We Have Wheels!

It's been 3 weeks since we entered a blog and how the weeks have flown. Well, it didn't seem so as they passed, just looking back it seems that way. Yesterday was our 2 month anniversary since our mission began. As we considered the past two months, we've thought about what has transpired and tried to evaluate where we stand. We set some goals last Sunday (about time, right?) We've felt kind of like we've been in culture shock, or numb with all the changes we've been absorbing. Long work days, language problems, transportation difficulties, a change in our focus, hot muggy weather, strange food, everything we try to do takes a major effort. Everything about our mission life has been hard to say the least, but we've been blessed tremendously through it all.

Though we've been tempted several times to throw in the bag and go home, we're still here. That is a blessing of the Lord! We love the Elders we work with and the Elders and Sisters who pop in and out of the office are always so eager to get to know us and we feel their love. The Lord has helped us to adapt to the weather (air-conditioning is also a true blessing). The other missionaries have fans pointing at their beds as their only relief. President Emerick has really tried to make everything about our mission as comfortable as possible. We get up each morning with energy and optimism even though when going to bed the night before we think we'll never be able to get back up again. The strange food has been good for us. What a blessing! We worried that we'd get sick and lose a-lot of weight at first, but it looks like as long as we drink bottled water and are careful where we eat we'll not lose a pound.

We are enjoying mission work. This last week was zone conferences again. Ours was on Thursday. They are inspiring and enjoyable. The President asked us yesterday if we would speak at the next zone conference, topic unknown yet. That looks like a daunting challenge as of now. Maybe if I write it all out with a lot of help, then I can read it. He told us to take 30 minutes.? I'm glad Elder Ivey knows the language better than I. Also, on May 2 there is a fireside for couples in all the Recife Stakes encouraging them to prepare to serve missions. The Area Authority will be speaking, Pres. Emerick is speaking, and he asked us to speak there also. I hope it's just a testimony bearing opportunity. I think I can do that, with the Lords help.

This picture is with Elder Gama (pronouced Guma) who is one of our favorite Elders. He has recently been released as an Assistant to the President and always brought fun into the office.

The majority of our time in the office is spent entering baptismal records into the church system. There was a backlog of baptisms and confirmations that have been done, but the records have not been delivered by the missionaries to the office for recording . So we are trying to round up those records and get them entered. For some reason the missionaries forget the importance of handing those papers in after a baptism and confirmation. Converts may be baptized but they're not on the records of the church until we actually type the information into the system. It feels like sacred work we're doing.

Also we will begin visiting and inspecting mission housing starting this week. We've been searching for a car to purchase for the last 2 weeks. A week ago we found a little silver 2003 Citroen, cute as a bug, with only 34,000 km and we started the process to purchase it. What a process that has been. During that time we thought several times we might be making a mistake buying a car, the process was so difficult and frustrating, but the President kept reassuring us and, a week later (yesterday) we drove it home, all paid for. It won't be in our name (not sure who's name it will be in) because we are not permanent residents here, but we can drive it. It is sooo nice to have the freedom wheels give! Another blessing from the Lord. We named it "Tartaruga". That's Portuguese for Turtle. Some of you may remember the last turtle we owned. We're sure this one will serve us better than the last one since it's on the Lord's errand.

Those buses were getting old. Standing with the crowd on the sidewalk, waiting for the right bus, discovering we caught the wrong one and trying to figure out how to correct the problem, digging in pockets for the right amount of reais to pay the fare. One time it took us 1 1/2 hours to get home from the office. We may never ride another bus again as long as we live! YEA!

It's nearing the end of another P-Day and so we'll end this epistle for now. Tomorrow we're going to the Boa Viagem ward to help the Elders there with the division of their ward. Our preparations for the week ahead are finished. Time to call it a day and get ready for tomorrow.