Here are some pictures from Porto Seguro and pictures of Elder Morris. Thanks again to Elder Morris for some of these pictures.

Beach at Porto Seguro

Elder Morris transfers but stays in the zone. Tim goes to Salvador to pick up a new Elder. It's about 13 hours on a bus each way!

February 25, 2010

Hey family!

So the reason I didn’t write yesterday is because I was in Salvador... whooho - spent the last two nights on busses ... again. That part stinks, but over all it was good. So this transfer I was called as a trainer. I'm training a Brazilian guy. He seems cool. He is pretty chill and seems really excited. It will be good. I kinda have mixed emotions about training, like if I’m excited or not. I’m sure it will be cool and fine, but it’s kinda nice having a comp who knows how things work. But then I look back and think how grateful I am for Elder Palmer because I didn’t know anything that was going on around me, ha. By the way, Palmer is getting on a plane right now to fly home. Crazy! He is gonzo. It’s so nuts.

Carnaval was fine. We just stayed in the house a lot and let every one else do their thing. We kinda live in a gated community so we’re protected from the hoodlum partying. But it was good. I’m really tired.

I got a package from aunt Jedi so tell here thanks if you would. She said if I needed a quilt to tell her and she would send it. But I don’t even use a sheet. It’s so hot. I’m pretty sure I’ll be fine even in the winter time. It’s hot. If I don’t use a fan, I wake up just soaked in sweat. It’s not cool at all.

Thanks for watching the bank for me Mom. I’ll go buy a pin drive this week. And ya Morris and I went to McDonalds so thanks. It was cool. And Morris is still in my zone, he just got moved to another area so I’ll still see him at zone conference. But take care you all and don’t let Justin ruin any cars ok. Loves

Happy 20th Birthday Tim!

Here are some pictures courtesy of Elder Morris (Tim's companion). Thanks Elder Morris!
We think this is the street they live on.

Elder Morris and Tim



Baptism



Elder Sanderson and Tim going to Zone Conference (we think)

Carnaval was right outside their house. This elderly lady wears a banner that says "Queen of Carnaval".

February 17, 2010

Hey family,

How is it going? So first of all, ya I can go buy a pin drive if you guys can put some money on my card and I’ll take Morris to lunch. He took me out for his b-day. We went to Subway. But I'm not sure how much money I have on my card cause this place is impossible to live on the mission budget. We don’t have one single lunch with the members and almost every week we have to go to a different city and do baptism interviews which is 20 reis every time so that leaves us with about 30 dollars for two weeks to eat every meal. So I've been using my card a little here and there. But anyways thanks for the letter. I’ll buy a pin drive and send my pics.

So we got to stay in our area for Carnaval but we have to stop working at like 6 every day. It’s nuts!!!!! Just look up videos on YouTube of carnaval here. I’m sure there has to be some. It's unreal but we're being really careful about it and the two elders from Corao Vermelho are here staying with us this whole week so we’re with Sanderson and his comp. It’s been really fun. But anyways we confirmed a kid who was baptized before but was gone the week of his confirmation or something so we confirmed him it was good. The kid is 13 and lives by himself... he makes bracelets and sells them on the beach. He works to live. He doesn’t know who or where his mom is. His dad is a drunk... like permanently drunk. You can’t even have a conversation with him. There are three of them that live in this house, a 13 a 12 and an 11 year old. The other two kids, the 12 and 11 year olds smoke cigarettes. It’s so sad to see some of this stuff. There is no way for these kids to get out of this life style. There’s no chance of education for them now because they have to work to live. And their living situation is so so bad. It’s unreal. I just wanna do anything I can to help these kids but there’s nothing I can really do. I’m trying to help them stop smoking for a start.. It’s just really sad. But anyways I don’t wanna be all depressing.

Tell Grandpa Lowe I love him, and all the Lowe family. Tell them there are prayers being sent from Brazil for every one of them - especially Grandpa Lowe. And tell Natalie to write me an email. I think I have sent her two with out a response!!! Unacceptable.

I hope you all get feeling better. Justin is a different person than when I left. Holy smokes this is insane. Monty... Justin... and Kimbo will have another baby... it's unreal. To me it feels like everything back home was just put on hold in my mind but then I see pics and realize that life is still going on back home. It’s really weird. How far along is Kimbo anyways?

So our shower and our sink broke - just needed stupid little parts, but thanks again Dad for teaching me this stuff. It’s just so nice not to have to call someone else to do stupid little jobs like that, so thanks for teaching me how to work. Mom thanks for teaching me to always be obedient. It’s helped me so much out here. Justin thanks for being such a good example for me. (I just hope I can get home before he is translated.) Kimbo thanks for being my friend and always being there. Jared thanks for being my friend also and taking care of my sister. Monty thanks for giving them all heck. Grammy thanks for all the hugs and calling me “Bucky Rooster”. Pa thanks for all the memories with working on the jeep and fishing. Cabin Grandpa thanks for making me always feel like I’m loved and feel like the man by calling me “tougher than boiled owl” and what not, ha. And Cabin Grandma thanks for the help. I love you all.

Take care.

February 10, 2010

Hey family,

Sorry those pics and voice recording didn’t go through (last week). It took forever to down load and then my hour ran out. I’ll try again though I might have to do one week the voice rec. and the next pictures. I’m trying to get the pin drives to put pics on, but my last comp dishonestly took them. But, I’ll get them back. I’m working on that, so when I get them I’ll back up the pics. Thanks for the videos and the pic and the voice recordings. They all worked. Monkey looks like he is at a fun age ... and a trouble one.

I also got two packages at zone conference. Thanks so much. They help keep spirits up, ha. They really do help. Oh, but I always forget to tell you. I do love Jolley Ranchers ... it’s just that they don’t travel to Brazil too well. The package was one big sticky Jolley Rancher, ha. Dad wouldn’t have been able to deal with it! I’m still eating them all, it’s just that they get everything sticky and then the ants raid it. But, thanks so much seriously.

I’m not sure what’s gonna go down for Carnival. I hear talk that we might get pulled out and go to our zone leaders house in Enapolus because Porto Seguro is gonna be nuts it sounds like.

Ok, well everything is going good. Sanderson’s branch is doing good. We go help them every Sunday. It’s pretty cool and he might let me baptize his baptism this week ... in the ocean! They don’t have a font yet. But they’re building one so I’ve got to baptize in the ocean fast while we still have a chance. So, I’m excited for that.

Ok, well I’m going to keep this short so I can send the voice clip too.

Love you all. Take care, and thanks so much for the mail, packages, pictures, videos and voice recording.

February 3, 2010

Hey family! So this week I have some pictures and a voice recording I’ll try and send with this. Thanks for the pics. of Monty. Is his hair turning red? Maybe it was just the pic. but it looked a little reddish. So, things are going well here in Porto Seguro. I haven’t gotten the packages yet but they’re sitting in Salvador. Our zone leaders are there now, so either they will bring them back or I’ll get them next week in zone conference which will be in Itabuna. So, we will have a 6 hour bus ride to get there but anyways things are going well here.
The guy we baptized is so strong and so cool. I love him so much. He just keeps begging us for the D&C but we have to order one from Salvador.
Dad, that sounds like fun going to St. George. Tell grandpa hi for me and that I love him. Speaking about your goal dad, (about missionary work), the one thing I have really learned here is that you have to be bold. Sometimes missionaries won’t teach the first lesson first because they are afraid the people won’t accept the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith. But you can’t be afraid to tell people ... yeah for some people its hard to accept ... but it’s true and it happened. When I got that attitude, it helped a lot. I love the Book of Mormon. What an awesome book. Well, things are going well. I’ll try and cut this short so I can send pics. and the voice rec.
love you all take care!
*Side note, the voice recording and pictures didn’t come through!! Maybe next week.