Here's the picture

Hi Family!

Well golly, I only have 6 more days left! That is so weird to think that I'll be off very soon! Time's been going pretty fast, our latest roommates just moved out Tuesday morning. I'm kinda sad, they were really cool. One guy was from Rio, the other from around here. I got pictures of them, so don't worry. :)

Um, not much is going on. It finally rained after 2 months of dryness, and today is really cold. I'd guess it's somewhere around 50 degrees. Chilly! I thought Brazil was supposed to be hot? :D

My district is having a huge party at this cookie store across the street/Mission Ties. We're combining all the "packages" purchased online by the Elders' parents, and having a feast. 3 pizzas, 4 or 5 two-liter bottles of soda, and gobs of brownies and cookies. I'm so stoked!

Dad, I haven't gotten your Mission Ties email with the mountain in it yet. I can see the thumbnail in the email, but I can't download anything. :(

We went proselyting on Monday, each of us had to hand out 2 copies of the Book of Mormon around the CTM area. Elder Meeks and I got all ours handed out. It was really different from what I thought it would be, and the language is just killer with the accents, speed, and slurring words together.

There's quite a few cockroaches down here, even in the CTM. It reminds me of Dad's story where he had to use his napkin to guard his plate and keep his feet marching. :) It's only one now and again, not quite that bad.

I'm sorry, I don't have much to say. Every week is the same. Eat, study, teach, eat, teach, eat, sleep, eat, study..... The food is pretty much the same every day too. Meat with rice and beans on the side, and a small dessert. Oh, the cereal is frosted flakes or chocolate frosted flakes. They're a little thicker than American ones, but not by much.

That's all I have for now, my next P-day will be in the field... :O yikes. I love you all, and I hope and pray for you all every night!

Love,

~Elder Wille

Picture from MissionTies.com

Handwritten Letter

http://robert.willeweb.com/josh/12092639.pdf

Handwritten Letter

http://robert.willeweb.com/josh/12092638.pdf

September 19, 2012

Dear Family,

Less than two weeks! It's going by so fast! I'm starting to feel a little worried that I'm not quite ready for it yet. But when I think about the lessons I've taught already, it doesn't seem so bad. It's right around the corner, and I'm sure it'll fly by. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support, it helps me keep going every day.

Dad, I tried sending pictures with that picture info sheet, but I wasn't able to. CTM computers can't upload or download anything. The mail gets lost pretty frequently, so the memory card letter is a bit risky. I asked someone about it, and they said to make two CDs and mail one. If it doesn't get there, mail the other one. I can get CDs here for about 50 cents. I'm sorry it didn't work, I'll get them to you as soon as I can, so hold onto that page. :)

Okay, so we had the Fireside on Sunday, and the translator didn't show up, so we had a big huge CTM testimony meeting. It was really awesome. Instead of just a whatever-comes-to-mind testimony, Pres. Degn asked that they focus their testimony on Becoming a Missionary. I didn't go up. :( Afterwards, a choir group got up and sang a beautiful arrangement of I Need Thee Every Hour. After that, President Degn asked them to sing it again, an encore I guess. The second time, I swear the ceiling and heavens both opened up to meet each other. It was so incredible. More than a few people were crying. It was a super neat experience.

The next Tuesday, yesterday, we had the Devotional. All us missionaries sang the EFY Medley. (As Sisters in Zion, Bring the World His Truth) That was really cool. We were addressed by President Degn. He got a lot of time at the pulpit. :) His talk was on Agency, or Arbítrio. He went over how Satan's plan was not to redeem us, but that we would have to pay for our offenses against the Law of Justice, which he conveniently left out. I really enjoyed that talk.

I'm glad you had a fun birthday Dad! Part of me wishes I could've been there, but I know I'm needed here. Thanks for telling me about how it went. :)

Packages are discouraged in the CTM, sorry. :( In the field they're okay.

Ah, I'm almost out of time. Let me know if you have any specific questions you want answered. I love you all, I know the Lord is looking after you. I pray for you all every night. I'll see you after I've finished my work here.

Love,

~Elder Wille

Handwritten Letter

http://robert.willeweb.com/josh/12091941.pdf

Handwritten Letter

http://robert.willeweb.com/josh/12091928.pdf

9-5-12

Hi Mom, Dad, Alisha, Todd, Sarah and Family!

I've sent my snail mail letter to you guys with the big details of the CTM. Not much has changed, so this letter will be kind of short. Maybe.

We went to the Churrascaria again today, and they had something Alisha would really love. It was a big ball of melted cheese, warm gooey delicious-ness. Mmmmm. :) They still didn't have the grilled pineapple, I have yet to see any of that here in Brasil.

If you guys want to hear something really cool, look up the Hino Nacional do Brasil on youtube, preferably a piano version. That's what we get to sing every Sunday evening at the fireside, with President Degn on the piano. It sounds like a carnaval song, and it's really fun.

We go to the Sao Paulo Temple every P-Day at 6:30, and that was really nice this morning. It was closed a few weeks ago for cleaning, so we went to the Campinas Temple. I only have pictures of that one, they wouldn't let us bring cameras after that. I'll hopefully send the card soon.

Mom, I haven't been able to ask the Degn's how long they'll be here. I'll see what I can do, though. Fortaleza is kinda far away from the CTM in Sao Paulo.

Dad, thanks for the tip on Mission Ties. The place is actually right across the street from the CTM entrance. :) But thank you anyway.

Oh, so one last funny thing. Almost every Brasileiro that I talk to notices my name and asks "Is that like Free Willie?" It was odd at first, but now I just take it in stride, and laugh with them.

I hope everyone is doing great up there, thanks for all your letters! I really enjoy hearing from everyone! I'll write again next week. Maybe something more exciting will happen by then. :) I love you all, may the Lord watch over and bless all of you.

~Elder "Free" Wille

9-12-12

Hi everyone!

Another week has gone by, wow! I have just 20 days left here in the CTM, in three weeks I'll be up in the heat and humidity. :) It's a little humid here, but not as much as it will be when I get up to Fortaleza.

Mom, I don't get to print off the emails from the computer, sorry. :( I wish I could.

I'm doing just great! I'm sorry something happened with the mail this week, and I've re-sent last week's email. :) Hopefully you get to read it, and my snail mail letter gets there soon.

Not much has changed. They had cereal for breakfast twice this week instead of just once. I think that's really all the big news for now. On Mission Ties, I'll send some pictures I've taken, and a bigger letter. :)

I love you all, I hope you're doing well and everything is great up there, I miss you all very much!

~Elder Wille

Handwritten Letter

http://robert.willeweb.com/josh/12091241.pdf