Hello my wonderful family,
Sounds like you guys have had a lot of adventures, and have more for this week! That is excellent, keeps life real interesting!
They keep telling me its winter here, but Im not entirely sure. Its not that hot, but its definitely not cold! It rains once or twice a week, but still cold is an unfamiliar feeling here. Its been about 25 pretty much the whole time. Althought the Brazilians walk around in hoodies and beenies and gloooves. Its pretty funny, if ya ask me. The beaches are getting loaded on the weekends though, which means loads of old men walking around in speedos. Not my favorite part of the area, haha, but what can ya do. Being here in the summer would be way worse! With the temperature, and the old men.
Samatha's baptism fell through :( Shes still super strong, and the family is becoming super involved in the ward, starting to look like theyve been there awhile. The only reason she wasn't baptized was because of, as she put it, "problemas das moças". Haha I didnt know how to respond to that one. I think my facial expressions took care of it ahah shell be baptized Saturday.
Anna Maria disappeared! We finally got a hold of someon at her house and they said her aunt died, so she has been traveling. I hope she comes back soon!
We had an interesting week, not having much time in our area at all. My district leader responsibilities have been pulling me away from the area. We spent one day doing baptism interviews, and another day helping the sisters talk to land lords about the housing switch they are about to do, and a third day we had a really long Zone Conference! AHHH. But it was good, I really loved interviews. It is so great to see these awesome people, with testimonies so strong! Helping the sisters was also good, just time consuming.
Zone Conference was intense. They introduced a new Program, "Vinde a Mim" to help the members intereact with the investigators. So the ward chooses 15 names (less-active,part-member families, or non-members), this parts pretty old. then The ward contacts them. One of the leaders will invite them to a family night. The mission provides materials to be used as gifts in this process. Then we teach em! Its a lil more complicated that that, but thats the sum up :)
Also the zone conference, they announced the churchs new "Simplified curriculum" for missionaries. Its a world-wide thing they are doing, but it just chooses 8 points from PMG, and focus on teachin them to missionaries, practicing and such. Its all about improving teaching and stuff. But this new program also changes a lot in the mission. For example, we won't have interviews with Pres every transferr, or zone conference every month. We will have them every three months! And next month, we start having a lot more trainings for leaders. We have a 3day training coming up! Holy! its like the mtc, Im going go nuts sitting down that long!
Well, thats all the exciting stuff I can think of. Pretty simple week. Lots of doors haha lots of new programs, and lots fhe with members! Both to train, and with investigators! This ward is so legit.
Mom-You sure balance a lot! Sounds like a super crazy week! I love you!
W - How was cub scout camp? That seems like it was pretty fun! Sounds like you had a pretty crazy adventure! I really liked how you prayed, and helped Serena to feel good too. You are a great lil bro! Keep smiling! And don't use drugs while driving!
S - I am so sorry about those cub scout songs. That has got to be rough.
J - you are a stud! You are destroying in scouts! You are going to get the eagle real fast. Keep that up! You never told me if youll be playing footall this fall! or maybe I just forgot. Who knows
Well folks, time to go! Love you all! Choose the Right, please dont swerve when there are dogs in the street. haha I got bit again. Crazy muts. but have a great week!
Love, Jake
[For those who may be concerned, the dog bite didn't break the skin, and he reported it to the mission president's wife, as is standard.]
