September 6, 2011 written 8/18/11

Family, Just a quick note because my comp is writing a letter to his family so I decided I would hurry and write one too. So this week was awesome. I hated the first of it I was so so so!!! homesick but after receiving a blessing from Elder Da Cunha I felt a lot better. It's still really hard but I know this is where I'm supposed to be and I really do love it out here. So last Saturday I had the opportunity of giving my first baptism. It was an amazingly spiritualy experience. I felt so happy afterwards, kinda like I was being cleaned too ya know? It was amazing! And we have 5 dates marked for the next 4 weeks crazy huh!! I don't know why I struggle so much I'm so blessed!! I still have the craziest desires, ha I want to go to yellowstone and family. I don't know, I think its/well I know its I just want to go somewhere with you all. This would be alot easier if I could talk with you all and share the experiences and you could be here and witness it with me! But I'm being blessed. So how is life in Garland. How is everyones health? I have a stupid cold so thats not very fun! I don't know how I caught a cold when it's never below 80 ha. This next week is Zone Conference so I will have the opportunity to bear my testimony to my zone/district, all 8 of us. Thats when I wish I was in the City to get to know other Elders more! Then I would have more people to talk to, more friends and all that. So this letter will probably take forever to get to you. I don't understand why U.S. can send a letter 2 weeks but Brazil takes months! Why is it not the same distance? Does Brazil not know a shortcut? I don't know, it's stupid you guys aren't getting letters. I really hope you start soon! I love you all take care Tchau Elder Deakin Oh one last thing one of the best advice you have given me is just keep smiling...even when it's the fakeist it still helps so much to just keep smiling! :) so when your having a bad day just put on a smile :) So he's still not done so I will write more ha. So in the back of the portuguese bible there is spaces for notes but it doesn't have a topical guide so I borrowed a paper with alot of topics and wrote them all there. It's pretty cool now. I'm going to go through and mark the ones that I really like. So it's August you are probably getting ready to start school for Cambria and thinking about the trip to Park City! That sounds really fun. When I get back we need to go on a trip somewhere haha. I'm still undecided if I want you to come pick me up or not. Here in this area there really isn't anything to see. I think it would be cooler to return during the World Cup because the stadium would be done and there would be alot of things to do. But that's down the road a ways. I'm really excited for General Conference. You guys should go and I will try to spot you in the crowd! For the Fourth of July I saw President Kirkland. It was awesome. But one of my favorite things to study is the Liahona. It is full of wonderful stories that really help me! Oh scripture of the week. Alright so we will do two this week because I really like them both. 1. Matt. 10:16 talks about missionary work. I just remembered I used this last week so 2. Matt. 10:32-34 The first two 32-33 go well together. That we need to remember that we have a testimony and with that testimony we have a responsibility! Then in 34 comes the cannons ha. Our message as Latter Day Saints isn't to bring peace to those that are living without the goespel, not to tell them they are fine...it's to say arreppenda-se (repent)!! and open your eyes to the Lord for only if we change and live our lives with his teachings we will be saved!! This is my message :) I Love You All!