Well Everyone,

  I am here... finally. The flight from Dallas was 10 hours. I sat next to a brazilian named Fabiano. He was a really religous man. He said us sitting together was a mystery of God. We talked for a long time and he told me some tips about the people of Brazil. I taught him about the restoration (in portoguese) and he seemed to agree with everything. He then said ´´You are my brother in the faith and we all have one God.`` So that was the flight. I got about two hours of sleep.
     We were at São Paulo airport for two hours, then I drove two more hours to another mission to drop off Elder Martinez, then after one more hour driving... CAMPINAS.
     I arrived at the mission office and the president was not there. I was with the assistants and secretaries for two days. My first meal in Brazil was... Subway. Yep, I was hoping for some Barsileiro Almoço but I enjoyed my Sub Club. I really like Gauraná. It is delicious. I can´t explain it, but you all need to try it.
    I arrived in my area on Monday. My companion is Elder Freitas, a Brazilizn who can´t speak any english. I feel good about my speaking skills but I still can barely understand everyday talk. It is hard because I know everything I want to say but I just can´t say it. It isn´t annoying, it is just sad sometimes. I know that I will get better and I know as long as work hard that the Lord will bless me.
     I mostly just follow Elder Freitas around. He is a good Elder who has been out for about four months. I can get the jist of pretty much everything he is saying it is just hard to respond. I can´t wait until I can understand without listening. I just want to beable to talk and become people´s friend but my vocab is extremely limited.
    Here, lunch is the main meal and they eat almost nothing for dinner. Needless to say, I am a dinner man and it is hard on the American tummy. The burgers here are HUGE. I had one for lunch and I will send a picture but they are giant.
      I helped teach two lessons yesterday. I taught half of the first lesson and I bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and of receiving strength to overcome temptations. The investigators understood everything I said and that felt great. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much with this language, the progress he has allowed me to make has been incredible. I didn´t know one word three months ago and now I can teach a whole lesson and understand most everything my companion is saying. It is truely a blessing. But I still have a ton of work to do, I want so badly to just speak it and understand it, with time and with work the Lord will provide.
      The pictures didn´t work with this computer so maybe next week. Wednesday is my p-day.
   It is really hot. The people are nice and accepting and I am going to Baptize someone this Sunday. I love it, even though it has been the hardest three days of my life. I love you all, especially Natalie!

    Com Amor,
          Elder Nothum