December 26, 2014

Whats up again familia
It was so nice talking to you guys yesterday, even if it was only for 30 min.  I felt so homesick after because I walked out in the hall after talking to you guys and everyone was crying, it was hard.  This Christmas was one of the worst, but one of the best also if that makes sense.  It sucks not spending time with your family but everyone here was in it together.  It was cool we just made the best of it.  So Christmas morning we still woke up at 630am, but we were able to stay in our athletic clothes until 1030am.  What a blessing!  We ate breakfast baloney sandwiches and mush oatmeal like always.  Man that stuff gets better by the day!  Then we played basketball and my district got to play with all the Brazilians that we normally don't get time to play with and they are our homies.  I dunked it and the whole place went wild, it was so funny I don't think they have ever scene someone do that before. I'm like a legend! haha

One of the Brazilian's thinks I'm that actor Taylor Lautner from Twilight then he thinks my companion is Mr Incredible - It's really funny.  I feel like I have so many foreign friends already, its cool.

I still can't speak the language but I'm determined to do my best.  After an hour of basketball we went outside and made paper airplanes for an hour.  Let me tell ya, best time of my life. Oh well- We later got back into our missionary clothes and watched a devotional and movie.  I was so tired I was trying to stay awake because it was a good message from Russell M Nelson, but I was cashed.  The rest of the night we played Uno, that was actually pretty fun.  Those games got intense haha!  Good ol mormon fun!  We closed with a Christmas message from the president and his wife that was really good and you realize the true meaning of Christmas.  It was a good way to end the night.  Then all the Brazilians who are really touchy wanted to give everyone hugs.

It was kinda sad mom when you asked me if I could speak some Portuguese yesterday on the phone.  The only thing I could talk to you about is a lesson.  Like the Restoration or the Plan of Salvation.  I made a personal goal to start studying harder so that I will be able to know more of the doctrine and have scriptures that connect well with the lessons.  My favorite right now is Ether 12:6.  I think its good especially when I feel like I can't learn something as quickly.

One of the elders is kind of the try hard type and sometimes makes the rest of us feel like we are not as good.  So my goal is to know more than him by the end of the MTC so I can say "What's up essa!"

I loved all the letters everyone put in my bag- it was so nice to read all of those letters.  I usually read some of those at the end of each night with my patriartical blessing to get my mind set for the next day.  I have felt like I have been out here for 5 months but this past week has gone by really fast.

The part of Sao Paulo that I've scene is a hole.  The city is filled with trash and stuff.  The Sao Paulo Temple is pretty small.  But thats because only the members payed to have that temple built.  Today we went to the Campinas Temple.  It was big and really nice.  The area around it was really nice too.  It got my really excited to get my feet wet out in the campo.

I love you guys.  I pray about you guys all the time and I miss you so much.  Once I get out of the CTM I'll send some sweet pics of me and my boys.  We took a silly district pic today and a lot with my boy Elder M---- that leaves next week. That will stink.

Gavin, you won't ever be bigger than me(even though you are going to the gym now) sorry buddy!  I have been getting way smaller out here though.  I've noticed it's because they limit the machine weights to 40 pounds.  Like what can you even do with that? haha!  But ill be shredded because I eat beans, rice, and chicken for every meal.
Love,
Elder Mauter