Hello Everyone,

This past week was transfers. I stayed in Parque da Represa and Elder Freitas was transferred to who knows where. I´m gunna miss that little Brazilian guy. My new companion is Elder Murri. It is pronounced like Murry. He is an American from Idaho Falls. It is weird, because I only know working with Elder Freitas. With him nobody was the ´´senior``, we just worked together in everything. I´m getting the vibe that Elder Murri is the type of guy who is very firm with the fact that he is senior and I am junior. I will have great opportunity to learn love and charity.

   It is weird when you companion leaves you alone to receive someone who has never worked in your area. At first I felt confident. ´´This will be great opportunity to show that I know my stuff and that I could lead this work if needs be.`` Yet we arrived in the area and it all hit me. He didn´t know any of these people and I had to explain everything. He told me I was ´´Senior for the Day`` because he didn´t know anyone or anything about the area. Well, I am praying for miracles and for the Lord to have aimmense patience with me beacause I am seeing how little I know.

     As far as Portuguese goes I can understand what paople are saying more or less 80% of the time. I think that last 20% is going to be tough to conquer, but hey, it´s all good. I miss little filler sentences like that. ´´it´s all good``, ´´allrighty then``, ´´you got it``, etc. they don´t have them in Portuguese. In speaking I can say everything I want to, I just need to improve my grammar and expand my vocabulary. The word for swimsuit is maiô. 

    They make really good pizza here. I have develped the habit of eating anything, because I´m always hungry. Sometimes it´s good, when there is only fruit and vegetables. But, other times, it isn´t so great. This morning for breakfast I had four hotdogs with a bun with cheese on them. The hotdogs were a day past the due date, but I feel great so I think everything is ok.

   This past week Rodrigo was baptized. The story is crazy. We taught him and his family about a month ago for the first time. During the lesson his dad argues with us about really random things like ´´you can only thank God in your prayers, you shouldn´t ask for things`` and ´´my Bible says that Peter was the first Pope.`` Elder Freatas was getting annoyed, but I kept talking. I told Messias, Rodrigo´s dad to pray, right now to know that the Book f Mormon is true. He refused after being asked many times. The Spirit guided me to ask him and converse with him, but nothing happened. I was confused and dissappointed. Well, I knew that the Spirit didn´t guide me for nothing. I felt `` that must have been for someone else.´´

   Well we continued to visit Rodrigo, his sixteen year old son. He has read the Book of Mormon everyday since our first visit and he was baptized this past week. All because of the Spirit. The lesson with his dad really was terrible, horrible, need I go on. Elder Freaitas doubted me a lot when I told him that I wanted to continue to teach that family. Well, the Lord works miracles when you listen. That was my first major experience with being led by the Spirit and I will never forget it.

   I love it here. The members of the ward still think of me as the new american who can't speak any Portuguese, so that gets old, but hey whatever floats your boat, which is water, which is baptism. I'm hungry and I have to email the Mission President so bye.

I LOVE YOU NATALIE!!!!!!!

Com Amor,

   Elder Nothum