Week Thirty Four

Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 10:06 AM

How are things going? Here´s great! We have two baptisms for this weekend, and they´re super excited! I can´t wait to enter the water with them and help them make a covenant with the Lord. To see people so willing to do what it takes to be baptized is so gratifying! I really love being a missionary.

And I can´t wait for conference! This week is flying, though; already Wednesday and we have so much to do. But it´s good to get some rest, as well. I´ve been practicing English with Elder de Jesus, and he says I speak faster than anyone he´s ever heard. I can´t remember if I´m fast or not, but it´s funny because I remember how I was with Portuguese in the beginning. But all´s well, and I´m learning more and more about how I can use my talents to serve our Heavenly Father.

How are the missionaries doing there? Have you guys fed them or anything yet? I had lunch at the primary president´s house monday. She´s hilarious, but most of the members here are really great. It´s pretty interesting to see how all members of the church are the same, no matter where you live. I´m glad the missionaries have work. I just know how nice it is here, because we have lunch every day of the week, even P-day! It´s a really interesting experience seeing the ward from the missionary´s point of view, and I think it´ll help me when I get back to help the missionaries in my ward.

We have a correlation meeting today, and I have no idea where it is.I need to call the bishop. It´s tough here because we can´t call on our cell phones, we have to use payphones and phone cards. And almost all of them in the city are broken. Cell phones are really complicated here: you put credit on your sim card and when it runs out you can´t call anymore. It´s really strange.

I love you mom!
Love, Eric





Hi Dad!

I hope you guys are doing well. The work here is going really well, and we´re getting some really great families ready for baptism! This conference should really help them get excited for their chance to be a part of the church. We´ll be watching it at another chapel in Ponta Grossa; ours doesn´t broadcast it. And it´s all live-even the priesthood session, which is from 9 to 11 at night, I think. But it should be super fun either way. I´m so excited!!!

It´s starting to cool down here and getting wetter, but it won´t get close to what it´s like up there. I´m looking forward to the cold; less people on the street but easier to walk at least. And I´ll never have to worry about snow!

We´re studying a lot about teaching people, not lessons, and I´m learning every day that these people are children of God, and they need our help in more ways than one. We found out yesterday that the father of one of our investigators died when he was young, and he really needs that kind of support in his home. Now, we know what we can do and where to focus to really help him, not just baptize him for the baptism´s sake. I´m grateful for the chance to be a part of this work, and every day I´m progressing.

I hope you guys are doing well and that you enjoy the conference. I´m thinking something super big´s coming! I love you guys, and have a great week!!!!!

Love, Eric