Life is Good!

This week and last I don't know what it is but it's seems like it's been ages since I last wrote you. The Lord had been kind and I've been fortunate to have work to do so my days have been full, I love that, tiring but full, yeah I'll definitely have to sleep for three days straight when I return home. Life is still good I'm pleased to report, I think I'm finally changing for the better, yay, I mean I still have so much to work on, because I can't even see the borders to half way perfection.

Happy Birthday Reddin!

Okay your job is to wish Reddin happy birthday for me, think you can do that, great! Second, have Tiffany and Jenny had their babies? Or do I need to keep praying? Is Taryn getting married anytime soon? What's up with Brian and Shelly, is she still having problems and can she not get pregnant? It's hard to believe you have grandsons that aren't from the M&M's for a while there I thought they were the only ones that could produce grandsons. Tell Travis just to not be like Nikela and Ammon and call there child baby for 2 months. It's crazy who's gotten married while I've been away oh boy have my dreams made me long for home but also they've made me realize I don't want to leave the mission there are still things I need to do. Okay I love you, I despise my complete lack of time. I love you so much mama you are the best, and oh how I can not wait to go to those fall ball games with you.

I Love this City!

So I basically love Coimbra, I don’t know what it is, it’s not like this area is more special than any other, could it be the fact that I get along with my companion, or maybe it’s the fact that yes I have investigators, good Elders and the Lord on my side, I think it’s finally me that’s changing, and I want to let you all know how wonderful that feels, yeah basically I wouldn’t give this experience up for the life of me and I’m so gald that I’ve been going through it and still have 6 months to go through it. I can finally say I love the mission—yay! I’m still a long way from being fluent in the language and some days I feel like I’m getting worse, but the thing I do know is who’s side I’m on, and who’s instrument I am, I know who I am and I know why I am here (both on earth and in Portugal).

We Got Peanut Butter!

Okay I think it’s about time I let you know what’s going on in my area, since it’s been a while. Okay so Monday I went to the center of Portugal and took pictures with old ruins, I think I already said this but oh well. On Tuesday it was great we had members, missionaries and two investigators at the church to watch The Lamb of God and then we all bore testimony of the Savior afterwards. Oh how blessed I am, how blessed we all are. Anywho that was a grand experience, the next day we had District Meeting and President and Sister Henry were there, so I had my interview and they brought Peanut Butter, which was great.

The Lord's Work

After District Meeting, we kept getting cancelled on but the Lord was aware and had a different path for us, when we do His work and try it’s amazing where He takes us so we can find those prepared. We had the Elders with us and I felt bad because we got turned down for the third time, we also had a member with us, anywho we were walking away after being told our investigator wasn’t home, and this man pops out of a door and in broken English is like Americans, er something then he started going on about how good and important our church is, it was funny to be having a conversation in English, but he just kept going on how he has a Book of Mormon and he wants help from God he wants our help, but he can’t stop smoking and then we switched back in to speaking in Portuguese, it was pretty funny. Anywho it was awesome for our member with us that she saw that even though things don’t turn out the way you plan the Lord does provide a way if we’re obedient. After that we went to Paulo’s he was someone my comp and her other comp contacted 2 months ago and every time they tried him he wasn’t home. This time though he was and we had a really good first lesson with him, the spirit was really strong and he’s and intelligent man from Africa, studying to be a doctor, we have an appt. with him today so we’ll see how that goes. This week was good though, we also had Zone meeting where I need to work on some areas but all and all it was good.

Saturday was Fun!

Saturday was so much fun, we played futebol- so enjoyable it’s been a long time since I’ve played a game of anything, I love sports and I love to run around and oh boy am I suffering now because of it, I’m getting OLD. It was fun because it’s been awhile since I’ve played soccer but I held my own with the Elders ect. They do that every Saturday so I’m all excited about that because oh my goodness I eat so terrible here, that will have to be something I work on when I get back home-heh.

I Went to Jail! :)

Okay so on Sunday I went to jail, yep, we have an investigator name Pedro Miguel, when I first met him I’m like what are you doing in here, he definitely doesn’t look like some one who would be in jail. Anywho his mom is a recent convert and that’s how that all got started us going to jail and visiting him. He’s a good guy just made wrong choices with his life (drugs) as for everyone in there. There was a prisoner with his little girl next to him and his wife holding his hand, it was so sad, but yeah we all make choices in this life, oh I love agency. Anywho we have Jessica a 15 year old Brazilian that doesn’t like Portugal and her mom, that we teach and eat with, it’s always fun to go over there, the Brazilians are so different than the Portuguese people, it’s amazing, that’s why Brazil is boming and well Portugal will get there, this really is a great mission I am in, I am really blessed to be here. That’s about it; it’s been really cold here. I miss and love you all so much, but I’m so happy with where I am at. I wish all of you the best, you’re always in my prayers, I’m so grateful for the Gospel in my life and in the lives of the people I love thank you for your examples, this church is true, when all is said and done this Church is true, Christ is the Savior of all mankind and we have a Father in Heaven who loves us. Again thanks for your support and love. Beijinhos!

I'm Learning A Lot :) !

Right back at you the mamma--oh TWILIGHT, 6 more months-bah Carrie doesn't have time, going out to partys and movies, yeah that's hard, estou a brincar, anywho sounds like times are good, that's great to hear. Wow sound like you all had a fun time, next year next year, but no life is good, I'm just learning a whole bunch of things, I like who I'm with and where I'm at. I have been a bit under the weather this week and I do believe everyones new years goal was to cancel on the Irmãs so that's always great, no actually we had a great week numbers wise, we had 5 investigators at church. So much different than Guimarães where it was a miracle if we could get one. The language is coming better now that I have a Brazilian comp, she's a doll um what else, yeah I am generally happy right now--Yay touch down score, I'm still trying to work on not being so worldly and still missing you all and my country like non the other but life is good. I am really glad that I decided to serve a mission, I will forever be blessed because of it, is it the hardest thing I've ever done in my life--darn tootin it is. Well I don't have much time so here is Carrie's letter. Oh that makes me sad that Stephanie Meyers didn't finish it--sigh--one person goes and ruins it for all.

I Love Coimbra!

I love Coimbra, I love it, sure every city and place has its problems but I’m finally at a point in my mission where I’m loving it. I loved Guimarães and Braga, but I don’t know it just really helps when you have a companion that you click with. I still have a ways to go, but what I’ve learned already is wow, amazing I wouldn’t trade this knowledge and experience for anything. I understand all those testimonies now of trials and growth, it’s sad that we have to go through such trying times to learn to rely and go to our Father in Heaven. For comfort, I am really learning what this gospel is all about, what the Book of Mormon is all about and just about people in general and that knowledge is priceless.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MEGAN AND MARCUSI'm so excited for Elder Bednar to come!!

Where are the Letters?

Oh frarrie dog don't fret, I appreciate that you write me, that's more than some brothers, and the brother that I do have writes crap--lol no I understand that every single one of you is very busy, so I appreciate that you even take the time to write to me.