30 December 2013

Well this week was good. It was good to see most of the family on Skype on Christmas! I've had a pretty good week but this P-day is very much needed. I think we're gonna go play some soccer later! Its really fun I think the air down here makes you good at soccer ...cause I was doing things with the ball I never imagined... it was weird. The gift of tongues works for soccer heeyowww! So I finally remembered to bring my camera to email soooo I'll put on a few pictures. Hmmm this might be too much info but I'll say it any way... I have the runs HA! I've been bragging about how nothing has upset my tummy and yesterday I ate something bad I guess.... Oh I can say that I don't like liver now. I hadn't ever had it before and I thought it was beef so I got a lot and ...well I had to choke it down pretty hard. I didn't know until much later that it was liver... I thought it was really dry beef any way yeah PICTURE time!

-Elder Jones

Elder Anderson (he was with me in the MTC) and Me

 When I was in AZ, I got one of those little name tags!

Jesus soda ...it's really good but they don't really have it here...it's rare 

23 December 2013

This week was good! I went on exchanges with the Zl's so I got to check out their area... which is pretty much the same. While I was on exchanges I ran into a mean baby... he was pissed. I was minding my own buisness and trying to understand what his mom was saying.. and I looked down and there was this naked 2 yr old pulling my tie and screaming at me....(It kinda reminded me of Matt's baby impression) at first this was funny to me but I couldn't get him to let go...so I had to hide how annoyed I was....UGHHHHH 

The kids here make fun of me ALL the time. They scream what they must think sounds like english in my ears. But most of the grown ups are helpfull and nice to me haha. I'm feeling alot better. I got new shoes that are pretty comfortable.  This computer doesn't understand English sooooo I have no Idea what I've miss spelled ... oh well you'll get over it! I Love Brasil its awesome!  I love the food... they have pretty good pizza here a member took us to a pizza rohdizzio .... you'd think all this food would be making me fatter but ... I only eat like 1 big meal a day so Im actually loosing a little. I dont know how much... we aint got no scales. When it rains here its super hard but it only lasts for like 2 minutes... Crazy and then 5 minutes later there isnt even any evidence of rain. Speaking of rain one night I was sleeping and rain started pouring through the window and on to my crotch ....UGH not my leggs or my stomach ... my Crotch OOOOOHHH BOB! TELL 'EM STOP IT! SBE?..

okay I gotta run

-Elder Jones

16 December 2013

Was awesome... Guess what! I got my first baptism! my camera is at the apartment but yeah it was a woman named Norma and now she's a member. Cool huh? So in this mission we can't write or email any girls that aren't family members. I'm actually excited about that; it was getting... old. So send pics of this Ice storm to me maybe it will cool me down some ;) I miss Bower... send him to meh for Christmas! heeehowww oh bob! So how is life? I love Brazil its my kind of place! errbody is super happy 

-Elder Jones

9 December 2013

Okay.... so my feet have blisters on them haha It hurts to walk but thats not stopping me. Im just happy to be here! My feet actually dont hurt that bad anymore. Brazil is cool. Instead of having us over for dinner, members invite us over for lunch... they treat lunch like Americans treat dinner... its cool.. and its really good food! We clap at peoples doors instead of knocking. I sweat non stop. People LOVE the fact that I can't speak Portuguese haha  its really funny I can't really explain why cause I can't understand them yet. Since my comp doesnt speak english I usually dont have a clue where we are going until we are there. 

we live with another set of elders who are both Americans... when they are speaking English and I try to join them in conversation he gets upset and says.. "no... in Portuguese.." so haha I haven't spoken English in a few days. I TOOK A SHOWER WITH A BUCKET ...well actually since Ive been here I've taken several showers with a bucket.... we thought the water didnt work for 3 days... but when I was trying to figure out how to work the shower I accidently turned off the water for the whole apartment... the only place we had water were the sinks in the apartment... so yeah... my bad. There are a lot of stray dogs here. We should have had a baptism yesterday but something went wrong.. I dont know... but we will have some this week for sure.

How is everyone? I hear that rexburg is super cold this week .....HAHA!  Im down here swetting and your all cold Hahahahahahah. okay sorry that was probably annoying okay I love you all

-Elder Jones

BRAZIL!!! 4 December 2013

Okay so. I finally made it! Its nice and hot and consequently super sweaty ...like... just .... eww. My companion doesn't speak a lick of English so I will learn the language a lil faster. He is pretty short and funny I will have to send some pictures next Monday...(P-days are usually on Monday) I stepped of the plane in Sao Paulo, went through immigration, then through to get my bags, then to customs and after that I was so confused ...I was scanning all the signs in the airport so I could figure out how to re-check my bags.. everything was in Portuguese... I started to panic a little bit. when I noticed there were like a million people holding signs with peoples name on them. One of them caught my eye because it read " LDS CHURCH Travel Office " the guy holding it waved my over. I was super happy to see him he bossed me around in broken English and I boarded a plane to João Pessoa a few hours later... also while I was at the airport i found half of my MTC district!! we all got our visas at the same time!.... I'm not sure yet but I think I need some type of inserts for my shoes. I can feel every rock I step on pretty well. My apartment is super sketchy haha I wouldn't have it any other way ... mmmm Uncle Andy likes some sketch...

-Elder Jones 

27 November 2013

I got my Visa! that's about all I can think about, so that's all your getting ...okay so here is a picture of me and my new companion, Elder Gaebler  we bot have creepy trench coats....

-Elder Jones

18 November 2013

Well flip!

Things are good, work is fun. So, naturally its easy to work hard! I had my first interview with President Sweeney. He is awesome he told me a lot of stuff about transfers I wont have Elder Southam back when he comes from the reservation at the end of transfers. I will most likely be getting transferred so use this address until you hear more from me

6265 N 82nd St

Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Ummmm I got two packages this week! one from Kelsey and Jake and the other from Adam, Nat, and Jack. It was nice to feel loved...they love me......ME HAhahahAHAhahahAHA sooooooooo any who. Thats what its all about :) haha

okay sorry about the breakdown. This weekend was Stake Conference at the adult session our stake President got up and started talking about worm urine.....thats right Worm Pee guys. I was too distracted wondering if worms had kidneys to pay attention to how exactly he related that to the gospel haha. Oh sad news.... Amber didn't make it to church on Sunday so she wont be baptized this Saturday and I wont get to be there when she is... Oh well I know she will be baptized ...Satan is just trying to slow down the progress. It probs wont work...cause God wont let it. So whats on the news lately...? I miss the news... how is the weather in Texas, Utah, Idaho or where ever the heck you peeps are? My companion cant smell AT ALL. We have waaaaay too much fun with this. 

Observation of the Week: Time Flies. This transfer has been so fast. I thought life was moving fast before my mission and that used to freak me out. But now every thing is so accelerated I have a hard time noticing it. I know that the Lords work is important and I've been trying really hard lately to use my time wisely and the more efficient with your time you are the faster it goes by.      

-Elder Jones     

11 November 2013

On Tuesday last week I got a phone call from President Obama hahaha. Nawww it was President Sweeney. He said that Elder Southam would be going to some reservation about an hour away along with Elder Strong's companion until the end of transfers. So now me and Elder Strong are comps. for the next 3 weeks. We have 5 wards 2 were mine 3 were his and we're in a TRUCK yay! So I like Elder Strong he is a very hard worker and thats wheat its all about ...im not used to a companion that is this good at working and being obedient. So hopefully I get to keep em' after transfers. Oh so we taught someone the first lesson and we have them on date for the 23rd of November. Her name is Amber she is super prepared and really wants to be baptized. All my prayers have been answered this week! Such a good week! 

So how has everyone been? Hows my sweet, sweet Bower? Fat still? Good boy. So I wish I were aloud to have a dog here. Oh well ummmm Matt and Alexa  and Ethan sent me letters this week! Matt your letter was great thanks for the advice I really needed it! 

Observation of the Week: So Hard work makes you happy. If a missionary he will get the spirit and if he gets the spirit he will teach by the spirit and he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy! 

-Elder Andrew Jones   

4 November 2013

So the day before Halloween I got a Package from Mom #SheLovesMe All my mission roomies were super jealous so I through candy at them...Only because I didnt want their jealousy to turn into hatred. So on friday I went on exchanges with our district leader Elder Strong. I went into his area and we taught a family with 2 boys and a 3 year old girl. We're half way through the restoration when the 3 yr old girl says " I want to run away and shoot myself " Elder Strong and I lost it.... if the spirit was there it was definitely gone we were laughing so hard. Mean while the parents were trying to figure out why their daughter was so suicidal. her reply was " So I can go live with Jesus " Eventually we got all the giggles out and finished the lesson. They will most likely be baptized I just wish they were in my area.

I hope you all had a fun and safe halloween! Ive almost been in AZ for 2 months now ... I cant believe it! time flies. I think that bower has something to say.... " ohhhhH I wouldnt let billings sleep next to boB if he were growin on my MuZzLE! "

Observation of the Week: Scripture study really does set the mood for the whole day. I was bad one day last week and forgot to read and my day was just missing something. So I've been really trying hard to make sure it happens everyday because when I read my days are more productive and the spirit comes to me easier. So read the Book of Mormon ....its like unto Wheaties....    

okay send letters and read the scriptures and give bower a bath ...he needs it and pray for the missionaries in your wards by name

-Elder Jones

22 October 2013

So hard week. I almost don't wanna talk about it but..... I will. So pretty much we didn't do a very good job at finding. It is harder to do than I expected and I expected it to be really hard. But in ward council I made my self be bold and I told them all that they were the leaders of the ward and missionary work starts with them. Missionaries can find people on their own ,but with out help from the members there usually isnt success. So if they aren't helping or giving us referrals then the members of their Quorums will be less likely to give us names. So in the end I challenged them all to give us name in the next week. I know that missionary work can be scary but Elder Ballard challenged every individual to introduce a non member to the gospel by Christmas and if we all do that then we will be blesses.

Any way the reason I didn't email on Monday is because a general authority came to the mission and talked to us for the whole day. It was rad.It was a 70 by the name of Elder Teh... he is super Asian I like him. He told us A LOT of stuff that I needed to hear. After it was over President Sweeney came up to me and told me that Elder Teh wanted to meet with me. So yeah that was pretty sick I didn't know what to expect but he just wanted to know about my family and how I liked being in Arizona and I told him about my week and how he answered a lot of my questions in the meetings. Yeah he's a cool dude! Look em' up!

How is my fatty (Bower) still suuuuuper fat. How is billings. Billings has to make an appearance at my homecoming party so keep in touch with his new owners. Matt. Is Sampson still bad? I miss those stupid Fish.... its weird. Courtney I got both of your letters yesterday... you'll get one in a few days. I wrote Jack a letter this morning hahah well its addressed to him anyway...its mainly for Adam...all but the first paragraph. I want a care package PLEASE haha for real. um they have Whataburger in Arizona not in my part but they do.... I was happy and mad at the same time when I saw it. Happy cause one of these days I'll make it down to the valley and eat some whataburger.... but I was straight up livid because IT'S A TEXAS THING. they also have bluebell........UGH so yeah ha. 

kay BYE

-Elder JONES  

16 October 2013

So this week was interesting. The reason I didnt write on Monday is because transfers make P-day on Wednesday for some reason.....I didnt get transfered. I'm still on a bike...Grrrr hate it. I get to keep Elder Southam which is good. So Sunday night me and Elder Strong stayed up too late talking but the conversation turned into him telling me about all the success he has had on his mission so far. That really got me thinking about my investigators. So I woke up on Monday morning and told Elder Southam that we needed to drop all of our investigators. So we did. They just weren't Progressing or keeping commitments... so this week we will do some hardcore finding. It wont be easy but it needs to be done. There was a night last week when Elder Southam and I didnt have a dinner appointment so we went to a restaurant and we had just barely sat down when this lady came over and handed me a 20 dollar bill. So we ate dinner and when the check came this old guy came up to us and said "Boy's how bout' you hand me them checks." so yeah thats called faith dining haha so its like we got paid to eat dinner. Ummmmm OH so we were calling one of our investigators ( to set up a time to drop him) but his baby sitter answered the phone so we asked if there was anything we could do for her and she said "you can teach me about your church!" so that was awesome we went over and taught her and her son and just like that we have two new investigators. That, to me, was just reassurance that we are doing the right thing by dropping our investigators so we can focus on finding.

hmmm... oh yesterday my companion got bitten in the face by a dog. It came over to me and let me pet it but then is spazzed out and tried to bite me... luckily it was tethered.... so I just jumped back a few feet but then it walked up to elder Southam (I guess he didnt see what had happened) and the same thing happened but he got bitten in the face. It drew blood. but he is okay.... geez that boy is accident prone.

So its owner (who is a member that we were helping split wood) grabbed it by the nose and yelled at it for like 12 minutes haha I thought of matt. "I bought you a new toy! AND YOU DESTROYED IT?!?!" haha good stuff ......good stuff....

How are things? I like it here. I want more letters..... MORE ummm Matt write me a letter so that I can have your address..knuckle head. Hmmm Alexa is your baby a boy....hope not think girl thoughts. How is work parents ... good?  I like to make eggs for breakfast. <---random. Hey Courtney you got my letter? Birthday. yeah that one WRITE ME BACK. So College friends.... Write letters to me or I'll smite you with a Rod. hmmmmm How is school for those who go to school? Missionary work beats home work.

Observation of the week: Although this doesn't apply to any of you. I have come to the realization that every area goes through a baptism stage and a finding stage. It took me a whole transfer to realize that I needed to focus more on finding than trying to baptize people who weren't progressing. But hey now I know! And I will be expecting baptisms soon. The field is ripe. #ThrustInThatSickle

-Elder Jones

7 October 2013

This week was good. We did alot of inviting people to conference ....it was pretty boss. Although non of our investigators came I thoroughly enjoyed it. Anyway Elder Southam (SOW-THUM) and I were riding our bikes to a dinner appointment (down hill) and we were going really fast ,because we were running late, and his chain fell off and he wrecked pretty hard.The palm of his hand, his elbow and his pants were all jacked. So he was laying in the middle of the street and I got off my bike and I helped him up and he almost fell over again. So I called our dinner appointment and they gave us a ride haha we do anything for a ride to our destination :) So he is okay just cuts and bruises. Later that night we went to the hospital to give a sister in our ward a blessing... I really enjoy doing that I don't even get nervous any more....(I used to dread giving blessings... I don't know why) So this week actually was kind of slow.... But I loved it!

How is the dog? Jake how is life? BLONDIE (kelsey) whats up with college these days.... Courtney ...do you even read my emails. If you do maketh it known woman!

Matt would you be willing you taser me the second you see me when I get home? (yes I want the full 5 seconds) Dad you have permission to play my guitars as much as you want this next week ...but then put them back! haha  Mom! you will recieve a letter form me in a few days... Adam You should send me a sticker that you made at work to me for Christmas!

Observation of the week: It is really important to ask everyone you see/talk to "if there is anyone that they know that is prepared to hear about the gospel" Even when they say "no" I gets them thinking about their friends and who of them needs the church in their lives...and the ALL need it but not all of them are READY. That is another thing I've learned a person has to be ready to live the gospel... we have recent converts that shouldn't have been baptized because the were not ready... They also weren't taught everything clearly and its not fair to me or them when I see them drinking tea or wine because they weren't told it is wrong and are not willing to change that part of their life. As missionaries we need to be able to decide when people are ready and teach those people clearly and by the spirit.

I love you all

-Elder Jones!

Elder Strong, Elder Burgraaf and Me

30 September 2013

This week was good ...and Fast. I like fast weeks. My whole district usually gets 6 lessons with members present a week which is not very good, but my comp and I got 9 so we're teachin' butt and takin' names. So yeah any way. My companion knocked on this door and it opened on accident and we just stood there because we didnt know what to do... so it ended up looking like we just opened her door...it was only slightly awkward :) ummmm. OH! I had to speak in church I bet you can just imagine my excitement when they asked me. (I wanted to kill somebody) But I got up there and talked about prophets and such and I wasnt even nervous. #MissionarySkills So that was fun. Elder Southam's bike seat keeps falling off ... I almost sorta kinda like riding my bike now but yeah its tiring. The same lady that haucked a loogie in front of me smokes and she has a 2 year old. So we were talking to her out side and her kid picks up a cigarette butt and puts it all the way in his mouth so I was like "You gotta light?" while pointing at her son ,and she was super embarrassed haha. Ummmmmmmm we helped someone move this morning and they told us to meet them at some Mexican restaurant for lunch ...YUM! so that should be fun.

So Matt got into a fight with a dog?! Thats cool hope he's alright! hey Alexa...Whens that baby do? Is it another boy? I hope not too many nephews! GIVE ME A NIECE! I'm super tired..I hope this email isnt too crazy. How is bower? Jake how is school? good?  Arizona is gonna get cold soon. I'm excited about general conference.

Observation of the Week: Giving people blessings is fun. I have realized that giving someone a blessing brings the spirit really fast. Also when I have given a blessing to an investigator it has not only brought the spirit to me but them also and I can almost see their testimony growing. I have been offering blessings to everyone with problems the more I bless the stronger testimony of the priesthood they have.

I love you all Matt let Bower lick your wounds :)

-Elder Jones

Elder Strong with empanadas!

23 September 2013

Ummmmmm Oh. I got a gnarley sun burn... the result is a wicked sweet watch tan. Dont worry I'll send pictures. I got 2 letters from mom and kels. We had some lessons...I'm teaching this girl named Niki.  She haucked a loogy right infront of me and my gag reflex went crazy...I almost threw up on her... no lie. . Scott isnt married yet and he still smokes a little ....He knows its true and he really wants to get married so hopefully he does. I really cant think of much else.... these girls asked me for money yesterday and I was like " Im to poor to give you money" then they were like "yeah right your clothes are nice" they were pretty ghetto haha.

Observation of the Week: From what I've seen here Mormons are alot more likely to have a home life of comfort. I really have picked up on how much the gospel blesses families and how blessed I've been in my life. Home should be a place where you can feel the spirit and I want so badley for everyone to have that. When I step into a non-member home I try to picture how they would be with the gospel in their lives and thats what motivates me to do everything I can to share what I know with them.

Well I love you all sorry its short this week..... but yeah haha

-Elder Jones

ARIZONA

On Saturday I woke up at 4am and left the MTC it felt so good to leave after 6 weeks! It was really good to get to make a call home at the airport! Speaking of airports guess who was on my plane! ...no really guess! Elder Neil L. Anderson! He was just chillin' in first class and ,get this, I walked right passed him when I was boarding the plane! Then my travel leader gets to the back of the plane and tells us about the conversation she just had with him! I was soooooooo upset that I just walked right passed him with out seeing him. Its okay though I still got to meet him after the plane landed! he's pretty cool.

When I got to the Mission office I met my mission president. His name is President Sweeny. He lived in irving along time ago and says that him and President porter go way back. Then my mission president went on to tell me everything he knows about me which was actually alot! He sent me to the best area in the mission. Eagar, Arizona! its in the white mountains and its not hot at all! So I had to road trip with the ZL's for like 4 hours to get there. My companion is awesome! his name is Elder Southam. He is from montanna. We get along great! 

Hey Mom and or Dad haha ummm do you think you could send me my Northface jacket? ... it rains alot in my area its in my big plastic tub.... if not its cool I might try to find one at a thrift store later. OHHHHHHH I forgot. I'M ON A BIKE haha every one else and there dog gets a truck and I'm in like one of the only Biking missions. Me + Bike + High altittude + Rain = Tons of dirty clothes. But I love it LOOOOOOOVE it! It will help me loose some MTC weight.

I love you all send letters.....or packages.....or letters packages and EMAILS!

Here is the view from my desk.  (Don't go getting all excited, now!)

-Elder Jones

6 September 2013

I got my reassignment I am going to the Scottsdale, ARIZONA MISSION!!!!!!! Guess when I get to leave!!! 4:30 am Tomorrow Saturday the 7th !! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo Excited Call Adam Give him my email. I wanna know what he knows about Arizona I cant wait. Goodthing I  dont have to wait for very long my day just got super busy!

-ELDER JONES

30 August 2013

This past week was cool. We got to hear from another apostle on tuesday. Guess who got to sit front row for Neil L. Anderson....and Richard G. Scott?.... (Scott was a few weeks ago) it was a really good devotional. On Wednesday I hosted new missionaries! I got to host ELDER HOLT! He is living in the west campus so I'll never see him.. But yeah I got to host Jared It was awesome and really funny I acted all condescending. people were staring at us because... well... haha we just werent acting like missionaries haha nothing bad just really loud haha. So I have pictures of this event but I left my camera in the dorm.

I will be back on later though. I will either get my Visa or be re assigned next week. I really dont care what happens of course Im hoping for my visa but I will probably get re assigned for a while. Who knows. Yesterday, I had a really good lesson with my Investigator... It felt so unbelievably real. He is a man who came up to us and told us he wanted a church with authority. (the investigator is played by my teacher and he is depicting an investigator he taught on his mission) His name is Tchuada yeah... so we were teaching him about prophets and he was just really excited and he could tell that we knew the things that we were saying were true. He had tears in his eyes. I asked him to be baptized! and he said yes! Its crazy how much the spirit can impact a lesson.

Question! Just out of curiosity...Mom and Dad what were the elders names that taught you?

That was my week!

Elder Jones

I tried to make a picture where I look taller than Elder Cook.  FAIL!!!

23 August 2013

I feel like yesterday was Friday and the entire week was just a long dream. ( if that makes sense ) The Portuguese is coming along nicely. Learning Portuguese has strengthened my testimony so much. If I go into a lesson with out the spirit I can hardly understand or speak the language. (thats only happened once) It is so crazy. I love the MTC.....but I wanna get the heck out of here. The food is getting old. ... I got my watch on Wednesday?  Its awesome not im not all self conscious about my wrist! thanks guts!. I sent the Lexus key home with letters. I left my Journal at the dorm so I really cant think of much that happened. Yesterday I got 4 hand written letters from Mom, Dad, Kelsey and Jake.

Jake is a letter writing boss. He has definitely sent me the most. Jared finally sent me a letter that wasnt stingy. I am gonna try and be his host when he gets hear. Meaning I would help him with his bags and take him to the book store to get his books! I made some Portuguese flash cards last night.... ugh what else...... I talk in my sleep allllll the time and I use Portuguese words like receber (receive) or Convidar as pessoas a achegarem-se a cristo (invite others to come unto Christ)... it scares my roommates...  I cant wait until I get to Brazil I think being there will help my language come faster.

Matt got in a fight? I wanna see pictures of his knuckles NOW! Why did Kelsey and Michael leave so soon? Jake's beard is sick (in a good way) I have like non of my friends emails. I want letters from the fallowing people. Rico H. Alanna O. , Mallory G. Jared H. .... there's more I just cant think of the names. I'd like Mike Ramirez's address. and Haley Hodge-kiss's address. I wouldn't mind a package :) I get jealous of my roomies ;)  I love you all but i forgot to take pictures this week 

-Elder Jones

Photos at the Provo MTC - August 2013

With the District

With Elder Cook at the Provo Temple

Remember, I'm 6'1" !!

16 August 2013

This past week was really quite fast! So consequently I don't remember much of it at all! But I'll do my best to share some juice info with yeh. hmmmm. k so my investigator Cristiane showed up to our class on Monday wearing a white name tag that read "Sister Dangerfeild" She was like "I'm your new teacher!" and we were all like "WHAAAA?" yeah so we all felt really awkward around her and couldn't look her in the eye. Not because she was a girl but because she was our first investigator. The MTC likes to mess with our minds like that.

Oh on Tuesday I got Alexa's letter! Matt's totes PREGO!?! haha Matts babies. The seed of Matt Hahaha and so it begins. Thanks for the letter Alexa. Also I think that was the day I got letters from like every one ...Jack, Nat, Adam, Jake (twice), Kelsey, Momma, Mommom, and DAD! So that was Nice oh and even Michael!! So Adam was like "I loved the MTC I lived in building 6m" which blows the freak out of my mind cause so do I ...room 301....

That was also the day I went to devotional and sat on the front row while Richard G. Scott talked about prayer... He is a total boss. He used every single quote that I used from him in my farewell talk. So I kept finishing his sentences which blew Elder Cook's mind ....um what else... yesterday I read the whole book of mosiah. Reading the BOM is soooooo easy here and I understand in like 43578643times better.

Hey so Why is Jared being stingy with his address? I want to write him....? Get people to write me! explain how easy "dear Elder " is! My watch smells.... The den doors look good... they look fine without paint! Dad you don't have to tell me about my visa unless you check it and something has changed. I found out that the don't have a specific order on which visa's they get to first.. them brazilians are totally random. Send letters! I don't have anymore brownies :( 

I'll send a few pics but I really didn't take many this week. Also I need matts email and adams email...and their families....

Elder Jones

9 August 2013

I'm having a blast! My Companion's Name is Elder Cook he is like 6'8" and we work really well together! We have taught 4 lessons this week in Portuguese and asked our investigator to be baptized.....she said YES we were so happy because our first lesson was horrible but we got better every time. We share a dorm with Elder Anderson and Elder Motley. Elder Anderson is pretty rad. Motley is just okay hahahah. So the food has been pretty good here but its starting to get old and I sill have about 5 weeks to go in the MTC. I got a package! SO...MANY ...BROWNIES... thanks Mom :) ive been sharing with my roomates but we still haven't made a very big dent in them.

The language is coming along rather nicely. We made it a goal in our district to bare our testimony in Portuguese 6 times a day! I love that I am able to do that. Its really fun! Speaking of my district ...I love them they are great! there is a perfect balance of funny and spiritual. ....Im the funny one...... HAHA! Not really ...but really. Kelsey and Mom! you too are so good at Dear Elder-ing me! Spread the word to my amigos that it's free! I don't know tag me in a post about it so they'll see it! Also in my District is Elder Hill he is pretty cool. he's from Dallas! I love you all! SEND letters!