June 3,2013

Dearest Mother,

First off I never know what to say in my emails. Its mostly just mundane stuff that happens. For example we go out and work get accepted in some houses and rejected in others. Thats what happens every day. Fortunately i actually do have a story this week. So we went to visit this young man that was inactive for a while and is in the process of reactivation. We arrived at his house and saw a woman and children we didnt recognize. We greeted them upon entering and i noticed the womans movements were inhibited in some form. She spoke little and what she did speak was a mumble. As we walked inside we greeted the many people that where in the house. Sitting down on the couch we asked to everyone to listen to our message. The boys mother and her boyfriend that lives there, his grandma, and one other woman were there. The other woman went to go and get the lady that was outside the house that we greeted before walking in. She came in a very clumbsy manner. I percieved that the right side of her body was not functioning well. As she struggled to do simple movements like putting one foot in front of the other they explained that she was from a city in the amazons and was here for treatment. She had a vein explode in her head and was paralyzed. She was already improving but still in bad shape. She could understand everything but cant remember how to express herslelf. The young man said after she had sat down on the opposite couch that she wanted a blessing. I requested that she wait until after the lesson. So we started teaching about the plan of salvation. It was received well but was obvious that nobody was truly paying attention. I got a little frustrated and had to speak louder and louder as they kept talking. My companion had desisted completely and just let me talk as he is quieter than i am. So finally the lesson ended and we said the prayer and told everyone to visit our church. We invited them to pray and see that it is the true church. We prepared to leave and got our things together and Diego (the young man) reminded us of the blessing. As my companion annointed the woman i prayed that during the blessing the spirit would touch those in the room providing a witness of the veracity of the church. During that blessing my prayer was answered. I stumbled through the first part as i usually do but when i listened to the spirit speak through me i couldnt help but cry. The spirit of the Lord descended and touched me very strongly. The words i said in that blessing reminded Edna (the woman) that her Savior loves her and suffered for her. He knows her every pain and affliction and is waiting to comfort us. All we need to do is pray. As i ended the blessing i opened my eyes and saw everyone in the room wiping away tears. I shook everyones hand still teary myself and left. I know that i was in the right place in the right time. I know that Heavenly Father put that woman in the right house. This sunday Diego said that Edna has not once let go of the Book of Mormon we gave her. She says that she has so much to say but cant say it. I am very excited to go back to talk to them again.

This past week has been a struggle. I somehow acquired a bacterial infection in my gut. Wednesday i passed the day with a fever and a headache. Since last week i have had diarreah. I am recovering however. We went to the "hospital" here in this city and waited for an hour to be seen. After that the doctor took my blood and told me to come back later for the results. During this time i called the American Doctor in São Paulo and he told me it was probably just and infection. He prescribed me some pills and told me to go to a local pharmacy and pick them up. He said that the improvement should be seen the next day. I returned back to the hospital after taking  a dose of the pills and waited another hour and a half holding the results of the test in my hand. There was only one thing out of the normal and i couldnt even see the doctor about it. I finally gave up and we went to visit a member. Today i am feeling much better and am returning to normal. Fortunately we didnt miss a single day of work. I am very grateful for that. As for my companion there is not much to be said. He is a 22 almost 23 year old man that i believe is shorter than you. He was studying to be a spanish professor and his dad is a carpenter. He is the oldest of five and is the only brother in his family. He is a very mature individual and is helping me a lot. I am learning spanish slowly. Its hard because i lack materials. I only have a bible and a book of mormon. The house is good. There are two bedrooms and two study areas a kitchen and a service area that has plenty of space. The town is very a small low movement farmtown. Most of the members are very simple people that help us. Its a good place.

I got both of my packages. I already talked to you about the birthday one. I received it and i am very grateful. :) I shared the oreos with my district and the sisters thank you more than anyone. Haha they are funny. One is from Boise Idaho and has been on the mission about nine months. The other is from Colorado and has been on the mission for about three months. Its her first area and she is still kind of confused about everything. I remember when i was in her shoes. It seems like yesterday.

So some bad news is that i will have to pay another fine on the garments. Its 120 royals or about 60 dollars. I recieved the package and will just take money off the card the next time i see the secretary.

As for the Christmas package i dont know i will think about it and respond next week.

Congratulations to Emma on her achievments! Im glad to know she is doing well. Trevor i am suprised to hear that he got a ticket. He always yarded on me about speeding. Tell him i feel for him and that he is no longer allowed to use my car ;) Make a joke about it of course im kidding.  Colby is Colby as always. He will come around he just needs to realize there is more to life than games. Which he will at some point or another.

Good luck on the shower i think you will need it. It should be nice to have something new. Im glad that you finally got the promotion. How much do you get paid now? It should be significantly better than what i did. Keep on praying. He is listening. Sometimes we just ask the wrong things. Make sure you find time every day to read your scriptures as well. I love you mother. I apprectiate you so much. Even if all my blessings were going to you and i was having no success it would still be worth it. Even still we have very good people who could be baptized this week. Our ward mission leader decided to quit his job as a firefighter and dedicate his next to months to missionary work. He is a very good man that is very affected by the atonement. He has done many things wrong in his life and spent a lot of time in inactivity. He came back some time ago and is full of gas. I am very glad that he is so willing to help us but i dont know if i would have quit my job.

Anyway i love you my dearest and only mother. <3