Letter #45

Dear Family,

I have often asked myself in the course of the mission what exactly I should share with you. The day-to-day facts or some highlights and thoughts. I think I have generally done the latter. Today I will share some challenges but you should know that God gives us challenges to make us stronger. They are, indeed blessings. 

So I'm in the outskirts of Londrina, with a nice view of the city. I have seen President Tavares, I'm in a house with Elder Scoville, the fantastic, who is part BFG and part awesome, as well as Elder Quirox, a newly arrived Elder form Fortaleza who is likewise spectacular. My companion is Elder Leonardo and he speaks English pretty fluently. He learned from Spongebob, which is cool : )

Quick funny moment: We entered the internet cafe today and sat down. I smelled the strongest whiff of cat urine I think I've ever smelled. It just about keeled me over. Looked under the desk and there was a giant pile of poop, I'm guessing cat. Awkward conversation with the Japanese owners: "Umm, there's a giant pile of poop under the computer. . ." Yup. Also stepped in poop 3 times this week. Just thought you might like to know that. Elder Leonardo says it brings luck. Make me unlucky.

I've learned some things about getting members involved in missionary work, but always seem to put them into practice late, in Agudos and Tupâ, understandably since I was learning. But here I wanted to start right away, so I began my BOM hand out program with all the priesthood in the ward (yes, ward!!) and we'll see how it goes. It was well received and I believe inspired as the bishop (yes, BISHOP!!!) started out the quorum meeting telling the priesthood they needed to give more references to the missionaries if they wanted them to work in other areas then the poor ones. Yes.

Parana is really nice, cooler, the sun is not nearly as strong which just makes life. . .better. The people eat a little differently. If you'll remember the dobradinha that I described some time ago (cow/goat stomach, yum : ) as something that I would never eat, well, guess what was for lunch the first day I got here? Double yup. But hey, at least it came with sausage which is always good. Look on the bright side (of the cow's stomach and not on the inside. . .).

So, our house is pretty scary. It's growing at least fifty versions of mold, among other various problems like a broken washing machine, general clutter and disuse, odd smells, and mattresses straight from the mortuary. Of course we're not going to stay here, we already have another house picked out it's just not ready yet, so I'm on a Claritin binge. We also have daily unspoken civil wars over the one study desk. Combine all, and this week was, in a word, different. Different area, companion, state, big city, ward, chapel out of our area, food, weather, life perspective. . .It's been different. But if it always stayed the same, in creeps complacency and you know how that goes.

This week I hear we will have one last interview with the President, who leaves very shortly and also I expect a zone meeting where perhaps, just perhaps, divine providence will have divinely provided me with a package you sent and also some proverbial letter kindling to stoke my inner fire. Never fear, that´s what Isaiah said in chapter 35: "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with a vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. "

This I will do. Let us together press forward in this work. I love you and think of you. Thank you most sincerely for your prayers and thoughts. I know that this is the work of God. I cannot deny it, for I know it, and like Joseph Smith stated of his vision, God knows that I know it. Such small things as mold or dirty clothes will not stop the hand of God and neither shall it stay mine. Have a blessed week,

Love,

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