The World Cup is here!

Sooooo this week was really interesting. I think that I forgot to tell you guys last week, but on days that Brasil plays in the World Cup, we (missionaries) have to stay in our house all day long. Last Thursday was the first game. Having 6 missionaries in our house was definitely a blessing on that day haha. I didn't get bored once haha. We played Uno for hours, I wrote a couple of letters, read a bunch, and played a bit of indoor soccer haha. Tomorrow is gonna be the second game of Brasil.. Wish us luck! This week was also the first time that I went on splits with the Zone Leaders. I was with Elder Cabral, an Elder with 23 months on his mission. I feel like I learned a bunch from him! 

Oh ya, I'm in Fortaleza... Again haha. President Fusco called us up last week and informed us that I would need to come to Fortaleza this week to have a full blood exam (12 different tests..... I hate needles sooooo much!). The results will be in in an hour or 2 and President said that he would call you guys when he has them (a couple days more). Oh almost forgot!! Next Pday, Brasil will be playing again. Sooo hopefully I'll be able to email on Tuesday. 

Mom! I knew they'd choose you!!! They'd have to be stupid not to. Don't worry, you were chosen for a reason... You're the best! At first you'll probably find it difficult (like I did on my mission) but the more time you spend with it, the more you'll become part of it and it'll become part of you. Just always do everything the way you feel like it needs to be done (lean on the Lord / Pray a lot. He'll tell you what to do). 

I love you so much!!!! 

P.s.

ALL the Elders (Except my companion ;) ) I live with want to marry Kelsey.....

P.p.s.

Not sure if youve already seen this video, but its awesome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU

P.p.p.s.

If you guys could print and send your emails that way, that would be awesome :) I don't mind if they're old. Right now I can only feel close to you guys by reading your letters on 1 day of the week.

Loving Portuguese and my new area (June 9)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!!

Ok, so as of this week our Internet rules have changed. We now only have one hour for email every week. Because of this, I'm gonna ask you guys to send your weekly letters by mail. You can still write it the same way, just instead of hitting send, hit print :). My last letter from the States (from the Stake Presidency) arrived here in a little under 2 weeks. The backlog (<-not sure if this word is right) of letters from the big mail strike has finally cleared up. Soooooo ya.. Please do that!! :). 

My first day in the new area

Elder Rodriguez's last day in the area

The chapel!

The stake center

Our house situation here is still unresolved. We now have 6 missionaries living in the house (2 more than when I arrived) and no time frame on when Sao Paulo will clear our contract so we can move in. Hopefully its soon! Living in a house with 4 missionaries living out of suitcases isn't super fun haha. Buttttt the chapel here is AWESOME!! Much better than my last one ;). We meet in the stake center soooo it's huge!! I'll send pics. 

Ok so last week, Elder Aron and I were invited to take part in the training of new missionaries in Fortaleza! I was super excited! This never happens! We packed our bags (we would be there for 3 or 4 days) the night before. Right before we went to bed, we received a call.. We wouldn't be going to Fortaleza anymore. Why? Because there was gonna be a big protest on the day that we were going to travel and it was too dangerous for us to leave (Mom, don't worry. This protest was in Fortaleza, nowhere near me.). Not gonna lie, I was pretty upset. The good news is that now, I'm grateful that we were able to stay here and meet the people. They're so awesome!! This last Sunday was Stake Conference so I haven't really had a chance to meet most of my ward, but the Bishop and the few members I've already met are AWESOME! 

Ok, quick update on my Portuguese. I can now understand basically perfectly (Unless the person has a wacky accent), I can read really well, annnd I feel like I've slowed down in my learning of how to speak. Its weird, when I first got here, I was much better at speaking than understanding. Now it's the opposite! I think my problem is that every day I prayed to be able to understand and never said anything about speaking... Oops!! But I'm starting to love Portuguese SOOOOO much! Not as much as I love you guys ;)... Buuuuut a lot! 

Love you guys so much!!

"In and outs" - Hospitals and Transfers!

Checking in to the Hospital

Checking out of the Hospital - three days later.

Ok haha. Not sure how to start this. First: On Monday night while I was talking to President, he mentioned that 2 scared to death parents had called him earlier in the day. Second: He said that next time this happens, I can call you guys or I can have him call for me.... So I won't be emailing anything "serious" anymore haha. I just wanted you to be able to sleep at night. Mom, I prayed for you to be able to sleep well every night since the day I found out that someone told you haha

Playing Uno at the mission office

On Saturday night we received the call that I was gonna be transferred. We left Sunday afternoon and arrived in Fortaleza at 7am this morning. I waited with a bunch of other missionaries in the mission office for our companions to arrive (played uno and stuffffff). Oh so the way that transfers work was just changed here. Now right when both missionaries have arrived, you leave for your new area. 

Saying goodbye to our home.

My 3rd Companion Elder Aron

Soooo when Elder Aron arrived, we didn't have any time to get to know each other or for him to tell me about our area or anything. A little less than an hour after we left, we arrived in Pacajus , my new area. I only have a couple hours here so I can't really describe it to you haha. I still haven't unpacked and I'm not sure if I will. We'll be moving to a new house either this week or next. Our mission (not sure about others) has a new rule that we can only have 2 missionaries per house. So ya, I'm actually really glad about this. I never had a house with more than 2, and I probably never will (we have 2 other Elders in our house but they wont arrive until Friday.. Hoping we're gone by then). 

Oh! President Fusco also said that he's working on getting AC for all of our houses and an iPad per dupla!!! Unfortunately the mission is a bit tight on cash right now (... I talk a lot with the secretaries haha) but it's looking like we'll get one or the other by January and the other about 6 months later! Wahoo!! I'll still be here for both!!! Soooo not sure what else... 

Elder Jacome (my second companion) is baptizing Jorge in a pond like thingy at the farm of Zuzas dad

Oh ya!!! The most important part of my week!! My second baptism. Jorge is super cool. I only knew him for about 2 weeks, but spiritually, he's probably the strongest 15 year old I've ever met!! I'll send pics of my week. Hopefully the computers here are faster.

Love you guys!!! :)

Oh! Dont forget about drivers license and retainer!! :)

Saying Goodbye to "my families" in Santo Antonio