9-27-10 Jon's first real letter from Brazil!

9-27-10
[Jon's comments about his mission president's blog and pictures of Jon on Jon's last day there--if you haven't seen the blog yet, you should!  Click here! Alabama mission blog] 
THANK YOU, I LOOKED AT IT AND READ THROUGH, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THEY DIDN'T MIND HAVING ME THERE TOO MUCH, OR MAYBE THEY JUST WANT YOU TO THINK THAT! YEAH IT WAS SAD TO LEAVE ALABAMA AND ALL THE AWESOME MISSIONARIES AND PEOPLE THERE (BECAUSE MISSIONARIES AREN~T PEOPLE.) :)   [keyboards are different in Brazil! ]

[Jon got to call us while he was in Dallas awaiting for his Brazil flight. He mentioned that one thing Sister Bednar told the missionaries last Saturday was : "Be the missionary your mother thinks you are!" ]

YEAH WHEN I WAS TALKING TO [Tom] ON THE PHONE [in Dallas], [three missionaries] SHOWED UP TO CALL THEIR FAMILIES. I KNEW ONE OF THEM REALLY WELL FROM THE MTC, ELDER PRICE (HE LIVED WITH ME), SO IT WAS REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO HEAR ABOUT HIS 2 MONTHS IN TEXAS. AND WE ENDED UP SITTING ON THE PLANE TO SÃO PAULO FOR LIKE 11 HOURS OR MORE SO WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK. WE ALSO SAT BY A BRASILIAN AND TALKED TO HIM ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING, AND ENDED UP GIVING HIM A BOOK OF MORMON AND REFERRING HIM TO MISSIONARIES IN THE AREA HE GOES TO. SO WHEN WE ARRIVED IN RECIFE (ME AND 2 OTHER ELDERS THAT HAD BEEN WAITING, INCLUDING ONE WHO HAS 7 MONTHS ALREADY ON HIS MISSION AND BARELY GOT HIS VISA) THE MISSION PRESIDENT PICKED US UP WITH THE SECRETARY (A NORMAL ELDER, BUT NOT THE ASSISTANT, BECAUSE THEY DON~T HAVE OLDER COUPLES TO DO THE FINANCIAL WORK AND STUFF HERE) WHO WAS BRASILIAN BUT SPOKE GOOD ENGLISH, BECAUSE MY PRESIDENT DOESN~T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH! SO I GUESS I DONT HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT HIM, ALL I KNOW IS TUDO ESTA BOM COM ELE [everything is well with him], AND HIS WIFE COOKS VERY WELL (LUCNH THE NEXT DAY). WE WENT TO THE RECIFE TEMPLE TO EAT AND SLEEP (BUT NOT TO ATTEND) AND IT WAS AWESOME. LIKE LOS ANGELES, IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VERY BUSY CITY AND SURROUNDED BY WORLDLINESS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. SPEAKING OF WHICH THE TRAFFIC IS RIDICULOUS HERE. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT JUST ASK TOM CUZ APPARENTLY IT'S EVEN WORSE IN SÃO PAULO! MOTORCYCLIST ARE DOIDA AQUI [crazy here]! BUT ANYWAYS AFTER THE 32 HOURS OF TRAVEL AND A NICE NIGHTS REST AND A RETURN TRIP TO THE AIRPORT TO FILL OUT SOME PAPERWORK, I MET MY COMPANION, ELDER DE SOUZA, AND WE TOOK A 4 HOUR BUS RIDE TO GARANHUNS, A CITY ON THE INTERIOR OF THE MISSION [southwest of Recife]. HE IS A BRASILEIRO FROM SÃO PAULO AND DOES NOT SPEAK ANY ENGLISH (EXCEPT THE WORDS HEY MAN..., SORRY, I LOVE YOU, SISTER BROTHER MOTHER FATHER, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT). HE ASKED TOM, DID YOU KNOW ELDER T. SANTOS?  THAT GUY WAS IN BELEM IN 2003-5, AND MARRIED ELDER DE SOUZA'S MOM...ANYWAYS HE IS VERY PATIENT WITH ME AND WHENEVER PEOPLE TALK TO ME, I CAN~T UNDERSTAND. SO HE TURNS TO ME AND SAYS IT AGAIN, MUCH MORE SLOWLY AND SIMPLY, THEN I TRY TO PUT SOME WORDS TOGETHER TO ANSWER THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY POOR, AND EVERYONE WE TEACH/VISIT HAS NO MODE OF TRANSPORTATION BESIDES TO WALK, WHICH IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE OUR CHAPEL IS KINDA FAR FROM OUR AREA. SO ANYONE THAT COMES TO CHURCH HAS TO REALLY WANT TO, BECAUSE IT TAKES PROBABLY ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES TO WALK THERE. WE HAVE A FAMILY, WE REFER TO AS "NOSSA FAMILIA" WHICH IS 4 KIDS WHO ARE BAPTIZED (EXCEPT THE LITTLE 5 YEAR OLD) AND THE PARENTS, WHO WILL BE BAPTIZED IN 2 WEEKS AFTER WE GET THEM MARRIED. I DON~T KNOW WHY, BUT WHEN I RECEIVED MY CARD [money], I HAD WAY MORE MONEY THEN EVERYONE ELSE, AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TOLD ME I COULD KEEP IT AND USE IT WISELY. AND NOW I GET TO PAY FOR THEIR WEDDING WITH IT. PERFECT.

YUP, WE LIVE IN, LET~S SEE, THE 9TH PLACE I'VE LIVED IN MY MISSION, IN AN APARTMENT WITH 2 OTHER MISSIONARIES, ONE WHICH IS AMERICAN, AND CAN TRANSLATE THE PROBLEM-WORDS OF THE DAY WHEN WE GET HOME. HE~S ELDER STRICKLAND FROM WISCONSIN. THE APARTMENT IS NOT TOO SHABBY, BUT THE BATHROOM IS NASTY (CAN'T PUT TOILET PAPER IN THE TOILET) AND MOLD EVERYWHERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY AWESOMELY LOCATED. THE MIDDLE OF GARANHUNS, WITH CITY ALL OVER THE SURROUNDING HILLS. THE CITY IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF VENTURA OR SMALLER, AND IT HAS 3 WARDS AND 2 CHAPELS. WE HAVE A LITTLE WALK FROM OUR APARTMENT TO THE CHAPEL, AND A LONGER WALK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO GET TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WARD IN WHICH WE SERVE. (WHAT? WHY DID I WRITE THAT?) [because he's learning correct English grammar by studying Portuguese ! :) ]

[I told him to be careful about keeping any mission rules about drinking the right kind of water...]  I'M BEING CAREFUL AND MY PAIZINHO (TRAINER) TAKES CARE OF ME. NO WORRIES.  WE GET LUNCH WITH THE MEMBERS EVERY DAY SO WE HARDLY HAVE TO BUY GROCERIES.

LIB'S IN TOWN? COOL SOUNDS FUN. THE BEACH THAT WE DROVE BY IN RECIFE LOOKS PRETTY SIMILAR TO THE BEACH IN VENTURA, BUT BLUER, WARMER, BETTER WAVES.  AND CATH, MY COMPANION THINKS YOU ARE VERY PRETTY. BUT HE ALREADY HAS A GIRLFRIEND, AND APPARENTLY THEY'VE PLANNED THAT WHEN HE GETS HOME IN 4 MONTHS, THEY WILL BE MARRIED 4 DAYS LATER...

[This last paragraph contains Tom's questions to Jon about food and drink, transportation, language...]

 Have you had any cold coconut water, coco gelado? NOT YET, I HAD SUCO DE GUARANHA OR SOMETHING, AND LOTS OF GUARANÁ, CUS-CUIS, BEANS, RICE, CARNE...    Ridden on a packed ônibus? OH YES. VERY VERY PACKED, PART OF THE WAY TO GARANHUNS, NÃO TINHA UM LUGAR PARA ME SENTAR OU TO STAND [I didn't have a place to sit or stand...] (COMO SE DIZ? [how to you say stand??]) How was Sao Paulo? JUST TRANSFERRED PLANES THERE. I bet you have progressed in the language since you first got there, even though it was only 4 days ago. YEAH, DEFINITELY I CAN SPEAK MUCH MORE WITH MY COMPANION. OR MAYBE HE IS JUST GETTING BETTER AT UNDERSTANDING BAD PORTUGUESE. Tell us about your ward/branch and area... city or rural?  Can you understand the people at all with their accents? THEY ALL HAVE AN ACCENT MORE LIKE PORTUGAL. WHEN THEY SAY BOM DIA, THEY SAY DIA LIKE ESPANOL, NOT LIKE "JEE-YA". AND THEY SAY NOIS EM VEZ DE NOS [em vez de = instead of] AND STUFF. SO I GUESS THAT'S THE TYPE OF PORTUGUESE I'LL BE SPEAKING. BUT APPARENTLY, IT IS DIFFERENT HERE IN THE INTERIOR THAN IT IS ON THE COAST OF OUR MISSION.  Tom wrote: When I got to belém i was like wow this is not the pronunciation they taught me in the MTC!  Cliche i know but its true.  Don't hesitate to ask your trainer what things mean, and keep a pocket dictionary in your bag always haha!  that helped me. THANKS, YEAH I DO BOTH OF THESE ALWAYS. I'M CONSTANTLY ASKING QUESTIONS TO HIM.

CIAO E OBRIGADO,
COM AMOR
ELDER HOOKE

Jon's last day in Birmingham (From Holzapfel's Mission Blog)

22 September 2010

Jon's last day in Alabama!  Click on the link to President and Sister Holzapfel's Alabama Birmingham Mission Blog. They have posted 7 photos of Jon's last day there, as well as wonderful captions. Many thanks to them for taking such good care of our Elder Hooke!

Birmingham Temple

9-20-10 Goodbye, Alabama!

9-20-10
YES FINALLY I GET TO LEAVE... BUT I LIKE THE PEOPLE HERE TOO AND I'M SAD TO LEAVE THEM. SO OVERALL IT ALL EVENS OUT INTO A WEIRD "NEUTRAL" FEELING.

[Did you get to talk to Elder Bednar?] NOT PERSONALLY BUT YES, HE CAME TO OUR MISSION AND SPOKE TO US. I HAD QUESTIONS TO ASK BUT HE NEVER CALLED ON ME... [He said] SOME GOOD STUFF, ANSWERED SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS, AND ALSO SAID "I DON'T KNOW" TO A QUESTION SOMEONE ASKED. THAT TAUGHT ME A LOT. APOSTLES DON'T EVEN KNOW SOME STUFF I WONDER ABOUT. I'LL PROBABLY JUST WRITE A LETTER TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF ELDER BEDNAR TOLD US.

[Are you traveling with anyone else, or by yourself?] ALL BY MY LONESOME, JUST LIKE LAST TIME! NOBODY ELSE HAS RECEIVED VISAS RECENTLY SINCE THE KID WENT TO ARGENTINA A FEW WEEKS BACK.

[Em raced well in the girls “large school” race at the Ojai invitational on Saturday. I think her time was 21:12, and she was actually runner # 10 (# 5 for Ventura). Royal took the first 4 places. I helped at the chute again. I really like that job, even though it breaks my heart and makes me cry (YES, makes me CRY!) when those first racers come in and look like they are about to drop dead. But I like cheering them on. And in the last boys race, actually about 5 guys said “Thank you” to me!! COOL THAT IS NICE OF THEM HAHA. DID YOU REALLY CRY? JUST KNOW THAT THAT FEELING IS WHY PEOPLE RUN. IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT IN SOME WEIRD AND TWISTED WAY, THEY WOULDN'T RUN HARD. AND EM, DANG, 21:12 IS FAST FOR OJAI! YOU'RE PROBABLY ON TOP TEN FOR SOPHOMORES YEAH? WAY TO GO.

I'LL TRY TO SEND YOU ANUDDER [personal letter] TODAY! I'VE BEEN PONDERING THINGS EVERY MORNING INSTEAD OF WORKING OUT (CUZ WE RIDE LIKE THE WIND ON OUR BIKES ALL DAY TO KEEP US FIT).

THE WEEK WAS PRETTY PRODUCTIVE. WE FOUND SEVERAL VERY PROMISING INVESTIGATORS, TAUGHT CYNTHIA A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND SHE IS READING AND PRAYING EVERY DAY NOW, JUST NEEDS TO QUIT SMOKING! SHE ALSO DIDN'T MAKE IT TO CHURCH, WHICH AS IT TURNS OUT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD THING. NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THAT. SO YESTERDAY FOR CHURCH WE WERE SUPPOSED TO WATCH A BROADCAST OF STAKE CONFERENCE FROM OUR OWN WARD BUILDING. IT STARTED IT 10, BUT THE BROADCAST WAS NOT WORKING, AND MEN WERE UP THERE TRYING TO FIX IT AS THE CONGREGATION QUIETLY SAT UNTIL, NO JOKE, AFTER 11 O'CLOCK. WE HAD A BIG BLACK GUY WITH US AT CHURCH NAMED COURTNEY, FOR HIS FIRST TIME, SO WE JUST LEFT WITH HIM AND MET OTHER YOUNG MEN FOR HIM TO TALK TO (HE'S 13 BUT TWICE MY SIZE). HE ENDED UP ENJOYING IT BECAUSE AFTER AN HOUR THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE GAVE UP AND WE HAD A GOOD TESTIMONY MEETING FOLLOWED BY AN AMAZING POT LUCK. WHILE IT KINDA SAVED THE DAY, I STILL THINK IT MAY BE A GOOD THING CYNTHIA WASN'T THERE FOR THE FIRST HOUR BECAUSE SHE PROBABLY WOULDA LEFT, AS SOME OF THE MEMBERS DID. SO YEAH IT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A DISASTER, BUT COULDA BEEN WORSE. WE'RE ALSO TEACHING 3 16 YEAR OLD BLACK GUYS WHO LIVE RIGHT BY US. WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM A CHURCH TOUR AND PLAY SOME B-BALL WITH THEM LAST WEDNESDAY, BUT THEY ALL WENT TO ONE OF THEIR B-DAY PARTIES ON SUNDAY INSTEAD OF CHURCH. BUT THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME. ONE OF THEM, BRANDON (OTHER 2 ARE WILL AND LJ) ASKS US THE DEEPEST QUESTIONS. THEN WHEN HE TRIES ANSWERING THEM, HE TELLS HOW HE FEELS AND 99% OF THE TIME HIS OWN OPINIONS THAT HE HAS DEVELOPED IN LIFE ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AND THAT NO OTHER CHURCHES BELIEVE. WE HAVE INVITED THEM ALL TO BE BAPTIZED, AND THEY PROBABLY WILL BE SOON. SO THAT IS ONE GOAL I HAD BEFORE I LEFT THAT IS DISAPPOINTING. BUT I'LL GET A PICTURE WITH THEM, THEN HAVE ELDER LARSEN SEND ME A PICTURE WHEN HE BAPTIZES THEM! ELDER BEDNAR'S VISIT WAS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ONE IN VENTURA. ALTHOUGH PEOPLE ASKED SOME DIFFERENT THINGS, THE SAME MAIN POINTS THAT HE TALKED ABOUT IN VENTURA, HE TALKED ABOUT HERE. IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR AGAIN.

I SUPPOSE I LOVE YOU GUYS, HAVE A NICE DAY, HAVE A GOOD SUMMER, ETC.

LOVE
ELDER HOOKE

September 17, 2010--NEWS ALERT! Jon's going to BRAZIL!!

9-17-10
We got a phone call today from President Holzapfel--Jon's visa has arrived! He will be leaving for Brazil on Wednesday, September 22!! The timing of his going to Brazil is pretty cool: before Jon's mission, Elder Bednar, one of the 12 Apostles, came to Ventura and held a 3-hour question/answer session with all the full-time missionaries, as well as those missionaries who had received their calls. Since Jon had received his call, he was able to attend and had a marvelous experience! Tomorrow Elder Bednar is coming to the Alabama Birmingham mission and will hold a similar session for the missionaries there, so Jon will be able to learn from Elder Bednar AGAIN!

We're thrilled for Jon's upcoming "transfer!"

Jon with the mission office staff

Jon with President and Sister Holzapfel

9-13-10 Elder Hooke waxes philosophical

HELLO FAMILY.
I GOT A LETTER THAT YOU SENT ON SEPTEMBER 3RD WITH STAMPS AND STUFF, SO I'LL BE WRITING LATER TODAY.

MY COMPANION ELDER LARSEN AND I ARE STAYING IN HOOVER (IT IS TRANSFERS THIS THURSDAY) BUT ELDER DASILVA AND POH ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TOGETHER TO THE NEIGHBORING CITY OF BESSEMER. SO WE MAY BE THE ONLY ONES IN THE APARTMENT, OR MORE MIGHT MOVE IN, NOT SURE. THE CURRENT APS ARE BOTH BEING RELEASED AS AP'S AND GONNA BE TRAINERS FOR THEIR LAST TRANSFER, AND IN ORDER TO REPLACE THEM THEY'RE BRINGING IN 4 NEW ASSISTANTS. 2 OF THEM MIGHT POSSIBLY LIVE WITH US OR SOMETHING. THERE WILL BE 6 MISSIONARIES IN THE HOOVER WARD EVERY SUNDAY.

WE STILL CAN'T FIND PEOPLE [to teach], EXCEPT ONE OLDER BLACK WOMAN NAMED CYNTHIA WHO WE HAVE BEEN TEACHING. WE'D TAUGHT HER BEFORE BUT LAST WEEK WE HAD 2 SPIRITUAL LESSONS WITH HER AND SHE IS PLANNING ON BEING BAPTIZED ON OCT 2. BUT FIRST SHE HAS TO LIVE THE WORD OF WISDOM, AND UNDERSTAND WHY SHE NEEDS TO, BEFORE BAPTISM. SO PLEASE PRAY FOR HER. AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, AND LIKED IT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE PORTUGUESE STUDENTS AGAIN, JUST WORKED WITH A FEW MEMBERS OF THE WARD WHO ARE RETURNED MISSIONARIES FROM BRAZIL. WE PLAN ON GOING THIS WEEK TO GADSDEN [where the Portuguese students live].

THIS WEEK I HAVE LEARNED A TON. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE LEARNED THOUGH IS THIS: THE MORE YOU LEARN, THE MORE YOU REALIZE YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.

BEING A MISSIONARY IS INDESCRIBABLE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY RETURN HOME AND CAN'T EXPLAIN THE MISSION. SORTA LIKE A ROLLER COASTER SPIRITUALLY, MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND EVERY WAY.

I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE SPIRIT WORKS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE REALIZED THAT MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH ARE MUCH MORE IN TUNE WITH IT THAN I AM. CYNTHIA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS MORE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD THAN ALMOST ANYONE I'VE MET (YES, INCLUDING MORMONS.) AND SOMETIMES SHE'LL BRING UP CONCERNS DURING LESSONS AND WE JUST ASK HER QUESTIONS, AND SHE STARTS RESPONDING AND WHILE WE'RE DISCUSSING, SHE FIGURES IT OUT. AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ELDER LARSEN AND I BEING GOOD AT EXPLAINING ANYTHING, CUZ WE'RE NOT. SO I GUESS THAT MIGHT BE ONE WAY THE SPIRIT WORKS.

IF ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH WERE AS FAITHFUL AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE I'VE MET HERE, OUR CHURCH WOULD BE SO MUCH STRONGER, AND THE GROWTH WOULD BE EXPONENTIAL. BUT I'LL ADMIT I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT BEFORE MY MISSION, AND MANY TIMES PEOPLE WON'T AFTER [the mission] JUST BECAUSE WE AS HUMANS[tend to be] LAZY AND SELFISH. THAT IS A BIG THING I HAVE LEARNED.

MAN I THOUGHT WHEN I CAME ON A MISSION IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL AND WORRY FREE, STAYING AWAY FROM THE TEMPORAL WORRIES AND STUFF. BUT I HAVE MORE WORRIES NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, AND THEY ARE NOT EVEN TEMPORAL. NOT SAYING IT ISN'T WONDERFUL, BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE LEARN AND GROW, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT.

ELDER BEDNAR IS COMING THIS SATURDAY, I THINK. I HAVE A MILLION QUESTIONS TO ASK HIM. I'LL LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK.

THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS AND KEEP THEM COMING PLEASE! LOVE YOU BYE

9-7-10 Meeting with President Holzapfel

9-7-10
YUP WE'RE ALL HEALTHY NOW! SO NOW I AM ASSIGNED ELDER LARSEN AS MY COMPANION, AND THE OTHER 2 ARE COMPANIONS, WE JUST LIVE TOGETHER. WE HAD A MEETING ON FRIDAY WITH PRESIDENT HOLZAPFEL ABOUT HOW OUR 4PANIONSHIP COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND THAT WAS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS.

I ALSO GET TO DRIVE AROUND A 12-SEATER VAN WHEN WE NEED TO GO FAR NOW, SO WE DON'T WASTE AN HOUR ON BIKES. WE HAVE HAD SOME VERY LONG BIKE RIDES IN THE LAST WEEK. ELDER LARSEN IS A RUNNER TOO, AND SO WE RIDE EVERYWHERE FAST AND HARD. IT'S EXHAUSTING, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO "PROSELYTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE" (THAT'S ONE OF PRES HOLZAPFEL'S MOTTOS). WE ARE SPENDING MUCH OF OUR TIME FINDING PEOPLE STILL. WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROGRESSING INVESTIGATORS SO WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH POTENTIAL INVESTIGATORS AND FIND NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO KEEP A SIMPLE COMMITMENT TO READ FOR A FEW MINUTES AND SAY A SINCERE PRAYER. I DIDN'T REALIZE BEFORE HOW HARD IT IS TO HELP THEM TO WANT TO DO THAT ON THEIR OWN. WE COULD GET THEM TO DO IT, BUT IT IS INSTILLING A DESIRE FOR THEMSELVES TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO THAT IS HARD. WE'RE STRUGGLING NOW TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT WORKS. APPARENTLY THAT IS WHAT TAKES PEOPLE THEIR WHOLE MISSION TO GET GOOD AT.

[I told him our summer in Ventura wasn't really summer--lots of fog!] WELL I GUESS THAT WAS A GOOD SUMMER FOR ME TO NOT BE IN VENTURA FOR. YEAH IT'S STILL PRETTY HOT. 90 DEGREES OR MORE FOR ABOUT 60 DAYS IN A ROW NOW I THINK. BUT IT IS NOT QUITE AS HUMID ANYMORE. I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A LIFETIME AND SAY THIS IS THE HOTTEST SUMMER THEY CAN REMEMBER.

EM THAT IS COOL YOU HAVE REYNOSA [chemistry teacher], AND DID YOU KNOW I HAD GROSSMAN [for Spanish]? ALEC AND I USED TO HAVE COMPETITIONS TO SEE WHO COULD CHEW MORE PIECES OF GUM AT THE SAME TIME WITHOUT HER NOTICING AND TAKING POINTS OF OUR GRADE. I STILL GOT AN A, SO I MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD AT IT I GUESS.

LIBBY AND CHRIS THAT HAS GOT TO BE NICE LIVING IN CALIFORNIA AGAIN. I'M GLAD YOU ARE ENJOYING FAT TONY [a book]. AND NICE STATIONERY, LIB.

CATH- I SENT YOU A LETTER AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ADD TO THE LETTER TO ME? JUST KIDDING ITS ALL GOOD. AND WHEN AM I GONNA GET LETTERS FROM THE SINGLES WARD FHE?

TOM- YES WE'RE SEARCHING FOR SINCERE INVESTIGATORS BUT STILL DON'T KNOW IF I'VE MET ANY YET. ARE YOU DATING ANYBODY AT ALL? THAT'S NICE YOU LIVE IN A QUASI HOUSE NOW.

[Were you and your companions able to teach the Portuguese students again?] THEY ARE STILL IN AMERICA, AND WE DROVE UP TO GADSDEN AGAIN FRIDAY, BUT BECAUSE OF SOME UNFORESEEN OBSTACLE WE ONLY TAUGHT ONE GIRL. BUT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD LESSON AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH HER AND THE ONES FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK SOON. NOW THAT WE CAN DRIVE THE VAN WE'LL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO GO UP THERE ABOUT EVERY WEEK. THEY ARE IN AMERICA FOR LONGER THAN I WILL BE, HOPEFULLY.

[Tell us a little bit more about each of your companions] POH-SPENT $65 DOLLARS ON HIS PERSONAL GROCERIES FOR THE WEEK; DASILVA- HE'S TOM'S AGE AND HIS DAD'S BRAZILIAN, BUT HE'S GOING TO PORTUGAL; LARSEN- NICE GUY. WE WORK HARD TOGETHER BUT BOTH LACK EXPERIENCE (OBVIOUSLY).

SOMETIMES I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE WORK HERE, BUT WHEN I REALIZE THAT I AM DOING WHAT I CAN, AT LEAST I CAN BE CONTENT WITH THE SITUATION BECAUSE BEING ANGRY OR FRUSTRATED DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.

WE WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE THIS BUILDING ON SUNDAY BUT WE DECIDED TO KNOCK A COUPLE MORE DOORS AND THE LAST ONE, A MAN WALKED OUT AND STARTED TALKING TO US ABOUT HOW WE ARE THERE TO HELP HIS LIFE AND HE KNOWS GOD SENT US. CUZ HE'S AN ALCOHOLIC AND KNOWS THAT THE ONLY WAY HE CAN RIGHT HIS LIFE IS THROUGH GOD. STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO HIM AGAIN THOUGH.

BYE. LOVE YA