January 4, 2012

Family Hey so this letter will be the first for a while because it was Christmas and New Years and I really didn't have any time so sorry, but your reading this one so I won't miss another week for a while now! So starting with before Christmas we had our Christmas party where we went to Centro Instrucao de guirrada selva (instruction center for forrest warfare). So President related alot of their trainings for us but we got to take a 20 min. jungle walk then ate really good food and ate fruit and juices. Then we got to dig out larva from a branch and eat that haha. I almost lost it! It was bad but then we got to attempt to grab snakes, but one kid in my group was a girl and didn't do it, but wasted so much time that I didn't get to so yeah, I was mad. But oh well. Then Christmas was fun. We went to the church and saw that someone already deleted skype so that wasn't good, so it went well but was full of stress haha. Then one week passed by and it was New Years which I can't believe I'm in the last week of this transfer, holy cow! That passed by so fast! So if I'm transferred I'll explain how the house is. We have 2 rooms for sleeping, 1 entrance room, 1 dirty kitchen/wash room and 1 bathroom and 1 ironing room, but we don't have beds so we sleep on a mattress on the floor ha woot experiences haha. So I got alot of stuff for Christmas. I received 2 from mom and dad, 1 from Chan, 1 from Holly which was way nice of her. The k'nex was super fun and I've already done Chan's puzzle. It took 10 min. haha, but it was fun. (mom says: she didn't send a picture so it would be harder, obviously that didn't work) I got the wood puzzle all figured out too haha, but it was fun! Alright, so I keep forgetting how to do it haha, so it's continually fun haha. A good toy for short term memory people ha. So as I told you I finished the Book of Mormon before Christmas so it was like 6 months I think. So at the Christmas activity I found out that one of our people in Itacoatiara who returned to the church was called 2nd Counselor to the President! So that's cool! To pronounce Itacoatiara say it like It-a-co-watch-e-a-da try that, I think you should get it now. (Mom's note: when we were skyping I said something about that city and he didn't have a clue what I was saying until finally I said the first city you were in then he said Oh, so that is why he is giving me a lesson on how to say it)haha So right now we have 3 weddings planned and 4 dates marked but we have one more potential wedding and baptism so were being blessed right now. Were working hard, but you have to. Oh about the buzz fliers you got me "he doesn't fly he falls in style"! haha So at lunch the other day had a chance to try the inside fat part to the bone of a cow foot, was called tuterio and man was that really bad! I really almost lost it that time! But all in all the area is good, the comps always there by me and the suns close to keep us tan! I love you all, have a wonderful week! Elder Deakin D&C 135:3 Joseph Smith's the Man! Jacob 1:12 Though this scripture is short and undetailed we can remember one trait about the glorious, strong, brave, valiant, righteous, Prophet Nephi...that he too was just a man, like us, therefore we too can perform miracles and be like him.

December 25, 2011

Familia! Merry Christmas! Hey how goes it this week? So....transfers! It's old news but I will be transfered to Zona Central (where the mission home is, where da Cunha got transferred to). So I am pretty sad I have to leave this town, but it's cool to see a new area! So as I'm leaving, the whole town is throwing me lanches w/cake and food. Sorry this letter is short today, I'm super busy getting this package sent! Have a great day. I Love You all! Oh also Merry Christmas!!

Garland 4th Ward! I hope you all are enjoying this cold Christmas season. I'm enjoying this hot Christmas weather! You all might not enjoy the snow 100% but it's not Christmas without it! I would also like to thank you for all the letters and especially all the prayers for the missionaries. This work isn't possible w/o the help and the prayers of all the members. Also like to thank you all for the help and teachings you have given me in my life. Each member/leader has made a significant impact on my life and I thank you all for that! And with the Christmas season here I would like to challenge you all to read the Christmas story in the Bible and learn more about our Savior that we have designated a day for. Remember the true meaning of Christmas. Help those who stand in need of help. With each new ward/branch I enter I can see those members who truly are disciples of Christ, testifying of Him in their actions, and I know that each of you truly are His disciples. Also, I challenge you to watch the video on LDS.org about Christmas (as missionaries we make alot of challenges haha) But as a last note, I really would like to thank you all again for all the help and prayers! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season! Stay warm! Elder Deakin Reading assignment: St. Matt Chap 1 & 2, St. John 1:10-12, Zechariah 2:6 (santa lives)

December 6, 2011

Family! Hey how goes it this week? So we had transfers and that was a very new experience! So to start off Sunday after Church we were in the house of a member and I received a call from the Secretaries! He told me everyone's transfers then mine! I will be transfered to ...Zona Central! That's it. No news on comp, no curca nada! So I started to call everyone in my branch to tell them (also found out the area received 2 sisters) but they said they will throw a party Monday night. So Monday morning (p-day) I woke up, started packing everything. It gets harder each time fitting everything in my bags! I had to use a box also! But then I went and got my watch fixed, then to correios w/my box! It had 2 ores, 1 cd, 1 plastic box, 1 shirt from helping hands and suprisas! Share! So that was 90 reias. So not really bad. I hope you get it all! So I sent that then we went to e mail you! Then to the party! Where one by one they stood up and complimented me on our work. It was cool! The best was Presidente Antonio. He said I could return and have wifes waiting for me. He's so funny. With every person that stood up after they would say Tchau Deakin. It was a really cool experience then at 2 in the morning I got on the bus, got into Manaus 7:15. It was raining really bad so the bus went really slow. So got there to the office and they posted the names out front like when your trying out for a sport. It was funny! My new area Novo Israel. Comp is Elder Helama Javiar DeSilva. Its a ward that has less members than Itacoatiara. Now my area has more hills than San Francisco. It's so bad. Just to get to lunch, up, down, up, down. We are knocking doors. Last week we knocked 4 entire streets, everyhouse. My house when I got here was super dirty but it's getting cleaner and cleaner. I sleep on a mattress on the floor so thats fun! But we have air conditioner! Also internet is really good here so I will start trying to send photos every p-day. I cant take too many pictures cuz I don't take my camera with me. It's dangerous. I will buy my web cam to use skype so everything is going to be great! I think thats all for now. Tchau! I Love You all! Elder Deakin Espiritual message. "the Event mentioned most in the Bible is the Second Coming. Birth 9 times, baptism 52, second coming 1,500 times in the Old Testament, 300 in the New. I thought that was really cool!

November 25, 2011

Family! Hey how goes it this week? So today is Thanksgiving! I'm writing today because I want to ha. So hows the dinner there? Today at lunch the member fixed a bar-b-que so I was happy. It was a big lunch. It's super hot and I'm really feeling the stresses of being Senior! We went to take care of things for a wedding and I had to do it all! It's stressfull ha but @ the same time I like it alot more! So this last week we had a batismao! That's like a really big baptism. It doesn't translate as cool but we had the baptism of Rosenere that we married to Romerito last week and the family Raimundo & Maraci so clempted 2 families! It was very cool. We have had alot of problems with Raimundo & Maraci. The whole branch was stopping by teaching new things confusing them, but this last week we finally got it all worked out. They have a daughter that is handicapped that we were planning on baptising her Saturday, but she didn't pass the baptismal questions? She knew some and not the others so we hve to return and teach very simply! My comp is good. He's got stuff that I can learn and at the same time I'm helping him. So I had to restart the Book of Mormon and this time its alot slower. I need to pick it up to finish by New Years. I'll write grandpa's and grandma's next week. So this last week nothing to exciting happened. We have this member inactive that we are trying to help return to the church. I felt inspired to ask her how she could know the truth but go to other Churches! And then her knowledge of the Book of Mormon. She only read it as a book, not as a way to help your life. Her friend called that night saying she was really thinking about what we said. I've learned as a missionary sometimes ya got to get in peoples faces and shake them a little like Elder Holland! Some people will only realize they can't live the way they are unless you say those exact words! But thats all for this week. Take care. Love ya! Tchau! Love you all Elder Deakin Isaiah 49:16 He won't forget us How then can we forget him!!!

November 18, 2011

Family! Hey hows the Griswalds hoje! Everything is great. We are working really hard. We had an activity here in the church and had 300+ people there to contact. We had 42 contacts and lessons. It was cool. I really feel that my language really took off these last few days. My comp doesn't speak english so it's just portuguese but it's good. I've really felt that the members really have taken to me since da Cunha left. The members are great. I really am going to miss this town. It's all I know, but it will be cool to have a new area. I received a letter from the Stake Relief Society. It was nice they thought of me. It's also really nice to hear of those people that ask about me. Nice to know I am remembered haha. I'm really excited to receive photos. I hope I receive them soon! Also I'm preparing a package to send when I leave here. It will have some surprise presents for you all. So this last week we had a wedding for Rosanere & Romarito. It was cool. I played the piano for them, I was very happy! They have been together almost 2 years and one day we got there to get money for lunch and said you gotta get married. He said "yeah, so we marked the date. It's awesome! Then we have 3 baptisms this week and the other branch has 6 so 9 all together! Holy cow it will be awesome! Also this week we had 11/11/11 and @ 11/11 I made a wish! That was alot of ones! haha Elder Leno is very cool. He will study at BYU so we'll for sure hang out! Its starting to rain pretty good. Thats good because then its cooler and easier to sleep, but mosquitos are worst. President said that he would pull all missionaries for the dedication of the temple! But I think that's all for now. I will write a spiritual message Tchau I Love You all Elder Deakin Pslams 144:15 Phillipeans 4:13 These two scriptures are very cool, talking about the strength the lord can bless you with!

November 9, 2011

Family hey! How goes it this week? Everything is great! Today is Wednesday and man did we have a crazy day yesterday. President Klein called in the morning and asked Elder daCunha if I knew the area really well and all sorts of questions making me think I will train this transfere, but then after lunch he called again and said emergency transfere. da Cunha is leaving. I received a companion 3 weeks before transfors normal. (note: a little portuguese there) So my comps name is Ariel. He's from the same state as da Cunha Rio Grande da Sol. He arrived last night. We spent all yesterday saying goodbye to everyone and now I have to teach him everything about the area because he said that I will proably leave w/the next transfers. So wow interesting. So this week we have our wedding, baptism so I'll let ya know how that goes. Oh I got the christmas tree package. I'll get all decorated now ha. Christmas will be wierd. Everybody is already decorating, not like there, but with statues and things of santa. I finished the book "Be Thou an Example" in 4 or 5 days. I really liked it! It was very good! Well that's all for this week. Just quick to get it in the mail since were headed there! Have a great week! Tchau! I Love You all! Elder Deakin Este mensagem johe primera e em portugues por pai para ler e segunda e em Mosiah 27:25 isso e um convendo especial (batismo) e so depeis batismo nos somos "filhos de deut" isso e porque batismo e important Tchau! Te amo! Love You all!!!