Monday February 20, 2012

Dear family and friends,

This last week, I have had the opportunity to do some of the most interesting things ever. I will have to list them to get them all done before my time runs out. Here, in this area, we can't do internet at the chappel.

1. My companions name is Elder Nathanial White, he is from St. George Utah

2. I managed to get a TST tie for me and Elder White from one of our
investigators. TST is a company here in the South for transportation
public. Apparently he will lose his job if they find out that he gave
us a tie, and so we can't use it here, but in the states we can!!!

3. I am currently the district leader of a very interesting bunch. I
have the Zone Leaders in my district, which is really fun because I
know how it is and I am so glad I am not in their shoes right now. I
also have an area of Irmãs. We have Sister Urgilés Encalada from Ecuador
(that is in South America by Venezuela and Brasil . . . she makes sure
that people don't say that she lives close to Mexico) Then we have
Sister Campos da Silva from France. Her parents are portuguese, but she
didn't really learn very much, and then we have Sister Patricio who is
from Cabo Verde. I am loving it.

4. We went to a castle today, the zone leaders swear it is in their
area, but I decided that it is actually in ours and all the members
say that it is in our ward too, so we went and had a fun time. It is
about time that I do something exctiting on P day. We went with this
guy named Pedro. He just got back from his mission in France and he
was trying to practice English with me, but we kept switching back and
forth in English and Portuguese, so it all went over fine.

5. There is a family of 4 that we are working on baptizing. They
accepted baptism and we just have to finish the lessons and wait for
documents to come back so that they can get married. They are pretty
strong.

6. I met a guy named Vagner, he is a member from São Paulo and i have
decided that he is the strongest and coolest member that we have here.
He is always happy and his wife, Debora taught me how to make Cheese Bread.

7. Vagner wants me to ask dad if he knows a Mercedes Silva from
Londrina. He also wants you to send him a pancake recipie.

8. I met a really nice girl from Italy. she stopped us because she
figured we weren't portuguese, and started speaking in English. She
was super cool, but I found it really hard to help her, because I
always tried to change to portuguese.

9. This transfer we will always try to do email at 4 pm our time,
Elder White chats with his family on chat every week at that time.

10. We are currently in the biggest ward in Portugal with 170 active
members strong. President Torgan called to let me know that I was sent
to setubal to help open up the new ward here, they want to split this
ward, and thus, effectively splitting the stake.

12. Setubal is close to Miratejo, but I have not had anywhere near the
problems I had in Miratejo with my nose, but it is all fun.

13. We found a super awesome old antique elevador that still works. I
made sure to take a video of it working. It has 2 gate doors and
everything.

14 The awesome elevador is right next to a bull fighting ring. We
would go to a bull fight on P day, but they don't have them on Monday
and the last one they had in the area, someone died, so it might not
be the best idea.

15. Our house used to be known as the worst house in the mission, but
now it is starting to get better. Elder White and his companion before me
cleaned it up really good, and Elder White and I are still working on
it.

16. I skipped number 11

17. I bet you went back to check to see if I missed number 11

18. I have to go.

Love

Elder Hope