I'm on now and getting off in 1 hour, but we'll return in 2 hours after that and stay connected until 4 hours after that. That is unless there's an earthquake or a golden family that just NEEDS to be baptized now or we're translated or anything. Loved the letters this week! Got two videos for you guys today! Okay, loooove you guys.
Seeeeeeeee you later!
CON!
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I took an absurdly long amount of time with haircuts and groceries and lunch took a bit longer than anticipated.
Let's do this!
Wassup ma’ family! Another great week here in Marau! It is raining heavily, and has been for the whole day, but outside appearances hide what really matters. We had an awesome week of work, some really cool miracle events, which I’ll describe later, then we had Zone Conference yesterday which was sweet, GOT MY BIRTHDAY PACKAGE FINALLY!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D…, ahem, and after a week and a bit of starving a bit because we used up our monthly allowance too early, we now have an apartment full of food and fresh haircuts, and I, especially, with my sweet haircut, new birthday shirt, and newly whitened teeth as the result of one of Elder Carvalho’s many secrets, am frankly, modestly saying, looking quite studly indeed. And that’s enough for anyone to be feeling awesome.
First of all, birthday package:
CHECKA THIS OUT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sJs64gSngQ
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGGKwKRILrM
Yep, I loved it. We spent a day listening to sweet sweet jazz melodies and epic war songs. Really pumped me up. Lyns, I put the CDs on my ipod, but the songs all came out untitled. So it’s a bit hard to remember which song is which. Do you have the playlist still and would be able to give me names? Otherwise I’ll make up names for the songs myself to help me identify them and I just don’t think “Churchy Guitars” “Whispery Frontier” “Scrambled Technochocolate” and “that song about a submarine” wouldn’t really make sense…
OR DOES IT MAKE SO MUCH SENSE THAT IT’S BLOWING YOUR MIND!?!
Okay, man I’m feeling a bit punchy today. It’s got to be the haircut: more oxygen is getting to my brain than normal.
Elder Carvalho has continued to be entertaining. He’s awesome at teaching and is absolutely on fire when it comes to making contacts - it works! We manage to get to know people. He’s continued to teach me how to cook and clean and do everything efficiently. He tells stories and laughing, joking, singing, whatever. Telling stories, holy smokes can he tell stories and I cannot believe how he segues so easily into another crazy story. I fell asleep one night while listening to a story of his and awoke to him saying, “Elder Carpenter, I asked you a question! Are you ASLEEP!?!” (me) “Sim, sim, Elder Carvalho. I’m awake. I don’t know.” … Anyway…” And there he went into another story. He’s worked in a thousand different jobs, tractor operator, mouse breeder, xray operator, electrician, computer maintenance, biologists assistant. Absolutely crazy. He’s a convert, was baptized in 2007, and spent a bunch of his life outside the house just doing crazy stuff with his friends. Even though he’s only two years older than me, he makes me feel like I’m 6 years old. That’s Elder Carvalho. Living on the fast lane makes everyone else look like they’re going in slow motion.
Man, I’m totally running out of time. Like usual. I’ll never catch up with this.
We had some cool experiences here. One thing Elder Carvalho taught me how to do is pray literally every second as your working. Pray and have faith that miracles will happen. When you do this, things happen. It’s really crazy. A member family of 3 who’s lived here for 4 years approached us out of the blue on the street and didn’t know Marau had a church. Three more people at church this Sunday. We randomly decide to take an out of the way shortcut through the town cemetery at night, start talking to the guard, taught him practically all of the gospel in two hours as we did his patrol with him, with him feverishly asking questions about the church. After a day of hard work we come home to find a reference from a family that showed up in church at Passo Fundo, a family well regarded in the town of Casca which neighbors Marau, teach this awesome family, receive a notice from the Stake Presidency that this family will be the pioneers to start the gospel in Casca. And it’s our responsibility to teach them and get the work going there. Sweet. We have an opportunity next week to teach at a local evangelical congregation which is going to close soon. Other than this, investigators just happen to pop up as we visit member homes, and we really have a lot going for us here. We’re coming home pretty tired, but it’s awesome. We’re making a difference. Cool.
Hmm... gotta go soon. Did you know that there’s a quick, effective, cheap way to whiten your teeth? Elder Carvalho does. You don’t even need to buy those silly crest whitening strip things. Just get Hydrogen Peroxide in Gel (something that is available here in every drugstore), smear it on your teeth after brushing, a keep a smile as you allow your gelled teeth contact with the open air. Gauranteed difference after the first use. And Hydrogen Peroxide is CHEAP! Like 6 bucks here. And a bottle lasts forever. Brendon, it’s called Agua Oxygenada em Gel. Buy it at a drugstore and use it. You will like it. Made a huge difference with my teeth. Elder Carvalho got some whitening strips from na American companion, looked at the active ingredient, and discovered how to do this.
Here’s a funny Brazilian saying, “Tu tem uma bunda virada pra a lua!” It means you were born with luck. Another Brazilian said it to us after relating our successes of the week. Literal translation? “You have a butt turned towards the moon!” Hahaha. I liked that.
Hey Brendon, I learned how to say, “By the way…” It’s “Á proposito…” And I learned how to say, “Just like [another thing]” It’s “Tal qual [qualquer coisa tu queres]” Cool eh?
Brendon, I’ve heard of Elder Macaco! His fame stretches far here in the South. You lucky dog you.
Man, Brendon, I was totally laughing hysterically there. Thanks man. You're totally lucky you got to see Elder Holland. HOPE HE COMES HERE!!!!! Love you buddy. Have a good week!
Hey Dad! I love Marau and we’ve got to visit here after the mission. Especially just for some of the families; I’ve grown closer to them here in just one transfer than in 3 transfers in Boqueirao. That happens when you’ve got about 20 active members in the branch (including little kids). Carvalho is a common name and means “oak tree”. I have now had 1 american companion and 4 Brazilians. Let’s hope I keep getting Brazilians! I love learning and laughing with them and their culture and ways. But bring anything on. Hope all is going well with work, and church! If you have anything cool you can show me online about MobSpree, send it my way! Thanks so much for the talk by Elder Scott. I’m placing it on my ipod… I love you muchly Pai. Have a good week and be energetic!
Hey Mom! The cleaning sprees have slowed down but have not stopped and will not stop. EVERY DAY we have to SWEEP. AND DO THE DISHES. It’s horrible. :)
I laughed when you wrote that you planned out our trip already. Sweet! I’m glad! I want to hear about it! But I’m also just entertained that that seed took so little time to sprout and flower in your brain. :) Hehehe, I planted that one right. Sweet news about Lora Lynn! When’s the wedding? Pictures? So happy for her! I love you Mom! Thanks for keeping us connected! I love love LOVED the package! I’m enjoying the Reese’s a nibble at a time. Have a good week, be strong and keep at your new plan you made with Dad!
Hey my Lynsey Loo! I love the CD so much because I just think about you going through choosing the songs. The jazz ones are sweet. I love the Alex Murdoch songs. I picked those out of iTunes because they reminded me of my brother and sisters. Love you Lyns. Stay close to the Spirit so you can figure out EXACTLY how to handle your challenges. Love you so much! Have a good week!
Hey my KaitLin! I watched your video again and I liked it so much! You are almost done with 8th grade?! That’s crazy! You’re growing up so fast. Did Mom tell you about the Brazil trip she planned? Would you go on a boat on the Amazon river in Brasil? You could be like an Indian girl! That would be really cool. I love you so much my Kaitlin, here’s a huge hug and kiss! It makes me so happy to think of my little sis.
Love you guys! All is good here! Until next week!
Yelder Con
P.S. Pedro is a little Brazilian kid of 6 years that’s usually hilarious. You would like him. I made a video of him, but it wasn’t working here. Oh well. Next time. Oh, the photo I attached is of him too.
Interview with Pedro here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZnCBDHvec4
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