Letter #21

Dear Family,

It's a blustery, very rainy but otherwise beautiful day in Tupã. . . where I´ll be staying for the next seven weeks! Elder Parker, sadly (though he´d like me to let you know that right now he is yelling with joy), is being transferred.

Our reign is coming to an end, a glorious one at that, with two baptisms of a wonderful couple. I do not know my new companion yet but together we´re going to continue to do the best we can to save Tupã.

This week was notable for many reasons: I received not one, not two, but three packages! Thank you Mom mom, Lozadas and Israelsons. They are being well enjoyed, very well, and the beef jerky came in a wonderful time of need; ) I didn't have to pay for any of them (found the money) but it was because the package arrived at my house five minutes before we left after p-day. Close call.

Juice of the week: couve com hortelã (mint), basically a spinach looking concoction that´s strangely marvelous.

Oh! Its hard to write this week and there´s so much to say! Christmas conference was Tuesday, but we traveled for Marilía Monday and slept the night there, in a house less than desirable. But the conference was marvelous. And a growing experience.

Before the opening prayer was offered, Sister Tavares had a whispered conversation with my zone leader and, I sitting behind, heard the unmistakable, if not entirely correct, pronunciation of my name, Elder Schenewark. Uh oh. Next she moved to me. "Elder Schenewark, would you be willing to sing a solo as the closing hymn for the conference?" Welcome to the mission folks. If you´re not growing, you´re not going. So of course I said yes but then asked if it could be a duet and volunteered another missionary who I knew could hold a tune. At the end we sang the Portuguese version of Nearer My God to Thee. I first had asked to sing Silent Night, but it wasn't the desired topic.  It turned out beautifully, almost eerily perfect, and I admit to crying while singing, the spirit the entire was joyful and inspiring.

We had a health seminar, some talks from the president and his spouse, a wonderful lunch, snack, all the people who had birthdays since the last conference received a big chocolate bar, we ate cake, and had a gift exchange. I got a wooden spinning top, which is cool, but the chess board I had wanted was snagged. The highlight of it all was President Tavares' ending message on the atonement which we had been studying as a mission for the last two transfers. It just finished on a very high, supernal even, note.
After which I left my, hopefully, equally supernal note by singing. Of note, I was called to bear my testimony twice. I played the opening hymn, and also played for the zones special rendition of Angels We have Heard on High. Basically a very busy conference for me and I feel much, much more focused on my mission now. Much more dedicated to my purpose and able to understand, well, life a little bit better.

+Just learned my companion is Argentinian+ Legão : )

My "call" for Christmas next week will be on the 25th in the house of a member and by skype. I only have 40 minutes, maybe an hour, so not much; ) But I´m looking forward to it very much, just look for my skype as that´s what I´ll be using, and it will probably be midday or morning, I don´t know, though.

I love you all, especially this week Porter. I´m adding to my wall one by one pictures of my brothers. Since Porter´s birthday is next, he´s next on the wall. Looking good. Keep me tuned on the stats!

Feliz Natal,

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