11 Nov 2013

Hey Mom!
Tomorrow is the transfer and I'm staying in Mutuá! I'm excited to stay and continue working here. I'm also staying with Elder Quiroga (my companion from Argentina). We're working well together and this transfer will be even better. Usually the transfer is every 6 weeks but this one will be only 5 weeks because they wont have the transfer as the same week as Christmas. Its gonna fly by really quickly but I'm excited. I love the scripture that you shared from Moroni. I love the Book of Mormon. This week made 1 year and 6 months in Brasil. Crazy how fast its gone by. Elder Cerda (my first companion) and Elder Caleb Ganoe (my second companion) are both going home this week. I'm feeling really old now!

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I'm doing well and healthy. I'm trying to pass sun block more often through out the day to help not be so red. I'm learning a lot and thinking a lot about my future. This month we're gonna have a special conference with Elder Gavarret from the 1st quorum of the 70. He is the same guy that wrote the talk about the king that lost the battle because of the poorly placed horse shoe. Its gonna be really great.

Yesterday at church was great because we had 6 investigators at church and also it was the Primary Presentation. I love the Primary Songs and the wonderful spirit that they bring when we sing them. I got emotional when we stood as a ward and sang "Families Can Be Together Forever". It is a wonderful thing to know that our families can be together forever. We just need to do our part. We can do it! We can do hard things!

We did a service project at a sisters home. Its just her and her 17 yeard old son and her niece that live there. We took down the jungle of weeds and trash and cleaned up the big back yard. We're gonna go back next Saturday morning to continue the work. It was a great experience. Truly, she needs our help.

I thought of you a lot yesterday when we visited a woman that was baptized a year ago in the church. She is very active but its been 3 weeks since shes been to church. She has a young daughter that is 8 years old, a son that is 21 that has depression and doesnt work and another son who is 26 and very sucessful but unfortunately lives in São Paulo (6 or 7 hours away by car). She does everything by herself. Takes care of her family and does everything! Her washing machine broke 6 months ago and has been cleaning her clother and her 2 kids that live with her by hand for 6 months. She works so hard and she cried when we visited her yesterday because shes just exhausted. I have only met her 3 or 4 times but I love her and want to serve her. We helped her organize her house a little bit yesterday and we left truly feeling the Spirit of God accompany us.

I love you mom and am thankful for your prayers and help. I really hope you're doing ok. I know the Lord is taking care of you and keeping you safe. We had a FHE last night and the message that a member gave was about missionary work and he asked us to think about at least 1 person that is either less active or not a member of the church that we really really love. Think. What would you be willing to give up for that 1 person understand the truth? How happy would you be and how imense would be your joy to know that that 1 person is firm and strong in the church with a testimony? ................... Every chair filled. We are all going home. I love you mom and am excited to hear from you already! Have a great week and live with this desire deep in your heart. Never lose sight of who you are and where you're going.