April 20, 2010-Elder Nelson

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was pretty tough. It feels like the area dried up and died. We had problems finding our investigators and all of them have pretty serious problems. Some days I want to just give up on them, and find some "elect" who will be baptized and confirmed in 2 weeks, but I try to remember who the Savior came to help, that He came to those who aren't healthy, that the well have no need of a physician. So we're continuing and hoping and praying. The hardest are those that don't have the courage to read the Book of Mormon. It's the simplest thing to do and also the most important.

This week I'll do 6 months! It's so crazy that time has gone so fast. I feel like I have always been here, but just barely arrived (if that makes sense). I love Brasil and the people here really are amazing. They have some characteristics that drive me a little crazy, but overall the people are so friendly and nice. I think I'll buy some ice cream tonight for tomorrow. Or make snickerdoodles, I made some last week and the Brasilians really like them, today and eat them with the ice cream and Fanta Laranja.

It was really cool to see all the pictures of Prom, rugby and the little missionaries. I'm glad that life is so good at home. It really makes me so happy all the promises that we (the missionaries) receive through Doctrine and Covenants, setting apart blessings and the General Authorities promises for our families are being fulfilled.

Speaking of General Authorities, we had 5 this week for Mission Conference. Elder Nelson of the Twelve, Elder Claudio R.M. Costa (President of the Seventy) and Elder Ulysses Soares of the Seventy and another Area Authority ( and Presidente Pizzirani). It was really amazing how everything they said was something I needed to hear. Elder Nelson talked about the Gospel and had us recite the Purpose found in Preach My Gospel and explained each part. He is really smart and explained a lot of words to us in Greek. Repentance for instance in Greek (the language the New Testament was written in), means to change mind, soul, thought, action and speech and is a very strong word in Greek. It was really amazing at the end, because he gave us an Apostolic blessing. He also said if we are faithful that everything that Presidente Pizzirani has, we can have too. All of us perked up at that, because Presidente is really, really wealthy. There are people who are well off, but Presidente is rich. So all of us (especially the Brasilians) want to be more faithful now. It was pretty funny. Elder Nelson has such an energy around him that we all felt it when he entered the room.

One thing that I am really grateful for is for parents and family that are really concerned with being smart with money. A lot of Elders are always having to run to the bank and ask for more, because they don't plan 2-3 weeks in advance. Others are really extravagant with what they want to eat. Because I have the habit to plan ahead and I buy food (oatmeal, macaroni) that isn't as expensive or make things from scratch, I have lots of money and so I end up paying the bills and other things. Because I pay the bills, I get the reimbursements, and so it's like I am not really paying them. Thanks so much for teaching me about realizing how important it is to know how to budget.

Elder Hamilton and I are learning how to get along. He is really different from Elder R. Silva. We're working out the little bugs and I think we'll do really well this transfer.

The pictures are of:

Saddest Menorah in the World, from the failed Passover

My BYU shirt, which I sleep in with much pride. I am wearing it, but it looks like I am holding it up. Weird.

Starfruit-it is a fruit here that was so cool looking I had to try it. I cut it into slices and took a picture. They taste okay, but they are cool.

I love you all,

Elder Barton