April 27: Interiorzão

Interiorzão is a way of saying SUPER interior in portuguese and the reason I am saying it is because I will be headed off to Itapeva (the last area in the mission and by the last area I mean it is 2 hours from any other area!) I will be going there to be zone leader with another american that was in the MTC with me way back at the start of the mission! We are good friends so it will be awesome!! His name is Elder Curtis. Im super excited. I will really miss São bento. Yesterday and today have been dedicated to saying goodbye to everyone here! It will be hard to leave but as we know all good things come to an end at some point. I have a feeling this will probably be my last area on the mission. I have 3 transfers left so we will see what president does with me. We are going to have a special conference with L Whitney Clayton of the presidency of the Seventy this week! It will be great! Man but let me just say I HATE PACKING!!!! pray for my new area and my new companionship! Itll be great!! LOVE YALL!!

April 20: One more gone...

Holy moly weeks are going super fast now..... Im freaking out... but I guess its kinda of a win win. closer to seeing yall and work moves faster! Well not much this week to report on other than that I have started working out in the mornings a little harder and by a little harder  that means Im actually working out now:) hahah just the normal stuff bench pressing cars doing pushups with my comp on my back you know simple stuff. Im in good health. i mean im not jacked but then again im not as fat as I was in the states:) that is kinda hard to beat;) We did a ton of finding this week and found a few good potentials that we need to work with. The greatest part of the week was today and thus the reason I am emailing later. We had a zone activity. basically just a bunch of sports and little did I know they brought a basketball!!! oh man what a great day!!!!! havent lost a thing!!! haha totally lying! but it was great to shoot around again! we found some young guys who like to play so maybe I can persuade them to baptism with some bball. this is the last week of the transfer so we will see what news i have for the next weeks emails to see if Im staying or going!!! LOVE YALL!!!!!

April 13: Elder Hitch

I really liked what carley called me a few weeks ago "Elder Hitch" cause as of saturday we finally had the baptism of Katia and Paulo! Haha it was one heck of journey. They have been waiting awhile and to be here for the marriage and the baptism! I had the chance to baptize paulo as well. Its always a special honor to baptize someone! Elder Rodriguez and I are doing great! You know I used to think that it would be super hard to get along with someone from a completely different culture who speaks a completely different language but you know he is a great guy! It is rather funny cause he is super quiet just like my last comp. I have gotten really good at communicating haha. I do alot of talking during the day;) I am loving this area for sure. I have a feeling that I will probably get moved here in 2 weeks when the transfers happens. It will be hard to leave this area but I think I am ready to go! I kinda want to go back to the capital. Its more busy. Here it is just soooooo dead..... super boring. In the capital (São Paulo) there is always something happening! but like I said I love the people of this area! it will be hard saying bye to some of these people! Dang it is kinda getting crazy to think in a few weeks I will be talking to yall via skype! Im super excited but also kinda nervous hahah. Yeah I dont know if this happens to all missionaries but I have been getting super nervous lately when I think about the end of the mission like I cant see it being over but then members make jokes and insist I am almost done and I get kinda wide eyed.. haha Its super funny how the first year you think alot about the day you go home and as you get close to the day you go home you think alot about your first year and the mission. The good news is that it gives you incentive to somewhat kill yourself in the work. Like 4th quarter you want to go all out to leave it all out there! Its hard cause Im definatley TIRED but it will all be worth it in the end! I love you all!!! I have a ton of pics to send but this internet house doesnt send photos so Ill have to wait for an opportunity!! LOVE YALL!!!!! Praying for all yall!

April 6: Feliz Páscoa!

Well easter has come and gone already and as I have come to learn since being here national holidays are not celebrated like they are there. It is rather funny. Here it is alot less publicized. And by that I mean no one talks about it. everyone goes to church and likes the holidays  but there everyone is talking about it posting stuff about it and noticibly more happy. Here its good but I look forward to being back in the states for the holidays! Well it was a pretty simple week but still had some frustrations with Katia and Paulo leaving on vacation for the weekend and Valter being no where to be found. So It was kinda frustrating but we plan on having Katia and Paulos baptism this week! Conference was amazing as always. Watching in portuguese was fun because it made me pay closer attention to what was being said. I got alot out of it. Elder Hollands talk was great, and I did think it was funny how many talks in the first session were on marriage.. Haha talks targeted at RM´s. Elder Rodriguez is a great comp. We are working well together. pray for our area! Hope you all have a great week!