P-Day Was Not What it was Supposed to Be!

So I don’t have much time to write today, but I'll try to answer everything

I live in the same house as the assistants and I already know them and am good friends with them. Yes it’s also fun being comps with an American and brings back memories of the beginning of my mission. And I can understand why the baptism wasn’t baptized the other transfer and will try to get him baptized before I go home. We also marked 4 other baptisms this last week and will actually leave with the stake president to visit some of the people. One lady her name is Delane and her sister is the bishop’s wife and she has been going to church for a long time and I don’t understand why she never baptized. But I gained her trust and friendship and she’s reading the Book of Mormon and accepted to be baptized and I told her that now she needs to get her husband to church and I gave her a Book of Mormon to write her testimony and give it to him to read. I called her earlier today and she said that he is reading it and will find out more tomorrow when I see them. I still haven’t met her husband.

So things are going good and p-day today was kinda horrible. I had it all planned out and got nothing done that I wanted to.....we left home to go to my old area to visit Christiani and it started to rain and of course without umbrella and then waiting for the bus and had two buses pass by and then we had to wait over an hour for another one which was very irritating and then we finally got there and was awesome to see them and how much her kids have grown and then she made us lunch. We went to the new shopping mall they finished building there close by in hopes to develop pictures and of course we couldn’t get them developed. I also had to get my picture taken to be able tomorrow to go to the police station to get my way over expired visa renewed. Now I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but w/e all is well and somehow I’ll get it worked out. Tonight we will eat pizza at a recent convert’s house from Elder Lasley.

So Mother’s Day, I almost forgot about calling home, but I don’t intend on talking for a long time and will be to say happy Mother’s Day and discuss all the questions and stuff on the trip.

I know a member here who drives a taxi and we can pay him to drive us around. I believe he will only drive here in Maceio, but maybe I’ll see if he can go to Arapiraca and Palmeira dos Indios too.

Happy anniversary and congratulations and good luck with the surgery and I’ll see if I can get some photos sent to you right now

Love Brian

I Finally Got Out and Took Some Pictures of My Area

Here is one of our more friendly neighbors.

Taking time out for a bite to eat.
This man and his son use this cart to find work. They take it out and see if people need dirt, or rocks or anything else moved.They let us have a ride.

For P-day Brian visited as many churches the city of Sao Cristavao. This is the 4th oldest city in all of Brazil.

Do you think they will hire us to be bell ringers?

Their baptismal pages.

Brian's description: "Don't even ask me about the beds."

A view from the street Brian lives on.

Our house! We live upstairs and another man lives downstairs. It's a nice big house: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, front space, back space and kitchen. This is my comp, Elder Fraga.

A sad looking dog laying down in the road.

We really do have cobblestone streets here in Eduardo Gomes. The street is being repaired and while it's under construction, you can see the stones they use for the road.

A view of the street from our house.

Doggy Heaven!

Brian is in doggy heaven. He loves dogs, so we know he is having the time of his life. We are not sure where this is, but we know he is having fun! All he said was her name is Shakira.

Eduardo Gomes...Brian's New Area

Baptism of Leticia who was baptized by her uncle Aldo. They are also teaching her mom who cried at the baptism.

Having fun with a little girl.

Elder Roberts and his comp Elder Fraga with their chimarrao`
Brian said their house was a huge mess and he spent a lot of time all week cleaning it, so they could trade Sis. Beynon their frowny face for a smiley face. You have to have a clean house to get one.

Nice Shower!
The hammock Brian bought.
Work area.
Brian's big bed.... aaahhhh!

Batismo do Enoque

Enoque's baptism. Notice Brian's short hair. He said last week that he shaved his head.

Happy Enoque before getting baptized.

Christmas in Brazil

Brian sitting in a tree over the water during a Christmas ward activity.

Elder Roberts and Elder Souza standing in the tree.
Elder Roberts by the river at the Christmas activity
Pres. and Sis. Beynon playing nose horns for our Christmas party.

Having fun with our zone during interviews with Sis. Beynon
Brian with his trainer Elder Guerra, (dad) and his comp that he is training (son) Elder Souza

Having fun with Sis. Beynon. She is a great mission mom!

The baptism of Manga 17 and his sister Camila 15yrs.

The felt Christmas tree that had notes from family and friends pinned all over it.

Bro and Sis. Hansen who are going home soon.

Brian and Elder Stembridge ( our moms are on the Missionary Moms site together)

Elder Plazier, Elder Peck and Elder Roberts

Elder Roberts and his comp Elder Souza from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Fun in the Zone!

Zone conference lunch break. Brian has his hand togther by his face and is in the background.

The big zone. Brian is barely visable on the right hand side.

Brian's New Comp and His Area of Aracaju'

Elder Roberts with his new comp, Elder Souza from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Welcome to Brian's area in Aracajú/Sergipe

A view of the city This is the baptism that almost didn't happen, because this young man almost forgot to come.

Fun Happenings in Brazil

Thank you to my family and to the Smith's for the wonderful goodies I got for halloween!

These are some of the elders Brian played soccer with today.

Brian has a member who is working with old documents and he figured it woud be fun to try it out.

Brian is holding one of the original documents

from the 1850's. He said it was fun trying to read it.

Brian's caption for this picture is: "Stay away from smoking"

Brian tried his hand at making lasagna. YUM!