Week Thirty One

Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 10:51 AM

Hi Mom!
So no baptism again, but I´m learning more and more about what I need to do to be successful on the mission and in life. I never really was the type of person who smiled a lot or showed that he was happy, but here, I have to be that way. We´re representing Christ, and if we´re not smiling, they won´t see Him in us, so I´m really working on that. The members are starting to notice, too!

I´m also working on following the Spirit. It really is essential to qualify ourselves to feel the Spirit and then listen to its promptings. I´ve noticed that I get nervous sometimes and I don´t listen when I´m teaching, and I need to do better. In my normal life, I receive promptings about a lot of things, and I´m really trying to get better about it. When we pray, we need to take some time to listen for the Spirit, because it´s in that moment that it speaks to us. I´m trying really hard to adapt that to myself and I hope that I can develop that soon.

I got your package too, and I would assume the rest got sent to everyone, but I don´t really have any way of knowing. Thank you so much for everything, I really do appreciate it. I don´t know if I said that enough to you guys. Transfers are coming next Monday, but I´m fairly certain I´ll stick around, seeing as I just got here. Who knows, though; 4 more areas will probably close this transfer. But 17 missionaries are coming in April! It´s going to be so great!

I´ll let you know what happens with the transfer and everything. I hope everything goes great this week, and I love you guys soooo Much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you mom!!!!!!
Love, Eric





Hi Dad!
I´m doing well, getting ready for transfers next week. Don´t really know what´s going to happen, because my companion´s been here for 3 months and I just got here, but I have the feeling that I´ll be staying. I´m not sure about my companion. We were only together for 5 weeks this transfer, to give time for the Americans that are leaving to have some cushion, that way they don´t get arrested for an expired visa. I´m just wondering what´ll happen, because 17 missionaries are leaving and 7 are coming. We´ll be closing more areas, but the work will go on.

The weather´s not as much of a problem now, I just go with it. We´ve been working really hard and found some really great families, but almost all of them have to get married, and in Brasil it takes at least 20 days to get your marriage license, which is almost half a transfer. In Curitiba, it takes 60 something, which is almost a transfer and a half! But we´re grateful for the people who have been put in our path, they really are being prepared by the Lord. Just a little more work and prayer and I know we´ll find them.

I´m working hard on being more confident and happy, so you guys´ll definitely be in for a shock when I get back! I´m excited to continue progressing.

I love you dad!!!! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric