Hey Family,
Life is quickly starting to hit routine. Which is fine. While the words we use in the lessons often get repetitive, the Spirit that comes is always new and refreshing. Unfortunately our two teenage investigators decided to postpone their baptism. Instead of this Saturday it will (hopefully) be next Saturday the 18th. They both know everything is true, they just feel a little cautious about jumping right into it. We invited them to fast this last weekend (and the older brother did) to see if they are ready. We haven’t gotten an answer from them yet but we remain optimistic and hopeful.
Last week we spent Wednesday in Xanxere with Sister Tavarez and Sister Soarez, and we will be spending Thursday with them this week. Due to the timing of Zone Conference and interviews with the President we get to have district meetings two weeks in a row. Last week the bus left Concordia at 6:30 AM, and because they don’t run as many busses as we would like, we got back to Concordia at 9:00 PM. The total trip is about two hours each way, but coming back we had an hour and a half wait in Seara, another city, so we did contacts and got addresses incase they open Seara as a new area anytime in the next year or so. Sister Soarez was kind enough to decide to speak Portuguese AT me for the entire afternoon. With a stroke of luck I was able to understand a good portion of what she was saying and could even respond when the occasion required a response. Learning to speak a language is difficult enough, hearing and comprehending might be a 2-year endeavor in itself.
To answer Mom’s questions: I can use my debit card here. Due to “greenie expenses”, as I have deemed them, my mission allotted money ran out a little over halfway to the next “pay day” (today) so I took 15 or 20 American dollars out to help me get by. My greenie expenses consisted of an umbrella (which was convenient since we had a flood my 4th day here, an extra pair of sandals to wear outside the shower, and scissors to make flash cards. I finally got my American cash exchanged this weekend, which means I have a solid emergency fund if I need. The laundry business is fine, it’s just a pain. I think I’m starting to get the hang of it, but I’m still a long way from perfecting it. As far as “housekeeping” goes, I have a request. I never got a simple recipe book from the family, or Wal-Mart, or anything. If any combination of recipes could be included in a package you send at Christmas, it would be appreciated. In the meantime, I would like to formally request a simple recipe or two (through email) for cookies and mashed potatoes. It appears as though potatoes could be an easy purchase, though not the quality of those at home. On P-day we have time in the apartment when we watch Disney movie on the Portable DVD player Elder Martin has, and I imagine cookies would spice up life a little.
The only REAL request I have is: If anyone is planning on sending a package or anything in the next couple weeks, include a jar of peanut butter. JIF, Western Family, the brand doesn’t matter. The more experienced Americans informed me that the peanut butter here isn’t worth trying. Having lived my entire life with Peanut Butter Sandwiches available, I don’t know if I could make it too many months in the field without it. In the MTC we had homemade peanut butter available at every meal. It wasn’t the most delicious stuff, but it did well to suppress the addiction for the time being.
Next Monday is Zone Conference in Lages. We will take a bus to Chapeco Sunday evening, and have an all-night bus ride to Lages from Chapeco Sunday Night/Monday Morning. As such, rumor has it our P-day will be Tuesday instead of Wednesday. Continue your regular lives at this point; just don’t panic if my email comes a little late next week. Give my best wishes to the Band. Both IFHS and BYU. Cheer on my Cougars and make sure to send me updates on personnel, stats, and successes. I promise to stay focused on the work all the time, but I may be forced to have interest in Cougar Athletics on the occasional P-Day afternoon. DAD, MOOSE. I will need info on Football, Men’s AND Women’s Basketball, and Women’s Volleyball. Numbers, records, info, summaries, whatever you deem worthy and necessary.
Life is good here in Concordia. I’m learning a lot, loving the work, everything is fine, and stop worrying about me.
Missing Spuds and Peanut Butter,
Elder Haws(mo)
No comments:
Post a Comment