May 5, 2014

Happy May to you:

Well, this transfer turned out to be a rather strange turn of events. One year ago I left my first area in Conoas after having spent the first 6 months of my mission there and today I have returned, perhaps to finish off my last 6. Now that I am back I remember what an ugly, stinky city Canoas is but that is all right because I’m in a great ward. I’m not in the same part of the city where I was. I am in the zone leader area called Rio Branco, on the other side of the city from Estancia Velha. The area is actually a great area to baptize and the ward is big and supportive so it’s all good.

Elder A. (from Mexico, just kidding, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte) is my new companion. Elder A. is an incredible missionary. He has been out for 14 months, but he has already been zone leader for 4 months. In one week's time we have already formed a strong friendship. We work well together, we think in the same way and we both are here to baptize. He is extremely funny too. We pass our time on the streets laughing, which is always a great antidote for discouragement.

This week was good one and we had everything set to get the week of excellence, but last minute there was a problem and we weren’t able to baptize the guy that we were preparing. Bummer. Oh well. We are good to baptize this week, so no worries.

I liked the questions that President Hiskey asks [in his interview with returning missionaries]: “Am I doing OK? Am I accomplishing what I was sent out to accomplish?” because every six months I go to the temple (I would go more, but the area doesn’t always allow it), and in the celestial room I ask myself these exact questions. And, through today, I have always felt that, yes, I’m doing all right.

So where I am currently living is a house “nos fundos” (behind) the house of an older member in our ward. The house itself it comfortable (besides the spiders), but what makes it great is the member who lives in front. Twice this week when we got back to the house after working, she had made a “cuca” (a type of Brazilian cake) and had it waiting for us to eat that night. She is super nice, really likes the missionaries and even runs errands for us when we need it. I like this area, and I hope that I can settle down for a bit and create a good relationship with all the members. I don’t really like getting transferred every six weeks. Nerk.

So that is about it. I’m doing great, and once again I’m with a great companion in a great area. I’ve been pretty “lucky” as a missionary. I have liked all of my comps, and it seems like every transfer it gets better.

I love you all,

Talk to you on Saturday and see you on Sunday!

Elder Morris