Sent: Wed 9/28/2011 11:39 AM
Hi Mom!
This week´s been good, but there´s been some changes: Elder Pinho was transferred, and Elder Lima Santos is my new companion. Elder Pinho was called to train a new missionary and open an area in Ponta Grossa that´s been closed for quite a while. Elder Lima Santos is really cool though; he´s only got about 10 months on the mission, but he´s a really great missionary. He´s from Maceió, too! That made things kinda crazy for the end of the week, but we´re getting stuff figured out.
I guess being busy´s good, but I hope you´re not getting too tired out! There´ve been a few days when I´ve come home just exhausted, but we´re doing all we can, and we can really feel it. The zone´s been having some difficulties, but we´re working hard so that they don´t get discouraged and still have the faith that it´s possible.
The banks went on strike yesterday too, not sure if you heard, but we´re still able to take money out, which is good. Otherwise, we´d be in some pretty tight spots here on the mission.
I know that the Lord loves us, and that He blesses the obedient. We´re watching so many people change their lives, from quitting smoking to getting married or coming to church, and it´s really going great. I love being a missionary!
I hope you have a great week! Love you!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
What happened to your knee? I hope there aren´t any complications this time, at least. I know it´ll all work out though; so much stuff has happened on the mission that I know we just need to have faith and keep working, and it all turns out right. In my last area, there was a girl in the ward that was really really sick, with an infection in the vains in her lungs. They asked us to give her a blessing, and I offered it. The first day after the blessing, she said nothing had changed and that they might have to operate, but the next day we passed by and the infection was completely gone! I know that God´s capable of doing great miracles because of people´s faith.
Sounds like you´re heading into basketball season, any coaching on the agenda? You guys never stop, do you? But I´m sure it´s better that way. Days always pass faster here when we´re busy, and they´re so much more gratifying that way, too. We´ve been really really busy lately, with our investigators and the other missionaries´ too. We´ve got to do interviews all over the place! But the busier we get, the better that means the work is going. We´re all giving it our best, and I´m doing my best to motivate the missionaries to keep going, even if it´s tough. I´m not exactly the best, but I think I´m getting better. I´m going to keep trying, at least. What do you do to keep people motivated? You always seemed to have everyone committed to do their best.
I know things will work out for sure, it´s just strange to be in a leadership position like this. I´ll get used to it soon, though. I´m working as hard as I can, and we´re seeing lots of great things happen. Every day, we find new people to teach and help, and it´s more and more satisfying each time. The Lord is blessing us in so many ways! I hope you´re doing great Dad, and try to stay warm! Love you !!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Week Fifty Nine
Sent: Sep 21, 2011 11:57 AM
Hi Mom!
Thanks! I got your package, and it was so great! Everyone liked the cookies a lot, and they made me brownies this morning that I put the candles in. It was great, and it made me remember even more how great it is to have a family that loves you. There are so many cases we see of people who don´t support their relatives in their choices, and it´s so hard because you just have to hope that they´ll change their hearts. But when they change, it´s that much more worth it.
We went to Jardim Botânico today, which was great. I´ll send some pictures; the other part of the Zone went to the temple for a session and interviews, so we had a free day. Next time, I´ll try to get a picture of the whole zone for you guys. I´ll be sending a lot of pictures this time, so I hope you like them.
It´s so crazy to think that the two birthdays I´ll have on the mission are up already! But it´s great, because it helps me to remember how precious the time is. I´m working super hard to help the new missionaries understand that too, because the average time in the zone is about 6-7 months on the mission. It´s been interesting, and at times not the easiest, but we´re learning as we go and getting better and better. We have a bunch of people that are progressing in our area, and the others are doing well, too! It´s so cool to see the success of the people in the zone.
Things are going great, and I´m having a great birthday. I hope you guys are doing well, and that everything´s going great at work. Love you Mom, and thanks for everything! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
PS- we went to this part of the garden called jardim das sensações, and we got blindfolded so we could feel and smell the plants, instead of seeing them- SO COOL!
Thanks! I got your package, and it was so great! Everyone liked the cookies a lot, and they made me brownies this morning that I put the candles in. It was great, and it made me remember even more how great it is to have a family that loves you. There are so many cases we see of people who don´t support their relatives in their choices, and it´s so hard because you just have to hope that they´ll change their hearts. But when they change, it´s that much more worth it.
We went to Jardim Botânico today, which was great. I´ll send some pictures; the other part of the Zone went to the temple for a session and interviews, so we had a free day. Next time, I´ll try to get a picture of the whole zone for you guys. I´ll be sending a lot of pictures this time, so I hope you like them.
It´s so crazy to think that the two birthdays I´ll have on the mission are up already! But it´s great, because it helps me to remember how precious the time is. I´m working super hard to help the new missionaries understand that too, because the average time in the zone is about 6-7 months on the mission. It´s been interesting, and at times not the easiest, but we´re learning as we go and getting better and better. We have a bunch of people that are progressing in our area, and the others are doing well, too! It´s so cool to see the success of the people in the zone.
Things are going great, and I´m having a great birthday. I hope you guys are doing well, and that everything´s going great at work. Love you Mom, and thanks for everything! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
PS- we went to this part of the garden called jardim das sensações, and we got blindfolded so we could feel and smell the plants, instead of seeing them- SO COOL!
Hey Dad!
Thanks! It´s weird to think that I´ve already had two birthdays on the mission, but it´s kinda cool too. We had breakfast with a member this morning, and then went to Jardim Botânico, a really big botanical garden in Curitiba that happens to be in our area. It was super cool; I´ll send some pictures too. But other than that, I think today´s going to be a normal Pday. Last night, some investigators made us dinner and gave me some fancy soap, which was really nice of them. Once they get married, they´re going to be baptized, on the last day of the transfer! It´s going to be awesome, because they´re already so converted to the Gospel. The husband´s already fasted twice!
Things are going really well here, and there´s always new stuff to see. SO many parks and stuff, it´s nuts. And lots of good places to eat, too; the only problem is the restaurants only open at night! But when I come back we´ll go, for sure.
There´s never a dull moment in the city, and being a leader means you get to travel a little more, so it´s been really fun. I´ve done divisions with two district leaders, one in another city and one in my area. Division is a split, I think, so I went with the district leader and Elder Pinho went with his companion to work for a day. We do that to kinda train the leaders and to see how the area´s doing. It´s fun, and you always learn a lot. You´ve gotta be on your game though, because they´re always watching you to see how you handle situations.
Thanks! It´s weird to think that I´ve already had two birthdays on the mission, but it´s kinda cool too. We had breakfast with a member this morning, and then went to Jardim Botânico, a really big botanical garden in Curitiba that happens to be in our area. It was super cool; I´ll send some pictures too. But other than that, I think today´s going to be a normal Pday. Last night, some investigators made us dinner and gave me some fancy soap, which was really nice of them. Once they get married, they´re going to be baptized, on the last day of the transfer! It´s going to be awesome, because they´re already so converted to the Gospel. The husband´s already fasted twice!
Things are going really well here, and there´s always new stuff to see. SO many parks and stuff, it´s nuts. And lots of good places to eat, too; the only problem is the restaurants only open at night! But when I come back we´ll go, for sure.
There´s never a dull moment in the city, and being a leader means you get to travel a little more, so it´s been really fun. I´ve done divisions with two district leaders, one in another city and one in my area. Division is a split, I think, so I went with the district leader and Elder Pinho went with his companion to work for a day. We do that to kinda train the leaders and to see how the area´s doing. It´s fun, and you always learn a lot. You´ve gotta be on your game though, because they´re always watching you to see how you handle situations.
I didn´t get too lost, which is good. The nice thing is that I´ve learned how to find myself on a map pretty easily, so I can get to where I need to go as long as I have the address. Not sure if I knew that before. But it´s great to see how my capabilities have increased, and it makes me realize that I can do whatever I want if I put my mind to it. Which is super gratifying. But I´m doing great, and I got your package! Thanks so much! That Reflections of Christ book is so awesome! I think we´re going to use it with an investigator soon. But I´m grateful to have family support so strong, and I hope you know that I love and appreciate you guys.
Love you!!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Love you!!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Fifty Eight
Hi Mom!
Wow, that´s pretty crazy! That stuff almost never happens there, so that´s pretty interesting. I hope that nothing worse happens, or that people don´t lose anything. It seems like disasters are happening all over now, which is definitely a sign.
I´m sure everything will get here on time, no worries. The mission office is really good about getting mail out, and I´m there every week, so I´m not too worried about it. Thanks for getting all of that sent out for me though. I really am glad to have the support that I do.
I´m pretty exhausted, but I think I´m getting the hang of it. Our zone´s super young, but we´re working really hard to keep them excited and working hard. I know that things will all work out, even if at times things are discouraging. As a Zone Leader, your joy comes from the joy of the other missionaries, and all I want now is to be able to help them have the success that they want so we can all celebrate.
Elder Pinho and I are working really hard on being the examples, and showing them that we believe in them. We had an activity this morning, and I think they all really liked it. It was a great opportunity to get to know some of the missionaries, too. We did a harvest festival, because I told Elder Pinho that this time of year is when we harvest in the US. We had a couple of activities, practiced some stuff, and then we made fruit salad to comemorate the harvest of souls we´ll have this month. It was really fun! So far, everything´s going really well; we helped a couple get the process of marriage started this week, and they´ll be baptized in October! We´re super excited.
I´m doing well and going strong. Thanks for all the love and support, and I´m sure I probably don´t say that enough, but I really am grateful. Have a great week!!!
Love you!
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
Things are going well, but I´m back to that tired stage of being a missionary. It seems like every time you get a new responsibility, you feel like your mission´s starting over again, including the fatigue that was there at the beginning. I´ll get used to it soon enough, though, for sure. As far as working in the center of the city goes, it´s really fascinating. Coupling it with my new responsiblities makes it fun, but what is most interesting is definitely the way people treat you. If they don´t want to hear our message, they just flat out say it. People here are straight up with you, which is great, because it means you can count on them, too.
We had a Zone activity this morning that I feel went really well. I´m still getting used to the whole being an inspiring leader thing, but I´m getting the hang of it little by little. What I want the most is for all of the missionaries to understand that miracles can happen, if we honestly believe that it´s possible and work with all we have to accomplish our objective. The Lord is grateful for everything that we do for Him, and rewards us accordingly. So, if we do everything we can, He´s gotta give us all the help we need, right? That´s the way I´m seeing things now, anyway.
It sounds like things are pretty crazy up there; I hope it doesn´t get any worse. Just know that I´m good and that everything´s going great. I love you guys! Have a great week!
Love you!!!
Love, Eric
Wow, that´s pretty crazy! That stuff almost never happens there, so that´s pretty interesting. I hope that nothing worse happens, or that people don´t lose anything. It seems like disasters are happening all over now, which is definitely a sign.
I´m sure everything will get here on time, no worries. The mission office is really good about getting mail out, and I´m there every week, so I´m not too worried about it. Thanks for getting all of that sent out for me though. I really am glad to have the support that I do.
I´m pretty exhausted, but I think I´m getting the hang of it. Our zone´s super young, but we´re working really hard to keep them excited and working hard. I know that things will all work out, even if at times things are discouraging. As a Zone Leader, your joy comes from the joy of the other missionaries, and all I want now is to be able to help them have the success that they want so we can all celebrate.
Elder Pinho and I are working really hard on being the examples, and showing them that we believe in them. We had an activity this morning, and I think they all really liked it. It was a great opportunity to get to know some of the missionaries, too. We did a harvest festival, because I told Elder Pinho that this time of year is when we harvest in the US. We had a couple of activities, practiced some stuff, and then we made fruit salad to comemorate the harvest of souls we´ll have this month. It was really fun! So far, everything´s going really well; we helped a couple get the process of marriage started this week, and they´ll be baptized in October! We´re super excited.
I´m doing well and going strong. Thanks for all the love and support, and I´m sure I probably don´t say that enough, but I really am grateful. Have a great week!!!
Love you!
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
Things are going well, but I´m back to that tired stage of being a missionary. It seems like every time you get a new responsibility, you feel like your mission´s starting over again, including the fatigue that was there at the beginning. I´ll get used to it soon enough, though, for sure. As far as working in the center of the city goes, it´s really fascinating. Coupling it with my new responsiblities makes it fun, but what is most interesting is definitely the way people treat you. If they don´t want to hear our message, they just flat out say it. People here are straight up with you, which is great, because it means you can count on them, too.
We had a Zone activity this morning that I feel went really well. I´m still getting used to the whole being an inspiring leader thing, but I´m getting the hang of it little by little. What I want the most is for all of the missionaries to understand that miracles can happen, if we honestly believe that it´s possible and work with all we have to accomplish our objective. The Lord is grateful for everything that we do for Him, and rewards us accordingly. So, if we do everything we can, He´s gotta give us all the help we need, right? That´s the way I´m seeing things now, anyway.
It sounds like things are pretty crazy up there; I hope it doesn´t get any worse. Just know that I´m good and that everything´s going great. I love you guys! Have a great week!
Love you!!!
Love, Eric
Week Fifty Seven
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 22:18:10
The area here is REALLY big, and there´s skyscrapers just about everywhere. But it´s really cool because almost anything you would want to go see or buy is in our area, so we can visit it without asking permission! I´m going to try and see everything I can before I´m transferred so I can take advantage of it! There are a lot of praças, which are like little parks (well big parks, actually) and a lot of famous buildings, too. Our area has all of the civic buildings, monuments, stores and stuff that everyone wants to see in Curitiba. If you go to google and look up pictures of the city, just about all of the ones you´ll see are in the area! It´s sweet, and a little overwhelming at times, but it´s great.
The responsibilities now are a lot different, but the rewards are awesome, too. I´ve met a bunch of great new missionaries, and I´m learning more and more about how to motivate and inspire others. Not just missionaries, but some of our investigators; we have one who´s trying to get married so that he can be baptized, but here marriage takes like 30 days, which is almost an entire transfer! At times, he gets discouraged, but we do our best to keep him motivated and to help him stay strong. He´s so excited for his baptism, it´s awesome!
We´ve been working really hard, and I have such a strong testimony now that the Lord really recognizes that. One day, we´d talked to a bunch of people and almost all of our appointments fell, but we kept going, and I told Elder Pinho that the Lord would bless us for our determination and desire. That night, we met a family of 4 and invited them all to be baptized! This was Saturday, and two of the daughters came to church the next morning! It was so great, and it´s just one more testimony that this Gospel is true, and that God loves His children.
I love you Dad, and I hope I´m making you guys proud, because I´m putting all I´ve got into this. Have a great week!!!!!!
Hi Mom!
Everythings normal here as far as internet, but the citys pretty much closed down. The buses are still running and everything, but theres hardly anyone on the street and all the stores are closed. I think itll be hard getting used to the holidays again, but who knows really? Things are going great here, and even though I have more responsibility, Im getting the hang of it pretty well. The people here are a lot different than in the other areas I've worked in; most of them just work in the bairro and dont actually live there, and theres a TON of apartments. Which means we dont really knock doors at all. Even so, things are going great, and we have a bunch of really great people getting ready for baptism.
Everythings normal here as far as internet, but the citys pretty much closed down. The buses are still running and everything, but theres hardly anyone on the street and all the stores are closed. I think itll be hard getting used to the holidays again, but who knows really? Things are going great here, and even though I have more responsibility, Im getting the hang of it pretty well. The people here are a lot different than in the other areas I've worked in; most of them just work in the bairro and dont actually live there, and theres a TON of apartments. Which means we dont really knock doors at all. Even so, things are going great, and we have a bunch of really great people getting ready for baptism.
Things are going really well here, even if its a little crazy. Its funny because you think that everythings so simple when youre looking at leadership from the other side, but its so different when youre actually a part of it! It was a huge shock to get the call, but its going well. We walked in a parade today, and it was super fun! We sang, gave out pass along cards and everything, and it was a really great time. Im learning so much and having a great time.
Its so weird to think my birthdays in two weeks! In the MTC it seemed like it would never come, but time is passing so fast now. Before I know it, itll be Christmas again! But Im loving it here, even if there are a few new challenges.
There are so many cool tourist sites, and we take care of two wards, so our area is HUGE. Almost all of the tourist attractions are in our zone if not our area, so we can go there on P-day basically whenever we want. This week, no, because its a holiday, but in the next few weeks well be headed around for sure.
One thing Ive noticed about being a leader is that you have to have the strongest testimony of the Gospel, so that others can be strengthened by it. I've grown so much in this week that Ive had this calling that I can hardly believe Im the same missionary! But Im doing great, and Im so glad to have your support. Things are going great, and Im anxious to see whats in the package! Love you Mom, have a great week!!!!!
Its so weird to think my birthdays in two weeks! In the MTC it seemed like it would never come, but time is passing so fast now. Before I know it, itll be Christmas again! But Im loving it here, even if there are a few new challenges.
There are so many cool tourist sites, and we take care of two wards, so our area is HUGE. Almost all of the tourist attractions are in our zone if not our area, so we can go there on P-day basically whenever we want. This week, no, because its a holiday, but in the next few weeks well be headed around for sure.
One thing Ive noticed about being a leader is that you have to have the strongest testimony of the Gospel, so that others can be strengthened by it. I've grown so much in this week that Ive had this calling that I can hardly believe Im the same missionary! But Im doing great, and Im so glad to have your support. Things are going great, and Im anxious to see whats in the package! Love you Mom, have a great week!!!!!
Love you!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
I´m great, and we´re all OK with the holiday. The stores and stuff are closed, but the LAN house we use is still open, so that´s good. I´m glad you´re still busy at work, that´s so great!
I´m great, and we´re all OK with the holiday. The stores and stuff are closed, but the LAN house we use is still open, so that´s good. I´m glad you´re still busy at work, that´s so great!
The area here is REALLY big, and there´s skyscrapers just about everywhere. But it´s really cool because almost anything you would want to go see or buy is in our area, so we can visit it without asking permission! I´m going to try and see everything I can before I´m transferred so I can take advantage of it! There are a lot of praças, which are like little parks (well big parks, actually) and a lot of famous buildings, too. Our area has all of the civic buildings, monuments, stores and stuff that everyone wants to see in Curitiba. If you go to google and look up pictures of the city, just about all of the ones you´ll see are in the area! It´s sweet, and a little overwhelming at times, but it´s great.
The responsibilities now are a lot different, but the rewards are awesome, too. I´ve met a bunch of great new missionaries, and I´m learning more and more about how to motivate and inspire others. Not just missionaries, but some of our investigators; we have one who´s trying to get married so that he can be baptized, but here marriage takes like 30 days, which is almost an entire transfer! At times, he gets discouraged, but we do our best to keep him motivated and to help him stay strong. He´s so excited for his baptism, it´s awesome!
We´ve been working really hard, and I have such a strong testimony now that the Lord really recognizes that. One day, we´d talked to a bunch of people and almost all of our appointments fell, but we kept going, and I told Elder Pinho that the Lord would bless us for our determination and desire. That night, we met a family of 4 and invited them all to be baptized! This was Saturday, and two of the daughters came to church the next morning! It was so great, and it´s just one more testimony that this Gospel is true, and that God loves His children.
I love you Dad, and I hope I´m making you guys proud, because I´m putting all I´ve got into this. Have a great week!!!!!!
Love you!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Love, Eric
Week Fifty Six - Transferred and New Companion
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 11:48 AM
Hi Mom!
So I´ve been transferred, and it´s a pretty crazy experience. Since I spent most of my time in the Interior, I´m used to knowing everything in the phone call, but this time I had to go to a chapel in the center of the city to find out where I´d be going. But I´m still here in Curitiba, and I´m actually working in Ala 2 (like the Curitiba 2nd ward), which is in downtown Curitiba! All of the tourist sites are in my area, and there are TONS of things to see and do. My P-days are going to be so full from now on!
My new companion is Elder Pinho, a Brasilieiro. I was starting to miss being with a brasilian because there was a lot of temptation to speak English, and now I have another companion that´s still learning it, so that makes things a lot easier. I´m super excited to get started, and to see how everything goes! He says that the people here are pretty rich, but I´m not too worried about it; everyone needs to hear the message. It was kind of a shock to hear I´d be headed to the middle of the big city, but it´s pretty fun so far, even if crossing the street is a challenge.
I´m glad you guys had the chance to feed the missionaries, that´s always great! I cooked for the bishop of my last ward yesterday, and for some of our recent converts. One girl that we baptized last weekend started crying when I left, so that was hard, but I got a bunch of their email addresses. I´m glad all´s well, and have a great week!
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
So I got transferred, and now I´m serving in the middle of the city, in Ala 2 (which is like the Curitba 2nd ward). It´s the first chapel that was ever built in Curitiba, and it´s smack dab in the middle of downtown. All of the tourist sites are here, and in my zone I´ve got a ton of places that I can go. It´s super cool, and now that I´m here, one day when we´re all here together it´ll be easy for me to get us to where we need to go! I´m really excited to work here, for sure.
My new companion´s Elder Pinho, a Brasilian who started his mission in the same area I did! He´s got about a year and a half on the mission, and just got here recently, too, so we could be spending a good amount of time together. Which is fine with me, because I like having Brasilian companions better than Americans, to be honest. Not that I don´t like Americans, but Brasilians give me more of an incentive to learn Portuguese and really master it. When I was training, it was a little tougher because I had to translate a lot, but now I can relax, especially because I know that he´s going to be able to know what to say. The weather´s warming up, I think, and up until now my shoes are OK. Some got super wet because it rained REALLY hard yesterday, but they´re still going strong.
I´m so glad that things are going well for everybody, and hope that it stays that way. I´ll be praying for all of you guys.
Love you Dad, have a great week!!!!!
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
So I´ve been transferred, and it´s a pretty crazy experience. Since I spent most of my time in the Interior, I´m used to knowing everything in the phone call, but this time I had to go to a chapel in the center of the city to find out where I´d be going. But I´m still here in Curitiba, and I´m actually working in Ala 2 (like the Curitiba 2nd ward), which is in downtown Curitiba! All of the tourist sites are in my area, and there are TONS of things to see and do. My P-days are going to be so full from now on!
My new companion is Elder Pinho, a Brasilieiro. I was starting to miss being with a brasilian because there was a lot of temptation to speak English, and now I have another companion that´s still learning it, so that makes things a lot easier. I´m super excited to get started, and to see how everything goes! He says that the people here are pretty rich, but I´m not too worried about it; everyone needs to hear the message. It was kind of a shock to hear I´d be headed to the middle of the big city, but it´s pretty fun so far, even if crossing the street is a challenge.
I´m glad you guys had the chance to feed the missionaries, that´s always great! I cooked for the bishop of my last ward yesterday, and for some of our recent converts. One girl that we baptized last weekend started crying when I left, so that was hard, but I got a bunch of their email addresses. I´m glad all´s well, and have a great week!
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
So I got transferred, and now I´m serving in the middle of the city, in Ala 2 (which is like the Curitba 2nd ward). It´s the first chapel that was ever built in Curitiba, and it´s smack dab in the middle of downtown. All of the tourist sites are here, and in my zone I´ve got a ton of places that I can go. It´s super cool, and now that I´m here, one day when we´re all here together it´ll be easy for me to get us to where we need to go! I´m really excited to work here, for sure.
My new companion´s Elder Pinho, a Brasilian who started his mission in the same area I did! He´s got about a year and a half on the mission, and just got here recently, too, so we could be spending a good amount of time together. Which is fine with me, because I like having Brasilian companions better than Americans, to be honest. Not that I don´t like Americans, but Brasilians give me more of an incentive to learn Portuguese and really master it. When I was training, it was a little tougher because I had to translate a lot, but now I can relax, especially because I know that he´s going to be able to know what to say. The weather´s warming up, I think, and up until now my shoes are OK. Some got super wet because it rained REALLY hard yesterday, but they´re still going strong.
I´m so glad that things are going well for everybody, and hope that it stays that way. I´ll be praying for all of you guys.
Love you Dad, have a great week!!!!!
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Fifty Five
Sent: Wed 8/24/2011 12:10 PM
Hi Mom!
I´m good, but a little tired. We played basketball with President Cordon, and I worked pretty hard. It was super fun; I´d forgotten how fun it was to play! I´m glad all´s well.
This is the last P-day of the transfer, and as far as whether or not I´ll go, I honestly have no idea. I was positive I was out of here last transfer, and then they threw me a massive curveball, so we´ll have to see how this one pans out. Either way, no worries; when I get it, I´ll get it, and I´ll be grateful for it.
This week, we´re having a party at the chapel, and we´re going to do a baptism in the middle! It´s a winter party that they do here in Brasil. They really like to do it all themselves here; when I ask to help they get weirded out. But there´s a lady here who loves to teach me stuff, and I think she´s heading the whole thing up. I love her so much; she´s like my Brasilian grandma!
It´s going to be so great, and I really think it´ll unite the ward a lot. I´ve been really worried about that ever since I got here, and I feel like now things are really starting to take off. The members here are so great, and I´m really glad that I´ve gotten to know so many of them. When I do leave Jardim Mercúrio, I´m going to cry a lot. There are so many people who´ve helped me, and it makes me think about how I´m going to treat the missionaries when I get back. I´m going to work so hard at everything that I won´t have time to think! But I´ll always be there for the missionaries, without a doubt. People here drop what they´re doing to help us out, and I´m so grateful for that. It´s awesome being a missionary!
Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
I´m good! The weather´s still pretty cold, but I think (hope) it´ll warm up pretty soon. Monday was the coldest day I´ve had on my mission, mostly because it was cold and rainy, too. That´s the real killer, because when it rains, nobody wants to talk to you or let you in their house. But we make it work, and things are going well. The Lord´s blessed us a lot this transfer, and I have a lot to be grateful for.
I can´t believe we´re into all this again! I remember when you guys were talking about the scrimmage, school and all that last year! Time goes by so fast. This month´s almost over already! I´m running like crazy to make the most of it.
As far as the responsibilities, it´s kind of a trade-off; as a leader, you make the sacrifices in your area to make the other areas better. That doesn´t mean that your area doesn´t still have to be perfect, but it means that when it comes to who has to travel to meet up, we lose. Every time. But it´s fun, if not a little nuts.
Things here are all good, and we´re getting a kind of rhythm going. Even though transfers are on their way next week! We´ll see what happens, but I´ll keep you posted. Let me know what´s up, and I´m so happy to hear you´ve got lots of work to do!
Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
I´m good, but a little tired. We played basketball with President Cordon, and I worked pretty hard. It was super fun; I´d forgotten how fun it was to play! I´m glad all´s well.
This is the last P-day of the transfer, and as far as whether or not I´ll go, I honestly have no idea. I was positive I was out of here last transfer, and then they threw me a massive curveball, so we´ll have to see how this one pans out. Either way, no worries; when I get it, I´ll get it, and I´ll be grateful for it.
This week, we´re having a party at the chapel, and we´re going to do a baptism in the middle! It´s a winter party that they do here in Brasil. They really like to do it all themselves here; when I ask to help they get weirded out. But there´s a lady here who loves to teach me stuff, and I think she´s heading the whole thing up. I love her so much; she´s like my Brasilian grandma!
It´s going to be so great, and I really think it´ll unite the ward a lot. I´ve been really worried about that ever since I got here, and I feel like now things are really starting to take off. The members here are so great, and I´m really glad that I´ve gotten to know so many of them. When I do leave Jardim Mercúrio, I´m going to cry a lot. There are so many people who´ve helped me, and it makes me think about how I´m going to treat the missionaries when I get back. I´m going to work so hard at everything that I won´t have time to think! But I´ll always be there for the missionaries, without a doubt. People here drop what they´re doing to help us out, and I´m so grateful for that. It´s awesome being a missionary!
Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hey Dad!
I´m good! The weather´s still pretty cold, but I think (hope) it´ll warm up pretty soon. Monday was the coldest day I´ve had on my mission, mostly because it was cold and rainy, too. That´s the real killer, because when it rains, nobody wants to talk to you or let you in their house. But we make it work, and things are going well. The Lord´s blessed us a lot this transfer, and I have a lot to be grateful for.
I can´t believe we´re into all this again! I remember when you guys were talking about the scrimmage, school and all that last year! Time goes by so fast. This month´s almost over already! I´m running like crazy to make the most of it.
As far as the responsibilities, it´s kind of a trade-off; as a leader, you make the sacrifices in your area to make the other areas better. That doesn´t mean that your area doesn´t still have to be perfect, but it means that when it comes to who has to travel to meet up, we lose. Every time. But it´s fun, if not a little nuts.
Things here are all good, and we´re getting a kind of rhythm going. Even though transfers are on their way next week! We´ll see what happens, but I´ll keep you posted. Let me know what´s up, and I´m so happy to hear you´ve got lots of work to do!
Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Fifty Four
Sent: Wed 8/17/2011 7:15 AM
Hi Mom!
So I´m writing early because we´re going to the temple today, and I don´t know if you´ll be on, but I´m doing great.
Last week was insane, but it all ended up great: all three of the areas in my district baptized, including us! It was so cool to see that the work we were doing paid off, and I think it gave everyone the morale boost they were looking for. Elder Palmer, the first missionary I trained, baptized too, and my trainer!
Elder Barbosa goes home in two weeks, and it´s really strange for me to think about. I´m going to miss him, but we might actually talk more once he´s off the mission, who knows? But it was a really great experience to see how hard the mission is working. This weekend, the mission baptized 32 people! And this weekend, there are 93 people with dates for baptism! Our zone is working so hard, and we´re all really excited to put our all into this, to reach the goal that President Cordon set of 1 baptism in every area on the mission this month. It´s so awesome to see that everyone´s giving it their all, and it makes me want to work even harder!
Things are busy here, but it´s all going well. Being a leader´s challenging, but really rewarding. I did a division with the Zone Leaders yesterday, and Elder Jackson said that I am doing everything they´re expecting of me, and that I´m willing and excited to work, which is important.
I feel really great, and I´m so excited to keep helping people here, and wherever else I´m going to serve. This is such a great experience!
Love you Mom!
Love, Eric
Hi Dad!
This last week was absolutely insane! I was running from one place to another, taking fifty million buses and interviewing all weekend long. It paid off, though; every area in my district had a baptism! And this week, we´re working equally as hard to help the mission reach it´s goal. President Cordon wants every area to baptize at least one person this month, and even though we´ve reached that already, we´re going to keep working to surpass that goal.
I´m doing my best to inspire all of the members of my district to be there best, and I think they´re all ready to make the necessary sacrifices. We´ve got some really great people that we´re teaching, and we are going to find a lot more too. This week, we´ve got a lot more time; last week I had one day when we actually worked the whole time; the others we didn´t start working until 6pm! I honestly thought I couldn´t take it, but the Zone Leaders were really impressed with what we were able to accomplish.
I´m still working on my organization, but this weekend, we´ve got some more interviews to do, so it´s going to be pretty crazy, but totally worth it! I´m having a blast, even though I´m tired, but things are heating up here, so the weather won´t be as much of a problem. And I´m not going to let anything get in the way of this work!
All´s well here, and I´m glad things are headed back toward normal for you guys, as well. I can´t believe school´s starting again! So crazy. But I´m so stoked to get into the work for real now, and nothing´s going to stop me. I love you Dad, we´re going to the temple this afternoon, so I don´t have a lot of time. I´ll keep you updated for sure, though, so no worries. I love you Dad, and have a great week!!!!!!
Love you!!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
So I´m writing early because we´re going to the temple today, and I don´t know if you´ll be on, but I´m doing great.
Last week was insane, but it all ended up great: all three of the areas in my district baptized, including us! It was so cool to see that the work we were doing paid off, and I think it gave everyone the morale boost they were looking for. Elder Palmer, the first missionary I trained, baptized too, and my trainer!
Elder Barbosa goes home in two weeks, and it´s really strange for me to think about. I´m going to miss him, but we might actually talk more once he´s off the mission, who knows? But it was a really great experience to see how hard the mission is working. This weekend, the mission baptized 32 people! And this weekend, there are 93 people with dates for baptism! Our zone is working so hard, and we´re all really excited to put our all into this, to reach the goal that President Cordon set of 1 baptism in every area on the mission this month. It´s so awesome to see that everyone´s giving it their all, and it makes me want to work even harder!
Things are busy here, but it´s all going well. Being a leader´s challenging, but really rewarding. I did a division with the Zone Leaders yesterday, and Elder Jackson said that I am doing everything they´re expecting of me, and that I´m willing and excited to work, which is important.
I feel really great, and I´m so excited to keep helping people here, and wherever else I´m going to serve. This is such a great experience!
Love you Mom!
Love, Eric
Hi Dad!
This last week was absolutely insane! I was running from one place to another, taking fifty million buses and interviewing all weekend long. It paid off, though; every area in my district had a baptism! And this week, we´re working equally as hard to help the mission reach it´s goal. President Cordon wants every area to baptize at least one person this month, and even though we´ve reached that already, we´re going to keep working to surpass that goal.
I´m doing my best to inspire all of the members of my district to be there best, and I think they´re all ready to make the necessary sacrifices. We´ve got some really great people that we´re teaching, and we are going to find a lot more too. This week, we´ve got a lot more time; last week I had one day when we actually worked the whole time; the others we didn´t start working until 6pm! I honestly thought I couldn´t take it, but the Zone Leaders were really impressed with what we were able to accomplish.
I´m still working on my organization, but this weekend, we´ve got some more interviews to do, so it´s going to be pretty crazy, but totally worth it! I´m having a blast, even though I´m tired, but things are heating up here, so the weather won´t be as much of a problem. And I´m not going to let anything get in the way of this work!
All´s well here, and I´m glad things are headed back toward normal for you guys, as well. I can´t believe school´s starting again! So crazy. But I´m so stoked to get into the work for real now, and nothing´s going to stop me. I love you Dad, we´re going to the temple this afternoon, so I don´t have a lot of time. I´ll keep you updated for sure, though, so no worries. I love you Dad, and have a great week!!!!!!
Love you!!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Fifty Three
Sent: Wed 8/10/2011 1:42 PM
Hi Mom!
This week was tough because of Elder Serrano´s sickness, and I have a ton of meetings and interviews to do this week (including a girl in our area who´s going to be baptized!) so this week won´t be any less crazy.
Next week, too; we´re going to the temple, I think I´m going to do a division with the elders in my district and with the zone leaders, and we have a zone conference! It´s crazy to think about how much busier my life just got, but so far, so good. I´ll see how much I can handle I guess.
I´m glad you´re relaxing, and I hope you can make it a tradition, too! I think that´d be cool for you guys, because I know you made a lot of sacrifices for us while we were growing up. Now, you deserve to relax.
We had a district activity today that took a long time, but it was super fun. Sister Alves turned 23 today, so we made lunch for her, and one of the members of her ward made a cake for her! We made like a ramen type thing with a bunch of meat and veggies, which took a while but was super good. I´ve taken a break from baking, it takes a lot of time, which is now a rarity for me. But it was fun to cook again, and I´m going to make spaghetti and meatballs tonight, and burgers tomorrow. Lots of cooking, and then lots of meetings again! It was really fun.
I love you so much. Happy Birthday to you too, by the way! Sorry I forgot last week.
Love you!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Dad!
Hope all´s awesome on the beach, and that you catch a bunch of crab too. I hope you guys can really make a tradition out of that, because that´d be really fun, I think. That would be cool to hit the beach right as I get home, huh? That´s a ways off though, for sure.
I love you Dad, and hope you´re enjoying your vacation! Eat an extra crab for me, OK? Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
This week was tough because of Elder Serrano´s sickness, and I have a ton of meetings and interviews to do this week (including a girl in our area who´s going to be baptized!) so this week won´t be any less crazy.
Next week, too; we´re going to the temple, I think I´m going to do a division with the elders in my district and with the zone leaders, and we have a zone conference! It´s crazy to think about how much busier my life just got, but so far, so good. I´ll see how much I can handle I guess.
I´m glad you´re relaxing, and I hope you can make it a tradition, too! I think that´d be cool for you guys, because I know you made a lot of sacrifices for us while we were growing up. Now, you deserve to relax.
We had a district activity today that took a long time, but it was super fun. Sister Alves turned 23 today, so we made lunch for her, and one of the members of her ward made a cake for her! We made like a ramen type thing with a bunch of meat and veggies, which took a while but was super good. I´ve taken a break from baking, it takes a lot of time, which is now a rarity for me. But it was fun to cook again, and I´m going to make spaghetti and meatballs tonight, and burgers tomorrow. Lots of cooking, and then lots of meetings again! It was really fun.
I love you so much. Happy Birthday to you too, by the way! Sorry I forgot last week.
Love you!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Dad!
Hope all´s awesome on the beach, and that you catch a bunch of crab too. I hope you guys can really make a tradition out of that, because that´d be really fun, I think. That would be cool to hit the beach right as I get home, huh? That´s a ways off though, for sure.
I love you Dad, and hope you´re enjoying your vacation! Eat an extra crab for me, OK? Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Week Fifty Two - One Year Mark
Sent: Wed 8/3/2011 9:20 AM
Hi Mom!
I can´t believe I´m at a year! Isn´t it incredible? I´m having trouble believing it, to be honest, but I can´t waste time worrying about that. There´s so much work to do! Since Friday, my companion's been sick with a throat infection, and we haven´t actually worked since then. He´s good now; he took some injections yesterday and today and it´s getting cleared up.
I had my first baptismal interviews, too, and even though I was freaking out a little, it all worked out. They were baptized! And our district has a bunch of people that are working towards baptism, also! It´s pretty crazy being a district leader, but I´m doing all that I can. So far, so good!
The lady that lives in front of our house is about the most gourmet that we get, and she´s really good, but I do miss all of the nice restaurants in the US. There´s a neighborhood in Curitiba called Batel, and there´s supposed to be really great places there. I think it´s a Sister´s area, though, so I doubt I´ll be headed there anytime soon.
But I was thinking, what are your plans for when I come back? Were you planning to come down and get me, or what were you thinking? I guess now might be a little early, but I´d been thinking about it because a lot of people´s parents do that. What were your plans? Maybe we could head over there! Today will be our first day of work this week, and I´m so excited! I just want to get back out there!
I love you mom, and just think: in less than 12 months, I´ll be back! I don´t want to think about it yet, but I guess that´s the way it goes.
Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 9:27 AM
Hey Dad!
We´re at a year! Can you believe it? I definitely can´t! It isn´t that exciting, but it´s so weird to think that in so little time my mission will be over. Every second that passes is one that I´ve given to the Lord, and I´m trying to make sure that every one is acceptable to Him. With all of my responsiblities, it´s been a little crazy, especially because my companion´s been sick since Friday, but I´m going all out for the rest of my time here. We only get one mission, so I´ve gotta use it! I think he had a bacterial infection, but if I was going to get it, I would have already I think. Either way, I´d have to be dead to stay at home; if my legs were broken, I´d find a wheelchair and head on out!
This cold´s crazy! One day it´s super hot, one day it´s rainy, the other´s got ridiculously cold wind. The weather´s just like home, really; it´s kinda strange. I´m kinda hoping I get sent back out to the interior, though; I really miss it. It takes longer for packages to get there, but that´s OK.
I´ve learned so much about patience in the last year, and most of what I learned is that you can never have enough. Whether it´s with companions, investigators, members, the more patience you have, the more time you have to love them. I´ve developed so much love for people in general, and especially for the Brasilian people, that I don´t even want to imagine the day that I leave here. It´s a long ways off, but hitting a milestone like this gets you thinking. No matter what, though, I´m going to give it my all. I can sleep later, now there´s so much to do!
That´s what´s really changed about being district leader: less sleep. I have to call every night for my district and the Zone Leaders, so that takes some time, but so far it´s going well. I had my first interviews this weekend; I was freaking out inside, but it was really fun! And they all passed! Things are going super great here, and I´m glad they´re going so well there, too. Keep me posted!
I love you Dad! Have a great week!!!! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
I can´t believe I´m at a year! Isn´t it incredible? I´m having trouble believing it, to be honest, but I can´t waste time worrying about that. There´s so much work to do! Since Friday, my companion's been sick with a throat infection, and we haven´t actually worked since then. He´s good now; he took some injections yesterday and today and it´s getting cleared up.
I had my first baptismal interviews, too, and even though I was freaking out a little, it all worked out. They were baptized! And our district has a bunch of people that are working towards baptism, also! It´s pretty crazy being a district leader, but I´m doing all that I can. So far, so good!
The lady that lives in front of our house is about the most gourmet that we get, and she´s really good, but I do miss all of the nice restaurants in the US. There´s a neighborhood in Curitiba called Batel, and there´s supposed to be really great places there. I think it´s a Sister´s area, though, so I doubt I´ll be headed there anytime soon.
But I was thinking, what are your plans for when I come back? Were you planning to come down and get me, or what were you thinking? I guess now might be a little early, but I´d been thinking about it because a lot of people´s parents do that. What were your plans? Maybe we could head over there! Today will be our first day of work this week, and I´m so excited! I just want to get back out there!
I love you mom, and just think: in less than 12 months, I´ll be back! I don´t want to think about it yet, but I guess that´s the way it goes.
Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 9:27 AM
Hey Dad!
We´re at a year! Can you believe it? I definitely can´t! It isn´t that exciting, but it´s so weird to think that in so little time my mission will be over. Every second that passes is one that I´ve given to the Lord, and I´m trying to make sure that every one is acceptable to Him. With all of my responsiblities, it´s been a little crazy, especially because my companion´s been sick since Friday, but I´m going all out for the rest of my time here. We only get one mission, so I´ve gotta use it! I think he had a bacterial infection, but if I was going to get it, I would have already I think. Either way, I´d have to be dead to stay at home; if my legs were broken, I´d find a wheelchair and head on out!
This cold´s crazy! One day it´s super hot, one day it´s rainy, the other´s got ridiculously cold wind. The weather´s just like home, really; it´s kinda strange. I´m kinda hoping I get sent back out to the interior, though; I really miss it. It takes longer for packages to get there, but that´s OK.
I´ve learned so much about patience in the last year, and most of what I learned is that you can never have enough. Whether it´s with companions, investigators, members, the more patience you have, the more time you have to love them. I´ve developed so much love for people in general, and especially for the Brasilian people, that I don´t even want to imagine the day that I leave here. It´s a long ways off, but hitting a milestone like this gets you thinking. No matter what, though, I´m going to give it my all. I can sleep later, now there´s so much to do!
That´s what´s really changed about being district leader: less sleep. I have to call every night for my district and the Zone Leaders, so that takes some time, but so far it´s going well. I had my first interviews this weekend; I was freaking out inside, but it was really fun! And they all passed! Things are going super great here, and I´m glad they´re going so well there, too. Keep me posted!
I love you Dad! Have a great week!!!! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Fifty One
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 10:41 AM
Hi Mom!
I can´t believe it either, honestly. Next Thursday is officially one year since the date on my call, and it seems like yesterday that I was in the CTM, in Prudentópolis, Ponta Grossa, and everywhere else. I´ve met so many people, learned so much, and now have the opportunity to learn even more. This Friday, we have a Seventy coming to speak to us, and I´m positive that it´s going to completely change my mission. I´m so dedicated to making every moment count, especially because I only have until the 24th of July of next year to be a missionary! That seems like so little time now, and it´s like sand slipping through my fingers. I tell Elder Serrano all the time that you have to take advantage of every minute, because you won´t get it back. I´m totally dedicated to making this mission acceptable to the Lord, and I´m doing all I can to help others come unto Christ.
We had a baptism and confirmation this weekend, but I didn´t bring my camera to the LAN house today! It was so cool; we´d been teaching him for about three weeks and he felt like he might not be ready, but he came up to us on Thursday and said that he wanted to be baptized! It was awesome, until we got to his house on Friday to do the interview. His mom said she wouldn´t let him get baptized, but I said a prayer and the Lord put the words in my mouth to help her see how important it was that her son be baptized. And she let him! I have a stronger testimony than ever, because I know that those weren´t my words coming out of my mouth, and it wasn´t what I did that convinced her. It was all the Spirit, and that´s real. I love being a missionary, and am happy and sad at the same time that I´m almost halfway done. But this side of the mission´s going to be all miracles!
I love you mom! Love you!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Date: July 27, 2011 11:07:13 AM PDT
Hey Dad!
It´s crazy huh? I can´t believe that we´re already at the one year mark! I was at lunch yesterday and looked at a calendar and it totally freaked me out. Now I have less than 365 days until my mission´s over! I´ll be headed back on the 24th of July of 2012, which was last Sunday.
Now, it really hit me how precious this time is. Every moment we have to talk to people on the street, in their houses, on the bus, I´ll take. This work´s gotta get going somehow, and I´m going to be the one to do it. Our area has a lot of potential, and my companion´s got a lot of desire, so we´re going to make miracles happen. Some of the goals he´s set are slightly less than realistic, but we´ll work on it. Other than that, though, things are going great. We baptized last weekend! It was awesome, because his brother´s a recent convert, and he got to baptize him. It was so special to be a part of bringing someone to Christ, and we´re working with the rest of his family to see what we can do. His sister comes to church every Sunday, but her mom doesn´t think that she´s ready yet. I´m going to talk to her soon and see what we can do.
Being a leader is really strange, because you have to worry about areas that aren´t your own along with yours, but I´m doing my best. My district was originally the zone leaders and an area in another city, but now it´s the only Sisters in our zone and another companionship about 45 minutes away by bus. And they´re all Brasilian. But it´ll be super interesting, because I have my first baptismal interviews this weekend! It´s going to be a little nerve racking, but I know I can do it. If not, the Spirit will bail me out.
I´m glad Papa´s service went well and that all´s well at home, and hope the vacation gives mom the rest she needs. I know that it´s hard, but I also know that the Lord is mindful of each of us. We can´t ever think He´s forgotten, because we´re failing to see the big picture. I know that God loves us and that this is His Church. And I´ll tell that to whoever wants to hear.
Love you Dad, and have a great week!Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
I can´t believe it either, honestly. Next Thursday is officially one year since the date on my call, and it seems like yesterday that I was in the CTM, in Prudentópolis, Ponta Grossa, and everywhere else. I´ve met so many people, learned so much, and now have the opportunity to learn even more. This Friday, we have a Seventy coming to speak to us, and I´m positive that it´s going to completely change my mission. I´m so dedicated to making every moment count, especially because I only have until the 24th of July of next year to be a missionary! That seems like so little time now, and it´s like sand slipping through my fingers. I tell Elder Serrano all the time that you have to take advantage of every minute, because you won´t get it back. I´m totally dedicated to making this mission acceptable to the Lord, and I´m doing all I can to help others come unto Christ.
We had a baptism and confirmation this weekend, but I didn´t bring my camera to the LAN house today! It was so cool; we´d been teaching him for about three weeks and he felt like he might not be ready, but he came up to us on Thursday and said that he wanted to be baptized! It was awesome, until we got to his house on Friday to do the interview. His mom said she wouldn´t let him get baptized, but I said a prayer and the Lord put the words in my mouth to help her see how important it was that her son be baptized. And she let him! I have a stronger testimony than ever, because I know that those weren´t my words coming out of my mouth, and it wasn´t what I did that convinced her. It was all the Spirit, and that´s real. I love being a missionary, and am happy and sad at the same time that I´m almost halfway done. But this side of the mission´s going to be all miracles!
I love you mom! Love you!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Date: July 27, 2011 11:07:13 AM PDT
Hey Dad!
It´s crazy huh? I can´t believe that we´re already at the one year mark! I was at lunch yesterday and looked at a calendar and it totally freaked me out. Now I have less than 365 days until my mission´s over! I´ll be headed back on the 24th of July of 2012, which was last Sunday.
Now, it really hit me how precious this time is. Every moment we have to talk to people on the street, in their houses, on the bus, I´ll take. This work´s gotta get going somehow, and I´m going to be the one to do it. Our area has a lot of potential, and my companion´s got a lot of desire, so we´re going to make miracles happen. Some of the goals he´s set are slightly less than realistic, but we´ll work on it. Other than that, though, things are going great. We baptized last weekend! It was awesome, because his brother´s a recent convert, and he got to baptize him. It was so special to be a part of bringing someone to Christ, and we´re working with the rest of his family to see what we can do. His sister comes to church every Sunday, but her mom doesn´t think that she´s ready yet. I´m going to talk to her soon and see what we can do.
Being a leader is really strange, because you have to worry about areas that aren´t your own along with yours, but I´m doing my best. My district was originally the zone leaders and an area in another city, but now it´s the only Sisters in our zone and another companionship about 45 minutes away by bus. And they´re all Brasilian. But it´ll be super interesting, because I have my first baptismal interviews this weekend! It´s going to be a little nerve racking, but I know I can do it. If not, the Spirit will bail me out.
I´m glad Papa´s service went well and that all´s well at home, and hope the vacation gives mom the rest she needs. I know that it´s hard, but I also know that the Lord is mindful of each of us. We can´t ever think He´s forgotten, because we´re failing to see the big picture. I know that God loves us and that this is His Church. And I´ll tell that to whoever wants to hear.
Love you Dad, and have a great week!Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Fifty - New Companion
Sent: Wed 7/20/2011 10:16 AM
Hi Mom!
Yeah, sorry I didn´t tell you that I was actually training; I decided I wouldn´t say anything if I got a calling because that´s not why I´m here. But funny you should mention that Elder, I saw him yesterday when I went to pick up the second companion I´m training. He´s from Cuba but he grew up in Florida, so he speaks English and Spanish fluently. Crazy huh? So I´m not sure which Elder they´re talking about as far as that training letter goes, but yeah, pretty nuts, huh? Never thought I´d train, much less twice, and much much much less twice one right after the other! But I´m still here in Curitiba, in Jardim Mercúrio and everything.
We´ve got a few people we´re working with to get ready for baptism, and we´ll be finding a bunch of new people, too; it´s going to be really great.
I got called to be district leader this transfer, too. I´m just a little overwhelmed with everything, but hopefully it doesn´t end up being too much to handle. I´m gonna have to pray a lot. Yeah so now I can interview people for baptism and all that kind of stuff, which kinda terrifies me, but we´ll see how it goes.
Don´t worry about me either, Mom; I know that Papa´s in a place where he can learn what he needs to know. I was more worried about how you guys are, and hope that all´s well. If I can do anything from over here, let me know. President Cordon is awesome, he really loves and cares about each one of us. Even though he wasn´t able to come and tell me in person, he let me know in his phone call that he was praying for me, and I know that is a big part of what helped.
I love you mom, and I´m glad that all´s well. Have a great week! Love you!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 10:25 AM
Hey Dad!
I decided at the beginning of the mission that I wouldn´t tell you guys if I got called to be anything because I didn´t feel that it was important what calling I have on the mission. All missionaries have an important work to do, and we all are equally important, so I figured it wouldn´t make a difference. It´s funny, though, because I´m actually training again: and my new companion, is my second trainee. I´m not sure what was going through his head when President Cordon gave me another greenie to train, but I´ll do everything I can to make his experience the best one I can. I hope I did that for the first Elder, too.
But I´m not too upset by Papa´s passing, because I know that now he can accept the gospel and receive his own salvation.
I make one year this transfer, and my trainer goes home at the end of this one, too. I can´t believe that! I saw him this morning when we dropped an Elder off at transfers, and it was crazy to think about how long it´s been since we were companions. I feel so old as a missionary! But it´s great, because I can see how I´ve grown. And now, training again, I know that I`ll grow even more and grow even closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Things are going to be great!
I love you Dad, and hope work doesn´t get too crazy. Let me know what I can do to help, Ok? Love you!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
Yeah, sorry I didn´t tell you that I was actually training; I decided I wouldn´t say anything if I got a calling because that´s not why I´m here. But funny you should mention that Elder, I saw him yesterday when I went to pick up the second companion I´m training. He´s from Cuba but he grew up in Florida, so he speaks English and Spanish fluently. Crazy huh? So I´m not sure which Elder they´re talking about as far as that training letter goes, but yeah, pretty nuts, huh? Never thought I´d train, much less twice, and much much much less twice one right after the other! But I´m still here in Curitiba, in Jardim Mercúrio and everything.
We´ve got a few people we´re working with to get ready for baptism, and we´ll be finding a bunch of new people, too; it´s going to be really great.
I got called to be district leader this transfer, too. I´m just a little overwhelmed with everything, but hopefully it doesn´t end up being too much to handle. I´m gonna have to pray a lot. Yeah so now I can interview people for baptism and all that kind of stuff, which kinda terrifies me, but we´ll see how it goes.
Don´t worry about me either, Mom; I know that Papa´s in a place where he can learn what he needs to know. I was more worried about how you guys are, and hope that all´s well. If I can do anything from over here, let me know. President Cordon is awesome, he really loves and cares about each one of us. Even though he wasn´t able to come and tell me in person, he let me know in his phone call that he was praying for me, and I know that is a big part of what helped.
I love you mom, and I´m glad that all´s well. Have a great week! Love you!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 10:25 AM
Hey Dad!
I decided at the beginning of the mission that I wouldn´t tell you guys if I got called to be anything because I didn´t feel that it was important what calling I have on the mission. All missionaries have an important work to do, and we all are equally important, so I figured it wouldn´t make a difference. It´s funny, though, because I´m actually training again: and my new companion, is my second trainee. I´m not sure what was going through his head when President Cordon gave me another greenie to train, but I´ll do everything I can to make his experience the best one I can. I hope I did that for the first Elder, too.
But I´m not too upset by Papa´s passing, because I know that now he can accept the gospel and receive his own salvation.
I make one year this transfer, and my trainer goes home at the end of this one, too. I can´t believe that! I saw him this morning when we dropped an Elder off at transfers, and it was crazy to think about how long it´s been since we were companions. I feel so old as a missionary! But it´s great, because I can see how I´ve grown. And now, training again, I know that I`ll grow even more and grow even closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Things are going to be great!
I love you Dad, and hope work doesn´t get too crazy. Let me know what I can do to help, Ok? Love you!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Nine
Sent: Wed 7/13/2011 10:02 AM
Hi Mom!
This is the last P-day of the transfer, and I´ve got no idea what´s going to happen, as usual. But either way, I´ll keep going as if nothing´s going to happen. It makes things a whole lot easier, because worrying about something you can´t control is really tiring. Everything´s going well with the work, we just need to find more people to teach so we can get them to church. We´ve got some really great families and found some people with potential at the beginning of the week, and I´m excited to see how it goes.
Things have actually heated up; I´m sweating! But they say that it´s normal in a dry winter. I´m not sure what they mean by dry, because it´s supposed to rain next week, but weather in Curitiba is ridiculous. I just keep a sweater on me at all times, just in case. I should probably do the same with my umbrella, but it´s really big. Next time I´ll get a smaller one.
Tomorrow marks one year since I went to the temple, and I keep thinking about how much has changed in that time. It totally blows my mind to think that I´ve come from where I have to where I am now. It´s so great to see that the mission really is blessing not only me, but you guys. And I know that as you continue to do all you can, magnifying your calling and keeping all of God´s commandments (even the little, seemingly annoying ones), He´ll keep blessing us.
I love you and miss you! have a good week!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Date: July 13, 2011 10:34:10 AM PDT
Hey Dad!
I´m glad things are still going well at work and you get a break. I´m sure it´s nice to get to relax a bit, but it won´t be long before the next project is.
The coat´s keeping me warm, but for now I don´t really need it; the last days have gotten up to 28 degrees! Celsius of course, which is I don´t know how hot in Farenheit, but either way, I started to sweat. There´s kind of a rule on the mission, and in the world I think: the hotter the climate, the warmer the people. When it´s cold here, it´s tough to get people to stop and talk to you, and it´s hard to get them to let you into their house. But either way, we´ll keep working. I´ve only got about 56 weeks left to do this, after all! I can´t really believe it´s been that long, and it makes me want to work harder every day.
I´m so glad that you guys have been able to see some of the blessings that come from the mission, like I have. I know that Nick will be a great missionary and will bring even more happiness and peace into your lives as he serves. I truly know now that this Gospel is true, and that it saves people, and not just the people that want to be saved; at times it takes those people who think they don´t need it and transforms them into powerful instruments in the Lord´s hands. It´s been great so far, but there´s only more miracles to come, I´m sure of that! Love you Dad, Have a great week!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
This is the last P-day of the transfer, and I´ve got no idea what´s going to happen, as usual. But either way, I´ll keep going as if nothing´s going to happen. It makes things a whole lot easier, because worrying about something you can´t control is really tiring. Everything´s going well with the work, we just need to find more people to teach so we can get them to church. We´ve got some really great families and found some people with potential at the beginning of the week, and I´m excited to see how it goes.
Things have actually heated up; I´m sweating! But they say that it´s normal in a dry winter. I´m not sure what they mean by dry, because it´s supposed to rain next week, but weather in Curitiba is ridiculous. I just keep a sweater on me at all times, just in case. I should probably do the same with my umbrella, but it´s really big. Next time I´ll get a smaller one.
Tomorrow marks one year since I went to the temple, and I keep thinking about how much has changed in that time. It totally blows my mind to think that I´ve come from where I have to where I am now. It´s so great to see that the mission really is blessing not only me, but you guys. And I know that as you continue to do all you can, magnifying your calling and keeping all of God´s commandments (even the little, seemingly annoying ones), He´ll keep blessing us.
I love you and miss you! have a good week!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Date: July 13, 2011 10:34:10 AM PDT
Hey Dad!
I´m glad things are still going well at work and you get a break. I´m sure it´s nice to get to relax a bit, but it won´t be long before the next project is.
The coat´s keeping me warm, but for now I don´t really need it; the last days have gotten up to 28 degrees! Celsius of course, which is I don´t know how hot in Farenheit, but either way, I started to sweat. There´s kind of a rule on the mission, and in the world I think: the hotter the climate, the warmer the people. When it´s cold here, it´s tough to get people to stop and talk to you, and it´s hard to get them to let you into their house. But either way, we´ll keep working. I´ve only got about 56 weeks left to do this, after all! I can´t really believe it´s been that long, and it makes me want to work harder every day.
I´m so glad that you guys have been able to see some of the blessings that come from the mission, like I have. I know that Nick will be a great missionary and will bring even more happiness and peace into your lives as he serves. I truly know now that this Gospel is true, and that it saves people, and not just the people that want to be saved; at times it takes those people who think they don´t need it and transforms them into powerful instruments in the Lord´s hands. It´s been great so far, but there´s only more miracles to come, I´m sure of that! Love you Dad, Have a great week!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Eight
Sent: Wed 7/6/2011 12:27 PM
Hi Mom!
How´s everything? This week was cold and rainy, but now it´s just cold so it´s not too big of an issue. I got the coat that I found and it all ended up Ok, so no worries about that. I´ve got what I need now for sure, so you won´t have to worry about me for a little while, at least.
Any big news? Here, we´re still working to get people married but are concentrating on finding new people. I had an interview with my mission president today, and I asked him how I could love the people the way that Jesus loves them, and he asked me if I loved them enough to call them to repentance. I never really thought about it that way before, but now I understand. When Christ cast the people out of the temple, or when he called them hypocrites or anything like that, He did it because He loved them too much to let them die in their sins. I understand that now because I have that same desire, but never thought that it was because of this that I needed to call them to repentance. But now, out of love, I´m going to call everyone to repentance, so that they might be able to partake in the blessings of the Restored Gospel with their families. It really helped me to understand my purpose as a missionary, and the way I can really help.
What´s next on the agenda? I can´t believe school´s already starting next month! And I´ve been out 11 months! It´s going so fast, and I keep thinking about how precious the time is. But you can be sure I´ll use every minute!
I love you Mom, Have a great week!!!!!! Love you!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 12:32 PM
Hi Dad!
I´m good; it´s cold but I got what I needed and am all set. I think we´ll head downtown next week to get my companion something, though; all he´s got´s a sweater and I´m sure he gets cold. But we´re doing really well, and if we stay together for another transfer, we´re definitely going to do some great things in the ward. It was a pretty uneventful 4th of July for us; yesterday we bought a pepperoni pizza, which is about as american as you get down here. But it was fun, and the manager´s a less-active member that we´re trying to help. He´s doing well and really likes us, so I hope he can get back on track.
Anything going on besides baseball? It sounds like mom´s having a blast as always. But then again, what´s a summer in the Dohrman house without baseball? I think that´ll be weird. We´ll see when that comes, I guess.
We´re still working to get some people married, but now we´re going to press more. I think people don´t understand the importance enough, so we´re going to work on that and really get these people thinking about their lives. It´s been going well overall though, and it´ll only get better for sure. I love you Dad, and hope you have a great week!!!!! Drive safe!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
How´s everything? This week was cold and rainy, but now it´s just cold so it´s not too big of an issue. I got the coat that I found and it all ended up Ok, so no worries about that. I´ve got what I need now for sure, so you won´t have to worry about me for a little while, at least.
Any big news? Here, we´re still working to get people married but are concentrating on finding new people. I had an interview with my mission president today, and I asked him how I could love the people the way that Jesus loves them, and he asked me if I loved them enough to call them to repentance. I never really thought about it that way before, but now I understand. When Christ cast the people out of the temple, or when he called them hypocrites or anything like that, He did it because He loved them too much to let them die in their sins. I understand that now because I have that same desire, but never thought that it was because of this that I needed to call them to repentance. But now, out of love, I´m going to call everyone to repentance, so that they might be able to partake in the blessings of the Restored Gospel with their families. It really helped me to understand my purpose as a missionary, and the way I can really help.
What´s next on the agenda? I can´t believe school´s already starting next month! And I´ve been out 11 months! It´s going so fast, and I keep thinking about how precious the time is. But you can be sure I´ll use every minute!
I love you Mom, Have a great week!!!!!! Love you!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 12:32 PM
Hi Dad!
I´m good; it´s cold but I got what I needed and am all set. I think we´ll head downtown next week to get my companion something, though; all he´s got´s a sweater and I´m sure he gets cold. But we´re doing really well, and if we stay together for another transfer, we´re definitely going to do some great things in the ward. It was a pretty uneventful 4th of July for us; yesterday we bought a pepperoni pizza, which is about as american as you get down here. But it was fun, and the manager´s a less-active member that we´re trying to help. He´s doing well and really likes us, so I hope he can get back on track.
Anything going on besides baseball? It sounds like mom´s having a blast as always. But then again, what´s a summer in the Dohrman house without baseball? I think that´ll be weird. We´ll see when that comes, I guess.
We´re still working to get some people married, but now we´re going to press more. I think people don´t understand the importance enough, so we´re going to work on that and really get these people thinking about their lives. It´s been going well overall though, and it´ll only get better for sure. I love you Dad, and hope you have a great week!!!!! Drive safe!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Seven
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 8:48 AM
Hi Mom!
I love the story of Ammon and Aaron, they really helped me out in the beginning of the mission. One of the things you can learn is that it won´t be easy, but it´s worth every moment. THey had to suffer for years before they were able to accomplish what they were hoping to: that maybe one person would accept the gospel. Alma 26 is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon.
I got my package!! Thanks for the deodorant, I forgot to mention that I needed some and it came just in time! All the candy made it safe and sound, and the solution too. THanks so much!!! I´m not really needing materials now, but I am trying to buy a coat. It got to be like -2 degrees Celsius this week, which was the coldest day of the year! I was actually shivering, it reminded me of home, haha. It´s weird to think that it´s hot there with the way it is here. Everyone´s freaking out because there was frost on the ground, which is apparently rare here, haha.
But how are you? Thanks We´re doing really well, and last week I sang at ward conference. It was fun, but I was shaking; it´d been so long since I performed that my poise was off, but it still worked out. One member who´s been teaching me to cook said she cried, which made me feel good. We had a temple sealer as a speaker, and it was great to hear the testimony that they have of the temple. It really is a blessing to have one so close. I hope that you guys get a chance to go soon!
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 8:54 AM
Hi Dad!
I did play at the Fourth of July breakfast last year, and the three years before that too, I think. Weird to think that Dan and Danese won´t be cooking and I won´t be there. Weird. But I´m good, and working hard.
Too bad you aren´t too busy this week, but I´m sure some rest will be nice. How´s work going? I hope there´s still orders coming in. We´ve got plenty of work here, and I´m proud to say it pays better too. But i´m doing well, and I got the package today! It was just what I needed, and I know some people who´ll like it too.
There´s not peanut butter, but Brasilians are pretty proud of their pizza, so no worries there. We don´t get it that often, because it´s kinda expensive, but there are lots of cheap things that are tasty. Lots of fried food, so that´s basically a guarantee that it´ll be delicious. I´m having tons of fun, and really am changing for the better. I´m so much more driven to accomplish goals, and I´m doing everything I can to reach ours. We work to the last minute every day, and it really is gratifying to know that we are doing all we can.
Sunday, we blessed a girl from the ward who had a lung infection, and she was vomiting blood and stuff. It was super bad, and the next day it seemed like she hadn´t gotten better. I felt bad because I was the one who´d given the blessing, but the next day we found out that the infection had completely left, and she was getting better! Of course she was taking medicine, but I was still grateful that I´d been able to be an instrument in the Lord´s hands. I´m so glad I have this gospel in my life, and I´ll keep sharing it with everyone. I love you dad, and hope you have a great week!! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
I love the story of Ammon and Aaron, they really helped me out in the beginning of the mission. One of the things you can learn is that it won´t be easy, but it´s worth every moment. THey had to suffer for years before they were able to accomplish what they were hoping to: that maybe one person would accept the gospel. Alma 26 is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon.
I got my package!! Thanks for the deodorant, I forgot to mention that I needed some and it came just in time! All the candy made it safe and sound, and the solution too. THanks so much!!! I´m not really needing materials now, but I am trying to buy a coat. It got to be like -2 degrees Celsius this week, which was the coldest day of the year! I was actually shivering, it reminded me of home, haha. It´s weird to think that it´s hot there with the way it is here. Everyone´s freaking out because there was frost on the ground, which is apparently rare here, haha.
But how are you? Thanks We´re doing really well, and last week I sang at ward conference. It was fun, but I was shaking; it´d been so long since I performed that my poise was off, but it still worked out. One member who´s been teaching me to cook said she cried, which made me feel good. We had a temple sealer as a speaker, and it was great to hear the testimony that they have of the temple. It really is a blessing to have one so close. I hope that you guys get a chance to go soon!
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 8:54 AM
Hi Dad!
I did play at the Fourth of July breakfast last year, and the three years before that too, I think. Weird to think that Dan and Danese won´t be cooking and I won´t be there. Weird. But I´m good, and working hard.
Too bad you aren´t too busy this week, but I´m sure some rest will be nice. How´s work going? I hope there´s still orders coming in. We´ve got plenty of work here, and I´m proud to say it pays better too. But i´m doing well, and I got the package today! It was just what I needed, and I know some people who´ll like it too.
There´s not peanut butter, but Brasilians are pretty proud of their pizza, so no worries there. We don´t get it that often, because it´s kinda expensive, but there are lots of cheap things that are tasty. Lots of fried food, so that´s basically a guarantee that it´ll be delicious. I´m having tons of fun, and really am changing for the better. I´m so much more driven to accomplish goals, and I´m doing everything I can to reach ours. We work to the last minute every day, and it really is gratifying to know that we are doing all we can.
Sunday, we blessed a girl from the ward who had a lung infection, and she was vomiting blood and stuff. It was super bad, and the next day it seemed like she hadn´t gotten better. I felt bad because I was the one who´d given the blessing, but the next day we found out that the infection had completely left, and she was getting better! Of course she was taking medicine, but I was still grateful that I´d been able to be an instrument in the Lord´s hands. I´m so glad I have this gospel in my life, and I´ll keep sharing it with everyone. I love you dad, and hope you have a great week!! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Six
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:32 AM
Hi Mom!
I know a few of those elders! Elder Christensen is in my zone, and Elder Sudduth was companion of a few of my companions. This world is getting too small. What´s the girl´s last name? Tarumã is a Sister´s ward, but they might know them. I still haven´t gotten the package, but I´ll get it soon, no worries. But I´m doing really well, we´re working really hard and everything´s been going great so far. We´re working to find new people, and it´s not the easiest, but I know that we´ll be blessed for our hard work.
We have a ton of part member families too, and we´re working to reactivate a few. One´s going really well; they´re going to get married soon so she can get baptized! But each time we promise to serve the Lord He gives us challenges, but also a way to rise to them. I know that you´re doing great and that you´ll keep growing as the time passes.
It sounds like you´re working hard in your calling too! It´s cool that you´re getting creative, and awesome how the Lord gives us inspiration when we´re working to serve him. I´ve been able to converse with people so naturally lately, and I realized that I never ever liked doing that before the mission, and never thought it would be a strong point of mine, but the people we´re talking to say that I have an aptitude to talk to people. It just goes to show how God can make anything happen if he wants too. I actually like talking to people. Weird, huh? But it´s all great here, and I learn something every day.
Love you Mom!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:42 AM
Hey Dad!
I´m great, and as far as allergies go, nothing more than a stuffy nose because of the cold. But I think this winter´s going to be pretty mild; yesterday was supposed to be the start and it was the hottest day of the transfer!
Things here are good as always, and we´re working super hard to get people ready for baptism. We´re still getting references, and the members are doing a bunch of activities at the chapel, which is nice.
What have you been up to? I´m getting close to 11 months on the mission! I don´t think about it often, but it seems like someone mentions it every week, and I realize how fast the time keeps moving. But it really is great to be here and I´m learning a lot.
The temple president was at Sacrament meeting, and it was awesome to hear him testify of the temple, because attendance in Curitiba is unfortunately low. But it´ll get better, I´m sure of it. We´re working to get as many people there as possible.
How have you guys been? Lots of work still? I bet Corynn´s entering the MTC now, and that´s so crazy to me!!!! She´ll get home four months after me, so I´ll be back in time for her homecoming talk. We just need to remember that the work of the Lord will go forward no matter what, and that He will bless those who give their all to serve Him. I can definitely feel it!
Love you Dad, and have a great week! Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
I know a few of those elders! Elder Christensen is in my zone, and Elder Sudduth was companion of a few of my companions. This world is getting too small. What´s the girl´s last name? Tarumã is a Sister´s ward, but they might know them. I still haven´t gotten the package, but I´ll get it soon, no worries. But I´m doing really well, we´re working really hard and everything´s been going great so far. We´re working to find new people, and it´s not the easiest, but I know that we´ll be blessed for our hard work.
We have a ton of part member families too, and we´re working to reactivate a few. One´s going really well; they´re going to get married soon so she can get baptized! But each time we promise to serve the Lord He gives us challenges, but also a way to rise to them. I know that you´re doing great and that you´ll keep growing as the time passes.
It sounds like you´re working hard in your calling too! It´s cool that you´re getting creative, and awesome how the Lord gives us inspiration when we´re working to serve him. I´ve been able to converse with people so naturally lately, and I realized that I never ever liked doing that before the mission, and never thought it would be a strong point of mine, but the people we´re talking to say that I have an aptitude to talk to people. It just goes to show how God can make anything happen if he wants too. I actually like talking to people. Weird, huh? But it´s all great here, and I learn something every day.
Love you Mom!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:42 AM
Hey Dad!
I´m great, and as far as allergies go, nothing more than a stuffy nose because of the cold. But I think this winter´s going to be pretty mild; yesterday was supposed to be the start and it was the hottest day of the transfer!
Things here are good as always, and we´re working super hard to get people ready for baptism. We´re still getting references, and the members are doing a bunch of activities at the chapel, which is nice.
What have you been up to? I´m getting close to 11 months on the mission! I don´t think about it often, but it seems like someone mentions it every week, and I realize how fast the time keeps moving. But it really is great to be here and I´m learning a lot.
The temple president was at Sacrament meeting, and it was awesome to hear him testify of the temple, because attendance in Curitiba is unfortunately low. But it´ll get better, I´m sure of it. We´re working to get as many people there as possible.
How have you guys been? Lots of work still? I bet Corynn´s entering the MTC now, and that´s so crazy to me!!!! She´ll get home four months after me, so I´ll be back in time for her homecoming talk. We just need to remember that the work of the Lord will go forward no matter what, and that He will bless those who give their all to serve Him. I can definitely feel it!
Love you Dad, and have a great week! Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Five
Sent: Wed 6/15/2011 11:52 AM
Hi Mom!
Everything´s good! We´re working really hard, and even though there were some problems with some people´s parents not letting them get baptized, we´re still going well. We´re helping quite a few people get married and stuff, and it´s gonna take some time, but it´ll be well worth it.
I learn something new every day, and I know that it´s going to pay off if we continue to be diligent. How are you guys doing? Thanks for doing that for Elder De Jesus, I really appreciate it.
I haven´t received the package yet, but I´m sure it´ll be here soon so I´m not worried. They check it once a week or so, so it´ll be much faster.
I´ve got another recipe for you too! Sonhos- they´re super good, even if they are fried :) They´re really good, sonhos, and there are cars that drive around town selling them. They´re super annoying because they have speakers that play the same recording over and over, but when we´re hungry it´s nice. They´re only 1 real! It´s easier to think in dollars; one dollar is about 1 real and 65 centavos, so it´s not super cheap but it does make buying stuff easier. It´s crazy that they actually make money, but I guess it´s like the ice cream man, right?
Love you!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 12:07 PM
Hi Dad!
I´m glad all´s still going well with work and that you guys are good. We´re doing really well here, and we´re teaching some really great families. They only need to get married to be baptized, but here marriage takes like a month, so we´ve gotta be patient. But it´s all going to work out, so I´m not worried.
Everything´s good with Elder Palmer, but it´s kinda weird to think that I´m coming up on a year. The Sisters that arrived with me will be going home in March! I can´t believe that. But I don´t think about it much, because we´re so busy teaching people. It´s really great to get to the end of the day after doing everything you can to help people. The other day, it rained SUPER hard, and we ran to a store with tiny umbrellas to buy bigger ones. There was a guy who was getting ready to sprint across the street to get to another dry place, and after buying mine I gave him my extra. He was so grateful, and I realized how much just doing good is a part of missionary work. We didn´t get to teach him, but he´ll remember that missionaries are good people and when we knock his door, I know he´ll accept us. Now we just have to find him!
I love you dad, and hope all´s going well and you´re not too tired. Have a great week!!!! Love you!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
Everything´s good! We´re working really hard, and even though there were some problems with some people´s parents not letting them get baptized, we´re still going well. We´re helping quite a few people get married and stuff, and it´s gonna take some time, but it´ll be well worth it.
I learn something new every day, and I know that it´s going to pay off if we continue to be diligent. How are you guys doing? Thanks for doing that for Elder De Jesus, I really appreciate it.
I haven´t received the package yet, but I´m sure it´ll be here soon so I´m not worried. They check it once a week or so, so it´ll be much faster.
I´ve got another recipe for you too! Sonhos- they´re super good, even if they are fried :) They´re really good, sonhos, and there are cars that drive around town selling them. They´re super annoying because they have speakers that play the same recording over and over, but when we´re hungry it´s nice. They´re only 1 real! It´s easier to think in dollars; one dollar is about 1 real and 65 centavos, so it´s not super cheap but it does make buying stuff easier. It´s crazy that they actually make money, but I guess it´s like the ice cream man, right?
Love you!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 12:07 PM
Hi Dad!
I´m glad all´s still going well with work and that you guys are good. We´re doing really well here, and we´re teaching some really great families. They only need to get married to be baptized, but here marriage takes like a month, so we´ve gotta be patient. But it´s all going to work out, so I´m not worried.
Everything´s good with Elder Palmer, but it´s kinda weird to think that I´m coming up on a year. The Sisters that arrived with me will be going home in March! I can´t believe that. But I don´t think about it much, because we´re so busy teaching people. It´s really great to get to the end of the day after doing everything you can to help people. The other day, it rained SUPER hard, and we ran to a store with tiny umbrellas to buy bigger ones. There was a guy who was getting ready to sprint across the street to get to another dry place, and after buying mine I gave him my extra. He was so grateful, and I realized how much just doing good is a part of missionary work. We didn´t get to teach him, but he´ll remember that missionaries are good people and when we knock his door, I know he´ll accept us. Now we just have to find him!
I love you dad, and hope all´s going well and you´re not too tired. Have a great week!!!! Love you!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Four
Sent: Wed 6/8/2011 12:28 PM
Hi Mom!
I´m doing great, and things are going really well here, even if it is a little cold. Weird to think about in June, but it´s ok. Cold is like 5 degrees Celsius, but I´m used to the heat down here, so it caught me off guard. Everyone´s catching colds and stuff too, but it´s weird because it´s still sunny. Yesterday it rained a ton, but just that really. I think it´ll get worse though, because winter hasn´t even started yet. But I like the cold better, because you can always put more clothes on!
Oh, and I´m learning how to make bread. It´s super duper easy! I´ll be able to make it at home no problem, and it´s great exercise too. How´s your baking going? I´ll have a recipe for you soon! How are you guys doing?
I´m still in the area like I thought I would be, and we´re having a lot of success as far as teaching people and getting them to come to church. This week, 11 people were at sacrament meeting with us!!! It was so cool to see everyone together, and all of the members are really helping a lot. It really is fun to have all of this support from the ward, and there are so many people we can help.
We found this less active whose wife isn´t baptized, and they´re in a pretty tough situation. The church is helping, and they´re getting ready to get back on their feet. It´s not easy, but I know that the Gospel will help them. We have a bunch of other great people we´re teaching too, and it´s been really cool to see their progress. We´ll keep working hard to bless their lives so that they can return to live with Heavenly Father.
I know this church is true, and I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. That´s all I need to know for now, and it´s keeping me strong, even when things get tough. Hope all´s well, and let me know if I can help out.
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 8, 2011 12:33 PM
Hi Dad!
Our whole zone went to the temple last week, so about 20 missionaries or so, and we had to take an hour bus ride to get there. It was really awesome though, and I love it every time that we get the chance to go. It really is the most sacred place on earth, and you can feel it when you´re there.
But I´m doing great and we´re getting a lot of work, with a lot of people to teach. The members here are super supportive, and that helps to make things a lot easier. We´ve found some part member families that we´re going to help reactivate, and I´m super excited to see how they progress. We don´t have a whole bunch of time today though, because some soccer championship is going on and we have to be home by 8:30. Crazy huh? But we´ve got a lot of work to do and it´s going to be great to see how these people progress.
I´m learning to make bread right now, and I´ll be a pro by the time I get back in a little over a year. Crazy to think about, isn´t it? I´m loving being here though, and I think it´ll be interesting when the end comes, but I´m not thinking about that, I´m just putting my all into the work. And I know I´ll be blessed! Love you Dad!!!!
Love you!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
I´m doing great, and things are going really well here, even if it is a little cold. Weird to think about in June, but it´s ok. Cold is like 5 degrees Celsius, but I´m used to the heat down here, so it caught me off guard. Everyone´s catching colds and stuff too, but it´s weird because it´s still sunny. Yesterday it rained a ton, but just that really. I think it´ll get worse though, because winter hasn´t even started yet. But I like the cold better, because you can always put more clothes on!
Oh, and I´m learning how to make bread. It´s super duper easy! I´ll be able to make it at home no problem, and it´s great exercise too. How´s your baking going? I´ll have a recipe for you soon! How are you guys doing?
I´m still in the area like I thought I would be, and we´re having a lot of success as far as teaching people and getting them to come to church. This week, 11 people were at sacrament meeting with us!!! It was so cool to see everyone together, and all of the members are really helping a lot. It really is fun to have all of this support from the ward, and there are so many people we can help.
We found this less active whose wife isn´t baptized, and they´re in a pretty tough situation. The church is helping, and they´re getting ready to get back on their feet. It´s not easy, but I know that the Gospel will help them. We have a bunch of other great people we´re teaching too, and it´s been really cool to see their progress. We´ll keep working hard to bless their lives so that they can return to live with Heavenly Father.
I know this church is true, and I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. That´s all I need to know for now, and it´s keeping me strong, even when things get tough. Hope all´s well, and let me know if I can help out.
Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 8, 2011 12:33 PM
Hi Dad!
Our whole zone went to the temple last week, so about 20 missionaries or so, and we had to take an hour bus ride to get there. It was really awesome though, and I love it every time that we get the chance to go. It really is the most sacred place on earth, and you can feel it when you´re there.
But I´m doing great and we´re getting a lot of work, with a lot of people to teach. The members here are super supportive, and that helps to make things a lot easier. We´ve found some part member families that we´re going to help reactivate, and I´m super excited to see how they progress. We don´t have a whole bunch of time today though, because some soccer championship is going on and we have to be home by 8:30. Crazy huh? But we´ve got a lot of work to do and it´s going to be great to see how these people progress.
I´m learning to make bread right now, and I´ll be a pro by the time I get back in a little over a year. Crazy to think about, isn´t it? I´m loving being here though, and I think it´ll be interesting when the end comes, but I´m not thinking about that, I´m just putting my all into the work. And I know I´ll be blessed! Love you Dad!!!!
Love you!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Three
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 1:59 PM
Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 2:08 PM
Hi Dad!
It´s getting dark around six, which is weird because we´re headed into winter right when it´d start to get hot there. But it´s gonna be good, and we´ve got a lot of work to do, so I won´t even notice.
Hi Mom!
So today I have no time to talk unfortunately, they let us go to the temple and it´s an hour bus ride there and back, so it ate up all of our P-day time. But it was awesome to get to go there again, and I hope you guys take the time to go soon!
So today I have no time to talk unfortunately, they let us go to the temple and it´s an hour bus ride there and back, so it ate up all of our P-day time. But it was awesome to get to go there again, and I hope you guys take the time to go soon!
We´re working really hard here, and it´s paying off too. The members are helping us out a lot with references and stuff; yesterday a lady pulled onto the sidewalk to give us a reference! And a lot of people have been coming to church lately, too; last week like 25 more people were there than usual. We´re going to use the members a lot more now, and it´s going to give a lot of results, because it´ll give our investigators a sense of familiarity that is essential. But sorry I didn´t have time to talk, next week for sure! It´s transfers but it´s almost impossible that anything´s going to change, so no worries! Love you!!!!!!! Have a great week!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 2:08 PM
Hi Dad!
It´s getting dark around six, which is weird because we´re headed into winter right when it´d start to get hot there. But it´s gonna be good, and we´ve got a lot of work to do, so I won´t even notice.
I don´t have time to talk this week, but I`ll attach some pictures to let you see what we spent the day doing. It was awesome, and I´m grateful for every opportunity we get to do things like that on the mission.
I love being a missionary and I know that there are people here waiting to receive the Restored Gospel. We´re teaching a lot of great people and they´re all getting ready for baptism, and soon they´ll be entering the waters. Each day we learn something new and have the chance to see miracles, which I know is something I´ll only see with this much frequency on the mission. It really has been great so far, and I know it´ll only get better. But I gotta go Dad, I love you and have a great week! Next week we´ll talk for sure!! Love you!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
I love being a missionary and I know that there are people here waiting to receive the Restored Gospel. We´re teaching a lot of great people and they´re all getting ready for baptism, and soon they´ll be entering the waters. Each day we learn something new and have the chance to see miracles, which I know is something I´ll only see with this much frequency on the mission. It really has been great so far, and I know it´ll only get better. But I gotta go Dad, I love you and have a great week! Next week we´ll talk for sure!! Love you!!!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty Two - New Companion
Sent: Wed 5/25/2011 9:50 AM
Hi Mom!
Everyone´s talking about the whirlwinds, sounds pretty crazy! There´s some sort of a holiday for winter coming up I think, but I don´t really pay very much attention.
This last week was nuts: I didn´t end up getting my companion until Thursday, and that made getting everything sorted out a challenge. Now we´re settled in though, and Elder Palmer is a great missionary, so things are going to start picking up steam really quick! He served in the US for a while but just got his visa now. It´s interesting, because he speaks well but is getting used to the way people talk here, and it makes me remember my first weeks on the mission. I feel like I´ve been here a long time, but I´m not even halfway yet! It´s crazy.
We´ve been teaching some really great people and I know we´ll find some more, and the members are actually giving us references! I´ve never had a ward that did that before! I know we´re going to help a lot of people in this area, and I can´t wait to see how these people progress as they learn more about the gospel. I know that this is the true church, and I know that the more we share it with people, the more they´ll want to know and the more we can bless their lives. Here we´re always trying to find new people, and if there´s time we work with part member families and those kinds of situations. We´re trying to work it all at once, but it´s an interesting juggle, at least.
I love you!!!!!! Have a great week!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 9:58 AM
Hey Dad!
I´m good, just getting all settled in with the new companion. His name´s Elder Palmer, and he´s super chill, so we´ll do great, I know it. He´s an American, from St. George Utah.
As far as the weather, it´s cooling down here and it´s actually pretty cold in the morning. How cold, I´m not sure, and I´m sure it´s not actually cold, but I got used to the heat in the summer and it threw me off. But things are going well, and we´re all back and ready to go! I stayed in my area, and I´m still learning it but it´s going OK. At least I haven´t really gotten lost yet! You get a knack for those kind of things.
I had a pretty crazy experience last night: we hadn´t had the best day and we were going to get a reference from a member when some guy came up and started attacking us out of nowhere, saying we were condemning people and that Joseph Smith was the worst of all the false prophets and stuff. I didn´t act in the most mature way possible, and I regret that, but I don´t regret bearing my testimony that these things are true. Even if I can´t cite every scripture I want to, I know that it´s true, and even though I wanted to knock the guy out and yelled at him a little, I realized that that´s how strong my testimony is of all this. It´s true. I know it is. And nobody will take that from me.
Summer ball´s up and running then? Big group this year or no? Let me know how it all goes. Love you Dad!!!!! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
Everyone´s talking about the whirlwinds, sounds pretty crazy! There´s some sort of a holiday for winter coming up I think, but I don´t really pay very much attention.
This last week was nuts: I didn´t end up getting my companion until Thursday, and that made getting everything sorted out a challenge. Now we´re settled in though, and Elder Palmer is a great missionary, so things are going to start picking up steam really quick! He served in the US for a while but just got his visa now. It´s interesting, because he speaks well but is getting used to the way people talk here, and it makes me remember my first weeks on the mission. I feel like I´ve been here a long time, but I´m not even halfway yet! It´s crazy.
We´ve been teaching some really great people and I know we´ll find some more, and the members are actually giving us references! I´ve never had a ward that did that before! I know we´re going to help a lot of people in this area, and I can´t wait to see how these people progress as they learn more about the gospel. I know that this is the true church, and I know that the more we share it with people, the more they´ll want to know and the more we can bless their lives. Here we´re always trying to find new people, and if there´s time we work with part member families and those kinds of situations. We´re trying to work it all at once, but it´s an interesting juggle, at least.
I love you!!!!!! Have a great week!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 9:58 AM
Hey Dad!
I´m good, just getting all settled in with the new companion. His name´s Elder Palmer, and he´s super chill, so we´ll do great, I know it. He´s an American, from St. George Utah.
As far as the weather, it´s cooling down here and it´s actually pretty cold in the morning. How cold, I´m not sure, and I´m sure it´s not actually cold, but I got used to the heat in the summer and it threw me off. But things are going well, and we´re all back and ready to go! I stayed in my area, and I´m still learning it but it´s going OK. At least I haven´t really gotten lost yet! You get a knack for those kind of things.
I had a pretty crazy experience last night: we hadn´t had the best day and we were going to get a reference from a member when some guy came up and started attacking us out of nowhere, saying we were condemning people and that Joseph Smith was the worst of all the false prophets and stuff. I didn´t act in the most mature way possible, and I regret that, but I don´t regret bearing my testimony that these things are true. Even if I can´t cite every scripture I want to, I know that it´s true, and even though I wanted to knock the guy out and yelled at him a little, I realized that that´s how strong my testimony is of all this. It´s true. I know it is. And nobody will take that from me.
Summer ball´s up and running then? Big group this year or no? Let me know how it all goes. Love you Dad!!!!! Love you!!!!!
Love, Eric
Week Forty One
Sent: Wed 5/18/2011 12:09 PM
Hi Mom!
How´re things? I like Bellvue a lot actually, it´s super pretty at least. I´m glad you´re doing well and thanks for the packages, but you might be interested to know that I´m getting a new companion tomorrow. Elder McLaughlin left on Sunday in an emergency transfer, and I have no idea who he is or anything. They´re changing a lot of things around right now because some more Americans got visas. So it should be really interesting, seeing as I´ve been in the area for three weeks.
I´ve been in trio since then with some other Elders and it´s been interesting, at the least. I´m with the Zone Leaders, who are both Americans. It´s been interesting to stay out of my area for so long, and I don´t really like it, to be honest, but there´s not really anything I can do. I know the Lord will make it work though. He has so far, anyway. But I´m excited to see what happens; we´ve got a few great people that we´re teaching and it´s going to be great once I can get back into my area and get stuff sorted out. I found out I´m getting my companion tomorrow at 4:30!
But other than that, I´m doing well. This transfer´s flying by, but now I can be almost positive that I´ll stay with my companion and stay here, so that´s nice. How´s Nick? I´m glad he´s doing well and I´m sure he´ll find more work too. Love you mom!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 12:13 PM
Hey Dad!
I´m good! Things this week have been pretty crazy, because my companion got emergency transferred on Sunday, which pretty much screwed up our weekend, and I still have no idea who my companion´s going to be. We´ll see what happens, though; I have a lot of faith in the Mission President. It´s really great to see all these people inspired by the Lord to make all of these decisions, and I´m really enjoying being a part of this new zone.
Today, a lady walked into the stake center and asked if she can bring her family to church! It was nuts, and even though it wasn´t my area it was so cool to have an experience like that! Things are going really well though and I know we´re going to do great work in the coming weeks. I don´t know everything, but I know somebody who does, and we seem to be on pretty good terms, so we´re going to be fine, I know it.
Well actually we do have ward council but we´re always going to find investigators so our ward mission leader´s there for us with our progress records. It works pretty well, but sometimes they complain that we aren´t there. There´s always little problems though, but we work them out.
How´s everything else going? I´m glad work´s still busy and I´m sure it´s great to have a little break from baseball after the season.
Love you Dad!!!!!
Love, Eric
Hi Mom!
How´re things? I like Bellvue a lot actually, it´s super pretty at least. I´m glad you´re doing well and thanks for the packages, but you might be interested to know that I´m getting a new companion tomorrow. Elder McLaughlin left on Sunday in an emergency transfer, and I have no idea who he is or anything. They´re changing a lot of things around right now because some more Americans got visas. So it should be really interesting, seeing as I´ve been in the area for three weeks.
I´ve been in trio since then with some other Elders and it´s been interesting, at the least. I´m with the Zone Leaders, who are both Americans. It´s been interesting to stay out of my area for so long, and I don´t really like it, to be honest, but there´s not really anything I can do. I know the Lord will make it work though. He has so far, anyway. But I´m excited to see what happens; we´ve got a few great people that we´re teaching and it´s going to be great once I can get back into my area and get stuff sorted out. I found out I´m getting my companion tomorrow at 4:30!
But other than that, I´m doing well. This transfer´s flying by, but now I can be almost positive that I´ll stay with my companion and stay here, so that´s nice. How´s Nick? I´m glad he´s doing well and I´m sure he´ll find more work too. Love you mom!!!!!!
Love, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 12:13 PM
Hey Dad!
I´m good! Things this week have been pretty crazy, because my companion got emergency transferred on Sunday, which pretty much screwed up our weekend, and I still have no idea who my companion´s going to be. We´ll see what happens, though; I have a lot of faith in the Mission President. It´s really great to see all these people inspired by the Lord to make all of these decisions, and I´m really enjoying being a part of this new zone.
Today, a lady walked into the stake center and asked if she can bring her family to church! It was nuts, and even though it wasn´t my area it was so cool to have an experience like that! Things are going really well though and I know we´re going to do great work in the coming weeks. I don´t know everything, but I know somebody who does, and we seem to be on pretty good terms, so we´re going to be fine, I know it.
Well actually we do have ward council but we´re always going to find investigators so our ward mission leader´s there for us with our progress records. It works pretty well, but sometimes they complain that we aren´t there. There´s always little problems though, but we work them out.
How´s everything else going? I´m glad work´s still busy and I´m sure it´s great to have a little break from baseball after the season.
Love you Dad!!!!!
Love, Eric
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