Week 6

Dad,Mom,Cambria

Hey how is it going everything here is going great here. Sounds like you guys are staying busy and having tons of fun haha good for you! Sounds like Chandlie is having a great trip. That would be fun. What trip to somewhere are you planning? Sounds like Chrys and them had a good time in Las Vegas. That's awesome. Everything is going great here. I am losing myself in the work. I don't know the days go by alot faster now. I really do love it here. Thanks for all the packages. It was really good cake! All is good here. You guys sound really hopeful for visas. Sad to say, but I'm almost 90% sure I'll be stateside for awhile and I'm 200% alright with that. I want to get to Brazil way bad, but it doesn't matter, the Lord will give me work no matter where I serve. There is another 100+ Brazillian missionaries coming in next week so that shows visas aren't coming anymore...its all good I love my district here and I can't wait to just get to the field. I was called the Branch Music Coordinator so I pick all the songs for Sacrament, special numbers and Priesthood. It's fun. I love having a calling. We did sealings today in the Temple. We can only be kids but it was neat. I really liked it and the guy in there was really nice, but everything is going good. No other big news. Love you Oh a few extra things. I'm doing better health wise. I've regained the pounds I lost and gained another three. The language is good. We taught Wednesday for the whole thiing in Portuguese. Our goal is to only speak Portuguese the last week we are here. I feel like we will make it. We work hard and my companion and I get along so much better now. We really are good and I like him, he's a good kid. I wouldn't mind having him in the field.

Week 5

Cambria! Hey! or OI!

como vi hogic? ( How are you today) Sounds like your having a great summer I heard that you had a few questions about what I do well?!! Monday I have personal study first thing in the morning for an hour where I study for myself and apply the scruptures to my investigators (7-8). 8:15 Is breakfast it is usually something like cereal unless its biscuts and gravy. 9:20 Is gym we go out to the feild and play soccer. We can play volleyball or frisbee but I play soccer. 10:30 we have companion study me and my companion study for our investigators and how to become better teachers. 1:00 Is lunchtime some other processed food, used to it all now tho so it is'nt bad. 2:00 language study we study words we will use and we talk as much as possible we have been translating movie quotes like gulpe grande eh? oi ate logo... Lucas eu seu pai! 1st from Dumb & Dumber 2nd from Star Wars.

3:30 Irma Adamson she is hilarious and a way good teacher! She helps us alot. 6:00 Dinner more not the best food.6:45 is class w/ Imso Slappi our other teacher he is way cool we have two of the best teachers. But yeah thats Monday and the rest of the days are just like that. 1 hour personal, companion 2 hour language. It just depends the order on the day. Tuesday there is LGM'S ( large group meeting) we have a big class on how to teach and stuff like that. Then at night there is a devotional where a speaker comes in and talks to us for an hour then we go and meet as a district to talk about it for an hour.

Friday or P-Day is awesome! we start off with personal in our room and then to the Temple and then write letters to Sis. When it's dinner and class for p-day we get to stay in our gym clothes but we cant go anywhere were not allowed to ever leave the campus. So it's getting old but we get to relax and hang out which is nice. It's a break form studying 20 hours a day!

Sunday is the other different day. We go to breakfast then Sacrament then study then Priesthood then study then district meeting w/ the Pres who is cool. Then a Temple walk then dinner then a fireside with a speaker, then the movie! So we are staying busy with studying ha but yeah thats what I'm up to! Oh yeah I mentioned we have investigaters every Wed. We have TRC where we go and teach volunteers. This Wednesday it is completly in Portuguese no English. I'm nervous! But then we also sign up to meet and teach teachers as progressive investigators! ha! We do pretty good most the times! Love ya!

Olah!
Como Vi? Well wow it has been 4 1/2 weeks. I can't believe how fast its going. Everything is going great. The language is coming more and more. I just need to speak it more. We have had 3 english fasts where we go 24 hours with only Portuguese. We only make it about six hours, but it helps. We have another one tomorrow for 5 hours and a 24 hour one Monday. The guys in my district left. We are down to 9 which is still pretty good. Elder Arroyo, the cool one, is still here. I love my district/ I couldn't of asked for a better group of kids. Elder Hurd left last Tuesday. Sad but way happy he is out there and still not trapped in this place. Im so excited to get outinto the field and talk to real people, but this place is alright for now. I'm feeling aloot better. I haven't weighed myself but I think I might of put on the 6 pounds I lost. I'm sore alot from gym, but only cuz I try to run lots. I ran into Dusty alot today. We went to the Temple again. It was nice. We still haven't gotten our visas yet but were staying positive. I wouldn't mind going stateside for a while but at the same time I want to get there really bad. Some kid in Sacrement said there was a reason why the Lord wanted him/us here and the President stood up and said no, the Lord wants us in Brazil, but man is interfering. I thought it was funny! Sundays and P-Days are still my favorite days. This last Sunday we watched The Mountain of the Lord. Seen it but it was pretty good. Have you heard anything else about Obama and the Space program? What's happening in the outside world? I feel so clueless to the world around me. That was awesome about Jason (Peavler) winning. Have you tried them? (Bar B Que ribs) That was really cool for him! Anything new going on with the fam? Jobs? Marriage? (Britten and Cambria are the next oldest in the family so I hope no one is getting married. He must have had a brain lapse for a minute haha) Kids? Anything, I love to hear how it is all going. What day is your pageant? Isn't it coming up soon? Elder Brower got his visa last Friday and left Wednesday so that was cool for him. Well I will see if the pictures are done if so there they are, if not next week! I love you all eu amo voce's! Eu sou que doaigraja de Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos ultimas Dias E Verdado. Eu amo serving o Senhor! Eu amo voces!!

Editor note: Between Britten's handwriting and our not knowing how to spell Portuguese words please excuse any spelling errors that you may know of.

Week 4

Mom,Dad,Family
Hey! How is the home life going? Its getting really good here I feel like the days go by way slow but I cant believe that its weeek four. So first off visa news the visas are coming. Today 3 more in my district got their visa but apperently on the fourth there is supposedly a ton more visas coming so that is what I'm hopeful for. When I get my visa I'll be able to call for five minutes also when I am in the airport I can call too. Send me a calling card cuz I heard they are cheaper outside the airport. So I'm hoping I get it soon. I want to get out into the real world for awhile ha instead of surrounded by mindless missionary zombies. ha ha I do love it here though. Me and my companion when we teach together the spirit is so strong nothing brings us down. I have learned so much about myself and family and friends I have gained so much more of a testimony but only now I need to learn how to bear it all in Portuguese. Last Tuesdays devotional we had the speaker was a guy that makes the church movies so we got to see alot of them. That was fun. I still havent seen Dusty but I talked to everyone else lots. Things are going great. So thats great to hear that things are looking better for work you will have to keep me up to date on whats going on. Thanks for the package I love snickers and all the candy! You guys seem to be staying busy all I do is study. Thats crazy that the areas are closing and we are sitting here waiting!! I cant wait I'm so excited!! Yet so mad that no visa yet!! But everything is great and I Love you all alot.

Britten

Family!!
Thanks for all letters. I love getting mail!! It makes my day so much better ha well where to start first off still kinda home sick but I love it so much I'm having a blast all the time but the food doesn't sit well in my stomach it constantly hurts. I'm kinda moving faster in the language still struggling learning memorizing words. Soccer everyday is still fun. So many people play it in tho its so packed! It's hot in our class to so it makes it rally hard to just sit there!Yesterday Thursday there was 54 Brazil visas two in my district got them so I think its a sign that they are coming! Yeah your portuges is well.. More like spanish mix ha ha some of the words are close but I still get the jest of it ha ha ha I have to write another talk for sunday yeah! Is there anything big happening in Garland? All my district thinks it's crazy all the things we did. They were all big town boys ha and all BYU trying to covince me to go there. They don't realize it's a lost cause ha ha. I ran into David he seems to be doing great. Acted like he loved it here. Seeing a freindly face around helps alot but at the same time we dont talk much but it would of been so much harder going straght to Brasil. But i'm doing fine here and can't wait to get to Brasil I want my visa ha ha I'm glad to get a letter from everyone i'm sending them all letters to but let them know it is greatly appreciated and I love it alot! but everything is great here keep writing. I will call when I get my visa but only four mins ha I will email you the things I need there is a small list plus a package I need to send home to you. Thanks for everything Love you so much Elder Britten.

WEEK 3

Olah comi vi!? Au su muito feliz.ha ha I love it. Here is the short part of the message but you will get my letter soon, But I love all the letters you send. It is so nice to recieve stuff from you all! I'm still having a blast here. I am staying busy. I have a Book of Mormon in Portugues that I am going to send home when I get ready to leave down to Brasil. They gave me one so I dont need two. Everything is going good here. The language is good. The visas are coming. I told you about it in the letter so I dont want to repeat myself ha ha I love you all thanks for everything tchau!!

Friday June 16, 2010 (e-mail)
oi familia tudo bem
Everything is muito bem here. I am starting to love it here. I love my district so much and the teachers are just great. The food is starting to get ordinary ha ha but all in all I love it! I have to write a talk for Sunday just in case they call on me. We never know until right before but it has to be in Portuguese so it is really hard to translate everything! How is everything back home. I love hearing from you all everyday ha ha It brings the biggest smile to my face! I love the cookies. They are so good. At the first I was never hungry but I love food again. I eat quite a bit but still not as much as home. I have a new best friend ha ha His name is Elder Arroyo from Mississippi. He is exactly like me. We have everything in common. He is so fun! P day is by far the second best day of the week next to Sunday! Sunday is so much fun with the movie and Temple walks. It probably sounds alot like a repeat when you read my letter but I was having alot of fun writing the letter so it was kinda long, but keep writing me and I love you all!!
Elder Deakin

Saturday June 17, 2010
Oi Pai (he forgot the rest of his familia oh well ha ha)
Thanks for all the letters. Its great to hear from you guys. Since last week things have been muito bem! Life is going fast in here. Its already been a week! I am loving it here now after the first three days, things have become alot faster and better. My district rocks they are so fun! The language is slowly coming. I'm able to introduce and bare my testimony eu si que Jesus Cristo vive e hosso redentor eu sei que de igraja dos santos dos ultimos dias eromi Jesus Cristo Eman It's small but I'm getting it sorta ha ha. I am having so much fun but at the same time 8 more weeks seems so long... to be trapped in here. How could the Japanese spend 10 weeks in here. It's like a prison never being able to escape beyond the fence ha ha. But I am still having fun. The good is getting better and the days shorter. I'm glad to hear everyone at home is doing well. I hope Craig gets feeling better. That's so crazy its happening. but everyone else is doing well I presume. I found the best cereal ever here its called Blueberry Muffin tops made by Malt o meal. They are so good! The water isn't very good. It's all weird flavored. The gym time is almost as good as language time. We play soccer and its way fun. We formed our own families and stay together. My branch Presidency scares me. I think they just like to stare you down ha ha. Oh my P days are on Fridays so that is when I will email. Just keep sending the missionary mail cuz getting mail is better than
Christmas ha ha. I have a few things I'm going to send home cuz they gave me a Portuguese Book of Mormon so I will send home theirs and keep the one Tyrell and Chandlie gave me. I love being out here. It feels so unreal that we talk this much about the Church and everything. Sundays are the best. We get a devotional and a movie usually The District which is like a t.v. series "of ordinary missionary's just trying to do Gods work." and ends with "next week on The District" ha ha It's so funny, I'm just having a blast and joking around it's fun. Its definitely not normal fun, but its great. I can't wait to get out into the field. A load of visa's came yesterday so maybe soon ha ha We all get so excited every time the intercom comes on ha ha. Oh I was made Senior Companion Keep writing I love to hear every day. (editors note: we use "Dear Elder.com to send daily letters. It is free and they deliver daily. We are taking advantage of this now as when he is in the field letters take 6 weeks) The Temple is unfortunately closed right now but we get to walk around on Sundays which is amazing! We can stay up but were so tired we pass out. It's like doing nothing makes us so tired!!That's so good that Kayson still remembers me, well points at my picture ha ha. But I hope everything is going good at home for The Neals as well. Sunday we might have to give talks so I have been preparing but it has to be in Portuguese. I'm kinda worried ha ha that's alot. But keep on writing Love you all (editors note: we are trying to read his spelling of the Portuguese words. Forgive us for those of you who know how to spell it right)

June 12, 2010
Bon Targe Pai, Mai, Irlma's & familia
Thanks for your letters its great to hear from you. It's all pretty fun here just kinda alot. Never a moment to rest, but as we say negue-se were on the lords time here. The days themself go pretty slow but looking back on the last three they have gone fast. Thanks for all you do! u amou vocus I love you all Elder Deakin


June 10, 2010 (e-mail we received on the 12th we didn't look at our e-mail because we didn't know he would have it in Provo. our bad.)
Tudo Bem, so week 1/2 all I have to say is holy cow they speed you through everything. This is so fast. Day one went pretty good. I met my companion Elder Thompson, got my room and my bed. I didn't sleep the best that night but I do fine now. Everything is pretty good. I'm sick of the food it all tastes the same fast stuff. I want a home meal again ha ha. All the classes are good. I love learning Portuguese. Its so great! I'm learning it alright, we already sing and pray in it. were trying now to learn how to replace words and get the conjagulations down. It's fun the district meetings are fun but its all so much that its overwhelming. I love my district. The other kids are so much fun. We have a way good time. I have seen Chris (Brower) alot and Carson (Jessop) twice but only Baily (Shaffer) once. I love being here alot, but I still miss you guys like crazy. I never thought I would this much (wow did he really say that? we never imagined he would either) I want someone to just be able to talk to but all in all it is a way good experience, but I can't wait to not be here. Its not bad its just kinda so much inside stuff that its hard ha ha but I love it and I know that this is where I'm supposed to be so its all good. Elder Anderson is our District Leader and he is really fun probably the most like me. They are all cool. My companion is going to the same mission as I am as well as one other kid in my district We are all working really hard. I never thought I would be tired by nine o clock but come that time I am so wiped out that all I want to do is crash. Its like sitting in a desk and in class inside is so overwhelming ha ha! Thanks for the treats. I didn't get them till Saturday but they are still good. The missionary mail is great cuz we only get thirty min. to type so I can read that during the week and then reply to you guys. Thanks for the letters and everything. It was good to hear from you. How is everything going there? You making it alright without me ha ha jk.. oh well if not you will get by ha ha. I can't wait for Monday when we get into the regular schedule and start rolling by the days of the mtc til we can get out. There are some kids here that have been here six weeks but they said that Brazil was trying to turn visas electronic but that didn't work so they just decided to go back to by hand but that seems to be taken a while. Irlma Adamsam is our teacher and she is way fun. I love the class. I just wish it was cooler here. It is so hot. These classrooms get so miserable, but we still have fun. This next week is going to be fun. We are going to introduce ourselves to an "investigator". I'm not so good at the whole role play thing ha ha but I got to go. I LOVE YOU GUYS I miss you all

WEEK 1

mtc walk by drop off

Britten entered the MTC on July 7, 2010.

Welcome to Elder Britten Deakin's blog which will follow him as he serves the Lord the next 2 years. His sister Cambria is the editor and is doing this for her young women project. We hope you enjoy keeping up with him as he begins his Brazilian viagem (journey). Any questions or comments you can write his mom, Tami at tcdeakin@hotmail.com