My CTM District

Me and Elder Snyder at the Sao Paolo Temple

I believe in Christ

Well this week has been super super crazy, just so much to learn and apply and so little time, my head is going to explode!!  But its all good, its a mission. 

Well, this week was a big spiritual week for me. I don't know why, there wasn't anything really amazing that happened. But to start the week off we had a fireside and the speaker only spoke Portuguese. Before it all started I said a little prayer, that I would understand what the speaker was saying. And sure enough, I understood every word. It was so amazing, I felt the Spirit like crazy.  After the talk we all sang "I believe in Christ".  I have never felt the Spirit so strong.  We sang it in Portuguese but still the Spirit was so strong.  I do believe in Christ eu so que Jesus Cristo é meu salvador e redentor,eu se que a ingraja é verdaderahahah (that's a little Portuguese for ya). 

Street contacting was fun this week, but it also was a kick in the teeth.  I feel comfortable with the language, enough to where I can understand [the people], but as soon as they ask me something else.... all I do is testify. (Ha Ha)  I just need to work hard and it will come with time

Elder Snyder and I are doing great, we are going to buzz our heads tonight... just for fun.  Actually he talked me into it.  This week makes it one month for me. Crazy, it seems like yesterday I was at home.  It really does fly by. I thought I would tell you guys I'm used to the smell of our Brazilieros. (ha ha) I don't know what it was but they reeked for a little while.  They even used deodorant.  I guess they are just smelly people down here. 

We went to the temple again today.  It's always good to go there and just get away, and ask some questions, you know..its always so peaceful there. I think my President sent you some pictures of me there. 

How is Arizona, I love getting letters from you guys, it means so much to me.  I'm sending you guys a letter today, I don't know how long it takes to get to you but its nothing amazing,

Hey Momma there is a Portuguese hard cover quad, on missionties.com its 60 US dollars if you could get that for me that would be amazing , just the black hard cover with my name on it, if not that's OK. Well, I really love you all. Dad I know your mom is looking after me.  I know this Church is true, and this work is great.

Keep sending me letters :) I love them

Elder Manis

Sit down Elders

Well it's P-Day again, it seems like yesterday it was here, the time is passing sooo fast already. Well I've got lots to say, so I'll jump right in.

First off, we've got Brazilian roommates. I can't even say their names so I'm not going to try[to spell them]. They are serving in the Sao Paulo Sul Missâo. They are funny. It's crazy because they don't speak any English at all, so I always ask them crazy stuff like "Have you ever punched a midget in the face?" or "Have you ever eaten a cat with cheese on it?" its funny, Ha Ha, they don't know anything. I taught one of them how to say "I'm a Gangsta." and "I'm a Play-ya".  But they help me with my Portuguese a ton. One of the Brazilian Elders snores so bad he keeps me up all night. And they smell soooooooo bad it's like wet hay or a turd covered in burnt hair, its nasty (Ha Ha). But they are here for the same reason I am, so we get along great. 

This week we learned how to teach the first lesson in Portuguese, at first it was tough but the words are now flowing.  Next week we start street contacting. I'm nervous but at the same time excited. 

Hmmm, what else. 

Oh well, on Sunday me and Elder Snyder where way bored. So we were like, what can we do? We were all studied out and we needed some fun.  So....I was like..... Well, we are on the 6th floor.... lets make paper airplanes and see how far we can fly them out the window. Some made is so far it was amazing. But 3 landed right in the street in front of the CTM.  So that night we get called into the Presidents office..... the planes are on his desk and he says; "What are these?" We were too scared to talk. Then he yells; "What were you thinking!" Again, we were so scared.  Then he went on and said, "You guys can't make a paper airplane to save your life. Let me show you how its done."  So after I cleaned the poop out of my pants... Ha Ha  just kidding.... He made one and took us up to the sixth floor and threw it out [the window] it seriously went a mile. Then he looked at us and said; "Don't do it again." So ya, we were let off the hook. He is so chill.

Another thing, I invented here is tie fishing.  We tie 2 of our ties together and lower it down to the floor below us and they fill one tie up with candy and we pull it up and there you go, candy.  We fished our cameras down too. I'll send you a picture. Everything here is going great.  The days are long but they go by so fast, thanks for the letters that is the best part of the day, for real. I hope everything at home is going great.  Havasupi must have been pretty cool, and Hannah have you gone to nationals yet? Mom how is my pool doing? and Dad how have you been?  Thanks for the prayers everyone. The pictures I sent you are out of my window and and me and Elder Snyder,
I love you all,
Elder Manis

06-09-09

Its good to hear from you guys. :) I miss ya , I love that Missionties.com thing, its good to get a bunch of letters randomly during the week, because that is like the most amazing part of the day, mail call.  I'm glad Wyatt is taking care of my car, Stanley. I think it's funny there have been six poops in the public pools. Ha Ha that's awesome! Nothing here is that exciting anymore now that I have gotten in the grove of things.  The language is hard. I wish I was Spanish speaking, I would be out in the field already.  But its work that I need to do [to get ready], my brain kills at night and I am frustrated with all the conjugations. I sent you some pictures, I hope you get them.
Well, I love you all so much.  Today I got to go through the temple. It was amazing. It's the only place where it feels like home, because its all the same on the inside, but in Portuguese, (ha ha) It's cool because I can do all the talking there in Portuguese.  Shoot!  Well, my time is up.  I love you all.
Gotta poop,
Elder Manis

I made it

I made it to Brazil. It is so crazy here, but let's talk about the flight first. Well I made it to Dallas and we were about to take off and then we got delayed, because of some thunder storms, but only for 20 min. The flight [here] was about 9 hours long and every time I was about to fall asleep the baby behind me would start crying, (hahah) but I did get some sleep. Right when we got here.... mom you where right.....it was raining.  It seriously looks like Jurrasic Park, its a jungle over here, its soooo crazy. I'll send pictures next week. The MTC is awesome here, and my distrist is super chill. 

When I got here I found out that my mission had changed, it is now the Brasil Vitoria mission. They just changed the borders a little bit and moved the headquarters to Vitoria. 

OK, I'm bouncing around because I have so much to say and so little time. The CTM here is amazing. I expected to work, but man they pound you over here. The language is hard to pick up but I'm getting the hang of it, its just different. 

I miss you guys sooo much, but don't worry not that much. I didn't know how much you guys mean to me. It's so nice that I finally get to send you for information.

The weather here is actually pretty cold its about October here, and it gets down to about 40 degrees. Its crazy, my room is on the 6th floor so I have a great view and I can hear the soccer games on Sundays. Its so crazy! You guys need to WRITE MEEE ASAP.  Everyone please write meeeee, and send me some family pictures... please.

How is Arizona?  Summer, Wyatt how's work and summer school? How is Nationals going to be Hannah? Just tell me everythingggggg and please ask questions I have much more to tell, just ask. I miss you, I miss you, I love you, I love you.... please write meeeee.

Elder Manis