Opa familia,

Sounds like everyone is doing really good out there in AZ. It sounds like you guys had a good time in Cali for the 4th of July, except for Jen on the water kayaking. I didn't get transferred. I stayed with my same comp and everyone in my house stayed too.

Today when we were walking in the outdoor food market which has really cheap stuff to buy like fruit and stuff we like to get, we stopped to buy banana’s from this one guy and he began talking to us and said, "I like you guys I'll give you 12 bananas for 2 reals haha! He was asking us where we were from and stuff so we bought them and then a few minutes later we passed by there again just walking back and he yelled at us again and told us to come back and he gave us free pineapple!

4th of July Apple Pie

My 4th of July was pretty legit. We have a member here that I already talked about that served a mission in Colorado. He knows how important this day is to us. He made the 4th really special for us and it was perfect because it was his day to give almoço lunch. He bought a bunch of stuff for hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, hotdogs and apple pie for this day. All the elders went over to his house in the morning to help him make all the food because the sister's did last time.  It was pretty cool, my comp has two American flag ties so he gave one to me. That day we all used red, white and blue pens to write our reports, lessons and stuff haha. I'm  surprised we didn't get shot that day. I'll send you guys pictures once I get my memory card to work. I'm going to get my package this week too, so I'm pumped!
This week will be good!

Working out flipping tires

A funny story that happened this week when I was walking in the road with my companion to go to an investigator's house.  We were walking and all of a sudden some dude started yelling in English "help me, help, come here!" So I went over and talked to this dude and he then started talking in Portuguese cause he didn't know in English more than help me.  He asked me if I could help him and I said ya and he was holding a newspaper with another lil paper and he handed it to me and I didn't know what it was so I took it and then I realized that it was one of those gambling cards that you choose 4 numbers or something and he told me to do it for him haha. I told him that I can't  do this for him and I tried handing it back and he wouldn't let me haha. I asked him why he wanted me to fill  it out for him and he said it's because I'm lucky and I have the Lord with me. Then a sister in our church showed up and told him that missionary's can't do that but that she would do it for him and she put down 4 numbers.  When we were leaving I thought, I might as well invite him to church. Well he freaked  and said he would not come cause I didn't fill out his gambling card for him then he ripped the paper up, haha crazy people in Brazil.

It was fast Sunday yesterday, and I have never seen blessings come so fast for the things I was fasting for. Within an hour I got references for people to teach and in our gospel principle's class it was fuller than ever. I have never really seen blessings for fasting. Thats why its always been so hard for me to fast especially at home. But I know, especially after Sunday I know the power of fasting and that the Lord only requires a lil sacrifice for him to bless us. If you look for this there are so many examples of sacrifices in the Bible and BoM of prophets where a sacrifice was required to receive blessings.  Like when Lehi  and his family left Jerusalem and when Abraham was commanded to kill his son who was his first born with his wife Sarah that they waited so long to get. These are just some, but sacrifice is what shows our faith and everyday we are being tested.

I met this really cool family last week with a member when I went on divisions with him and Baliach. This family is super cool and also talented in music. They all can sing and play instruments and they played for us. One of the songs they played is really popular in Brazil. And also a song that the daughter sang before she died of cancer who was 11 I think. I want you guys to pray for this family. The mom is in Natal all this week because she also has cancer and hopefully will return soon. So pray that everything will turn out all right with the treatment for her.
eu amp vocês
tchau
Elder Mauter