Hello there,

    This week I had a great experience, a miracle. Here in Brazil they don´t have neighborhoods, the have Bairros, or Districts. A Bairro can range from the size of Hermann Missouri (random but a good comparison) to the size of Windy Hills in Washington Missouri. If you don´t know the size of those places talk with someone who does. Anyways, so that is a bairro. Sunday Night we did a division with two youth in the ward. Igor, the stake president´s son, went with Elder Murri to Vista Alegre, a bairro that we are working in. While I went with a recent convert João Paulo, to visit some other people. Well, It was good to talk with João, I got to explain some things about missionary work to him and we visited a less active member. After that, every other lesson/appointment fell through, we had nothing, and we were only close to bairros that we had not had success in. I looked at João Paulo and said ´´ Everything happens for a reason, all of our appointments fell through because there are people in this bairro that are waiting for us tonight, they may not know it, but they are home tonight because it is the will of God and we need to find them. Say a silent prayer and ask that the Holy Ghost can lead us to these people.``
   After this we started to walk. I looked at João Paulo and asked him which street we would take, he chose one. It lead to a bairro where one day I knocked on eight doors in a row and not one person was willing to hear our message, but, I followed João Paulo. We then arrived at a door, knocked, got in, gave a lesson and left. In this Bairro, that is a miracle. Next, João picked a house. We got in, met a family that was amazing and gave a lesson and marked our next visit for tomorrow. We only knocked on two doors that night, and we got into both the houses in a bairro where weeks ago I couldn´t even get one word out without being rejected.
    It was a great experience for João, he is alreadt preparing to serve a mission.
   In other news I received two packages last week and I already ate all the food and I´m feeling rather satisfied. Yet, craving more. People here aren´t used to sour stuff, so it was fun to see their reactions to Zours. Thank you Family and Gran and John for the packages Elder Murri, The Bazilians, and I loved each and every snack.
   It is hot here.
 I saw Elder Christensen last week at our Multizona. He was good. He has a hernia and I still don´t know what that means, I understand there is a lump involved and that it is painful. My health is good. I´m not sure how after my week filled with snacks everyday all day, but I feel great. (Please don´t take that as a hint not send candy and stuff, because it wasn´t)
    Well, gotta wrap things up so good BYE

I LOVE YOU NATALIE!

  Also, Alex Baker sent me a letter and a Superman Comic Book, bless that man. If you see him, tell him I love him. No I´m not reading it nor will I untill I am released, but I don´t want to talk about that terrible day.
 
 Love,
    Elder Nothum