elderNate

Mom, Dad, Hiiiii.

It was great to hear from the both of you this week.  Things are super rushed around here!  our pday just ran out and I havent even been home yet.  being zl is a lot of work, but a lot of fun.  we continue to help the zone have more success out here, this last week we had the best week in the last 6 months for the zone, and this week will be even better! 

Sounds like things are going well for dad.  Keep up the good work, where are the masters game, and when?  am i going to get to see you play this year?  Good luck rounding up the old mans team alright =-D.

How has dani been doing in her practice meets?  What events is she swimming?  And bret, how is she doing? still swimming with a sprained ankle?

Me and my comp are getting along just great, and the zone is very excited to get some work done out here.  We are having fun and working hard.  Im anxious to see how this transfer goes and what the future holds for me.  I hope to continue in the zone here.

What’s the news on travel?  Sonia is crazy, the busiest time of year was this last month.  Carnaval was riduculious, the missionaries that left, couldnt even get a hotel to stay in like they usually do, they had to stay in the field cause there were no hotels available.  But I imagine summer is a crazy time of year too, so try and get things taken care of, time is running out.  June 24th.  If you dont get it done in time, see how much it would be for us to come down like a month later, if that might be a possibility.  I dont know, you look into it, I dont have time to think about it =-D

I hope the game room is getting cleaned up and ready for me =-D  after sleeping on the beds ive been on down here, the couch will be like a cloud from heaven for me =-D.  

I looked for little presents to send to alex and ryann and nixson but i couldnt find anything just yet, plus im so short on time.

Tell dani no dating till I get home, espeically if the kid is bigger than i am.  Is he really going to the olympics?  What about D is she going to go? =D

I hope this finds you well.  Continue to pray for us, we are seeing miracles out here and we dont want them to cease.  I love you so much, take care, I will write next week!!! Im excited to call on mothers day!! uh oh trunky…. haha I love you tchau

eldermortimer

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

MOM!

Hi how are you?? I am doing just great, things are going fine here in Olinda. 

We had a tough week due to carnaval and all the partying on the streets, but it didnt stop us from preaching the gospel and inviting others to come unto Christ.  When I got here the area was already doing just fine, it had a few baptisms marked, and a couple of people interested in the church, now its doing even better. 

We have marked 4 baptisms since Ive been here this last week, including a family that is amazing.  Luciano and Luciana.  They are a young couple with a daughter that is about 3 years old.  They are both very interested in the gospel and the fact that families can be eternal.  We have worked a lot with them, and they have accepted baptism for the 25th of March, which will be an awesome day.  As we will have a wedding at the church and a lady being baptized who has been going to church for 12 years, but wasnt legally married so couldnt get baptized.  Plus a man who is 75 and very intelligent, who will also be baptized this same day.  Plus this saturday we have a 17 year old young man who will be baptized and the next two weeks two more teenagers, another young man and a young woman who will be baptized. 

The area is going just as well as the area I left.  The only problem here is our zone.  The zone last transfer was the zone that baptized the least out of all 9, and this transfer started off with a tough week only 1 baptism.  But from here on out, we are starting to pick it up.  This week we have 11, and next week 8, then from there on out it should stay right around there, 7-8 per week.  Which is a REALLY high number considering that we only have 9 companionships in the zone, thats almost everyone baptizing every week.  I hope that this does happen, we are praying and working hard for it to become a reality. 

Yesterday we had a meeting with all the zone leaders, it was so nice, a real leadership meeting with president and other leaders and not just pawn training meetings like all the others Ive been to.  Plus it was nice to see a lot of friends on the mission and remanise (sp) about old times.  Afterwards I had an interview with president about byu.  He sent in my recomendation by fax, so its already there at byu waiting.  You guys just have to get the rest of the application in, and you have to do it soon, I think its due before the 15th of March.  Take care of that for me please so I can go to school when I get home.  I want to start in the fall semester. 

Things have changed a lot in my mind, I dont have much time to worry about it out here, I am always worried about the missionaries and how I can help them and their areas, so I dont have much time to think about home.  And we talked alot about love and charity.  I know I already told you to read the scriptures, but read them again.  John 3:16, moroni 7:45-48, Moroni 8:16, 1 John 4:7-11;20-21 (I’m stating all these by memory, so you might have to look around to find the scripture Im talking about)  and my personal favorite, 1 peter 4:8.  If we truly develop love and charity for ALL, and not just those who it easy to love, the Lord will have compassion with us, and as peter teaches us, we will hide a multitude of sins.  Christ’s grace will be greater with us, than had we taken the easy way out.  Take the counsel that Moroni gave us, pray to the Father, that you might be full of this love that he gives to all those who are true followers of His son Jesus Christ…  God is the only one who can give us the love it takes to love people who do things that offend others.  Trust me…. I know.  I’m sorry I dont mean to get all doctrine on you like this, but I know that the scriptures help, its how God can speak peace unto our souls.  Pray, read, and help, the Lord will do the rest. 

I love you mom, I have to go, my pday is running out and I have to get my hair cut and get some stuff ready for splits today, and meetings next week.  Tell morgan to stick with vball cause I’m WWAAAAYYYY stoked to play with him when I get home.  I love you so much, take care, and I will talk to you soon.  In just a few months you’ll be here, and I’ll get to introduce you to all these families that Ive baptized! =-D  I cant wait to hear from you next week…. tchau!!!

eldermortimer

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

I’ve finally caught up and have posted Nate’s emails up to today. In the notification emails you receive, you can click on the link that is the title of the article to see the article on www.eldernate.com. It will be in large blue text and underlined in the email.

Any time you are viewing a post on www.eldernate.com, you can click on the word “elderNate” in the banner at the top of the page to return to the blog home page, where you will see all of the posts in chronological order.

Mom,

Hey, things are going good this week.  Just like we already knew, I was called zone leader, I’m in Olinda, which is like one of the 3 carnaval capitals of brazil.  We are on a really weird work schedule, we leave a lot earlier, and go home a lot earlier to avoid the iniquity that rolls the streets at night. 

My companion is Elder Guimaraes, he’s from manaus, and is a good guy.  I look forward to this transfer, and I’m sure that we are going to get a lot done.  We have a tough mission to raise up the zone thats having the hardest time baptizing and turning it into the best, so keep that in your prayers, even though im sure you have more important stuff to worry about.  

I’m so glad and thankful to have you as my mom.  Once again, I just see how one has to sacrifice and at times go through what seems to be hard, to really obtain true happiness for their family.  Thanks for your love and your example mom.

Ill be so busy, from about an hour from now until the end of my mission I wont even have time to think about what im going to eat, let alone about whats happening at home.  Be sure that youre all in my prayers…

I love you mom.  Thanks for everything, seriously.  Keep choosing the right, heed to the prophets counsels, visit the temple as much as possible.  Stay strong, youre in my prayers.  I love you so much, I’ll talk to you later.  Tchau mom, thanks again for all youve done, youre amazing.

eldermortimer

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

Dad,

wow…. Thats neat, where’d you find that? [Dad: I found a copy of Nate’s blessing from when he was an infant, and copied it and sent it to him.]

Well just a quick update today, seeming as I know whats going to happen and I worry I wont be able to tell you on pday. I am now the Zone Leader of Olinda, the zone that has baptized the least for the last 3 transfers. They have had two zone leaders who were basically hitler for the last three transfers, and president couldnt take it anymore. The zone is scared of them, they dont work the way they’re supposed to, and the zone isnt baptizing because of it. So he said he is sending me there, to get everyone excited, be everyones friend, and help the zone baptize again.

My comp, elder guimaraes, is one of the hitlers, but president said its only one transfer with him, because then he wants to send my best friend out here on the mission Elder Petersen to be my comp for a transfer and help the zone out even more. So basically it will be 6 weeks of suffering then 6 weeks of heaven. Then Petersen will go home, and I will train a new zone leader before I take off for home.

I talked to President about when we leave and what not, and he told me that you guys can come on the last saturday in june…. the 24th, and then I am free to leave recife, on that next friday the 30th, from there we can visit other places, rio, foz, buenas ares, i wouldnt mind checking out the south if we get a chance, like porto alegre, or santa catarina, curitiba, but those are just suggestions, youre calling the shots. rio and foz are on the top of my list, the must sees before I leave. Anything else we decide to do is up to you and mom. but keep me posted =-D. Get the visa and passport stuff figured out because time is running out, this is about the same time I got my call, so you know time is short from here on out.

I love you dad! Take care, Ill try and get an email out on wed if I can. Tchau!!!!

eldernate

transfers are next week… crazy huh?  time is flying by out here. 

the zoo was weak sauce, but its all good, the thought was what was important right? 

the work is going great, were trying to finish this transfer off strong and leave the area good for the next missionary.  today is pday of the zone, which means we will all get together and watch a movie and hang out, i look forward to it im sure itll be fun. 

my finger is great, when it gets all the way better i have some pics to send you… its almost there already.  it closed off already im just waiting for the scab to go away and become a nice little scar on my finger. 

i cant believe how old everyone is getting, all into vday [Dad: Valentine’s Day] and what not, this is scary.  my vday was normal, we found a couple new investigators, a family of 4, but they dont seem to have A TON of interest, i guess we will find out tomorrow in the followup. what did you get from dad?  i didnt get anything out here, jerks.  haha, i love you jk. 

this email is weaksauce again, but theres not much new news.  tomorrow is interviews with pres, ill probably find out where im going to be zl…. speaking of zl, tomorrow im zl for a day in our zone, one of our zls got his wisdom teeth out so i have to give a couple trainings to the zone in his place.  its all good though, ive been doing it for a while, me and his comp are like best friends so any oppt we get, we go on splits to give trainings together and do bapt interviews in the other areas.  so tomorrow will be just another day on the mission. 

time really is flying by though, i only have like 3 transfers left, then its all over and ill be stuck looking back wondering where all the time went.  do you have all your visa and passport stuff done yet?  this is about the time when I got my call last year, so you know your time is almost up, you have to get on that mom.  you also have to talk to pres. parker and see if hes going to let me be released over the phone when we leave recife. 

i gotta take off pday da zone is in our chapel so i have to get everything all ready and what not.  I love you mom, a lot!  I miss you tons.  Im excited to talk to you in like 20 months in may lol.  im starting to get trunky now, but dont worry im not letting it affect the work, just missing home again.  the hospital did it to me, sitting around talking to my mom, thinking about home, nothing to do, but its all good.  I LOOOOVE YOU!  Tell everyone hi, and that i love them.  i miss you mom, take care, be strong, and help sherry get ready for her baptism, 4 more months…. tchau!

eldermortimer

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

Hey mom!

all is well here.  Things have gotten much better.  Namely the finger.  Every two days I go and get a checkup at the dr who did my surgery, and she said things are going great.  I have to go back on friday. 

[Dad:

It was a scary last couple of weeks. We got a call that Nate was in the hospital. It turns out he had been bitten or cut on one of his fingers, and it had become infected. Initial consults with medical personal were of the “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning” variety. Ultimately, he ended up admitted to the hospital with a swollen finger, hand, and arm. The finger had split open and pus was draining out. A first round of antibiotics turned out to be something Nate was allergic to, so they switched them and started him on something else.

Linda and I conferred with the Mission President and (several times) with Nate about whether he should come home to be treated or not. Nate is at the point in his mission where if he did come home he wouldn’t go back out. He was at one of the finest/richest hospitals in Brazil and also his case was being consulted on by an American doctor in the area. The course of treatment consisted only of antibiotics, and there was no mention of amputation or surgery to take out parts of the finger. After prayerful consideration, we counseled Nate to stay and assured him he would be okay.

The antibiotics were effective in reducing the swelling, and some minor surgery was performed to remove some remaining pockets of infection, after which Nate continued to heal well. Nate will escape from this ordeal with a small scar on his finger and the wisdom to treat infections with antibiotics, along with the knowledge that his family was praying for his recovery the whole time.]

Thursday we have a conference with Elder Nelson from the 12, so that looks to be very exciting. 

All in all not much to talk about, we did talk like every day this last week.  This week we will have another baptism, and 2 more on the 18th, then I’m out of here to another area.  The work is going great, Im great, I’m happy, I love you dont worry about my finger, everything is healing up nicely.  Sorry this email is so short, but my time today is next to none, were going to the zoo to celebrate being one of the best districts on the mission, the aps are taking us.  I love you mom, take care, tchau!

eldermortimer

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

Dad!

Thanks for the happy bday. Sorry I didnt write yesterday we had a meeting, pday was today.

Tell gma thanks for the money, I understand this time of year already is tough on the check book plus with formal and two girls going, I’m sure not much is left when the 25th rolls around, no worries, thanks its the thought that coutns right? =-D. I love you dad

I got the battery, and I even developed some pics, I’ll try to send them home this week. ya now I wish I would have brought a digital camera, it would have been a lot easier, but I guess I can save my pennies to grab one when I get home. I’ll see if I can use my comps digital camera and get some stuff developed at wallgreens, if I do I’ll let you know if I do.

I bet dani had a great party, thats way rad you guys made her sweet 16th a surprise party, I’m sure she loved it.

I get more and more scared everytime I see new pics of the girls, you better buy a gun dad. I know I will when I get home =-D.

speaking of coming home, I am for sure going to college, the only question is where and what to major in. I’m thinking about a major in business with a minor in portuguese/spanish, or maybe business with emphasis in reality, I dont know yet. I’m up for suggestions if you have anything you want to suggest. Like you said I dont have much time to think about this kind of stuff yet, it makes it hard to know what I want to do.

All is well here, I love and miss you, take care, and I’ll talk to you next week. Tchau!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

Mom!

Youre so freaking old! I cant believe I’m 21! 

This week was great, my bday was amazing too.  Last night I baptized Bruna, she’s a single mother of three and the gospel has already helped her so much as I’m sure it will continue to bless her life. 

I cant believe I’m the next to come home in the ward, who’s after me?  How many do we have out right now?  The time is so tough right now, I feel sometimes like its almost over and at times I feel like I have so long to go, but none the less I will be awaiting your visit in the airport in June.  Which is only 5 months away.

I’m so 21 right now!  Its crazy to think about, I am going to have to be all grown up when I get back, thats gonna be hard for me =-D. 

So I just checked out the girls pics, wow they look incredible!  I cant believe how grown up everyone has gotten, and theres still so much more time till I get home, Dani will even be driving!  AHHH. 

This next week we will baptize a kid named Julio, he’s a members son, 11 years old, not the toughest Ive ever had, but itll help us continue the weekly thing.  The 11th we are going to baptize Marlene, I hope, she still has a couple small changes that have to take place, but I’m sure all will go well. 

Sunday night I have a “surprise” party to go to, its kinda hard to mark a surprise party with a missionary haha, but Its nice to feel loved by the members here, plus Ive already gotten a couple cool presents.  Dont worry about me and being tired, its usually my fault, I go on splits with cool missionaries and we stay up late and have to wake up early, but pday I can usually catch up on lost sleep. 

Missionary is a very tiring work, the only true rest is the week you finish and adjust back to normal life, but dont worry about me, I’m great, happy, and ready to go.  I got some more pics developed, I’ll try to get them out to you this week.  Other than that its the same ol stuff around here.  I love you so much and I miss you, 4 months till the phone call =-D.  tchau mom!

eldermortimer

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

hey mom!

Mom!  I’m feeling a little under the weather too.  Actually its probably due to lack of sleep and lots of hard work and stress, but its nothing serious, just feels like a cold.  Except for I was cleaning out our old bathroom (we moved!!)  and I think I got like bleach and some other acids on my face cause its been burning for the last like 4 days, is that bad?  =-D 

I’m over exagerating, but dont worry I plan on talking to sister woodruff about it today.  My point of course being youre probably right, I probably will die my first cold winter day, but thankfully I have 6 months to prepare myself for it when i get back.  And by then I might even be able to afford a sweater or a jacket =-D. 

What makes me even more nervous is all this talk about byu.  Plus with my new dl calling i am going on splits weekly with our zl who happens to be one of my good friends here on the mission, this last month probably even became my best friend here on the mission.  Hes talking me into going to byu with him and being roomates.  We’ll still have to see about all that, but you gotta send out my app so I atleast have the option =-D. 

Man I CANNOT BELIEVE that Dani is 16 already!  Tell her she cant date until I get home, and even then only if I go out and chaperone the group.  Plus I’m going to need a gym pass to get bigger and more intimidating. 

Can you believe I’m going to be 21 a week from today?!?!  I’m so old, which means you’re even older.  Soon you’ll be a grandma haha.  Ok maybe not all that soon if all goes as planned it will atually take a couple more years =-D.  I mean heck I dont even know what I want to be when I grow up.  Speaking of, any tips for me?  What did you always want your oldest son to be? 

I dont know if I like this whole formal thing, I dont like dani going, especially not sami, and the both of them all pretty like they are now makes me even more nervous.  Oh well, not much I can do from 23098210 miles away, but if you think of anything, like scary letters or mail bombs or anything just let me know. 

Youll have to let me know how jury duty goes, what kind of case you on?  How’d you get stuck with that whopper?  Good luck, I wonder if I’ll ever have to do that?  Probably not huh? 

Hey I wanted to ask you to look into what I have to do to get my new lisence when I get home.  Speaking of, I’ll be home so soon!  In just a little you’ll be on a 13 hour flight to sao paulo, and coming to see me =-D. 

I love you mom, all is well here, I wrote some good stuff to dad, check out his email too, but I’m tired and I want to get a nap in today, try and catch up a little.  I love you so much mom, I’ll talk to you next week when I’m a year older.  Take care!!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

Dad,

I too am in shock still! I cant believe that dani is old enough to date! I still think you guys shouldnt let her date until I get home to scare her boyfriends. Speaking of I can’t find a big enough machette (sp) so youre going to have to get me a gym pass when I get home =-D.

Dont worry age makes no difference here in Brazil, we start drinking at 12 in these parts. Although theyre making new laws in the dangerous bairros, like ours, no selling alchy after midnight until 4 am, so at least our late nighters will tone down a bit.

I appreciate the extra money =-D, we are planning on having another party at applebees next wed, pday is my bday, what a nice little treat.

Thanks dad, I’m glad I can make you proud. Thats a big part of why us missionaries do what we do out here, even though it probably shouldnt be, but we work hard to make our parents proud. I have a neat quote pasted on my study table “Am I being the type of missionary my parents think I am?” it helps when I dont want to do the little things sometimes.

We had transfers this last week, and my 3 area problem district became a 4 area problem district. But we got some stuff done, meaning I got one of the areas working on a sweet project with the members, which appears to be taking off. Plus our area is still on fire, we baptized Jay this last week, and our next bday will be on 1/25, cool date huh? We’ll baptize Bruna, she’s the Stake Primary President’s daughter in law, and a great referral. So that leaves me two areas that are taking all my time and energy, and both are so short. This last week for example because of interviews and baptisms, and a move we did, oh ya, we moved out of the WORST house on the mission, into a decent little apartment, meetings, and what not, we only had 2 1/2 days to work, but we are still getting it done out here. But these other two areas are really tough, one usually has a baptism every 3 months, but our new goal on the mission is for every companionship to baptize twice a month. And the other just got sucked dry, and they stuck two new missionaries in it, lost, without any investigators, and few referrals. So we got our work cut out for us, but I look forward to the challenge.

Its amazing to see how much Ive grown on the mission in the last month. Ive become such a team player, and its helping out our district and zone tons. Word on the street is february will hold a new calling for me, a bigger chunk of land to take care of, and a more experienced companion.

Well dad all here is well, I am happy healthy and well. I hope that all is the same at home. I look forward to hear news of Dani going to China to compete in the olympics, and Morgan getting drafted first round straight out of high school into the nba. Speaking of, let me know how your masters team is doing. I hope to hear from you next week, do something cool with the fam to celebrate my bday, like have a fam. home evening. I love you dad, keep up the good work, youre an awesome example! Tchau!

eldernate

Dad,

Glad you got the pics, sorry next time Ill throw you a line to make sure you get them. How did you like them?

Glad you liked the hair cut, some girl just murdered my head, I asked her to use a number two on the side, and she ended up using it on my whole head, but I guess you get what you pay for, it only cost me 2 reais, the equivilant of a buck in the states.

Things truly are going great in the area, elder saffell is a great comp too, we are getting along just fine. We will probably get six more weeks together here in the area which should be nice.

Thanks for the family prayers, you guys can be sure that they are truly making a difference out here. The Lord is taking care of me, and blessing us with success. I do appreciate your prayers, and you guys can be sure youre always in mine as well.

That whole scout thing is really scary. I am in no condition, nor will I ever be to do the scouting thing again, I couldnt even cut it when I was in my prime lol. Oh well the Lord qualifies whom He calls right? I’ll pray that I have an inspired bishop that just leaves me as a home teacher =-D.

Sounds like polo is going to be fun for you. Be easy on Mike its been a while since hes done anything physical. By the end of the year he’ll be carrying your team on his back. Are you going to coach/play or just coach? When and where are the master games this year? Maybe I’ll come make fun of you old man =-D.

I ran into andre elder mendes. He brought my peanutbutter too! We talked alot and he made me really trunky. Telling me all about his last area and my family, the fresno state bulldogs and so on. But it was great to talk to him, he didnt really speak much english with me though, how was his english? He seems like a good guy, he was telling me about how you were talking to him about brasil and ended up lost on shaw and who knows what ;-D. Are you excited to come back? I am excited to show you guys my mission!

I love you dad! Take care of yourself out there. I’ll talk to you again next week! Tchau pai!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

Linda…. Sister Linda,

I’m great!  How are you?!  I had a migrane, but its over now, its only the second I’ve had, the last time I had one I was with Elder Bliss.  So its been awhile.  I had to inherit something bad from you, its in the scriptures, its doctrine, there must be oposition in all things, i couldnt just get all your good traits =-D. 

Thats exciting D’s finger is all good, how’s she feeling, dead after swimming after that huge break?  She’s a stud, I can’t believe how beautiful her and the other girls have gotten in the last year and a half.  I didnt think that much could change!  Sami sounds like she’s been on super freshman busy mode.  Plus with all the physical changes that happen for girls at her age, she’s probably hating it right around now.  only a few more months and she’ll have a nice break for a couple months.

I’m excited to come home and turn Morgan into a super athelete.  He’s going to have the perfect build to be the next Lebron James, we just have to start the training =-D.  Thats good for him and dad to hang out, how is dad doing?  Sounds like waterpolo is trying to dominate his life, he’ll probably have to lay off a touch when he gets his call to be bishop in another year. 

I forgot that dani has a boyfriend named james, my bad, is he pretty good at bball?  I think I remember him being a good player even when he was in like 8th grade.  But I bet buchanan still is hurting for a good team. 

Things are great on the mission we find out about transfers tonight and they’ll happen tomorrow.  But it sounds like Saffell and I will be staying here together for one more.  We are doing great, we baptized EVERY SINGLE WEEK last transfer, and this week, which is the first of the transfer we are going to baptize a kid named Jay, he’s one of our recent converts cousins, and we hope to continue this pattern for the rest of the transfer.  Keep that in your prayers, a happy missionary is a missionary who baptizes, so pray that I’m happy and baptizing =-D. 

Speaking of happy, I got a crazy package from grandpa and laura yesterday for my bday (still waiting for your xmas package you really send one?) and it was full of abercrombie and american eagle shirts, talk about trunky.  Anyway, I’m health and happy, I love you and I hope that this email finds you well… I’ll tak to you next week, unless I’m transfered then I’ll write again tomorrow.  TCHAU!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

hey dad aqui sao umas fotos de umas atividades que estamos fazendo aqui na area espero que goste.
[Dad: hey dad here are some photos of some activities that we’re doing here in the area, hope you like them.]

[Dad: Click on a photo to see a larger picture.]

^ Special Night with Betania

^ Our table of investigators at Christmas Dinner

^ Papai Noel!!

^ Everilda

^ Feios [Dad: Uglies]

^ Felipao

^ Victor

^ Weliton and Family

^ Betania

^ Bruno

^ Ella and Leila

Mom,

Things are going fine here, same ol stuff new day.  This week I got a pretty bad migrane that put me out for a little, but I’m ok now. 

On Morgan’s birthday [Dad: 12/31], I baptized a lady named Betania, she’s 27 a mother of 2, including a special needs son who is 6 but has the mental capacity of someone who is like 5 months old.  She had a lot of problems with the word of wisdom, so it was a battle to get her into the water, but it felt good to finally help her reach baptism.  Shes an AWESOME new member, and we are already teaching some of her friends, the work is just on fire in this area.  This saturday we will baptize Raphael, he’s 14 and a friend of another recent convert of ours, Everilda, who was baptized on the 24th of december, he’s a cool kid as well, and is excited to become a member of the church. 

Trasnfers are next week, but it looks like everything will stay the same around here.  A lot of changes are going to happen within the district, but Elder Saffell and I will probably stay together.  If we do, it will be only the 3rd transfers meeting that I miss on my whole mission, talk about a kid who hops around a lot. 

Dani gets her pins out tomorrow, wish her luck for me, I hope that all goes well there.  I said youre going to go watch james play bball and unless youre talking about morgan james I’m lost, so feel free to fill me in.  Speaking of MJ, tell him I said HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I can’t believe how old he is!  Speaking of old, Dani can date in less than 2 weeks, and in than 3 I’m getting plastered at the local bar (even though you only have to be 18 to drink here, and if you look like youre older than 10 they dont id you). 

How is Pep going for sami, is she holding out tough?  Does she still want to do it next year?  I hear that its a pretty tough fight, that doing pep isn’t as ideal in high school as it is at alta, but she’s a trooper.  I’m excited to hear how bret does with swim, keep me updated on that, she’s soooo little, but I imagine she’s got that Mortimer blood in her too.  Tell Morgan I’m ok that I didn’t get shot at and that I don’t plan on getting shot anytime soon. 

All is well here, only 6 months to go on the big count down.  Speaking of, talk to President Parker, because President Woodruff says that some stake presidents arent releasing anymore on the phone, and if he doesnt release me I have to obey all mission rules until I get home, so I was thinking, maybe, if we could, just come back like a week later or something lol.  I dont know, but talk to pres. parker for me please.  I love and miss you mom, take care of yourself out there, stay strong, and I’ll talk to you next week.  Tchau!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

yes I got those pics! AHHHHHHHHHH lock them in their rooms right now, all 4 of them!  I will be home in 6 months to take care of this situation.  I love the new car, I’m glad I’ll get to drive it by myself before dani does =-D.  It was great to talk to everyone, sounds like everyone is doing great!  I hope dani does ok with getting her pins out, itll be nice for her to get back in the water and train for china in 2008.  Sami and bret look sooooo grown up too, its only been a year!  You think I’ve changed a lot over the last year and a half too?  Other than the fact that I’ve bulked up a little and I’m not talking about muscles.  This week will be short since we just talked and I have to get to applebees asap! =-D  thanks so much for the extra cash in my account, you guys are the best.  How did dad get all rich all of a sudden?   Things are great here… I look forward to my dr pepper package on my bday and a bunch of sports sections =-D.  I love you mom, take care, I’ll talk to you next week!  Tchau!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

MOM!

I’m great this week!  I’m so glad you got my letter, it was taking forever and I was really nervous that it wasn’t going to get there.  The family was married and baptized on the 10th, I couldnt be there because of transfers, but I imagine I’ll receive some pics soon from elder malczyk. 

This week was pretty good.  We baptized Bruno, he’s 12, it was a good service, the only problem was it started really late. 

I love that diving story too, I wish I could talk about diving in portuguese to share it with some people here, but I’m not familiar with the vocab lol. 

Sounds like all is well back home, I hope Dani can get her pins out soon and get back in the water, I’m excited for our trip to Bejing, you know Im going with you right?  I really want to see some pics from the family, and the new car, and the house, and everything, I havent seen it for so long! 

Thats exciting about morgan, I’m glad he likes a sport! lol, sometimes I get worried about him, but that’ll be fun to see him play some bball when I get back. 

You’re letting Dani go to formal?  She’s not 18 yet!  Man, I cant believe how old everyone is getting, I’m going to have to buy some big machettes here to take home with me, scare all these little kids away from my sister. Is she going to go with the kellog kid?  Sami isn’t going is she?  Man you make me so nervous, they can’t start dating until I get home, that was the rule! 

I also can’t wait to call home, it will be great to talk to everyone, I’ll call next week to set up the time and what not, what time do you guys go to church in the morning? 

I love you so much!  I hope that this email finds you well, I gotta take off and cut the mop that is growing on top of my head.  DL is going alright, our district is getting better, but we still have a lot of work to do.  Anyway I’m going to take off now, but I’ll be talking to you in no time.  Love you mom!  Tchau!

natewood

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

MOM!

Hey how is life treatin ya?!  Things are going great here.  I got a tough district, but my area is doing just fine.  We are going to have an awesome december, and I cant wait to call you and tell you all about it! 

Thats so awesome about D, she’s seriously such a stud, I cant believe she mad the all league team as a sophomore.  I wish I was as good as her at something. lol.  She’s still in my prayers, I hope this whole finger thing gets better. 

Tell Sami to stay tough that if she makes it through these next few years she can do it like I did and not take math her sr year.  She’s gonna be so gorgeous without her braces, this stuff isnt fair they can’t get all grown up on me like that while I’m not there to protect them. 

Let me know how Bret’s knee turns out, poor kid, and her mom just sitting there laughing at her! 

Speaking of poor kids, did you send my xmas stuff?  Make sure you claim low on the green paper, like 20 bucks would be good. 

I’m excited to see Morgan play bball, is he any good?  He is gonna be tall, I bet he could be a decent bball player. 

I gotta take off mom, but I love and miss you, and I’m so excited to talk to you in a couple of weeks.  I can’t believe how fast time is flying by.  Before you know it you’ll be showing up in the apt. here.  I love you mom!!!! TCHAU!!!!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

Dad,

thanks for the congrats.  its no biggie though, it just came to be my time.  My district has a lot of problems, two of the worst areas on the mission are in my district, so we have a lot of work cut out for us. 

My area on the other hand is being very blessed.  We have FIRM baptisms marked the whole month of december, and plenty of other investigators that will probably be baptized this or next month.  We have an email that says the best areas on the mission, I’ll forward it to you every week I make it ok =-D. (It started this week, and I haven’t opened it yet, but I’m pretty sure we made the cut).

Good luck on the biggest loser dad, I knew you had it in you to be the biggest loser, its about time youre stepping up to your full potential =-D.  I hope you do well though, sounds like mom has been getting in pretty good shape, everyone that sees her writes me just to tell me how good she looks. 

Not much new here, we have our christmas conference in a couple weeks which should be a lot of fun.  The work is going great!  We’ll get to call home soon =-D.  What time are you going to church these days?  It’ll be hard to get this put together on a sunday.  If you have any good advice for me to give to these areas that just cant get the results the
mission is requiring from us, feel free to send it my way.  I love you dad, I hope this finds you well, I cant wait for christmas!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006

dad!

como e que vai?  Nossa, tanta coisa mudou esta semana.  Estou numa nova area, e tenho um novo companheiro.  As coisas parecem estar indo bem por aqui, e estou muito animado para trabalhar aqui.  Ate mesmo fui chamada lider de distrito (yaaaa!) haha, mas meu distrito ta com various problemas, presidente me falou 4 semanas atras que precisava me preperar pra esse distrito por causa dos problemas aqui.  Mas estou animado para ajudar e fazer o que puder. 

Meu comp parece bom tambem então ele vai poder me ajudar, que vai ser otimo. 

nosso thanksgiving foi incrivel!  Fomos para applebees, e foi otimo.  pretendo voltar la para natal se der.  se quiser colocar um poucadinho de dinheiro em minha conta para a gente comer uma refeicao boa la na applebees sinta se a vontade viu. 

tempo ta curto, mas te amo, e espero que esteja tudo legal por ai viu.  ta praticando o portugues?  O tempo esta acabando, 25 dias ate a ligacao e so 7 meses ate a viagem.  Se prepare!  te amo pai, ate semana que vem!

eldernate

Recife Brasil Mission
2004-2006