27 February 2012

Elder Page is ALIVE!

Hi,

So anyway, I am here in Arcoverde and things are wonderful here! The nights are colder (I sleep with a blanket! Wooo-hooo!), the days are hotter (at least in the sun they are, the shade is nice and cool), and the days are fuller too! We have a lot of really good starts with investigators, but they are a lot busier. I've noticed that here in the interior the lack of education and marriage is a lot more pronounced; almost half of the people we meet are not married and they don't know how to read (the other half only have one of these problems) .

We have a ward here that wants to work. We've gotten several referrals and members are willing to take us to their houses. It's great!

Arcoverde looks a lot like a patchwork landscape. Like the desert, jungle, and farmland decided that they weren't really that different and built a summer home here. You look at a field and it looks like a tree farm from Oregon (except that the trees aren't pines) but in the middle, towering over the rest is a palm tree or a coconut tree (not the same thing, trust me). Or your see a patch of sterile sand full of cacti and there's a few mango trees in the middle. It's much more beautiful than it sounds.

Elder Bittencourt is pretty cool and we're doing well. My comp called the office to ask to be reimbursed for the trip to and from Recife. We had used our reserve money to pay for that and our weekly trip to Garanhuns (district meeting, two hour bus ride...yeah...). We couldn't send the pictures of the receipt because the internet cafe was closed. [Last week] I sent the quick message from a member's house so that you wouldn't get too worried, mom. Anyway my comp called and asked and he said that it was okay, but that we can't be reimbursed for the trips to Garanhuns (22 reais [~$13] a week and we get 35 for transport every three weeks)...the math doesn't add up. I already sent that problem to president . So we got to the bank today and just my comp got reimbursed. I called to ask if there was some confusion and he said that my comp had just asked for himself and not for me.

Anyway, don't worry too much about me. President will sort things out and I'll survive (we just won't be able to go to Garanhuns every week).

I love you all!

Elder Page

20 February 2012

Wow, you will never guess where I am! 

Well, this was...unexpected... 

I am in Arcoverde! Yes, that's right, I am in the farthest area from Recife and I'm with Elder Bittencourt. That's right, that photo of the service project has now three of my companions and me. I'll write a better letter tomorrow, but for now I am signing off. Just wanted to make sure you don't worry! 

Elder Page

Service project   -   David has been companions with each of the other three elders (he didn't say who is who)

13 February 2012

President Lanius and I had an interview. He said that he transferred me because he wanted to give me a good companion in an area that wouldn't be too crazy during Carnival. It was such a relief.

This week we have two baptisms marked for Saturday; a man and his son that complete a family! Bento is an amazing person and he has had some really amazing experiences with the priesthood. He has a testimony and his son has been ready to be baptized for almost a year now. I also learned this week that Matthew 10:1 [And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease] is true. I have a testimony even deeper of the power of the priesthood.

Elder Page

6 February 2012 - email

Hey there; Miss me?

Sorry that I didn't write last week.

Elder Chaves and I are getting along great. We study, plan, work, and teach in more unison than I have since Elder Souza (Elder Chaves was his companion too, so we swap stories).

We are helping an inactive woman to return to church.

We're also teaching a father and son who are in a part-member family. The only firm member of the family is serving a mission and they are preparing for baptism!

Life is good here and I love you all!

Elder Page