Another letter

Oi família! Como vocês estão? Eu estou muito bem! Eu tirei aquela unha encravada que estava dando trabalho. Um membro na ala trabalha com esse tipo de coisa, e ela só cortou o canto. Era um pouco de milagre, porque o dedo estava bem enchada e doeu. Ela não podia dar anestasia, e tirar completamente doeria demais. Então ela só cortou outros cantos que estavam começando de cravar. Beleza. E agora, eu teria que ir para um hospital (de novo) para tirar parte da unha, mas eu percebi que o meu pé estava dormindo. Muitas vezes no barco, me incomodava que a minha perna dormiu se eu me sentasse um jeito em particular, cortou circulação ou alguma coisa assim. Então, voltando para a unha, eu percebi que esse estava acontecendo de novo, eu não podia sentir o meu pé. Falei que ela pudesse continuar e cortar o canto. Ainda senti dores, porque não estava sem sentimento completamente, mas foi suportável. Eu estou fazendo curativos duas vezes por dia, e ontem eu visitei novamente para acompanhar. Meu dedo não estava tão enchado, e ela tirou um grande pedaço da unha escondido pela carne. Agora, não tem mais para tirar, ela vai crescer normalmente! :D :D Eu só preciso fazer curativos e guarder limpo.

Papai, eu visitei o site de Clark no mormon.org e gostei. :) obrigado por compartilhar comigo! Eu amei aquela foto em que você me colocou no wakeboard. É muito engraçado! Pode me mandar uma cópia revelada numa carta? O missionties revela muito embassado. (eu acho que é a palavra certa. blurry, bad resolution) Também, uma foto normal de mim fazendo wakeboard para o meu album, e aquele de rapel cabeça para baixo? Obrigado! Ah, e uma foto via email da gramada e projetos na casa? As árvores, "front porch" e jardim em frente da casa?

Eu não assisti o serão este domingo. :( eles vão mostrar novamente a semana que vem, eu quero assistir esta vez. :) Do que eu ouvi, parece muito espiritual e muito massa. (gíria de Ceará, very cool)

Mamãe, eu fico muito feliz que você dormiu muito bem hoje. :) Ainda não chegou o tempo de sonecar, isso é depois do almoço. Geralmente, tentamos fazer o email ás dez horas de manha.

Hoje, temos almoço com uma família de membros! A mãe, Tania, nos adotou como filhos, mas de missão. Você não precisa preocupar mais, tenho 3 mães agora. Você, Sister Souza, e Tania. :)

Eu não falei uma coisa sobre a minha área. Eu não quero que você preocupe demais, mas estou no bairro mais perigoso do brasil, se chama Bom Jardim. A minha ala, Palmares, é menos perigosa que a dos Elderes Patino e Almeida.

Nenhum dos meus pacotes chegaram. :( Pelo menos, ainda não. Temos reunião de distrito esta quarta-feira, talvez vai chegar.

Ah, mamãe, você me matou com geleia de morango! Eu não consigo encontrar geleia boa que combina com meu peanut butter. :( é difícil. Comprei uma, foi horrível e fraca.

Também, sinto falta de chocolate chique. É mais ou menos aqui, dá para comer de vez em quando (é um pouco caro também) e eu prefiro comer outras coisas. Pode guardar um pouco para minha vinda?

O que é Lua Perigee? Eu acho que eu a vi, mas não vi uma coisa diferente... Ah, e tinha um batismo na ala. A lua foi muito clara aquela noite.

Ah, boa sorte. Eu tenho que sair. Eu amo vocês! Vou escrever a próxima vez em inglês, talvez.

~Elder Wille

-----------------------------------------------

Here it is in English (sort of), courtesy of google translate:

Hi family! How are you? I'm fine! I took that ingrown toenail that was giving trouble. A member ward working with this kind of thing, and she just cut the corner. It was a little miracle, because the finger was fine hoe and it hurt. She could not give anestasia, and take completely it would hurt too much. So she just cut other corners that were beginning to sink. Beauty. And now, I would have to go to a hospital (again) to take part of the nail, but I realized that my foot was asleep. Often the boat, it bothered me that my leg fell asleep if I sat one particular way, cut circulation or something. Then, turning to the nail, I realized that this was happening again, I could not feel my foot. Told her she could go and cut the corner. Still felt pain, because there was no sense completely, but it was bearable. I'm making dressings twice a day, and yesterday I visited again to follow. My finger was not so enchado, and she took a large chunk of the nail hidden by the flesh. Now, no longer have to take, it will grow normally! : D: D I just need to clean dressings and guarder.

Daddy, I visited the site and liked Clark on mormon.org. :) Thanks for sharing with me! I loved that picture you put me on the wakeboard. It's very funny! You can send me a copy revealed in a letter? The missionties reveals much embassado. (I think that's the right word. Blurry, bad resolution) Also, a normal photo of me doing wakeboard for my album, and one rappel upside down? Thank you! Oh, and a photo via email grassy and projects in the house? Trees, "front porch" and garden in front of the house?

I have not watched the evening on Sunday. : (They will show again the next week, I want to watch this time. :) From what I heard, it seems very spiritual and very massive. (Slang Ceará, very cool)

Mama, I'm really glad you slept well today. :) It's not yet time sonecar, it is after lunch. Generally, we try to make the email at ten hours of the morning.

Today, we have lunch with a family member! Her mother, Tania, adopted us as children, but mission. You need not worry anymore, now I have three mothers. You, Sister Souza and Tania. :)

I did not say one thing about my area. I do not want you to worry too much, but I'm the most dangerous neighborhood in Brazil, called Bom Jardim. My ward, Palmares, is less dangerous than the elders Patino and Almeida.

None of my packages arrived. : (At least, not yet. We have district meeting this Wednesday, maybe will get.

Oh, Mom, you killed me with strawberry jam! I can not find good jam that suits my peanut butter. : (It's hard. Bought one, it was horrible and weak.

Also, I miss chocolate chic. It is more or less here, give to eat from time to time (it's a bit expensive too) and I prefer to eat other things. You can save a bit for my coming?

What is Moon Perigee? I think I saw, but I saw something different ... Oh, and had a baptism in the ward. The moon was very bright that night.

Ah, good luck. I have to leave. I love you! Next time I'll write in English, maybe.

~Elder Wille

And Up We Go! 17-6-13

Hello Family! One of these days, I want to write an entire letter in Portuguese, or Cearence, but then it would be more difficult for you guys.

This weekend was Fathers' Day? Golly, I had no idea. :S Happy Fathers Day Dad! I hope it was good, and things went really well! Im assuming that Yuba was in celebration of it? I LOVED the collage. Alisha, parabéns por pegar ar no wakeboard! (congratulations for getting some airs on the wakeboard!) By the time I get back, youll be better than me! :D Todd, I think the slalom course is the next lake over. ;) I thought that was really funny, and Im very impressed with your mad hops. Sarah, youre looking so good and pro! Did you have fun? Dad, youre getting really high up too! I think youll definitely be better than me. I hope I dont forget completely... :( Has Hayden been wakeboarding before, with his adventurous family?

So, whats with all the wet suits? It wasnt cold, was it? ;D Im so excited to be on the lake again, next year, though. Its coming up!

Dad, I think I died inside with just the description of the Homemade rappel gear. Thanks for sharing the news, adventures and stories, even if there isnt much.

Alisha, it was so good to hear from you! Thank you for writing to me! Im so glad you enjoyed the movies that I recommended. :) You guys will have to keep a list for me, and watch all the good ones with me next year! :)

Im glad that in spite of all the drama and house guests that you guys are doing great! Life sounds like a grand adventure for you guys, and I hope that you find a really good job that you like. :)

Sarah, I FINALLY got your letter done. :D Im so very sorry it took so long! :( :( Im sending it off today, for sure. How have you been doing? How was your trip with Hayden's family? And Yuba? Hayden looks like a really nice guy! Is he, by chance, related to Andrew Swenson? They look a lot alike. :)

Okay, news of the area. Things are going so much better now. I remember just about everything about teaching, and we have 2 families that are just about to be baptized.

[I've deleted a fair amount of personal information about Josh's investigators. Suffice it to say, he has a lot of people to teach, and they are progressing. The work is going really well for Josh.]

The ward Palmares is known for being huge. Our frequency last week was 175, which had fallen from 206, so the Bishop had a meeting to get more people there. Yesterday, we went from 175 to 235!!!! 50% growth! We are also receiving tons of referrals, most of them little kids, but its better than a ward that doesnt help at all. :) Lots of work to do, and not enough time in the evening!

Well, Im out of time. :( I will talk to you all next week! Im thinking that I wont have many movie opinions, Elder Savaryn would rather sleep than watch a movie in the chapel. Anywho, thank you all for your prayers, I know they are working! Its so strange to think that next year Im coming home. Keep strong in the Gospel, its the only way to find true happiness. Serve one another, forgive and forget, and all will be well in the end.

~Elder Wille

News from Palmares

Hi everyone! Its Elder Wille VIII, if I counted the sons correctly. :D

Well, training is going a lot better. My first week, I pretty much forgot everything that I learned in the field. I couldnt even get a practice to go right, my mind was just blank. Thankfully Im putting things back together and teaching again.

So there is one thing with Jericoacoara, its a bit of a walk to get there. I cant remember exactly how long, so I will ask the guy who went there and let you know next week. Or you could look on Google, either one works. :)

I would guess the same thing, that Rio is #1. Fortaleza is also a big tourist spot. I learned more in detail about another thing that might be fun. Its called Beach Park, and entry is R$100, or $50 a pop. Beach Park is a HUGE water park, something like the second biggest in the West. It has one of those tall free-fall water slides, and you cant look down on it. You have to keep your head back, or youll fall out of the slide and die. Fun huh?? You actually come off the slide for a bit, Ive heard. :)

Elder Brandley and Perschon are coming home already?? Man, they just barely left. Where is Deven going again? I forgot. :S Elder Perschon was in a seminary class of mine at Maple Mountain, and we chatted a few times. Hes cool, gente boa. Elder Brandley I didnt get to know very much, but hes cool too. Good to know that people are leaving and coming back, it helps keep the balance. :)

I think that camping trip hit the trunky spot. All that delicious, American, chemically treated food, the adventures. The closest I come to camping is sleeping in a rede. (it sounds like hedge, a hammock) I dont even have that anymore either... Ah well.

Yuba is another thing that I look forward to. Hey, when I get back with my rede, I can rig up a frame for it and sleep out on the beach like a tropical paradise! :D its a lot more comfy than the other one.

Hey Dad, which ward is Pricila from? Theres one here in Palmares, and one in Caucaia. Im thinking the latter, there havent been many pictures of me here, or even cameras. (theres lots of petty theft in Bom Jardim)

I did indeed get a kick out of the blurb from Molli and Lydia. :) Thanks for the pictures, the quotes (I really like those, they help a lot) and the news thats happening around the house. :)

Next week, I will include a picture of our apartment buddies and us too, todos juntos. Elder Patino and Elder Almeida live with us, from Ohio and Minas Gerais respectively.

Mom, I didnt get your letter in time to respond to it, Im sorry! Im alive, Im well, and Im taking a test today at UFC, a school thats doing research on Americans learning Portuguese.

And now, I have to go, I love you all! Have a fun time without me at Yuba (another thing Im really missing) and other adventures!

Obrigado, saudade de ti, pai.

~Elder Wille

Training inPalmares

Hello everyone!

Well, Im mostly settled in my new area, Palmares. The ward is HUGE! and very barulhento. (noisy) It has an attendence of 190 or so members, and a great majority are youth and Primary! Oh goody! The custom here in Brazil is a little different. I noticed basically the same thing in Caucaia and Ômega/Boatan. The parents usually just let their kids run around together during Sacrament Meeting. The leadership is trying to help everyone be a bit more reverent, cause its VERY hard to have a good spiritual experience when the speaker is half drowned out.

On the up side, the members are very excited, very happy, and they work with the missionaries. They give out referrals pretty frequently, which is nice. I like those a lot better than contacts.

My new companion arrived on Tuesday, his name is Elder Savaryn. (as Elder Villalba put it: boa sorte) Hes from Buenos Aires, Argentina and super close to the Temple. He has a very thick accent, (all the Y sounds make a SH when he talks) and a lot of times I have a hard time understanding him. Brazilians have an even harder time, so we will see how it goes. Also, he plays violin and piano, and is teaching spanish to people on Saturday mornings. Right before I got here, there was another Argentine who was doing almost the same thing as him! (piano, spanish classes)

Dad, I looked at the Trainers manual, and it says it was published in 2011 or something like that, so the training program must be pretty recent. Just in case youre interested.

Okay, I have a few stories for you guys.

So I was eating lunch with some members, and I heard a familiar voice, or music or something. I thought nah, it cant be. I looked and they were watching Dr Who on DVD! the less-funny-9th doctor, but still the doctor. :)

Mom and Dad, do you remember that ancient movie on VHS called Alaska? Where theres a dad, son, and daughter that crash in a small yellow plane, the dad stays in the plane wreck, the kids fall out or something and later find a polar bear cub? Then they rescue the dad? Last week in my other area, that movie was passing on TV! I groaned at the knot they used to descend. :S hahaha.

I found a place that I think you guys might be interested in visiting down here. Its called Jericoacoara. Its like Paradise in Brazil, one of our ward leaders showed us some pictures. Its so beautiful!

Today we are going to watch Wreck-it Ralph (Detona Ralph, day-TONE-ah HAU-fee) again, but in English this time. The little girl was too hard to understand in Portuguese, and it was so good that I wanted to watch it a second time anyway. :D Highly recommeded for anyone.

The small and fast package hasnt arrived yet. It will probably come on Wednesday though. :)

Dad, that dream sounds super awesome! You should definitely send it to New Line Cinema. People all over the world will watch it over and over again! You could make a package deal with the chips the freeway that the guy was dropping too!

Portland sounds like itll be pretty enjoyable! Do you have plans to visit the temple while you're there? That would be really enjoyable while youre more or less close to it. :)

Unfortunately, Im out of time. I love and miss you all! I'll bring back some Mormon coffee for everyone to sample when I get back. (Im slightly addicted...)

~Elder Wille

Eh, Nothing Exciting This Week... <---- Okay thats a lie

Well, the mission has been split. Elder Villalba, my last companion stayed in Ômega and Boatan, but is now a District Leader! Yay! Elder Couto, the one before Elder Villalba, is at home now in his beloved Santos. :) Elder Southworth has gone to the Fortaleza East (Leste) Mission, as well as the companionship that lived in the same house as us, Elder Bott and Elder Silva. (Elder Bott is from Utah, Elder Silva is from Santos, São Paulo)

As for me, I have been moved, but Im still in the original Brazil Fortaleza Mission! A ward/area called Palmares, (Pahl-MAH-dees) in the Stake Bom Jardim. (Bohng xah-JEENG, Good Garden. That x is the same sound of the S in "vision") So Mom and Dad, you can go ahead and send the package, I didnt move missions. :D I actually was kind of hoping to stay.

Everybody buckle up, I got a doozie for you guys here. So, Im a couple days shy of 10 months, Im sitting there in the chapel with everyone at the transfer meeting. The Assistants are reading off the new District Leaders, Zone Leaders, etc. Im sitting there listening, and suddenly EU VIREI TREINADOR! Im going to be training a new missionary!!!

I was listening to the names being read off as trainers. Elder so-and-so, (stands up, sits down) Elder so-and-so, (same thing) Elder Wille (?) (O.O) Me? ME? Yep. Just over nine months, and Im going to have a son. Ironic, huh? (A 'son' is the missionary you train, and you are his 'dad') I could not believe it at first, Im going to be a trainer.

So trainers are missionaries that are good enough in the field to be entrusted with a new Elder straight from the MTC. The way you teach, act, or even talk will influence his mission from the start. Its a heavy responsibility, and Im actually a bit nervous. But, I know that whatever happens, it will be a fantastic experience, I will learn a lot, and I have what I need to do this. The Lord shapes the back that bears the load, and I believe that is what will happen with me. I would appreciate very much a few prayers on my behalf. :)

The new missionaries are arriving tomorrow, and they dont tell us specifics. I dont know if I will be training a Brazilian or American or if there will even be Americans in this group. (I was the only one when I arrived) Sorry for lack of details, but all I know is that Im training.

Okay, now that thats all over and done, Sarah I specifically remembered you during the exact time you were graduating. :) Including the 3 hour difference from here to there. :) Parabéns for completing High School, you made it! :)

Now for Facebook. Could you accept Fernando Nogueira, Tiago Mesquita, Manu Moraes, Matthew Clay, and Bekah Anderson?

 Thanks! Manu is Manoela from last letter. :)

And Dad, thanks for the pictures! Its great to see everyone alive and well!

Im sorry you had to cancel the trip to the lake, that is a huge bummer! Next time youll just have to make up for it. :) I get a little trunky when I think too much about watersports, or when members bring up some photos of me wakeboarding on facebook. (I think my security is a little loose, if they can see that)

Mom, they have a few fast food places here. McDonalds is one Ive seen, and they even have Burger King! Ive heard of a Pizza Hut here, and a surprising one is Domino's Pizza. They also have an Arab style fast food place called Habib's (Ha-beebees) that sells mini-flat-bread-pizza-type things but with just meat and onions. Cheese too, if you ask for it. The only thing with the American fast food is that it is really expensive. Habibs is less so, Ive only had it twice and only at a members house. There is no See's Candy here, infelizmente. :'(

This is all the exciting news I have. We cleaned the house after arriving, and ate fried chicken patties (like a "flippin' enormous" chicken nugget) with pizza sauce and cheese on giant rolls. I dont think we will get to watch a movie this week, but I will tell you about the movie last week. We watched the new Disney Wreck-it Ralph. I LOVED that movie, it was so well made! Humor, romance, action, everything! I highly recommend it, but not so much in Portuguese cause the little girl is really hard to understand.

Em fim, thanks for everyone who is reading my blog. :P hahaha, but really, thanks all you guys, youre all wonderful and I miss everyone! Stay strong, the end is near. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He lives, He loves us, and He gave His life for us. He would do it over again for any one of us, if need be. Nobody is too lost or strayed too far to feel His love.

~Elder Wille

P.S. I heard about a tornado that destroyed most of Oklahoma City, or something to that effect. Whats the latest news on that?

This Week Flew! (20-5-13)

Hello Family and Friends!

Another week, gone. Its all going by so fast! So let me tell you what went on during this blur of time.

First, there was the transfer meeting on Thursday that killed our sleeping habits for the rest of the week. We found out that Brazil Fortaleza Mission will be divided into 3 missions! First, the southern area of our mission, Juazeiro do Norte, will be annexed by the existing Brazil Natal Mission. It is possible that I will not finish my mission in a Fortaleza area. Second, Brazil Fortaleza Leste is a very small mission that was created, from about the middle of the area at the top to the eastern edge. For a better picture, imagine Utah as a square, then cut the piece out of it. Thats about what the Leste mission will be, roughly. The rest will stay regular Brazil Fortaleza Mission.

Second, we baptized Jefferson! Hes the younger brother of Natan, and son of Silene and José Maria. (Zemaria) He is 14, and Elder Villalba baptized him. :) This computer doesnt read my card. :( No pictures yet. D:

Thirdly, we found a family to teach when a little girl asked us to come teach them. We talked with the father, and he accepted. We marked a day, and taught the Restoration, and invited them to be baptized. We got a big surprise, the parents were already baptized! Earlier we had asked if they had known other missionaries, and the dad said yes, but it was a long time ago. No mention that he was already a memeber. But its all cool, reactivation is just as important for them, and it leads to other baptisms, like the kids.

Dad, I think that creating that blog was an excellent idea, thank you! One question, whats next after the garden? The front under the windows?

I miss being home, but its only a few times during the week. Just have to enjoy whats going on around me, work, and I will be done in no time! :)

Sarah, congratulations on your graduation! I marked in my planejamento what time it is at, so I will be able to think especially of you even if Im not there! :D

Those shoes are pretty sweet! How tall exactly are they?

Mom and Dad, I have a small favor for you. Could you log onto my facebook and add/accept as a friend Manoela, Elder Couto (Gustavo Alcover Couto e Silva) and the people you remember from Caucaia? Thanks!

Well, thats about all of the exciting news. I found a few new snakes here. I think I have 4 or 5 now. Pete should enjoy hearing about that. :) They also have scorpions, which are guys that are after missionaries, and not just the Sisters... >.>

~Elder Wille

P.S. For those who havent heard a lot of the mission terms, snakes are girls who like to flirt and talk with the Elders. They dont have to be non-members, there are a few member snakes.

P-Day of 6-5-13 (Pictures!)

Another week gone, but we have the joyous news of Mikaels baptism!!! And he chose me to be the baptizer! :D Due to problems then and now, I have to send those pictures next week of me in a macacão. I have pictures this week though!!! :D

Well, this week was really pretty normal. We confirmed Silene and a lad named Victor. He's fifteen, and was baptized last August. Getting him to church was like pulling hens teeth, cause he has a class in Maracanaú on Saturday, for which he has to ride 3 busses. Its dangerous at night, so he doesnt like to travel then, and his ward meets at 8:30 in the morning. But we finally got him to church and confirmed!

Manoels family only needs his last son to be baptized, and then they can count down one year to the temple! Im so super excited for them! I will probably still be on the mission when they actually go, but itll be the Recife Temple, and I cant attend. D':

An interesting story! Yesterday was fast Sunday, and the way it works here is you eat lunch on Saturday and lunch on Sunday, 24 hours. We had just broken our fast with the only thing we had, water and juice. Then we went to eat lunch at a members house named Fabio, but we got the wrong house of another member. He went with us to the correct house. We knocked on the door, and Fabio said "Oh sorry Elders, I didnt prepare lunch for you" "Thats okay, we'll eat anything" "Oh, but I dont have anything. Heres some money, (R$15, barely anything, and definitely not enough to end a fast) could you go buy yourselves something to eat?" I said "ah, okay, thanks..." but my mind was thinking "Are you serious? Money to buy lunch on a Sunday?" I REALLY didnt want to end a fast by breaking the sabbath unless it was an emergency. Luckily, that guy that took us to the right house? He gave us a good lunch of Macarrão Nada, or Spaghetti with meat and corn and stuff.

I cant really think of anything else that happened this week, it was really just normal. Until next week, when I will actually talk to you guys! In a bit of Portuguese! :) Até mais.

~Elder Wille