I love these people!

WOOO! 20 Years Old! Mannnnnn, I feel like a Man! So yea, the tradition here when its your birthday, is for someone to crack an egg on your head, and pour flour on you.. So yea, If I wasnt sleeping with one eye open last night..lets just say you could have put me in an oven and made me into a cake haha. Brasilians are crazy haha. But im good, nobody has gotten me yet. But last night I ate cake at 3 different houses. And today I dont even know how many more times I will eat ha. I love these people. Ill prolly gain weight this week. Because tomorrow a member is making us hamburgers! YES!! i got all those birthday wishes, they were sweet! Thanks everyone.

So yea, transfers is next week. And Im pretty sure im outta here. But nobody knows for sure :D. Today in the street market i bought a Rede. (hammock) cause I dont know if ill go to an area that doesnt have a nice market. Or if ill be transferred by boat, and have to sleep on the boat in a hammock. We´ll just have to see. I want to be transferred on the Amazon!

This past week, I got addicted to abacate.. hmmm, I dont remember what fruit that is in english, but its green and has a big seed in the middle. But yea, ive been making shakes everyone morning with that and bananas and some other stuff, and its amazing! But this week I bought Cupuaçu. MMMM! Im going to bring home some Cupuaçu for yall to try out. its amazing. Im going to bring home pulp of Cupuaçu and Açai. And Ill make some great shakes for you guys.

Also we had stake conference Sunday, and haha. I had to wear my jacket.. Its so embarrassing wearing that thing now.. Its like a blanket on me. But im just glad that ive lost weight out here. I feel a lot better. Ive started to do jump rope in the mornings. Thats helping build me up as well.

Sorry I didnt really take any pics this week. Im going to take one with all of my favorite members though. But mom,have a lot of people added me as a friend on facebook from brasil? just dont reject anyone.

I hope everything is going good back home. That yalls cruise is super fun! ha, Sounds cool that yall are visiting ruins in Mexico. You should have came a little more south, and went down the Amazon. :D But the work here is doing good. Im working my heart out. Trying my hardest. Keep up the prayers. I love you guys!

 Tchau Thcua

Elder Arroyo

Water attracts mosquitoes, rats, spiders. Pretty much everything that I hate

Hey mom. Wow, thats so crazy that school is getting out. Yea Destinee will be a freshman and whos knows what grade Justin will be in. Lets see, The schooling system here is different. Because its just now starting to be an `important thing to have` hah.. But the people here go to school for like 3 hours a day. But theres also a lot of people that dont go to school. So yea, its summer here all the time ha. 

These are my shoes! Good as new, right!? haha

Man, ?I thought it was hot before, but now its getting into the hot hot hot season. It feels like were in an oven! Its so hard to sleep at night, its just like the little fan that we have blows hot air.. and theres a lot more mosquitoes. So I bought some things today that I can burn in our room at night that will keep them away. But yea, I dont like sweating in my sleep, ha with mosquitoes all over me. But its these experiences that are life changing :D. hah jk

So we had another baptism on Saturday. 

Baptism of Carlos

It was suppose to be 2, but one fell, and shell be baptised this Saturday. Its all good. Its gets pretty complicated preparing so many people for baptism (not bragging) But its definitely worth it.

So I hit my 11 month mark yesterday! And ive been in Bragança for forever hahaha. Ive made sooo many great friends! Not only members, But as well, people around the city. So my birthday should be pretty well taken care of. I hope haha.

But I mean, we working super hard. Doing the Lords work. Sweating, eating more fruits that you can even imagine! along with tropical fish. 

I found some guy selling these jars of like
cream of exotic fruits definitely bought this jar of Maracujá! 

This week im going to see if I can fry an egg on the road.

We made this sweet pizza with everything on it.

Thats great that yall went to the temple. Man, I miss that place. Thats going to be like the first thing I do when I get back. Just go straight to the temple! Yea, I was totally talking with my comp about craw fish boils this week. I miss them! Im jealous! Man, Def take some pics and send me some. But I love you mom! Going to see if I can send some pics! Have a great week! Hug the family! Even though they didnt respond to my emails! Tchau tchau!

Elder Arroyo

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The water attracts mosquitoes, rats, spiders. Pretty much everything that I hate haha.

How are the Bragantinos? There doing great.

HEY MOM! Man, I miss you! Seems like forever since the last time I wrote you. So yea, Baptisms every week here! Not just in Ala Bragança but also in Alegre. We share the church here. We have been working very diligently, and its showing, from weekly baptisms. Im so happy!

So this week, We went to Belem for Zone Conference, it was great as always. Got pumped, learned new stuff, and back out to work. But there was a box there from Sister Burton! My birthday is like in 2 weeks! And then ill have like 1 year out here! I wonder what my calling will be next transfer.

Weve been teaching with the spirit. Because when it comes time for the baptism invitation, no one has a problem. So Pregar Meu Evangelho é meu melhor amigo. Without this book, I dont know what I would do haha. I dont even want to see how dad taught lessons in his time. Just have to practice practice practice. apply apply apply, work work work, repeat repeat repeat.

Ohhh Destinee, everyone knows that it is jimmy that is the favorite! ha! I totally forgot that school gets out next week! wow...That happened so fast..Being on a mission, is way cooler than being in school haha. 

So how are the Bragantinos? There doing great. Its getting hotter in this time of the year, So I think im the only one suffering. Feels like there are more mosquitoes at night.

Ahh, I want to go to El Paso! tell jimmy to bring Siphon Filter! haha, those grenades were wayyy jipped. wow, Is it really that close to my time to come home? It makes me feel sick thinking about it. Ive got plenty of time left! :D I hope everyone is doing good at home. I love you mom! And dad! And Destinee, and Justin! And jimmy! And Rachael! Tchau tchau!

The Day After Mother's Day

Hmmm, So I dont know what to say. Well. Im soaking wet, and freezing in this air conditioned room. Im going to die in the winter when I come home. So talked to you guys yesterday. Its was great to see everyone! Everyone looks so grown up. My time went by too fast!

lets see, we have zone conference in Belem tomorrow. Ill get to see if anyone is writing me. Prolly not ha. I have no idea what to write.. ha. I said everything yesterday. So lets see if I can have another adventure this week. I love you guys! Have a great week! Tchau Tchau!

Elder Arroyo

My I dont want to roll up my pants again, face.

Miles of dirt roads and amazon

Hey mom. So yea, I didnt get transferred. But there is a new guy in the house, his name is Elder Trindade. Hes way cool. This week, was crazy for me. Lets just say my companion had to sit outside the bathroom door for our comp studies. Is it possible to have diarrhea for a week straight? MY stomach was awwwful. I just be walking down the street and like Ah man, I gotta use someones bathroom fast! haha. But now its getting a lot better.

Last week, me and my comp were walking down a street, and there was this gigantic Iguana in the middle of the road. Its had to have been 5 ft long, and just fat! haha, So we went up to it to mess with it of course. And right as my comp got close to it. It jumped in the air and smacked my comps leg with its tail! He screamed like a girl. It was sooo funny. But these things have force. And this one was just Bravo. I dont remember that word in English.

This is my I dont want to roll up my pants again, face.

Also this Sunday there was no power in all Bragança. So at church the fans couldnt run. So it was suuuuper hot.

But yea, about Mothers Day! Ill write it in another email! the details! I love you mom! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, as well. Someone told me that those tornados or something happened in the states. And I got worried, Like whats up with my fam and stuff. And no body told me anything. I asked the Zone Leaders to ask president. And no body did anything. So I went to a members house to check what happened. So dad and jimmy are going to help clean? Thats cool. Just like old times. Hope everything is good out there. 

Baptisms last Saturday

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Ok, So we dont know if we can use skype or just the phone. But we´ll know tomorrow. But just in case. The number to the Phone that ill be using is 055-91-*snip out personal info*. That is with the country and area code. and the skype is *snip out personal info*. But I will call Saturday to fix a time. What time is church? and will Dad and jimmy be back by then? I have another 20 mintues! Please be on..

Its like a dream land. Really.

Bom Dia mom. Man, Just took a good look at all the pics. Talk about trunky ha, jk jk. Im good. Man, Everyone looks so different. Justin is getting so big! and Man, Jimmy looks so different. Were all just getting so old. Thanks great that our room got changed into a club. ha. Looking forward to that. Looks like everyone is doing just fine back home. Thanks a million for the pics!

So yea TRANSFERS! Im staying! Woot! with Elder Payne! So that means ill be in this area for my birthday! Man, mom. I would do anything for a back scratch right now. I get my comp to scratch my back for me, But its just not the same. My first day back, I just need a full week of just straight massages, anti diarria pills and anything but rice, beans, or fish. ha. nah, But I truly do love it here. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. Especially aqui em Bragança. There is really no better place than this.

So on Saturday we went to Belem, and I got to shake hands with Elder Niel L. Anderson. And he talked to our mission. And this is I think the first time that our mission has ever been in one room at the same time. The whole Brasil, Belem Mission. So president bought airplanes for everyone in Santarem and Amapa. It was great getting to see everyone and hearing an apostale talk to us.

We didnt really do anything special for Easter. Just our normal routine. I bought some chocolate. but me and my comp are in contest right now to see who can lose more weight in a transfer, So we bought like only fruits today. And this morning we played basketball at a park, and a bunch of little brasilian kids came and watched us. ha its was great. But im doing very good out here. Everything is fine. Going on a year. Working hard! Hope everything is the same back home! I love you mom! Tchau Tchau!

Elder Arroyo

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Yea mom, really. You cant even imagine, what braganca is like. Its like a dream land. Really. Ha, Tell Hunter he cheats at that game! Watch his eyes! Indiana Jones and the raider of the lost ark! No one can get that one! haha let him know I said that.

Families sitting on the benches that I baptized

Hey mom, Another P-Day, another visit to the cyber! hmmm, So this week, we continued working really hard. Completing most of our goals.. But yea, just another ordinary week. Except now, its starting to not rain as much. So man is it hot here. Sunscreen doesnt help ha. It just burns right through it. The sun goes through everything, my hair, my shirt. Its pretty intense.

But yea, im getting use to the working life. The cold showers arent so bad anymore. Or I just dont remember the hot ones! But yea, I totally miss having my clothes washed and dried in like 1 hour at home. Cause here its like a 3 day process, if your lucky.

Hmm, lets see ahh, yesterday at church, I walk into the sacrament room for sacrament and the room was paaaacked. And I went and sat down in the back, and just looked around with a huge smile on my face, cause there were families sitting on the benches that I baptised, or that I brought back to church. so now theres not even enough room for everyone to sit on the benches. Man! That was just the best feeling in the world. Families make a huge difference in the church. Yea sure, you can baptise a 12 year old easy, but he]ll go to church 1 or 2 Sundays and then he´ll lose interest and stop going to church. Or you can baptise his parents first and let the father baptise his family, or baptise to whole family together, you get the chief of the family a testimony, and then its easier to get the family in. and then its way more solid. Its not easy.. But its definitely worth the view when you walk into the sacrament room a little late, to get a glance of what its going to look like after this life :D.

So today PDAY, at 7:30 this morning we starting painting our house. Not true, we have just been cleaning the walls and sanding everything down to be painted later in the afternoon. So its definitely not fun painting when your the tallest one.. hah. gotta do everything. My arm is killing me. But its worth it. Its already looking better. I really hope I dont leave here this upcoming transfer.

But Elder Neil L. Anderson of the twelve is coming to talk to us this Saturday!! Ahh! Im soo pumped! Its going to be siiick! This mission has been booming and been like the main thing in the Liahona magazine ^´Local parts^ about how much our mission is increasing with stakes and stuff! Temple in Belem??? we´ll just have to see what Elder Anderson has to say.

Its called star fruit? Have you every eaten it? Its suuper sour, when its half green! It killed my tongue. But yea, Next pday ill see if I can send you the names of a lot of fruits that I eat here. Buuut I just got 3 emails, so im going to end it here! I love you mom! And everyone else! Have a great week!

Elder Arroyo

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MAN! Tottaly forgot Mothers day is coming up too! WOOT! Phone call! Man, all I think about is my investigators! `please recieve an answer in your prayer`Please have desire to come to church``Prepare for baptism`stuff like that.  I love you!

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Force Destinee to put a letter in the box!

God definitely blesses us and answers our prayers

Boa Dia! So how did you like the photos? Just got back from the street markets. Ahh man, I love the fruits! I just cant stop talking about them! Lets see the other day I ate a fruit called Carambola. It was a huge one, and like part green and orange, your supposed to eat them when theyre like yellow. So ahh, it like burned my lips and my tongue, and my throat. But it was pretty good. just suuuuuper sour. Let me know if they have it there.

 Hmm, So this week. Me and my comp, man we taught sooo many lessons. We have a lot of new people. But no one will come to church! its killing me! Me and my comp are getting along very well. As long as you follow the rules and do everything your supposed to, there is no way you can stop liking him. And definitely comp inventory is good every week. But yea, I guess you can definitely compare that to real life. that as long as we are following the commandments, and doing everything the church tells us to do. We;ll have a more happier life. Like the children's hymn Follow the Prophet.

The other day after a lunch I was asked to share the message, `what feels like every time`. and After the message, The man of the house, brought me into his room, and showed me on his bed his book of Mormon opened to the same scriptures that I did my message on. And he said, that he had been praying to the Lord all morning to have a better understanding. So I thought that was very cool, that God definitely blesses us and answers our prayers through other people.

 Hmm lets see, the other week, we bought a basketball for 15 bucks, and we have been playing basketball every morning in a park near by. Man, being so much lighter definitely helps. I can alllllmost slam dunk dad! Almost there! But my comp asked the zone leaders if we can play basketball in the morning, and they told us that we arent a loud to anymore.. So... Our dreams got shot down.. Ill ask president if we can keep playing, in my next interview. But yea.

 umm, is there anyone out there that would want a letter? Oh, the other day some guy got on my facebook or looked at it, and then I saw a picture, and I was like man, click on that. And it was Destinee! Man, She has definitely changed in the past couple months. Ha. Hows she doin?

 Ha, you should def make a book. And yea Francisco `deaf man` got baptized and received the holy ghost. And def one of the strongest members in the ward, just looking for opportunities to help. Man, The mission is definitely going by super fast for me! too fast! Going on one year already! I dont wanna come home! yea, I definitely have a huge testimony on the atonement now. I prolly didnt even know what that word meant before the mission. Its just the people here have just been raised with apostasy. Fake churches telling them fake things. And its getting pretty hard on me, teaching the people and in the middle of the lesson theyll say something that one of there fake preachers said, and its just like. Forget everything that you have been taught in your whole life, and right now, were going to fix you. Its so sad, because its not their fault. its all these churches. Ive never been somewhere that has as many churches as they have here. billions. But were doing our best to help the people find out the truth!

I love you guys. And lemme know when you get that box out. Have a great week. and let me know anything new thats up over there. Tchau tchau

 ELDER ARROYO

The Atonement is like a tool

Good Morning mom! Man Conference was Great! Ha! Jimmy prolly got slammed by everyone. Yea, we watched it at the church building, and man, there was a good amount of people in our small chapel! ha, and everyone was just sweating like crazy haha. 

Watching General Conference

I almost died, But I payed attention the whole time! and took a lot of notes! I like the one by ummm, Kent Richards or something like that, He really brought out the Atonment and just put it in simple discription.

One of the strongest topics that we teach out here is the Atonement. Its like a tool, and everyone has it. Were just here to teach them how to use it. It can fix Anything. When people think that there is just no going back from the stuff they did in this life, teach them about the tool that they have, show them how to use it, and then watch their life get back up and going.

On the Rio Caeté 

A lot of people have a testimony of Jesus Christ, But you ask them what the atonement is, and they have no idea. im so grateful for all the life changing experiences that im having out here. All the new things im learning, and all the people that I am saving. Without the atonement of Jesus Christ there would be no way we could return to our Father in Heaven.

I remember one day, I sat down on a couch in someones house, and wasnt really paying a lot of attention, but then my attention was turned to the TV, and it was some television series, and It was pretty loud and had English subtitles, and I was like hmm, Why is there English subtitles when theyre speaking English. And then I realized, they werent speaking English, they were speaking portuguese. I understood everything they were saying as if they were saying it in English! Ha! Random, But I thought it was a neat experience.

So this week weve just been getting more families ready for baptism.!I know they will all be ready to enter the waters of baptism before this month ends. Nothing really interesting happened, Just more lessons and more people to teach.

So The box never got sent, its ok. well, im going to send some photos really quick before my time ends! LOVE YOU ALL!!!! TCHAU!

Elders Arroyo & Payne

ELDER ARROYO

I'd rather this happen than see an angel

Woot! thanks for the email mom! hah. So thisss week! Me and Elder Payne have been working like crazy. We slept in Castanhal for 2 days. and had some training from president. It was some pretty good training. So the main thing was, is that if were not baptizing every week, were doing something wrong.. So me and my comp came back to Braganca and hit the ground running, looking for people to baptize this week.

But Saturday came and it just didnt happen. And we did everything fasted prayed and just worked! and nothing. So were just like man... whats up with this. and then, Sunday comes, and were sitting in priesthood, and there is this guy sitting in the front with a tie shirt and everything, but ive never seen him before, and I was like, hes prolly just a member. But he came to our Gospel Principles class, and we asked his what his name was. But he cant speak, or hear. So he mouthed everything out. And then immediately starting doing hand movements of baptism. And we showed him a picture of Jesus being baptized. and his face lit up, and he showed us that he wanted to be baptized. And we asked him when and he said ´now´ and my heart just dropped. He already knew everything. he had pamphlets from other missionaries. And was super excited to be baptized right there and then. I wish you could have just seen the look on this mans face. But I mean, id rather this happen than see an angel. This was definitely a miracle in our eyes. So yea, I just thought Yall would like that story. miracle of the week.

I love teaching the people here. Just clap your hands in front of the door, and there almost excited to see us. Ahh come in come in. And then we just go in there and do what were here for. My favorite part in the lessons is when the spirit is at its highest and you invite everyone for baptism! And at the ends of our lessons when were marking the part of the Book of Mormon for them to read. We give the Book to the little 9 year olds in the family. Cause in most cases the parents dont know how to read. Because of the lack of education here back in the day.

 Hmm, So its been raining a lot still. so my clothes are never drying. I got 2 size large shirts from my old comp, and I use those now.  cause my other ones were getting super big on me. But the Work here is doing good. And I love it here in Braganca. after this me and my comp are going to the river to chill and take pics. the river is high right now, so theres a bunch of boats docked up, sellin there loads.

 Anyways, Thats great that your sharing my emails. I hope everyone that reads them is enjoying. And thats cool that you keep that stuff out, I was actually thinking about that the other day. Ahhhhh thank goodness the dew can is still there. Tell them to take care of it haha. Ah, Hunter I miss that guy. thats sweet that hes been hangin out with jims. Not the big screen?? it blew up?? ahh man... aww well haha. So yea, ill be trying to take more pics annnnd ill send some in my next email, next week of me at the river. Sounds like everything is doing great back home. Goin on 10 months here in the mish. almost a year. That sounds suuuper crazy haha. I remember saying like I was 2 weeks. ha. is going suuuper fast. But I love you mom! Thanks for everything! Give a hug to everyone back home! ha give one to hunter! But gotta go! Tchau thcau!

 Elder Arroyo