So we were playing soccer today...

"...Well... its the start of another weekly email to everyone... Anyhoo... How is everyone doing? How is life up in the frozen wasteland called America? Is it as cold as everyone is saying it is? We finally hit fall here in Brasil so the weather is starting to cool down. We were walking at night and I had this strange sensation. It really weirded me out and I was trying like crazy to figure out what it was then I realized- it was actually comfortable and not ridonkulously blooming hot. It was the most strange feeling... 

Well this week was rather hectic. We're working like crazy trying to reach our goal of 45 baptisms in the zone so that we can go to the temple. We've all been giving it our absolute all trying to reach the goal. We're fasting and praying and doing everything that we can to reach our goal. Life is pretty much just that right now, work, work, work, and trying to prepare people for baptism. We encountered (is that a word?) several great families this week and we're teaching them...

I had a realization this week. We have been working super hard but without really realizing it my attitude took a turn for the worse. I was getting frustrated with the people and I wasn't teaching with the spirit and because we didn't have the spirit, our work suffered. Then it kinda hit me upside the head that while I was working hard the whole week, I was just going through the motions and not really putting my heart into the work and that's why we weren't succeeding in getting more baptisms or teaching with the spirit. So when I realised what was happening I put a stop to all that nonsense and we're back to working 100%. Its interesting how Satan is always finding new ways to be an annoying bugger and try to stop the work . A lot of the time, we don't even realize what is going on or why we're having problems but when we realize it and put a stop to how he is trying to mess us up we realize just how off track we were. Does that even make sense? It does to me lol. But basically I wasn't working like I should have like in D&C 4 and our work suffered but now I'm re-dedicated and we're working our maximum and I can already see a difference. 

Well that's about all that happened this week. Sorry the email is so short but to make up for it here's a few pictures. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? The first pic is me, Elder Halgren, and Elder Grigsby out in the boondocks of Brasil one night. We went to do a baptismal interview and Elder Ham took the pic of us. The second is from waaaaay back when I was in the CTM in São Paulo and its of a part of São Paulo at night. The third is of Ponta Grossa, well more looking out into the fields surrounding the city. The last is of the UGLIEST DOG I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!!! Hope you enjoy them..."

Minhas pernas são cansados porque jogamos futebol hoje

"...Life here is going really well. We are working like absolute dogs because we now have a lot more responsibility. That's because President made us Zone Leaders!!!!! Just kidding. But he did close one of the neighboring wards and assigned us to keep working there as well as the ward that we were already working in. So now our working area is a lot larger and the fact that the 2 wards don't actually touch makes things a little complicated... But the 2 wards are rising to the challenge. The bishop of the new ward knows that we can't work in his ward without divisions so he's going crazy getting everyone to go out with us so we can work in the 2 areas at the same time. Basically we're going to be working with members in the 2 wards almost every day so we're going to be seperated a lot. Its really good though, we're already seeing how important planning has become for us. If we don't get everything planned very well, things will fall apart and we won't be able to work like we planned. But yeah, we were already working hard but now we're working like crazy but I'm loving it. The bishop of the new ward is an absolute stud and we're working very closely with him. We're going to tear it up like crazy now not only in Uvaranas but also in 31 de Março...

We also had a fun... service project this week. We showed up at the house of this lady whose sons we baptized about a month ago because she said she needed a little help with a project in the house. It was absolutely pouring rain when we got there and she said that what she wanted us to do was to rip off one of the walls of her house and rebuild it with new wood. So we did. We ripped all the wood off and started sawing and nailing and slipping in the mud and all sorts of fun stuff.... Also, the supplies here stink. Hardcore. Two hits of a hammer and the nails started bending like rubber. So after a long time of slipping in the mud, getting soaked, and occasionally building something we finished up rebuilding the wall. She was most appreciative, and we were completely exhausted... but it was a really fun experience and I've learned to appreciate American materials and quality...

Well family my time is about up already so I'm going to have to wrap this up quickly. I love you all and I hope things are going well of on the other side of the world. Help the missionaries out where you're at and buy them ice cream or pizza and tell them, they're doing a great job. Keep me in your prayers as well as all the missionaries in the world. I love you guys..."

Hmm... não consigo fazer um titulo ingressado hoje...

"...Well hello family. Its the start of another luverly transferência here in the Missão Brasil Curitiba. Don't worry, I'm staying put. I'm glad of it too, we're tearing it up here. Elder Halgren is staying here too, which is also a really good thing. We've had a few changes with missionaries coming and going... But yeah, Elder Marx is staying in Ponta Grossa for at least another 5 weeks (this transfer will be only 5 weeks). I'm really glad to keep staying here too. I love my area and working here. We were worried about our area closing because we are losing lots of missionaries and not gaining any new ones. We lost at least 20 missionaries and only received 10 at the most. President had to start closing areas because we simply don't have any other choice.   But we're staying here and we're also going to maintain another area that got closed so our work just doubled! The work is progressing here though.  We had the baptism of M this Sunday and that was super great. Our problem is that we don't have lots of investigators right now. We're knocking lots of doors trying to encounter new people to teach and we'll teach them but when we come back to see how they're doing they'll cut themselves (does that even make sense in English? it means that they told us they don't want any more) But we're still doing our absolute best and its only a matter of time and hard work until the things really start rolling...

This week was a good week . Something exciting that happened is that the church had a celebration of 60 years here in Ponta Grossa. In 1950 the missionaries arrived here for the first time, and that's when it all started.  Now, 60 years later, we have 2 stakes ,14 wards, and 22 missionaries here. It was really cool to see that it all started because of 2 missionaries who gave it their all and brought souls unto Christ and now we can truly see the benefits of their work. It really struck me that we never know how reaching the things that we do are or their effects. Small and simple things really are how the Lord works and when we look back we can really see how much things have progressed. Just like Ammon and Aaron said looking back at all their labors, one day I want to be able to look back and see how reaching our labors really are. It was a real testimony builder for me....

Sorry this letter is so short, but I need to wrap this up and send send a letter to President. You guys all know that I love you and that I have a testimony of this work. This truly is the Lord's work and I'm honored to be working here in Ponta Grossa. I love you all and pray for you and I know that the Lord blesses each and every one of us. I really have a testimony of that..."

Feb 2

"...But anyways... This week was a good week. We've worked so hard and we're seeing fruits. We have a baptism scheduled for this Sunday. Her name is M. We met her knocking doors and she invited us in and accepted the gospel. Her faith is really surprising...she's standing firm and she'll be baptized this Sunday... Its great to see her faith and its an affirmation that we never know when we'll find the Lord's elect and that they are all ages, races, and genders. I also had a "Daniel in the Lion's Den" experience. They have a large old Pit Bull who generally doesn't like strangers. They generally chain him up before they us in the house, but one time they forgot. Instead of being angry and attacking us, he just went and sniffed my leg and let me scratch his head. M and her husband were amazed. I just looked at my comp and said "Blessings!" Yeah, the Lord was looking out for me that time...

We're trying to find new people to teach right now, our teaching pool isn't very big still but we're doing all we can to find new people- including lots of contacts and talking with everyone in the road...

But yeah, Elder Halgren and I are getting along really well. Actually, we've had a LOT of people tell us that they think that we're brothers. Its pretty funny. But yeah, we're tearing it up.

Well I'm about out of time so I'm going to have to wrap this up. To make up for the short email here's a couple pictures: We had a zone activity where we had a water balloon fight and also when I slipped and fell in the mud and also when we had this HUGE HONKIN SPIDER run into our house and also our last baptism. Hope you enjoy them. PS, I like pics too...

But yeah, I love you guys and hope you all are doing well and I pray for you. Know that we're tearing it up here in Curitiba and I love the gospel and being a missionary. This really is the gospel of Jesus Cristo. I love it and I love sharing it with everyone..."