First and foremost..did you guys end up getting snow in the valley? Oh man I hope so. And I hope it's in Mesa. Last year it was so epic. Even though it was a trace, it was beautiful. If there were to be snow anywhere in the valley other than Carefree it would be in Mesa because of the elevation, right? As for the boxes, I haven't got them yet. Blow up Christmas tree or illegal drugs. They should be waiting for me at zone conference which will be next week, and I'll be sure to put up the tree right away. It is true that nobody has real Christmas trees here, or big fake ones for that matter. At least not in Aguas Lindas. Most people here are poor. I'm looking forward to getting the Celebrex. I'm sorry it's taken so long, these packages have probably arrived already but the mission is very lazy about disseminating mail. The zone leaders pick up our letters for us every once in a while and drop them off with us at our district meetings when they are in town, but it's worse with packages. They just sit in a closet in the mission office until zone conference. But I'm happy to know I'll have a lot waiting for me there. Reading letters on the way home from conference every transfer is probably when I'm happiest. I'm really looking forward to Dad's next letter "with a story from 600 years ago". So Tight. I can't wait. I love reading about these things, it makes me happy and helps me feel close to you, Papa. Which reminds me, when I get back, since we couldn't go before I left, I want to go to Europe with you as soon as possible to see some World War II historical sites. Is that possible? I think we should all go as a family that summer when I get back.
Today is transfer day and Elder Redd is leaving but I'm not. I'll probably stay for another two transfers Three more months. Redd is going to a place called Estancia to be a district leader, which means he gets to have a cell phone. My new district leader is Elder Guimares, who was my companion when we did a trade with him and the AP Elder Galbes in October. I'm glad he'll be my district leader. So I'm staying here for this transfer, and probably another because apparently every missionary that comes to Aguas Lindas stays for four transfers, or six months. I should leave in March. And then I'll be off to who knows where. Maybe I'll go to the state of Tocantins which is 13 hours away and in the jungle and very hot. My friend from the CTM is there in a city called Palmas. He was fat in the CTM and I'm curious to see if he's gotten skinnier in the last 4 months up there. Apparently everyone loses weight in Tocantins. I kind of want to go. We just ate lunch and I'm feeling fat. I'm hoping to see him and the other guys from my CTM group today at the Rodoferrodoviaria, which is a big bus/train station in Cruzeiro (which was my first area, where they have McDonalds and Dominoes and Outback Steakhouse and Subway and I miss it very much) where all the missionaries meet on transfer day. I love transfer day if I am staying where I am. Leaving sucks. I'm sad for Redd, he doesn't want to leave Aguas Lindas. There at the Rodoferrodoviaria I'll meet my new companion, Elder Leite. A Brazilian. My first Brazilian companion. I'm a little nervous but I think I'm ready. My Portuguese is good enough. Now my only opportunities to use my native language will be in my journal, my e-mails home and letters, and with this crazy woman who walks up and down the street I live on selling juice. She speaks English with a British accent because she lived there a few years ago. I see her a few times a week and always get a nice hello dear!! from her. I don't know if this Elder Leite will be too much of a needy companion as far as Christmas presents are concerned, but let me tell you something about Brazilian missionaries, they are some of the most presumptuous and imposing people you will ever meet. If you take a candy bar out of your pocket, before you even get the chance to open it, if a Brazilian missionary is around, he'll be in your face saying ohhhh, for me? Thank you and he'll take it and eat it, as if it's some hilarious joke I should be cracking up at. I wish it wasn't this way but it is. They are all like this. So I'm sure he will appreciate his package very, very much. It should also be understood that I still love all my Brazilian missionary friends very much despite this.
We stayed very concentrated this last transfer and baptized every week. This transfer the mission baptized 502 people. Enough for an entire stake. That is the best the mission has ever done and is a miracle! We are so close to having a temple in Brasilia, it's amazing. Presidente's vision may be realized before he leaves in six months. I'll be sad when he goes. This week I'll figure out what time and what number you guys can call me at on Christmas. I'll be sure to let you know in my e-mail next week. I think you guys will probably call my friend Erisvaldoa's house. What time will be best for you? Is Dad working? I don't want anyone to be sad and crying on Christmas.
Anyways, it's time to start heading out to Brasilia. Redd wants to go early so we can eat there. I'm looking forward to getting some reading done on the bus ride there. Have you guys been reading Matthew, Mark and Luke before Christmas like the First Presidency invited us to? I've nearly finished Luke, and I can't wait to start John. I'd like to finish Acts before Christmas. I'm loving it, and it's helping my testimony of the Savior grow. If you haven't started, START!!! If you have, let me know where you are. I love love love you. Have a good week and don't get arrested.
Jordan ps: Dad, if you can, copy a list of the standing in the NBA to me. I'm curious to see all the numbers. This business with Boston is amazing. I knew the big ticket would clean up wherever he went. Is Dallas ahead of us? Let me know how all these east coast games turn out.
December 3, 2007
Family, sorry I couldn't write you last week. There was a blackout over the whole city for an entire day, and it just happened to be on prep day. The power didn't come back on until the next morning so we had to do everything by candlelight. I was all about it. I was hoping the power would never come back on. Our showers are heated by the electricity though so after my second cold shower I was ready to come back to the modern era. Modern in The Brazil, which is more of a 1970's United States.
The weather has been beautful here lately. Everyday we wake up to thick fog, and fall asleep to the rain tapping on the windows. I love it. It's still dreadfully hot during the day though. It's really not that different than Arizona I guess but I don't really remember. The thunder in this place is louder than any thunder I have ever heard. It's amazing. And a little terrifying. I thought I was being struck by lightning just the other night.
I already have Fagan's mission address, I got it in the CTM. But thank you. What do you hear from his mother lately? Did their house burn down in the fires? I hope you guys have taken this leak in your bedroom as a sign to sell our house and buy or build a new one somewhere nearby, still in our same Ward, still in the orange trees. President and Sister Cardon should be coming home soon, right? January? I can't wait to see them. I'm going to have a hard time not calling him President Cardon. Did you know he was Presidente Aidukaitis' mission president many many years ago? In Sao Paulo I think. Small small world.
So I've reached the SIX MONTH mark! I don't know if this is a lot or a little. Both I guess. I'm feeling somewhat accomplished, but trying to stay humble. You won't see me being one of these missionaries who's six months in and already going around talking about how "I can hardly speak English anymore!" and "look how dirty my shoes are! I'm such a missionary!!" But I do feel like I'm at a point where I can begin to look back and see the progress I've made. There's some. My testimony has certainly grown. My knowledge of the gospel and of the Church as well. My love for the prophet and the leaders of the Church is great and I can't wait to see them in conference in person again one day. I truly love being a member of this Church and I do want to help people to see the sweet truth that exists in it. But ALAS, I remain a five year-old who can't speak very well or take care of himself on his own. And thus, I still don't really like the business of being a missionary. But I can't say I regret the time I've spent here. And when it's all said and done I don't imagine I will have regretted the last two years at all. I'm trying to be as obedient as I can so I don't end up like Oscar Schindler as I'm leaving the mission in the back of a Mercedes. "This... this pen! These shoes!" Maybe I'll be like that no matter what. It's too early to know very much, but what I do know is that in the "24" hours of my mission it's 6am, and the sun is just now finally coming up over the horizon, and there's a long day in front of me. Pray for me!
I loved your Thanksgiving pictures. I hope everyone got FAAAAT FAT FAT. I'd love to see more pictures of the animals. I haven't seen one picture of Pebbs since I left! I need one. Dad, I'm sorry to hear about the Huskies, but just yesterday I was daydreaming about being in Seattle, eating at 13 Coins and going to Barnes & Noble and a football game and man I wanted to die, it sounds so great. I don't even care if the Huskies lose every game in the "09 season, so long as we're there! Anyways, I love you guys. Have a wonderful first week of December. Let me know if it snows in Mesa again. Jordan
The weather has been beautful here lately. Everyday we wake up to thick fog, and fall asleep to the rain tapping on the windows. I love it. It's still dreadfully hot during the day though. It's really not that different than Arizona I guess but I don't really remember. The thunder in this place is louder than any thunder I have ever heard. It's amazing. And a little terrifying. I thought I was being struck by lightning just the other night.
I already have Fagan's mission address, I got it in the CTM. But thank you. What do you hear from his mother lately? Did their house burn down in the fires? I hope you guys have taken this leak in your bedroom as a sign to sell our house and buy or build a new one somewhere nearby, still in our same Ward, still in the orange trees. President and Sister Cardon should be coming home soon, right? January? I can't wait to see them. I'm going to have a hard time not calling him President Cardon. Did you know he was Presidente Aidukaitis' mission president many many years ago? In Sao Paulo I think. Small small world.
So I've reached the SIX MONTH mark! I don't know if this is a lot or a little. Both I guess. I'm feeling somewhat accomplished, but trying to stay humble. You won't see me being one of these missionaries who's six months in and already going around talking about how "I can hardly speak English anymore!" and "look how dirty my shoes are! I'm such a missionary!!" But I do feel like I'm at a point where I can begin to look back and see the progress I've made. There's some. My testimony has certainly grown. My knowledge of the gospel and of the Church as well. My love for the prophet and the leaders of the Church is great and I can't wait to see them in conference in person again one day. I truly love being a member of this Church and I do want to help people to see the sweet truth that exists in it. But ALAS, I remain a five year-old who can't speak very well or take care of himself on his own. And thus, I still don't really like the business of being a missionary. But I can't say I regret the time I've spent here. And when it's all said and done I don't imagine I will have regretted the last two years at all. I'm trying to be as obedient as I can so I don't end up like Oscar Schindler as I'm leaving the mission in the back of a Mercedes. "This... this pen! These shoes!" Maybe I'll be like that no matter what. It's too early to know very much, but what I do know is that in the "24" hours of my mission it's 6am, and the sun is just now finally coming up over the horizon, and there's a long day in front of me. Pray for me!
I loved your Thanksgiving pictures. I hope everyone got FAAAAT FAT FAT. I'd love to see more pictures of the animals. I haven't seen one picture of Pebbs since I left! I need one. Dad, I'm sorry to hear about the Huskies, but just yesterday I was daydreaming about being in Seattle, eating at 13 Coins and going to Barnes & Noble and a football game and man I wanted to die, it sounds so great. I don't even care if the Huskies lose every game in the "09 season, so long as we're there! Anyways, I love you guys. Have a wonderful first week of December. Let me know if it snows in Mesa again. Jordan
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November 19, 2007
All I know is that while I'm tired and been in Aguas Lindas for two months now, it hardly feels like it. I'm still new at this despite feeling old and dirty already. So now my fantasy football team is showing everybody what's up? Here are some more pictures. There are two from when I was sick Wednesday morning. Some others are from the Bolo Macho we did sometime during the week, I forget exactly when. That was really fun. Bolo Macho means Man Cake. A bunch of guys from the branch made cakes and they were judged on looks and taste and the winner got a trophy, then everyone ate the cakes. I got to be a judge. I took it very seriously. There are also some pictures from the baptism we had yesterday. The girl with the dreadlocks is Thais (Tai-ees, not Thighs...), and she's one of the smartest, most receptive people we've taught. And she' only 9. I was really happy to see her get baptized. We baptized another little kid named Henrique as well.
As for Christmas list business, all I really want is the new Radiohead box set for In Rainbows (and for it to be left in my room somewhere where it won't gather too much dust) and the DVD of this last general conference. And letters, and pictures of Socs and Josie and Pebbles. I miss them. Oh and for the SUNS to win a championship. I think that's all.
Michelle, link me to this most-modern basketball allegory social critique blog thing. If you have any questions about basketball, please feel free to ask. Or talk to Hajax, he knows more than I do. Your day out sounds so fancy. Did it maintain best day ever status or did it end up crashing and burning? I hope not.
Lex, Yaaahhhh daaaa hilllllllllllzzzzz.... Did Spencer and Heidi break up? Is Lauren still kind of a babe? I want to date her when I get home. Mischa Barton too. Set me up? Ashley Olsen, she's the less pretty one, right? Isn't Lance Armstrong like 40? Yikes. Brazilian style. All the married people here have these incredible age gaps. There are 30 year-old men with 16 year-old pregnant wives. That's not everybody, I shouldn't say "all". But a lot. Members of the Church too. Britney Spears downward spiral just keeps getting better and better. For me. For the public. I think it's about time someone makes a documentary about her. I will do this if no one else does.
I have a bunch of good videos I wish I could send you guys. I'll try that next week but I doubt it will work. Maybe I'll make a CD. I want pictures from the festivities this week. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I love you guys, George Glass
As for Christmas list business, all I really want is the new Radiohead box set for In Rainbows (and for it to be left in my room somewhere where it won't gather too much dust) and the DVD of this last general conference. And letters, and pictures of Socs and Josie and Pebbles. I miss them. Oh and for the SUNS to win a championship. I think that's all.
Michelle, link me to this most-modern basketball allegory social critique blog thing. If you have any questions about basketball, please feel free to ask. Or talk to Hajax, he knows more than I do. Your day out sounds so fancy. Did it maintain best day ever status or did it end up crashing and burning? I hope not.
Lex, Yaaahhhh daaaa hilllllllllllzzzzz.... Did Spencer and Heidi break up? Is Lauren still kind of a babe? I want to date her when I get home. Mischa Barton too. Set me up? Ashley Olsen, she's the less pretty one, right? Isn't Lance Armstrong like 40? Yikes. Brazilian style. All the married people here have these incredible age gaps. There are 30 year-old men with 16 year-old pregnant wives. That's not everybody, I shouldn't say "all". But a lot. Members of the Church too. Britney Spears downward spiral just keeps getting better and better. For me. For the public. I think it's about time someone makes a documentary about her. I will do this if no one else does.
I have a bunch of good videos I wish I could send you guys. I'll try that next week but I doubt it will work. Maybe I'll make a CD. I want pictures from the festivities this week. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I love you guys, George Glass
November 12, 2007
Well, I was just finishing up a nice, long e-mail to you guys when my screen went black and I look to my right and there's Redd shaking his head looking down at the power cord he accidentally kicked out of the wall. Oh well. He feels really bad so don't be too upset. I didn't have anything too important to say. Just updating you on my week. I assure you, nothing all that noteworthy occurred. I'm still alive, still losing a little bit of weight every week. I suppose I should let you know the news we got from Sister Aidukaitis this week that I'm so so excited about. Every companionship will soon be getting REAL washing machines (not little tanguinhos that just spin your clothes for five minutes), toasters, grills and some other stuff that I can't remember. It's like Christmas. I've been hand washing my clothes since I got here. Anyways, here are some pictures. Enjoy. There's a lot. I hope it works.
I love you guys, I miss you every day. I can't wait for your letters and packages.
Tell Grandma and Grandpa Hoon and D that I love them very very much and think about them and pray for them all the time. I look at my pedigree chart every once in a while and think about our wonderful family history that they've helped to shape. I'm so lucky to have had all four grandparents this long, and to have had their help and their encouragement and love. Tell them that! I want Grandma and Grandpa Hoon to welcome the gospel into their lives and be baptized in the true Church of Jesus Christ. I want them to ask me or you guys any questions, if they have them, and to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. They are probably the nicest people any of us have met--and you know that isn't even an exageration--all they're missing in their lives is the gospel. Family, do all you can to help them find it.
I love you. Have a good week. Jordan
I love you guys, I miss you every day. I can't wait for your letters and packages.
Tell Grandma and Grandpa Hoon and D that I love them very very much and think about them and pray for them all the time. I look at my pedigree chart every once in a while and think about our wonderful family history that they've helped to shape. I'm so lucky to have had all four grandparents this long, and to have had their help and their encouragement and love. Tell them that! I want Grandma and Grandpa Hoon to welcome the gospel into their lives and be baptized in the true Church of Jesus Christ. I want them to ask me or you guys any questions, if they have them, and to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. They are probably the nicest people any of us have met--and you know that isn't even an exageration--all they're missing in their lives is the gospel. Family, do all you can to help them find it.
I love you. Have a good week. Jordan
November 5, 2007
I only have a few minutes to write because I just wrote Zach a long congratulatory email. I'm sorry, I hate when I have no time to write. I'll just say the basics this week. I don't think you need to send that Christmas package this early. I've heard from other missionaries that their families sent things early around the holidays and it ended up getting there in a timely fashion and they had Christmas boxes just sitting there a month before Christmas. So, wait a little while please. I don't want to be all Tom Hanks in Castaway style just staring at this box. Also, I'm pretty sure you guys will call me on Christmas, I don't call you. I just tell you the number to call me on and then I'll be there at that time. I think. That's what Redd tells me. I'll give you more info on that later as I figure it out. I don't have sores on my feet anymore, don't worry. That's not my problem now. Actually, my current problem is with the tendinitis at my ankle on my right foot. It's really painful and I'm thinking about going back to the doctor. Zone Conference is on Thursday so I'll ask Sister and Presidente about that then. My knees are sore, but not any worse than they've been. I'm not too worried about that. It's just this pain at my ankle. I can't even move my foot without it hurting. If I don't have padded shoes on it hurts to walk.
OH! What I wanted to tell you last week that I forgot about was that I WANT THE NEW RADIOHEAD BOX SET THING THAT'S COMING OUT SOON. Ask Michelle or Chelsea or Jonny about how to go about doing that. Radiohead is doing this amazing thing where their new album is available on the internet and you just go to their website and you pay whatever you think it's worth and you get the songs. If you pay I think $80 or higher you get a box set thing with vinyls and cd's and booklets and art and all kinds of stuff sent to your house. All the music magazines say it will "revolutionize the industry!!!" or whatever. Please get it for me for Christmas and leave it in my room somewhere where it won't collect too much dust for the next
year or so. It's all I want.
Dad, I re-read your letter about the Hazard guy every once in a while. I love reading that. It's interesting and makes me think of you. Send me more stories about what you learn. I love it. Also, are you remembering not to cut that corner on Mclellan and Val Vista? You better be.
Mom, thank you for being so concerned about me all the time and always wanting to send me things to help me. I really appreciate it. I love you so much and I miss watching gay design shows on TV with you late at night. Tell me about Design Envy stuff. I want to hear how it's all going. Did you say Boren's want an elevator? Or did I dream that or something? I don't remember.
Have a good week everyone. I promise to send pictures next week.
Jordan
OH! What I wanted to tell you last week that I forgot about was that I WANT THE NEW RADIOHEAD BOX SET THING THAT'S COMING OUT SOON. Ask Michelle or Chelsea or Jonny about how to go about doing that. Radiohead is doing this amazing thing where their new album is available on the internet and you just go to their website and you pay whatever you think it's worth and you get the songs. If you pay I think $80 or higher you get a box set thing with vinyls and cd's and booklets and art and all kinds of stuff sent to your house. All the music magazines say it will "revolutionize the industry!!!" or whatever. Please get it for me for Christmas and leave it in my room somewhere where it won't collect too much dust for the next
year or so. It's all I want.
Dad, I re-read your letter about the Hazard guy every once in a while. I love reading that. It's interesting and makes me think of you. Send me more stories about what you learn. I love it. Also, are you remembering not to cut that corner on Mclellan and Val Vista? You better be.
Mom, thank you for being so concerned about me all the time and always wanting to send me things to help me. I really appreciate it. I love you so much and I miss watching gay design shows on TV with you late at night. Tell me about Design Envy stuff. I want to hear how it's all going. Did you say Boren's want an elevator? Or did I dream that or something? I don't remember.
Have a good week everyone. I promise to send pictures next week.
Jordan
October 30, 2007
Yes yes, Momma dear, I got the Halloween package and all the e-mails. Don't worry. I loved everything in the package. I keep Dead Ed in the cupboard so whenever someone opens it he crawls out onto the floor. Pretty annoying ha. I'm sorry I couldn't e-mail last week. I actually was in the middle of writing you guys when the connection went out and they told everyone in the internet cafe to leave. So that was that. Chances are if you don't hear from me one week it's not because I'm dead on the side of the road somewhere. Probably not at least. Guess why the connection went out? Because it was RAINING. That's right. That's Brazil for you.
I baptized a pregnant girl last Sunday. An 18 year-old girl named Sheyla whose husband wears big camo pants and didn't come to the baptism. Her mom and brothers are members though, and they were there. I'd never baptized anyone in my life before. I was a little nervous, but more worried that her 6-months pregnant belly wasn't going to go all the way under the water. We didn't have much in the font. It did, thank goodness, and I managed not to mess up any of the words in the ordinance. Then I baptized a guy named Ronaldo, who is 22. One 22 year-old Ronaldo baptizing another 22 year-old named Ronaldo. I wasn't as successful at pulling it off legit this time. I forgot to tell him to cover his nose so the whole motion was really awkward.
I had to walk this week because we didn't have helmets to ride the bikes (which is apparently a world-wide missionary rule that we were never aware of and isn't in the missionary handbook). Helmets are really expensive here because nobody wears them, only professional bike riders who live in Sao Paulo. There's none of that in Aguas Lindas, but everybody rides bikes. I didn't mind getting a helmet but our Zone Leaders, Galbes and Guimares who spent the week with us said they didn't have the money, and Redd didn't want to wear one, so the pain I developed in Cruzeiro is now back with a vengeance. I was with Elder Guimares who likes 2pac and Kanye West. He's a good guy. Redd was with the AP (Assistant to the Presidente), Elder Galbes, who is fat and ate most of my peanut butter after I showed him what peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are. Galbes and Guimares have left and Redd and I are still walking because he likes it. I don't open my mouth and complain about anything. I have to say that despite how much I genuinely do not like this, I do have a sweet and simple testimony that I can tell is growing. I can say that I feel more akin with the Lord, who suffered more than anyone, when I suffer here. And that, if nothing else is good. I'm also so happy to hear about the blessings at home for you guys, and for my friends. I heard about Zach getting baptized. I want to fly home and give him a hug and tell him I love him.
Lex, I'm proud of you for registering to vote. You're proBama, huh? That's great. He's a tight guy. You should read his books (I didn't get the chance to before I left) and talk to Chelsea about him. She's the expert. Stay up to date on politics, it's such a fun thing. Inspiring too. And it may spark your interest in history, as it did for me. The two often go hand in hand. I think I will maybe even want to be a history major when I get back. Follow in spench leg's footsteps. I miss you and the pictures of Socks in his costume made me miss him so much. I hope school is going well for you. Sign up for some interesting classes next semester. One class I always wanted to take was world religions, but never did. I wish I could be there to help look up fun classes with you.
Dad, thanks for your letter with the story of the man named Hazard. I want to read more about that. We should definitely go there and see that monument. I want so badly to learn more about history, it's killing me. I hope they never stop building that Burj Dubai. I think you should buy a condo there. Seriously.
By the way, Michelle... did you hear that Jonny Greenwood is doing the score for There Will Be Blood?!?!?!?!
I love you guys. Have a wonderful week, and Happy Halloween!
p.s. - talking to Fagan'a mom is definitely cool. I love him. I want to read some stories she has from his mission if you get any.
I baptized a pregnant girl last Sunday. An 18 year-old girl named Sheyla whose husband wears big camo pants and didn't come to the baptism. Her mom and brothers are members though, and they were there. I'd never baptized anyone in my life before. I was a little nervous, but more worried that her 6-months pregnant belly wasn't going to go all the way under the water. We didn't have much in the font. It did, thank goodness, and I managed not to mess up any of the words in the ordinance. Then I baptized a guy named Ronaldo, who is 22. One 22 year-old Ronaldo baptizing another 22 year-old named Ronaldo. I wasn't as successful at pulling it off legit this time. I forgot to tell him to cover his nose so the whole motion was really awkward.
I had to walk this week because we didn't have helmets to ride the bikes (which is apparently a world-wide missionary rule that we were never aware of and isn't in the missionary handbook). Helmets are really expensive here because nobody wears them, only professional bike riders who live in Sao Paulo. There's none of that in Aguas Lindas, but everybody rides bikes. I didn't mind getting a helmet but our Zone Leaders, Galbes and Guimares who spent the week with us said they didn't have the money, and Redd didn't want to wear one, so the pain I developed in Cruzeiro is now back with a vengeance. I was with Elder Guimares who likes 2pac and Kanye West. He's a good guy. Redd was with the AP (Assistant to the Presidente), Elder Galbes, who is fat and ate most of my peanut butter after I showed him what peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are. Galbes and Guimares have left and Redd and I are still walking because he likes it. I don't open my mouth and complain about anything. I have to say that despite how much I genuinely do not like this, I do have a sweet and simple testimony that I can tell is growing. I can say that I feel more akin with the Lord, who suffered more than anyone, when I suffer here. And that, if nothing else is good. I'm also so happy to hear about the blessings at home for you guys, and for my friends. I heard about Zach getting baptized. I want to fly home and give him a hug and tell him I love him.
Lex, I'm proud of you for registering to vote. You're proBama, huh? That's great. He's a tight guy. You should read his books (I didn't get the chance to before I left) and talk to Chelsea about him. She's the expert. Stay up to date on politics, it's such a fun thing. Inspiring too. And it may spark your interest in history, as it did for me. The two often go hand in hand. I think I will maybe even want to be a history major when I get back. Follow in spench leg's footsteps. I miss you and the pictures of Socks in his costume made me miss him so much. I hope school is going well for you. Sign up for some interesting classes next semester. One class I always wanted to take was world religions, but never did. I wish I could be there to help look up fun classes with you.
Dad, thanks for your letter with the story of the man named Hazard. I want to read more about that. We should definitely go there and see that monument. I want so badly to learn more about history, it's killing me. I hope they never stop building that Burj Dubai. I think you should buy a condo there. Seriously.
By the way, Michelle... did you hear that Jonny Greenwood is doing the score for There Will Be Blood?!?!?!?!
I love you guys. Have a wonderful week, and Happy Halloween!
p.s. - talking to Fagan'a mom is definitely cool. I love him. I want to read some stories she has from his mission if you get any.
October 15, 2007
Lexa,
In my opinion, the person to ask about Halloween costumes is Michelle. She'll give you a good idea. When you asked, I was tempted to tell you "be a missionary"! Then I immediately thought "wow, I'm a fag". I'm so proud of you for getting 100% on your sociology paper. Those papers are fun to write I think. Was it the nine page one about your wants and needs in a spouse? That might be next. That ones a good time. In mine I put a cute nose under the needs section. I figure it's a need because if I don't end up with a girl with a cute nose to cancel out my ugly nose, our kids will all have weird noses. I can't allow that. Tell Mike Green I love him and miss him. I'm glad s-cakes has my address now. I'm curious to see if anyone will use it. Maybe that girl who works at the salon nearby who comes in all the time will see it and write me. You know, the married one who I thought was saying hi to me that one time but she was just waving at someone behind me? What a babe. I'm sad I'm missing Halloween. I miss you.
Momma,
I miss you, momma. I ate something this week that somewhat resembled your sugar cookies with the really good icing. Made me miss you. That would be something to send me if it's possible! It really isn't necessary to send me too much of anything though. Of course I appreciate it all, but I don't know that I need all these drugs. My feet are doing better on the outside. The problem with taking medicine right now is that it's dengue season here so the mosquitos are out in full force and we're told not to take any anti-inflammatories that thicken the blood. They attack us in the night, it's awful. You should set out TONS of Halloween decorations. I think Halloween might be my favorite holiday. I just love this time of year in general. I know you do too. Seriously, take Lex to Target and buy as much as you can. I can't wait to see the animals in their costumes. I miss you more than ever, Momma.
Dad,
I'm so jealous of you going up to the top of that tower where Paul Revere hung the lanterns. That sounds like fun. I wish I could have been there. I want to study Early American history soooooo bad. I plan on making Church history, Early American history and World War 2 history my primary studies when I get home, while continuing to be educated on politics. Is Hillary still pulling ahead? I'm so bummed I'm missing such a good football season. Redd and I talk about football every once in a while and it always makes me miss home. I'm also bummed I'm missing good baseball playoffs too. I was just kind of getting into baseball before I left. Figures the Dbacks would be doing well. Maybe it's the new colors. Goodness gracious basketball season starts in two weeks!!!!!!!! How is pre-season looking? How are the bigtime rookies? How is Nash looking? Go to as many games as possible!
Michelle,
I heard about Owen Wilson trying to kill himself a while ago. About a Halloween costume for that? I don't know how you could recreate it. I don't even know how he did it. Just get yourself a weird nose and walk around telling everyone how sad you are that you made movies like Shanghai Knights. Is the new Wes Anderson good? I bet it is. Be sure to go see the new P.T. Anderson movie too. I don't know if it's out yet. Hajax tells me the new Radiohead is all he could have hoped for. Do you feel the same way or is it no big deal? I don't know if I already said this before but tell Casey I said hi. If you already did, tell her hi again. Maybe just give her a hi once a week from me. I got the same theme from conference. Every talk seemed to reference the message of the restoration in one way or another. Which may be nothing, but I recognized it nonetheless. Maybe they always do that. I don't know. My favorite talk was Eyring's on Sunday morning session. I love him. This internet cafe is extremely hot, and I'm hungry, so I have to go. I wish I could sit and talk and talk and talk to you. I miss you. Impress many with your costume.
I love you guys. Have a good week. Tell the Gparents I love them. Jordan
In my opinion, the person to ask about Halloween costumes is Michelle. She'll give you a good idea. When you asked, I was tempted to tell you "be a missionary"! Then I immediately thought "wow, I'm a fag". I'm so proud of you for getting 100% on your sociology paper. Those papers are fun to write I think. Was it the nine page one about your wants and needs in a spouse? That might be next. That ones a good time. In mine I put a cute nose under the needs section. I figure it's a need because if I don't end up with a girl with a cute nose to cancel out my ugly nose, our kids will all have weird noses. I can't allow that. Tell Mike Green I love him and miss him. I'm glad s-cakes has my address now. I'm curious to see if anyone will use it. Maybe that girl who works at the salon nearby who comes in all the time will see it and write me. You know, the married one who I thought was saying hi to me that one time but she was just waving at someone behind me? What a babe. I'm sad I'm missing Halloween. I miss you.
Momma,
I miss you, momma. I ate something this week that somewhat resembled your sugar cookies with the really good icing. Made me miss you. That would be something to send me if it's possible! It really isn't necessary to send me too much of anything though. Of course I appreciate it all, but I don't know that I need all these drugs. My feet are doing better on the outside. The problem with taking medicine right now is that it's dengue season here so the mosquitos are out in full force and we're told not to take any anti-inflammatories that thicken the blood. They attack us in the night, it's awful. You should set out TONS of Halloween decorations. I think Halloween might be my favorite holiday. I just love this time of year in general. I know you do too. Seriously, take Lex to Target and buy as much as you can. I can't wait to see the animals in their costumes. I miss you more than ever, Momma.
Dad,
I'm so jealous of you going up to the top of that tower where Paul Revere hung the lanterns. That sounds like fun. I wish I could have been there. I want to study Early American history soooooo bad. I plan on making Church history, Early American history and World War 2 history my primary studies when I get home, while continuing to be educated on politics. Is Hillary still pulling ahead? I'm so bummed I'm missing such a good football season. Redd and I talk about football every once in a while and it always makes me miss home. I'm also bummed I'm missing good baseball playoffs too. I was just kind of getting into baseball before I left. Figures the Dbacks would be doing well. Maybe it's the new colors. Goodness gracious basketball season starts in two weeks!!!!!!!! How is pre-season looking? How are the bigtime rookies? How is Nash looking? Go to as many games as possible!
Michelle,
I heard about Owen Wilson trying to kill himself a while ago. About a Halloween costume for that? I don't know how you could recreate it. I don't even know how he did it. Just get yourself a weird nose and walk around telling everyone how sad you are that you made movies like Shanghai Knights. Is the new Wes Anderson good? I bet it is. Be sure to go see the new P.T. Anderson movie too. I don't know if it's out yet. Hajax tells me the new Radiohead is all he could have hoped for. Do you feel the same way or is it no big deal? I don't know if I already said this before but tell Casey I said hi. If you already did, tell her hi again. Maybe just give her a hi once a week from me. I got the same theme from conference. Every talk seemed to reference the message of the restoration in one way or another. Which may be nothing, but I recognized it nonetheless. Maybe they always do that. I don't know. My favorite talk was Eyring's on Sunday morning session. I love him. This internet cafe is extremely hot, and I'm hungry, so I have to go. I wish I could sit and talk and talk and talk to you. I miss you. Impress many with your costume.
I love you guys. Have a good week. Tell the Gparents I love them. Jordan
October 8, 2007
First and foremost,I FULLY concur with this idea of Socks being a pumpkin for Halloween. I can already imagine him a fat orange blob; his little face with a blank stare and a passive MEOW escaping his cat mouth as he rolls around the house, baffling Josie. Ohhhh how I miss home.
Did everyone enjoy Conference??? I absolutely loved it. The anticipation was like Christmas and it lived up to it and then some. Every talk was good. There was only one talk I didn't take notes on. I'm so happy that Henry B. Eyring was called to the First Presidency. His counsel has alway seemed to fit so perfectly into my life at the time I hear it. He'll serve wonderfully in that calling. I've been praying for him. Of course the Prophet would call the tightest guy as his counselor. Before conference, there were some things I'd been praying to know "in a sweet and simple way" and the answers to those prayers came hearing the words of the people who spoke. Just simple things I felt I needed clarity on in regard to my own testimony. I don't know whose talk was my favorite, I CAN'T DECIDE!!! All I knew for sure was that I didn't want to leave, I could have kept watching late into the night. Proof that there simply is no substitute for the sweet edification that comes only from the Spirit. That I am grateful for!
To watch conference we went to our Stake Center, which is in a city called Taguatinga not far from here. There was a classroom set up with a few chairs and a TV for the American Elders and whoever wanted to watch in English. No one I knew was sure we would have the chance to watch it in English. We had to wait until we got there to know, and Praise The Lord! Not only were the talks all wonderful but I am happy to report that Boyd K. Packer and I have the same tie. That's right. I think this is as close a kinship as I'll ever have with a Prophet of God.
Thanks to our Brasilheiro Zone Leader Elder Freitas, we almost missed out on our opportunity to see this conference. He told us last week if we didn't have any investigators to bring with us to conference, we wouldn't go. Well, Elder Redd took this to heart and nearly exercised it. Both Saturday and Sunday we had no one to come with us. We tried, even going out early to wake people up and ask if they'll come with us. Elder Redd even started asking people on the street on the way to the bus stop to the stake center in Taguatinga, making us a little late. No one. Redd was sooo bummed, he said he felt so embarrassed that we were walking into the building by ourselves. Only today, in our bulletin from the Presidente, have we found out that we in fact should NEVER miss a conference session for any reason, nor should we ever let our families miss one. Presidente is wise.
Anyways, have a wonderful week. Watch conference on the DVR over and over again like I probably would be. Do they have it in HD yet? Ohhhhh man that would be too legit. I'm guessing no. Maybe someday. I love you guys. Jordan
Did everyone enjoy Conference??? I absolutely loved it. The anticipation was like Christmas and it lived up to it and then some. Every talk was good. There was only one talk I didn't take notes on. I'm so happy that Henry B. Eyring was called to the First Presidency. His counsel has alway seemed to fit so perfectly into my life at the time I hear it. He'll serve wonderfully in that calling. I've been praying for him. Of course the Prophet would call the tightest guy as his counselor. Before conference, there were some things I'd been praying to know "in a sweet and simple way" and the answers to those prayers came hearing the words of the people who spoke. Just simple things I felt I needed clarity on in regard to my own testimony. I don't know whose talk was my favorite, I CAN'T DECIDE!!! All I knew for sure was that I didn't want to leave, I could have kept watching late into the night. Proof that there simply is no substitute for the sweet edification that comes only from the Spirit. That I am grateful for!
To watch conference we went to our Stake Center, which is in a city called Taguatinga not far from here. There was a classroom set up with a few chairs and a TV for the American Elders and whoever wanted to watch in English. No one I knew was sure we would have the chance to watch it in English. We had to wait until we got there to know, and Praise The Lord! Not only were the talks all wonderful but I am happy to report that Boyd K. Packer and I have the same tie. That's right. I think this is as close a kinship as I'll ever have with a Prophet of God.
Thanks to our Brasilheiro Zone Leader Elder Freitas, we almost missed out on our opportunity to see this conference. He told us last week if we didn't have any investigators to bring with us to conference, we wouldn't go. Well, Elder Redd took this to heart and nearly exercised it. Both Saturday and Sunday we had no one to come with us. We tried, even going out early to wake people up and ask if they'll come with us. Elder Redd even started asking people on the street on the way to the bus stop to the stake center in Taguatinga, making us a little late. No one. Redd was sooo bummed, he said he felt so embarrassed that we were walking into the building by ourselves. Only today, in our bulletin from the Presidente, have we found out that we in fact should NEVER miss a conference session for any reason, nor should we ever let our families miss one. Presidente is wise.
Anyways, have a wonderful week. Watch conference on the DVR over and over again like I probably would be. Do they have it in HD yet? Ohhhhh man that would be too legit. I'm guessing no. Maybe someday. I love you guys. Jordan
October 1, 2007
So we taught a naked guy this week. That was interesting. He was literally completely naked when we walked in the house. He put a towel on when we said we'd like to begin with a prayer.
The "ciclista" by our apartment sells cruiser parts. Only parts, not whole bikes. I'm thinking about piecing one together throughout my stay in Aguas Lindas. There's a store down the street called "the buying and selling of parts for bikes" that I imagine must have something I could use. The bike I have now is starting to completely fall apart so I need to get to work on this beach cruiser.
We made friends with the greatest person a few days ago! We were lost looking for a house late at night, and it was nearly time to go home, so we asked this man walking down the street where we could find "Raquel's house" and he said "yeah, right here" and he took us into his house. He wasn't Raquel, he was just drunk. He had a store in front of his house he took us into first. It had caskets all over it because he sells caskets. We thought it would be a good place to leave "Plan of Salvation" pamphlets for people!!!! He showed us that, and then took us in the back where there was a room with a table for cutting up bodies. Turns out he's a mortician too. It was the creepiest room I've ever been in. Steel everywhere, blue-ish lighting, little spots of blood here and there another room that had more caskets, one that had blood all over it. They're all vampire style too with the long, hexagonal shape. He asked us if we wanted to see an autopsy/embalming video. Apparently he tapes all of them. I promptly said no but he insisted and ran his drunk self back to his little house and put a burned cd into the dvd player that turned out to be his very own hip-hop. He played it really loud and told us all about the "meaning behind it". He samples a song from the Lion King. He had choreographed dance moves to it. He showed us and then we told him we had to go. Amazing.
I'm afraid my legs aren't doing any better yet. My feet are getting worse, and are actually starting to look a little weird. I have sores all over them and my skin is all rough and leathery and discolored and there is more pain than before in both feet. It was my right foot that gave me the most trouble before, now my left is getting bad. My knees feel raw and destroyed and the tendinitis gets bad a few times a day. I told Presidente Aidukaitis at Zone Conference last week. He says he'll pray for me and hope for the best. I love Presidente. He's a wonderful, inspired man. He always has a lot to tell me and likes talking to me. He says he loves me like a son. Between he and Sister Aidukaitis I'm being well taken care of so there's no need to worry.
I have an interesting story from Zone Conference I want to tell you about but we need to go to lunch right now at a member's house so you'll get another e-mail from me in a couple of hours. Peeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaace Familia
I just wrote you guys my nice long part 2 e-mail and myldsmail.com timed out. So, I'm sorry. I'll have to write you next week. I'll tell you that fun story later. I love you all, I miss you all the time. Have a good week. Parents, have fun in New England. Socks isn't looking much bigger yet. I probably won't get a chance to e-mail Gma, Gpa Hoon this but I got their package this week. I love it!! Tell them thank you and that I love them. I wish I had more time to write them. Michelle, write me about stuff, and things. Do it, do it right now. The new Radiohead is coming out soon??????? Tell me about this business. Laterlatlatlatlatlater!!!
The "ciclista" by our apartment sells cruiser parts. Only parts, not whole bikes. I'm thinking about piecing one together throughout my stay in Aguas Lindas. There's a store down the street called "the buying and selling of parts for bikes" that I imagine must have something I could use. The bike I have now is starting to completely fall apart so I need to get to work on this beach cruiser.
We made friends with the greatest person a few days ago! We were lost looking for a house late at night, and it was nearly time to go home, so we asked this man walking down the street where we could find "Raquel's house" and he said "yeah, right here" and he took us into his house. He wasn't Raquel, he was just drunk. He had a store in front of his house he took us into first. It had caskets all over it because he sells caskets. We thought it would be a good place to leave "Plan of Salvation" pamphlets for people!!!! He showed us that, and then took us in the back where there was a room with a table for cutting up bodies. Turns out he's a mortician too. It was the creepiest room I've ever been in. Steel everywhere, blue-ish lighting, little spots of blood here and there another room that had more caskets, one that had blood all over it. They're all vampire style too with the long, hexagonal shape. He asked us if we wanted to see an autopsy/embalming video. Apparently he tapes all of them. I promptly said no but he insisted and ran his drunk self back to his little house and put a burned cd into the dvd player that turned out to be his very own hip-hop. He played it really loud and told us all about the "meaning behind it". He samples a song from the Lion King. He had choreographed dance moves to it. He showed us and then we told him we had to go. Amazing.
I'm afraid my legs aren't doing any better yet. My feet are getting worse, and are actually starting to look a little weird. I have sores all over them and my skin is all rough and leathery and discolored and there is more pain than before in both feet. It was my right foot that gave me the most trouble before, now my left is getting bad. My knees feel raw and destroyed and the tendinitis gets bad a few times a day. I told Presidente Aidukaitis at Zone Conference last week. He says he'll pray for me and hope for the best. I love Presidente. He's a wonderful, inspired man. He always has a lot to tell me and likes talking to me. He says he loves me like a son. Between he and Sister Aidukaitis I'm being well taken care of so there's no need to worry.
I have an interesting story from Zone Conference I want to tell you about but we need to go to lunch right now at a member's house so you'll get another e-mail from me in a couple of hours. Peeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaace Familia
I just wrote you guys my nice long part 2 e-mail and myldsmail.com timed out. So, I'm sorry. I'll have to write you next week. I'll tell you that fun story later. I love you all, I miss you all the time. Have a good week. Parents, have fun in New England. Socks isn't looking much bigger yet. I probably won't get a chance to e-mail Gma, Gpa Hoon this but I got their package this week. I love it!! Tell them thank you and that I love them. I wish I had more time to write them. Michelle, write me about stuff, and things. Do it, do it right now. The new Radiohead is coming out soon??????? Tell me about this business. Laterlatlatlatlatlater!!!
September 24, 2007
Well there isn't much to say about Aguas Lindas. I don't think it really means Beautiful Waters, I think it means "Armpit of Brazil." I have a nice blue bike with hot pink handlebars. Something different breaks on it every day. My second day here the brakes broke so I had to stop with my feet all flintstones style for a few hours. I lost count of the number of cars that almost hit me, Ha. It's nice enough here I suppose. Apparently there are a lot of baptisms here. Despite that, there aren't very many members of the Church, only enough for a branch. A branch needs 120 members to be made a ward, and it's pretty close to that I think. There is a big family that lives near us and a few of them have joined the Church. We're at their house every day, sometimes twice a day. There are these five women there who are always doing each other's hair and reading magazines, and they're always happy to see us. They offer to make us food the moment we walk in the house. We don't always say yes! Seeing the members of the Church here makes me happy. Just like in Cruzeiro. It feels like a safe haven where we know people and they'll give us water an let us use the bathroom. Elder Redd is fine, he's a short fellow, shorter than Hajax. And stalky. I think he has midget body. He used to play lacrosse in high school and never wants to grow a beard. He really makes good eggs. He flips them in a pan like pancakes. I like it. So clearly my fantasy football teams defense is the bomb. That makes me happy actually, more than you know. I wish I could discuss it with you, Dad. Nothing would make me happier than to go get something to eat with you and talk sports. Grandpa should be there too. I daydream about little things like that. Oh, and I LOVE AMERICA SO SO MUCH.
Lex, I miss you more than anything in the world I think. You're probably at the top of the list. Above Socks, above the Suns, above HD. Even more than Ryan Adams. By the way, thank you for the Easy Tiger sticker. How is the Album? I'm still dying to hear it. The new Rilo Kiley too. Is it legit or what? So, I really hope you are doing well in school. Are you? Tell me all about it. Tell Mr. Peterson I said Hello! Thank you for the poem it was beautiful. I love you.
I must go. I love you all. Jordan
Lex, I miss you more than anything in the world I think. You're probably at the top of the list. Above Socks, above the Suns, above HD. Even more than Ryan Adams. By the way, thank you for the Easy Tiger sticker. How is the Album? I'm still dying to hear it. The new Rilo Kiley too. Is it legit or what? So, I really hope you are doing well in school. Are you? Tell me all about it. Tell Mr. Peterson I said Hello! Thank you for the poem it was beautiful. I love you.
I must go. I love you all. Jordan
September 18, 2007
Today at 5 o'clock I'll walk myself with my bags to the Rodoferroviaria to get on a bus that will take me to a place called Aguas Lindas where I will spend at least the next 6 weeks with Elder Hedd, who is apparently short and stalky and used to play lacrosse. I'm going to miss Cruzeiro. I'm going to miss the food. Aguas Lindas isn't necessarily "the boonies" but it isn't as nice as Cruzeiro. In the last six weeks my Portuguese has improved somewhat, I've seen what is apparently the wealthiest neighborhood in Brazil, called Sudoeste, and the poorest/most dangerous neighborhood in the mission, which is a place called Estrutural. We went there once, it was interesting. The missionaries are in good with the gangsters so we didn't get robbed or shot or anything. Nobody got all O.J. on us! A girl from there was baptized, her name is Paloma. She has yet to be confirmed because getting from Estrutural to the neighborhood the ward building is in, which is called Octogonal, is a difficult thing. Especially when you're poor and might get shot leaving your house. Well, I have had it with my legs. I have to sit down and get up like an old man because of the soreness in my knees. I think Aguas Lindas might be a bike area so that will probably help. I hope all is well with everyone. I love you guys so much. I miss you. Keep updating me on sports, politics, animals, etc. I love reading about. Update me on my fantasy team, pops! I got the package, it's wonderful. Thank you for the peanut butter. That's quite the commodity here, it's like R$25 so no one has it. I am perhaps the only one. Have a good week.
September 10, 2007
Momma, Poppa, Spench Legs, LEXA!?!?!
I sent Mom a birthday card last week that should be arriving in Mesa any day now. Elder Maughan says you can take videos from your digital camera and have them put on a DVD at Wal-mart. I might do that and send it home. Wouldn't you just completely freak out if you could watch me on TV on my mission in Brazil? Well, I just need to take some videos. Thanks for all the continuing encouragement. This week has been a little better. My mood has improved. Despite being a lousy missionary I still call upon the Lord in my times of trouble (though not in vain, or so I hope). I don't want you to take my frustrations as typical and indignant me. It isn't the day to day difficulties that keep me down. I've quickly come to the realization that my mission can be served in vain or selflessly. What I feel terrible about is that considering my age and lack of college I cannot afford to waste my time. Which is something I have felt a lot lately due to the struggles with the language. Nevertheless, I carry on! I love our Ward! The members here are so wonderful. There are some people whose houses we're at almost every day. There's a woman named Olga who we always talk to. She and her three kids are so funny. I love being in their home, even though I can't speak the same language. One of my favorite places to be in all of Brazil is in the house of Aquiles and Aline. They are perhaps the nicest people I've ever met. They always give us ice cream and really good food. Aquiles is like 6'5" and looks like Shawn Marion and can slam dunk with both hands behind his head, and Aline is really pretty and really funny and for some reason when she speaks I can understand what she's saying. That isn't the case with many people. My Portuguese has certainly gotten better, but only a little. It's been five weeks and I still have to listen to the same thing everyday when we're in investigators' houses. "He doesn't understand anything, does he? Why doesn't he speak Portuguese?" The thing is, I can understand what they're saying, but I can't speak as well as I can understand. So I'm retarded. But, in the spirit of positivity, let's see what else I like...I like Cruzeiro. It feels like home now kind of. I'm used to it. I've been blessed to have never felt homesick in the three months I've been gone. Don't worry. I miss everyone very, very much. But I don't get homesick. In fact, I've never even felt culture shock. As far as my feet are concerned, I really don't know what to think. I will not lie, it's awfully painful. I don't like complaining about it, and I don't like receiving any special attention for it, but I have to say I'm starting to get a little worried. The impact I'm putting on my feet is obviously a lot more than ever before in my life, and I think it's just taken this for me to realize how bad my legs really are. I think I may have inherited that from Dad, Ha. Nothing to feel bad about though. Dad, are you still crippled? I hope you're feeling better. I may be worse off than you. I'm convinced I will have to walk with a cane in my old age. The only way I can describe the feeling in my feet is imagine having a cramped foot all day long, with what I think is a shin splint in my right leg, and two sore knees. My right foot is the worst. If I take my shoes and socks off and walk around the house barefoot, I can't go more than a few steps. Like I said, I'm a little worried about it. It's been five weeks and I'm more or less used to it, but that doesn't take the pain away. So I don't know. Dad, I believe you were wondering about what my schedule is like? I shall tell you!
A DAY IN THE LIFE:
-6:30- Wake up (or as it says in the missionary handbook...."Arise"!)
-6:40ish- Take a shower
-7:00-8:00- Get dressed in proselyting clothes, eat breakfast, write in my journal, shave, play darts on our fancy dart board, etc.
-8:00- Personal scripture study
-9:00- Companion study
-10:00- Language study
-11:00- Leave and go walk around for a while. It's not a bad time of day because we've been sitting in the house for the last 4 and a half hours studying, and usually the weather is nice. Tuesdays, we leave a little earlier to go to a city call Guara, for our weekly district meeting (which Elder Maughan conducts because he is our district leader).
-12ish, 1ish, 2ish- We eat lunch at a member's house. Because we live in a well to do area, we usually eat pretty well.
-2ish, 3ish- We're back out walking around, going from apartment complex to apartment complex ringing intercoms and getting turned down, maybe we teach a lesson or two. No one is all that interested.
-Rest of the day- We walk around, maybe getting something small to eat, Elder Maughan calls people on the phone, we go to members houses. My feet HURT! etc.
-9ish- We get our righteous rear ends back in the house so we don't get jumped by some heathen gangsters. We have our planning session for the next day, then maybe eat more, shower, brush our teeth, write in our journals, go to bed.
-That's it. Incredible, right?
Now Lex, I love that you are coming closer to the Lord,(If you're enjoying welcoming the Spirit into your life, do yourself a favor and watch ALL of conference in a couple of weeks. Each session. Listen especially to the words of the First Presidency and the Twelve. You'll like it, I promise. I'm so glad that your lives are being blessed. I always talk about each of you individually in my prayers, and I know it helps. Which means Dad must be doing a little better about cutting that corner turning left off Val Vista onto Mclellan. I make sure God knows what's up. I really am glad I'm doing some good (for you guys) by being here. The joy and faith in my own day to day life can weaken from time to time and my doubts are many, but I'm trying not to focus on myself. I'm trying to have a good attitude. We'll see how it all works out. Next week expect an e-mail from me on Tuesday, because it's transfer day and transfer day has to be on P day. Momma, I hope you like your card. I'm sorry it's not much. Have you decided to take that Portuguese class you were talking about? How's Dizzy in Nevada doing? I hope life is good for you. Have a happy happy birthday! Jordan
PS: Lex, I saw a picture of Brittney on a TV being skinnier and having hair. What's up with that? And do you really plan on moving to Utah next school year? We might need to talk about this.
PPS: Michelle, I have a question about your manfriend who served his mission in Mesa. Why didn't he just go into Arby's or the Dairy Queen by the temple and get water? Oh and HEY! I love you!
PPPS: Dad, I wish so badly I could go watch some Husky games with you. I would be all about it right now. I"m glad their doing well.
I sent Mom a birthday card last week that should be arriving in Mesa any day now. Elder Maughan says you can take videos from your digital camera and have them put on a DVD at Wal-mart. I might do that and send it home. Wouldn't you just completely freak out if you could watch me on TV on my mission in Brazil? Well, I just need to take some videos. Thanks for all the continuing encouragement. This week has been a little better. My mood has improved. Despite being a lousy missionary I still call upon the Lord in my times of trouble (though not in vain, or so I hope). I don't want you to take my frustrations as typical and indignant me. It isn't the day to day difficulties that keep me down. I've quickly come to the realization that my mission can be served in vain or selflessly. What I feel terrible about is that considering my age and lack of college I cannot afford to waste my time. Which is something I have felt a lot lately due to the struggles with the language. Nevertheless, I carry on! I love our Ward! The members here are so wonderful. There are some people whose houses we're at almost every day. There's a woman named Olga who we always talk to. She and her three kids are so funny. I love being in their home, even though I can't speak the same language. One of my favorite places to be in all of Brazil is in the house of Aquiles and Aline. They are perhaps the nicest people I've ever met. They always give us ice cream and really good food. Aquiles is like 6'5" and looks like Shawn Marion and can slam dunk with both hands behind his head, and Aline is really pretty and really funny and for some reason when she speaks I can understand what she's saying. That isn't the case with many people. My Portuguese has certainly gotten better, but only a little. It's been five weeks and I still have to listen to the same thing everyday when we're in investigators' houses. "He doesn't understand anything, does he? Why doesn't he speak Portuguese?" The thing is, I can understand what they're saying, but I can't speak as well as I can understand. So I'm retarded. But, in the spirit of positivity, let's see what else I like...I like Cruzeiro. It feels like home now kind of. I'm used to it. I've been blessed to have never felt homesick in the three months I've been gone. Don't worry. I miss everyone very, very much. But I don't get homesick. In fact, I've never even felt culture shock. As far as my feet are concerned, I really don't know what to think. I will not lie, it's awfully painful. I don't like complaining about it, and I don't like receiving any special attention for it, but I have to say I'm starting to get a little worried. The impact I'm putting on my feet is obviously a lot more than ever before in my life, and I think it's just taken this for me to realize how bad my legs really are. I think I may have inherited that from Dad, Ha. Nothing to feel bad about though. Dad, are you still crippled? I hope you're feeling better. I may be worse off than you. I'm convinced I will have to walk with a cane in my old age. The only way I can describe the feeling in my feet is imagine having a cramped foot all day long, with what I think is a shin splint in my right leg, and two sore knees. My right foot is the worst. If I take my shoes and socks off and walk around the house barefoot, I can't go more than a few steps. Like I said, I'm a little worried about it. It's been five weeks and I'm more or less used to it, but that doesn't take the pain away. So I don't know. Dad, I believe you were wondering about what my schedule is like? I shall tell you!
A DAY IN THE LIFE:
-6:30- Wake up (or as it says in the missionary handbook...."Arise"!)
-6:40ish- Take a shower
-7:00-8:00- Get dressed in proselyting clothes, eat breakfast, write in my journal, shave, play darts on our fancy dart board, etc.
-8:00- Personal scripture study
-9:00- Companion study
-10:00- Language study
-11:00- Leave and go walk around for a while. It's not a bad time of day because we've been sitting in the house for the last 4 and a half hours studying, and usually the weather is nice. Tuesdays, we leave a little earlier to go to a city call Guara, for our weekly district meeting (which Elder Maughan conducts because he is our district leader).
-12ish, 1ish, 2ish- We eat lunch at a member's house. Because we live in a well to do area, we usually eat pretty well.
-2ish, 3ish- We're back out walking around, going from apartment complex to apartment complex ringing intercoms and getting turned down, maybe we teach a lesson or two. No one is all that interested.
-Rest of the day- We walk around, maybe getting something small to eat, Elder Maughan calls people on the phone, we go to members houses. My feet HURT! etc.
-9ish- We get our righteous rear ends back in the house so we don't get jumped by some heathen gangsters. We have our planning session for the next day, then maybe eat more, shower, brush our teeth, write in our journals, go to bed.
-That's it. Incredible, right?
Now Lex, I love that you are coming closer to the Lord,(If you're enjoying welcoming the Spirit into your life, do yourself a favor and watch ALL of conference in a couple of weeks. Each session. Listen especially to the words of the First Presidency and the Twelve. You'll like it, I promise. I'm so glad that your lives are being blessed. I always talk about each of you individually in my prayers, and I know it helps. Which means Dad must be doing a little better about cutting that corner turning left off Val Vista onto Mclellan. I make sure God knows what's up. I really am glad I'm doing some good (for you guys) by being here. The joy and faith in my own day to day life can weaken from time to time and my doubts are many, but I'm trying not to focus on myself. I'm trying to have a good attitude. We'll see how it all works out. Next week expect an e-mail from me on Tuesday, because it's transfer day and transfer day has to be on P day. Momma, I hope you like your card. I'm sorry it's not much. Have you decided to take that Portuguese class you were talking about? How's Dizzy in Nevada doing? I hope life is good for you. Have a happy happy birthday! Jordan
PS: Lex, I saw a picture of Brittney on a TV being skinnier and having hair. What's up with that? And do you really plan on moving to Utah next school year? We might need to talk about this.
PPS: Michelle, I have a question about your manfriend who served his mission in Mesa. Why didn't he just go into Arby's or the Dairy Queen by the temple and get water? Oh and HEY! I love you!
PPPS: Dad, I wish so badly I could go watch some Husky games with you. I would be all about it right now. I"m glad their doing well.
September 3, 2007
Michelle,
I just wrote you a nice long email and myldsmail "timed out" when I tried to send it. I have no time to write more now, I've been on too long. I can't write Mom and Dad and Lex now either. Do me a favor and call them and tell them I love them. The pain and numbness in my feet has gotten worse! Thank you for your email and encouragement, I appreciate it. I have one thousand things I want to tell you but I never have any time. I love you very much. I miss you.
I just wrote you a nice long email and myldsmail "timed out" when I tried to send it. I have no time to write more now, I've been on too long. I can't write Mom and Dad and Lex now either. Do me a favor and call them and tell them I love them. The pain and numbness in my feet has gotten worse! Thank you for your email and encouragement, I appreciate it. I have one thousand things I want to tell you but I never have any time. I love you very much. I miss you.
August 27, 2007
NEW CAT !? Oh my, Do you have a name for it? Lex, you can make that Tornado Kitty if you want. Would you like to know something? There are dogs everywhere in Brazil. EVERYWHERE. It's amazing. I honestly think I could count one hundred per day if I really paid close attention. If you walk around long enough you might see a family of dogs hanging out by themselves in the park. It's so awesome. I saw a dog and a horse interacting the other day. Greatest thing ever. Yesterday I was walking on a sidewalk that had big trees hanging over so I could get some shade, and I think there must have been a nest in one of the trees because a bird swooped down and hit me in the back ofthe head. It completely freaked me out. I heard a squawk and down it came again. Hit me twice right in the head. I took off running after that. I did get the birthday package. Thank you so much for that. I actually got it on my last full day at the CTM. What Luck! I've been enjoying it's contents. Forgive me for not thanking you sooner. I love it. I'm looking forward to other packages and letters. They are lazy about delivering mail from the mission off to the missionaries homes so I might not get them until the next zone conference. As for what Julie said about learning the language and then having trouble remembering how to speak English. That doesn't sound very nice to me. My companion says the same thing, he can't remember English words sometimes. It freaks me out. He loves it. Dad, let's talk politics. Tell me what's been going on in the race. Anything exciting? Who's been looking better or worse lately? Tell me about basketball too. Are there any important trades or anything I should know about? What' up with the stock market? I heard something about it having a really bad week the week I got to Brasilia. Are you so stoked for the Huskies to start playing? Who do they play first? By the way I miss you a lot. I miss talking. I love that you're crippled. That's hilarious. I've been trying to get you to be the old man that you are for years now! I love you Pop. Lexa!?!? I have to be brief, but do all you can to keep that wierd Albino cat living in my shower. I want him to hiss at me when I get back. Tell me all about school. Did you end up taking any of those classes on tha fabulous schedule I dreamed up for you? If you're taking Sociology of Marriage and Family, do you love Mr. Peterson? Tell me everything. Also, (very important) I would like to inform you of an amazing word I've stumbled upon in Portuguese. It is "batata da perna" which means "potato of the leg". It's the word they use for calf. Amazing. I LOVE YOU! Momma, thank you so much for you encouragement every week. I always appreciate it. You did born me, that's true. Maybe I'm smarter than I give myself credit, I don't know, we'll see. I will send more pictures soon, I love you very, very much. Have a good week, family. Be good.
August 20, 2007
Note that I am using my new myldsmail address now!
Week two was not much different than week one. No baptisms or anything noteworthy. It's awfully hot for being wintertime. Because of the language barrier, when we are in people's homes I rarely say a word. Elder Maughan teaches the less, I might give the opening prayer or say a thing or two about Joseph Smith. Anyways, I'm not much help yet. I told my companion that if you compared music to the gospel, the Beatles would probably be Jesus and Radiohead would be Joseph Smith. He told me to Repent!
I attached some pictures of the CTM, my district, and some views of Sao Paulo, oh and some of the little house we are living in right now. I withdrew some money from my account for the first time today, glad it works. I went to see Dr. Mario this week about my toes going numb and he said the same thing you did. I have a pinched nerve. They're gonna make a strip to put in my shoe (on my insole) to take the pressure off the ball of my foot. Elder Maughan had to translate every thing for me since he didn't speak english. Time to go, I love you guys. Have a good week!
Week two was not much different than week one. No baptisms or anything noteworthy. It's awfully hot for being wintertime. Because of the language barrier, when we are in people's homes I rarely say a word. Elder Maughan teaches the less, I might give the opening prayer or say a thing or two about Joseph Smith. Anyways, I'm not much help yet. I told my companion that if you compared music to the gospel, the Beatles would probably be Jesus and Radiohead would be Joseph Smith. He told me to Repent!
I attached some pictures of the CTM, my district, and some views of Sao Paulo, oh and some of the little house we are living in right now. I withdrew some money from my account for the first time today, glad it works. I went to see Dr. Mario this week about my toes going numb and he said the same thing you did. I have a pinched nerve. They're gonna make a strip to put in my shoe (on my insole) to take the pressure off the ball of my foot. Elder Maughan had to translate every thing for me since he didn't speak english. Time to go, I love you guys. Have a good week!
August 14, 2007
OK so I've been in the field one week now and this is my first P day. My companion is Elder Eric Maughan. Mom, he says that his mom talked to you on a website. Actually that was one of the first things he told me when we met, which was at the bus station, which is where everyone meets their new companions at the transfer. My area is called Cruzeiro. The bus stop was actually in our area so after I said bye to the three other guys from my district at the CTM who came to Brasilia with me (Elder Day, Elder Barton and Elder Valentine, all of whom I love) we started walking with my bags to our house. It wasn't far, I didn't mind. We almost got hit by a few buses though. Drivers are crazy all over Brazil, I thought it was just Sao Paulo. I miss Sao Paulo. Well, I miss the CTM. Sao Paulo sucks. Anyways, our house is a dump. It has walls, a roof, beds, everything we need to survive, but it's a dump. It holds up, I think it's fine. The funny thing is that Cruzeiro is one of the richest places in Brazil, yet we live in the smallest house. If there is one thing I could change about our little one-room house it would be the bathroom. It's really small. When we go to the bathroom our knees hit the wall, so you have to sit sideways on the toilet, it's not natural. And rather than having a designated place in the bathroom as a shower, there's just a shower head that comes out of the wall and you stand there. It's all truck stop/janitor's closet style. Everything gets wet. If your at the sink and you drop your toothbrush it's over. As for the work.....well,I really don't know the language, but it's only been a week. Maybe things will pick up. I read Alma 32 last night, it made me feel a little better. But yesterday at Zone Conference (which by the way, is done in Portuguese and I didn't know a single word). Let me go back a little. Before we went to the bus station to meet our companions, we were picked up at the airport by Presidente Aidukaitis, his wife, and the assistants to the President. We took pictures and did some obligatory proselyting and then a van took us to see the mission office and then to Presidente's house. There we had lunch, went over rules, etc. then we had interviews with the President. My interview went well. When I walked out, everyone was in the backyard practicing how to baptize. I joined in. I dropped a Brazilian. The APs made us do some uncomfortable stuff, like stand up on a chair and preach to them in Portuguese, which I don't speak. One of them said "be prepared to teach multitudes", he really said that. Anyways, awkward. The first night was good though. All we did was walk to a member's house, in an extra rich area, and they fed us pizza and Coca-cola and then gave us a ride home. We drove past a Wal-mart. I wouldn't have guessed that on my first night in my mission in Brazil I would have ate Domino's pizza and drove past Wal-mart listening to Pink Floyd in the Bishop's counselor's nice Volkswagon. Lex, as for losing a little of your personality, don't worry, I'm losing mine too. We can become losers together. Not that I wasn't already. But because I'm trying to only speak Portuguese all day, I have no personality. I have a personality in English, but not at all in Portuguese, because I can't speak it. I mean maybe I have the personality of an infant or something. I stay quiet a lot of the time. And thoughts I would normally share I keep to myself. Did you start school at MCC? Do you love it? If school, if it sucks, pressing forward is the best thing to do. I'm sure that's the best thing for me to do here. Hmm...anything else? We had one baptism this week. A girl named Poliane. There is an incredible emphasis on baptisms in this mission. Maybe because my Mission President baptized over 1,000 souls on his mission. It's weird, it all about the numbers. I don't like that but whatever! We taught her twice and she was baptized. That was it. I guess that's just what happens here. There will be a temple here sooner than I thought. You need 12 stakes in an area (not a mission area, just an area...I don't know how the Church delineates it) to have a temple. There is 10 in the Brasilia area. Elder Maughan says don't be surprised if they might announce a Brasilia temple at Conference in a few months. That's a happy thought. But whatever, I don't make a difference here. I don't even speak Portuguese. My companion says it's time to go. I love you all very very much! Jordan
August 1, 2007
Family,
I must be very brief I'm sorry. But know that I'm alive despite turning 22 and despite having to say the OPENING PRAYER at tuesday night devotional, which the entire CTM attends. I got up and gave the shortest prayer in history, I don't know alot of Portuguese so it was the worst 8 seconds of my life so far! The sisters in my district got a good laugh out of it. That was awesome!
At long last, I go to Brasilia next week. I'm glad Ryan Adams was a good time, I'm jealous. Some Utards in my district think Lex and Michelle are hot! I miss you all and love you all. Wish me luck in the field. Pray for me. I feel like I haven't learned enough, but oh well. It's all good. Have a good week! You'll hear from me again soon. Love, Jordan
I must be very brief I'm sorry. But know that I'm alive despite turning 22 and despite having to say the OPENING PRAYER at tuesday night devotional, which the entire CTM attends. I got up and gave the shortest prayer in history, I don't know alot of Portuguese so it was the worst 8 seconds of my life so far! The sisters in my district got a good laugh out of it. That was awesome!
At long last, I go to Brasilia next week. I'm glad Ryan Adams was a good time, I'm jealous. Some Utards in my district think Lex and Michelle are hot! I miss you all and love you all. Wish me luck in the field. Pray for me. I feel like I haven't learned enough, but oh well. It's all good. Have a good week! You'll hear from me again soon. Love, Jordan
July 25, 2007
Mom and Pops,
I have one story for you this week....Our new Brazilian roommates are amazing. We've named them Hitler and Rommel, I'll tell you why. In our room there is me, the very famous and illustrious Valentine, Elder Greene, and Elder Fagan. In our nine weeks here we get two pairs of Brazilian roommates, for three weeks at a time. The first guys were awesome. We loved them, it was a sad day when they left. But then these two new guys showed up. Valentine and I were sitting around in our underwear eating candy and cheetos and they come walking in. Not even hi or hello, the first thing they say to us is "Elders, we must clean this room, we must do it." We tried making conversation but these guys weren't having it, they would just point at a bag and say " start with this, put it away right now!" Greene and Fagan walk in and the first thing they hear is "Elder! Where is your companion?? You cannot be in here!" They are infamous on our floor. Even other Brasilheiros hate them. The other guys in our district are in the room right next to us. The have some of the coolest Brasilheiros around. A few nights ago they pounded on the wall on the side our nazi Brazilians sleep on until one of them got up and went over and knocked on their door. They opened it and said "Elder! Where is your companion???? You cannot be in here!" and slammed the door shut. So great! Well, I'm out of here in just under two weeks. I'm looking forward to meeting President Aidukaitis, I hear he's a tight guy. All the teachers at the CTM know about him, even if they didn't serve in Brasilia while he's been Mission President. There are all kinds of interesting stories about him. By the way, good move on the Passat. That's too legit. Send me a picture of it. Tell Lex and Michelle and Jonny and Chelsea and Zach and EVERYONE who's going to Ryan Adams in Salt Lake City to have an amazing time. I'll try to make it but I doubt I will, I don't get much time off. Oh well, I love you guys so so much. Have a good day.
I have one story for you this week....Our new Brazilian roommates are amazing. We've named them Hitler and Rommel, I'll tell you why. In our room there is me, the very famous and illustrious Valentine, Elder Greene, and Elder Fagan. In our nine weeks here we get two pairs of Brazilian roommates, for three weeks at a time. The first guys were awesome. We loved them, it was a sad day when they left. But then these two new guys showed up. Valentine and I were sitting around in our underwear eating candy and cheetos and they come walking in. Not even hi or hello, the first thing they say to us is "Elders, we must clean this room, we must do it." We tried making conversation but these guys weren't having it, they would just point at a bag and say " start with this, put it away right now!" Greene and Fagan walk in and the first thing they hear is "Elder! Where is your companion?? You cannot be in here!" They are infamous on our floor. Even other Brasilheiros hate them. The other guys in our district are in the room right next to us. The have some of the coolest Brasilheiros around. A few nights ago they pounded on the wall on the side our nazi Brazilians sleep on until one of them got up and went over and knocked on their door. They opened it and said "Elder! Where is your companion???? You cannot be in here!" and slammed the door shut. So great! Well, I'm out of here in just under two weeks. I'm looking forward to meeting President Aidukaitis, I hear he's a tight guy. All the teachers at the CTM know about him, even if they didn't serve in Brasilia while he's been Mission President. There are all kinds of interesting stories about him. By the way, good move on the Passat. That's too legit. Send me a picture of it. Tell Lex and Michelle and Jonny and Chelsea and Zach and EVERYONE who's going to Ryan Adams in Salt Lake City to have an amazing time. I'll try to make it but I doubt I will, I don't get much time off. Oh well, I love you guys so so much. Have a good day.
July 18, 2007
Family,
I hope you all are well. Are you being blessed? Has anyone won the lottery? I hope. When was this plane crash in Sao Paulo? If it was this week I'm not surprised, it's been raining for almost a week straight. It's funny, everyone here is getting emails from their parents asking if they're ok, even if their planes landed a month and a half ago. Thank you for the package! My district and I have already eaten everything. We're fat now. I should get your other letters soon. I LOVE YOU! Jordan
I hope you all are well. Are you being blessed? Has anyone won the lottery? I hope. When was this plane crash in Sao Paulo? If it was this week I'm not surprised, it's been raining for almost a week straight. It's funny, everyone here is getting emails from their parents asking if they're ok, even if their planes landed a month and a half ago. Thank you for the package! My district and I have already eaten everything. We're fat now. I should get your other letters soon. I LOVE YOU! Jordan
July 11, 2007
Familia,
How about I just name all of my kids Apollo? One can be Apollo 8, another Apollo 11, and the youngest can be Apollo 13. I'll make sure they're all famous soccer or tennis players or some kind of international celebrity. Did Lex get my letter? I sent it through this sketchy guy at some bakery down the street instead of through the post office, so if she didn't get it that's my bad. Are you telling her and michelle how much I love them and miss them everyday? I do. Tell Socks the same. Heck, tell Pebbs too. Is Josie dead? I can't believe that story about Amare almost being traded for KG. That's crazy. You know I'm all for KG in the purple and orange, but not for Amare. In my next letter I'll send home pictures of stuff. Prepare for anticlimactism. I had a dream that I saw Marshall the other night. I bet Jonny is all smiles now that he's back. If you ever see him, say hi for me. I love you guys, I'll await your package and letters.
How about I just name all of my kids Apollo? One can be Apollo 8, another Apollo 11, and the youngest can be Apollo 13. I'll make sure they're all famous soccer or tennis players or some kind of international celebrity. Did Lex get my letter? I sent it through this sketchy guy at some bakery down the street instead of through the post office, so if she didn't get it that's my bad. Are you telling her and michelle how much I love them and miss them everyday? I do. Tell Socks the same. Heck, tell Pebbs too. Is Josie dead? I can't believe that story about Amare almost being traded for KG. That's crazy. You know I'm all for KG in the purple and orange, but not for Amare. In my next letter I'll send home pictures of stuff. Prepare for anticlimactism. I had a dream that I saw Marshall the other night. I bet Jonny is all smiles now that he's back. If you ever see him, say hi for me. I love you guys, I'll await your package and letters.
July 4, 2007
What up family,
Did Michelle inform you of my request to have you fly the New Mexico flag on the house instead of the Brazil flag? A Brasilheiro asked me a few days ago what mission I was going to, I told him, and he laughed and said "you will die hungry there". I don't know how or why that would be, but it sounds exciting. My district has four of us going to Brasilia, four of us going to Belo Horizonte, and two are going to Belem. This is a shame because our district is wonderful, we all get along and we have so much fun together. It's hard to describe the kind of fun we have because we're imprisoned 6 days a week and we've all gone a little mad. There is one Elder who loves World War II history and making fun of people as much as I do. His name is Elder Fagan. We'll talk for a while about how the M1 was a great gun and how all the German weapons were so cheap and other knowledge we've gathered from books and video games, and then we'll make fun of his companion for asking if they celebrate Christmas in Brazil. Fagan and his companion, Elder Greene, and me and my companion, Elder Valentine, the one and only, are all roommates along with two Brazilheiros who showed up last week. It's great. Fagan and I constantly aggravate Greene, Valentine just gets more famous all the time, and the Brazilians teach us how to say a few off the wall things in Portuguese. I don't know what Brazil's obsession with skyscrapers is. It's as if they saw one and liked it so much they decided to put them everywhere. Sao Paulo feels very thrown together. I don't know why but the architecture and construction is so slapshod and aesthetically unpleasing. I've learned something very important while I've been here. I've read my Patriarchal blessing a few times and survived through several weeks of almost absolute congruency of days in every way, lost and found my testimony more than once and retained only the least bit of Portuguese despite constant study, and somehow this has manifest to me that the most important work I'll do in this life will be simply as the Patriarch over my own family, and I'm happy about that. I used to be disappointed with my blessing, now I like it. I must make an end of my writings now because it is lunch time. Since it's the 4th of July today we're apparently in for a big surprise. I don't see how. I'm guessing American food is the surprise. American food Brazilianized. The food genuinely sucks here. I'm not expecting much. A live buffalo in the cafeteria would be a surprise. Maybe a western stunt show from the Brazilians. I don't know. Paz, Elder Hoon
Did Michelle inform you of my request to have you fly the New Mexico flag on the house instead of the Brazil flag? A Brasilheiro asked me a few days ago what mission I was going to, I told him, and he laughed and said "you will die hungry there". I don't know how or why that would be, but it sounds exciting. My district has four of us going to Brasilia, four of us going to Belo Horizonte, and two are going to Belem. This is a shame because our district is wonderful, we all get along and we have so much fun together. It's hard to describe the kind of fun we have because we're imprisoned 6 days a week and we've all gone a little mad. There is one Elder who loves World War II history and making fun of people as much as I do. His name is Elder Fagan. We'll talk for a while about how the M1 was a great gun and how all the German weapons were so cheap and other knowledge we've gathered from books and video games, and then we'll make fun of his companion for asking if they celebrate Christmas in Brazil. Fagan and his companion, Elder Greene, and me and my companion, Elder Valentine, the one and only, are all roommates along with two Brazilheiros who showed up last week. It's great. Fagan and I constantly aggravate Greene, Valentine just gets more famous all the time, and the Brazilians teach us how to say a few off the wall things in Portuguese. I don't know what Brazil's obsession with skyscrapers is. It's as if they saw one and liked it so much they decided to put them everywhere. Sao Paulo feels very thrown together. I don't know why but the architecture and construction is so slapshod and aesthetically unpleasing. I've learned something very important while I've been here. I've read my Patriarchal blessing a few times and survived through several weeks of almost absolute congruency of days in every way, lost and found my testimony more than once and retained only the least bit of Portuguese despite constant study, and somehow this has manifest to me that the most important work I'll do in this life will be simply as the Patriarch over my own family, and I'm happy about that. I used to be disappointed with my blessing, now I like it. I must make an end of my writings now because it is lunch time. Since it's the 4th of July today we're apparently in for a big surprise. I don't see how. I'm guessing American food is the surprise. American food Brazilianized. The food genuinely sucks here. I'm not expecting much. A live buffalo in the cafeteria would be a surprise. Maybe a western stunt show from the Brazilians. I don't know. Paz, Elder Hoon
June 27, 2007
Hi Familia,
I miss things, I miss the US. Everytime I leave the CTM to go to the Temple or Policia Federal (which is where we went this morning and got fingerprinted and I felt like a criminal, it was great) I look around and just miss home. Oh well, Brazil is a nice place. I am well, I was sick this week but no longer. The CTM is a great place to catch a cold if you're looking for one. There is a sister in our district that is sort of the "district mom", she gave me some medicine. My Portuguese isn't going as well this week but it's coming along one way or another. Presidente Cardon assures us we'll all be fluent in a matter of months so not to worry. I really love you guys!
I miss things, I miss the US. Everytime I leave the CTM to go to the Temple or Policia Federal (which is where we went this morning and got fingerprinted and I felt like a criminal, it was great) I look around and just miss home. Oh well, Brazil is a nice place. I am well, I was sick this week but no longer. The CTM is a great place to catch a cold if you're looking for one. There is a sister in our district that is sort of the "district mom", she gave me some medicine. My Portuguese isn't going as well this week but it's coming along one way or another. Presidente Cardon assures us we'll all be fluent in a matter of months so not to worry. I really love you guys!
June 15, 2007
Familia,
There are a few nice things about the CTM. If you asked me my favorite thing it would have to be the Brazilians. They're insane! I don't see them much during the day, only in passing, but when the sun goes down....ohhh baby. All the Brazilian missionaries strip down to their underwear and start climbing up the walls and yelling and screaming and singing in the shower and they can't say anything without ending up with a backflip or doing something obnoxious. It's so great! But that's only a few minutes of my night I get to see that, then it's back to my room. Everyone here does this wrist flick snap thing. I've been working on it, and hurting my wrist in the process. The Brazilians are all amazing at it, of course. Did I mention that I am the ONLY person in my district of 7 Elders and 3 Sisters that isn't from Utah. To think, I was so happy I didn't have to go to the Provo MTC. I come all the way to Brazil to be hooked up with a group of Jazz fans. Ughhh. My companion is a fellow named Elder Valentine, we're together 24/7 and he has a severe case of stupid face. But I'm learning to love it. As far as going to the bathroom goes, he insists on standing in the bathroom, rather than outside, and waits for me to finish. Goodness gracious. I'm trying to teach by example and wait outside for him, but he's not catching on. This is just one misery while you're in training here. Worst relationship of my life so far. Hopefully it will get better as we get to know each other. I miss you! I love you all!
There are a few nice things about the CTM. If you asked me my favorite thing it would have to be the Brazilians. They're insane! I don't see them much during the day, only in passing, but when the sun goes down....ohhh baby. All the Brazilian missionaries strip down to their underwear and start climbing up the walls and yelling and screaming and singing in the shower and they can't say anything without ending up with a backflip or doing something obnoxious. It's so great! But that's only a few minutes of my night I get to see that, then it's back to my room. Everyone here does this wrist flick snap thing. I've been working on it, and hurting my wrist in the process. The Brazilians are all amazing at it, of course. Did I mention that I am the ONLY person in my district of 7 Elders and 3 Sisters that isn't from Utah. To think, I was so happy I didn't have to go to the Provo MTC. I come all the way to Brazil to be hooked up with a group of Jazz fans. Ughhh. My companion is a fellow named Elder Valentine, we're together 24/7 and he has a severe case of stupid face. But I'm learning to love it. As far as going to the bathroom goes, he insists on standing in the bathroom, rather than outside, and waits for me to finish. Goodness gracious. I'm trying to teach by example and wait outside for him, but he's not catching on. This is just one misery while you're in training here. Worst relationship of my life so far. Hopefully it will get better as we get to know each other. I miss you! I love you all!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Oi familia!
I miss you guys. I just wanted to shout you a holler and let you know I'm alright, I haven't been robbed yet, I'm not weird yet, and I haven't gotten a parasite yet I don't think. What I can report to you briefly is that I hate rice and beans. But I do love my district! They're wonderful. Some of the sisters are a little too into group activities but oh well, if they weren't here none of the elders would get anything done. I appreciate everyone here.
I miss you guys. I just wanted to shout you a holler and let you know I'm alright, I haven't been robbed yet, I'm not weird yet, and I haven't gotten a parasite yet I don't think. What I can report to you briefly is that I hate rice and beans. But I do love my district! They're wonderful. Some of the sisters are a little too into group activities but oh well, if they weren't here none of the elders would get anything done. I appreciate everyone here.
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