Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Soon a Senior Companion...lots of pictures!

Hey Mom and family,                                                                                                      8-17-11
Sounds like you guys had a great bike trip!  I bet Marc was mad that he got knocked over; It's rediculous that no one even stopped!  I guess it fulfills the prophecy that men’s hearts will harden and be cold in the last days.  Anyways, that was a lot of biking'.  I liked the pictures.  I’m sending you guys a ton of pictures right now too.  It's crazy that Mitch is already an Elder and that he'll probably be on his mission by the time I get home.  Make sure to tell him for me to not date anyone, boys or girls, it'll only cause trouble!!  And that Bryce is going on his mission already; people need to stop growing up without me.
This week was really good down here in Brazil.  We had one more baptism of a lady (Sebastiana) that took forever, like 8 months, to finally decide to be baptized.  It was a really good baptism with some investigators watching and a lot of members to support her.  It's cool to see how the much my Branch here has improved since I arrived, not due to anything I’ve done, but because it's just changing.  My companion is teaching me a ton about missionary work, this past transfer he's been training me to become a senior companion and I should be made senior this next transfer which is this Tuesday. 
It's cool to hear about the renovation, I think it looks really good, good work.  It's cool to hear also about the prayers for the construction dudes.  That could have been pretty bad to have the carpenter make something to realize that he made it wrong.  Also I could tell that you guys returned home Sunday and that you guys made a really detailed prayer that night.  Monday, I didn’t do anything different but I felt way better, it was a lot easier to love, to speak the language, and to be excited, because the spirit was with me.  Keep it up!
The temple trip was awesome, I started watching it in English but then I realized that I could understand in Portuguese so I took of the headphone and started watching in Portuguese.
I’m excited for the package; I can't wait for more peanut butter and cereal!
Alright, Love you!
Elder Williams

P.S. Here is a letter to Dad:
Happy Brazilian Father's Day!! (it was last Sunday)
Hey dad!
   Thanks for being so conscientious and writing me.  I had to laugh at your mission story, although I bet you didn't think it so funny at the time.  We havent had too big of rainstorms here so I haven't had to practice my swimming skills yet.  I liked your ideas that you guys came up with, next time I get an american companion I'll talk with him about having an American cooking night.  We used to have an English class every week, but no one would show up so we stopped it for a while.  We started it back up last PDay and no one showed up again, so we're shooting for another day this Saturday.
    It was cool to see the pictures of you guys' bike trip.  I have plans to get something like that started when I get home.  Riding bikes is prohibited in areas of this mission, so I'll get a ton of walking, and running in here on the mission.  I think it's prohibited because everyone here walks, it's much easier to contact people on foot, and also because there are a lot of people that like to steal things here.  It is a lot easier to just walk in the long run.
    This area is pretty difficult to get the members to do anything.  We invite tons of members (because they feed us lunch everyday) to share FHE with us, but it always falls through.  And it's hard if not impossible to find investigators here that are free on the same night.
    These past two transfers Ive started giving an increased amount of blessings, it's a really cool experience. 
  Good work on finding the lost teenager on Mt. Mclaughlin.  And in general saving the sick, afflicted, dead, etc.
  It's crazy to think that I'm already 7 months into the mission.  It goes by really quickly.  Im hearing word from the higher ups in the mission that I'm going to be made a Senior Companion next transfer.  We'llsee how it goes, but definately you guys will need to pray for me even harder, cuz im not gonna lie, I'm nervous to be given that much more responsibility.  But it should be good.
Love you dad,
Elder Williams                                                    

                                              View from our stomping grounds!                        


                                              Me and my companion teaching Sebastiana


                                               Sebastiana: the new convert!
                                          
The black dog that broke Sebastiana's shoulder...the neighbors said it was because she joined the church.                                                    

                                             
                                                   Campinas Temple and Companion

                                                     Sebastiana's Baptism

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