First week in the mission field! Monday, Aug 19th

It seems like forever since I have emailed you! I was looking forward to it when I walked to the Lan house today. Its just a room with a bunch of computers and it is very hot in here!! 

My companion is way good!  I am his 7th trainee. He is almost done. At first I think he was sad because he wanted a leadership position but he is happy to train. He doesn't speak a lot of English. I probably know more Portuguese than he knows English!  It is weird emailing today because this is the most English I have used all week. 

My companion is from Sao Paulo. His name is Elder Santos. He is a good worker and is here for the right reason. We are going to do well together. The language has been tough and it is rough to talk during lessons because he talks a lot, but I just need to interrupt and say something (that's what he said I should do). But every lesson we teach gets better and better. I can really see the gift of tongues working and it is really awesome. Sometimes it is hard because I want to explain things but I can't cause I don't know how. 

This week we met with the mother of a member. She has heard all the lessons but doesn't believe in the book of mormon. We shared some scriptures and asked her to pray right then to see if it was true. When she was done praying, she was crying. It reminded me of you (mom) when you prayed to know if the church was true. There is also a mom that is less active that reminds me of you. (not the less active part) When we walked into their house (even though it is a different type of house), it was clean and well organized. 

Thats good to hear Bear Lake was good! Sounds like Brooklyn will be a good addition to the family. 

This week when I was flying into Goiania, I saw these massive buildings out in the middle of nowhere. I took a picture of them cause they were really cool. The next day at transfer meeting I got called to the Ipranja ward. After many bus rides, and walking, those same buildings where right by our house! I have pictures but I forgot my camera today... maybe next week! 

The Mission president is cool! He has a really nice apartment in the center of Goiania. I am in the out skirts of the city. I am pretty sure it is safe where I'm at.  I haven't gotten jumped yet. hahaha. Other missionaries say that it rarely happens. And if it does, it is because you were looking more like a tourist. We are in a pretty friendly area. I would say that we are able to get in to 6 out of 10 houses that we contact. 

Well time is up! That went fast! I have to email the mission president too. Its hard because I have to write in Portuguese cause he doesn't speak English.

Well I love you all very much!! Sorry Dad, Jenna and Jayson that I didn't have time to email you but I do love you all!!

Thank you very much for your prayers!!

Love,

Elder Wild

Ice Cream in Brazil

Today we got this cute photo of Josh.  I found a service for missionaries called "MissionTies" that is awesome!  I can write a letter to Elder Wild, they print it and drop it in the mail the same day.  This way, Josh gets his letters in 2 days, instead of 12 when sent from the US.  I can also get care packages sent to him for WAY cheaper than it would be to send them from home.  One day, I sent him a brownie ice cream sundae, and MissionTies even sent me this cute photo of him eating it!  It was almost like I was sitting right there with him!  Well, maybe not quite, but it sure was fun to see him!  He looks so happy, huh!?

Last few days at the CTM

Yeah I did receive Jordans email last week and wrote him this week. I opened it, started to reply, then went on to another email. I guess I forgot to reply..,. sorry Jordan!! But I did get your mail via missionties!! THANK YOU! It is so awesome getting mail! Is it expensive? I am also glad you got my mail! I wrote one more thank you note and I will put it in the mail either today or when I get to Goiania. I think if I use priority mail it is a lot faster. I will keep the missionties service in mind.

 

I will fly to Goiania on Tuesday. It is really far from Sao Paulo. I would say about a 2-3 hour flight. I am very excited for it though!!

 

The last 5 and half weeks have been great, BUT I am way excited to go teach and work! I have learned a lot about the language, and the importance of being obedient.

 

Today at the temple was our first session in English (normally we use the translating headphones). We did that because now there are more english speakers here and there were mostly english speakers in the room. How is the new endowment video? I heard one reason that they made a new one was because in english we say stuff in fewer words so when they would play the movie in another language the speaking would have to go super fast to keep up with the video.

 

Visas have been coming in like crazy. Just last week all the new missionaries from America more than doubled the Americans already here! Crazy huh? The districts are getting bigger and more english speakers. However since my district is in our last week we still only have 2 elders and 3 sisters. Elder Clark (Jacob Clark) came in this week. It was good to see him. It looked like he was doing well but I think NY lost one of his luggage. Hope he gets that back.

 

There are 3 more elders going to Goiania with me on Tuesday. One hispanic from Peru I think, and two Brazilians.

 

I haven't heard anything about me being able to call. I think when I get to the mission home maybe I'll be able to?? I have also heard that you will be able to talk to the Presidents wife while I am in the room. haha

 

I am sure there will be some form of communication when I get to Goiania. I really have no idea what that will be right now.

 

Jayson keep working on that eagle

 

Jenna have fun babysitting! haha sorry to hear about those rough kids!

 

Dad keep working hard! Thank you very much!

 

Dogs: stop barking when someone comes to the door

 

Mom: Love you a lot and thank you for all your emails and letters! I enjoy them a lot! I know that I am loved!

 

Elder Wild

Aug 2, 2013

This week has been really good!

 

Portuguese is going well and I am having fun. This week we went to the police station to get registered. It was really fun cause there were a bunch of other missionaries out in the field that were there and they talked to us. Also there is an instructor that just got off his mission from Goiania. He has met my mission president because he is new, but he said that I will love it. The food is good and so are all the people. I am really looking forward to it and can't wait to go out! I like learning but you know me, I don't like sitting inside all day long. Only a week and a half left!

 

2 stories:

 

Elder Adams (the CTM doctor) was talking about how all the South Americans are so used to socialized healthcare that is annoying because they will come in for chapped lips, runny nose, or a slight cough. He said that is why he left his practice in Utah because it was getting that way. He said he wishes people would just do their best to take care of themselves then come to the doctor as they need help.

 

My teacher was going to get pizza one night for his wife, new born baby, and another couple and he left them home and went to go get pizza with the other Dad. When they came out of the store there were 2 guys standing by their car and told them to give them the keys. They claimed they had guns and told them to run. Because it is illegal for anyone but the police to have guns all they could do was run. They quick hoped on a bus and called the police. He said that this happens often in these big cities. They normally have young teenagers do the crime because when they go to jail, as soon as they turn 18 they are released. He said that the theives were both very young and looked like they were 16.

 

The cool part of the story is that the Church was a day late in paying him and if he would have been paid on time, he would have had R$1000 in his car that would have been lost for good.  He quick went home, and had the locks changed on his house and his safe but he said it was really scary!

 

We went to temple again today! It was awesome! I set a goal to stay awake in the endownment sessions because I have had trouble with that in the past. I get a lot more out of every session! Its awesome!

 

I went to go get the  milkshake last week but it was cold and the owner's son( who is serving in peru soon) told me to come back next week when it was warmer cause then it would be more rewarding! haha I am glad I waited! I am excited to get it! Thank you again in advance!

 

I don't need anything. I am going to go get some neosporin today and some face wash too. Other than that, I am good!

 

There are 4 of us going to Goiania here at the ctm, me, a Hispanic, and 2 Brazilians. The time is ticking down! More people are getting their visas too! Next week 26 Americans will receive their visas. Some will come to the CTM but some will go straight to the field cause they have been on a reassignment.

 

Tell Jayson to treat the CRV nice! hahaha He will do good! He is a more conservative driver than me!

 

I love you VERY much and look forward to every letter and email!

 

Have a great week!

 

Thank you for your prayers!

 

Elder Wild