Week Twenty Seven - New Area, New Companion

Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Hi mom!

Most of the confusion is because I got transferred to Ponta Grossa, in an area called Nova Rússia. It´s right as you come into the city of Ponta Grossa (which is huge, by the way) and my companion´s name is Elder Rocha. Three Brasilians in a row, and that won´t change if more Americans don´t start showing up, which doesn´t look likely. I´m excited to get to work, even though I was kinda disappointed that I didn´t get to work much with the Couple missionary. They´re super great though, and I know I left the branch in good hands.

My zone went from 8 missionaries to 20 or so; this zone is the biggest on the mission. They also say that it´s the highest baptizing zone in the mission, so we´ll see what happens. I´m ready to do what the Lord wants from me.

I love you a lot. I´ll keep you posted on how everything goes, and I´ll be working hard! Love you!!!!!

Love, Eric


Hi Dad!

I hope you´re doing well, still busy at work and at church! I wasn´t on earlier today because I was transferred to Ponta Grossa, in a Bairro called Nova Rússia. It´s a huge area, but it has a chapel, a ward, a bishop and everything! After spending so long in a branch I was starting to forget what all that looked like. I hope I made a difference in my other area, though; I really did work with all I have. And now I´m here, waiting to see what´s going to happen in these next five weeks. My companion´s Brasilian, again, and his name is Elder Rocha. He´s only got two transfers left on his mission, but he´s still ready to work hard and find people to bring into the gospel.

My zone is much bigger now, and all of the missionaries seem really great. There are three sets of Sisters here; two of them arrived with me too. It´s really crazy because I left the Guarapuava Zone with the same missionaries that came with me, and one of them I sat by on the way there. I couldn´t understand a single word he said because he spoke so fast; this time, I was having a full blown conversation with him without thinking. In four months! It´s amazing what the Lord permits His servants to do when they´re worthy. I´m going to do my best here, and bring as many people the Gospel that I can. If they accept it, great, but I´ll be working either way.

I´m the only American in my district. I have a feeling it´ll stay that way, too. Not sure why, but I don´t think I´ll be serving in Curitiba anytime soon and I don´t think many more Americans are coming so it´s likely I´ll stay companions with Brasilians. But who knows? I have no idea what to expect, so I´ll just go with it.

I love you Dad!!!!!

Love, Eric