Grandma talked to me when I called to mark the time to call on Christmas and said she gave you $300 to put in my account :) Just kidding she just said $100 but you had some problems with the bank. I just need a soccer shirt of the Brazilian team, that's the expensive one though. I'll stock up on açaí and caju soda :)
[I mentioned Jimmer Fredette's amazing 40-foot swish at the end of the BYU-Utah basketball game. "He launched a running swish from 40 feet. The crowd went wild. Jimmer just turned around and walked off the court nonchalantly, kind of like I'd expect you would."] I might do that if I would score from that far. I do that when I score in soccer so I guess you guessed right. P.S. Phil Collins is playing right now on the loud speaker in the LAN house...weird Brazilians... :)
I saw a crazy guy that looked like a goblin in front of one of my investigator's house. I was kind of scared to pass him to talk to knock on the door. He was sitting on the hood of a car all goblin-like, you can imagine that right? :) He had like 10 hairs and they were super curly and one of his eyes was glazed over and the other one was looking off to the right, no doubt searching for hobbits or something, golden rings, or tattered clothes.... whatever goblins like. I was with another Elder that day and the Elder said hi and the goblin just said Ya! Ya!! The sad part is that I didn't have a camera to take a picture with him, which I will regret forever :) [Michael has a job now at BYU.] I came up with a good idea, Michael should work at the MTC as a teacher!!!!! Leave this manual labor behind and get a nice job at the MTC. I'm sure they don't have many Thai teachers there. [Way to hang in there with not going home when you were sick, at least since you did get better. And yes, recovering due to a blessing does make the story more epic.] I have an iron stomach and nothing has made me feel that bad, I thought I was giong to die one day for some reason when I got home. But guess what? I didn't...I was frying hot and then freezing cold etc. but it only lasted a few hours.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
9 Jan 2011 - Alvorada Area
[We received your memory card this past week. Yay! Take more pictures!] I have better pictures on this memory card right now, but it's hard to take pictures of the day to day becuase I don't want to get robbed and shot :)
[It's actually supposed to get down to 19 here Tuesday night. A bit of a contrast with your weather, but hey, it's summer for you. I'm sure you'll get in the teens next winter. Well, maybe in Celsius. My phone is showing me rain every day for you this week. Is that still only at night?] It is raining a lot today but not hard, just a long time. The roads are like rivers now so I have to hold the umbrella to the side rather than holding it upright so I don't get soaked by all the cars passing. It's no use though, but I think the cars are doing it on purpose. It doesn't even get close to 14 degrees celsius here. I hope it only rains at night!
[Are you getting along well with your new companion?] Yeah I'm getting along with my companion. He's a know it all so sometimes it's kind of hard, but I guess it's good to have somebody that "knows" everything :) He is cool though, everything is peachy. During family home evening this week we were sitting in front of a house that is on the fringe of a soccer field and then 3 shots went off that were pretty close and someone got shot, some random passerby. The other day we were looking for a reference's house but some kid with a gun ran past us into an alley. Someone called the police and that ended up in a shootout and we thought it best to start walking fast away from that place. While I was on a division with another missionary we saw a goblin on top of a car. Did I already tell you about the goblin? [No clue what he's talking about here.]
I was sick this Friday and I thought I was going to die. Every step I just wanted to die in one the near trash piles. I wanted to go home but I wasn't really THAT sick and we had to stay home yesterday because my companion is having some stomach issues, ulcers something like that. Plus it's an epic story to tell you that I suffered "immensely" but I didn't give in and taught spiritually starving people of Brazil while gritting my teeth in pain. So that's why I didn't go home :) I asked my companion to give me a blessing too and I got better. That makes the story just a little more epic.
We talked to the mother of the Bishop because she asked us to come and talk to her after our lunch. Her son is having some problems in his life and she asked us to come and help him. We came but he didn't want to hear from us. Afterwards his mother tearfully told us her pains and suffering. I never felt the desire so intense in my life to help. I really felt an immense love for the people here. I didn't want her to cry, and I wanted to help her son so much. I guess that is what happens when you serve the people. After awhile you start to love them, maybe a little bit like Jesus loves us. President Hinckley gave a talk in England and he started crying when he talked about his love for those people, since he served there. I never remember seeing President Hinckely crying before but he had an immense love for those people. It was one of his last talks. Eu amo os brasileiros!
[It's actually supposed to get down to 19 here Tuesday night. A bit of a contrast with your weather, but hey, it's summer for you. I'm sure you'll get in the teens next winter. Well, maybe in Celsius. My phone is showing me rain every day for you this week. Is that still only at night?] It is raining a lot today but not hard, just a long time. The roads are like rivers now so I have to hold the umbrella to the side rather than holding it upright so I don't get soaked by all the cars passing. It's no use though, but I think the cars are doing it on purpose. It doesn't even get close to 14 degrees celsius here. I hope it only rains at night!
[Are you getting along well with your new companion?] Yeah I'm getting along with my companion. He's a know it all so sometimes it's kind of hard, but I guess it's good to have somebody that "knows" everything :) He is cool though, everything is peachy. During family home evening this week we were sitting in front of a house that is on the fringe of a soccer field and then 3 shots went off that were pretty close and someone got shot, some random passerby. The other day we were looking for a reference's house but some kid with a gun ran past us into an alley. Someone called the police and that ended up in a shootout and we thought it best to start walking fast away from that place. While I was on a division with another missionary we saw a goblin on top of a car. Did I already tell you about the goblin? [No clue what he's talking about here.]
I was sick this Friday and I thought I was going to die. Every step I just wanted to die in one the near trash piles. I wanted to go home but I wasn't really THAT sick and we had to stay home yesterday because my companion is having some stomach issues, ulcers something like that. Plus it's an epic story to tell you that I suffered "immensely" but I didn't give in and taught spiritually starving people of Brazil while gritting my teeth in pain. So that's why I didn't go home :) I asked my companion to give me a blessing too and I got better. That makes the story just a little more epic.
We talked to the mother of the Bishop because she asked us to come and talk to her after our lunch. Her son is having some problems in his life and she asked us to come and help him. We came but he didn't want to hear from us. Afterwards his mother tearfully told us her pains and suffering. I never felt the desire so intense in my life to help. I really felt an immense love for the people here. I didn't want her to cry, and I wanted to help her son so much. I guess that is what happens when you serve the people. After awhile you start to love them, maybe a little bit like Jesus loves us. President Hinckley gave a talk in England and he started crying when he talked about his love for those people, since he served there. I never remember seeing President Hinckely crying before but he had an immense love for those people. It was one of his last talks. Eu amo os brasileiros!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
2 Jan 2011 - Alvorada Area
[I told him a bit about our Christmas with family in California, including the Wii hula hoop spectacular and a hint at Grandpa's medical adventures.] Wii hula hoops?? What is the world coming to. Pretty soon they will have Wii footballs that you throw at a Wii receiver, but watch out for the Wii wind machine because it will mess up your throw. That's why you just need an Xbox and good ole sports games. Well I hope grandpa gets better, I will pray for him. He is supposed to live forever... I listened to that talk the other day [President Uchtdorf's last general conference talk about being proud], it was good. It reminded me of how you didn't like to say proud because it's not good, but I won out in the end with the help of Pres Uchtdorf ;) Did you get the pictures that I sent last week? When I send you the chips home you have to be careful of viruses, because I can only use these computers and I'm sure they aren't too clean. I was going to send you a talk by Henry B Eyring but I can't find it now, it was about families. I think it was from 2010 April Conference. I downloaded a few talks from lds.org and I listen to them, I like Jeffrey R Holland the best though :)
[New Year photos]
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
19 Dec 2010 - Alvorada Area
I will call you guys and tell you what number to call, which will be the phone at the chapel. Yes I have a cell phone, this is the 21st Century. I didn't call last weekend because I didn't have the number in California and you guys were already there. I will call sometime this week to let you guys know. I didn't email Mom because there wasn't much to say. So she shouldn't get mad or anything :) We went to the beach this last week with our President. It was fun and I got a lot of pictures. The water wasn't very clear, I guess I need to go to another part of the beach. Fortunately, it wasn't sunny or else I would have been BBQed because I'm pretty sure the sun scrapes the tops of the trees as it goes by...
It has been raining, but sadly only during the night so it doesn't really do much but get all of the clothes dirty and wet that are drying outside. Then it is hot and muggy during the day.
It has been raining, but sadly only during the night so it doesn't really do much but get all of the clothes dirty and wet that are drying outside. Then it is hot and muggy during the day.
Monday, December 13, 2010
12 Dec 2010 - Alvorada Area (Mom)
Transfers were today but I stayed and a new Elder came...Elder Oliveira Santos. He is from São Paulo, I like him so far. I was glad of the change because my other companion was lazy and made it much more difficult to follow the rules..mostly concerning the morning hours. He is a DL so I will be traveling on the weekends to do interviews and stuff, but it should be good.
[Mom broke the news that she didn't use the photo Jeffrey sent for our Christmas card. Each of the kids was supposed to provide a photo with them and one of the digits of 2010. Below you'll see Jeffrey's contribution for the number 0.] That picture was awesome, I can't believe you didn't use it. You take away my creative art :) I could use some brisket maybe you should send some down here :) I had to save money these last few weeks so I was eating bread and eggs for awhile. Somehow I'm still fat, so I will have to work on that. My new companion walks 2352 mph so that should help.
I didn't get the Christmas package yet but I should get it tomorrow, but these mailman here are thirsty for american goods. They charged me an arm and a leg to send Evan some catholic saints... punks. My pants are ok, but they are changing colors from the sun I guess, but they are still good. Shoes are still good, ties are ok. I don't have very many so most of them are from other Elders, since they trade when they leave. I will have to start giving up the ones I like. Elder Ferreira took the tie that you liked :)
[Mom broke the news that she didn't use the photo Jeffrey sent for our Christmas card. Each of the kids was supposed to provide a photo with them and one of the digits of 2010. Below you'll see Jeffrey's contribution for the number 0.] That picture was awesome, I can't believe you didn't use it. You take away my creative art :) I could use some brisket maybe you should send some down here :) I had to save money these last few weeks so I was eating bread and eggs for awhile. Somehow I'm still fat, so I will have to work on that. My new companion walks 2352 mph so that should help.
I didn't get the Christmas package yet but I should get it tomorrow, but these mailman here are thirsty for american goods. They charged me an arm and a leg to send Evan some catholic saints... punks. My pants are ok, but they are changing colors from the sun I guess, but they are still good. Shoes are still good, ties are ok. I don't have very many so most of them are from other Elders, since they trade when they leave. I will have to start giving up the ones I like. Elder Ferreira took the tie that you liked :)
12 Dec 2010 - Alvorada Area (Dad)
I can't keep up my English grammar and Portuguese, so I will ramble in English.
[Dad reported the latest on BYU sports.] At least some team is doing well in BYU ;) I figured out that my last companion (Transfers today so I have a new one) was a secret Brazilian Utes fan....disgusting. He had a pillow case and a shirt of the Utes. It was like Provo MTC all over again when my roommate was a WR for the Utes...who knew they served missions :) [Response to a comment Dad made about not having served in a resort town like Fortaleza.] Oh and I'm not serving in a resort town, they are poor as dirt, and the dirt is terrible here, very cheap. Fortaleza, and the state of Ceará has the most deaths than any other state due to murders. However, I have never seen any action like that. I saw a few kids with guns trafficking drugs. They have a drug lord here that is only 15 years old that hangs out around a part of town we go to often.
[Questions about how the Christmas phone call will work.] Pay phones aren't pay phones. You have to have a card to use them. So you buy a card and stick it in and use it. So I would just buy a card/cards and use them until they ended. I have heard this, or using the church phone because you would use a card too and the church is a little apostate here ;) or a member's phone/cell phone. Who knows. I don't.
[Told him of Isaac Hadley, Andrew Munguia, and Chris Colby returning from their missions.] They will be jealous of me that I am still on my mission, I have no need to be jealous of them coming home :)
[Told him of a new elder serving in our ward who received his patriarchal blessing from Grandpa.] That's cool that he met Grandpa. A few things happened this last Sunday. 2 Seventies came to split my stake into 2...duh. They spoke during stake conference and then 4 general authorities had recorded something for 4 stake that were splitting in Brazil. 2 in Fortaleza (my old stake and my new one) Belém, and Rio. They talked about tithing and temples a lot, something that doesn't really pertain to me as a missionary since I can't pay tithing and I have no temple here :) Just kidding, nonetheless it was good to hear from my old pals Dieter F Uchtdorf and Elder Andersen. The church is growing rapidly here in Fortaleza, hence it is one of the best missions in the world. literally.
[Dad reported the latest on BYU sports.] At least some team is doing well in BYU ;) I figured out that my last companion (Transfers today so I have a new one) was a secret Brazilian Utes fan....disgusting. He had a pillow case and a shirt of the Utes. It was like Provo MTC all over again when my roommate was a WR for the Utes...who knew they served missions :) [Response to a comment Dad made about not having served in a resort town like Fortaleza.] Oh and I'm not serving in a resort town, they are poor as dirt, and the dirt is terrible here, very cheap. Fortaleza, and the state of Ceará has the most deaths than any other state due to murders. However, I have never seen any action like that. I saw a few kids with guns trafficking drugs. They have a drug lord here that is only 15 years old that hangs out around a part of town we go to often.
[Questions about how the Christmas phone call will work.] Pay phones aren't pay phones. You have to have a card to use them. So you buy a card and stick it in and use it. So I would just buy a card/cards and use them until they ended. I have heard this, or using the church phone because you would use a card too and the church is a little apostate here ;) or a member's phone/cell phone. Who knows. I don't.
[Told him of Isaac Hadley, Andrew Munguia, and Chris Colby returning from their missions.] They will be jealous of me that I am still on my mission, I have no need to be jealous of them coming home :)
[Told him of a new elder serving in our ward who received his patriarchal blessing from Grandpa.] That's cool that he met Grandpa. A few things happened this last Sunday. 2 Seventies came to split my stake into 2...duh. They spoke during stake conference and then 4 general authorities had recorded something for 4 stake that were splitting in Brazil. 2 in Fortaleza (my old stake and my new one) Belém, and Rio. They talked about tithing and temples a lot, something that doesn't really pertain to me as a missionary since I can't pay tithing and I have no temple here :) Just kidding, nonetheless it was good to hear from my old pals Dieter F Uchtdorf and Elder Andersen. The church is growing rapidly here in Fortaleza, hence it is one of the best missions in the world. literally.
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