ee ai fam!!

This  week has been really busy!  Me and my comp are working hard and trying to push each other in our weak spots. So I'm learning alot even though we arent the same person at all, but its still all chill.  We have found alot of families last week that we have baptisms planned for next week. We didn't have any baptisms Sunday but we got a family to come with us and we had 10 investigators attend church yesterday! That was really a faith builder because at the start of the last week we made a goal to have 9 investigators at church. At first my comp was telling me that was a really high number, but you got to go big or go home!! So we did a lot of work. We should have actually had 2 more families come but they had problems getting to church so they didnt end up coming. 

Sunday was loco, me and my comp had so many investigators to bring to the bus that morning. Here, we always wake up early on Sunday and pass by peoples houses to bring them to the bus or they usually won't come.  So it's hard sometimes. Like yesterday when we had so many peoples houses to pass by. But I just love to walk and sometimes run, I'm starting to get used to it haha. 

So Sunday me and my comp got held up at a girls house who said she would come.  We passed by there and she wasn't ready, which is normal so we told her we would wait. So we waited there for awhile and then she ended up coming out and saying she didn't want to go. After that we hurried to the Favelas to call other people and bring them to the bus. But we ended up missing the bus so we called the Bishop and he came and helped us out. We actually were planning on another member picking up one family whose son is injured. But the member was sick that day so we ended up packing the Bishop's car with like 30 people. 

The story of the family we met lives by the one kid I talked about in the past when I had to get his baptism paper signed. We ended up waiting on baptizing him because we are going to work with his mom and his next door neighbors family to be baptized together.  They are all really close and I think its a lot better that way cause I just don't want to baptize and no one continues in the church. So we have been teaching all of them together at night now. It's been hard to get them to go to church though. 

But 2 weeks ago the next door neighbor's families son got shot in the back, he's 20 years old. We met him last week and he was having a lot of pain in his stomach and couldn't sleep. I can see why because they totally cut open his stomach to get the bullet. My comp gave him a blessing and he was able to sleep much better he said. So right now he is really thanking God for his life. He has actually helped us a lot with his family too. We invited him to church and he said he would go and that just made his whole family want to go too.  His mom was like i guess i need to go with you to make sure everything will be alright with you, acting like she really needed too. His 2 sisters came and his dad. The Bishop grabbed him and his family and there wasn't any space left for us. 

Me and my comp went to our house to see where the one member was that told us he would help us with his car and he was sick. I ended up giving him some of my medicine and we gave him a blessing. After that we went to Marcos house to talk to him and he said he would go to church too. He was with his girlfriend and they said they would get a taxi.  After that me and my comp ran to the church, literally haha!  Because now there was only like 20 minutes until sacrament started.  We missed almost all of church because sacrament meeting is last.  Me and my comp were dying when we finally got to the church.  It's so funny cause we are really not in shape for running like that and so we were sucking some wind haha! But it was good because we got there right before it started. 

It was also good because we visited that family last night to ask them if they had any questions and they just asked about how much we do for people to get them to church. They also asked us questions about things they heard. Another thing they asked about was when they saw a list being passed around for lunches for the missionaries.  They wanted to do one for us but they were already full.  So they asked us about dinner and we told them we never eat dinner and they freaked out. The gangster kid got up and was going to make us some food but his mom stopped him cause he shouldn't walk that much. So she made us something quick to eat and told me she wanted my mom to recognize me when I return home haha!  Because I'm going to be really tan and skinny, haha!

So that was a lil part of my week. I love it here in Mossoro. I'm starting to realize that this may be my last month here and I don't want to leave.  It sucks when you are friends with almost everyone in the ward. So I'm going to work hard here while it lasts. Me and wilson are starting to workout every morning, playing some basketball.  I had some kids watching me this morning and they were freaking out haha-it was fun! 

com amor 

Elder Mauter

painho manha!!!!!!!
What's up fam,
Ya, so my comp got transferred to Natal and also dos santos. So only me and the other American stayed. My new comp is from Sao Paulo, he looks like Legend Artis! He's pretty cool and I like him.  I know I will learn alot from him because he never wants to stop working or talking about the gospel. Which is good for me cause now that's the only thing I get to think about. I guess I'm a true mish now, even though I wanna try and change the subject sometimes. But that doesn't happen haha! But he's cool he's really organized and we can only do things that are on the schedule.  I guess the Lord thinks I need to learn to be more organized or something.  So I'm learning, even though it's kinda annoying sometimes. I'll deal with it hah! And also I'm learning how to clean a house for real.  Like I like to have a clean house and all and I clean our house but my new comp likes to have that place sparkling! So we were all cleaning our house for the bigger part of the morning today. I think I can lick the floors now. He only has like 2 more transfers left in the mission so he'll probably finish here.

We try and teach all the time and we are  even leaving to teach right now so I have to hurry my email, so sorry if it's weak this week. We also got another American in our house. I had met him before when I was first leaving Natal at the bus station coming here. We had already talked alot there and know each other well, and he's so funny haha. Me and him have stayed out the last couple of days talking to our neighbors at night joking with them haha. He's from Miami Florida and has only like 6 more months left in the mission.

Last week I finally got to baptize Marcos!!!!!! This kid é legal de mais(is cool). He was having faith problems because of the last interview that he didn't pass. But I just talked with my new companion and told him we were going to be at that kids house everyday and Saturday. And we will walk with him to the church Sunday. So that was the big thing this week.

We met a lot of new people this week by going and teaching a young kid. We actually are meeting with his parents and teaching them too.   Investigators that are older are a lot harder to work with, but I'd rather it be that way and baptize families.  So we are working hard. So hopefully we can have alot of people to baptize next Sunday. That's what we are planning for.

I'm starting to wake up in the morning to go workout with a member in my ward who is huge. So I'm trying to learn from him and get big again. So like today I woke up at 6am and ran all the way to the center of Mossoro and did pull-ups, sit-ups and stuff there. Then I actually met this guy that used to live in Texas.  He came up to me cause I guess I just stand out as an American with my ASU shirt on, out here repping in Brazil!!! He was cool, he has that super cowboy American accent. So I actually didn't workout alot today cause I was talking to him for the most part of my time about our church, sports and stuff. He invited me to go spear fishing with him haha, I wish. I might just have to break some rules and go with him-jk mom.

You guys all look like your having fun out there in AZ. I love your emails and I love you guys (e eu amo vocês).
eu sei que se nós trabalhamos duro o senhor vai nos ajudar em nossas dificuldades  (I know that if we work hard the Lord will help us in our difficulties)
tchau -bye
Elder Mauter

Opa,

Dang, what has Gav been eating? Because that kid looks tall in that pic you sent with you and Kimber, mom. Or it's probably just because you guys are short haha!! But thats sweet to hear Kimber is home from her mish and you guys got to be there. She's probably going to feel so weird for the first month.  Everyone I talk to who's going home this week are all like dead haha. They are so nervous to go home.  But I hear that's what the mission does to you.

Transfers are this week, so we'll find out Wednesday if I'll get transfered or not.  I'm pretty sure my comp will leave and I'll stay in this area for one or two more transfers. I hear from people that missionaries can stay here for like 6 months. But I don't think I want to stay for 2 more transfers haha!  I don't like looking at the same thing everyday, like I already know all the dogs on the street by name and plus I want to move around.  But I love the people here so I want to stay at least one more but the Prez always makes weird changes so no one really knows who will stay or leave.

This week I really didn't do much. I just went back and forth from the hospital with my comp because he was sick all week with some virus he got from a mosquito. I hear it's going around because alot of people have got it. But I won't so don't worry mom. The hospital in my area isn't that bad but its still different than the ones in America.  They are a little sketchy. And I'm glad I wasn't the one getting 30 shots.

I've noticed people are always looking at me for long periods of time here. So it's a little weird sometimes haha! Because I don't know what to do, wink or make a weird face back haha. But I won't wink cause I don't want any Brasileira's getting any ideas haha. I was with an older member last week that always helps us and his name is Heider. He's like in his 30s and with my comp in the hospital, we were talking about this because he noticed it too. So this one time I made a weird face at this woman that was starring at me. Me and him just died laughing forever.

My comp is better now so that's good but this whole week I was on divisions with other missionary's who are from a different area in Mossoro.  I like them a lot.  One of them can speak English and he's a Brasileiro. Then I was with dos santos for 3 days and then elder moffat the new American mish on Saturday. So that was really cool.  It gave me an idea of what it's going to be like when I'm a senior comp. Especially on Saturday with the new mish becuase he doesn't talk that much so I had to do all the work. But I learned a lot last week.

Last Friday our zona-(and each dupla) did a special fast for a different dupla(duo). I hope it helped the people I was fasting for because I about died fasting for 24 hours. I could barely study that day because I had a bad headache.  But it's all worth it. I wanted to see what the power of fasting can really do. I always learn the miracles of fasting when I read about it in the BoM (that I finished last week).

Last Saturday I was with elder moffat and we went around visiting my investigators that would be baptized on Sunday.  Two of them weren't home but we found one and she said she would as soon as we arrived at her door step. So that was cool and I really didn't have to say much, she's 11 yrs old. So on Sunday when me and my comp went to get her and take her to the bus that brings us to the church she had decided not to be baptized. So that was a bummer. But also with kids I don't know if you know this but as missionaries we need to get their parents to sign a paper of their approval before they are allowed to be baptized.

Also, last Saturday another kid we've been teaching choose to be baptized so I needed that paper signed by his parents too. I've never talked to his parents because we taught him on the street whenever we could find him playing soccer or other stuff. So this was my first time to do this without my comp and especially without someone that speaks fluent Portuguese haha. I knew I had to do all the talking myself. As we were walking up his street I saw a house with at least 5 people outside and I was just thinking -"Please don't let that be his house!" But of course it was his house.

I went with dos santos earlier last week to do the same thing and it didn't go so well. The girl's mom told us that her daughter doesn't know what she wants for sure. We tryed explaining the importance and about our lessons but she wouldn't listen. So I was expecting one of those experiences again, but it went well I think.

I talked about our church with them and the importance of baptism and why we needed to have the paper signed. There was a kid there who was around 22 and he told me that he was baptized in our church but doesn't go. So I invited him to come to church. He had a broken foot from riding a motorcycle. I talked to him about motorcycles and riding quads and stuff like that, so that helped too. I know the Lord helped me right in that moment to talk to all of them and to understand them. Also in being able to relate to them by talking about riding motorcycles. I felt that helped me gain their trust so I could get the paper signed and also have a good discussion with all of them.

Portuguese is coming along well. Everyone always tells me I understand everything they are telling me and how much different it was when I first arrived haha.

Mom, I just sent all the cards I wrote to our address for the Wolffs, Wagstaffs and grandma Mauter. So just send those to them when you get them.  I'm going to have more I hope soon. A member, br Heider wrote Gavin a letter.  He is studing English but he doesn't know much. So you'll have to try really hard to understand it haha! There's a few words you'll need to google translate.  I didn't write the translation because it's funnier and I'll write a letter soon to Gavin too.

eu amp vocês
Elder Mauter

Hey fam bam!!
This week was quick with gereral conference and everything going on so I really don't have anything cool to say this week desculpe.. but I got to watch conference in english thank goodness hahah! All the amaricans were able to jam in the small computer room to watch the session on Saturday, but after the first session they let us into the high priest room and they set up a projector which was way better cause it had air conditioning and comfy chairs. We totally ice boxed the place because we thought we might as well enjoy it while we can haha. but I really liked the talks from conference.  Its way different when you actually pay attention hahha but the only thing they talked about was getting married so that got me thinking a lil and a lil trunky ahha jk I'm still all here and not looking for a brasileira yet mom. How, was conference for you guys.  It sucked because I didn't get monkey bread but I guess you guys didnt either so I'm cool with that. But in between conference a member made us like 30 homemade pizzas with chicken, ham, brats, onions,tomatoes and pepper's.  They were so bomb and I ate so much.  So when we ended up leaving we had like 10 min to get to the church and we all tried running but we couldnt because we were so full haha.

This week because of Easter is also called semana santa (Holy Week)and for three days everyone eats fish... so guess what. I ate a bunch of fish this week and when I say fish its not your fillet fish. But a straight up whole fish haha! It's still not good to me  but I ate it everytime we had it, because I need to keep up my reputation that I eat everything haha. It was funny because here this lady, when you dont eat or don't have one of the dishes like beans on your plate the people will sit there and all criticize you haha. It happened to my comp this week. He didn't have beans on his plate and I swear everyone in the house was like "you don't like beans?" Why don't you like my food? It was so funny because they wouldn't stop until he did and same with the other american mish, because he's picky too. He got asked the same question but he doesn't understand so he nodded his head Yes haha - we were all like Noooooo..  But I think the fish thing is a catholic tradition. Ask grandma but everyone here does it.

Another funny thing that happened this week, I don't know why I'll even tell you guys this but I broke a chair when I was sitting on it. haha! It couldn't handle my american size!  So now I have broken a chair and a bicicyle here this transfer and I have this last week to go, so we'll see what else I'll break on accident.

I received Kim's package this week so tell her Thank-You!! She always writes me too so I'm going to send a letter out today to her and everyone too I hope, if i can get to the post office.  I have already written some.  I dont know if I should just send them all to you mom and then you can mail them or what. I got a bunch of letters this week too and all the missionaries hate me now haha! Because when they were handing out the letters everyone was around, and only my name was getting called hahah so Thanks everyone!

Kim put two water guns in my package. So me and dos santos grabbed them and messed with our comps.  Then we started to get our neighbors too haha!  It was so fun and now looking back on it I realize I cant believe what my life has come to. With me having a blast with two water guns and a 18 yr old and 19 yr old kids! Haha

But mom, thanks for all the talks you sent me and that Michael Jordan talk I'll end up translating it in Portuguese so I can use it because I like it alot. But mom when I ask for pictures I don't want one picture of our family and 4 pictures of myself. What am I going to do with those pics -hand them out to all the brasileiras here(;

This week and last week we have been working with 4 people and we scheduled their dates of baptisms for this Sunday. So this week we are going to work extra hard and focus on them to get them baptized.  We will visit them everyday until they get dunked in some water. It's sometimes hard with my comp latley becasue he is slowly dying.   Because he only has 5 months left, so he's getting pretty lazy and i guess our zone leaders saw it and i had a interview with the prez this week about him. The prez wanted to know if i was actually receiving training from him and stuff but im going to try to push my comp to do more this next week. So I'll see if the next transfer if i stay with him. But everything here is good.  Sounds like everything is good at home too. Ill be there in 20 months now,haha!

eu amo voces.
keep me updated on everything and everyone falou
Elder Mauter