March 28, 2011

Well, last week I was in the hospital Monday afternoon until Friday afternoon.  I am doing much better now; however, we didn’t work for two weeks…..I am getting pretty worn out of being sick.  I am not entirely sure if I can do another round with another ridiculous Brazilian virus.  I have one more year to go and I think I may have a chance to set a mission record for time in the hospital.  I started eating breakfast and dinner.  I am eating more now than I ever have before.  Haha

Well, I received the Book of Mormons you sent and only had to correct some of the Português.  It was almost 100 percent correct, just some small things needed to be fixed.  I still have them.  I am waiting to find someone I think is right for the books.  So I am just carrying them around until I find the right people.  Haha

I was thinking about Logan and baseball!!!  Man, I really want to watch him play.  I am hoping I get a chance to when I get home!!!

I haven’t gotten the package you sent with Nick, yet.  I am hoping to get it tomorrow.

What were the changes that were made in the ward?

Well, I have started to study the Atonement.  So far it has been really fun.  I decided that simply reading about it won’t really help.  So, I first made a plan on what I want to learn, questions, what I am going to study, how.  I just made a rather large plan on how and what I am going to study.  I am looking forward to learning a lot more about it.  I have been downloading talks from conferences and listening to them.  That is where I got the idea, from a talk by Elder Richard G Scott in April 2010.  It is something I am really enjoying.

Well, that is about all I have for today!  Because well, with two weeks of nothing….haha

I love you all!!!  Have a great week!!!

Well, let’s just say this past week, my one year mark, was comparable to my kidney stone week.

I have been very, very, very sick. I haven’t eaten since last Wednesday. I’ve lost weight and had very high fevers. I was basically in my bed for four days. After working with Sister Batt for four days, and with no improvement, I made another fantastic trip to the hospital on Saturday. And, I have to keep going back to the hospital everyday for like the next week. I have to have my blood checked everyday because of some levels they have to watch. Basically, I have something called “Dangue”, a disease carried by mesquitos!!! It makes you really sick and really weak. It will be a couple of weeks before I am back up to strength. I only really started eating again today. Unfortunately I am not out of the woods yet. I may get checked into the hospital today if my blood levels are too low.
So talk about a one year being hard for missionaries!!!!
I got three letters from the funeral this past week.

I will send more pictures later. I just don’t have my camera and stuff cuz I came straight from the hospital to the lan house.

Sorry the email is so short. I am just rather tired…

I love you all!!!! Have a good week!!!

So, I will hit a year this Thursday or Friday. Depends on how you look at it. This week is much, much better than last week. Our numbers are far better. We had another baptism yesterday.  Here, we are taught that our purpose is to baptize, baptize and baptize some more. haha Which is what we do. We were hoping for a really good transfer but until now it is looking like it will be weak. We’ve got to find some new people. Like a lot of new people to teach.

So is it to late to get things in the box? Because my LZ. Elder Bills (we both came together) he wants a mountain dew... haha.  If it is too late it is no biggy!!!

So this thing in Japan…. I have pieced it all together with help from members and stuff haha. No one here really seems to care... it is really sad. And unfortunately that bothers me. I commented to my companion that this will affect everything in the world. And I mentioned to think about what might happen to the economy. And he said well when stuff like this happens, Brasil does better. He didn’t even care, just that fact that Brasil may have a slightly stronger economy.

The world is in a very bad spot. One disaster after another, Brasil, New Zealand and now Japan. If those locations aren’t divers enough for you, I don’t know what is!!!!

Dad asked: 

How are you feeling this week? I hope you are feeling better. (I am feeling better.)

Have you been drinking plenty of fluids (water)? (I have been drinking less than last transfer.)

Do you filter it? Can you buy bottled water? Does it cost much?( We buy those like 20 liter barrels.)

Do you get enough to eat? (We get enough to eat.)

Do you buy your own food? (We do buy a bit of our own food.)

Do you eat a lot of beans and rice? Beans and rice are good for you. If you eat and drink enough you should be able to be a little healthier. (Yes, rice and beans)

How is senior companion been going? (Senior has been ok. Each week gets better and better.)

Do you follow all the rules? (Yes I follow the rules, but always could do better.)

Are you doing your best to work as much as you can? (Always can work more.)

Are you teaching your new companion the way to work? (Trying.)

Have you tried any of your ideas yet? (A few and they are kind of working.)

Have you done any door to door tracting  (door knocking)? (We don’t really knock on doors here that much. Everything is generally references. But we will today.)

Do you continue to work on your Portugese?  Never stop learning and trying to improve. (Yes, not like I should though.)

Well, I love you all and wish you all another great week!!!!

Well, my first week of senior wasn’t too bad. Our numbers were pretty low so I am hoping this week will go over a little better.  I picked up a fantastic cold this past week so we haven’t really worked the last two days. But in the words of Sister Batt... what better time of the year to be sick than during Carnival!!! haha We did have a baptism this past Friday night. His name is Dante. He is 19 years old and I think he is planning on going on a mission. His friend baptized him. I sent pictures. A lot of pictures actually!!! It worked this week!!!

As you know, right now is Carnival so you kind of just hold your breath and hope your investigators don’t go too wild. I haven’t seen anything totally wild yet, but there is still time for something to happen!!! haha.

Well, just to let you know. This past week my thumb drive picked up a virus so I think I lost like all of my photos.  It’s kind of a bummer but whatever.

We are getting excited for conference. I hope I get to watch it in English. And I hope I get the chance to watch the Priesthood session! Usually we don’t get a chance to see it just because of timing.

Well, I can’t remember the address of the mission office right now, but I can bring it next week.  I don’t think I need a converter for the battery charger. Everything here runs on 220v. I have yet to actually see a missionary use a converter.

Well, letters have slowed down a lot. But that is normal at one year!

 
So is Logan’s leg doing better??? Good enough to play ball?


Well, my time is about up. I love you all!!! Pray that I can be strengthed physically and spiritually!!! Until next week!!!

February 28, 2011

Well, I am now in Parquelandia. And, I am Senior. I go from wanting it real bad to being a little nervous. My new companion is starting transfer 3. He was in the CTM with Spencer and Brenna, so I just saw a picture of him with Brenna! Haha…  I am so stoked for this transfer. I feel it is going to be really, really good. I have some ideas I want to try. My new companion Elder L. Carvalho is new and full of energy and ready to work. I have a feeling it will be really, really good!

We baptized this really neat young man yesterday. I was hoping to send photos. He is 15, the same age as Logan!!!! Haha..Well, I am trying to get pictures for you but the computer is like not recognizing the camera!!! Kinda annoying!  Unfortunately I can’t get the camera to work, so, hopefully next week I can get the camera working and send a large group of photos!!!

I found out today that all the people that Elder Roza and I baptized in Nova Aldeota are still going to church and are doing really, really well!!! When I heard that I can not even explain how I felt. I was so worried when I left there that everyone would stop going. But the exact opposite has happened!!! All nine of them are still going to church!!!!!!

I am so excited to play my trombone!!! I have been listening to my CD that you sent.  Tell Mr. Fount to stay alive long enough so I can get some help from him!!! I want a scholarship after my mission and I will need someone’s help!!!

Go Logan!!!! You can totally make the team!!! But no matter what, work your tail off on the trumpet!!!!!!!!!!

I am still on my first pair of shoes and have a feeling they will make it to the end of my mission! So, no need for shoes. Just the two books and the AA battery charger. And... anything else you would like to send!!

Well, I love you all so much and am really looking forward to next week!!!! Bye!!!