There is a God!

Oí Familia
Como vaí, esta bem
This week was a great week, on Friday Elder Snyder and I went street contacting again. This time we went to down town Sao Paulo, it was CRAZY! Sao Paulo is the 2nd biggest city in the world, so you can just imagine how many people are walking around. Its like New York on steroids. Millions and millions of people. It was crazy to also see such poverty too, you have no idea. There is a store that sells 4000 dollar suits, and a homeless man sleeping on the side walk right out side. There was hundreds of them, they just lay down and fall asleep. It's scary because they look like they are dead. It made me appreciate my home and the things I have.
What's worse than the homeless people are the girls... When I was walking through the people one hand was on my shirt pocket so my wallet wouldn't get stolen, and my other hand was on my butt. I guess an American guy down here is like gold. They would just walk up to me and pinch my butt and stuff like that. I don't know why they wouldn't do it to Elder Snyder [though], Ha Ha He got a kick out of it.
OK now to the good stuff. When we started we had 7 Books of Mormon to place. We handed them all out within 20 min. One guy I handed it to in Central Park actually thanked me for sharing this message with him. We walked by that same park 30 min. later and we saw him reading it. It's the best feeling in the world when you know you can bless someone's life so much just by giving them a book. They love that it is for free too.
Well, me and Elder Snyder got done pretty quick so we decided to just talk to people. One older man we were talking to asked us how long we had been in Brazil. We answered.. "8 weeks", he grabbed his head, shook it and put his hands to the sky and said; "There is a God!" Ha Ha I thought that was pretty funny. It made me realize how much I have learned in this short time, and there is no way I could have done it without the Spirit. 3 years of Spanish in highschool doesn't even compare.
Other than that, we all are getting excited to get to the field next week. I leave at about 6 in the morning next week. Then I'm going to be a missionary-missionary.
I love you all,
Elder Manis

Me and Elder Scoza, we like the same soccer team. Ha Ha

Me [center] and Elder Snyder on the right, Elder Jaquez on the left, we always bust into rooms and just be crazy at night.

Faith

Sup Guys,
Well, nothing really exciting happened this week.  Just another CTM week, but we did have some really good firesides.  The first one was on Faith. It was given by President Morrill, it was really good.  In the [meeting] I learned that faith is what will convert my investigators.  Faith is the ultimate teacher and converter.  I also learned some steps that will strengthen my [own] faith and also test it. 

First, Believe you can do it 

Second, Look for the Lord in your blessings.

Third, Make the sacrifice

Fourth, Expect the miracle.

And [lastly,] recieve the miracle with thanks.  He also said that no matter how much we stay on the strait and narrow, that there always will be hard times and bad things will happen.  It's kinda scary because I know the mission will be no walk in the park.  It will be a big test of my faith. Just like I said in my farewell talk; 'Faith without works is dead", and I'm working everyday for 2 years to build up my faith and the faith of others as well.

Other than that, nothing really amazing has happened.  We are all getting kinda nervous and giddy about leaving the CTM.  It's going to be a good experience, but I'm going to miss my District of 12 Elders who I see everyday and move down to 1 companion, but I know I'll do fine.
Other-s than-s that-s I-s got-s nothin-s.
I love you guys and pray for you every night.
Elder Manis

All the Elders from room 622. 

My new hair cut and my American Flag.

Siempre

Hey guys :)
Mom I just used my card today I bought scriptures here so I don't need the quad. That sucks big time that you guys didn't get to go to the cabin this year. That just doesn't make it the 4th of July.
Well this week has gone by soooo fast its crazy. My language [Portuguese] is coming on great. I can talk to anyone now and not sound like a crazy person.

This week Elder Snyder and I got to go street contacting. It was way fun. The first guy we walked up to was flying a kite with his little boy. I basically was bold, and I said; "There is a restored gospel on this earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and through this gospel families can be together." And the little boy (about 5) said; "SIEMPRE" (meaning Forever) and I said; Por todos Eternadade, (all eternity)... The man was so happy, and he took the book [Book of Mormon] and promised that he would read the book.

It's an amazing feeling when you can bless someones life so much just by giving them a book, and its FREE! The people are nice here. Ha Ha You just have to know where to find them. :) The Lord will take you to them, all you've got to do is ask Him to help you out.

Well, other than that nothing to exciting has happened here. I only have 3 weeks left [in the CTM]... kinda scary... but I'll be fine.

Oh, funny story. The director for all the MTC's came here to Brazil this week. Elder Mills is his name. He caught a [stomach] bug and got the runs. Ha Ha Ha So during the fireside that he was giving he would have to get up and walk to the bathroom. It was funny. But I felt bad for the guy. Ha Ha.

My testimony has grown sooo much. I have said it a million times but you can be so surprised what you can accomplish when you have the Spirit with you.
I love ya guys,

Elder Manis

AP Huh?

Well, I've got some good news and some bad news.... bad news... I sprained
my ankle... here's how I did it. 

All the basketball hoops are 9 feet tall here because all the Brazilians are way short.  Well, during our gym time all
the Brazilians want to do some killer slam dunks so I was showing them how we do it in the US... I was doing my last dunk of the night, and I went to do a sweet 360 between the legs dunk over this tiny Brazilian Sister.  When I slammed the ball, it shattered the back board.  Glass went every where when I let go of the rim, and when I came down I slipped over the glass and "snap!" there goes my ankle.

The good news..... that story is totally fake. [Really] I snapped it in coming down the stairs.  Yup, just like a grandpa. Ha Ha But I'm doing OK.  It works.  I suck it up. I'm fine, it's my left foot, I hurt my right foot last time, but ya it's tender, so don't worry.

More good news I'm now the AP (Assistant to the President) Crazy Huh? I asked the president, "Why?" and he laughed at me and said, "Don't ask me, ask your Heavenly Father." Crazy Huh?

This week has gone by so fast, it's P-day again [and] this week our Brazilian roommates left for there missions. Both [are] serving in the São Paulo Sul Mission. It was hard to watch them go. I didn't think that I would miss them because they smell, and are crazy weird and stuff.  But it was hard to watch them go.  And it's crazy because I do miss them.  I had my first meeting as AP yesterday. It's not that bad.  I just have to tell people when to go to bed, that's about it.
OK, so last P-Day I did buzz my head.  I'm trying to send pictures but this computer isn't going to let me I like it I think I'm going to keep it for my whole mission. I'm hoping everything is going OK. I sent you guys a letter 2 weeks ago so it might be coming soon.  I sent another last week I think it takes about 2 weeks for letters to get to AZ I hope everything is going good and I hope everyone is having a good summer.

Love you guys.

Elder Manis

My CTM District

Me and Elder Snyder at the Sao Paolo Temple