My 20th Birthday and a Dog Bite!

6-30-14

Hey mom!

Thanks for the letter and the update on you guys. I always like hearing about family and especially my cute little nieces and nephews (Future and present) :)

Will you do anything special today?

Nope, the bishop's wife invited me to her house today when she knew it was my birthday but I had to deny because today is transfers instead of tomorrow and I didn't know how that was gonna work out so my day is pretty normal.

How was your week?

The week was good. We started to work in a new area that I liked because it had a lot of people on the streets, the only downside was that it was at the top of a mountain. But also at the top it had a woman that sold geladinhos which is like ice pops only 10 times better :) only 40 cents!

Did you say transfers were coming up again? It seems like you just had them.

Yeah this transfer was only 5 weeks long. And I'm getting transferred, and so is Elder Orellana so 2 new elders will "open" the area again...I feel bad for them and for the area and for the ward, that kinda sucks but maybe it'll be a good thing. I'll be transferred to Pindamonhongaba 2 (I really want to hear mom try and say the name of that city haha :) ) It's in the same zone and pretty close to Taubaté (my last area) My new companion's name is Elder Rivera and he is form Colombia which will be interesting this Friday with the game between Brazil and Colombia haha. I've already gotten to know him a bit and he's a pretty cool guy, I'm excited to work with him. I'll be district leader there too. I don't really know who's in my district yet but I'll know by tonight I think

So maybe I’m confused.  I know Brazil played in the world cup yesterday (I think…) Not sure if they won or not.

Brazil played against Chile and they tied 1vs1 but at this point in the world cup, they can't tie, so they had another 30 minutes to make a goal but neither time did and then it went to penalties and Brazil won the penalties. Man that was a very tense game for me and every other Brazilian. They came very close to losing. Also, I swear, I've learned more about soccer in this time on my mission than I ever have in my entire life.

I think the US plays again, but not sure when.

They play tomorrow against Belgium I believe

How are things with your companion?

Things are good! But now they're over with him. We ended on a good note. In our 5 weeks together, we never fought, we had some disagreements every now and then but it was always resolved without a problem and without fighting. Yay preparing for marriage life!

Who are you teaching?

I Was teaching Carlos who went to church and has problems with alcohol but if everything goes well he should be baptized this Sunday! We said our goodbyes to him and his family and left a final message of strengthening  

What was the best part of your week?

The games of Brazil, seeing Carlos at church, geladinhos as a reward at the top of the hill, personal study time and finding awesome scriptures that tear down the false beliefs of others :)

What do you like best about turning 20?

I haven't thought a whole lot about my birthday actually. Something interesting: Like I said, the bishop's wife invited me to her house today for my birthday and like I said earlier, I had to deny. I'm kinda weird too...like I don't like attention or parties that are about me but I also love grabbing attention and I love parties. It's really weird. I think it's because I feel like if the attention or party is about me because it's my birthday or something, then I'm like responsible to be excited or happy or super thankful or put on a show or something and it's really weird. And for this reason, I feel like surprises are always the best for me, that way I don't get anxious about it.

How is your district doing?

My Sisters are officially broken haha man it's been hard this week for them. 1 sister had to stay in house for FIVE DAYS without being able to leave. And that kind of crippled the 2 areas because they were both at less than half capacity. And another sister still has pain in her foot but that hasn't hindered her too much and the other sister had some bad headaches this week that Did hinder her. Man I felt bad for them butttt I couldn't do anything.  

What kind of training are you giving them this week?

I....still haven't decided that yet. In the past weeks I've focused a lot on faith and prayer but I don't know what I'll talk about tomorrow with my new district. It's difficult because I don't know them or their areas.

This change of area will be a bit difficult but I'm excited to get to know new members and new people and a new area and I'm happy for the chance it gives me to have a new start, a new beginning. I need a little restart to get a good clean start. It was a bit difficult with Elder Orellana because he was almost "dead" and so sometimes when he got trunky, I got trunky haha but I'm looking forward to the future.

I also heard something interesting that Elder Holland said. He said that if members really understood the word of wisdom that they wouldn’t drink coca cola and that not him or any of the 12 apostles drink coke. That was interesting. I don't know what I'm going to do with this information. Coke is just so good! I think I won't try and drink it but if someone offers it to me and I'm practically obligated (because that's how it is here in Brazil, sometimes you're practically obligated) then yeah I’ll drink it. But otherwise I won't buy it or drink it. 

I was bit by a dog! The last day in this area! I was playing with a dog through a fence because he's funny because every time we pass by he runs in super tiny circles and I thought he just wanted to play right so I've always tried to play with him and pet him and today I was trying again and he bit me! But it's just a flesh wound. I used some Neosporin and a band aid from my handy marvel superhero first aid kit and I'm typing without problems. (I've included photo)

I've also included a picture of me with my district of Sisters :) It was cool to be able to work with them.

Study the scriptures every day for at least 15 minutes!

Pray with faith! (study about prayer with faith in preach my gospel, chapter 4 about the holy ghost)

Elder Horton

The Church is True!

6-23-14

Dear family

I liked hearing about you guys and your stories and how the families doing.

Turkey feta burgers sounds really good haha reminds me of that other salad that I love :) It'll be weird to eat American food again after eating so much rice and beans.

I heard about the USA, Portugal game too. I saw about 30 seconds of it in the beginning while we were on the street. Man, I was sad when I found out that we almost won. Now to advance, we have to tie with or beat Germany...yay! Good luck!

How was your week? 

This week has been a good one. We're working with some cool people but unfortunately no one went to church...we had like 4 people that said that they were firm and like 6 other possibles but no one ended up going which is always a sad moment for a missionary.

We had a cool experience this week, talking with a member of the church. She told us of one time, when she was cooking, hot oil exploded and got her in the eye and the doctor said that 100 percent chance that she'd be blind. The Elders passed by her house that same day without planning to and they gave her a priesthood blessing and today she's not blind but can see. Miraclesss

I was sitting in church and this Super old couple walked in. They have like at least 90 years and are super old and super ancient members. I heard they speak like 5 languages too but I didn't speak with them.

I've had some opportunities to play guitar this week which has been cool :) But I always have to make my own capo.

Who are you teaching this week?

We're teaching this one family thats ridiculously rich and has a ridiculously huge house. THe biggest house that I've ever seen on my mission.

We're also trying to complete/reactivate a part member family. The wife and 2 sons are baptized but the husband and another daughter and her boyfriend aren't. We're working with them too and they're liking our visits up til now.

How are things with your companion?

Things are good, he's not the perfect, most obedient guy but I've developed a lot of patience and tolerance and love. We have a good relationship which is one of the most important things.

How is the missionary work going with relation to the World Cup?  It's a bit different. We don't work on the days that brasil plays and we watch the game in the house of some member. It's about the same though.

Have you gotten any new people to teach from watching the games?

Unfortunately not yet, not for lack of trying but just because it hasn't worked out until now.

Which games have you seen?

We're only allowed to see the games of brasil but I've seen some parts of other games. I saw a part of France's game that was awesome! They did like 2 goals in like 30 seconds which was cool.

How are your clothes/shoes holding up?

So, everythings doing pretty good. My shirts are slowly getting more and more yellow. My shoes are slowly dying. The eccos that we got, I think they almost got a hole in the bottom. They're working on it at least. I'll let you know when a replacement is needed.

Do you have more than 1 reia (I know that’s not how you spell it…) in your wallet this week?

it's 1 real and multiple reais, or since you're american, you could just say reals if you wanted to. Yeah I actually have a lot of reais now! A lot of money fell on the account at the same time so I'm doing great with money!

"Isaac and Jana are SOOOOOO cute!  I’ll try to get more video to send you when they’re here."

Pleassse do that, I miss them.

My district of sisters is doing okay. They're having difficulties with their areas and they're having some pains and illnesses this week..there was one day this week where 3 of them had to stay in house and the 1 that wasn't broken did a division (splits) with an irmã from the church. They had one man that was "firm" to be baptized this week but he had to work unexpectedly and so that couldn't happen but he should be baptized this week which is awesome for him and for them!

I do like being district leader, it's not always easy but I like having a bit more responsibility and I like the opportunity I have to help others. With them, I've been focusing a lot on faith and how faith can help them perform miracles and it's been cool to see the difference in them as I talk about faith :) I'll give another training tomorrow.

This next week will be interesting because this is the last week of transfers and the next week will be a new transfer and I think the 2 zone leaders here will love so we'll see who'll be the new zone leader.

Thanks for your letter and your love!

The church is true!

Elder Horton