Hey Family,
You guys are probably all going to go outside and play in the snow today. That is not fair. Southern Brazil is no where near as hot as up North, but I’m still baking like a spud climbing these mountains. I’m scared to ask someone what the temperature is because the translation to Fahrenheit would give be numbers I’ve never seen before. I could be losing a lot of weight right now, but that process is slowed down a little by how much I eat at lunch appointments. The members always say they want us to eat all the food, so I do. Oh well. Now that I’ve finally got a little bit of a tan the members of the branch presidency (who all returned from missions in the past 5 years and are whiter than Jonah) have started telling me that I’m turning black. Its hard work climbing mountains in the Brazilian sun but it’s what I’m here to do.
We had 2 baptisms practically guaranteed for this weekend, until their family went on a trip to Chapeco for the week end. It was going to a brother-sister combination that are 10 and 11 years old, respectively. I have been teaching them since my second or third week here, so I was getting hopeful that I would still be here for their baptism. If they come to church Sunday (the 18th) they can be baptized the next Saturday (the 24th) the problem is that transfers are the Wednesday between (the 21st). Now I REALLY want to stick around for another 6 weeks. This would be a great branch to spend Christmas with, and it looks like 6 people could be ready for the water next transfer. It is highly unlikely all 6 will get splashed, but I still like dreaming a little bit.
Not getting mail last week kind of put me to shame. Normally us “Western Missionaries” get mail every three weeks: once at interviews and once at Zone Conference. The Dansies didn’t bring any mail to interviews since they just did them after our District Conference (like Stake Conference, but we have a District, not a stake). For the week leading up to Zone Conference Elder Wright and I talked a little about the letters I was expecting. People had told him I normally get a stack of letters and Zone Conference, and I was telling him that since we didn’t get anything at Interviews I’d be getting even more. Right now I haven’t seen a letter in 6 weeks, and he keeps reminding me how wrong I was. It’s a real shot to the pride (which is probably a good thing) but I hope to have even more to rub in his face the next time we get mail (I have my fingers crossed that I’ll get something before Christmas).
Greg is applying to BYU? When did that happen? Is he going to try for the marching band? He definitely should. He’ll get in NO PROBLEM. I made my audition tape when I had bronchitis and couldn’t breathe and they let me in. He will get in with no sweat and have the time of his life with “The Power of the Wasatch”. Greg: Don’t worry. The BYU Marching Band is a lot more relaxed than the IF Band. Everyone learns their music, everyone learns their spots, and the marching technique is a lot less strict. It really is a LOT of fun. Not to mention you’d be joining the Bone Brethren and the Bone Babes. I don’t want to pressure or guilt you into doing anything, just know that you can do it and it would be a lot of fun for you. Plus you would get back from your mission in France or Korea just in time to for my senior year in the band. THAT will be fun!
Next week I should have some real information. Assuming I’m transferred I will tell you about my new area, companion, and the travel. If I don’t get transferred, my email might be even more boring. Sorry. Keep me posted on life, sports, and my Cougars.
The work is great (we’re finding a lot of new people), the weather is fine (whenever my the sidewalk isn’t boiling its raining “cats and dogs”), and I’m doing good so stop worrying about me.
Always on the Search,
Elder Haws(mo)
Hey Mikey,
ReplyDeleteWe miss you a lot back here in Utah. It makes me sad everytime that I am at a BYU game and I hear the band and I know that you aren't there. I get all ready to take pictures of the marching band at half-time and then I remember that there is no reason to anymore, since you're gone. It is really sad for me. Also, the other day Spencer picked up the college football playstation game, and it made me sad again. I loved when you would come over and play with us and I had someone to feed desserts to. The worst part of all is knowing that we won't ever have those times back...when you get home we will be somewhere else and it won't ever be the same. It really broke my heart... I wish that we had been more aware and taken advantage more of the time that we had with you here. I hope that the future provides us with more opportunities to hang out and cheer on BYU football. I love you Mikey!
P.S. What do you want for Christmas???