Quaraí Brasil‏

email dated 2-11-08
So we went to Brazil this morning for Pday as a Zone. Us 10 Elders and 2 Hermanas. I finally decided to spend the Christmas money I took out 2 months ago. I bought a Brasil Soccor Jersey for what would be an American 11 dollars and I bought a pretty sweet pair of Brazil sandals for what would be 5 bucks. And then we had all you can eat lunch with dessert for 6 bucks. The jerzey wasn't super cheap, there were cheaper ones, but I didn't want a trucho one that would destroy in the wash the first time. I went wild with my Christmas money and I still have 80 percent of it left. That is one cool thing about South America. But other stuff is more expensive. Cereal costs more, all electronics cost more, milk costs more and is nowhere near as good and it comes in dripping bags, etc... Oh yeah, and Soda costs more than it does in the states. So I drink nothing but bottled water down here. I hate soda anyway. I only have Soda when members offer it to us. Oh yeah!!! I bought a machette for 3 bucks. I don't know how to spell it, but it is pretty amazing. We do service every week cutting grass or tall weeds or something, and those mini-swords come in mighty handy. I was sick of using the dull machettes of the members with bad handles that without fail give you blisters. So I bought my own. I couldn't help but think of Nacho Libre. That was a pretty decently funny movie. All in all I had a fun morning in Brazil. I like how we can just walk to Brazil. On our way back from Brazil this morning as we crossed the Bridge that is the border at the river, we passed the Brazilian missionaries walking back the other way to Brazil from their morning in Artigas Uruguay. It was pretty funny.

I had a really good week this last week. I felt really good, and I am happy to report that my average amount of crunches every morning is up to 500 and my pushups are up to 50. I am in pretty good shape. But that is all the work out time I have is pushups and ab workouts. That is good enough for me. At least I am not getting fat. But I am certainly eating enough. I think my favorite thing to eat is the food of the poor people, rice and black beans. I wish people wouldn't try to impress us when they cook. They buy these really bad knock-off meats because it is all they can afford, and they think they have to feed us meat to impress us. There is no nice way to say I would prefer rice and beans. So we eat gratefully all that we are given. Mom, you would be so proud. Yesterday I had a plate full of rice and onions and tomatoes and nothing else. It had so much onion. I eat anything now. I can eat whatever I want. I will go back home and feel secure saying that I will never be a picky eater again. If nothing else, the mission has helped me to grow up in that aspect. I am good to eat whatever.

Oh yeah, I don't remember if I told you about the alcoholic Ice Cream I ate a few weeks ago. You have to be careful with some ice cream places because they put alcohol in it. There wasn't enough to do anything to us, but when we found out after it was still pretty funny. Now I can say I have had alcohol and I had it on my mission and I did it without breaking the Word of Wisdom because I didn't know. Cool huh?

Not really. Oh well.

I am not really that funny today. I don't know what is wrong with me. But I feel good so that is all that counts.

I feel really good this week. I am doing well, we just committed a family to be baptized that we have been working with, and there are some good prospects. My favorite story from this last week was in a recent convert visit to Rosana and Karen, the mom and daughter Elder Dennis and I baptized last change. They are AMAZING. Rosana felt like she was confessing, but she told us that she had refused missionaries once before years ago. That they came by and she told them she didn't have time and wasn't interested. I told her she shouldn't feel bad and that the Lord was probably working with her all this time preparing her for the day Elder Dennis was going to knock on her door again. She is already facing persecution from some neighbors, and to be honest I didn't know how she would be able to handle it, but she is doing great. She tells them very simply that she believes it and bears her testimony. She doesn't have a ton of knowledge now, but her testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Restored Gospel is enough armory to keep her going. She will continue to progress, and that is what we have been focusing on this week is always progressing. That the plan of God is perfect and that he always asks our best by judging us for who we are. They are amazing. I love them so much. A few months ago they had nothing to do with any church, but their lives are different now and they will be the first to tell you that it is a good change in a better direction in their lives.

The Book of Mormon is true. I have seen people that I thought would never progress or even move, some of the most unmotivated people I have ever met in my life, start doing something and start changing because they started reading the Book of Mormon. It didn't matter which part we gave them, or if it was the people that started from the beginning, there is a power in reading the Book of Mormon that I cannot deny. I have felt it. I have seen it open the hearts of people to a message that they had once viewed as crazy. I have seen it help a mother of 4 kids to begin in her path to quit smoking and trying to go back to the temple, or another mother of 4 kids tambien that is trying to quit smoking, but also wants to go back to school, make something of her life, and never go back to the way she was as she gets away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. The Book of Mormon brings the spirit. It changes lives. I cannot deny the power of that book. I have seen it change me. I hope that when you all see me next you can see that change in me. I feel very different. I can't explain it, but I am different.

Anyway, I am in a rush. Sorry I didn't have more time. I love you all. Take care!! Open the Book of Mormon and read at least a little every day! I love ya!!

Andy