ZL Roommates, sleepy juice, air conditioned mosquitoes and silly pictures

Oí família!
Como é que vocês estão?? Tudo bem??

Things are going well here in Caxias. It's been a little hectic the last two weeks because we now have 4 missionaries in our house. And we've had to split our little area. So our teaching group has decreased, sadly (stinking ZLs! ;] ) which is probably one of the reasons we haven't had a whole lot of lessons recently. But it's all good. We're gonna hit it again, even harder, this week!

So that's basically the news. Sadly, the people we've been working with have all run away, and we haven't been able to baptize anyone in the last two weeks (we're starting to feel the pressure). And we have the ZLs in our house. Which makes things pretty hectic. But it's all good. We're happy, we're working, etc. etc. =]

So I'm glad everything's going so well at home! I'm glad Seminary's so much fun for you, mom. Really--a good teacher makes all the difference. A great teacher does even more. You're making a difference in the lives of those freshman =]. Keep fulfilling your calling! They're blessed to have a wonderful person like you as a teacher, mom =] And I'm glad what I wrote was able to help you with the class =]

So... I don't know the emails of G&G Fillerup/McGregor... But I'm more than happy to send them an email. So if you could pass those to me, I'd appreciate it =]

Love you guys! Hope all is well!

And some questions:
Did you get to go to Outdoor Ed Camp in 6th grade?

--I did. It was pretty fun too. But it wasn't some super-ridiculously awesome experience because I went camping so much as a boy scout. So it was fun to be in the wilderness for a while without that whole tent-sleeping stuff. =]

Did you ever get an October General Conference Ensign?

--I didn't. =[ And yes, it would be very nice to receive one. =]

When are the next transfers?

--Next transfer will be around March 1-3. So you can send letters to the house. I know you guys know the house number because it was one of the first things we talked about during our christmas phone-call. And I'm almost positive I sent it in a previous email as well. I have it written in my planner from last transfer. But if you guys don't have it, it's all good. Just send it to the escritório =]

Have you made pancakes?

I have =] I made them for my companion when we arrived in Caxias, and I made them for the Assistants when they visited us, and I made them for the ZLs when they moved into our house at the beginning of this transfer. Everyone loves pancakes =]

Are you getting our letters that are sent to the Office? (we send them every week).

Last time I went to the office (mid-January) there wasn't anything there for me. So, to be frank, I kinda don't have any idea if there getting there or not. But they must be, because if you're sending them in the same way you've always sent them, there shouldn't be a problem. The next time I'll see any letters that are at the mission office will probably be mid-late February (Zone Conference). But it's all good. I'll survive =]

Have you had any fruit juices - like acai, or maracuyá, or that cool one the sales guy told you about?

Yes. I don't remember the cool one that the sales guy told me about, but we have fruit juices often. People make them all the time for us at lunch. And açaí isn't really a juice. It's more of an ice-cream. A really really tasty ice cream that's actually pretty good for you. =] Also, maracujá (com j no Brasil) is a fruit juice that can make you super sleepy. So, notwithstanding it being an exceedingly tasty beverage, it is meet that I not drink it, that I might not fall into the depths of a great slumber. Hahaha =]

Do you make those milk, chocolate, banana, oatmeal shakes in the morning?

Every once in a while. It's not super convenient to pass by the supermarket frequently to buy the needed ingredients, but when I do make it, I quite enjoy it =]

Wow, how is it having air conditioning at night!?

Fantastic. Haha, there's really no other words to describe it. It's the only chance I have to stop sweating.

And ... mosquitoes?  Of course your face, arms and hands are about the only exposed parts they can snack on, so hopefully it's all good.

Mosquitoes, surprisingly, are not a huge problem. Only a slight one. I really only get bitten at night in my lovely air-conditioned room. So I'm still happy =]

and what would a mission be without ridiculous pictures of other missionaries?:

Jedi Master Elder Gardasz (ZL)















Elder Scream (with glasses)