December 20, 2010 Happy Birthday Jake!!

Dear Family,

Man another week has flown by. It's just crazy! Man, I miss ya'll so much! But I'm having a good time up here in Goose Creek. Spanish and Portuguese are slightly the same what an awesome oppurtinity to be learning two languages! I still have a lot of work to do that is for sure. I have been able to understand spanish and portuguese more often. I still can't speak it very well, but it will come. I love the elders in our appartment they are all really cool. We mesh together very well. It's kinda funny because we are living in a one bedroom one bath between the four of us all of our beds are lined up with each other- haha. The work is slow for us right now since we are opening a new area. Elder Pineda and his companion before this transfer had met a gal that's American. We have had been able to go with them to teach her. She's awesome! She's getting baptized this Thursday. It's suprising how many people live here that are from Brazil. This email maybe a shorter one sorry, but I will be calling you at about 9 maybe 10 they didnt really explain to us at what times we were allowed to call. I will get to you so no worries.  Yes! I got your packages haha members have given us so much candy and cookies.. thanks we will eat it well. I'm not going to lie I peeped a little on the package where it starts  "Do Not Open Before Christmas"...sorry there was a small hole I was tempted. Jake, Happy Birthday kid! I'm sending you a letter. Love you man! Your date's cute. im sending you all something so be expecting a package.

Have a merry christmas- can't wait to talk too you.

Tell Flint I said" Hey"

 

December 13, 2010

Dear Family,

Well, it's another Monday again! Days seem to fly by so fast here out in the mission field. Mom I know you'all love me! It shouldn't be a worry. I can see myself growing that's for sure a neat thing! That was very nice of Sister McConkie. I am sending some more pictures through this email. Were you able to get the ones I sent last week?

Transfers were awesome! They decided to open up a portuguese/spanish area! I'm in an area called Goose Creek. There are a lot of Brazilians in this area, so hopefully my portuguese can continue to improve. There will be some challenges ahead that is for sure. Something that I have learned is how you react to these challenges. Some may seem impossible, but your attitude towards them truly means everything. Everybody has a choice to choose how you feel. Every morning I wake up and I  say TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY!  (That is something that Elder Law had taught me) It really does help. I was suprised. Anyway my point in saying this is that we have a lot of work to do, but I'm going to do it with joy!!

It makes sense in what you were trying to teach us mom I was just to darn stuburn- but that's why we have a loving Heavenly Father who can help me soften my heart. He is looking out for me and he is answering your prayers it may not be the way we would like it to be, but he knows what is best for me.

My Companion is a native. He was born in Mexico raised in Georgia. He speaks spanish and english both very well. We have been mostly teaching hispanic people we have found a couple of portuguese as well... but I can say a few select phrases and my comp can't understand what they are saying. It's an adventure that is for sure. Luckly we have a couple of members who had served in Brazil. I'm going to be learning both spanish and portuguese haha spanish is a lot harder for me to understand, but I'm learning it will come. It just takes time.  

Well this isn't much but I love you all. The church is true. Members are really sweet out here.

love ya! 

December 6, 2010

HELLO!!

Ha Ha Ha. Jane, you make me laugh! I'm glad you got my letter's! Here's some more photo's. I figured out that i can just send them over email. Jake, it's good to hear that your thumb is doing better and that you have a job. Jake, I know i always say this, but keep pushing through football and school it will be so much better at the end when you have graduated. Iz thanks for wrinting me back! I'm not sure if I will have enough time today, but I love you too and miss you! Hope all is well. 

Mom, this last sunday we talked about... I can't really remember what we talked about... hmmm I let you know if I remember. Last night we watched the christmas devo at the ward. I really liked the prophet's talk! Did you guys have a chance to hear him speak? It was awesome. Oh and Mom whether I'm in Brazil or not I will still be able to talk to you on Christmas... so keep praying for those Visas! We have heard that most of the elders who are waiting for their visas in the Southern States have gotten them already, so mine hopefully should be on it's way! It is a little frustrating because transfer calls were this week and we were hoping they had already had our visas and would just wait until transfers to give them out. Sadly that's not the case. I just have to keep being patient! I'm getting transfered to a different area this Wednesday. A new area and new companion. There has been some talk of a colony of Brazilians being in one of the areas, so I'm crossing my fingers.

Man I want to apologize for my letters being so short. You all probably look forward to my letters as much as I look forward towards yours. The three ladies that we are teaching are progressing well.  They just need to have faith that they can do it with the Lord's help.

We have been teaching this guy.  His name is Brother ...  that's what we call people when we forget their first names. He is really shy and little slower, but it was really cool he started reading the Book of Mormon and we can see a change in him.  He smiles a lot more he'll talk a lot more and he wants to get baptized he has strengthened my testimony and I'm sure Elder Law's. It just makes me so happy when you see an investigator change. Freaking awesome! I'm kinda bummed that I'm leaving this area, but I guess it's time for a change. 

PS tell Grandma and Grandpa O that I love them. I would have wrote them, but I didn't have their address. They have crossed my mind a couple of times this week because we met a guy who reminded me of Grandpa. We gave him a Book of Mormon too!

Love you all so much