August 24, 2011 (written Aug. 8)

Family! Hey how's it going today!? Everything is great. Time is starting to fly by alot faster now that we have alot of investigators and lessons. Next Friday I will have been in the field 1 month! Wow, the homesick is getting better, still pretty tough in the mornings but when I start focusing on the work it all gets better. So this week we were supposed to have a baptism for Viviani but she wanted to postpone it. She called and we were like no way! Why, but after explanation we understand so we moved it to this Saturday. We have an investigator whose brother is a member and grandparents. We are teaching the two daughters and hopefully the dad this week. They are awesomelly accepting to the gospel. But one day we got a phone call from President Antamio (branch Pres.) saying that she could be possessed and for us to run over. We got all dressed and ran and then we almost were then President called and said its a medical issue. It's when they get seizures. I don't remember the name. So we were at a lunch at Brother Marios house and the daughters needed help with english, so I helped. I've taught alot of people some english especially Elder Douglas Da Cunha. That's my comps full name. So Saturday we were in Bairro da Paz for lunch so we started our fast out there and then yesterday (sunday) we had lunch there so two times walking to there on 1 fast (7 miles) When we got back Saturday night I had to drink a little water. I wasn't feeling good but I feel the Lord understood. It was 40 c Saturday! and the day before that like 42 o, 43 o. Hotttt! I knew it was going to be hot here but holy cow it is unbearable. So hot! I sweat so much! I'm down 2 kilos (4 pounds) I don't know why, I think I eat alot! Oh well, hopefully I don't lose too much more. (mom note: all the walking and sweating, I don't think he's going to be gaining too much) So we set 3 baptism dates this week so thats awesome and I think next week we will set 4 or more, but we need to do more contacting. We started making our contacts alot more simple so they don't take as long and we can talk to more people. So President was here Wednesday to bring our ZL & DL back from a leadership meeting. He asked me to do an example of teaching. I think he was impressed. So when I was walking to Bairro de Paz (our area really far away) and I saw a grasshopper 6" long. Huge, he got squished but was really big and bright green. I love the members here. They are so helpful and so involved in the work. Its crazy the difference. So your treats are here mom & I see why you only sit on the couch and eat bonbon's because they are way good! If only I knew I would've joined you haha (mom note: he is such a tease, but I always tell the family that's all I do everyday haha) So we had a fireside last Tuesday about working. He played a cool video called where good thoughts come from. Its some guy drawing a process of thoughts. You guys should look it up (it's in english). So you can tell Cambria to forget about the motorcycle and focus on the hardtop and to get dad involved to find one for the jeep, a good nice one! For cheap ha! You have 2 winters. I received one of your letters dated May 2010. It was funny. So how was Vegas? I will never miss another family trip! The mission teaches you alot of things that are important most and things that don't really matter. Last night me and Elder Da Cunha were talking about what we wanted to be and he really got me thinking. He has a great passion to be a pilot and he said yeah I know it's way hard but I can't live life knowing I didn't try. He made me question the eyedoctor and maybe think more of mechanical engineer. It's going to take alot of prayer and soul searching during the mission and after to get this figured out. So right now it 7:20 and I have sweat running down my face! Hot! You guys can't comprehend how hot it is here haha. But whats new with you all? Hows my jeep? How's out back? How's the artichoke plant? How's Chandlies new house? Tell me more, oh wait, I get nothing haha JK. I get mail more than I thought but it will be a while til I get more. We have no reason to go into Manaus I don't think. So I'm going to start sending a scripture or thought with each letter because I don't know what else to say ha. So this one is in Matthew 10:16 this is the "ninja" of the church and its talking about missionaries! I think it's awesome!! Share one with me. Also I'me sending this one none priority see how much longer it is. So I spent the morning cleaning the apartment waiting for everyone to wake up. So every morning I wake up @ 12:30 & 5:30 then 6:30. It's so weird! Everyday, every single one! It's crazy! How's the Brigham Temple coming? Do you have a date that it will be done? How's the grandparents? I write to Judy & Vern but I need to write one to Bob too, probably next week. I need to reply to Chrys. Maybe I'll just say thanks for the letters and keep them coming and you can pass that on for me haha. But p-days go by slow because we don't do much. I love staying busy then I don't think about you all too much (get home sick!) But it's good I Love you all. I love being a missionary. Miss you all! Tchau! Elder Deakin
One last cool thing that I just found in the scriptures. You know my plaque scripture..Matt. 5: 14-16 look at 3 Nefi (Nephi) 12:14-16 It's awesome. When I found it I really was excited!! I Love You all. Hae a wonderful week.

August 7, 2011

Familia!
Oi! tudo bem? Como fui sua semana? Come e a familia? Como e a casa de Chandlie & Tyrell? How is Cambria? Is it just me or is the time going by really slow this week? My companion is awesome. I really like him. But what's new at home? How's grandpa's house? How's Brandyn liking marriage? How is everything? My branch here is awesome. The food is good. I have pasta noodles more or equal to rice haha crazy huh? But beans and meat at every meal. It's good. I'm keeping my weight. I have a cool tan line ja (already) So for my things this week I saw 2 parrots, held one. It was lime green w/blue, way pretty. Also you will never guess who the first person in Manaus I saw was Elder Thompson. He's doing good. I haven't seen Elder Tenney yet though. So my luggage broke bad. The side walls all collapsed so I don't know what to do for the warrenty but maybe call them and find out. Also I found this guy here that carves oars. It's way cool. I don't know if you want something special I am having him make me one with moroni and the plates. Maybe a small one of Logan Temple too, we'll see. Only spiders I've seen are wolf, tiny ones and daddy long legs the size of golf balls. We got invited to go aligator hunting. I think he was serious. I hope at least haha. The members are so great. You need to make cookies for the Elders haha. So we get 200 reis a month. Thats $100, were living right! Food is so cheap, bread especially. So we have 2 baptisms and one wedding next month. I want one quicker, but I don't know. We contact alot of people but I think more is better. We have high numbers Just I want more. I don't want to be average, I want extreme! I want to be working all day long in this heat! This week we get to participate in helping hands so that's cool. All of Brazil is doing it on the 30 of this month. Oh also this week we got the triple three, 1 bible basher 1 lady feeding her baby and 2 well 2 drunks, people they were funny. Also we just got out of a huge church broadcast for America. I was the only one that liked it. Everyone was like why is this only about America. I liked it though. It was really helpful! So I hope your happy and keep writing! We had ward parties this week or festival da ram. It was different. They don't have modesty rules down here and they have this weird dance but it's normal for them so I guess it's not a problem haha. I'm so sick of these stupid bugs. Right now I have at least 4 on me. They never leave you alone. So one of our areas is about 7 miles away it is called Birro de Paz. The people there are very poor. Holes for toilets. It's crazy. Very nice people though. I love all the people here. They are so nice. I've only met one not nice lady and she just didn't want to talk. We contacted 51 people this week. Set 2 baptisms and 1 wedding I think successful! Well I think thats all for now! I love you all so much. Write me!! Tchau! eu je amo! Elder Deakin
So its P-Day today and raining pretty good. I was kept up most the night by lots of random things. A bird hiding from the lightening, a spider in my bed, our roommate trying to kill something. So needless to say not a good night but still up @ 6:30 because thats one rule I will never break! They say there are rules that matter and rules that don't but to me they are all rules and I want to keep them all. They say that it's just because I'm new in the mission field.
How is Chandlies house? I need more photos of everything. We are gong running today. Maybe I will take lots of photos then e mail them to you all next which will be a week before your reading this haha. I hate the mail system. I had to start using bug spray. I get bit all over my face, looks like it has tons of zits., but they are from bugs. But, I hope to hear fron you all soon. I love you all so much!! Tchau