Lindsay, CJ

Feliz Natal a todos! Another week down here in the MBT! Some fun highlights: our friend Jerdel (somebody that the other Élders had been teaching since Élder Cesar was still here) was baptized on Thursday. He was incredibly excited and was the only one in his family who had not yet been baptized, so it was pretty special to be able to see that. The other Élderes were also able to help 3 other folks be baptized yesterday on Christmas Day. Unfortunately Antônia, Glaucia, and Kassya were not, but for just about the best reason there could be; they talked to their friend, Ivonete, and she wants to be baptized as well! She went to church yesterday and we are preparing all four for this weekend. Keep sending prayers that everything works out! We decided to get a "Christmas Dinner" going on the night of the 25th (which ended up just being a big American breakfast) of coffee cake, biscuits and gravy, sausage, hashbrowns, pears, and grape juice (all of which are rare commodities here)....

Hey there all! What a cool past week! To start off with this week's highlights, our friend Antônio was baptized yesterday! One of the cooler folks I've met so far during my time here in the mission. It was him that contacted us last week as we were walking down the street. He recognized us as missionaries and asked if we could pass by another day to share a message with him. Of course we were going to say yes to that and ended up teaching him the next day. He had his legs all bandaged up after having a very ugly accident with a leaking propane tank in his kitchen (gas lines don't exist here in Brazil, so if you get a leaky tank and try to light a candle in a room full of gas, it's not the greatest combination). Long story short, after his old pastor started drinking and the church in which he had come to know Christ fell apart a few months ago, our friend Antônio became pretty darn lost. He was visiting churches looking for one that he felt comfortable in. When we share...

Hey all! Short email this time! Davi was baptized! He was pretty darn excited! We're excited! Transfers came and I will be staying in Itapecuru-Mirim do Maranhão! Elder Cesar will be leaving and Elder Lucas (my comp from the MTC) will be my fellow Zone Leader. Love you all and it's always good to hear from you! Sorry I didn't have more time to get more out! Have a great week!

Hey all! Happy December! This will be another quick one on my end. We had another sacrament meeting with a fairly decent turnout yesterday and another two folks that were baptized! Bianca is a ten-year-old studmuffin that had already been to church over five times with her aunt. She is now living with said aunt and has her as her legal guardian. The stars aligned and we were able to help her be baptized yesterday! She was so excited, her aunt and cousins were so excited, and we, obviously, were ecstatic! We have been teaching a few folks and have our friend Davi on date for this coming Sunday! Please also keep Guilherme, Josimara, Wilson, and Aline in your prayers! Love y'all so much and hope life's been good! Next Monday we'll be having transfers, so it will be interesting to see if I'll be turning into the mayor here in Itapecuru-Mirim in the place of Élder Cesar or if something else will happen. Take care of yourselves! Y'all deserve it!