12-26-11 Wonderful Christmas call! Elder Larsen's blessing

 IT WAS GOOD TO TALK TO ALL OF YOU AS WELL. IT WAS WEIRD WHEN I GOT OFF THE PHONE THE FIRST TIME I FELT LIKE ALL THAT HAD BEEN SAID WAS HI! HOW ARE YOU.... GOTTA GO. BUT OH WELL. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR YOUR VOICES AND ESPECIALLY TO MEET BECCA OVER THE PHONE!

YESTERDAY WE GAVE ELDER LARSEN A BLESSING THAT HE WOULD BE CURED AND BE ABLE TO STAY ON THE MISSION (AND THE WHOLE ZONE IS FASTING), AND HIS COMPANION JUST CALLED ME AND SAID THAT TODAY THE DOCTOR SAID THAT THE WOUND IN HIS EYE IMPROVED A LOT AND THAT PROBABLY WONT NEED SURGERY!

YOU CAN ALWAYS GIVE ME ADVICE, A LOT OF TIMES THE ADVICE YOU GIVE IS WITH THINGS THAT I ALREADY KNOW I NEED TO IMPROVE AND/OR AM TRYING TO IMPROVE, SO IT'S SOMETIMES JUST A CONFIRMATION TO ME OF WHAT I NEED TO DO.

LOVE YOU ALL THANKS UNTIL NEXT WEEK

ELDER HOOKE 

12-19-11 Short and sweet

HEY FAMILY! SORRY FOR NOT WRITING TO YOU LAST WEEK WE HAVE BEEN AND STILL ARE EXTREMELY BUSY! I WILL JUST WRITE YOU SUPER QUICKLY RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THIS AFTERNOON WE WILL RETURN TO THE LANHOUSE. I AM IN ESCADA RIGHT NOW WITH THE ELDERS FROM ESCADA (AND MY COMP) AND WE ARE GONNA VISIT THE CACHOEIRA DO URUBU AGAIN (THE WATERFALL THAT I WENT TO LIKE A YEAR AGO).

THIS LAST WEEKEND I SPENT ON A DIVISION WITH THE MISSIONARIES FROM CABO, AND YES THERE IS A WARD THERE. IT WAS GREAT WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM OUT AND WHEN I LEFT GAIBU THINGS SEEMED TO GO BETTER WITH ELDER CASUCCIO AND THE OTHER ELDER. WE WORK TOGETHER WELL BECAUSE WE SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES WELL, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME I DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS BE THE ONE WHO THINKS OF WHAT TO SAY NEXT WHEN WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO SAY.  ESCADA IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF FROM GAIBU, BUT THERE ARE MISSIONARIES IN THIS ZONE MUCH FURTHER, IN PALMARES, TAMANDARÉ, AND CATENDE, WHICH CAN TAKE LIKE 3 OR 4 HOURS TO GET TO. I STILL HAVEN'T GONE;
I'LL ANSWER THE OTHER QUESTIONS LATER---- GOTTA GO!
LOVE ELDER HOOKE

12-5-11 Gaibu, Zone Leader with Elder Casuccio

HELLO BOM DIA FAMÍLIA HOOKE! THINGS ARE GOING WELL HERE IN GAIBU (guy-BOO). THIS LAST WEEK REALLY HAS BEEN FULL OF NEW STUFF. ELDER CASUCCIO (cah ZOO chee oh) IS A GREAT GUY, THE COMPANIONSHIP IS GOING WELL. HE AND I ARE DOING WELL, WITH GOOD HEALTH. 

HE IS ALSO A ZONE LEADER, THE AREAS IN OUR ZONE INCLUDE PONTE DOS CARVALHOS. I THINK I TOLD YOU GUYS ABOUT A YOUNG WOMAN ANANDA THAT I USED TO TEACH... WELL YESTERDAY I WENT TO PONTE AND TO HER HOUSE TO TEACH HER PARENTS AND MARK THEIR WEDDING AND BAPTISM! SHE WAS BAPTIZED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND IS DOING VERY WELL. SHE EVEN GAVE A TALK A FEW WEEKS AGO! HER BROTHER, GUILHERME, WHO HAD BEEN BAPTIZED A LITTLE BEFORE WHEN I GOT THERE, IS NOW FILLING OUT HIS PAPERS TO GO ON A MISSION.

THE GROUP HERE IN GAIBU WAS STARTED ABOUT 7-8 MONTHS AGO AND HAS ATTENDANCE OF ABOUT 30. WE MEET IN A SCHOOL HOUSE THAT REMINDS ME OF THE EPIC OF TOM SAWYER. IT'S REALLY ANCIENT. SUNDAY WAS INTERESTING, IT WAS A GOOD TESTIMONY MEETING. WE HAD 3 NEW INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH, ALL OF WHICH WERE NEW INVESTIGATORS FROM THIS WEEK. WE ARE TEACHING A 19 YEAR OLD DANIEL WHO IS MARKED TO BE BAPTIZED THIS WEEK BUT IT WILL BE HARD BECAUSE HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET SUNDAYS OFF. WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB FOR HIM.

I'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT PEOPLE HERE NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TIME.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

LOVE YOU ALL!

ELDER HOOKE

11-28-11 Transferred!

This week was interesting... But all in all it was good, the 3 families are doing well, and as you know I was transferred today. So Yesterday was goodbye to the families and some other members of the ward (including Roosevelt) and the bishop. We were both transferred, which doesn't make sense to me. We left the area book actualized and the area is now in the hands of 2 elders who don't even know where their house is! I was pretty sad to leave all the people I love here but happy to be able to move on with my mission- I spent a total of almost 8 months in San Martin.

I will be a zone leader now in Gaibu, a little town on the beach close to Cabo (and Ponte dos Carvalhos). The area doesn't have a ward or a branch, just a group of about 30 people who meet every Sunday. I already went to Gaibu on a division with Elder Wells once, and it is a really pretty place. My new companion is from São Paulo, Elder Casuccio, who seems to be a good guy.

I GOT SOME LETTERS TODAY, I THINK ONE FROM EM, ONE FROM LEILANI, AND ONE FROM MOM, BUT I HAVEN'T OPENED THEM YET.

[We learned through Facebook that Jon was being transferred before he wrote this letter...]

YEAH I'LL MISS SAN MARTIN BUT IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO PASS AND VISIT THESE PEOPLE AGAIN!

[Regarding Thanksgiving: ] YUMMM I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT IT WAS THANKSGIVING.... WE DIDN'T EVEN EAT DINNER THAT NIGHT. I THINK I ATE SOME WAFER COOKIES.....

LOVE YOU TOO, KEEP PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE IN SAN MARTIN AND NOW ADD TO YOUR PRAYERS THAT THE WORK IN GAIBU CAN PICK UP! (APPARENTLY IT'S NOT TOO GREAT RIGHT NOW) LOVE YOU ALL
-Elder Hooke

11-21-11 Tegu, Surprise baptism (Junior)!! Wedding of Irene & Isaque [PHOTOS]

THIS WEEK WAS PRETTY NORMAL UNTIL SATURDAY.... 

DURING THE WEEK WE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING PEOPLE TO TEACH EVERY AFTERNOON. THE NIGHTS WERE BUSY AND WE HAD SEVERAL GOOD LESSONS, ESPECIALLY WITH JUNIOR, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T ACCEPT A BAPTISMAL DATE DURING THE WEEK, BUT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO TEACH. SO I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THE WEEKEND. SATURDAY MORNING THE LZS INVITED US TO GO TO CAMARAGIBE TO DO A SERVICE PROJECT, CONSTRUCTING A HOUSE. I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF THE MORNING STANDING ON THE ROOF, GETTING SUNBURNED, AND CATCHING ALL THE BRICKS THAT THE MISSIONARIES ON THE GROUND THREW TO ME. TO BUILD A SECOND STORY HERE, THEY TRANSPORT THE BRICKS BY AIR. THROWING THEM, ONE BY ONE. THE FAMILY WAS A LESS ACTIVE AND PART MEMBER FAMILY, AND THEY HAVE A PET TEGU (LIKE A MONITOR LIZARD) THAT I TOOK PICTURES WITH. 

                                                    Tegu

HE LIVES OUTSIDE IN THE YARD AND HAS A LEASH, TIED TO A TREE. THEY ALSO HAVE A POND IN THE YARD WITH 92 BIG CARNIVOROUS FISH, WHICH WE FED DOG FOOD. ANYWAYS I CLIMBED DOWN THE LADDER TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY MISSED CALLS ON THE CELL PHONE AND I READ A TEXT THAT DAHLILLA HAD SENT US THAT SAID "ELDERES, JUNIOR DECIDED TO GET BAPTIZED. CAN IT BE TOMORROW? CALL ME" SO WE GOT SUPER HAPPY AND HAD A LITTLE PARTY WITH THE LZS AND CALLED HER AND SAID OF COURSE IT CAN!!!!

THEN AFTER TAKING A SHOWER IN THE CAMARAGIBE HOUSE, WE WENT TO SÃO LOURENÇO SO I COULD DO 2 BAPTISMAL INTERVIEWS, WHICH BOTH WENT WELL, AND THE INTERVIEWEES WERE BOTH BAPTIZED YESTERDAY. FROM THERE WE TOOK THE METRÔ HOME AND RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR AREA HOPING THAT IRENE AND ISAQUE'S WEDDING HAD NOT YET ENDED. IT HADN'T, SO WE HAD TIME TO SNAP SOME PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS WITH THEM, AND EAT A SHRIMP AND CATUPIRY CREPE, WHICH WAS WITH CERTAINTY THE MOST DELICIOUS THING THAT I HAVE EATEN IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. AFTERWARDS WE RAN BACK TO THE CHAPEL TO MEET JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA AND THE LZS FOR THEM TO DO JUNIOR'S BAPTISM INTERVIEW. 

SUNDAY MORNING WAS JUNIOR'S BAPTISM, WHICH WAS GREAT. 

                                       Long-awaited Baptism of Junior

DURING SACRAMENT MEETING HE WAS CONFIRMED. WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH (CUZ WE KEEP BAPTIZING THEM ALL HAHA) BUT THERE ARE A FEW NEW PEOPLE FOR US TO WORK WITH.

YES I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THANKSGIVING.... BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR HAVING A LOVING FAMILY, AND A DAD (AND MOM) WHO DOESN'T DRINK.

I AM ALSO WORKING TO DEVELOP A LOVE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE HERE.

THANKS, LOVE ELDER HOOKE

11-14-11 Baptisms of Silvio and Carmem [PHOTO], Dahlilla confirmed

11-14-11

THIS WEEK WAS REALLY GOOD. I'M NOT GONNA WRITE A LOT OF DETAILS BUT EVERYTHING WENT AS PLANNED. SILVIO AND CARMEM WERE MARRIED SATURDAY AT THE CHURCH, THEN AFTERWARDS ALL THE GUESTS WENT TO SILVIO'S SISTER'S HOUSE FOR A FANCY DINNER WHICH WAS GREAT (BUT MADE US ARRIVE EM CASA BEM TARDE). SUNDAY MORNING AT 8 THE BAPTISM WAS MARKED AND SILVIO AND CARMEM SHOWED UP WITH SILVIO'S MOM AND DAD, WHO BAPTIZED THEM BOTH. NOBODY FROM THE WARD SHOWED UP AT THE RIGHT TIME SO IT ENDED UP GOING FROM 8:30 TO 9 RIGHT AS CHURCH STARTED, BUT IT WAS A NICE SERVICE. THEY WERE BOTH CONFIRMED AT CHURCH TOGETHER WITH DAHLILLA. SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE. THEY ALWAYS TREAT US EXTREMELY WELL AND IT HAS REALLY BEEN A BLESSING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW THEM, TEACH THEM, AND HELP THEM TO GET MARRIED AND BAPTIZED. 

                                           Wedding of Silvio & Carmem

THE GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS IS REALLY COOL TO SEE-- EVERY WEEK WHO ATTENDS IT IS EDIMILSON AND ZINHA, IRENE (WHO WILL MARRY ISAQUE THIS SATURDAY), SILVIO AND CARMEM, AND JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA, TOGETHR WITH USUALLY ABOUT 3 MORE PEOPLE. JUNIOR IS PROGRESSING WELL AND WE INVITED HIM AGAIN YESTERDAY TO BE BAPTIZED AND HE SAID HE IS PRETTY SURE HE WILL, BUT STILL DOESN'T KNOW WHEN. TUESDAY HE WILL TELL US! HE HAS CHANGED A LOT AS A PERSON, HE IS A MUCH BETTER PERSON AND HE RECOGNIZES THAT FINALLY. YESTERDAY HE HAD A LITTLE EPIPHANY ABOUT THAT AND IT HELPED.  

LETICIA IS OUR POTENTIAL BAPTISM THIS WEEK. SHE IS DOING WELL AND LOVED CHURCH ONCE MORE, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO POSTPONE THE BAPTISM FOR ANOTHER WEEK, WE'LL SEE! 

OH YEAH LAST MONDAY AFTER SENDING EMAIL WE WENT TO CAMARAGIBE WITH THE ELDERS FROM MY DISTRICT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY AND IT WAS GREAT. WE ATE CAKE AT A MEMBER'S HOUSE, CHEILA, AND SHE GAVE ME A HAMMOCK FOR MY BIRTHDAY! TOO BAD THERE'S NO HOOKS ON THE WALLS IN THE SAN MARTIN HOUSE... THEN WE WENT TO MARCELO AND JOELMA'S HOUSE AND WATCHED A VIDEO OF THEIR WEDDING FOTOS  (WHICH HAD A LOT OF FOTOS OF US MISSIONARIES IN IT) AND THEY GAVE ME A SWEET PERSONALIZED SHIRT (I SENT A PICTURE). 

WHY IS THERE A SÃO LOURENÇO DA MATA FLAG YOU MIGHT ASK? BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFFICIALLY LIVE IN CAMARAGIBE, BUT INDEED, IN SÃO LOURENÇO (BUT IT IS PART OF THE WARD CAMARAGIBE).

THAT'S REALLY COOL THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO LIVE SO CLOSE TO YOUR GRANDKID AND VISIT THEM SO OFTEN! AND HAHA I'M SURE BECCA WILL IRRITATE EVERYONE AT CHURCH JUST LIKE THE MAJORITY OF BABIES DO. YESTERDAY I RODE IN A CAR WITH THE BISHOP'S COUNSELOR AND HIS 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING BY ME, BUT HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRANGE FEAR OF MISSIONARIES SINCE BIRTH, SO SHE WAS LITERALLY SCREAMING FOR THE WHOLE DRIVE TO OUR LUNCH! I THINK I LOST A LITTLE BIT OF MY FUTURE HEARING CAPACITY.

LOVE YOU TOO!

ELDER HOOKE 

11-7-11 Juliana's , Dahlilla's baptism [PHOTOS]

11-7-11

HELLO FAMILY THIS WEEK WAS AWESOME!!

YES I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GRANDMA AND GRANDPA T FOR MY BIRTHDAY (THANKS G & G!!!) AND A LETTER FROM YOU (YOU SENT A FAMILY PIC AND AN EMAIL FROM A WEEK THAT I DIDN'T RECEIVE IT, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WROTE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOLY GHOST), AND I GOT THE LITTLE BOX! THANKS!! 

[I told him I hadn't sent his birthday package yet for various reasons...and I have to say I'm still hesitant because the last package I sent to him, he would have had to pay $75 to get out of the post office...but he was too late, so they sent it back to us!!!]

ALRIGHT IT CAN BE A BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS COMBINED PACKAGE, IT'S ALL GOOD. I AM HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT ME (BUT YES YOU'RE RIGHT, I'D BE EVEN HAPPIER RECEIVING THE PACKAGE! HAHA)

THIS WEEK WAS GREAT! WE HAD THE 2 DE NOVEMBRO WARD PARTY WHICH WENT REALLY WELL AND I EVEN GOT TO PLAY BASKETBALL WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THE RULES (IN MY SHIRT AND TIE). IT WAS A FUN ACTIVITY AND LOTS OF INVESTIGATORS AND RECENT CONVERTS WERE THERE.

EDIMILSON AND ZINHA ARE DOING MUCH BETTER. WE ARE STILL GOING TO THEIR HOUSE VERY FREQUENTLY TO KEEP HELPING THEM AND THINGS ARE IMPROVING. THEY WERE AT THE ACTIVITY AND LOVED IT! EDIMILSON DOMINATED IN DODGEBALL HAHA!

WE ARE TEACHING A FEW OF THEIR NEIGHBORS TOO, INCLUDING A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL LETICIA WHO HAS BEEN AT CHURCH WITH THEM THE LAST 2 WEEKS AS WELL.

FRIDAY WAS JULIANA'S BAPTISM, WHICH WENT REALLY, REALLY WELL.

                                           Baptism of Juliana

EVERYONE AT THE MEETING WAS VERY HAPPY AND SUPPORTIVE FOR HER. THE MUTUAL NIGHT FOR YOUNG WOMEN IS CHANGED TO WEDNESDAY NOW SO THAT SHE CAN GO! (IT USED TO BE TUESDAY BUT SHE HAS KARATE EVERY TUESDAY). WE WERE TALKING WITH HER YESTERDAY AND FOUND OUT THAT SHE WILL NOT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, DO A DANCING PROGRAM SHE LOVES THAT WOULD START THIS SUNDAY, BECAUSE THE PRACTICES ARE ON SUNDAYS. SO YEAH I GUESS SHES PRETTY [COMMITTED]! WELL HAVE TO START TEACHING HER FRIENDS NOW!

WOW AND DURING THE WEEK THE BIG QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF DAHLILLA AND JUNIOR. WE KNEW THEY WOULD BE MARRIED, (THEY DID A TON OF WORK FOR WEDDING PREPARATIONS). DAHLILLA DECIDED YES FOR SURE SHE WOULD BE BAPTIZED. JUNIOR TOLD US, I'LL TELL YOU AT THE WEDDING IF I WILL BE BAPTIZED. JUNIOR DECIDED THAT ON THAT DAY, HE WOULD NOT BE BAPTIZED WHICH WAS A BIG LET DOWN FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING DAHLILLA. SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH WAS DAHLILLAS BAPTISM, WHICH WAS DEFINITELY THE MOST SPIRITUAL BAPTISM THAT I'VE BEEN AT IN MY LIFE.

                                                Baptism of Dahlilla
SHE DESCRIBED HOW SHE FELT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE BAPTISM TO US LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS AMAZING. SHE SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING SHE HAD FELT BEFORE AND THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS IN ANOTHER WORLD, AND LITERALLY BECAME A NEW CREATURE (LIKE THE SCRIPTURES SAY). ANYWAYS JUNIOR FELT THE SPIRIT AS WELL AND IS STILL HAVING TROUBLE RECOGNIZING THAT THESE FEELINGS ARE HIS ANSWER.... BUT HE TOLD US THAT HE PLANS ON GETTING BAPTIZED BEFORE THE TRANSFER AT THE END OF NOVEMBER!

SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE DOING WELL, THEY WERE AT CHURCH YESTERDAY AND WILL BE GIVING US LUNCH TODAY! EVERYTHING IS SO SMOOTH AND SIMPLE WITH THEM, THERE HAS BEEN ALMOST NOTHING DIFFICULT IN HELPING THEM TO PREPARE FOR BAPTISM, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS DO EVERYTHING WE INVITE THEM TO DO AND ARE REALLY DETERMINED TO TAKE THIS STEP IN THEIR LIVES (BAPTISM). THEY WILL BE MARRIED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND ON SUNDAY MORNING SILVIO'S DAD WILL BAPTIZE THEM!

ATÉ MAIS!  ELDER HOOKE 

10-31-11 More baptisms upcoming

10-31-11

THANKS FOR THE BDAY WISHES! IT'LL BE GOOD HERE TO HAVE THE BDAY FALL ON SUNDAY.... AND YEAH I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT TODAY WAS HALLOWEEN UNTIL I SAW THIS EMAIL! DAHLILLA AND JUNIOR WILL BE MARRIED SATURDAY AND  DAHLILLA BAPTIZED SUNDAY, POSSIBLY WITH HER HUSBAND. HE FEELS LIKE THE HOUR HASN'T ARRIVED FOR HIM TO GET BAPTIZED AND THAT HE HAS TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AFTER THE BAPTISM, SO KEEP PRAYING THIS WEEK THAT HE CAN OVERCOME THAT AND DECIDE TO GET BAPTIZED WITH HIS WIFE! WE HAD A GOOD LESSON WITH THEM SATURDAY AND HELPED HIM RECOGNIZE THAT THE SPIRIT HAS HAD A BIG EFFECT ON HIS LIFE IN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO, AND THAT HE REALLY MUST FOLLOW IT. SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE GREAT. JULIANA ALSO, SHE WILL BE BAPTIZED THIS FRIDAY ALREADY! SHE HAS ALREADY MADE LOTS OF FRIENDS WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN AND SHE WILL BE A REALLY GOOD MEMBER. EDIMILSON AND ZINHA ARE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES, PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM. 

THEY DON'T HAVE HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS HERE, BUT ON NOVEMBER 2ND IS DIA DOS MORTOS [Day of the Dead], WHICH BASICALLY IS TO HONOR OLD RELATIVES  THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY. IT IS A HOLIDAY THAT NO ONE HAS TO WORK, SO WE WILL BE HAVING A BIG ACTIVITY AT THE CHURCH, SIMILAR TO THE 7TH OF SEPTEMBER ONE.

I RECEIVED ONE THING RECENTLY, WHICH WAS THE MEXICAN CANDY. DELICIOUS! MUIIIIIITO OBRIGADO! 

THAT IS A GOOD IDEA, THE BOOK OF MORMON CLASS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD GO HERE. IT IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH TO GET EVEN THE MEMBERS TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY. AND THE IDEA OF GOING ON DIVISIONS WITH MEMBERS IS A GOOD ONE. WE HAVE GONE OUT WITH SEVERAL BUT IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND AN HOUR WHERE 2 MEN CAN BOTH GO OUT WITH US AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE BEEN TAKING MEMBERS TO TEACH ALL 3 OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE (EDIMILSON AND ZINHA, JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA, AND SILVIO AND CARMEM) BUT COM CERTEZA WE NEED TO DO THAT MORE. LAST NIGHT WE TALKED ABOUT EXACTLY THAT, BECAUSE WE'VE NOTICED THAT THE MEMBERS WITH WHOM WE DO VISITS BECOME MORE EXCITED ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK. 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! 

LOVE 
ELDER HOOKE 

10-24-11 Marriages, baptisms, upcoming

10-24-11

HELLO GOOD MORNING FAMILY! THIS WEEK WAS PRETTY NORMAL, EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL. WE GOT TO GO TO THE CIVIL OFFICE AGAIN IN TEJIPIÓ WITH EDIMILSON AND ZINHA AND WHILE WE WERE THERE WE ALSO TURNED IN THE MARRIAGE PAPERS FOR SILVIO AND CARMEM. WE TAUGHT CARMEM WITH ANOTHER MEMBER LADY ABOUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION, WHICH WENT REALLY WELL. THEY PLAN ON GETTING SEALED IN THE TEMPLE. THEY WERE BOTH AT CHURCH YESTERDAY TOO, AND WE MARKED A DATE FOR THEIR BAPTISM AND WEDDING (WHICH WILL BE VERY SMALL AND SIMPLE) FOR 12TH OF NOVEMBER. 

DAHLILLA AND JUNIOR WERE NOT AT CHURCH BECAUSE THEIR LITTLE SON GOT SICK, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING IS STILL SET FOR THEIR WEDDING ON THE 5TH AND BAPTISM ON MY BIRTHDAY! WE ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT ETERNAL MARRIAGE WITH THEM AND THEY LIKE IT A LOT. ON THE WEDDING INVITE DAHLILLA WROTE A LINE FROM THE SONG "FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER" . I'LL HAVE TO SEND YOU AN INVITE! 

WE ARE TEACHING A YOUNG WOMAN, JULIANA, WHO IS 16, AND THE NEIGHBOR OF A MEMBER FAMILY. SHE IS REALLY SMART AND SHE IS PROGRESSING WELL. SHE WAS AT CHURCH YESTERDAY AND SHE ACCEPTED THE INVITE TO PREPARE TO BE BAPTIZED, AND TONIGHT I THINK WE WILL MARK A DATE.

YESTERDAY WAS GOOD BECAUSE RUAN, ALICE, IRENE, EDIMILSON AND ZINHA WERE THERE OUT OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE BAPTIZED HERE.  ADLÁN WAS ALSO BAPTIZED HERE BUT NOW HE IS GOING TO CHURCH IN CAMARAGIBE, WHERE HE LIVES. STILL THINKING ABOUT MAYBE GOING ON A MISSION. 

ALRIGHT HAVE A GREAT WEEK TCHAU

LOVE

ELDER HOOKE 

10-17-11 Edimilson & Zinha's wedding; Edimilson's baptism [PHOTOS]

THIS WEEK WENT GREAT! TODAY IS TRANSFER DAY AND ME AND ALBUQUERQUE STAYED TOGETHER IN SAN MARTIN, AGAIN! WHEN I LEAVE I WILL HAVE SPENT AT LEAST 7 MONTHS OF MY MISSION IN THIS AREA. I WAS HAPPY THOUGH, BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD WORK GOING HERE NOW (FINALLY) AFTER 3 MONTHS.

THE WEDDING OF EDIMILSON AND ZINHA WENT REALLY WELL. ME AND ELDER A. DID ALMOST EVERYTHING FOR THE PREPARATIONS.  THE RELIEF SOCIETY COMBINED TO GET ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF THE CAKE TO THE BISHOP'S MOM AND SHE MADE A GREAT WEDDING CAKE. THE WEDDING WENT WELL, THERE WERE ALMOST 100 PEOPLE THERE AND THE MAJORITY ARE NOT MEMBERS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE STAYED TO WATCH EDIMILSON'S BAPTISM AFTERWARDS, WHICH MADE IT SO THAT THERE WAS ONLY STANDING ROOM IN THE BAPTISM ROOM. IT WAS GREAT, THEY ARE HAPPY, (AND EDIMILSON WAS VERY NERVOUS HAHA). HE WAS CONFIRMED AND RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST YESTERDAY.

 

 

Wedding of Edimilson & Zinha

                                             Baptism of Edimilson
WE'VE GOT 2 MORE WEDDINGS COMING UP (ACTUALLY 3 IF YOU COUNT IRENE'S, BUT WERE NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT ONE). JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA DIDN'T GO TO CHURCH UNFORTUNATELY, BUT JUNIOR HAS AGREED TO  THE GOAL OF BEING PREPARED TO BE BAPTIZED ON THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER (THE WEDDING DAY) WITH HIS WIFE. 

SILVIO AND CARMEN ARE DOING GREAT! THEY BOTH WANT TO BE MARRIED AND BAPTIZED AND THEY LOVED CHURCH YESTERDAY! CARMEN ONLY WENT TO THE LAST HOUR, WHICH IS SACRAMENT MEETING HERE, BECAUSE OF HER PREGNANCY (SHE'S 6 MONTHS PREGNANT BUT HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES).  SO PRAY FOR HER.

YESTERDAY WAS STRANGE, LOTS OF INVESTIGATORS WERE AT CHURCH, BUT NO RECENT CONVERTS. WE'LL HAVE TO START WORKING WITH THEM MORE. LITERALLY NOT ONE PERSON THAT I'VE BAPTIZED SINCE I GOT HERE WAS AT CHURCH (BESIDES EDIMILSON, TO BE CONFIRMED).

THANKS,

LOVE YOU ALL

ELDER HOOKE

10-10-11 Baptisms & Weddings planned!

10-10-11

THIS WEEK WENT WELL. IT WAS PRETTY NORMAL, A FEW GOOD THINGS HAPPENED. EDIMILSON AND ZINHA ARE DOING GREAT, EVERYTHING IS SET (WELL AT LEAST THE WEDDING IS MARKED, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO ORGANIZE A LOT OF STUFF) FOR THIS SATURDAY WITH THE WEDDING AND EDIMILSON'S BAPTISM. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT, AND THE COUPLE IS VERY HAPPY, THEY HAVE NOTICED A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIFE (FOR THE BETTER) SINCE THEY STARTED GOING TO CHURCH AND KEEPING THE COMMITMENTS WE LEAVE WITH THEM.

 

WE ALSO STARTED TEACHING ANOTHER COUPLE, JUNIOR AND DAHLILA. DAHLILA'S BROTHER IS A MEMBER OF OUR WARD. SHE WENT TO CONFERENCE LAST WEEK, WE STARTED TEACHING HER AND HER "HUSBAND" DURING THE WEEK, THEY BOTH WENT TO CHURCH, AND LAST NIGHT WE MARKED THEIR WEDDING FOR NOVEMBER 5TH! DAHLILA REALLY WANTS TO GET BAPTIZED BUT JUNIOR IS A LITTLE MORE HESITANT. BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL WEEKS TO WORK WITH HIM STILL TO HELP HIM TO BE ABLE TO GET BAPTIZED WITH HIS WIFE. THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE, THEY HAVE A LITTLE BOY WHO IS 2, TARSISIUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I ENDED UP CHASING HIM AROUND THE CULTURAL HALL (WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE CHAPEL BUT BEHIND THE SEATS, SO IT WASN'T TOO DISTRACTING) DURING SACRAMENT MEETING SO THAT THEY COULD PAY ATTENTION. THEY'VE VISITED A LOT OF CHURCHES BUT BOTH OF THEM LIKED CHURCH HERE A LOT MORE THAN ANY OTHER.  I LOVE TEACHING THEM TOO, BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH INTELLIGENT (AND THEY USUALLY MAKE US DINNER HAHA).

YESTERDAY WHEN THE 2ND HOUR IN CHURCH STARTED, THE TEACHER FOR THE GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS DIDN'T SHOW UP, SO I ENDED UP TEACHING THE CLASS. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF THE OLD CHURCH OF CHRIST, BUT I DECIDED IT WOULD BE BETTER TO TEACH ABOUT BAPTISM. SO WE GAVE THE CLASS AND IT WENT PRETTY WELL. IRENE SITS IN THIS CLASS AND SHE PARTICIPATED AND BORE HER TESTIMONY A BUNCH SO THAT HELPED. SPEAKING OF IRENE, SHE'S GONNA GET MARRIED TO ISAQUE, HER MEMBER BOYFRIEND! ON NOVEMBER 19 THEY'RE GONNA GET MARRIED AND IN AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR THEY PLAN ON GETTING SEALED!

ALICE WAS CONFIRMED YESTERDAY TOO.

I MISS BEING ABLE TO CHAT ABOUT WHATEVER WITHOUT THINKING THAT I SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE, I MISS THE FAMILY AND MOST OF ALL (NOT REALLY) I MISS CHINESE FOOD! HAHA 

THANK YOU, LOVE YOU TOO

ELDER HOOKE

10-3-11 Alice's baptism, Marcelo & Joelma's wedding [PHOTOS]

THIS WEEK WAS REALLY GOOD FOR US (AT LEAST THE 2ND HALF OF THE WEEK). WE HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE ARE WORKING, MANY OF WHICH WENT TO GENERAL CONFERENCE FOR AT LEAST ONE SESSION. WE ARE WORKING A LOT WITH EDMILSON AND ZINHA, WHOSE WEDDING AND BAPTISM (OF EDMILSON) IS NOW MARKED FOR THE 15TH OF OCTOBER. I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF ANOTHER WEDDING! THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL, AND YESTERDAY AFTER CONFERENCE THEY WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE BISHOP'S OFFICE AND TALK TO HIM FOR A WHILE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE A STRONG FAMILY IN THE WARD, AND IN THE FUTURE BE ABLE TO BE SEALED IN THE TEMPLE! 

                            Edmilson and Zinha

WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO HAVE THE BAPTISM OF ALICE BETWEEN THE SESSIONS ON SATURDAY. IT WAS A GREAT MEETING AND SHE HAD LOTS OF FAMILY--MEMBER AND NON MEMBER--THERE TO SUPPORT HER. HER DAD CAME FROM ANOTHER STATE TO BE AT HER BAPTISM! SHE WAS VERY HAPPY AND THE BROWNIES WERE GOOD AFTERWARD TOO... HAHA

                                                       Alice with her Mom and Dad

                                                 Elder Albuquerque, Alice, Jon

I WAS ABLE TO WATCH ALL THE SESSIONS EXCEPT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON, BECAUSE WE WERE TRAVELING TO CAMARAGIBE. I DID THE BAPTISM INTERVIEW FOR A LADY IN THE CARMELO WARD (OTHER SIDE OF CAMARAGIBE), WHO WAS VERY WELL PREPARED AND IS MAKING BIG CHANGES IN HER LIFE TO BE ABLE TO BE A MEMBER. HER FAMILY IS VERY AGAINST HER JOINING THE CHURCH BUT SHE IS A REALLY STRONG PERSON AND DECIDED TO DO IT BECAUSE SHE FELT LIKE IT WAS WHAT GOD WANTED. SHE WAS BAPTIZED SUNDAY BETWEEN THE SESSIONS.THEN AFTER HER INTERVIEW ME AND ELDER ALBUQUERQUE WENT TO THE LOTEAMENTO (THE PART OF CAMARAGIBE WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE I TAUGHT LIVE) AND ATTENDED THE WEDDING OF MARCELO AND JOELMA. I THINK I ALREADY TOLD YOU ABOUT THEM, IT IS A COUPLE THAT WAS A REFERENCE OF ELIETE THAT I STARTED TEACHING, AND ON THE LAST DAY I WAS IN CAMARAGIBE THEY WENT TO CHURCH AND MARCELO (BUT NOT JOELMA IN THAT EPOC) ACCEPTED BAPTISM. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THE MISSIONARIES THERE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, I WAS ABLE TO VISIT THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I WAS IN CAMARAGIBE, AND NOW THEY WERE ABLE TO GET MARRIED AND BAPTIZED! IT WAS A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR BAPTISMAL INTERVIEWS AND SEE HOW MUCH THEY HAVE PROGRESSED. MARCELO SAID THAT EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIVES HAS IMPROVED SINCE THEY MET ME AND JOHNSON AND BRADLEY. HE IS THE MAN THAT USED TO BE A PASTOR IN THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD, REMEMBER? 

   Wedding of Marcelo and Joelma, daughter Larissa, their missionaries (Elders Hooke, Freire, Wellburn, Carvalho...not pictured are Elders Bradley & Johnson)

GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS GOOD, AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO BENEFIT A LOT FROM IT TOO. I FOUND SOME THINGS INTERESTING AND HELPFUL.  

ALRIGHT THANKS FOR ALWAYS SENDING ME GOOD EMAILS! I LOVE YOU TOO

eLdEr HoOkE 

9-26-11 Normal week...

26 Sep 2011

hello family

The week was pretty dang normal. We have been pretty tired and sem ânimo and the whole mission is really suffering. Normally during a month the zone that I'm in baptizes 20 to 30 people, and this month we baptized 6!  I don't really know why honestly, I only know that in our area things are tough. 

We do have a few people that we are working with, including Alice (Ruan's cousin) who will probably be baptized between the sessions of conference on Sunday. She's doing really well, she was at church and has some friends there, so she has a good support system to be able to stay active.

Last week at church I think I told you about the couple, Edmilson and Zinha, they went to church and we started teaching them. We taught them 3 times last week and they are progressing really well. They read the Book of Mormon together and pray consistently together now. Edmilson already accepted the invite to be baptized, but seeing as they are not married, we will tomorrow try to mark a wedding and baptism date. I don't know if I told you last week but Zinha is a member that stopped going to church a few years ago, but still has a strong testimony and is gonna keep going now. We've had some great lessons with them and I feel like we (or actually God) have/has been able to help them a lot already.

Thank you love you too- sorry for not being able to respond to everything, I am almost out of time.

love

elder hooke

9-19-11 A little discouragement, Visit from Claudio R. M. Costa

9-19-11
  GOOD MORNING HOOKES (AND ANYONE ELSE WHO READS MY LETTERS),

MY WEEK ALSO WENT BY REALLY FAST. NOT REALLY ANYTHING TO REPORT ABOUT THE WORK HERE, BECAUSE NONE OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE TEACHING ARE KEEPING THEIR COMMITMENTS. EXCEPT FOR RUAN'S COUSIN, ALICE, 11, WITH WHOM WE'LL PROBABLY MARK A BAPTISMAL DATE TOMORROW.  

WE AREN'T REALLY HAVING SUCCESS AT LEAST AS RESULTS CAN BE MEASURED.

WAIT EM, YOU  SENT 2 LETTERS WITHOUT RECEIVING A RESPONSE? IT'S BEEN A REALLLLLY LONG TIME, MAYBE I DIDN'T GET ONE OF THEM, BUT OK I'LL SEND YOU A LETTERZINHA. THE POSTAL SERVICE IS ON STRIKE HERE AND HAS BEEN FOR A WEEK, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL BE ABLE TO SEND YOU A LETTER.

I THINK I WILL STILL RUN FOR BYUH WHEN I GET BACK, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA. I GUESS I HAVE TO DECIDE KINDA SOON...


Good quote:

“Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man. Agency is the impelling source of the soul’s progress. It is the purpose of the Lord that man become like him. In order for man to achieve this it was necessary for the Creator first to make him free” (David O. McKay, in Conference Report, Apr. 1950, p. 32).

IT'S TRUE, AND UNFORTUNATELY EVERYONE ABUSES THAT GIFT TO SOME EXTENT.

I HAD A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH CLAUDIO COSTA, THE BRAZIL AREA PRESIDENT (AND FORMER PRESIDENCY OF THE 70S). HE INTERVIEWED EVERY MISSIONARY IN THE MISSION PERSONALLY. 

HE BISHOP'S MOM IS THE BEST COOK IN PERNAMBUCO, AND I ALREADY REQUESTED A LUNCH WITH HER AND THE FAM WHEN DAD AND TOM COME... I WENT TO CAMARAGIBE ON A DIVISION, AND I GOT TO TEACH A COUPLE OF THEIR NEWER INVESTIGATORS, SO I DIDN'T SEE PEOPLE THAT I TAUGHT. LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT WE BAPTIZED ALREADY HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS AND SOME NEVER GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE. IT'S PRETTY DISCOURAGING.

THANKS AND I LOVE YOU ALL TOO, HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL THIS WEEK.

TCHAU, ABRAÇO, BJO

ELDER HOOKE 

9-12-11 Ruan's baptism, Independence Day activities, General Authority coming

THE WEEK WENT PRETTY WELL. WE WERE ABLE TO TEACH RUAN ALL THE LESSONS BEFORE SATURDAY AND HAVE A GREAT BAPTISMAL MEETING ON SATURDAY NIGHT. I THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE TO SAY THAT HE (11 YEARS OLD) IS PRETTY MUCH THE SMARTEST PERSON THAT I'VE TAUGHT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. HE DECIDED TO GET BAPTIZED BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW HE WASN'T A MEMBER, BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO QUICKLY TEACH EVERYTHING DURING THE WEEK AND ALSO WE WILL TRY TO START TEACHING A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HE LIVES WITH. HIS MOM AND STEP DAD ARE NOT MEMBERS, BUT THEY ALSO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WARD. RUAN STAYS AT HIS AUNT'S HOUSE ON THE WEEKENDS, AND SHE IS A MEMBER, SO THAT IS HOW HE'S BEEN GOING TO CHURCH.  RUAN WAS CONFIRMED YESTERDAY.

TOMORROW I WILL DO A DIVISION IN CAMARAGIBE TO (TRY TO) HELP THEIR AREA OUT A LITTLE BIT. 

THIS THURSDAY A GENERAL AUTHORITY IS COMING (IDK WHO) TO TALK TO THE MISSION.

ELDER ALBUQUERQUE'S DOING WELL, HE'S LEARNED LOTS OF WAYS TO TEACH AND KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE AS A MISSIONARY, AND HOW TO CLEAN UP AFTER HIMSELF HAHA. I'M LEARNING THAT IT IS MUCH BETTER TO HAVE FAITH THAN DOUBT.

AND TALK ABOUT THE ACTIVITY ON 7 DE SETEMBRO, WHICH IS INDEPENDENCE DAY. AT THE CHAPEL THE ENTIRE DAY THE WARD HAD AN ACTIVITY INCLUDING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS IN THE EVENING. EVERYONE SPENT THE WHOLE DAY PLAYING SOCCER, VOLLEY, DODGEBALL (I DOMINATED THANKS TO THE SINGLES WARD WEEKLY TRAINING), UNO, BOARD GAMES, PLAYSTATION 3, JUMPING ON A TRAMPOLINE, EATING AND GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER. IT WAS GREAT FOR THE MISSIONARY WORK TOO BECAUSE WE TALKED TO 11 NEW PEOPLE JUST THAT DAY THAT WE ARE NOW, OR WILL SOON BE (HOPEFULLY) TEACHING. YEAH BUT NONE WENT TO CHURCH SUNDAY...

THE ONLY INVESTIGATOR AT CHURCH WAS MONICA, WHO IS SLOWLY BUT SURELY PROGRESSING. 

WE HAVE LOTS OF INVESTIGATORS BUT NO ONE THAT IS REALLY PROGRESSING (EXCEPT MONICA). WE TAUGHT DARLLY, WHICH WENT REALLY WELL AND SHE ACCEPTED  AND UNDERSTOOD VERY WELL THE INVITE TO READ AND PRAY, BUT THEN SHE DIDN'T GET UP FOR CHURCH SUNDAY.

THE MAJORITY OF THE LESS ACTIVE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA HAVE ONE OF 2 PROBLEMS: THEY HAVE A REAL DIFFICULTY THAT IMPEDES THEM FROM GOING TO CHURCH SUNDAY, OR THEY WERE OFFENDED AT A CERTAIN POINT AND NEVER WANT TO GO BACK.  THERE ARE A FEW THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, LIKE HEITOR'S MOM, WHO IS GOING EVERY SUNDAY NOW AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE. 

THANK YOU LOVE YOU TOO

HAVE A GOOD WEEK!

ELDER HOOKE

9-5-11 Upcoming baptisms, kite season

9-5-11

HELLOW FAMILY! SO THE WEEK WAS CHALLENGING, AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME GOING THROUGH THE LIST OF MEMBERS AND VISITING LESS ACTIVES. THERE ARE SOME STREETS IN SAN MARTIN THAT HAVE LIKE 10 HOUSEHOLDS WITH MEMBERS, BUT ONLY 1 OR 2 THAT I KNEW OF (CUZ THE REST ARE COMPLETELY INACTIVE)...BUT ANYWAYS IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT DID MUCH GOOD. SATURDAY MORNING I WAS ON A DIVISION WITH THE LZ [zone leader] AND WE VISITED THIS HOUSE OF A LESS ACTIVE THAT ELDER ALBUQUERQUE AND I HAD PASSED BY, BUT THE LADY WASN'T HOME. WE TALKED WITH A 12 YEAR OLD GIRL AND I FOUND OUT THAT SHE IS A RELATIVE OF ANOTHER LESS ACTIVE MEMBER THAT I KNOW, AND SO WE INVITED HER TO CHURCH AND TOLD HER TO BRING HER RELATIVES, WHICH IS NORMAL, AND NORMALLY THEY DON'T GO. BUT THEN ON SUNDAY SHE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP WITH HER COUSIN AND HER COUSIN'S HUSBAND WHO ARE THE MEMBERS, AND ANOTHER COUSIN (DARLEE), AND THEY LOVED IT. DARLEE CAME UP TO US BEFORE SACRAMENT MEETING AND SAID "THE BISHOP TOLD ME TO TALK TO YOU GUYS CUZ I WANT TO GET BAPTIZED..." SO THAT WAS COOL, AND WE'LL BE TEACHING HER THIS WEEK AND PROBABLY HAVE THE BAPTISM NEXT WEEK.

AND ANOTHER COMPLETELY UNRELATED BUT VERY SIMILAR MIRACLE FROM CHURCH YESTERDAY--THIS 11 YEAR OLD KID, RUAN (NOT THE SAME RUAN THAT I BAPTIZED MONTHS BACK), SHOWED UP WITH SOME RELATIVES (WHO ARE ALSO THE FAMILY OF IRENE'S BOYFRIEND), AND TOLD US THAT HE WAS GONNA BE BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. WE THOUGHT, OH HE MUST BE FROM ANOTHER WARD, BUT NO, HE'D GONE TO CHURCH SEVERAL TIMES A FEW MONTHS BACK, BUT NOW HE IS GONNA BE LIVING WITH THE MEMBERS EVERY WEEKEND AND WITHOUT EVEN BEING INVITED, HE ANNOUNCED TO ALL THEM AND THEN TO US THAT HE WILL BE BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. SO WE STARTED TEACHING HIM YESTERDAY AFTER LUNCH, HE WILL STOP (OR ALREADY STOPPED) DRINKING COFFEE SEM PROBLEMA, AND THIS SATURDAY HE SAID HE WANTS ME TO BAPTIZE HIM... I GUESS I'M COOL WITH THAT HAHA.

WE TAUGHT MARILIA AND LUANA, AND THEY VERY POLITELY TOLD US THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THIS CHURCH ANYMORE, THAT LUANA WILL STAY IN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THAT MARILIA WILL JOIN THE ASSEMBLEIA DE DEUS. MARILIA SAID SHE RECEIVED AN ANSWER THAT OUR CHURCH IS TRUE, AND ALSO THAT ASSEMBLEIA IS TRUE (WHICH WE TRIED EXPLAINING TO HER DOESN'T COMPLETELY MAKE SENSE, YES THERE ARE TRUTHS BUT NOT EVERYTHING...) AND SHE LIKES THE WAY THE PAID PREACHERS IN THE ASSEMBLEIA PREACH SO SHE'S GONNA GO THERE. SHE ALSO LIKES SPEAKING IN TONGUES IN CHURCH SO YEAH. THAT'S THAT.

CLEY IS DOING WELL, HE GOT A JOB, BUT ALSO GOT SICK AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL ON SUNDAY MORNING... BUT HE'S GETTING BETTER.

MONICA IS NOT PROGRESSING NOW BUT WE'LL HAVE PATIENCE.

THE WEATHER- IT RAINS EVERY COUPLE DAYS, AND IT IS WINDY NOW. IT IS KITE SEASON. IT SEEMS THAT EVERY YOUNG MAN HERE IS OBSESSED WITH FLYING KITES. THERE ARE LITERALLY GUYS MY AGE THAT SPEND THE WHOLE DAY FLYING LITTLE KITES, TRYING TO CUT THE STRINGS OF THE OTHER KITES THAT ARE BEING FLOWN ALL OVER THE CITY.

SATURDAY NIGHT I GOT TO GO TO CAMARAGIBE (CUZ IT'S PART OF MY DISTRICT) TO GIVE THE MESSAGE AT A FAMILY NIGHT AT THE HOUSE OF MARCELO AND JOELMA, WHO AT THE END OF THIS MONTH WILL BE MARRIED AND BAPTIZED! MARCELO IS THE EX PASTOR FROM THE ASSEMBLEIA. LOTS OF OTHER FRIENDS FROM THE AREA WERE THERE AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM ALL AGAIN.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK PARA VOCES TAMBÉM [for you also]!
LOVE
ELDER HOOKE

8-31-11 Heitor's baptism [PHOTO]

8-31-11

HELLO MY FAMILY, THINGS ARE GOING WELL HERE. LAST WEEK WAS REALLY TOUGH, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE BAPTISM OF HEITOR. 

IT WENT VERY WELL, AND AFTER THE BAPTISM WE HAD AN ACTIVITY THAT ELDER ALBUQUERQUE AND I HAD ORGANIZED WHICH WAS LIKE THIS: 2 MEN FROM THE WARD GAVE PRESENTATIONS ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST, AND THEN HIS VISIT TO THE AMERICAS, EACH ONE ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THEN WE WATCHED THE FILM “THE TESTAMENTS” WITH POPCORN AND SODA. IT WENT WELL, ALTHOUGH THE ONLY NONMEMBERS THERE WERE A BUNCH OF KIDS FROM THE NEIGHBORING FAVELA WHO HEARD THAT WE WERE GIVING FREE POPCORN, AND LEFT AFTER THEY GOT THEIR POPCORN... BUT ANYWAYS DURING THE FILM HEITOR GOT UP TO GET A DRINK OR SOMETHING AND HE KICKED THE CORD OF THE PROJECTOR AND EVERYTHING STOPPED AND HE GOT REALLY EMBARRASSED... HE AND HIS MOM LEFT AT THIS POINT. IT TOOK ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO GET EVERYTHING WORKING AGAIN AND EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS WORKING AGAIN I TRIED TO SECURE THE CORD IN THE WALL AND IT UNPLUGGED AGAIN! SO EVERYONE STARTED YELLING AT ELDER HOOKE HAHA. BUT AT LEAST I WAS ABLE TO TELL HEITOR THAT STORY THE NEXT DAY AT CHURCH AND HE WAS A LITTLE LESS EMBARRASSED. 

SO WE ARE TEACHING THIS GUY CLEYJEMESON WHO IS VERY INTERESTED, WENT TO CHURCH,AND FEELS VERY GOOD ABOUT EVERYTHING. WE INVITED HIM TO BE BAPTIZED, AND HE ACCEPTED, BUT THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT HE LIVES HERE IN SAN MARTIN, AND HIS "WIFE" AND 2 KIDS LIVE IN ANOTHER BAIRRO FAR AWAY. HE GOT A JOB THIS WEEK, AND WHEN HE GETS STABILIZED, HIS WIFE AND KIDS WILL MOVE HERE. BUT AS FAR AS THE WEDDING AND EVERYTHING GOES, IT WILL PROBABLY DELAY. BUT IT’S BEEN COOL TO TEACH SOMEONE SO RECEPTIVE AND HELP HIM BECOME A BETTER PERSON.

WE ARE ALSO TEACHING TWO WOMEN, WHO WENT TO CHURCH A FEW TIMES. I THINK I ALREADY MENTIONED THEM--MARILIA AND LUANA. THEY ARE PROGRESSING LITTLE BY LITTLE. BUT MARILIA IS DECIDING RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD AND MORMON. SHE LIKES THEM BOTH AND WE ARE GOING TO TEACH THEM TONIGHT ABOUT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST AND WHY THIS CHURCH IS DIFFERENT THAN EVERY OTHER ONE. WE’RE GOING TO TEACH THEM WITH RHAWENA.

IT’S A LITTLE TOUGH WITH MONICA--SHE WASN’T AT CHURCH AND IT’S BEEN SEVERAL DAYS SINCE WE TALKED TO HER. SHE GOT A JOB AND WE HAVEN’T FOUND HER AT HOME. SHE REALLY IS READY, BUT WE MIGHT BE LOSING HER STILL THE SAME... SHE HAS A ONE-YEAR-OLD BOY.

WE ARE TRYING TO BE MORE POSITIVE AND HAVE MORE FAITH,WHICH IS HELPING US TO BE MORE EXCITED. THIS AREA IS STILL REALLY SLOW.

LOVE YOU TOO, SEEYA

ELDER HOOKE 

8-22-11 Heitor, Luana, Maurilia, Monica, talk in church

8-22-11

Hello familia, this week went pretty well. 

My comp is a good guy. He's been a member his whole life. He left a girlfriend at home with whom he plans to get married. He's got 2 brothers, one is Downs syndrome, both are younger. His parents are active in the church, but he is the first from the family to serve a mission. This week was good and he's happy (and so am I) to be able to finally have at least a few good investigators.

Heitor was feeling insecure and his friends all made fun of him for being a Mormon, so yesterday he told us he didn't think he would get baptized this week. But we talked to him for awhile yesterday and helped him to see the right reasons for everything. At the end I told him, "So we aren't here to pressure you into anything, we are just here to help, so if and when you feel ready, we'll be excited to have your baptism." He responded and said, "No you guys are right, I should get baptized next week like we had planned." So hopefully everything goes well this week, he's even gonna fast, and have the baptism on Sunday.

We got to teach those 2 ladies Luana and Maurilia, but only Sunday an hour before church started. They were very receptive, and during this week were gonna go meet up with them in a public plaza to teach more (because Luana's family doesn't want us there, and Marilia works in the city every day). Hopefully all goes well with that. They are both very smart and good people.

We also met a single mom Mônica, who is a good lady. We taught her for the first time Saturday, about the restoration, then Sunday she went to church and liked it a lot. We'll teach her again tonight.

Yesterday I gave a talk in church about Missionary work to help the members see the importance of their role. It went alright, although the majority of the congregation wasn't listening.

Thanks for the email, you guys have a great week too!

Falou!

Elder Hooke 

8-15-11 Teaching Heitor, answer to prayer, Visit to Camaragibe, district leader

Anyways this week was decent. Raiane unfortunately didn't get baptized. She left the house of her loving aunt and uncle to go live in not such a good situation. Her brother Mateus stayed with the aunt and uncle and is doing great. So all we can do for Raiane now is pray I guess.

We are helping a lady who was baptized 4 years ago to return to church, and she went with her 11 year old son Heitor yesterday. We are teaching him and his baptism is already marked for the 27th. He's a good kid and is excited to be in church again (he used to go with his mom, but wasn't ever baptized).

On Thursday night we had nothing planned and for no reason decided to go to the house of a member lady, Regina. When we got there her daughter Rhawena said that she prayed that we´d pass by, because that morning she had a really cool experience being able to invite someone to church. So we talked with her about it and called the friend, and Sunday morning this friend, Luana, and her friend, Marilia, showed up at church. They are both about 25-30 yrs old, and really smart, and they just wanted to see what the Mormon church is like, and they were very well received. They liked it and we will be visiting them during this week (hopefully) to explain things a little better.

Irene´s doing great. She's really solid.

Today Elder Wells is finishing his mission, and he's gonna come by to San Martin to visit the bishop and we'll be able to eat lunch with him and his dad and the bishop's family.

The highlight of the week was definitely Friday, because I got to go back to Camaragibe and talk with Eliete and fam, Cheila, Juliana, and do the baptismal interview of Eliete's neighbor, Isabel, who was baptized on Saturday. I had just started to teach her when I left Camaragibe. It was great to talk to my friends there again. I also visited Marcelo and Joelma, who have both decided to get married and baptized--there's just some paperwork business to take care of now. I still hold to my prediction that Marcelo will be a bishop in a few years. I miss that area, all the people we taught there, and Elder Bradley and Johnson. They all miss us a lot too, but the current missionaries there are also good guys, luckily. Oh yeah I'm district leader again, of us, Camaragibe, Carmelo (the other ward in Camaragibe), and a little town called Ur-7. its going well. I think I'm gonna get to do a division in Camaragibe in a couple weeks, this week with Ur-7.

I LOVE THE PEOPLE AND IT IS HAPPY.

Wellp, seeya
love
Elder Hooke

8-8-11 Mateus baptism [photos]

HELLO FAMILY

YES ALL IS WELL (WELL THE IMPORTANT THINGS AT LEAST), AND IT’S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD WEEK. THE LITTLE BOY MATEUS WAS BAPTIZED BY HIS UNCLE YESTERDAY, WHICH WENT WELL. HE’S A REALLY SMART LITTLE GUY, HE KNOWS MORE THAN THE MAJORITY OF CONVERT BAPTISMS AND HE'S ONLY 8 YEARS OLD. HIS OLDER SISTER RAIANE, 11, IS ALSO VERY SMART. I THINK I TOLD YOU THAT THEY LIVED ALONE, HOMELESS FOR A TIME, AND HAVE HAD A REALLY TOUGH CHILDHOOD. BUT A FEW MONTHS AGO THEY WERE ABANDONED BY THE MOM AT THEIR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE WHO ARE STRONG MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. THEY ARE GOING EVERY WEEK AND LOVING IT, AND RAIANE IS HANDLING THE SITUATION REALLY WELL. SHE ALSO DECIDED TO GET BAPTIZED AND PROBABLY THIS SATURDAY OR SUNDAY WILL BE HER BAPTISM.

                                     Elder Albuquerque, Mateus, Elder Hooke

              (sorry sideways...) Mateus, Uncle, Raiane at Baptism of Mateus

WE DON’T HAVE MANY INVESTIGATORS, THE ONLY ONES WHO WENT TO CHURCH WERE RAIANE, AND 3 OTHER KIDS WHO WERE BROUGHT BY HOSANA, A RETURNING LESS ACTIVE MEMBER (LIKE ALWAYS). WE ARE TEACHING THOSE KIDS TOO NOW, AS WELL AS HOSANA´S HUSBAND LUCIANO. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH FEW RESULTS AS FAR AS FINDING GOOD PEOPLE TO TEACH AND I FEEL BAD THAT MY COMP HAS TO START HIS MISSION LIKE THAT, BUT OH WELL. 

IRENE IS DOING VERY WELL. WE MADE BROWNIES WITH HER AND HER BOYFRIEND’S FAMILY YESTERDAY WHICH WAS FUN. WE TALKED ABOUT TWO THINGS THAT SHE WILL BE DOING SOON—PATRIARCHAL BLESSING AND TEMPLE BAPTISMS.

[A typical day?]

GET UP AT 6:30, PRAY, TURN ON SOME CHURCH MUSIC, AND UNTIL 8 THERE IS TIME FOR SHOWER, BREAKFAST (CUZCUZ IS MY FAVORITE HERE), AND GETTING DRESSED IN THE PADRÃO. 8-9 IS PERSONAL STUDY, THEN 9-11 IS COMP STUDY (FOR TRAINERS THERE IS AN EXTRA HOUR OF COMP STUDY). 11 WE USUALLY LEAVE FOR AN APPOINTMENT, THEN 12 THERE IS LUNCH WITH MEMBERS EVERY DAY. LUNCH AND THE MESSAGE THAT FOLLOWS USUALLY GOES TILL ABOUT 1:30 THEN WE HAVE OPTIONS- SOMETIMES WE RETURN AND USE OUR DINNER HOUR (NAPPING) OR IF WE HAVE COMPROMISSO WE GO TO IT. WE ALSO HAVE A HALF HOUR WE CAN TAKE TO STUDY THE LANGUAGE IF WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO. THE AFTERNOONS HERE WE ALMOST NEVER HAVE VISITS MARKED, SO WE END UP CONTACTING AND STUFF A LOT. EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS MARKED, LIKE TONIGHT WE HAVE A FAMILY NIGHT AT 6:30 WITH A DIFFERENT RETURNING LESS ACTIVE MEMBER AND A RECENT CONVERT (THE LADY THAT WAS A REFERENCE FROM CÁSSIA), THEN AT 8 WE ARE GOING TO A STRONG MEMBER FAMILY'S HOUSE FOR ANOTHER FHE, HOPEFULLY WITH A FRIEND OF THEIRS. THEN WE RETURN TO THE HOUSE AT 9 OR 9 30, PLAN THE NEXT DAY, EAT MORE, SHOWER, BRINCAR, AND GO TO BED

TCHAU

ELDER HOOKE

8-1-11 Jon's a new uncle with a brand new companion, San Martin--same ward again, Juliana's wedding and baptism! [PHOTOS]

[We told Jon he's a first time uncle--our first grandchild!!]

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS! YOU GUYS ARE GRANDPARENTS WOW. WEIRD. I LOVE THE PICTURES, SHE REALLY IS A VERY VERY CUTE LITTLE CREATURE. I CAN IMAGINE EXACTLY WHAT YOU DESCRIBED ABOUT CHRIS COMING OUT AND JUST SMILING [when he told us she was born] HAHA. WOW. PARABENS [congratulations].

[I told him how fun it is to be a grandma] SOUNDS LIKE I WANT TO SKIP BEING A PARENT AND JUST BE A GRANDPA HAHA.

I AM VERY EXCITED FOR MY NEW LITTLE NIECE! YYYYEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!!

 THIS WAS A GREAT WEEK FOR US HERE AS WELL. BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THE NEW AREA, I GOT TO RETURN TO CAMARAGIBE FOR THE WEDDING OF JULIANA AND MARIANO, AND I BAPTIZED JULIANA. IT WAS A PERFECT WEDDING. 

          Elder Hooke, wedding of Mariano & Juliana

I DIDN’T EVEN IMAGINE THAT EVERYTHING COULD GO SO SMOOTHLY. YES IT WAS SIMPLE, BUT IT WORKED OUT GREAT. THE WARD MEMBERS HELPED A TON, ESPECIALLY IN MAKING THE CAKE, PROVIDING A BRIDE DRESS, AND STUFF. YOU MAY NOTICE IN THE PICTURE THAT MARIANO CHOSE TO USE MY RED TIE THAT I USED AT LIBBY´S WEDDING 3 YEARS AGO! BUT ANYWAYS IT WAS AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK. ALL MY BEST FRIENDS FROM THE AREA WERE THERE, AND I GOT TO BAPTIZE JULIANA TOO. SHE WAS SOOOO HAPPY THAT NIGHT. IT WAS GREAT. 

         Elder Johnson, Elder Hooke, Juliana

ANYWAYS THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY I ARRIVED HERE IN SAN MARTIN TO THE VERY SAME WARD!! I WAS STILL DISAPPOINTED TO LEAVE CAMARAGIBE, BUT AT LEAST I COULD RETURN HERE TO THIS AREA THAT I LIKED A LOT. THE PEOPLE IN THE WARD ARE HAPPY TO HAVE ME BACK SO I FEEL WELCOME. THE BISHOP WAS ESPECIALLY EXCITED. THE WARD HERE HAS GROWN MUCH STRONGER, A LITTLE BIT THANKS TO MISSIONARY WORK AND REACTIVATION BUT MORE BECAUSE SOME STRONG FAMILIES HAVE MOVED INTO THE AREA RECENTLY. IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH LIVE 5 FAMILIES (WELL 4, AND 2 MISSIONARIES): BISHOP'S COUNSELOR AND WIFE, WARD SECRETARY AND WIFE (PRES OF THE YW), OTHER BISHOP’S COUNSELOR AND WIFE (PRIMARY PRESIDENCY), WARD MISSION LEADER AND WIFE (RELIEF SOCIETY COUNSELOR). SO WE GOT MEMBERS FROM PRETTY MUCH EVERY PROGRAM RIGHT IN OUR COMPLEX, WHICH IS COOL.

NEWS ABOUT CONVERTS FROM WHEN I WAS THERE:
DID I TELL YOU THAT I HAD BEEN SEEING ADLÂN IN CAMARAGIBE? HE’S DOING WELL AND GOING TO CHURCH THERE.

CLEONICE DOESN'T GO TO CHURCH BUT SAID SHE WANTS TO START GOING AGAIN.

RUAN IS THE MOST ACTIVE YOUNG MAN, PASSES THE SACRAMENT, GOES TO THE TEMPLE EVERY WEEK, AND WAS THE ONLY KID AT THIS BORING FIRESIDE LAST NIGHT. AND HE EVEN PAID ATTENTION HAHA! I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO FIND OUT THIS STUFF.

THE FAMILY OF ANDERSON AND CONCEIÇAO  MOVED, BUT I'M 99% SURE ARE INACTIVE.

AND CÁSSIA HAS STILL GOT A TESTIMONY, EVEN GAVE THE MISSIONARIES A REFERENCE OF A WOMAN (WHO WAS BAPTIZED AND CALLED AS SECRETARY TO THE RELIEF SOCIETY), BUT  CÁSSIA DOESN’T GO TO CHURCH. WE'RE GONNA KEEP WORKING WITH HER. SHE GOT OFFENDED BY SOMEONE.

NOW ABOUT THE MISSIONARY WORK HAPPENING NOW:
THIS WEEK WAS EXCELLENT. ON TUESDAY WE MET IRENE, A 23 YEAR OLD GIRLFRIEND OF A MEMBER WHO HAD BEEN TAUGHT ALL ABOUT THE GOSPEL BY HIM. SHE WAS ALREADY MARKED TO BE BAPTIZED ON SUNDAY, SO WE JUST WENT THERE 3 TIMES BEFORE THEN TO HELP HER GET READY. SHE IS SUPER FIRM, AND WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS REALLY FAST TOO. HER BOYFRIEND WAS LESS ACTIVE AND IS JUST NOW RETURNING, SO WAS NOT ABLE TO BAPTIZE HER. SHE ALSO ASKED ME TO BAPTIZE HER AND IT WAS AN HONOR. 

                   Baptism of Irene

IRENE IS ONE OF THE MOST FIRM CONVERTS I'VE MET ON MY MISSION. SHE HAS A VERY STRONG TESTIMONY, HAS ALREADY DECIDED THAT IN ONE YEAR SHE WILL GET MARRIED TO ISAQUE HER BOYFRIEND IN THE TEMPLE AND THEN WILL GO TO CALIFORNIA TO SPEND HER HONEYMOON ( THEY ALREADY WANTED TO GO THERE) AND I OFFERED MY ROOM OK? AND ALSO YOUR COOKING, I TOLD THEM HOW GREAT IT IS.  BUT ANYWAYS THAT WAS AN AWESOME WAY TO ARRIVE IN THIS AREA FOR THE SECOND TIME.

WE HAVE SOME OTHER INVESTIGATORS, INCLUDING A BRILLIANT LITTLE BOY MATEUS AND HIS SISTER RAIANE. THEY’VE BEEN GOING TO CHURCH FOR AWHILE NOW, AND YESTERDAY WE MARKED MATEUS´ BASPTISM FOR THIS SATURDAY. I’LL WRITE MORE ABOUT THESE KIDS NEXT WEEK. THEY HAVE HAD CRAZY LIVES, INCLUDING LIVING ALONE ON THE STREET AT 10 YEARS OLD. THEY WERE FORTUNATELY ABANDONED IN A VERY LOVING HOUSEHOLD OF THEIR AUNT AND UNCLE WHO ARE ACTIVE MEMBERS IN THE WARD.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HARD THIS WEEK TO GET MORE INVESTIGATORS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY.

AND ABOUT MY COMPANION:

              Elder Albuquerque & Elder Hooke
HIS NAME IS ELDER WILLIAM ALBUQUERQUE, LIKE THAT CITY IN NEW MEXICO. HE’S FROM RIO GRANDE DO SUL, PASSO FUNDO. A GAUCHO, CHE. HE’S A GOOD GUY. I’M LIKING HIM AND WERE GETTING ALONG WELL. HE IS VERY OBEDIENT AND THINKS THAT I KNOW EVERYTHING, SO HOPEFULLY I CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR HIM. I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HIS TRAINER.

SO YEAH LIFE’S PRETTY GOOD. I’M STOKED TO BE AN UNCLE.

THE SAN MARTIN WARD MAY HAVE STRUGGLES BECAUSE WE HAD A SACRAMENT MEETING YESTERDAY ESPECIALLY FOR NON MEMBERS, WITH DISAPPOINTING OUTCOME! ME AND MY COMP SPENT THE WEEK DELIVERING VERY ELEGANT INVITES TO MEMBERS TO GIVE TO THEIR FRIENDS. WE WERE PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WHEN NOT A SINGLE MEMBER BROUGHT FRIENDS, EXCEPT THOSE 2  KIDS, AND SEVERAL OF IRENE AND ISAQUE’S FRIENDS. AND A MEMBER LADY BROUGHT HER HUSBAND, WHO WE WE’RE ALREADY WORKING WITH. TONS OF MEMBERS INVITED, BUT ALMOST NO ONE WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GO. THE MEETING WAS GOOD, FOCUSED ON THE ETERNAL FAMILY AND CHRIST, BUT JUST NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE WENT.

YEP WELL HAVE ANOTHER GREAT WEEK! TCHAU

7-25-11 Transfers! Going back to San Martin as a trainer

7-25-11

[Lori wrote] I'm glad that the gospel is making a difference in Eliete's life--it's a wonderful thing to see when that happens, isn't it? YES I LOVE HER AND HER FAMILY. I SERIOUSLY AM GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK TO VISIT THESE PEOPLE AFTER MY MISSION! (OH YEAH AND IF SOMEONE OF YOU WANTS TO COME PICK ME UP FROM MY MISSION NEXT MAY, SEJA BEM VINDO).

SO ON FRIDAY WE HAD AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE WITH HER THAT I DON’T HAVE TIME TO WRITE ABOUT, BUT BASICALLY SHE WAS EXTREMELY DISTRESSED AND CALLED US. WE WENT OVER AND TALKED ABOUT SOME STUFF AND BY THE TIME WE LEFT SHE WAS GENUINELY HAPPY. SHE TOLD US THAT SHE IS SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY REPRESENTATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST. AS I TOLD ELIETE, I THINK THAT HELPING HER HAS HELPED MY FAITH A LOT TOO. SHE IS SUCH A SINCERE AND JUST PURE HEARTED WOMAN. SATURDAY WAS THE BAPTISM OF ELIETE (36ISH), TIAGO (HER 12 YEAR OLD SON) AND IEO (HER 9 YEAR OLD SON), WHICH WENT GREAT! SHE INVITED A BUNCH OF FRIENDS TOO, AND SEVERAL OF THEM WENT AND LIKED IT. THEN SUNDAY MORNING SHE GOT TO CHURCH AND BROUGHT ALL THE SAME FRIENDS! MANY BAPTISMS ARE COMING THROUGH REFERENCES OF ELIETE. ONE OF THEM IS AN EX MINISTER THAT WE TAUGHT DURING LAST WEEK, WHO WENT TO CHURCH AND AFTERWARDS WE WENT OVER AND HE ACCEPTED BAPTISM. HE WILL BE A BISHOP IN 5 YEARS, MARK MY WORDS.

NOW THE TERRIBLE NEWS, I WAS TRANSFERRED. I’M LEAVING CAMARAGIBE, WHICH MUST BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AREA IN THE MISSION RIGHT NOW, AND AM GOING BACK TO SAN MARTIN TO RE-OPEN THE AREA WITH ANOTHER NEW ELDER STRAIGHT FROM THE MTC, DON'T KNOW WHO YET. I WAS REALLY SAD TO BE TRANSFERRED.

TONIGHT I GET TO GO TO A FAMILY NIGHT WITH ELIETE, THE FAMILY OF THE EX MINISTER GUY (MARCELO) AND FAMILY, AND CHEILA. BUT TOMORROW I WILL ALREADY LEAVE TO SAN MARTIN. [That's definitely Portuguese language construction coming through!!] ELDER BRADLEY WAS TRANSFERRED TOO, AND JOHNSON JUST STAYED WITH A BRAZILIAN ELDER THAT I HAVE ALREADY LIVED WITH.  BUT I ASKED PRESIDENT IF I COULD RETURN ON SATURDAY, AND HE LET ME BECAUSE JULIANA WANTS ME TO BAPTIZE HER. AND BRADLEY WILL RETURN TOO BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO PLAY THE PIANO FOR THE ENTRANCE OF THE NOIVO AND NOIVA [Groom & Bride]. SHOULD BE A GREAT WEDDING, WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF PLANNING IT WITH THEM YESTERDAY WHEN I RECEIVED THE CALL THAT I WILL BE TRANSFERRED. IT WAS HARD NOT TO CRY OR GET MAD.

JULIANA WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH HER CUNHADA [sister in law] YOLANDA, BUT WE (WELL, ELDER JOHNSON) WILL HAVE TO KEEP WORKING WITH MARIANO. THEY ALL WENT TO CHURCH YESTERDAY. DUDE EVERYONE WENT TO CHURCH YESTERDAY. WE HAD 4 FAMILIES IN THE CHAPEL. I AM USUALLY LUCKY IN MY MISSION TO HAVE 4 PEOPLE IN THE CHAPEL. AND NOW I HAVE TO LEAVE. UHG

DON’T HAVE TOO MUCH TIME [to talk about a typical day], AND THE TYPICAL DAY WILL BE CHANGING NOW, AS I START IN A NEW AREA. I HEARD THERE IS A LADY THERE WHO WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED, SO THAT IS GOOD. AND I WILL SEND PICTURES FROM THE WEDDING NEXT WEEK TOO!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK, LOVE YOU TOO

BYE