Hey!

So last week went by really fast but wasn't really a good week here again, but it is whatever. So last week me and my comp have been working really hard teaching a bunch of people in a neighborhood that we found thats really far from our house.  Its been going really well, everyone there are relatives somehow - its kinda weird but its also cool cause they all greet us a lot and want us to teach them. 

Last week one of the zone leaders traveled to our area and stayed in our house for like 4 days to do a checkup on everyones work and the area. That was pretty cool cause he got to see how our area really is. We have been teaching a really big family but some of them have drinking problems so we'll have to work with that. The older couple that we are teaching talk about the same thing and recite the same scripture's over and over so it makes it a lil difficult when we are teaching her and her husband. They want to make a visit to church but its a long trip for them. But when we passed by there  house in the morning on Sunday they were sitting outside awake not doing anything but still didn't come.

We also found another family that we made a contact with, who have 2 girls around my age in the street. They are our main focus right now because their dad works on Sunday's and their mom does nothing but needs to stay in the house for some reason. We got the girls to commit to come to church this week but the night before, Saturday there was this big party in downtown Currais Novos and everyone went so when we passed by their house bright and early in the morning they were sick......so I think I'm just getting some of my own medicine from God, for all the times I tried to play that sick card for mission prep or something. So hopefully my sentence is wrapping up here in a lil bit. But no, we are working hard and even with alot of difficulties in this area I'm glad I have a comp I can joke around with when things don't go right.

Last week I had two of the same type of experiences, one with my comp and another with balich when we were walking in the street.  The first one some guy came up to us with a huge liquor bottle and asked us what we could do to help him give it up. We explained that the church can really help get his mind focused on quiting and that he needed to give up the bottle right now if he wanted to commit but he didn't so he wasnt committed. Then another time I was walking with balaich and some kid that is 27 years old started calling for us, yelling "elders" so we turned around and talked with him for a little. This guy was tripping bad and he wanted us to pray for him so I asked him what he needed help with and he pulled out a crack pipe from his pocket and said he "really" wants to give it up but its hard so I told him the first thing he could do is give me the pipe and I'd throw it. Then he could pray for help and that I would pray for him too but he didnt want to do that so I don't know what he really wants.

Sunday me and my comps investigators didn't show up to church even after we walked all the way there to wake them all up and to make sure they were coming and one guy was ready to go with his brother all dressed and stuff and told us that he'd grab a motor taxi at like 8:40 because he's on crutches.  We were pretty pumped but he didnt show up. We had this one kid show up that said he wants to be baptized next week so we will get him prepared. Me and my comp left the last class of church cause we weren't in a good mood cause the members here aren't that faithful but only a few. We received a reference from a girl in the branch so we went there to teach her. Shes really cool this girl that we met. We taught her and her mom. The girl has already been 3 times to the church but she said no missionaries have ever passed by her house before. She said she liked the church and thought conference was cool but didn't understand it because it was in English.  So that can tell you about this ward, I can't blame her. When i was in mossoró they had general conference in Portuguese. I don't know what the problem is here.. 

But everything is going good I'm happy and I'm ready to start this week over again. I love you guys and pray for you guys always. Good luck with training mom, I bet it'll be hard during training but it will be alot better in the end haha better than doing the same thing for another 26yrs! Gav good luck with high-school hahah I already finished(; but high school is alot better just don't slack off because its alot easier there and try to play lots of sports and get the girls. Chase good luck with your EMT get that money so you can get married, but don't get married before I get home.. and I don't know what Josh is doing but I bet he's going to CGCC so good luck with that -get those grades!!

Elder Mauter

ps. Did you get my package, can you put extra insoles in the box for my Johnson and Murphy shoes cause i can use them alot more its just that the insoles are jacked and its getting uncomfortable. More ties and maybe some dye for my gray pants cause they are almost all red from the sun. Don't  worry about putting a bunch of treats that will take up space put stuff like card games or stuff that I can use on my mission. Thanks mom and dad sorry I ask alot haha