July 28, 2008 (to Mom from the CTM)

Hi Mom,

Things are going so well here. We should have three baptisms in August and two more in September. My first baptism will be this Sunday! The girls name is ______ and she has been wanting to be baptized for a year but she has been living with her boyfriend cause they have a baby. I guess some things happened and they’re done and now she’s getting baptized! Its a sad story because of the boyfriend stuff but she´ll be receiving many blessings. My companion got a camera for his birthday today so Ill be sure to take some pictures.

I’m not totally sure when my next zone conference will be. Sometime in August though. We have this member friend that said we could have boxes sent to his house. His mom is pretty much our mission mom. She makes us bread all the time and feeds us. Its safe to mail packages there.

I made a new list of things that I want. But just whenever. I don’t NEED anything. Just want lots of stuff. Ha ha!

-Brownie Mix (doesn’t exist here)
-Chocolate Chip Cookie mix
-More books like that Little Book of Answers you bought for me.
-A return with honor ring. A guy in my district has one and its way sweet. Its like a spinner ring. I think it would be cool to have one.
-Garment tops. (I lost some at the CTM some how)
-Our friend Renan wants a New York Times newspaper. Haha he’s studying English and he wants one. So I told him Id ask you to send one.

That’s about it for now. The weather is terrible. Its rained for about five days straight. But its not like the rain in Utah. It dumps here for five days straight. Like more than I’ve ever seen in Utah. It’s insane. But its fun. Its pretty cold too.

I email at the Internet house. Its pretty high tec. 2,50 for one hour. But the Internet is fast so its cool.

There’s no time period of how often I’ll get a new companion. It just depends. Maybe every six weeks or maybe every four months.

Everything here is really going great. Were having a lot of success. I love it here so much. I hope I stay here for a good portion of my mission. I love you!

July 28, 2008 (São Leopoldo)

Hi!

This week was pretty good. We had seven investigators at church which is really good. It’s double what we usually have. We are having a lot of success here and we’re working hard. It’s awesome here. We have a baptisms schedule for the next three Sundays. It’s going to be awesome. I’ll get some pictures and send them.

You’ll do great on the test. If your practices are that good then for sure you’ll pass. Just don’t rush and be too confident. Haha that’s the worst. But I’ll pray for you.

How did Norman all of a sudden get so good? He’s old. That’s cool though. It’ll give golf a lot of publicity and is good for the sport. I really don’t think favre should go back. But hopefully he can do well if he really does. He can definitely beat out Rodgers for the starting job. Rodgers isn’t that good. But who knows. I heard something about the Shockey trade before I left so that’s cool that it actually went through. Any other news. How’s tigers rehab going? Have the Bucs made any trades?

The language is coming great now. I learn more every week. I understand probably about 75 percent of what people say but speaking is still pretty hard. The language is really complicated and has a lot of rules. But I’m learning fast. Continue praying for me. I love you! Good luck on your test!

Elder Hill

July 22, 2008 (São Leopoldo)

Hi!

The weather is really weird here. The first week I was here it didn’t stop raining and was pretty cold. But then it got really hot for a week or two and now its really rainy again. The weather won’t make up its mind. Its hard to find a time for laundry cause the weather is so different all the time.

That would have been crazy if Norman won. I would have never even expected somebody that old to come in the top ten in a major. Let alone the top three. That’s sweet though.

The area were in doesn’t have a lot of baptisms. Some missions have 400 every six weeks. But my mission has only about 100. But were working hard to teach people. We’ve been having some success and hopefully well have three baptisms by the end of August.

That’s cool that they’re getting the members involved so much. Members help soooo much. They’re able to give a completely different testimony. Especially if they’re converts. I don’t really have any tips cause I’m really new at this too. Personal experiences are always good and blessings you’ve received because of the gospel. That way they have an actual example of how it can help them.

My teaching still isn’t that good cause I’m still not great at speaking the language. Its hard because I can understand almost everything people say to me but its hard to speak back. They say it usually takes about five months in the field to be able to speak comfortably. And people are usually fluent by the end of their first year. I hope I can get it all faster than that though.

That’s good to hear about Brayden. I worry about him but I know he will be ok. I pray for him all the time.

I have a slight problem. I forgot to cancel xbox live. I just remembered that the other day. I think you can call them and cancel it pretty easy though. I used moms card but I don’t know if they’ll ask for anything else. I think just our address and phone number. Maybe you can go to xbox.com and do it. I dont know. The number is 1-800-4myxbox. That’s probably the easiest way.

Thanks for talking to Kenny about my system. The actual faceplate for my deck is in my closet in one of the boxes. It would be nice if you could get it and keep everything together. Did Brayden ever pay the other 100 for my ipod? Just curious.

I hope everybody is doing good. Love you!
Elder Hill

July 22, 2008 (to Mom from the CTM)

Hi Mom,

My next zone conference is the second week in August and that’s the only time I can get boxes cause that’s when I see the President and the boxes are mailed to his house.

Everything here is good. I think my first baptism will be in mid august. Were teaching this girl and her parents and she’s accepted everything and agreed to be baptised. There’s a rule here that they have to go to church three times so that’s all were waiting on. So it could be as soon as three weeks. It will be cool. She already lives all the commandments and everything. Its pretty sweet.

Other people write me about pretty much the same stuff. Just about life. Nothing crazy. Ha ha

How’s work? Is Jenny still doing stuff for you? I hope everybody is doing good. How are Grandma and Grandpa? Its been a while since I’ve gotten an email from them. Well, I better go. I love you!

P.S.

All of those things you said. Mentos would be nice. The deodorant here is really gross. I don’t know how to explain it. Its not like the kind in the states. Its really sticky. Dad knows the kind I like. Its the old spice soft solid stuff. It has the little holes it the top but is a white color, not clear. I don’t really know of anything else specific. Pretty much anything is nice. It would just be easier to send maple flavoring than actual syrup cause it takes up less space. I just need a recipe. Oh and a recipe for pancakes. I don’t know how to make them from scratch. Haha

July 15, 2008 (to Mom from the CTM)

Hi Mom,

…I bet its pretty weird to be in the ward with all the new callings. WE were just getting used to who was what in the other ward. Haha but it definitely needed to be split. There was a lot of people.

Oh my address for letters is

R. Pedro José da SIlva Vargas
184, Feitoria – Saõ Leoploldo – RS
CEP 93054-280

Only letters and small things. If you send another package I’m making a list. Haha! They don’t have a lot of the things I want. Like hand sanitizer, real deodorant, peanut butter mnms. That kind of stuff.

We actually live in on of the wealthier parts of Brasil. But I have no idea what the wage is. A lot of people are into recycling. Which is just a nicer name for dumpster diving. But the people that do it right make sooo much money. This guy bought a house that was 70000 and paid it off in three months. He has a huge flatscreen TV too. Its crazy. I never thought you could make that much doing something like that.

I have a lot of time to write letters on Pday so maybe I’ll write monthly updates about things. Cause I cant write it all in emails. We’re teaching a lot of families. Its sad though cause none of them are married so they cant get baptism yet. But we’re helping them out.

Yeah I have access to an Ensign. I think. I better go though. How is everything at home? How Brayden? I love you!

Elder Hill

July 14, 2008 (São Leopoldo)

Hi!

Thanks for sending the package! $40? Wow. Ill probably get it august 10. WE get packages only when we have a zone conference and I think that’s when the next one is.

Ah, I forgot to tell her happy birthday. Ill write her again though.

What exactly is the high priest group? Is it like the Quorum presidency? That’s cool, I’m sure that will keep you really busy.

How’s everything with work?

My baptism isn’t on track anymore. She’s never home for us to teach her and she hasn’t been going to church. So I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I hope we can teach her this week though. We have a few other people that want to get baptized but they aren’t married yet. So we have to wait a while. They go to church every week and have really strong testimonies. Its awesome.

Favre seriously wants to come back? Hahaha wow. Coulda seen that coming. Why won’t they just release him? I guess they don’t want to let him beat them from another team. That’s crazy though. Any other news? How are the braves doing?

Tell Brayden I love him. I wish I had time to email him but maybe Ill start writing letters. Do you think he would write a letter back? I might have time to email him this week. Ill try right now. Hope everything is going good at home and with work. How did the plants turn out at home? I love you!

Elder Hill

July 8, 2008 (to Mom from the CTM)

Hi Mom!

I’m sure I’ll want the food items. We don’t eat that much. Like once a day. I’m excited to get the camera. My area is sweet so I want to get some pictures and send them to everybody. Can you forward my emails to Jeff? I don’t have much time to email so I want to make sure he knows how I’m doing.

I’m warm enough but it gets pretty cold. Nothing too bad though. I’ll be fine.

We “Clap doors” because people have gates outside their house so people don’t break in. All of Brasil is like that so don’t worry. Haha! We stand outside the gate and clap. Pretty cool. The language is good. Elder Aranha doesn’t speak much English so it forced me to learn faster. It’s good. I’m not sure what the place is called that he’s from. Somewhere near the Amazons but in a normal city. He’s a cool guy. Very patient with me so that’s nice.

I haven’t been to a house without a dog or a cat. EVERYBODY has them. It’s crazy. But there are stray dogs everywhere. It’s pretty sad. They travel in packs and look for food. Kinda eerie at night.

Everything is going great here. I just wish I had more time to email.

I love you! Sorry for the kind of short email. The Internet shuts down after an hour so I’m paranoid I won’t be able to finish in time.

Elder Hill

July 8, 2006 (São Leopoldo)

Send the package to this one:
Elder Kellen Hill
Brazil Porto Alegre North Mission
Caixa Postal 13008
Centro
Porto Alegre-RS
91010-971
Brazil

I got a lot of emails this week so my emails are going to be short. I only have one hour.

This week was good though. We’re teaching this family that wants to get baptized but the parents aren’t married. Nobody is married here. It’s really different. I think its pretty expensive so that’s why.

I love my area here so much. Its really small and has like a country type feel to it. There are horses everywhere. Its pretty awesome.

My first baptism should be like the 19th. I’m so excited. The lady is kinda bigger though so I hope I can do it. Itll be fine though.

Love you! Hopefully I can write more next week.

Elder Hill

July 1, 2008 (São Leopoldo)

Hi!

Yeah mom told me about the ward. I really like Brother Raff. He’s awesome.

I’m so glad you passed! I thought about it so much this last week but I’m glad to hear you passed.

That’s cool you got some plants. It will make the house look more like home. I definitely want pictures of the house and of family. Any news on the package? The address it says to send letters and the one it says to send packages are switched. So send the package to the address that says for letters.

The language is coming pretty good. I think first in portuguese which is cool. It makes english a little weird though but oh well.

I don’t have anymore time so I better go. Read the letter I wrote to mom. It talks about different stuff. Tell Brayden I love him and to be good. I don’t have time to write him this week. I love you!

Elder Hill

July 1, 2008 (to Mom from São Leopoldo)

Hi Mom,

It’s so nice to finally be here! The people are so nice and its going make me learn Portuguese much faster. My companion is Elder Aranha. He doesn’t speak much English so its a little hard but its pushing me to learn faster.

Our house is really, really small. I took some pictures so I’ll send them when they get developed. It’s one room and a small bathroom. Pretty crazy but I like it.

Yeah I know Brother Raff. He’s such a good guy. He was a counselor in the young men’s presidency. So were considered Highlands on the Green? Amanda’s mom wasn’t sure where the cut off was. We were talking about it before I left. The guy from New Orleans was the Temple Prep teacher. He’s cool too.

The people here are so nice. I think its the poverty. Its pretty bad in some parts of my area. It’s amazing the things we have and they don’t. I love the people here though. Just last night we were clapping a couple doors and this couple let us in and gave us food. It was awesome cause we don’t eat too much. Usually just one meal a day so Ill probably lose some weight. Ill be tiny when I get home.

Things are going great here though. I like it a lot. Our church building is pretty big. Its two stories. We had about 80 people at church on Sunday. I had to get up in Sacrament meeting and introduce myself. Not too fun casue it had to be in Portuguese and I was pretty nervous.

My plaque scripture…Mosiah 3:11. I think that’s it. Its about being humble. I know for sure its in Mosiah 3. Its pretty long but I like it a lot. It talks about remember God and your ´own nothingness´ Its sweet. So if that one fits I want it.

This week went pretty good. I’m still getting the hang of things though. I love you!

Elder Hill

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