Merica!!!
Ya, here in Brazil it definetly isn't the same when it comes to American holidays.  It's pretty dead in the road right now which isn't very normal. I'm sure ill hear some fireworks today because Brazilians like to shoot them off at anytime even for an American holiday. They dont have laws like we do saying they can't. So it can be like 8 oclock if they want. But transfers hasn't happend yet we will find out tomorrow where we will go or stay. We just had an emergancy transfer last week so I'm the only American left here to celebrate the 4th haha but its pretty cool.

That's awesome that you guys went to Utah to see the Tim McGraw concert! Chase didn't end up going? But ya we really havent felt the change of our new Mission President yet. President and sister Colleoni got here on Friday and sent us a message on our phones on Sunday.  That's the only notice that we have gotten from them. I'm sure next transfer he'll visit all the zones to get to know the missionaries.

But last week was pretty cool, we ended up entering in a new area that we have never worked in. We were actually trying to find a members brother who isnt baptized. We tried last week to find him but we ended up getting ourselves lost and walking for like 2 hours haha so that wasn't good so this time we used google maps to find his house and we found out its not as far as we thought it was. We ended up finding him this week in the road playing soccer with his friends. Which was funny cause I told my comp before that I bet he won't be home but playing soccer haha. When we got there and we got to know a bunch of people there.  His uncles and friends that are my age a bunch of cool kids that like to talk a lot! A bunch of them werent able to go this Sunday but told us they'll go next week so now I want to stay here haha. Its cool cause where they live its been a really long time since missionaries have worked there and some older people still remember. People from other religions calling us over to talk to them and wanting us to help the people in their neighborhood! I can tell that your prayers have been working! It seem like everytime on my mission that we are doing so well the Lord literally throws people in our way!

Ill let you guys know what happens with transfers. I liked the pics that you sent! One group of them didnt go threw though. But love you guys!
Elder Mauter