Linhares - Week Fifteen

Dear family, well this week want all too eventful.

It's weird just because I've switched companions a lot lately, so we switched the way we work here. I don't like the way we worked this week, and it's something I want to change this week. Elder Lima is really great, this was his first area so he wants to work with less actives a lot, which isn't a problem, but this week our only baptism date fell, and we didn't mark a single date this week. We haven't been working very effectively, and it's partly my fault too because I let it happen. But, this week we're going to change, and I'm determined to see more success this week.

We had I think 3 family home evenings with members this week, and got, 2 new investigators out of all of it, which isn't bad, but could be better. We are really struggling on finding new people to teach, but we can fix this too. umm, I’m trying to think what I did this week.

It was interesting this week, we taught a woman, who goes to the Jehovah Witness church, but isn't baptized or anything because she felt like it just want the right church. So we taught her, but at the end when we asked her to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet, she said, no. Because, she could feel by our sincerity, that we were messengers of God, and that we had the authority. Was awesome. But then she wouldn't mark another visit, so I don't know about her.

We have two other news also, Naiara, and her sister-in-law? I don't know, but she's been to church twice already, but I don't know if she'll keep progressing because we kinda botched the first lesson with her. We got on the subject of baptism and authority and having to be baptized the way that Christ was, and I think she felt like we were attacking her a little, so at the end of the lesson she was a little mad at us, but she went to church the next day so I don't know what will happen with that.

But that's about it, we didn't do too well this week and I was really disappointed with that.

but

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARCY!!!!!

Yay! 14 now? Man you're old. =) I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and keep being an awesome student. And an awesome soccer player. Keep it up darcy! I'm sending a present, but it won't get there for a while because I don't have money to send the letter right now so I have to wait for next week to send it. haha, my bad. But congrats girl, keep up the good work! Love you sis!

Love you all, I'm trying my best, I love hearing from you! The weeks just go by so fast. Halfway through this transfer already! And general conference is this week! yessssss. So jazzed for that. aaand, yeah. thats about it. Love you all!  =)

Linhares - Week Fourteen

Hellooo family!

Well this week was pretty darn crazy!

Anyway, I have a new companion again. Last week I sent you a picture of me with him, but he was emergency transferred (it wasn't anything that he or I did), and now I have a new companion, Elder J. Lima, but I haven't taken a picture with him yet. He's cool, he's almost done with the mission so he knows a lot, but we don't get along quite as well as Elder Pithan and I did. I'm sad that he was transferred.

So, this week with Elder Pithan, which was until Thursday, was really good. We marked two baptism dates. One was with a 16-year-old named Wellington, he was really awesome, and he got an awesome answer to his prayer about the Book of Mormon! Just that when I came back to see him later in the week, with Elder Lima, he started a new course at school and doesn't have time to meet with us anymore, and he didn't go to church. LAME. I was really disappointed. We also taught his younger brother who was really cool too, Gutierrez, but he was almost always sleeping, maybe we'll try to pass there and teach him again.

Our other baptism date was with Eleanaidi. She's really good, but is really busy too, so we can't talk to her very often. She talked with the missionaries before, and accepted to be baptized if she got an answer. We will go back there this week, but she didn't go to church like she said she was. Dang it! Sometimes missionary work is frustrating.

With our other investigators, we're helping them prepare for marriage, but its annoying because when they do, and finally get baptized, I won't be here. Because once they get all the paperwork and stuff submitted, it takes 30 days for it to be finalized, and then they sign it. Lame. I'm pretty sad about that.

This week we also worked a lot with less actives, visited a lot, and because Linhares is Elder Lima's first (and will be his last) area too, he knows some of the less actives here, including a family that he baptized and are all inactive now.

We still walk a lot every day, The area we have now is just on the other side of Interlagos, towards center, and we work there too. So, we pass by the same streets a lot, but we don't knock doors, that's pretty rare. There are some missionaries that do, but I only have a few times, just because it's more effective to work with references of members and less actives, and investigators.

Oh, anyway.  That was my week, plus zone conference. It was really good. and I actually understood what President was saying this time. haha. But I still haven't received my packages. =( I'm a little disappointed about that. But they talked a lot about diligence, and focusing on the mission! Like dad just said to me. I feel like I can work a little harder, but I'm not too worried about what's going on at home. And the time really is going by really fast. Oh and I'm teaching English every week by myself in the chapel. That's pretty interesting. haha

It's great hearing from everyone!

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!!! Man 16 already. Crazy. I would have sent a letter, but it's a little late now. Maybe I will anyway. I hope you have an awesome birthday this week. Don't crash the car. =) and I thought it was hilarious that you were on the roof. Sorry I didn't spend more time with you before the mission. I love you little brudder!

Darcy, way to be awesome. Keep playing soccer! You're my favorite sister. =)

Blake, way to dominate the sax. keep it up bro! I love you!

Dad, Thanks for the advice, and I'm sure you are a big part of why I'm here too. I'm trying to do my best here! =) and just FYI, when I get back I want a Fiero! Maybe you can keep an eye out for me in a year or so. And then use my money to buy it. =)

Thanks fam! I love you all. Until next week!

Linhares - Week Thirteen

Anyway, yeah I got a Brazilian companion!! wooo! How exciting! His name is Elder Pithan! He's super cool, I like working with him, and we are getting along really well already. I’m going to learn so much faster now! We hardly ever speak English, but he's learning and isn't too bad, so I could talk to him in English a little if I wanted. More good news, we got another companionship in our district! So we're not living alone now! More fun like that.

Riley and outgoing companion, Elder Fischer

Riley and new companion, Elder Pithan

So we lost Interlagos, I’m not working there anymore, but in other areas. So now we don't have any baptism dates marked. We are teaching a few people, we're still struggling to find new people who can actually progress. It seems like everyone here has a marriage problem. They're all just living together. We are teaching a woman named Aline, who has a lot of interest, and already believes that it's true, but she, and her sister-in-law, who also has lots of interest, aren't married to their boyfriends. LAME. Our other good investigator Maria, moved out with her boyfriend, so, we can't teach her any more. Also lame. But my companion and I are working hard and are determined to find good news in this area. We are also going to invite people to be baptized the very first lesson too, which was something that Elder Fischer and I weren't doing very well.

Anyway, the work here is going good. We are still working with less actives, and Elder Pithan is really good at getting them animated. We washed a whole lot of dishes this week for a less active =) which is good, and now she's giving us lunch this week and she went to church! Woo! We are going to have two family home evenings with members this week, and have two more marked. Yay! So hopefully we can keep working hard have tons of success this transfer!

Anyway, that's about it for this week, it was pretty short because of transfers and stuff. I'm happy, excited to have a Brazilian companion, (next transfer I might be training, yikes!) and working hard. I like being a missionary, and today marks five months on the mission! Wow time has been flying by, but I still have lots of time left to work. =) Next week I'll make sure to write more about what's going on, who I’m teaching and stuff. I just need to note things better.

I love you all! Thanks for everything! Thanks mom for the pictures, and the Ferrari video. haha The two things I miss the most is my family (much much more than the next thing) because I think you're flippin hilarious, and car news.

Blake, you're a stud! Keep it up! Dominate the sax, and boy scouts!

Darcy, its okay to want to be a professional soccer star! =)

Drew, don't crash, burn and die. xD keep up on all the good music for me while I’m gone. Do good in school bro, and go to BYU...Idaho =)

Some of the members here wonder why Zack isn't married yet when I show them pictures. And apparently, we could be twins.

It’s super cool that Cam is finally going to graduate! And then move to New York! I’m totally going to road trip out there after the mission.

Anyway, thanks for everything fam!

Until next week!

Transfer Day - Linhares

Pull-ups?  I guess his new weight is weighing Riley down!

William.  Read about his baptism here.

Family! Well, transfers are right now. Well tomorrow, but I’m down in Vitoria today. So I can't tell you how they went until next week. I do know that I'm staying in Linhares. Everyone is, except Elder Fischer. So I'll be getting a new companion, I just don't know who yet. So, we had to leave our house at 5:30 this morning, because Elder Fischer had to come renew his visa. So we're chilling here for the rest of the day until transfers tomorrow. So I’m really tired. And hungry. And thirsty. Anyway, I really wanted to get transferred. This will be my 3rd transfer in the same area, so I was a little disappointed when I found out I was staying. But then I decided that if I'm staying, it's for a reason. Maybe there's someone there that I just haven't found yet, that I'm supposed to teach. So I’m not that disappointed anymore. I’m hoping that I get a Brazilian companion. Mostly so that I can learn Portuguese faster.

This week, also went by really fast. It seems like we didn't have all that much success though. We didn't have any investigators at church this week. Lame. We did mark a baptism date, so we hope that she keeps progressing. Soooo I’m dead tired. Sorry. Aaaaaaaa. Anyway, this week we felt like we didn't have much to do, which was not good. We ran out of old investigators that we had in our area book, we weren't getting any references, we were working with less actives, but none of them wanted to come back. So, we started knocking doors, which is like the first time we had knocking doors written in our planner for things to do. I needed the practice. We found a good family to teach, they're really awesome, but none of them are married so they can't get baptized anyway. =( lame. We were also able to meet our goals this week which seemed almost impossible to hit by the middle of the week. That was a blessing.

The good part of this week was that we got a lot of food. =) we ate dinner with the members at least three times. Two were actual dinners.  The other was just a snack before going home. Which was good because I had no money left and I get sooo hungry by the end of the days. ( I like to stop and buy some food at the bakeries between 4 and 6 to fight off hunger, because lunch is at 11 or 12 and we don't get home and eat until 9.) Speaking of food, I somehow managed to gain another 5 kilos this transfer. That puts me around 190 pounds. That's the most I've ever weighed in my life!!! I don't feel like I’m fat . . .  =( I even run to the church and back every morning with elder Fischer! My waist hasn't gotten bigger so I don't know where all this weight is going. haha. I guess I'll just have to eat less at lunch.

Oh, and we're not allowed to play soccer any more either. That's kinda lame, but its okay, I stink at soccer anyway (and I always get hit in the face.) There a few more new rules, but that's the one the missionaries don't like the most.

Well that's about it for the week. I'll let you know what happened with transfers next week. If you could, please email me pictures of the family, of Oceanside, of the temple, people here want to see my family and stuff. I'll get them printed and stick them in that picture book I have. And the other two elders in my district think that we're rich because we have three cars. Cars here are really expensive. ie. a Chevy Cruize is like R$67,000. so yeah.

I hope I get the packages you sent tomorrow!

You should totally buy Drew a Cavalier. I loved that car. Or a blazer. That was fun too. Just not that stupid Taurus. =)

I still think dad should buy his Chevelle . . . and Darcy just needs to keep playing soccer, so that she can be on the USA women’s team! And then beat Brazil!

Blake is basically a stud. He just needs to play sports. What's up with that? haha.

So I know birthdays are coming up. Will try and get letters there in time! But I don't remember whose birthday comes first . . .  haha I think it's Drew on the 21st, and Darcy on the 27th?  What a fail.

Well, I’m having fun. Still working hard. I want to take more pictures. And I think I need to have more fun! But I love it here, thanks for everything you did Mom and Dad to get me here. I love you all! até próxima semanã!