New Companion

Well we had another baptism. Eloim was one Arroyo and I found. He had been going to church for a few weeks before the member introduced us to him in the other ward. he also was taught by the missionary's a year or two ago and he knew everything so we only taught him 4 times pretty cool though. I have been supper busy with everything and the only time I get some relief is during study time. It’s easy to get lost and forget about everything, mostly in the Book of Mormon! And I’m learning so much. Also Antonio who I baptized a few weeks ago passed the sacrament this last week. He’s really firm!! and it was a awesome thing to see. He’s always reading scriptures for the class and studying the BOM it’s so cool. Anyways I hope you guys have a good thanksgiving tomarrow. Eat a lot of food for me. haha Its crazy you guys have that much snow and wind already. This is the time I would be living in my tree stand!! haha but dad you asked about my new comp. so his name is Elder Jake Youngberg from Oregon, and has one year in the field and that’s about it. I have a mission ties coming that will tell more about him.

Anyways I think I have found every Jehovah Witness here in Brazil now! No joke. But its all good. this last time we asked and showed them scriptures they didn’t have in there bible. They also had a list of question to ask there `prophet`` too lol pretty cool. It’s all been friendly lessons except for one with my zone leader. he was almost in tears when he left. ops...

Yesterday I sent a small package out too so I hope you guys get that. I will also be sending my SD card home either this week or next week. I have to print photos off for some ppl of their baptism and members. So that should be on its way soon. Also a week ago I was at a member’s house and he had me take a looks at his motor bike, his chain keeps falling off and I was going to fix it for him. (sliding the tire back) but then I started looking at it more closely and a bolt was missing from the back wheel sprocket and the teeth one the motor sprocket was almost gone so I really couldn’t fix that for him but he knows what the problem is now. I’m still shocked to hear about the snow and already having to plow it. The first year I leave Idaho for the first time in my life and I miss all the snow my luck right. It would have been easy to get those big bucks!! hahaha anyways I love you all. Be safe on those roads and wear the seatbelts! Good luck with all the food and take pics. Once again I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! -JOSH

Think Snow

Well its already been another week. Today I got a new companion. Hes from Oregon, Salem. And today was his year mark,so thats pretty cool. I have only been with him for a few hours so I cant tell you a lot about him. But I do have my first impression, and thoughts already. But I will have some work to do now. Anyways this last week with  E. Arroyo was just awesome. We had some good times. I was really sad to say good bye and it was kinda hard. He is a good missionary. Monday he got called to be a zone leader. So I knew before everyone else I would have another comp. Anyways things are diffrent here with the new comp, it just doesnt feel the same. But these next few weeks should be good. I did get a mission ties out yeasterday. I would have on Friday but the post office was closed  Monday because it was another holliday. I also found out that when a holliday comes on a Monday then the post office closes early Friday for some days off, kinda dumb but oh well right? 

 But Jc im glad you made the team. I never heard if you did or not but it sounds like your playing awesome already!! Keep it up! Oh and dad I do remember about the lights. I think we took them down within 10 min! thats a reacord for me!! I also told Jake not to step on  the clips that were on the ground. So im sorry if there broken. lol jk jk But anyways its getting hot like you said. I do have a waterbottle with a filter that I use, so I can get water from anywere really and not have to worry about it. As for the language its slowly coming along but im able to get around pretty good now. But I know theres a reason why im speaking this language. 

 But let me tell a few storys now. The other day I went to another area with E. Arroyo so he could do an interview. Well after he got done we were walking back through a small field along a path when I looked down and saw something glowing. I thought it was just a cig so i stompped it out. ( thinking someone could have started a fire with that) then as I walked a few more feet I saw another so I stomped that one out too! Then I lifted my head up and looked over in the weeds and saw something glowing there too. Then it went dark. Then I saw another, and another ,and another. Then it clicked. Fireflys!!! hahaha so I yelled and ran caught 2 in my hands. The other missionarys were laughing but I thought they were the coolest things ever. And I had to have a pic of them so I put one in my pencil sharpener and brought it home. Now I have pics and a video of fireflys! (And they really do glow when you smash them too!) Anyways we also on Friday helped with another baptism. But the font wasnt filling up fast enough so we ended up using buckets to fill it up. I had 2 buckets that I was dunmping at the same time for 1 whole hour, it was crazy. Not too fun by the way. But we filled it up just in time to put a smile on and greet the members as they walked in. hahaha But last Sunday was really cool. After our sacrament we were talking to the other Ward as they were walking in. and instantly we had 4 diffrent members tugging on our sleves saying they had a friend for us to teach. And 1 of them almost got baptized the same day, but he bailled on us at the last moment. Anyways it was such a blessing for us. We just havent found too many new investigators and that day we gained 5 new ones. It really was a blessing for us. E. Arroyo was like ``dude that was so cool.``! anyways it just was cool.

But im so glad all of you guys went through the temple. That makes me feel so good inside! but it looks like im going to be busy with this new comp. Im going to send a few pics now. Everyone please becareful on the slick roads!!! I love you all. Thanks for everything. Love -Josh

Vanda

Hello,

 This week has been good. We had another baptism. Our neighbor ``Vanda`` was baptized. It was a really good baptism and everything went well. And yes we have been very careful with what we do and where we go. now that we have them baptized we can turn the family over to the ward and they can finish teaching them. But I didn’t want you to worry so I didn’t tell you right away. But things are all good when your being obedient! haha anyways I can’t believe there’s snow!! I could use some of that here! lol Anyways it makes me sick to my stomach to here the neighbor girl died, wow that’s just so crazy to me. but it’s also comforting to know it not the end for her and they can still be with her. I still have a lot to learn about the plan of salvation. Even I have questions sometimes... but I’m learning, but I know it’s just a small part of the plan. There’s so much more after life too. Anyways were writing a little late tonight, because we just got back from the temple. It was such an awesome experience. And the spirit was so strong there. There’s no doubt that Christ loves me and all of us. I also had an interview with Pres. Cordon, and he’s very very chill! During our interview I could see why he was called a Mission Pres. because he has such a strong testimony!! And he’s got me even more excited about the work.

We also had a huge rain storm yesterday and I have never seen anything like it. E. arroyo said it was exactly like a hurricane and there were trees fallen down and we were stuck out on the street. i will be writing a huge mission ties soon about all of it, but I was completely wet almost like I fell in the river. At one time we were standing in water above our shoes. Oh and I also got 2 letters about a hour ago but haven’t had time to open them yet. so I will respond in a mission ties along with grams letter. Tell her thanks so much. But the reason my comp has choir practice is for the mission choir, they sing on Christmas for the whole mission when we get together and also will go to a few areas and sing for the governor and to the city. It’s pretty cool and I almost was in it but bailed out on my comp lol

Baptised Slowly

Well its p-day again. This week has been good again, but no baptisms. But I helped with three others this week. (just preparing things) ours all fell through. But last night we got a supper awesome investigator. So let me tell you about that. First things first, with our area we are actually in charge of 2 other areas. So we really have 3 areas to take care of. These areas dont have missionarys because of the visa problem... anyways we only work in our area unless members from the other wards have a reference. And so last night one of the familys who are in the other ward had a family night and had a non-member over there too. So we got there and began to teach the first lesson. The lady was really excited and really likes the church. (Shes been to church 2 times already) anyways after our lesson she accepted all of our invatations and we set up a baptismal date for her. She said we told her exactly what she was looking for and was excited to read the Book Of Mormon. Anyways after we had dinner, pork,rice,beans,and some salad! yum yum lol anyways we got home a little late but its all good. They drove us home so we didnt have to take the bus. But this family is very good. There awesome and they make our work easy for us. They give us references, rides, food at night lol etc.

Anyways its getting hot here! yesterday I looked at my arms and thought I was a mexican for a min. untill I saw my blond hair in the mirror.! jk jk Oh and last night when we got home we had anothere visitor (lizzard) inside. Haha its good hes inside now, hes got a lot of spiders to eat! we have a huge gecko that chills out side our door every other night too. But yesterday was a holliday. It was the ``The day of the Dead`` or what we call memorial day haha. So no stores were open untill noon. Jc I hope the basketball tryouts are going good! and Jake I hope your working hard in school. Dad Ill make a list of things for my next package, and give it to you next week. Now a funny story, friday my comp and I were helping with another baptism that 2 missionarys had. Anyways one girl was really big, she almost didnt fit in the biggest baptismal suit they had. Anyways they also had an 8 year old girl. Well for the huge girl, they got a big member in the ward to do the baptism. And when she went under the first time her legs came up. So the bishop was like do it again but take your time and go slow. Well the guy took those words literally and her started putting the girl back under the water ``slowly`` but he was having trouble getting her belly and her girls under the water... And all the members cool see what was happening in the mirror. And they were all chanting more, more, more untill she was all the way under. Now by the time everything was under she had been under the water for  10 seconds!!  I was almost laughing out loud with my comp and to top that off the guy had problems getting the girl back up and used 2 arms to bring her up !! Anyways the little 8 year old was simple for the member. But after she was baptized she started swimming around and saying ``this is fun, look im going under again mom``  it was awesome, just awesome haha anyways im going to try to send some pics now. I love you all work hard. The Church is true.

With love -Josh