Almir and his family.
Dig it!

New Pictures

Skyping to home for Mother's Day
Bring it on Brazil!
Knock, knock anybody home?
See, it is true!
See, my room here is just as dirty as it was at home.

To the hospital

Hey Family,

Well, this week was just another week of hard work. It was more of a planning week for the week to come. I don't have much time to talk, I have to go to the hospital with my companion. He is having crazy belly pain. They think his appendix busted. So I'll try to get back to you if I can. But don't worry, all is well, we are taken care of.

Love ya,

Elder Manis

It's all in the fight

It's crazy to hear that Preston is already home. It's crazy and I'm sure he can testify of this: when you're on a mission it's like time doesn't exist. Then all of a sudden you have been out a year, and then all of a sudden your cousin is going home. It's crazy that the mission is my life now and that this thing will end in a year, it's just a crazy feeling. haha

Well, this week was a good week of work. We had some trouble finding new contacts and had some trouble having people progress. But it's all in the fight. Next week the ward will have a bus come and pick up the members. Because a lot of the members don't come simply because they are just to lazy. So Bishop hired a bus. So everybody can come and not have any excuses. This is also good news because we can now work in a number of places and then have a lot of people in the capela [Church] because of the bus. So this is a big blessing that I think the missionary work here, and the ward, is needing.

This week was also the week where you stop and say "THE THINGS YOU GO THROUGH ON A MISSION". This week the brother of Almir, Tiago, he was arrested and had to go to jail. When I asked why I found out that he was a fugitive that had escaped from prison and had been laying low for 2 years when the government finally caught him last week. It was sad to see how the family was affected. It shook everyone, just entering into their house you just felt sad. But we left many scriptures that strengthened them so that helped out a lot.

And still, through all of this Almir is firm in the Church. Sunday he got the Priesthood, so that was amazing to see. He is amazing, he knows the importance of these things and he loves them. It has been a great blessing to know him.

Elder Erick and I are doing great. We just cleaned the apartment this morning and are just being normal, I guess you can say. haha

Things in the mission are changing a little bit "President likes to throw curve balls". But its all good, just working hard and staying safe.

Love you,

Elder Manis

PS- Wyatt you're an idiot, don't ditch go to Seminary!

Mother's Day

It was great to talk to you guys too, and to see you!

The same goes for me, I'm not going to say much because I just saw you yesterday.

But, things here are going great and the work is progressing. Know that the Lord is blessing you and that he loves you.

Our baptisms are doing great, they are firm and strong in the Church.

I'm not to worried about the birthday package just be patient and I'm sure it will arrive.

I love you guys, it's good to know your alright and safe.

I pray for you,

Elder Manis

Changing Hearts

(Asked by Mom - As you head into winter, do you have enough warm clothes?)

Ha ha, do I have warm enough clothes???

Mom, here there is no winter. It's hot and hotter, and sometimes some rain, so don't worry about that. I'm fine.

Everything is going great. Elder Erick and I are doing great. Hmmmm, about him, well he only has 3 years as a member. He was a professional volleyball player. He has a girl waiting for him, and they are for sure getting married. He is from the Paranagua down south. He doesn't speak any English. He has a unibrow (I give him crap all the time about it. :) We have fun when we work, and ya, we do work.

In church, I guess you can say that we as missionaries have to carry a load. It's funny, if there is a problem with anything, call the Elders they will fix it. But we always have to have a little talking session with the members. Saying "Look Irmã, we can't come over every morning to pick mango's to feed your parrots." It's funny but, at the same time you get to know the members. I bare my testimony every time I get the chance, and ya, I give talks sometimes. I have a talk coming up here and I think I'm going to talk about adversity as well.

Well, that's crazy to hear that they are building a new chapel in our neighborhood. Is that the chapel that I'm going to come home to?

About this week, we had the baptisms of Almir, Laura and Lucas. It was a really spiritual moment for them. Their family, the ones who didn't baptise, a lot of them cried because the Spirit was so strong. That night we went over to their house to give para bens and play a little game. Basically a family home evening. It was good, we put every ones name on a piece of paper and mixed them all up in a bowl. Everyone chose a different person and they had to say 4 things that they loved about that person and then everyone tried to guess who it was.

I'm not going to lie, I got a little teary eyed to hear some of the things that the family said about us missionaries. To see how much we changed the hearts of this family and to see how much the family loves us. I love being a missionary and I love the change I see in the hearts of the people.

Love ya,

Zack