February 28, 2011 - Letter Home

Fourth Lap!


Hey Family!
  
Pday has come early because of transfers but, happy day, I'm not being transferred! I don't get no Trans-fer-ac-shuuun...
I'm excited to stay here in Esteio for another month and a half with my awesome companion, Elder Carroll. I'm psyched, because, well, I love Elder Carroll. We're like the same person honestly. 

Et-ing

He's a twin, I'm a twin, we both lived in California and North Carolina, we both are gonna do Computer Science, we both went to the same mission, we both like the same movies and shows and games and jokes. He's my best friend! I'm so happy to stay here because I got people to baptize! There's stuff to change! I'm not done yet! I'm psyched. Many more adventures to have yet!

Well the best news (other than the fact that I'm staying here in Esteio) of this week is our success in getting Josias and Andrielli and Yasim and Fadua in church. 
Dude, Yasim's family is GOLDEN. They are so awesome. They feel like family already. We found them after a long bout of door knocking, and if everything goes right they'll be the first family I baptize knocking doors. They've got baptism dates for march 19th, prayers! 
Josias and Andrieli are also AWESOME, but will need to be married and I hope that all goes smoothly. Can I baptize them this transfer? I will try. 
We have other investigators that have potential. Let's go!

Something fun we did Friday was go do our District Meeting on the top of Sapucaia Mountain, which I will send photos of. It was a cool climb, and we could see all the way to Porto Alegre from the top! So awesome. We listened to a conference talk by Uchtdorf titled, We are doing a great work and cannot come down, which is a great talk and tied into our duty as missionaries and the mountain theme. We gave our testimonies as we looked down on the areas which we were building up for the Lord. It is at these times that I like to remember that anciently the Lord used mountains as His temples. I can feel like it was somewhat like that. Very cool. I can't wait until general conference next month!!!!


VIDEO! When we hitchhiked away from sapucaia mountain!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivYg3TvPLxI 

Forest Road

The Hill 

Toppadawerld

Saturday Night we had an activity at church which we directed, an auction where members use points they earned over the last 6 months to buy American foods and gifts that Elder Andersen (the missionary who was here before me) left behind for them. It was really fun, because in the middle I mixed it up and did things like give extra points to members who bidded for packs of friendship cards to give to their friends, and give extra points to whoever did a funny dance in the front of everyone, who bared their testimony, who volunteered to closing prayer, ect. Was cool. It got a little heated when we brought out a pair of Nike shorts, but other than that it was a hit.


As always, I'm guuud. Don't need nuffin. I'm livin in the jungle out here. Need to be manly. But thanks for asking. Anything you guys send I will enjoy thoroughly, dontcha worry. :)

I will send photos and videos today! Sorry, I was getting lazy.

GauchoCon (See last week's letter for details)

Temple Trip (See last week's letter for details)

Anyways... I love you all so much. I love my mission so much and am happy to be here serving the Lord. I am so thankful that the Lord has been with me in all of my trials and difficulties, and that he has made me strong. I love Him and know we can truly be happy when we choose to believe, when we choose to do what the Lord wants from us. Everyone needs to look for the Lord until they find Him, so that they can do His will and receive His blessings. That's why we're here. 

I am so thankful I'm here on my mission right now. I love my mission so much!!! :D 

It's so awesome I get to do this. Some weeks it's hard to recognize that, I know, for me and for you guys from reading my e-mails. There's been a lot of times I've been passing through dark mists with just a couple of fingers keeping me on the rod, and I couldn't see the great wonderful Tree of Life that was before me. I am so thankful that I kept on holding on. I'm so thankful that I could pass through those things so that later on, when I'm in the mists again, I can remember that those things will pass as well. I'm so thankful for the strength I've found I've had, and I could only figure that out going through the difficulties I've gone through. Truly, the plan of God is great. It shows His great love for us, that he is willing to test us like this, to make us better. I love Heavenly Father, I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I am SO thankful to be able to realize this and to help others here realize this as well. It is such a big thing. I love you my sweet little family, and I will run this race and give it my best on the last lap so that I can come home to you guys as the missionary and person I always wanted to come home as. I love everyone and hope we can all keep doing this great work. Have a good week gente!

Just a little longer now...

Have a good week, keep livin it up! 

Love love love,

Amor amor amor,

Elder Con