September 2, 2008

Hi Dad,

Another test? What’s this one for? That’s good you’re keeping busy though. When is this one going to be?

What type of stuff did you read that I wrote to you? Mom said your talk went really well. That’s good to hear. Grandma said Jeff’s Internet is down so that’s why he hasn’t been emailing me.

The baptism was soooo good. I didn’t do the confirmation though. I wish I would have been able to but I didn’t feel like I had the vocabulary to do it, you know? But everything went awesome. This girl was so ready too which made it even better. She bore her testimony during the meeting and she started to cry. She said how grateful she was that the missionaries gave her the pass along card and that we were able to teach her. The spirit was really strong. I have a ton of pictures on my camera but I brought the wrong cord! I’m kinda mad. But my companion has a Kodak too so maybe his cord will work with mine. Hopefully it will. I didn’t know I had to have the stand.

I think we should have another baptism pretty soon. We were helping to stop drinking coffee and she stopped. So we should be baptizing her pretty soon. Not totally sure when though.

Have you heard anything about Tiger Woods lately?

The cord works with my camera so I’m going to send some pictures to mom now. I love you!

Elder Hill

August 11, 2008 (to Mom from São Leopoldo)

Hi Mom!

I got the package! Thank you so much! When I opened it I was a little scared because I didn’t see the camera but then I found it in the oatmeal box. Ha ha! Thanks for the syrup too. I’m going to make French toast today after I email. My companion has never tried maple syrup before.

The zone conference was good. We talked a lot about study and those types of things. It’s all in Portuguese though so I don’t always understand everything but almost. The language is coming pretty fast now. Its nice.

What types of things do you want to know? Write me a list of questions and Ill answer them in a letter.

Yeah it doesn’t surprise me that people are asking for deodorant here. Its so bad. For normal deodorant its almost 15,00 too so its either really cheap bad stuff or really expensive slightly ok stuff. So deodorant would be really nice. I shouldn’t move to another city for a little while but I’m not sure. The worst part is I’ll only know one day in advanced when or if I’m leaving the area. It’s pretty crazy. But the next transfer is the second week in September so maybe wait on the next package until then. Cause if I stay, Ill for sure be in the area for the next six weeks after that. And that’s enough time to get the package.

What exactly is that missionary site that has the list? I think I’ve heard about it before but I don’t really know what it is.

I really have no idea about family history. I know our stake center has a family history lab but I don’t know if people use it.

I still haven’t got the line of authority. I completely forgot about it. Kind of weird it hasn’t come yet. What address did you give them?

This week was good. We taught a lot of lessons but we need to get some new investigators so we’re working hard on that. Ask more questions!

We have a baptism the Saturday after this one I think. Maybe two people on that day but I’m not sure. One drinks coffee so we need to help her stop that first.

I love you! Thanks again for the package!

Elder Hill

August 11, 2008 (São Leopoldo)

Hi Dad!

Ill try writing Jeff again and hopefully he will write me back a little more this time. I kind of just stopped cause I get just one sentence back.

I have no idea if Alex would remember you. I’m pretty sire he would at least remember me cause I was over at their house a few months before I left. I don’t know though.

Favre seriously went to the Jets? Wow I never would have seen that coming. They actually could have an all right team this year. They changed their Oline up quite a bit and I think they got a new fullback that’s way good. I don’t really remember though. But yeah, I think he could actually help them quite a bit. They’re defense is terrible though. Ah but I wish favre would have gone to the Bucs. That would have been sweet. How’s the US doing in the Olympics. Whenever I ask the members they just say. One of the leaders, like always. Haha they don’t really say anything else other than that.

The baptism was pretty cool. It for sure felt weird to think that I was able to do that. We have given a ton of blessings and everytime we do its pretty cool. I have spiritual experiences on a daily basis but since I cant speak the language too much yet they aren’t huge or anything. But sometimes its crazy cause I can speak soo good. The promise about the spirit bringing all things to remembrance is so true. There have been times that the language just seems to flow. I’m not fluent or anything but it feels like I have a perfect recollection of what I’ve learned. Its awesome.

The zone conference was cool. It was mostly about study and how we need to plan for our investigators. I got to see some of my buddies from the CTM too so that was nice. Oh and I got the package! I’m making French toast right after I email everybody. Haha I’m pretty excited.

This last week we had splits with another area. And an Elder that has been in the field for only a week came to my area with me and my comp went to his area with his comp. So I was pretty much the senior companion for the day. It was pretty crazy. Even though he was Brazilian he didn’t know how to do things so I had to do a lot of the talking. It was such a confidence builder cause I was able to do everything I had to.

We didn’t have another baptism this week but I think we will have two next week. I’m not totally sure yet though. I’m almost positive well have one.

I better go though! I love you! How is work going? How’s Brayden? I hope everything is good at home!

Elder Hill

August 5, 2008 (to Mom from the CTM)

Hi Mom!

Thanks for the packages! Really, I’m so excited to get them. My zone conference is next Monday so hopefully I get it. It’ll be nice to have a camera.

This is going to be a kind of short email cause the keyboard I’m typing on is terrible and it takes forever to type. So I want to make sure I get to everybody.

The baptism Sunday went awesome. I was kinda nervous because the girl was pretty tall and she had a baby a year ago. But everything was perfect. She tells her mom that she has ´soldades´ of me. Which is kind of like missing somebody but a little more. Members get really attached to the missionaries that baptize them. It’s pretty cool.

The members feed us and the food is sooo good. They feed us a lot.

I didn’t get an email from Brother Moore. Hmmm… maybe he sent it to the wrong email address? It would be cool to hear from him.

Amanda is going to the singles ward so that’s why you haven’t seen her. She left for Florida today. She’s visiting family for a while.

I’ll send some photos of the baptism when I get them developed.

Ring size? Seriously I have no idea. Haha and I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for a ring shop here. We live in a REALLY small area. The busiest road is like Ranches Parkway. Its tiny.

Money in the account would be nice if you guys can. I think I only have a round 40 in there.

I don’t need the rest of my coat. But some of my shirts would be nice. I have a green shirt that I wouldn’t mind having here, I don’t like wearing the same shirt every pday.

My garment size is small We don’t have access to buying garments. We’re about two hours away by train to the Temple so we can never go there.

Well, I better go. I love you!

Elder Hill

August 5, 2008 (São Leopoldo)

Hi!

Yeah the summer really is going by way fast. I can’t believe it. Its already been the end of one transfer in the field. Just 15 more to go.

Mom said Brother Moore sent me an eamail too but I never got it. What do you guys do at the FHE thing?

That’s awesome you passed your test! I knew youd pass.

The baptism was awesome! Everything was prefect. I wish I had more time to write about it cause I have a lot of things to say. After her interview saturday the spirit was so strong. She came out of the room and opened her hand and she had her tongue ring and nose ring in it. It might sound kind of weird cause Im talking about it fast but it was awesome. She refused for such a long time to take them out. Other than when I was set apart to be a missionary it was the strongest Ive ever felt the spirit.

How are Grandma, Grandpa, and Jeff? I have heard from Grandma and Grandpa in while so I was just wondering. And I email Jeff almost every week but he just writes back one sentence. So I don’t really know what’s going on. Next time you talk to him ask him why he doesn’t write me more. I even ask him a bunch of questions and he doesn’t answer them. It’s pretty weird. But oh well. Love you!

I better go now though. Let me know what Sheila says about Jeff. I’m looking forward to getting the packages! I love you!

Elder Hill