Jan.19, 2015

The 100th Week...

Yep. I´m starting my 100th week as a missionary. Wow... i´ve come quite a long way.... I tell you what its a strange feeling writing this email. i´m thinking its going to be my last one to you guys. I´m not sure if i´ll get a chance next week becuase we have a bunch of stuff next P-day about this weird Life training thing that we will be doing. So If i dont get a chance next week Just wait 48 more hours and i´ll be sure to give all you guys a hug.

Also i´ve just come to find out that Conner Harris will be coming home the exact same day as me on the exact same plane. so you may just see the Tall Harris boy comming off the the plane with me. =) Carson has also said that he may just be lurking in the background somewhere when i get home if we both are coming home at the same time. he wont interfeir with the family moment of when i get home but he may just be filming or something the moment that we both get back on the airplane from some secret area. haha! 

Well i tell you what. i´m pretty anxious about coming home. i´m way excited to see you all. I´ve dreamed many times being on the plane (once even a boat.) of coming to see you guys. the nerves are killing me but there is a little part of me that wants to stay here in brasil. i´m definetly going to miss this place just a little bit. but now its my time to come home. 

this week that has just past, i´ve been reflecting alot on all that has been changing. if i were to say that there was anything that i truly learned on the mission it is the inevitable fact of change. I´ve heard of many changes that happen at home and many changes that happened to me here on the mission. I´ve seen freak changes in weather and unbelievable changes in people. i´ve really gained a testimony of what the prophet Alma refers to as the Mighty change of heart. God, if permitted and desired by the individual, can change someone permenantly. He has a power to free people of all of lifes vices, chains, weights to a life of true freedom. I´ve noticed many changes in my self and in others and i dont believe that god has stopped in his pursuit to bring pass the eternal change that he has promised all those who follow his son. That is what the enableing power of the atonement means. it means we must be prepared to change. 

I´ve loved my mission. I know this is this most cliche thing to say but its also very true. its been the best two years of my life. its sad to see it come to an end but I have my mission of raising a family in front of me now. I love you all so much. I´ll see you next week! =) Till then!

Elder Alexander

P.S. Kyle and Kevin, I hope you both know that your going down in Halo when i get back. =)

Jan. 5, 2015

How many minutes does it take to make a cup of noodles...?

cause thats how many weeks i have left too. =) haha!

So this week was pretty much nuts... we had a super dramatic thing happen in the mission. sadly this week we had a missionary go home from his mission early. which left his companion without a companion. so the Companionless, Elder De oliveira has to come stay at our house and now the other companionship in our house is now a trio. well we also had an emergency transfer all of the sudden and one of the elders in the was taken to Sergipe. and we got a new guy. so our house has dramatically changed and is really weird. We now have a companionless missionary that just stays at our house and goes to his area when the member from his area comes to get him. we have two brand new DL´s who´ve never been any type of leadership position on there missions before so they are both being baptized by fire in this experience. A trainee that will have his training finished by the "new DL" and then me.... the dying missionary... haha! so all in all we have 5 people in our house. all of which are in really unique positions. haha! 

Well carson and all you guys have made it super clear to the fact that utah is now cold.... it hurt my soul a little bit looking at the snow and the blizzard video that carson sent me... yep i´m going to be wrapped up in about 5 blankets sitting over the vent when i get home for about 5 ours a day. dont forget a coat for me. haha!

also this week in realation to the work we were able to find a rapaz that has already gone to the church a ton but he just needed to resolve a couple things before his baptism. we were able to talk to him this week and he agreed to be baptized this saturday. this was definatly a tender mercy present from god. =) we are super excited for him and will be trying to get the ward involved with his baptism. 

well on this thursday i believe you can start counting down on all your fingers and toes how many days i have left before i´ll be hugging you guys. dont get to trunky on me family. =) haha! talk to you next week! love you all! 

Elder Alexander

Dec. 29, 2014

Hey There Bishopric!!!!

So my daddy-O is Going to be part of the bishopbric now huh? well thats pretty stinking awesome! I would ask how you feel about it  but it seems like you´ve already responded by commenting on how your resisting the urge to vomit or sob. haha! but i Personnally have complete confidence that it is going to be a great new expeirence for my papa! Good luck on the new calling. Does that mean you can issue temple Recommends from home to me now? haha!

anyway! It was awesome to talk to you guys on thursday! I was thrilled to see that everyone is well! i hope that the christmas was magical! 

So this week let me tell ya was pretty rushed. Most of our time I feel like we were sitting and waiting. on wednesday we had to go on a division with a couple elders who live in a place called Viscosa. Viscosa is about 3 hours on a bus to get there.... so what ends up happening is on tuesday actually we had a Zone meeting which took our morning till lunch. we lunched then we headed to the bus stop so me and the Viscosa elder could head out there. we didnt get there till about 6 at night. we were able drop my stuff of at there house then we got to work for just a little bit. then wednesday comes along and my companion has to come get me after lunch. we worked for a little in viscosa and then i have once again another 3 hour trip back to our area. just kinda silly THEN!!! on friday we had to make a mini skit for the christmas party and we were told that the party would start about 2:00. well a few people showed up but sadly there was a last minute change that wasnt communcated to about half the ward that the party wouldnt start till about 6. well we were talking with every one that was there till when we finally figured out what the problem was about 5... kinda upsetting... but oh well... just a lot of waiting around... but that alright! 

But the Christmas party was really cool actually. one of the other wards that meet in our same building recently baptized a professional chef. He volunteered to make a giant feast for everyone that night. let me tell you that food was amazing!!! also we were able to have a couple of our investigaters there too. seemed like the really enjoyed themselves. 

But this week also we had a super cool experience. we were searching for a reference and we get to the area that we are supposed to be and start looking for a street called Gira Sol. well turns out there are 3. well we start going up and down these streets looking for the right house. (numbers on the houses her have absolutly no order. you could find 15 on one 167 on the other and then 8A on the next...) well we go up and down these streets for about and hour failing to find the house. we were really ready to just give up. but then Elder Emms notices and looks down a dark allyway. he says nothing and just starts walking down. Jokingly I tell him that were going to die for sure now... haha! we get out on the other side and turns out that there was a 4th Gira sol. so we start talking with people on this street and quickly find our reference. turns out he´s the brother of one of the missionaries we have out in this ward. he was super reciptive and says he is seriously considering Baptism. it was quite and find. If your listening
God will lead you to the elect for sure. 

Anyway! i´ll talk to you guys next week! thanks for everything once again that you do for me! I should have a chance this week to go talk to president about the letter from dad. dont worry i havent forgot! i´ll see you later! 

Elder Alexander