What Up

Oi Family and Friends!

What up everyone? I'm doing great out here. Our week was a little crazy with Elder Walker leaving and divisions and all bunch of stuff that when down. So beginning of the week, we went on divisions with Elder Chandler and that's when I sent all those pictures. We only taught one investigator in our area and a couple with Elder Chandler. The one investigator we taught was Arnaldo, super super solid guy, love him. Downside, he moved away because the Dona of the casa raised the rent. So he moved out to Camama and will be taught by other Elders, it was sad but he will get baptized. 

The next day, go on divisions with Elder Harper in his area. It was a pretty good day. Amandio, I hope you remember him, randomly called me to see what's up and we just talked for like 10 to 15 minutes. It was so awesome, made me miss Viana a lot but its alright I will see them again. 

That night we said goodbye to Elder Walker and Rainbolt. It was weird, felt like we just did that with Elder Davis, time just keeps flying by. Thursday we had some lessons, but it turned into a disappointing day. Our area has kind of fallen apart. People dropping like flies because they just don't put any effort into anything we say, its frustrating. So we once again like last transfer got to find more people. And it went good with one person, found this guy named Gostino on Friday. We sat with him on Saturday, came to church on Sunday, so we shall see what happens with him. So yeah this next week hopefully will be a week of new people. 

Random story of the day. We were planning on eating at this one place in our area for lunch. We go there and its closed. So then we go hunting for a place to eat because we were starving. We went everywhere, and there's a much longer story to this but, all in all we end up at this high flying nice restuarant looking out over the ocean. Haha we did it for the experience. 

Only one elder went to Huambo. Elder Hobbs is pretty funny, I love him and Elder Mariquele is from Mozambique and he is pretty cool, knows English very well, so I think our house is going to be pretty legit. And yeah I'm District Leader, a little weird but whatever. 

That's really cool that Ridge got her Patriarchal blessing. Glad she told me in her email to me this week;) And its funny you guys went to Weenie Roast. I can't believe I was there a year ago with Thomas, and yeah it was good Kade didn't go. Its pretty sad that the boys are making hard times for you there, they really should know better, especially if they want to prepare to be a great missionary. Time starts now and they got to be better. Also Mom thanks for the pop culture update, they are really nice :) Well I love you all, keep praying for me, especially for us to find more people this week. Love you all!!!:)

Tchau,

Picture Week #49

Angolan Boy Band

Mustache Bash

Funny kids

Elder Walker and Elder Tingey

Elder Brown and Elder Tingey

Cool African sky

Ladera Ranch 2nd Primary gave Elder Brown a Book of Mormon they had signed to give to someone in Angola when they reached their goal they had made in Primary for bringing their scriptures

LR2's Primary's signatures

Elder Brown gave it to Arnaldo who can read both Portuguese and English

Armareldo and Elder Brown

Walking to President Thompson's house

The river

Camera doesn't do justice to the amazing African sun

Elder Harper got attacked by thorny weeds

A normal occurrence

Elder Brown and Dove

Elder Brown and Elder Harper

At the museum, Palanca Negras

The End of Another Transfer

Oi Family and Friends!

Another transfer down in the books, for the 7th time, wow! Well for me, nothing changes too much. I'm still in Benfica B with Elder Tingey but the people I live with switched up a little bit. We got AP's and they are Elder Wilhelm, who already lived in the house with us as a zone leader, and Elder Mariquele and they will be in our house in Benfica C. Then we got a new zone leader Elder Hobbs to be with Elder Harper. So Elder Hobbs and Elder Mariquele will move in and Elder Chandler will leave. And I also might be the district leader, but I'm not too sure yet. But yeah, Im pumped for this transfer. 

We could possibly have 5 baptisms this transfer, with two for sure baptisms with Arnaldo and Amareldo. They are progressing super well and I'm like a 100% positive that they will get baptized on the 15th of June, so we shall see.... And then the other three have a little more work to do , but they can get there I believe it. 

This week, started off crazy. We had an 8 lesson day on Tuesday. The most I've ever had in one single day, it was a crazy day. So crazy and a hard day but a rewarding day. Then the rest of the week kind of pittered and pattered but it was alright. We set some more baptismal dates with those other three so it was really good. We just got to find some more people this week to fill our pool up. Hopefully through references and members we can really get this going. We also met some crazy people this week, which were interesting but it's what you get for walking all the time everywhere. 

Then Mother's Day was awesome because of skyping with the family:) It was so good! Time is going by fast, and this next year will fly by for sure. The Pebble Beach trip sounded really cool, especially to play. I miss golfing and just getting out on the course with Dad. San Juan Hills next year, mark a tee time down haha. There's not too much to say after skyping. 

We went to a museum so I got a lot of pics of that. I have tons of pics to send, but I can't this week so next week expect a lot haha. Also today when we went to Belas Shopping we passed a movie cut out for the Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp, it looks so sick, put that on my list for sure haha. Really cool to see everyone and hear how summer is already coming again. I'm really excited for this transfer and can't wait to see what happens in the coming 6 weeks. It will be sad to say goodbye to the Thompson's next week, and weird that the Merrill's come in 6 weeks but it will be cool. Change is good. Oh also gave the BoM to Arnaldo because he speaks English too, so he has an English one and a Portuguese one now. Well that's all for this week, can't think of any cool stories that went down this week. Love you all and thanks for the support!

Tchau,

Mother's Day Skype

Waiting for Elder Brown to call

Best Mother's Day gift ever!

Elder Brown and his little brother Kade

So good to see his beautiful smile!

Mother's Day shout out

Pictures Week #48

 

Rolling in it

Mila, Elder Brown, and Elder Tingey

Elder Tingey and Elder Brown

Last week of transfer

Oi Family and Friends!

Last week of the transfer coming up here, pretty crazy. This week has went by pretty well. Monday after emails the Nosso Super got another shipment of American things, like Pop Tarts, and Hershey Syrup, artichoke hearts, pancake mix, apple jacks, etc. Super good! 

Tuesday we had a good day as well, where we ended up at Zinga's house for the last appointment of the day. She made us this cuttle fish stew thing which was super good. Then we taught her a lesson about the temple, it's just always super fun going over there and being with them. Then she gave us a ride home, which was kind of scary because is not a very good driver. Elder Tingey was scared. I shot a video and made it into like a safari video which is kind of stupid, because I'm kind of a dork, but haha oh well, the little things keep you sane out here. Speaking of which I'm taking alot more movies since I have so many cards to use so that's cool. 

Hmm what else happened this week. Oh we finally met and sat with one of our investigators who always comes to church but we haven't been able to sit with him. But we finally did, twice. He is super cool, his name is Arnaldo, and hopefully his wife will come around to. He will get baptized, the wife we're going to try really hard with that. And Amareldo, man what swag that guy has. I wish you could see him, he has so much swag, and man I love him haha. He is doing good, going to set up a Baptismal date for him this week so that will be sick. 

Also this week we had a moustache Bang night. Haha the ones from the package, and it was super fun haha. Just the little things that get you by day by day haha. We also picked up a new investigator named Maria. She seems really cool, the only problem is she isn't married and her husband has three other women... Africa for ya. 

This week we were trying to get in contact with this guy named Jerry. He is a pastor or something at the Chinese Universal Church, that no one goes to. So he just sits around all day reading the bible. Well we called him to talk to him and someone else picked up and got all angry and said that Jerry was already a pastor and a missionary so just leave him and alone and such and hangs up the phone. I look at Elder Tingey and said, were going to go give him a Book of Mormon. So we did, and hopefully that sparks something. 

Yesterday was the crazy day. We had church, it was hectic and stressful for some reason. But anyways we didn't know who we were eating lunch with, all of the sudden we're packed into this small Chevy spark with two kids with us in the back seat, so packed with us three. Well, we're going and then we get into an accident, right in front of the cops.... greatttt. Nothing serious, just rear ended someone, got a mini whiplash but that's all. Well we sit on the side of the road with these crazy African children for an hour, an hour too long. 

Anyways we finally get out to Kilamba, and eat with Josemar and Cecilia, such a funny couple. I love them. Well since Kilamba is way out there we got a ride back with Josemar, but first we had to go with him to a home teaching appointment. It was out in the sticks, holy cow, and there was so much dirt, so much. And we were in this small green car with four people in it. If he ever stopped we would get stuck. Craziest ride there and back of my life, sliding everywhere, weaving in between cars and motos, holy cow. But we made it out alive, it was a weird day. Seems like everything is going good at home. Skype this Sunday, 4 pm my time, I'm doing it at the Thompson's, so that will be sweet. Life is just going pretty good. We are in May, weird, and yeah. Love you all and keep doing well!

Tchau,

Pictures Week #48

Birthday Cake-Happy 20th Elder Brown!

Birthday Party

LDS represent

Elder Brown, Jessica, and Jucelma

Elder Brown and Amareldo

Elder Walker

Church sign

Church building

Elder Tingey broke the chair

Elder Chandler passed out