Lovin' it!

We didn't do anything for Pioneer day this year. The whole idea of Pioneer day is foreign to most members except the ones around Utah. Although the youth of our branch did just get back from Trek on Saturday. It's fun to hear there stories about it since it's so different of a landscape then our trek. Their testimonies were super powerful as well. The branch president had them get up and share their testimonies during sacrament meeting. I've had lot's of fun in this branch. And I love these people. I believe I'll be here for a good while longer too. Like 4 months more probably. But only God knows. I've loved the work. It's been fun here. I don't want to make it sound like missionary work isn't hard, cause it is. But I think missionaries blow it a little out of proportion. Once I realized (or missionaries realize) that the hardest part is waking up at 6:30 and getting along with the other missionaries is the hardest part, the rest becomes a journey. The rest is enjoyable. Yeah you're working more than an 8 hour day, but it's the best work there is! A miracle this week was when we were finishing the last 30 minutes of our night handing out invitations to our ward talent show as well as english classes. We had a couple come up and ask us what church we represent. Turns out, her nieces are both members who just recently moved from Brazil and have been looking for the church here. The craziest part is that they live an hour away. But our area is huge, probably 5 miles east to west, but definitely over 90 miles North to south. So why in the world would that aunt and uncle that live an hour away as well be at the supermarket? No idea! The best part, the aunt and uncle and their children aren't members and neither is the mom of the two girls! So many potential explorers! Such a miracle! Some other funny stuff from this week. I was asked if I was real then followed by a nice pinch. Apparently I was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen; hair, skin, eyes. Everything. The best part of this? She was definitely pushing 70. Always love getting hit on by the Elderly. Toooooo good. Had some good rain this week as well. Anyways, love you all and thanks for the love and support!

Staying in Boca!

Girls Camp sounds like a blast. Never got to go, which I'm sure was for a reason. I like that story about the Battle of Bunker Hill. That's how it is right now. We might be losing the battle of finding right now, but since we know we're under great direction, we know we will win the war. I heard about Jordan Jones, Matthew Westcott emailed me the other week about it. Twin Falls will be so cool! I'm still waiting for letters! As for this week, it's been good. It was super hard because we still have no investigators and we spend a lot of time finding. We didn't have P-day on Monday this week because we have transfers this week. And I'm staying in Boca with Elder Naressi. Super excited to be staying in this branch and this area. Although I'm ready to have more responsibility. At least I think I am. I like having something else to be doing. But, I'll take what the Lord gives me. So, here I am in Boca and I'll be here for a while! Don't have any pictures or any fun stories this week. Sorry I'm a little lame! Ha. Although I heard the family reunion will be in Montana again. Of course. Of course I'd miss two family reunions in a row. And of course both of them would be in Montana. But, I'm excited to be here. Love you all!

Salad??

Thanks mom :) It's always nice to get something in the mail. I loved the picture. Tank is huge! Britta sent me some super cute pictures of him the other week. Very very cute baby. This week was very slow too. We are finding diligently and everyday. We find lots of Brazilians but not anyone elect and prepared for our message. So we have lots of return appointments fall through. Luckily my portuguese is coming along nicely. I've been asked multiple times now what part of Brazil I'm from. So that's always reassuring. I was talking with Caliani our recent convert the other day about how I don't like salad, and then she asked me which type of salad. Fruit salad, lettuce  salad, whatever. But I didn't know how to say lettuce, so I said, "coisas verdes" and pointed at the grass. She couldn't stop laughing. Maybe she thinks I like to eat grass now. Oh well. But we are still working very hard here. I had a moment of clarity the other day as well. I realized that only one time in my life have I been excited for the moment I was living in. I've always had a problem thinking about the future and how the future will be better than where I am right now. The only time I was truly happy was right before I came on my mission. All my friends were around me, my family was around me and happy, I got to date Chelsy. All those things made me not want to leave that moment. So that's something I'm really working on. Being excited for the moment I'm in. Not looking forward to P-day, or when I'll come home, or when I'll get married, but truly living in the moment. Being excited for my purpose right now. Today. But I love you all and I thank you for the support! Send letters! Send love! Send anything!

4th of July!

No fireworks?! That's absurd! It almost sounds like my 4th was better. We had a ward breakfast thing and then we had to come in early that night because of parties and alcohol and all that jazz. One of the other elders I live with has all of our pictures. But we got a BBQ from one of the members with some marinated chicken and guarana! And one elder had kites, so we climbed up on the roof and flew kites! And then we watched the fireworks from the whole south Florida since it's flat enough to do that. It was pretty fun. I'll make sure to send pictures. I was wondering if you could send me my Havainas? I can’t be a true Portuguese missionary without them apparently. 

Thanks for that package by the way! I loved it! I was just telling the elders I live with that I needed a red tie, and boom. There it was. But as for the rest of my week we've had a pretty slow one when it comes to finding and teaching. All of our investigators we either had to drop or just got baptized. We try to find as we teach but it's difficult. So we try to find a lot right now. But, the language continues to come and go. I do my best to pay attention to what I did that day to make it come a little better, but there seems to be no consistency. I was wondering if people could write me letters with their best finding ideas as well as their favorite object lessons. I really want to save up some good ideas for if I ever have to do a district training. I'll try to keep everyone updated the best I can as the work progresses! As for who to pray for just pray for me! Haha jk, but definitely pray for the people of south Florida. They are all such good people but aren't quite to the point where they see the need of baptism by the proper authority. They know baptism is good, and church is good, but not that the priesthood, that same priesthood that Christ and his apostles had is so, so very important. I love you all and thank you for the support!