It's Fall

On Saturday we had a Missionary activity, we invited all members of the ward to our activity and to bring some one who doesn't know the church. We present a movie that talked about the temple and how families can be together forever. We got to meet some new people and reactivate some less-actives but, of course, after the activity there was food.

Cachorro quentes.

Hot dogs are different here in Brazil. They take hot dog meat and cut it into slices and mix it with a lot of tomato sauce with corn and peas. So, it’s kinda like a sloppy Joe, but a hot dog.

Then they put ketchup, mustard, and mayo on top with a crispy potato thing on top. It looks like a bunch of mini french fries on top. It’s weird but good.

We were at Church yesterday, very normal and a young guy (16) who has been visiting church for almost a month said, “I want to be baptized.” We decided to teach right after church with some of the young men leaders and I asked why do you want to be baptized

and he said this, “Oh, I don't know, I just want too, It feels right. Before I started coming to church I was walking in darkness but now everything has changed and now, I'm not doing anything wrong anymore.”

I will baptize him on Saturday, the only problem is that his parents don't like the church and maybe won’t let him get baptized.

But all is well here in Brazil; it’s finally Fall 

Elder Willard

Going so Fast

Cintia got an answer!

We went to visit a less active family to figure out why they didn't go to church and a friend of theirs, Cintia, told us that when she prayed she received an answer about the Church and that it’s all true. She said this with a big smile on her face.

 She went to Church yesterday and is progressing. But she has to get married first to get baptized, also there’s a young guy attending church that also could be baptized soon.

I feel like I was just here writing an email, I just don’t know what to write about.

Mom could you send me some recipes, by email, to make desserts like:

Texas sheet cake

Berry Delight

Brownies

Cookies

or anything American.

The mission is passing by really fast, I hope I don’t miss it.

Elder Willard

Carnival

This week has been very difficult. The city if Pelotas, which I have discovered is the 2nd most humid city in the world, postponed Carnival until this last week. For that reason it was super difficult to teach or find people, there was a lot of drunks and trash on fire for some reason as well.

There is a young man coming to church out of the blue this last two Sundays, we will see if we can get him baptized here soon. He’s 16.

Frazier: buy good shoes or boots, not the kind of shoes I brought. I haven’t worn a pair of shoes that has fit me for over 8 months. Go a little more expensive and get good work boots maybe. Manaus sounds awesome.

From what I’ve learned on the mission is that each state is like its own country because people don’t move or travel very much. There is even a difference in accent between cities only an hour apart here. 

I love all of you!!

Elder Willard

Tough Week

This week was....uh...difficult. We baptized the son of a less-active member to help her get reactivated again and it was working out pretty well. But during this week we passed by their house and as we entered, the husband was taking everything out of the house that was his. He was fed up with the relationship, with his wife that has been “nothing but a fight for 5 years,” and he was moving out. We started talking to the wife who explained what had happened and that they were splitting up.

After a little bit, the husband and the wife engaged in a argument that was very painful to hear. They began digging up the past from heavy drug use to prostitution. And the poor wife was just balling her eyes out. They screamed and argued and called each some pretty terrible things, and we sat and watched for 3 hours trying to resolve the conflict. We had established some goals and plans to improve the marriage and by the time we left they were smiling a little and laughing with us. We passed by their house on Sunday and things have improved greatly.

I am so thankful for the Holy Ghost and the orientation it gives to help people become better and heal lives.

Elder Willard