March 21st, 2011

Everything here is going really good for me actually, well kinda. This week started out amazing for me and Elder Moake; we were just on a roll of finding new people to teach and we had so much spirit and desire with us to keep on working.  On tuesday, I had to go with the Zone Leaders; Elder Moake ended up finding a bunch of new investigators that are good. One of them is this 12 year girl named Laura, we are teaching her whole family, but she is just awesome. She reads everything we give her and prays about it, she told us that she even dreamed about Joseph Smith. She wants to come to church but were not to sure about her parents so much. Another person we found is Geysa, she has a friend in the church and has already visited a bunch of times. But, her dad might be a problem. I guess that he is super Catholic, even though he never goes. Every other investigator that we have seems like they are all good and don't have any problems as of right now that we know of'; I sure hope it stays that way.  The weather has returned to being super hot, but it's not as bad because it has been really windy these past couple of days. I have no idea what a Ninja does, all I know is that he goes on missions and protects people, haah. Hey have you heard anything about Colin Ainge? He is also was in Japan and I would like to kow if anything happened to him.
I just read the Parable of the Sower the other day and it is may second favorite parable in the Bible. It always makes you think about which one you are, and you you will continue to be that through out your whole life.  Great lesson to think about.
Thank you all so much for everything that you do for me, and for all of the help. You all help to get me through this whole thing.

March 14th, 2011

I can't believe that you went on another vacation whileIi am here in Brazil. That does sound exactly like Brian, gettin all got up in some business shpeal, haha. I do want to hear how the trip went and stuff, next week.
This last week i went to Londrina to get my visa renewed and while there I got to visit Nilda and Monique, that I baptized while in Londrina.  It was so nice to be able to see them again and to know that they are still going strong.  First to clarify, a Ninja Teacher is a guy who trains people to become Ninjas. Dead serious too, this guy is like a legit ninja. But the reference that he gave us last week didn't come to church this week . The ward is really cool. not many of them like to be friends with the missionaries, at least thats how me and Elder Moake feel. I do have quite a few friends in the ward though. Pretty much all of the youth here love me, because im just a little crazy and I try to become friends with them and it all works out. My District Leader responsibilities are going along good, but I really don't know how much I like being district leader because if something goes wrong in my district everyone gets on my back about it. It is a realyl good patience builder. Wr work with one other companionship, they are way cool, so that makes things a little bit easier on me. Elder Moake is great and yes, we are still friends.
So, its sucks to hear the Jazz just suck now, but its good to hear that the Braves are looking good for this next season.  Lets just hope that they can stay healthy, haha.

Thanks for everything. I know that I have some funny requests from home, but does that really surprise you, haha.
I love you all and thank you for everything!!

March 8th, 2011

Things are going great here today. we had the opportunity to go to Marilia and have another mission tour with Elder Asconoveita, who is a Seventy. It was way cool, both he and his wife talked about making covenents.  They explained how we can use them on our missions. It was also a good time to get to see all of my mission friends who are still in São Paulo. Poor Elder Hodges, we are at almost 16 months into the mission and he still has never left the state of São Paulo.  I, also got to see Elder Galdino and I will get to go with him to Londrina to renew my visa. Other than that the rest of the week was good, but a tad bit annoying.  It started raining last monday and it hasn't stopped yet. Claudia still hasn't decided to get baptized,  but is thinking about it a lot this past week. Also my first baptism that I had in Bauru, André, his ninja professor gave us another reference to another one of his students. This is awesome, because the only references of his that havent been baptized are the ones that are under 18 and that the parents wouldn't let them be baptized. Oh yeah, I got the Kara's chocolate heart and it was super good.  Elder Moake also says thank you and liked it a lot. He ate it all on the first day!  It is still so hard to get people to come to church. I wish that Brazis were like Americans, who when they say something they mean it. So many people tell you that they will come to church, that there is no doubt in there mind whatsoever. Then they have some lame excuse to why they didn't come.  But we are still working hard and I have a lot of faith that we will see the blessing from our work!
Thanks for all of the love and support, I miss you all!!!

February 28th, 2011

Life in Bauru is going great. Today we had transfers and the good news is that I will be staying  at leastone more transfer with Elder Moake, which just makes both of us happy. I cant believe that the Jazz traded Dwill, that is just freaking crazy! Everything seems to be changing so much in the world of sports, and I feel so out of the loop. I didn't like your lil' p.s. about going to watch the Rockies, it just made me sad that I have to miss one more baseball season.

This week was a good week, because Daiane and Jessica were baptized!!!  We were so happy to see them get baptized. It was cool because they really chose to be baptized because they got their answer, not because we had asked them so many times. When they both told us that they were finally going to get baptized, it was an amazing feeling. I didn't do any of the baptizing, Elder Moake and our ward mission leader did them. I did get to confirm them both which was  I loved. Now were are working a lot with one more person in this family because she told our zone leader that she wants to be baptized, but is just wants to wait a little bit. So. we are going to help her out now too. The only thing is that we need to really start finding some new good investigators, please continue praying for us.  After the baptism, we had a talent show and Elder Moake and I decided to to something. He got a guitar and played swing life away while I sang it.  Everybody loved it. It was so cool. even though I was so nervous to do it. The Chinese we get isn't as good as Panda, but it's still way amazing.

I love you all so so much and you truly all mean so much to me. If it wasn't for all of the support you guys give me I dont know if I would have made it so far along. Thank you all for everything.

February 20th, 2011

Things for me are going really well. Elder Moake and I get along really well and work well together which makes things a lot nicer and easier. He was in the area before I got here, so that made things easier too. He was with Elder Staats who I was in the MTC with. Our investigators are coming along well. Daiane and Jessica are two younger girls who we have been working with for awhile. Because Daiane's and Jessica's sister got baptized, they have had a lot of desire to as well. But the only problem is that they kept giving us a lot of lame excuses for not wanting to get baptized, like they didn't want to be baptized on this upcoming Saturday ,because there was a meeting for the young womenand they wanted to go to that.  And the young womens pres. told them it was perfect, they could be baptized afterwords. So, now that is what's going to happen, haha. Not going to lie to you guys, but this week was a very boring week. Nothing exciting happened, just the fact that Jessica and Daiane are going to get baptized, other than that it was a normal week. We are finding a lot of new investigators and we are teaching a lot of lessons, but we are just having a hard time getting them to come to church and have the amazing spiritual experience there as well.  But that's what we are working on.

I liked the scripture that you sent me, I like it because everytime I read it makes me understand that no matter what we do the Lord's promises will be true. And sometimes we don't even notice that it is us making it happen
Couple things i would like you guys to send me: yellow cake mix with chocolate frosting andeEaster egg painting stuff. Thanks!
Sorry for the short email, but it just wasn't an exciting week.
I love you all so much!

February 14th, 2011

Happy Valentines Day!!

First thing I want to talk about is, I cant believe that Jerry and Phil left the Jazz. Why in the world would Phil leave too? Whats going to happen to the Jazz now?

My week was pretty good one.  Nothing like super special happened, but we just worked really well. This area is, yet again, the hardest area in the city I happened to be in. That is what every single person has told me, but we are working really hard and I do believe that we are going to change that saying around. We have a couple of really good investigators.  I believe that I told you about Daiane, who wants all the attention. Well, we stopped giving it to her and focused on her two aunts. They are progressing a lot more than she is now and have a ton of interest in the gospel. Its going so well and it makes me happy to see them progress so much. This ward is the smallest of all the places i've been, the attendance rate is 55 and yes, it's a tad bit poorer than my last area. The members still feed us, but it's a lot of the same members during the month. Every thursday we go and get Chinese food, because there is a member who owns a Chinese restaurant and they feed us every thursday.  Its so freaking good!

 Elder Moake and I get along way good. We look kinda funny walking together and it's not just because of the height difference. We are always laughing and having fun, but at the same time always working hard. This week I learned something that I always forget about here in the mission, we need to focus on everybody in the house and not just the one that we think is progressing more. Our attention wanter Daiane told us that she doesn't want to be baptized so we  focused on her aunts. Now, they are thinking a lot about baptism and it's just such a good thing.  Another spiritual story this week, We went to this kids b-day party in the ward and he had some family there who weren't members. His mom asked us to give a message and I thought what should  talk about. That day me and Elder Moake didn't bring our bibles with us. So, I was looking through the Book of Mormon, when Ether 12:27 came to my mind. I read it and after reading it one of the family members told me thank you for reading that for me I needed that a lot right now in my life. It was a very cool experince.

Funny story now!  Coming home from that same birthday party, we grabbed the bus that normally goes close to our house. As we start going home it takes a turn that well, wasn't in the direction of our house. We ended up taking a 1 hour bus ride that only got us to a point that was still a 20 min walk to our house, haha. We felt really stupid when the bus driver asked us when we planned on getting off.

I can't believe that you guys got to eat dinner with Al Jefferson. What did you guys talk about with him? Where did you go to eat? Who all got to go with you?

I love you all so so much and I really liked that Stockton story.

February 6th, 2011

My District

Bauru is going good, the only problem is that is rains here like every night. Elder Moake is awesome, but he does make me feel like a midget. He is 6'6"! Its kinda funny because he also remember that Malinda, his aunt, told him to look for me, too. He lived Kinda by Wal-mart but now he lives closer to the Wendys on State Street. He has been on his mission for 5 months. He did have some visa issues but he was like me and made it to Brazil before his MTC time was over.
My new area is really good. The people though are kinda not nice on letting us in, but they are totally willing to give there address everytime, haha. We live by ourselves and we live in a house this time. It's not that bad of a house, it has some interesting things but Ican live with them. Also, we live in a house behind a members house. It is this old lady named Rosa and she just loves the missionaries. We always get dinner from her, like almost every night. I do like the ward and they are all so willing to help us, which is very nice. Our investigators are doing really well. Andre was baptized on Saturday, I would be sending home a picture but I just noticed that I forgot my camera. But everything went really well with his baptism. Its easy to tell that he will be a strong member. Our American family is starting to become really interested in what we are teaching them. We have another girl who is 12, who is doing all of the church activities, like new beginnings. But she is a little afraid of being baptized. Those are the investigators we are working are hardest with because they are the closest to being baptized.
Being District Leader means that I am in charge of a group of missionaries. I have to lead in the meetings that we have each week and give a training lesson each week on something different. The missionaries in my district are really cool. I never wanted to be a District Leader, I would have been happy just as a senior comp the whole time, haha.  But it's good.
Thanks so much for everything and yes, I'm doing really good and everything is going well for me.
P.S. Mom, news that maybe you already know, but Avenged Sevenfold has a new CD. This guy told me the other day because we were talking about music.

January 30th, 2011

So, yes I did end up getting transferred. I got transferred to the city Bauru, it's still in São Paulo. I'm with Elder Moake, he is kinda new on the mission and is from Orem. Crazy story for you, he went to Vineyard and wel,l he was actually in my kindergarten and 1st grade class. I didn't remember that at all but he did, it was crazy. Also, do you remember a girl named Erica Nielson, she would be my age and lives where we lived in Orem by Dallas Neath? He is friends with her. We have a lot of people that we both know. Also so some other crazy stuff has happened with this transfer. I became a District Leader. It's kind of difficult because now I have a lot more responsiblities. The only sad thing is I will have no clue what happens with all of my old investigators until I see Elder Van Orden and can ask him what happened.  I just have to wait and see.
Bauru is pretty cool, it's not nearly has hot as Pres Prud and that is a good thing. It is a ward here, but not a very strong one. Our attendance yesterday was 55 which is really quite weak. We have some pretty good investigators. We have a kid named André who is going to be baptized on Saturday. We have taught him 4 times and he is just like perfect. He gave up coffee because a member told him if he did that he would get his answer and he did. So, pretty much just perfect. Also we found this family who lived in the states for 15 years and even had a son while there. When we go there we teach them in English and they came to church yesterday! Roberto, the dad, even cried during Sacrament meeting. That is who we have right now, but I can tell that this area will actually be a really good area, especially where we are working now. So, yeah, that is my big news for the week, that now I have to work even harder as a District Leader. Haha
Sorry my email is a lil lame, but everything here for me is good and I don't need anything. Thanks for all of the support. Jk, I need body wash and some deodorant, not a lot but a couple.

January 24th, 2011

Pres Prud is good.  It has been freaking hot this last week with a few very big rainstorms.  Some days it will rain all day and other days no.  Some days we will wake up and it is raining.  We walk to church in the rain, pick up our investigators in the rain. and then after church it stops raining and is 105 degrees the rest of the day.  (This is what happened to us yesterday.)

Teaching things are going good.  Juliana, we are set to baptize her on Saturday.  On Friday we taught her about priesthood blessings.  She said she would think about it and pray about it.  Yesterday she asked us to give her a blessing and it was such a wonderful experience.  I had the opportunity to give the blessing and during it the spirit was so so so strong.  I have so much faith in Juliana, I feel so strong she will be able to beat this addiction that she has.

Carol is doing great also.  She is dating a less active member, but his kids family is way strong in the church.  She has been coming to church with them for a very long time, but hasn't felt ready to be baptized.  She has been progressing a ton.  We challenged her to be baptized on Saturday and she accepted our challenge!

We are, also, teaching a lady named Madalena.  She is the step mom of a kid who just left on his mission.  She is way cool,  she just needs to stop drinking coffee and get married.  Also, we found Daira on Saturday and she came to church with us on Sunday.  She has a lot of questions about the Plan of Salvation, which is very, very good.

Yes, Mom, I am really safe here in Pres Prud.  I have never felt afraid or been in a situation that was bad for me.  The Brazillions really have a lot of respect for us as missionaries.  They are very kind.

Thank you for everything. I am truly so grateful for opportunity I have been given to be here in Brazil.

January 17, 2011



Esterla, Marcio, Carol, Luiz, Madalena, Juliana, Camila, Elder Van Orden and Me



We have not been affected by the flooding, most of the rain has been on the coast and not inland.  So, we haven't had to worry yet.  The last two days have been over 110 degrees, so yeah, I'm dying of heat.  Haha
This week was really good.  We had a Family Home Evening with Juliana and Carol and it was way good.  Sister Madalena gave a solid message about obedience to the commandments.  The next day we did the pre-baptism interview with Juliana. We found out that she has a problem with smoking and she has been afraid to tell us.  She told us she had been smoking 20 cigarettes a day and now was down to ten, she has really been trying to quit on her own.  We told her we were here to help her.  On Friday she could only smoke 5, Saturday 4, Sunday 3, today 2 and tomorrow will be her last one ever.  She has been doing great!!!  It is awesome, I truly feel like she will stop smoking for the rest of her life!  She has a testimony of everything.  With Carol we just need to help her feel that she is ready and help her recognize her answer from Heavenly Father that this is the true church of Jesus Christ here on the earth.  We are still working hard and trying to find new investigators.
Transfers are next week and this is the first time since I got to Pres Prud that I don't want to be transferred.  I feel like my work here is not done yet, I am hoping I will be able to stay.  I have never felt like this before transfers.  Hopefully, we can accomplish a lot this week before transfers.  I know things will work out right and the Lord will put me where I need to be.
Everything with me and Elder Van Orden is good, nothing to much between us.  Elder Alves still gets on my nerves, but I am just letting him be and not letting it affect me.
I love you all.  Thanks for all the help and support.

January 10th, 2011

I am doing good and everything is dandy  here in Pres Prud.  This week was a pretty fun week.  On Monday, we taught Carol again and it went very well.  Afterwards we made french toast with Peanut Butter and Maple Syrup.  The family loved it.  Everything with Juliana is going somewhat good.  Her goal is to be baptized, but she has something holding her back and she doesn't want to tell us about it.  We are going to keep working with her because she is so ready and we just need her to let us help her with what is holding her back.  We are having a family night on Tuesday and she is coming with us.  I think it will be good for her to make some more friends in the ward and just have some fun with some good people.  This will probably be my last transfer here.  I hope we can get them committed to be baptized before I go, because I feel like they are so ready.
I kind of have an EMO haircut right now.  We found a place to get our haircut. It is a beauty school and it only cost like 50 cents in US money.  But sometimes it is a little uneven.  Haha

I finally got my last two Christmas packages.  The air hockey game is awesome.  I love the ties, I have so many ties now!

January 3rd, 2011

Hello.  I am doing great.  New Years was kind of lame for us.  We had to be home before 9pm.  So we, all the missionaries in my house, went up to the roof and played UNO until midnight waiting for the huge firework celebration that they have here in Brazil every year.
We made the brownies that you sent with Juliana and they were amazing!  And we put up the awesome pink Christmas tree and hung the snowflake lights in our apartment.  The Tech Decks are very cool and keeping me entertained.  My companion got a sweet tie for Christmas, it was a SF Giants tie.  I would like an ATL Braves tie.  Haha
Last P-Day we played Brazilian Football (Soccer.)  Elder Galdino thinks I get a little intense.  But I just play goalie, so I don't have the opportunity to do something stupid to another missionary.  Haha
Juliana is progressing like none other.  On Saturday we left her some scriptures about baptism to read.  We didn't tell her they were about baptism, just that she needed to read them and think about them during testimony meeting.  And she totally did!!  Hopefully she will be baptized here really soon, that would make me super happy!  We are going back to her house to teach her on Tuesday and I think it is going to go great.
That was my week.  Really other than that, we are just trying really hard to find some more people that want to hear the gospel and are ready to progress.
Thank you so much for everything, I love you all so much.

December 29th, 2010

It was great to talk to you on Christmas!!  I hope you weren't freaking out about not getting an email on Monday.  What happened was, we had a P-Day in Marilia with Pres. Tavares.  So, I did not have a chance to email, but we were given the opportunity to email today.
I did finally get 3 packages from you and one from Sis. Reay.  I got the one with the Christmas tree and the ones with the cake mixes and the peanut butter and maple syrup. 

Sunday was a good day, we only had one investigator at church, Carol.  Juliana didn't come because she ended up having to go to the hospital.  Last night though, we went and taught her about the Law of Chastity and it was like the best lesson I have taught on my whole mission.  The spirit was so strong and we truly felt she will follow it.  Our only problem is, she thinks because of this she will never find someone to marry and will be single her whole life.  I told her if she was faithful and kept the law, God would help her and would put someone in her path for her.  It was really an amazing and spiritual lesson!

Sorry that I don't have much to say, it wasn't that long ago we last talked.  Haha

Feliz Ano Novo!!

December 20th, 2010

Elder Dean, Elder Staats, Elder Hodges, Me and Sister Beach
MTC District 

The Solanges Family

My Palmital Dad

My Marilia Moms

I am doing great here in Brazil, This past week was a good one for me.  We went to Marilia and stayed there for two days, which was awesome because I got to visit with people from Palmital.  I was able to get a few pictures of my favorite people.  The conference with Elder Araujo was way good and helped me out a ton.  He talked on how we can build our faith.  It was a very spiritual meeting and it was great to be there.  While in Marilia I was able to see Elders Hodges, Dean and Staats again.  I hadn't seen Elder Dean since I left the MTC, so that was cool.  I also got to see Sister Beach, which was nice as well.  I didn't get transferred, nobody in Pres Prud was transferred this time.  But because one of the AP's was really smart, none of the missionaries in Pres Prud will be getting any type of package or letter for Christmas.  We will have to wait until someone goes to Londrina. 
Things are actually going quite well with our investigators.  Some are more receptive than others.  Yesterday we had seven investigators come to church!!  We had this kid and his stepmom and stepsister.  This lady named Iracir, she brought 3 of her grandchildren and Juliana.  Iracir we found on Friday and she came to church and loved it!  I think the person I was most happy to see at church was Juliana.  We have been teaching her for a few weeks and she is really progressing.  I hope so much she will continue on this path.  The other Elders are having a baptism, we are hoping Juliana can come to the baptism and see how she feels during it.  It should be some good stuff!  Yesterday I had to give a talk on the fly, they forgot to ask anyone to give talks.  It was a little hard, but I think it went well.
I love you all and can't wait to talk to you on Saturday!