6-8-15
Olá família! Bom dia!
That Warrior Dash seems like fun,
I always thought it'd be interesting to do something like that.
This Saturday, there was a soccer
game that everyone in South America and Europe was watching (And anyone else
who loves soccer) It was the final of the Champions League between Barcelona
and Junventus an Italian team. I only saw a bit because we got in someone's
house and they were watching it but I was rooting for Barcelona because they
have Neymar and Daniel Alves which are both Brasilean and also Messi from
Argentina but Barcelona won! 3 to 1! Neymar did a goal in the 97th minute
seconds before the game ended to make history for something that I don't
remember very well...something like being the first person to make a goal in
the quarterfinals, semifinals and the finals of the champions league. I didn't
care that much about soccer when I came to Brasil but I find that I care more
now.
This week was a good one. We
visited a lot of people and we ate dinner and lunch (on separate days) with
some new investigators that stopped us while we were walking on the street. As
we were approaching I heard them talking about Americans and what not and
looking at me and I started to smile and go to talk with them and we made a lot
of friendship quickly and invited us over for dinner later. I see that they
have a lot of potential, he's a logical man, intelligent, not blinded 100
percent yet by the tricks of man.
I got permission from 2 returned
missionaries to help their mom to stop smoking because in the present moment,
she doesn't want to stop. And she's already old soooo...she'd better stop soon.
The good news is that I have a great way to go about calling people to
repentance. It's harsh when necessary but I like to compare it to Alma 5 or
Mosiah 3 or any other prophet when he calls the people to repentance (is that
who you spell it?...) The RM's can't do what I can do because it's their mom :/
I'm starting to tell people here
that this is my last transfer and a lot of people are surprised (some aren't
that surprised because they researched on facebook when I entered in the MTC
and did the math) I was telling everyone that I had about a year on the mission
because I knew that if I said exactly how much time, people would start to say
"Wow you're almost home!" "2 months? Wow it's almost over!"
Just like the daughter of the bishop did when she found out she started
mouthing in the conference "YOU'RE GOING HOMEEE!" so I stopped
looking at her haha. But it's good because now we're planning my go away party
:) Go away party/birthday party for birthdays of the month/integration
night/June party (a typical party here in Brasil in the month of June) It's
gonna be awesome!!!
So E Zamudio – I’m thinking he’s
a Spanish speaker since he’s from Uruguay. So I guess that means he
learned Portuguese for the mission? Is that very hard for a Spanish
speaker?
Yes that would mean that he
learned portuguese on his mission, he speaks pretty dang well actually, a lot
of hispanics have a lot of problems speaking portuguese because it's so close
to spanish that they speak the right words but with a bad accent. That's the
hard part for spanish speakers, they understand portuguese quickly but it's
difficult to speak right.
Who are you
teaching?
We're teaching a new referral
from the church headquarters, a Pedro Danilo that investigated the church about
2 years ago and was almost baptized but wasn't. His only problem is alcohol but
he wants to be baptized :)
And 2 other cousins
of a family of members that went to church this last week randomly and we're
talking with them and their families and trying to prepare them for baptism as
well.
We've had to cut some
people that weren't progressing :/ which I never like to do but you gotta do
what you gotta do to teach the people that care and want our help.
What made you happy
this week?
What really made me happy this
week was yesterday when we had stake conference and I got to go back to Penha
and see everyone there! Man and it seemed like every other person wanted to
talk with me because I didn't just make friends in Penha and São Mateus but
with lots of people from other wards as well so it really seems like this is my
stake and I feel at home here. I marked some appointments to visit some people
in Penha that really meant a lot to me so that'll be cool too.
What should
returned missionaries do to keep their “eye on the mark”?
Really it's simple,
just continue doing the simple things, read the scriptures, continue to pray,
and try to be more and more like Jesus Christ and to fulfill responsibilities
and do what God would have us do. If you do that, you'll continue heading in
the right direction.
What is a favorite
memory from your birthday celebrations?
I remmmemmmber that
one time that I had a "surprise" 16th birthday party but that
wasn't that much of a surprise because mom left her email open and an email
popped up in the corner of the screen "Garrett's surprise birthday
party" But it was still fun the same :) Fire and smores and fireworks.
You know I don't
remember a lot of birthday party celebrations....when I was younger, my
birthday was always dwarfed by that of James and Rie which I think I've always
been fine with. I don't remember ever having bitter feelings because of that,
I've always been easygoing.
….fav memory from
cousin times??
I remember the great
cousin times on the cruise ship for Gpa and Gma's aniversary of some great
number of years...was it 50?... and we stayed up late at night on the cruise
ship playing around and Jacqueline wanted to stay with us but could hardly keep
her eyes open and I was very young and awkward and Jonathan found a friend in
the library haha good times. Or when everyone was at park city or arizona.
They're always good times.
….fav memory with
grandparents?
It was really nice when they
picked me up at the airport and then we went to J Dawgs and dropped me off at
the MTC, some quality grandparent grandson time.
Well I think that's about it. I
love you guys!
Elder Horton