2 /24/13 Carnival is coming

2/03/14

We are still on foot everywhere, all missionaries here are. Our area is large, covers as far as we can see or walk or just as far as we want to go. We work in the city, it´s a big city, on the outskirts there´s a massive banana tree farm, and some small villages and cities, but it´s hard to get those people to take a bus to church so we don´t work too much out there. 

There´s a big river that runs through the city, it´s the border. Everything east is our area, everything west there´s a group of 4 missionaries working there and another small branch out there. (we compose of me, the american, 2 Brazilians, one from Peru, one from Chilie, and a Mexican) Haha. The 6 of us meet each week and spend p-day together. The next closest missionaries are a couple hours away there´s 4 other missionaries, the 10 of us make our zone, we don´t meet often. Besides that, the next group of missionaries is about 13 hours away. So we are kinda out here. 

I love my companion, one of the first things he told me is that he loves to cook, and I responded that we´ll get along because I love to eat. He makes good Brazilian charrasco (bbq). 

It´s cool out here. These people are the pioneers of their time. I recently had lunch in a small humble home, where the members told me was where the church started only 6 years ago, in this small home. The church has grown from a family 4 to the 40 people we had last Sunday. They are the first-generation saints. The church isn´t known out here. I will give all I can, every thought, every action, every desire, to completing these families, strengthening the saints, and finding needed leaders. It´s an exciting time. 

With increased difficulty, the Lord always sends increased help. The language is coming rapidly. My testimony has been strengthen and I´ve received wonderful answers to prayers. I think I will be in this area for a while, and I excited to work here. 

2/24/03 Love you!  Made some attempts at Grandpas potatoes, Brazilian style, using what we got. I won´t do it to often, each time brings back memories of being with our family, at the camp out, or at Grandma´s, working at the fair and such. It´s neat.

Carnival is about to happen here, they are building structures along the main roads, stages and such. The saints are taking off into the wildness with tents for the week. The members take off into the jungle for a camping trip to get away from carnival. It´s not just our church either, my baptist friends and other religions all have scheduled escapes for the week out in the wilderness. 

Haha, it´s funny. 

We are probably going to another area where carnival not as strong, to work for the week.

Things are good. I liked the primary story you told me, it was awesome. Reminds me of our small primary here. An admirable 11 year old named Gostavo, is at church every Sunday, he brings with him his younger brother who´s 8 and a sister who´s 6. They compose the majority of our primary. 3 years ago missionaries taught Gostavo when he was at his cousin´s house, his aunt and cousins were baptized, Gostavo too had great desire to be baptized, but his parents would not let him. He´s been going to church now every Sunday for the past 3 years. He and his brother excited answer the door each time we go over to visit them, they jump for joy and they run up the stairs and grab their scriptures and ask who´s going to give the message. They sing us primary songs as the 6 year old conducts 

They treat us like heroes. They read the book of Mormon every-day. I remember my first week here we went over, and I asked what what they knew about Joseph Smith, they excited told me in detail the restoration of the Church, the first vision, and even details about his life, they know more than I do!  

Their faith is inspiring, they are more firm than most of the members, haha. Gostavo is about to turn 12, he told his father all he wanted for his birthday was to have permission for him and his brother to be baptized. He is hopeful and excited. These children have strengthened my faith through their example. When I see them, I see examples of the Savior and His love. They bring to my mind Alma 32:22, 

And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; LITTLE CHILDREN do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.