator, Juliana, is really cool.  During the Plan of Salvation lesson, she just started crying.  She told us that she did not know that she would actually be able to see her parents again.  We are teaching a lady named Carol who is dating a less active member.  She came to church last week with his family, even though he didn't come.  We have taught her a couple of times, but it wasn't until yesterday that I noticed how truly interested she seems in the church.
I haven't been very good at writing letters, tell Grandma and the Lamb's thanks for the birthday packages and I will try to write a letter.
Elder Galdino said he got a Christmas package from you.  But nothing for me yet.  Haha.  I still have hope I will get mine in time.  Transfers are tomorrow and who knows what will happen.  If I am still here I am going to the Branch Presidents house for Christmas and will have you call me there.  But I could get transferred.  I'll let you know next week.
Can't wait to talk to you!  I love you all.

December 6th, 2010

Rainy Brazil

I am great here in Pres. Prud.  Everything is going good and a few of our investigators are progressing a ton.  We are still having trouble getting them to church.  Yesterday, Guiherme couldn't come because he was helping his uncle build a house and Edna didn't come because she was feeling sick.  Samara and her mom, Maria Helena came.  It was Samara's 2nd time and Maria's 1st.  Maria Helena liked Relief Society and the Gospel Principles class, but not really Sacrament Mtg because no one shouted "Glory" or "Hallelujah"!  She is a very religious lady and a tad bit crazy.  Also, this guy named Vino came.  Him and his friend, Vanderson, past by the church and asked how they could find out more about the church.  It just so happens that Vanderson's mom is a member.  It is way cool.  But it is hard to teach them because they work a lot and live far away.  We will definitely figure out a way to teach them soon.
There is, also, a less active member who has stopped coming to church when he was denied the priesthood because he is a Mason.  He is a 33rd degree Mason (which is the highest rank) and the Chief of Police.  We are going to try and help him get back into the church.
Other than that this week wasn't great.  We haven't been able to teach a lot because the weather is so crazy.  It was on average 95 degrees and everyday this week it would downpour on us.  There wasn't one day we didn't get rained on.  It doesn't help the work, because no one wants to open the gate for us.  They don;t want to get soaking wet.
Everything is going OK with Elder Alves.  We do live in the same apartment, but I don;t have to be his comp.  The thing that makes it the most difficult is he is such a hypocrite now.  Everything he argued with me about and got mad at me for, he does now.  Sometimes when I look at him I just want to hit him.  I don't like the feeling that I get at all,  hopefully it will get better.
There is one thing you could do for me, I would like some more socks.  Mine have been magically disappearing.
Love you all.

November 29th, 2010

Elder Ghormley is getting transferred!

I can't believe it has been so cold in Utah.  Mom, I would give anything right now to be able to be somewhere it is cold.  It is soooooo hot here.
Thanksgiving was really good.  We had it with Bia and Guy.  Guy is an American, so Bia made us a real Thanksgiving dinner.  Except we had chicken instead of turkey (turkey is way to expensive). But we had real mashed potatoes with gravy, something that Brazil knows nothing about. And lasagna, which was the only weird part about it.  You guys had 12 pies?  Man, i wanted some chocolate pie on thanksgiving so bad. Haha. So the other day we were listening to Christmas music, but it just doesn't not feel like Christmas season when you are sweating like none other!
This week things were a lot better.  The young man, Guilherme, is getting way interested and told us that he needs a church in his life.  It seems like he is in a rough situation and I really want to help him find a way to better it.  Also we are teaching a lady named Edna, who talks like none other.  It is very hard to teach a lesson that isn't an hour long.  But yesterday, we read 3 Nephi 11 with her and as we talked about the baptism part, she was like "I think that once I visit I will know better, but I think I want to be baptized and follow this church."  I was like WHAT?!?!?!!  It was so awesome; she is a way good person, she prays every night and is reading the Book of Mormon.  I'm not sure if I will, but I truly hope I stay here one more transfer.  Transfers end the 11th or 12th.  I don't want to leave yet, because if I do I will not see these good people get baptized.  Back to some investigators.  So, Juliana we went back to talk to her again and she actually was taught by the missionaries 13 years ago.  But now she has a lot more desire to understand.  When we taught her the Book of Mormon she couldn't wait to start reading it.  so that should be pretty good.
So, now some sad news of the week.  We are having another emergency transfer.  My new friend that I made out here, Elder Ghormley, is going to be transferred.  It really sucks, because we have become such good friends.  And his replacement does NOT make me happy.  His replacement is....Elder Alves..., I was not happy to hear that name again.  I guess we will see how that goes.  At least he is not my companion, and
Elder Van Orden and I get along really well.
I love you all so, so much.