April 18 Letter

Dear Family!

Happy Birthday DAD! And Happy Aniversàrio to Mom and Dad! You guys are great examples to me, and I'm so grateful to have yous in my life!

This week has been super busy! It was the last week for Elder F. Rocha. It was really hard for him to give up the mission. Everyone says that, but on tuesday, that was put to the test. While taking with President about the upcoming transfers, President looked into his soul haha and asked him to stay one more trasnfer. Without needing to think, he accepted. I was impressed. He decided to call his parents and ask them what they thought. Because His parents are recent converts, and mainly because of the Spirit, he and Pres felt he should go home. It was a great example to me of the immense desire to serve the Lord. I hope I can finish my mission with the same energy and devotion as He is/did.

Well, my new companion is Elder Augusto! Super cool guy. From Belém do Pará. He was the one who took my spot in my last area. I am way excited to learn with him, and work like crazy.

Well, this weekend was the baptism for Fernando and Yasmine! Woohoo! Such a cool couple! They willl be powerful members in the church. I am so happy for them. Ill send a picture later when I have more time!

I have been blessed this week to have the Spirit use me as a tool this week a few times. Makes me feel so humble, and grateful. He puts thoughts in our mind that are insane to use, and then it works out bettter then we imagined. He is so wonderful. I need so much to be able to trust in Him more. But I am grateful for His patience and love.

Well I gotta go! I love you guys, thanks for your prayers! I am so excited to be able to pray with my family once again. This week I had the chance to be with my trainer. And I was so grateful to be able to kneel down and pray with him. Imagine my family then! Woohoo!

Love you guys, sorry to be so short!

Elder Jake

PS this week, as I prayed, I felt like I should try to be more like Grandpa J. I had been kinda quiet, and as I prayed about it, felt like Ishould follow his example, and talk to everyone, try and complement everyone. An exammple I have in many others, but a few stories came to my mind that Mom told me of him. So pumped for my fam! Love ya!

April 11 Letter

HEY GUYS!

Its been a good week, I am starting to get the hang of things, and things are starting to calm down a bit. Just in time for the end of the transfer. When my experienced comp will go home, and I will be left to take the reigns. Holy. Its gonna be a roller-coaster! This is our last week together, and I still feel like I have so much to learn from him, and in general! But I guess Ill just do it, learn from my many mistakes, and always try to be a touch better.

This past week. NOSSA. Time already. AHHH. SO this past week, I have been praying and fasting to get a larger desire to baptize, and to fulfill my purpose. Some of the great help I have gotten from the Lord has been great. I have decided to do a few more things. Study chapter 3 and 10 of PMG more, in the morning, and at night, reading out loud, to improve my accent and fluency in reading. Study the language more. Something I have rarely done sadly. And also I want to do contacts on the bus more. I am always on the bus, and rarely talk to the hundreds of people around me. New Goal. Something Ive been putting off.

Sunday was an incredible testimony meeting. It was so spiritual. I loved it. PS, I "play" the piano in our ward haha its tight. Its computerized, so I just push a button at the begining of each verse. Anyways, in this meeting, I was super comforted by the Lord. I was so worried about my many weaknesses, and HE let me know to relax, and remember that life has its ups and downs. And I will have to pass thorugh struggels, but it just is part of the plan. Just keep truckin along, and smiling. It'll work out. Ill find that confdence, that faith, desire, whatever I need. Just do you best and relax!

Well, acabou! I gotta fly! Love you guys! Next week is transfers so I dunno how the email sitch will be, just send your wonderful letters, and Ill send what I can! Got the packeage! Its waitin for me in the office! Thanks! Love ya! Pres gave the okay on Ward. Fill ya in better next week!
Tchau!

Elder Jake

March 28, 2011 letter

Alrighty! I have a lil more time this week! Woohoo!

Last week I did have a great letter for ya, but as it was sending the computer froze up a bit and then my time ran out! I was a tad frustrated, but mostly because I knew y letters had been so short the weeks before!

Well, I got the shoes! They are great! Seem way sturdy, and light. And not too bad lookin either! Im diggin'em. Showed up on the day my 4th pair of shoes wore through in the sole! Crazy. Nice timing! And nice shoes. Also came with a sweet lil bag that I'll be using from now on for divisions! Thanks! I dont think I need anything else for now!

Shoot. I cant remember what information you guys actually because last weeks letter didnt get to you. I might repeat a few things.

My comp! Elder F. Rocha. Super tight guy. One more Mineiro (from Minas Gerais) that I will be sending home. He is one of my favorite comps though. Really excited, I havent seen him down yet. And always has an answer for everything, which even if he's just pullin it out of the fire, haha sounds good. I an learning a ton with him! I am working a ton on the way I talk to people, letting them feel my love, even when I may be frustrated with them. I need to not show my frustration, and my comp is way good at that. Way good.

Pink eye? Well, Sister Richardson will probably kill me cause I havent gotten it treated yet. But it is 95% gone. I just havent had time! But It is going down, you cant tell anymore. PS, my comp just put anti-septic gel on his eyes! He is so worried about getting it haha. But he hasnt so I guess its worth it. We had a few investigators who got it as well and tried to use it as an excus to not go to church. Drove me a lil crazy, but most of them went! Wohoo! Thats faith!

Marc and Michelle! I had gotten your email the day before (P-day is now on Mondays). I had a lil wish in my heart that I would be in the office when they came by, but I didn't think it was going to happen. My comp got a phone call during the meeting on wednesday and so we left to answer and as I let the bathroom, I saw them. They did indeed look American. I was really excited to see them Really made my day. They are so cool. The office elders also had the same comments. They are a really special family. I could feel their love for me and the work. Lifted me a ton. Tell em thanks! and those easter peanut butter eggs are gone-my FAVORITE treat from the USA. The peanut butter is a third gone as well. Dont have any bread, but I do have a spoon!

I have five mins or less. Shoot.

Basically I am loving the mission! Its been pushing me a ton these few weeks, and I have been able to push away feelings of insecurity and incapability. The Lord has been filling me with his love and spirit! I am greatful for the opotunity to serve the Lord, and His children, missionaries and investigators! and members!

Ilove you guys! You guys are the best!

Elder Jake