January 14, 2010

Hey family!!! So Pres said we could get on the internet today and tell you guys about the transfer.... So two nights ago I traveled 8 hours to Salvador and got there at 5:30 AM. We stayed there all day and found out where people are going and with whom. And then I got back on a bus at 8:00 O’clock that night and traveled 13 hours until I finally arrived in my new area..................... Porto Seguro - the prettiest place in Bahia is what everyone says, and we are allowed to baptize in the ocean here on the beach but we have to hurry because they’re building a baptismal font! But I'm so excited my companion is an American, Elder Morris. He lives in Utah. He is really cool and we’re really excited to work here. Today I’m just kinda getting to know the area. It’s a huge tourist area and has some really pretty beaches, but the branch here is really weak - only about 20 active people and from what I hear they just don’t exactly get it how the church runs and stuff. So this should be interesting. There’s not a stake here because there isn’t a ward - only 3 branches here. The other branch that’s close to us - my buddy Elder Sanderson was called as the branch president!!! It’s always been missionaries in charge of it but I thought that was really cool. He is in my group - like my CTM group - crazy huh. But I’m really excited to work with him and to strengthen this branch. Our house is so small... but it’s actually kinda nice. It’s not too dirty - well the bathroom is just covered in mold but we’re gonna clean that and then the rest is actually pretty nice... for Bahia that is. But my companion is really excited to work with me and I am with him too.

(We also found out that Tim was called to be Senior Companion and District Leader and he comments about the combined inexperience of himself and everyone in his district. )

...haha, and with an American (companion) who only has two transfers here so this is really gonna be interesting. But I’m excited. Me and Sanderson (the Branch Pres) are the oldest two in our district. It’s just me and him and our younger companions but at least his is Brazilian, but he also is running a branch ha. But I’m so excited, except for the last 3 days I spent in the same clothes and the last two nights I spent on busses. That was miserable. But I’m so excited. I haven’t taken any pictures yet but I will, and send them next week.

Love you guys. Take care.