Letter #99

Dearest Family,

This is a surprise letter : ) Due to recent preparation days with the President in Apucarana (today) we moved our p-day to today so that we could travel this week, and, as tomorrow is Brasil vs. Mexico, it 

had to be moved to today : )

That's the way things start of crazy here. To enjoy a bit of our preparation day here in the office, working and resting, we also had a rubber band war and ordered açai with granola and honey : )

Wednesday when last we met, we were gearing up for Brasil's game against Croatia. I forgot to tell you last week but due to the World Cup, whenever Brasil plays we have to return to the house by 3 p.m. and stay there until 7:30 p.m., at which time if it is alright outside, we can leave. If not we are to stay in the house all night.

Thursday worked out well though because that morning we had the baptisms of two daughters that have been going to church sometime with their mom, who has to marry before being baptized. It was a special morning, and even thought the baptism was early we were able to get priesthood leaders and the young women's organization mobilized to come out and support them. Saturday we had the baptism of one more sister, with the members in attendance Saturday morning as well. They all went to the stake seminary activity Saturday afternoon as well : )

Still on game day, we marked lunch with our landlords who are our neighbors as well, and they cooked up a big bbq for us, before we had to retire to our house. We spent our time at home planning for the week and finishing our morning study as we had to leave extra early for our baptisms. These same landlord-neighbor-members were reactivated by us about five months ago and have been going with us since we've been here. They have a special place in my heart.: )

 

Friday I spent all day after our zone meeting with Elder de Pina from Cabo Verde in his area in Londrina. We had a great time and were able to teach a lot of lessons. Of these lessons two were to women that we re-invited to be baptized. Both accepted, and had their interviews on Saturday, one passed and was baptized. Interesting story is that her parents were among the first members here in Londrina, but she never joined the church because she eloped at the age of 16.

Saturday we had the baptism as I said and then after lunch with Irmã Cione, also recently baptized. We headed to Cambé to do more interviews there. Saturday buses are a 3 to 4 hour long round trip just on the bus.

Sunday we had some good highlights: First we had 6 confirmations during sacrament meeting, from the baptisms these last two weeks. the other elders each confirmed two, as i was a little sick from this respitory thing i´ve had. (its caused, i think, by all the construction going on by our house thats giving me allergies from all the dust in the air.)

Second, our missionary-to-be gave her farewell talk, and it was very well done. She spoke for a good thirty minutes and is full of the missionary spirit. She will be set apart tomorrow, and leaves for the CTM on Wednesday. Friday she received her endowments, accompanied by the bishop and his wife. Her friend who was baptized is also preparing herself to put in her mission papers in December!!!

Third, we received perhaps the second member reference that I've gotten from this ward, that was not from recent converts. The kick? She had the address because she wrecked the man's car and asked that we go ask forgiveness with the Book of Mormon as a bartering tool. . .We went, but just a note to all that may read this: Don't give missionaries car wreck references. . .

,

Today's highlight was being called early in the morning and invited to participate in the p-day with the President for the zone of Apucarana, who baptized nine in one week. We played lots of basketball, some dodgeball Brasilian style (it's not quite as intense) and others watched a movie while I played more basketball. We had some trivia from the scriptures and then lunch in a restaurant. It was a good day, great to run and jump and play. I didn't feel quite as out of shape as I thought I would : )

 

Right now the United States is playing Ghana. It's Cup season! And our mission is pulling ahead with a good shot at breaking all mission history in terms of baptisms. We already passed a hundred this month and have the second highest average of people attending church this month in mission history : )

It was all kind of topped off sentimentally when tonight while we were working we got a surprise visit from the Angerbauer family of Bountiful Utah. Their son was AP just about two years ago. He left about one month before I got in the mission. Kind of a circle of life moment. Who knows, one day us returning for the Olympics. . .: ) They were all jazzed up in U.S. soccer jerseys for the game : )

I love you all. Sorry for the surprise letter. I forgot to mention somehow that I also got two packages, one from home and one from my dear Aunt, Uncle and cousins. I loved the BBQ sauce: )

Have a great week!

Love,

Tanner