Baptism and flooded streets

Hey Kids!!!

 

This week was a good one! We had a baptism of a investigator that we have been teaching for about three months now! Next weekend is going to be off the hook! Saturday-KC´s wedding, Sunday-Mothers day, Monday-Pday, Tuesday-Transfer day. I know that I will leave the area that I am in. President is going to put sisters in our area, which basically guarantees that I will head out of São Gabriel (unless I went to the other area here). So next Monday I will give you the details! I'm super stoked to talk to y'all Sunday!  I am super excited, I hope that this week doesn't drag because I am so excited.

 

I got the announcement for Kaycs wedding, it was very cool! I liked it a lot! I have been carrying it with me and showing it to everyone! It makes for really good conversation and the people are more willing to open up to us when we open up to them. I can't believe that Kayc is getting married! It is crazy! I'm excited for you! I was going to take a picture holding a sign that said "Parabens em seu casamento" but I couldn't find the time. Sorry, I am lazy. Maybe I will take it next week.

 

The Portuguese is coming along very well, I honestly feel that where I am right now is good enough to do missionary work.  Like I could survive if I didn't get any better for the rest of my mission. Luckily I will get better though and hopefully I can drop my accent!

 

This Friday it rained all day and the streets were flooded, we found one street that was a river, it was crazy! I tried to jump from a rock to another one so that I wouldn't get wet, but I came up short and my leg was soaked! I am getting fat here, it is starting to get sad. I've gained like 15 pounds. The tangerines here are coming in season too! There are tangerine trees all over the place and you can just pick them whenever you want, it is super cool!

 

Congrats to John and Preston, I am proud of you guys. I wont lie, there were times when I thought you guys might not make it. Haha, but you did! Good Job! I am proud of you!

 

Random tidbit, I am listening to JB christmas music right now in the Lan House. It is really kind of weird.

 

But anyway... I am super excited for Sunday! I love you guys a ton and can't wait to talk to you!!

 

Love,

Elder Stringer

Hello Family!

Hello!!!

I am pleased to announce that this week was much better than the last one! It passed super fast and I think that it is because we really worked super hard. We decided that we would really try to reach all of our goals and we worked so hard. We reached all of the ones that we can control (lessons, contacts, references, investigators etc...) We had eight people tell us that they would go to church, and guess what, none of them did. Haha, it stunk. We had reached all of our goals except the important ones (progressing investigators, sacrament meeting, etc...) We were pretty bummed. So we were walking around, contacting some peeps, you know the usual. We decided to go to one of our investigators that Elder Heleno and I started teaching in the beginning of Feb. So we went there and guess what... the first thing that she said was: "I want Stringer to baptize me." Haha so we are going to have a baptism this Saturday!(Hopefully) It was really neat and strengthened my testimony that with faith and works the Lord can do anything.

Hmmm, what else...

I don't really know, the week passed so quickly. Congrats to ol` Kayc on going through the Temple!! Very neato! The closest temple to us is in Porto Alegre so I wont go for a while ( unless the new president lets us). But I was thinking that if I have to wait a long time for my flight home I will go there.

So, I think that the easiest way to do Mothers Day would be if you guys could set up a Skype account for me and send me the info. I already have a computador ready! I don't know if it costs money to do skype, but I don't think so. Then I could get on and we could talk to each other and see each other too! We will work something out. Only 13 more days! Haha, it will be crazy! I only have a half hour just so you all know. I don't want to break the rules(too much). Heehee.

Oh, something else cool happened! An investigator that Elder Heleno and I taught got baptized! We were teaching him, but he left for Porto Alegre and he kept going to church and got baptized and I saw him yesterday and we talked and it was super cool! He's real cool and I was super happy! Yesterday was a good day!

We had district conference at church and it was a broadcast and Elder Scott spoke and he speaks Portuguese, it was pretty neat!

I love you guys a lot and hope that your week is sweet!

Love,

Elder Stringer

It was very dark...

Hey!

(the subject has nothing to do with this email)

It is really good to hear from all of you! I am not sure why but this past week felt suuupeeer longgggggg. We had zone conference on Tuesday and had to go to Santa Maria on Thursday so Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we were working really hard trying to catch up with our goals and what not. I think that this week will be calmer. I hope so at least. But I am still doing great! It is cool that Preston and John are graduating congrats! And that Kayc is going through the temple! Wish that I could be there! And I finally heard the news that Mason put up 17 in the big game!!!!!(a month after it happened). Way to go Mason! Keeping the Stringer Church ball tradition alive! So I am pretty sure that I will be transferred the day after Mothers Day, so if you have a letter to send you should send it within this week cuz it usually takes two weeks to get here. I love São Gabriel,  but I am ready to go! Ready to get out of my first area, everyone here still treats me like the little kid who can't do anything for himself. Haha, but it is all good, I really do love this place and these people! 

Elder Araújo is super cool! He joined the church when he was 18, and he has a super strong testimony. We are really working here, hopefully we will have some more success before we part ways. 

Haha! Mason had to mow! This is something that I will not miss! Take that! And that is cool that he is going to prom, you got to send me some pics. It is weird that the school year is practically over already! That is really exciting, but I might suffer knowing that you guys are having tons of fun in the summer and sleeping in and stuff. We might have to stop emailing for three months or so. I am so tired. I am glad that it is p day! 

Oh funny story! We were teaching a lesson and behind the person that we were teaching there was a dog and it picked up a little kitty in its mouth and started throwing it around! Haha, I was going to say something but it was so strange and I couldn't focus on the lesson! ( You have to imagine this one in your mind for it to be funny.) Also one of the missionaries here keeps plugging all of the toilets, we have three and I don't think there has been a time that all three were unplugged. Right now two of them are. (that's more like everyday life stuff for missionaries). 

Everyday, multiple times a day I am reminded that God exists and loves us, it really is amazing when you start paying attention. I was oblivious to this stuff before I came, but now that I am focused on it, it is really apparent. I know that you guys are the best and are the greatest examples for me! I love y'áll tons and I wish that I had more to write for you guys, but that is it for now! And I will find more out about moms day!

Love,

Elder Stringer  

Hello

To my fans and subjects throughout the world:

Monday April 15

Hello,

I have some exciting news this week. We had a baptism on Saturday. This one was very special, we found Thayna teaching her aunt and she told us that her husband was a member and she already knew about the church. We went to her house and taught her and her husband, Anderson. They are very special and we were able to reactivate Anderson and he baptized Thayna! They are expecting a child and I am happy to know that this kid can grow up in the church and maybe one day he/she will even serve a mission! What an awesome thing!

Also, our electricity got cut this Friday. We have been living without it since then. We have to use candles at night to do our planning and what not. On the "bright" side, our fridge was desperately needing to be defrosted, and now it is! Its pretty neat but I hope that we can figure out a way to get it back soon. It is real good that we have the couple missionaries here, they let us take hot showers at their house.

Elder Araújo is very cool. He has been a member for 3 years now, he has 9 months on the mission and he is very obedient. We are working hard here and hopefully we can have some success in the next 4 weeks. I think that after this transfer I will probably leave for another city. I don't know but that is just what I think. It is good to hear that y'all are doing well back at home! I am doing well here. It is hard and different without Elder Heleno here, I didn't think that I would miss him as much as I do, but it is all good.  I can do this.

I feel like I should write more but I don't really have much to write. I am doing well here, even when it is hard. It is amazing how time passes, it just passes. And it feels kind of slow in the moment, but when you look back on it it was fast. Just like that one time when Captain Jean Luc Picard stopped time and saved that one lady from the rocks. He really knew how to live in the moment! Anyway...  (I miss Captain Picard)

I love you guys a lot! I want you to know that I am working really hard! Our mission had 119 baptisms last month! It is a record for our mission! But 119 is a small number compared to a lot of other missions in Brazil. Haha, I was surprised to hear that we were one of the least baptizing missions in Brazil. Haha, but it is good! I am working hard and things will work out! I love you guys more than you know!

Until next week,

Love,

Elder Stringer

Hello!

Hey Kids!

How is it going? I am doing very well here! Conference was so sweet! I got to watch it in English, we watched it in the chapel here. There were so many good messages. I really liked both of Pres. Uchtdorf's, he is always good! Pres. Eyring gave a good one too in priesthood session that talked about member missionary work (too bad we only had 6 members there)! Its all cool though, oh and also, I am proud (and a little ashamed) to say that this was the first conference that I was awake for every minute! It was weird with the time change though, priesthood didn't start until 9 and we didn't get home until like 11:30. I am really sad now that conference is over and I have to wait 6 more months for the next one.

Elder Heleno left on Saturday morning, it is weird without him. But it is all good I am happy that I am not being trained anymore! We still don't know the transfer info though, sometime today someone is going to tell us. I think that I will stay here though. Oh, they just told me, my new comps name is Elder Araùjo. I will meet him tomorrow.

The whole missionties thing is complicated. Sometimes I get letters fast, other times they take a long time to get here. I did get my blessing though, thanks! Sounds like Mason and Mom's trip was awesome, that is good to hear. I am a little jealous.

I had a pretty wicked cold last week! It was rough,but I am doing good now. The meds that mom sent me with helped, so that's real good, Thanks mom!

Things are going real well here though! It was cold for a little while but the past week has been really hot, the weather is kinda crazy. I can't really think of much else to write, it is crazy that school is almost over and summer is going to start really soon. And Kayc is getting married in like 5 weeks or something! That is very cool! I am having a very hard time thinking of stuff to write right now, I don't know why. But things here are normal, we just keep working! I am grateful for the Prophet and Apostles that we have today, I have no doubt that they are men inspired and chosen by God and that they really do communicate with Him!

I Love you guys tons and tons!

Love,

Elder Stringer

Hey!!

Hey Guys!

How is it going?! I hope that all is well! We had a good busy week. Our baptisms all worked out! The service went really well. Also, since Easter was this week we had some festivities. We ate a whole lot of fish on Holy Friday. For the Catholics, it is a sin to eat red meat. And all the members eat fish too. It was a nice change from the rice and beans. I don't know why, but my mind just blanked.

One of our baptisms, Fatima, was really special. she had been receiving missionaries for years and never even been in the church. She told us that it was our testimonies that made her want to go. I know that the Lord prepared her for us and I have no doubts that she will stay strong in the church!  Another one of our baptisms was Claudio, a gypsy. I baptized him. I think that it is pretty cool that I can say that I baptized a gypsy! 

This is my last week with Elder Heleno. He is great and very excited to go home! haha. He has been counting the days since day 50 I think! But he works really hard and I am really glad that he was my first companion. I had (real) churrasco for the first time a couple of weeks ago!!! It was really good! I am excited to get a little rest today! Last night there was a mosquito flying around my head and buzzing in my ear. I kept slapping myself in the face! Needless to say, i didn't sleep too great. I am jealous that you guys have spring break right now. I think that I could use a week off right about now! HAHA. I guess that i will have to wait a little while for that.

Well, it was cool that we had our baptisms, but now we have to find some more people to teach. This part kind of blows. We have a descent teaching pool right now but we need to build it up a little. I am trying to think of other things to write, but honestly I can't remember much it all blurs. 

I love you guys so much!!!!! I hope that you have an incredible spring break! (Except KC who already had one), but I hope that KC has an incredible week too! Hee hee. Congrats to Mason! Love you guys tons! Have a good one!

Love,

Elder Stringer

Excluding the possibility that a female olympian from Yugoslavia was on our roof last night, what else do we have?

Hello,

How are you? I hope that things are very well over there. Things are very well here. If all goes according to plan, we will have 3 baptisms this Saturday. Hopefully, I will send some good pics next Monday! Its good to hear from all of you! I love your emails, even when they talk about having fun without me and March Madness. Dads email about all the crazy stuff that's happening in the tourney practically killed me. But its all good. I guess...

Anyway, lets see... I don't really know what to say. A lot of stuff happens here, but I can't remember any of it. Anything beyond 3 days ago blends into the last 4 months. I know that families are essential to my exaltation, but after that I am in no hurry to get married. Which is good cuz I can go rafting with Ash and John!

Elder Heleno is getting ready to go home, he leaves the week after conference. He's pretty excited, he likes to tell everybody how many days he has left. Haha, he's funny, I will miss him. I don't know if you can tell from the pic but I'm getting fat. I should start exercising  And also I found the great and spacious building! It was in the middle of no where and was really weird because I've never seen it before but its huge! Anyway so I thought that that was interesting. 

I don't know if the quote at the top is correct, but I tried my hardest. I love you guys a ton and I am sorry that I didn't write very much. But I know that this gospel changes lives. I have seen it. And if nothing else, it is a good thing. I know that it is true. It works. It is amazing, the greatest blessing. I am super grateful to be here. I am glad that I get to wake up at 6:30 every morning. I am happy that I am here. I love you all a lot and I know that these 2 years will change my life. I have realized the importance of the mission. It will mold me into who I can become, who Heavenly Father wants me to become. 

Love you guys!

Braden