Letter #36

My Family,

This week seems, in retrospect quiet and uneventful, peaceful if you will, which I find significant and blessed in light of this Easter season. And boy do they go at Easter here. Think giant chocolate eggs the size of baseballs, each 50 dollars and more complicated than those made by Faberge. It is impressive and thanks to a sister here in the branch who makes them, Elder B. and I received our first ginormous chocolate easter in Brasil. That thing is going to be around for awhile.

And that's not all. We also received two boxes of assorted chocolates and homemade bon bons. OH Boy. I am in fact a little sick right now from the amount of chocolate I have eaten. Bummer.

Well in other news, and I direct this to Uncle Zach, Elder B. and I reached Official Batizador status, him with 5 weeks and I with 3 in a row. We got a congratulatory call from the zone leaders this morning, who thanked us for our hard work and told us to keep it up. Sometimes it feels good to get the occasional pat on the back.
 
Or a slap in the face. Today, for those yet to be pranked, is April first, April fools, international day of pranks and gaffs. Yes. And for the first time in many years, someone, namely Elder B. got the best of me. Early in the morning, before I woke up, he snuck out the window---OUT THE WINDOW!!!--- of our house and hid in the small unoccupied house in front of ours that share the same complex. Well, he took the phone, aka alarm, and the keys, aka exit strategy, and waited, and waited, and waited, because without the usual noise or really anything to wake me up, I just slept. (See how I got the better end of this deal?) Finally I awoke and supposing him to be outside jump roping and supposing it also to be only 6:30ish I wandered around until I realized he was not in the house. In fact, he was not anywhere and the front door was still locked and what the heck is going on?

Heart beat bumping now, I CRAWLED OUT THE WINDOW, and looked around. Nothing. The front door to our complex was still locked. And I thought, that's it, he's gone, no phone, no keys, I'm done for. I was about to go into red alert mode when he popped out of the house in front of ours and grinning in wicked, evil, malicious glee, yelled "April Fools!!!" OHHhhhhhhh, I could have skinned him and sold him to the local Japanese takeout. . . Well executed. I was, for perhaps the first time, taken to the house. Alas, I cry just slightly to have missed such a momentous day. But at least I got to rest : )

We also ended this week in grand style with the baptism of a 14 year old boy who we've been teaching. He is an inspiration to me. He comes from the worst of homes in the worst of environments but he is the sweetest, most sincere and righteous kid I think I've met here. He just likes to fish and read the scriptures. Seriously. He really, really likes to fish, going Friday through Sunday all day, and bringing home his catch to his family for dinner, Tilapia. He's going to seminary and I'm really excited to help him on his way to becoming the leader I know he can be here in Agudos.

We held a home evening in the house of our ward mission leader Monday and made pancakes with maple syrup for everyone : ) Good times sharing good food. They made the Brasilian imitation of pizza pie. Not bad.

Tonight we travel to Bauru to sleep, and tomorrow leave at 5:30 a.m.for Marilia and our zone conference. My second conference, and I'm excited because the food is always good : ) And for other reasons too. Then later this week, two days of general conference, in between which we have marked a baptism. Oh yes, this week is starting out well : )

I close my short letter this week with a reflection and thought.  This entire week we have been teaching members and investigators in the context of Easter, and it has been an especially sweet and special experience for me. As I have testified repeatedly of the Savior´s unique and vital role in our mortal existence and what his life and his death mean to each one of us, I have felt the peace of this message permeate my life and my soul. It is the sweetest message we have; it is special to me, and I feel very grateful to feel God's love in the tangible form of His Only Begotten Son. We testify that he lives; that died for our sins and our sorrows; and that he rose on the third day in perfect splendor, breaking the bands of death for us. It is the most important event of all time. I love my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ because He first loved me. This I know, and share with you, even my testimony this Easter season,

Love Always,

Tanner