37 weeks -freezing!!

Hey guys! 

Do I start every email like that? If so, oh well!

Thank you for keeping me updated on home and especially for these pictures! I think I might actually print them out and keep them with my scriptures or something =D I might look like that guy when I get home, pretty sure my hair has receeded a little bit on the mission...and parts of it are starting to go a little bit blonde.... That story about Joe and Sierra made me actually laugh out loud in the internet cafe haha! I think you guys are all nuts and that's why Sarah wants to be a part of the family too, cuz she's nuts too. 

I didn't even realize that today was Memorial Day, but I did wear my Captain America shirt! So that counts too right? I also read a little bit about the founding of the USA and the importance of the Constitution in Jesus the Chist by James E. Talmage. I think my next study topic in the Book of Mormon is going to be about liberty and freedom and the principles behind them. Another crazy thing about today, it's been a year and a half that Sarah and I have been going out, that's freaking crazy! She hasn't left me yet, so fingers crossed! haha

The week was good, lots more new investigators and the Branch President and his wife visited both of our cities for the first time in over a month and a half. We were really needing people to come to church because they might actually shut our area down soon if we don't find more people to come. But the Lord really did bless us! We had over 30 people come to church between the two cities! I don't think they'll close it if we can keep that up. And yesterday, I drank milk for the first time in 2 months! It was awesome! 

We were also in that other city for a few days and we got to eat lunch at a members house there. They gave us chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes! It was just like at Cracker Barrel and is the closest thing to American food that I've had in a long time! 

And another reminder of home that I had in that city too was that I met the missionary version of Larry! He's from North Carolina and was telling me about another missionary that I know here in the mission. He was asking me about him and then said, "Ele é meu amigo melhor" Translation: He's my good buddy. I almost died laughing when I thought about it. Because after he said it, he was like, "You're my good buddy too, but he is also." And I couldn't help but think of Larry =)

This weekend was FREEZING for us. It was 60ish degrees and we almost died. We were in Pimenta Bueno ad not Rolim de Moura and so we didn't have any of our other clothes besides what we packed for PB...It was so freaking cold haha. I thought my companion was going to die and I was feeling pretty close to the same thing. Not a good sign for when I come home lol. 

Not too much else happening, I will try again to send pictures. 

Love you guys!

Elder Sanderson

*****once again no pictures.  He said his memory card had a virus?? Hope the computer was just goofy. *********

36 weeks -

Holy cow! Sounds like you guys are even busier than I am!

Four parties? I tried to get my companion to go to a birthday party yesterday (maybe a family reunion) instead of going to church, but he wouldn't allow it. I even used logical arguments, mainly that there were more people at that party than we've had at church in 2 weeks between our cities combined. It's hard right now because he is so used to people saying yes, and right now, nobody is saying yes. I'm used to that, that's how most missions in the States are, I had 6 months of no and know how to handle it, he doesn't. He's got almost two years of yes. It's not a good combination when we end up trying to talk about it. However, I'm learning about how important the Pure Love of Christ is! We don't necessarilly have to love everybody, but we have to try. Because if we don't, we just look for ways that we don't like the person or the ways that they annoy you. After that revelation hit me in the face today, I am going to try and look for the good in my companion and not the stuff we don't agree on.

Haha tell Haylee that after Brazil, I might be okay if I never have a summer break again. It's just hot all of the time. Today, I sweat enough to fill a kiddie pool and that was just during lunch. I seriously can't figure out why the Brazilians like to eat hot food. That to me just isn't the smartest thing in the world haha. "It's about 100 degrees today, we should probably cook our food over an open fire in this small room with no windows. Great idea! Then maybe we can serve it right out of the pan into their mouths!" Re-evaluate. Haha, but it's still going good down here =) 

Not too much going on, but right now we're in a different city because we have a zone meeting tomorrow with all of the missionaries in the zone. I'm excited for that because it's really nice to see other missionaries and be able to talk to them instead of my companion 24/7. With other missionaries, we can swap stories, share experiences, etc. But with your companion, you can't do that. You can't even ask how their day was because you know exactly how it was haha. I did here Willie Nelson getting blasted by some guy's radio the other day in his car haha. It was the song where he says, "You were always on my mind" haha my companion didn't even know who Willie Nelson is.  

Please make sure to tell EVERYONE that I said thank you! I can't even express how much it means to me that they are willing to help me out. I won't get mail for another 4 weeks or so, but whether their packages are here or not, I really appreciate even the thought! Always send the letters or packages to the mission office, we aren't allowed to receive them directly, and I honestly don't want to because that is just too much work and too much to chance. But I am definitely excited for the packages! When you send me your guys', send me this stuff too: sun screen! (It's like $25 american dollars a bottle here), bug spray (also really expensive)

Love you guys, think I will definitely send pictures this week!

Elder Sanderson

******He tried to send pictures but once again the computer was a no go. He was frustrated with that.  Prayers he gets a good computer next week!!********

35 weeks & Mothers Day Call :)

It was great to talk to you guys too! We (the missionaries) were on a spiritual high after talking to our families =) we couldn't fall asleep and I promise you that when a missionary talks with his family, it gets him fired up to go back to work! I feel refreshed and ready to keep on keepin' on! I pretty much said evrything I would usually have written in the email haha, but forgive me if this isn't a super long one this week. 

So, my companion and I are going to stay together this transfer. If we stay together for the next six weeks, it will be the longest that I've spent with a companion in 8 months haha, and it will only have been 2 months! Other missionaries stay together for 3 or even 4.5 months sometimes haha. I will definitely learn a lot this transfer and am going to need the blessings of the Lord, but I know that all things are possible with Him!

If you send me a box, there is one more thing I want that I forgot to tell you! I want a Nats hat! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just one of the normal ones with the W on it. I've really been wanting one since I got here haha and Brazil just so happens to be in short supply. 

Sierra will love BYUI and then realize that BYU is where it's at =p you can tell her I said that! Just like Constance will someday realize that BYUH isn't as good as BYU either! But, I have a lot of friends who have gone to BYUI and they all loved it! 

I agree completely that it was the Spirit that was in my heart and mind when I was speaking with that guy. I was trying to say that, but just decided to agree with you when you said passionate because I don't know if I would've been able to get it out haha. But yes, I will alwys remember that, even wrote it down in my journal that night! I hope to be able to use that experience for many, many years to come. And I'm sure I'll pick some new ones up along the way!

Not too much else going on today, just chillin! I'll see if this computer will let me send you pictues so that everyone can see those black power cookies haha! Randi and Dad got a kick out of those too! 

Love you all!

Elder Sanderson

*******he is not having any luck with pictures the last couple of weeks.  We had a great chat with him.  He looks great. He is great.  He had "the most amazing experience of [his] whole mission" the day before and was able to share it with us.   I don't have time to add it now but I will add it soon.  Here are the pics we took during our phone  call Sunday.******

His tan line from his CTR ring 

Watch tan. Can't see that one as well. 

The fab five 

The three amigos! 

The ipad didn't photograph as well as the laptop.  We will use the laptop again at Christmas. 

He bought these knock off Oreos this week we were cracking up at the name "black power" so odd!  

Fingers crossed his pics work next week! 

34 weeks, transferred

Hey there everybody! 

Another week has passed and i continue to realize how fast the mission is going by. In 6 months it will be November, and in like a year and 3 or 4 months I'll be finishing up my mission. CRAZY! I'm having way too much fun in the sun to even imagine being home. 

One thing I think you all need to be grateful for is internet and a good computer. Every week that we're down here, we have to pay for our internet and you really have to pray to get a good computer. Right now, this keyboard really sucks, so sorry if I don't write too much, it's really hard to type.

So, adventures of Elder Sanderson: I got transferred. What else is new? And it was an emergency transfer, so we have transfers again next week, and I might get transferred again then too. The good news about this one though, is that I got to stay in the same area! I count it as a transfer though because I have a new companion (Elder Housley) and a new city added to my old one. Elder Housley was in the new city before, and I was in Pimenta Bueno (my city), so when we're in his city (Rolim de Moura), he's the boss, but in my city, I'm the boss. Which is hard, because I only had 8 days in that city anyways haha. I don't like the new city as much as Pimenta Bueno, but it's starting to grow on me. We just have to walk a lot farther and don't usually have shade. It's hard here too, because the people we are teaching just don't seem that excited about the Gospel. 

I'm excited to Skype too! We are going to use a member's house, which will be nice, and we'll be able to use the webcam. I make no promises as to how well it will work, but anything is better than nothing right? 

It was a lot of fun being on that last special assignment! Being comp with an AP is hard, but we had fun, and I got to hang out with President a lot more last week. We were in the car with him for about 6 hours on Tuesday and just got to talk about whatever. Mostly, Elder Johansen was talking about deep doctrine, so I couldn't really understand, but Sister Klein made sure to talk to me and bring me into the conversations which was nice! We ate lunch at a really nice restaurant and President paid for us and then some! We were living the good life haha because we ate a ton of food and then he bought us ice cream and candy haha. The restaurant was cowboy themed because that's a big part of the culture in this part of the mission, and they had a couple pictures of Clint Eastwood on the wall haha. 

I found out yesterday, that Pimenta Bueno has had the Church in it's city for only 2 months now, I've been there for a month of that. It's so weird to think about how new the Church is! Most people don't have a clue who we are, but every once in a while, someody will ask, "Vocês são os Mórmons?" (You guys are the Mormons?) and we always answer that we're with the Church of Jesus Christ. 

Not too much else happening, I have a few pics for you guys, but not too many. Three things I need from you though mom:

1. Pin number (make up a code for it before you send it)

2. Change my profile picture on FB. I saw it yesterday at the member's house who we are going to Skype from. He added me as a friend and that's how I saw the pic lol.

3. Change my security settings on there. He was able to look at all of my old profile pics and one of them is me in an ROTC uniform at BYU, don't need people seeing that here. He's a cop, so no worries with him, but the others I don't need seeing that.

Thanks! Have a great week and I'll send some pictures as usual!

Love, 

Elder Sanderson  

Part of our later conversation:

Elder S:

I think I'm gonna train this tranfer to come, I'll find out on Sunday, maybe before we talk. I don't know for sure, but the time is definitely getting close for me to train I think

Me:

That will be exciting and interesting.  I assume you will be training someone newer than you and neither of you will speak fantastic Portuguese :) I am praying for you and know you will have the gift of tongues when you need it most.  Sis Martin shared a quote with me this week.  "There is nothing more powerful than the prayers of a righteous mother." Bam. I have superpowers!  I always knew it!  :) 

Elder S:

Haha of course they'll be newer than me, that's what training is haha. The missionary will be straight out of the MTC (i hope a brazilian) and my job would be to show him how to be a missionary for his first 12 weeks in the field! I really hope he's a brazilian haha

Me: 

We'll pray for that.  

----no pics this week becuase the computer wasn't working well.  He said there wasn't anything too important.  Guess we'll find out next week.  :) 

33 weeks- Paparazzi (or fireflies) :)

Hey mom and fam!

The week was as crazy as usual and we travelled at least a couple hundred miles. Travelling is fun, but not that much in so little time. Here are my travels as of last Monday:

Mon- Left Porto Velho for Rio Branco at 11:15pm and arrived at 12am.

Tue- Left Rio Branco at 4am after getting up at 230 to go to the airport with Pres. and Sis. Klein, we got to PV and went straight to the bus station to catch a bus that took another 4 hours to get to Humitá. (In 10 hours we had travelled through 3 of the 4 states in our mission) 

Sunday- we left Humitá and came back to PV

Tomorrow- we will go to Ji-parana with Pres. and spend the week visiting cities near our area. Then we'll come back to PV until sometime next week. We'll spend the last little bit of the transfer in our area and then we'll see what happens.

Haha wish I could say, "Didn't even get hurt," JUST KIDDING. It was a crazy week, but a safe week! So, every week, I keep a list in my Planner of all the things that I want to email home that happened during the week. Usually, I can remember it and describe it all, but this week was just random bits and pieces for the most part. Here goes:

I heard "Surfin' Safari" by the Beach Boys in Portuguese, that was pretty weird, but it was still good to hear the lyrics and remember them. Brazil has a lot of fireflies here! During our bus ride to PV from Pimenta Bueno (my area), we were travelling at night and it looked like there were photographers on every side of the road because of how many fireflies we saw, and it was for miles. I thought I saw one of the famous Pink Dolphins, but it was actually just a fish about 8 feet long that ate something on top of the water. We caught an iguanna! It was about 4 or 5 feet long and it was awesome! I tried a new drink called Cevada. It's horrible. It tastes like black coffee, but the people here love it. You just have to add a LOT of milk to it. 

Not too much else that happened. I bought a new pair of shoes from an Elder that were 125 reais (about $60) for 30 reais ($17 give or take) so that was nice. The traction is pretty much gone on one pair I have, so I bought those to be safe. Literally. When it rains, I was always slipping and sliding, but only went down once. The pair that is missing traction is still useful though. I took a knife to the bottom of them and carved my own traction into them. If that doesn't work, I'll buy a bike tire and use the rubber to create a new sole. Should be interesting! 

Should be another good week though! I'm excited for the next transfer too! Normally, transfers are 6 weeks, don't know why, but this one is only 5. So, the last day of our transfer will be Mother's Day, but don't worry, we'll all call home without any problems *knock on wood*

Love you guys! I'll send pics as usual!

Elder Sanderson

He was so happy to get American candy :) 

He said it was 4-5 feet long!  

Rain in the distance

Then the sun came out

Rainbow- he said they saw an upside down rainbow this week too! He said it was like the sky was smiling.

He looks tired in this photo, I asked if he was worn out from all the travelling and he said "I am definitely worn out, but Heavenly Father strengthens us a lot!"

Less than two weeks until I get to see his face on Skype! 

32 weeks and a stingray stick....

Hey mom and fam!

It has been another crazy week and we once again spent only a few days in our area before again having to head back out. We're in Porto Velho again, but only until tomorrow night, then we're flying to Acre which is a different state in Brazil for some Zone Confrences. I think I might have to help give a training...that will be an adventure. 

I baptized somebody in the river on Saturday! It was really cool because you have to use a big stick first to check for stingrays and electric eels in the water. What that requires is the missionary walking out first and making sure nothing will grab the investigator. It's pretty legit! The trick is to make sure you don't find anything lol. Then, as I baptized him, the bank of mud I was standing on like swallowed my leg so I went up to my neck in the water and was pretty much rebaptized! Gotta love those river baptisms haha.

Easter was uneventful besides the trip to PV, we had a grand total of 5 people at church and then had a bit of an adventure afterwards. We were getting ready to catch the bus to PV, but had to go and give the key to our house to a member so that the other missionaries who will be working in our area can have a place to stay. The only problem: It was POURING rain. You know the scene from Bug's life where it starts to rain? That's what it looked like. We managed to beat it to the bus stop with all of our stuff and then left it with someone who worked at the bus terminal so we could keep it dry. We then sprinted about a half a mile or so in the pouring rain and get to the member's house soaking wet and with only ten minutes to get back and catch the bus. So we threw the key at him and then we sprinted back. We were so wet haha. It was like mission impossible. Finally, we give up on running and just walk. My companion says, "where's a good samaritan when you need one?" As he says this, a car pulls up and offers us a ride back to the bus station. We jump in this ghetto chevette and keep on hauling. The dude drops us off at the bus only entrance in front of about 40 people. The looks on their faces were priceless! They've never seen missionaries before, so that was their first impression of the Church: two soaking-wet 20 year old Americans, getting out of a ghetto car, illegally parked, with huge smiles on their faces. It was amazing!

Not too much else that happened, I'll send a few pics as usual of the baptism and stuff. Love you guys! Might not get to email next week, here's our schedule:

Sunday (20th)- 10-hour bus ride to Porto Velho

Tuesday- Catch a 45 minute flight to Rio Branco

Thrusday Rio Branco to Porto Velho (45 minute flight) 

Same day- Porto Velho to Humaitá (4 hours on bus)

Sunday- back to PV (4 hours on bus)

Mon- Ji-parana with President Klein (2 hours by car)

Then we don't know what we'll be doing after that. 

So if you don't hear from me, no worries!

And one other thing, with Mother's Day and Skype, I will only have about 45 min so be prepared for that, just wanted to give you a heads up =)

Love you guys!

Elder Sanderson

 

******He asked me to share the baptism story with Haylee so I did and she said she hoped there were no barracudas in the water. HD replied he was more worried about the stingrays.  I decided to google what you should do if you get stung. The stings are fairly harmless but if there is a barb left in the wound you are not supposed to take it out yourself. The directions said to take yourself to the nearest ER. I relayed this information to HD and he writes back "Haha ER, good one mom! I don't think I've told you where I am recently: The Jungle. I'll stick with the big stick idea because at least that is like 3 feet in front of me!"   Guess we will pray a little harder for his safety :) I am sure there is a medicine man or something. Ha ha :) 

Here are his pictures: 

Walking to the river: I love seeing pics of the area.

Getting in with his stingray stick.

On the river bank

Glad he has a big stick! 

Checking for scary things. I bet he thinks this is awesome. It would freak me out!

I am so glad be is under the protection of The Lord. 

HD said the guy is giving "the smoulder" face

It would not be fun to scrub those clothes white again by hand. 

Up to his neck in the water after the mid bank swallowed his leg.  

31 weeks

Everything is great! This new area is freaking awesome! There are 40,000 people (literally) and only my companion and I. We are the 3rd or 4th companionship to ever be in this city. We have only 2 active families (about 8 people) and that's it. It's so small that we can't even be considered a branch, we are a group haha. Church is at our group leader's home and yesterday we had 2 missionaries, 8 members, and 12 investigators at church lol. It's pretty funny when you compare it to just about anywhere in the states. 

We are not in Porto Velho like I thought we would be living haha, we live in the city Pimenta Bueno (our area) and it is 10 hours away from PV. I've now taken that bus ride twice since my companion had that meeting in Manaus this week and will be here until Wednesday or Thrusday with the other elders. It was a very long day yesterday. We had church and stuff, but then at 2:30 we caught the bus for PV...10 hours later (12:15am) we arrived in PV. I met up with a Bishop who was going to take me to the Elders' house. As we were leaving the bus terminal in his car, a man came up and was like "Elder! Tudo bem? Blah blah blah" and I didn't understand anything that he was saying haha. I'd been away from my companion for maybe 2 minutes and that was when I needed him the most because this Bishop didn't say jack to help me out haha. I thought the dude was selling blessings from God, turns out he was asking me for a blessing from God by giving him some money for his bus ticket to his city. (the bishop explained that later) I ended up telling him that I don't have very much time in Brazil and that I didn't understand him, but that I was sorry and that we had a meeting to get to that was very far away. That wasn't the end of the adventure. We get to the Elders' apartment complex, and they are asleep and not paying attention to see when I would get there! So me and the Bishop are just standing outside this apartment complex and I seriously think he was considering leaving me. He just kept saying that he didn't know what to do and asking if I had a number for anyone. I didn't have jack, not even President Klein's number and kept asking him if he had a number for any missionary in this area. He finally called the Sisters and just gave me the phone. Bad idea haha. Some guy answers which completely throws me off and I just said, "H, I'm Elder Sanderson." He seemed to have some idea of who I was, and so we talked for a little bit as I tried to explain what I was trying to accomplish. In the end, an Elder poked his head out from a doorway and I just said again, "Eu sou Elder Sanderson!" and he came and let me in. And do you know who that missionary was? Elder Pixton! My companion from the MTC in Provo! Haha it was quite the night and I ended up not going to sleep until 1ish this morning. It was quite the adventure that once again reminded me that I don't speak portuguese just yet haha.

In other news, we baptized somebody in the river on Saturday! It was awesome! As to the animals, I say some of those really pretty blue and yellow parrots, but didn't get a very good picture, I'll still send pictures of all of it!

Love ya,

Elder Sanderson

****I asked him if there was someone who presided over the meeting of 8 people. I was not sure how it worked she you weren't formally organized and his response made me laugh out loud literally: 

He answers: 

We have a Group Leader who is kind of like a Branch President, but without the Branch to preside over. We usually do the teaching it sounds like, and I'm the one who leads the music. What this consists of is me teaching them how to sing these hymns...that means that every time we sing, I have to sing a solo for them of the first verse

***i can just picture my missionary boy singing up there in his best Portuguese all by himself.  Cracked me up considering the way he has been known to lead music in the past is by writing his name in cursive.  Ha ha ha.  Love the experiences he is having!!!****

The road from where he is to Porto Velho

Along the way

Gorgeous sky! 

He called this one the Lion King sunset

The site of baptism at the river

Where he lives- they do not have a refrigerator, stove, microwave or washer. Only a bathroom and a sink outside to wash their clothes. 

Elder Sanderson's mission adventure indeed!  :)