July 11, 2011

Well, here is my big news for the week. I am staying in Parquelândia for another two transfers... because I will be training! I don’t know exactly what I want to think, excited, nervous, a lot of stuff. This means I will be in the same area for 8 more weeks. So tomorrow my new companion will arrive, could be American or Brazilian.

I haven’t slept well the last few nights ever since they told me I was going to train. At first I thought it was a joke my District Leader was pulling on me, so I called the Zone Leaders and they told me it was no joke. So it is rather weird. haha. I really don’t know where to start!!!! Fortunately the church has a new program for us to use so it should make everything a lot easier

Well, I have the area hopefully set up for the arrival of the new Elder. I have at least two baptisms for him. One of which is a 17 year old girl who is a lot like Dante. Super smart and really is taking the gospel for everything it has. A lot of people are baptized and then just are like normal. But there are those people that you baptize that when baptized go above and beyond. I don’t know why I am so privileged to be the one to find all these people here in this area but it really does make a difference.

I should also be meeting the new Mission President here shortly. He is a very demanding President which has it’s ups and downs. haha. I am kind of excited to see the changes he is going to make.
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That is some exciting missionary news about Tyler, the Lillywhites and Adam!!! Exactly which mission in Brazil will Adam Hopper go to???

Just think….next family reunion I will be there!!!! haha

I keep thinking of what my trainee will be like…..tall, short, funny, sad... haha.

I love you all!!!!

July 4, 2011

After one week of the new President, we still haven’t heard anything. haha I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. haha And now I have to send my letter to the President in Português... So it takes super long now because my writing skills are not yet perfected. Dante says it is really good but I don’t know about that. 

This week was good, a little slow, but good. It is a little difficult to get our investigators to progress. A lot of them are not, just moving really slowly.  We are just trying to wrap stuff up for the transfer.  Next week is transfers so we shall see where I end up. I kind of want to go to the interior but I want my package sooner so I have torn feelings on the matter.

I am making pretty good progress in the Bible, learning a lot. I am wanting to finish it but I am not making progress like I would like. 

I got letters this week from Kendra, Maren, Cambrai, and Joel Johnson. 

Have you all heard where Tyler is going on his mission or has he not received his call yet?

I am glad to hear you got the letter I sent through Mission Ties email. That means I can start using that as well!!! 

When is the cabin?

Ya, I have some hope in Monica. Someday I’ll get her interested in the Gospel. haha. Just little by little but I will. Haha

By the way, I wear those plaid pajama shorts like every night.  They are super nice to wear here!!haha.

I love you all!!! Until next week!!!!!

June 27, 2011

This week was really a hard week. We cut a lot of people. We have very few people to teach. I really want to stay here but at the same time I need a change of scenery to get me a little more excited. After walking the same streets everyday for 5 months you get a little tired. Haha.  But we are hoping for a good week this first week with the new President. 

President Batt leaves tomorrow and President Souza arrives, so it will be interesting. No one knows quite what to think or expect. 

Another area in the interior opened this week so someone will be having the joy of really actually opening an area!!!

Well, this week was a weak number week for us, but we managed one baptism. We got in a little bible bash with an old, Catholic lady this past week. It seems we only knocked on the doors of the Catholics here in the area. haha. 

Today we are spending a good part of our p-day with Dante and Bruno. Haha.  It will be pretty awesome!!!! We are going to watch our one movie then play soccer. haha

Last week we discovered I am rather good in the goal because I am tall and my hand skills are pretty good. I give that to volleyball. 

Have you all sent the package?

I am doing well. Far more healthy…

I love you all!!! 

              Elder Wahl with Dante (young man he taught and Baptized)

June 20, 2011

Well, this past week wasn’t too bad.  We actually had an excellent week for numbers.  The only problem is, I am having problems with my companion who seems to have changed his desires to be here. So, I am sorry this week looks as though it will be a little small. I had to write a little more to President Batt than normal.

Let’s see. This past week we found and taught this man that can’t stop talking. It will take for ever to teach him because you teach him something then he talks about it for another 20 minutes. haha. He will be difficult to teach. 

We had a division this past week with our LZ. One is actually slightly crazy. Like no joke. haha. So that was weird. But I was with his companion so it wasn’t as bad. 

It is weird to think that from today President Batt will be gone in eight days… Something kind of weird to think about, and missionaries think they are “trunky”. Imagine him after three years!!! Haha

I think I may be losing one of my pairs of shoes here in the next few months. My ECCOs got a hole in the heel that lets water enter the sole. Into the shoe no, but into the sole so it gets wet then dries, gets wet, then dries. So it will probably fall apart soon. Good thing I have 2 other pairs of shoes. You should also look to see if ECCO would replace the shoes. I heard that if you send them a picture they would. 

We have been making a lot of good food. Well, tasty, don’t know if it is good. I sure enjoy it. Haha

I had a dream last night about red vines because we talked about them at lunch. So I had a dream I was in the store buying red vines and twizzlers. Haha. It was one of the best dreams I have ever had. haha. I also had a dream that I was driving a really awesome new boat you all bought..........

I sent a letter home for Monica. So when it arrives make sure she gets it. 

So how was Grandma’s trip to visit Uncle Mark and Tara? 

Hey, so I am going to ask a big question. Are we all gonna move when dad gets released??? Like all the other Bishops???

And. Happy Father’s Day!!!!!!!!! I won’t lie, I forgot. haha. Kinda forget the American Holidays. 

I love you all!!! Until next week!!!! 

And hopefully by the weekend you can all have a surprise!!!

FYI we added two weeks letters into one post

June 13, 2011

So let's see.... where to start.

The normal is happening here. The ward is gossiping about the missionaries and talking trash about them which makes it really hard to do missionary work... so I am just going to baptize... if they choose to help great... but if not, tough luck for them.

Well, now warning about this part, do not start to worry.

So we we're walking to a house. And we were walking down a fairly busy street, actually very busy street. And I was looking "downish" because it was dark and I didn't want to trip on a rock. When I looked up and saw three guys and one speed up and another slowed down and they all split up. Well, we were being robbed. So two guys pull out these tiny little guns and tell us to pass our cell phones. But... we don´t have cell phones... haha
So the one guy working me was like "pass your cell", and I was like, "I don't have one".  And then he said it again and I was like "I don't have one". And he looks at me and says "seriously"? And I was like "serious". And then he gave me that look like I was so pathetic like the biggest loser in the world because I didn't have a cell. Then after they realized we didn't have anything they left. haha

So that was my Saturday night. haha. Not really a big deal. It is pretty normal here.

We also baptized yesterday!!! His name is Anderson and he is 10 years old. He is the first member in his immediate family. But he has a number of cousins that are members.

Yesterday Dante confirmed Samara. Both are people that were baptized while I was here. But almost never do you get to see someone you baptized confirm someone else you baptized because they never get the Priesthood as fast as Dante did. It was neat!!!

So hey, what do you all think about me doing a semester at the BYU Jerusalem center??? I think it would be really neat. I really am thinking it is something I want to do!!!

Well, I am indeed continuing my journal.

This week I also finished studying Matthew and almost Mark; however, in Portuguese obviously. haha

Well, I hope all is well with you all!! l love you all dearly!!!!!!
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June 6, 2011

No.... I have sent you my passwords that I usually use... good luck!!!!!

Well, yesterday we baptized a girl named Samara. She is ten. She hangs out with three other girls we have taught and they tried to convince her to not be baptized. But we did a good job and she was baptized. Her mother went to the baptism and appears to be really excited for us to work with her and her other older daughter. She is one of the ditsiest girls I have ever met. haha.

Yesterday was a kind of sad day as well though. We were walking another investigator home and we made a quick stop off at a member’s house because we heard there were some problems going on. Her husband has apparently been doing something and she only found out yesterday. The first thing she did when we walked in was said that he has been lying for thirty years. So we gave her a blessing... which I still am not sure I made the right decision. My companion asked her for her full name... Which includes her maiden name and her husband’s name, but she would not at all use her husband’s name. So my companion is looking at me with those eyes like... what do I do?... so I just said do what she wishes and cut the Santos. So, I don’t know if that was the right decision. Her son tried telling her she needs the Santos but ya.... 

So how has the journal writing been??? I have missed very few days...

Hey Aunt Virginia sent a mission ties letter but it arrived from there a little messed up like the letters and stuff. Could you ask her what she asked?  I know it was a question but I couldn’t understand it because of how it printed. 

Happy Birthday Logan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was June 1st and I was like whoa!!!! Wait.... Logan’s birthday!!!!! I think Dante sent a message. haha 

Well, I am doing good. 

I am super excited for this package of mine!!!!!

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

Oh, and give my congrats for all those who graduated!!!!!!!