2-22-2016

My new companion is Élder Ramirez. He is my 11th companion so far on the mission. 12th if you count the MTC. I already had the opportunity to get to know him. He used to be my ZL in Esteio. He is a really cool guy. He asked the president to stay longer past his date. So the President let him stay 4 more weeks, which means he will be going home before the end of the transfer. This also means I will be getting another companion! WWWHWHHooo! I also might stay with a short-term missionary from the stake or in a trio with other missionaries. Either way it will be an interesting end of the transfer. My new companion did pass in the area next to my area. So he already knows the city and a few of the members. 

As for the old glasses project I haven´t been able to set an appointment with the glasses...guy. Tomorrow we have a zone meeting in Porto Alegre and thought about trying to go in tomorrow but I don´t know if it´ll work out.

The week was pretty interesting. We received some referrals from the other ward and they are great! I think they will really progress and be baptized which would be such a great thing. This ward hasn´t had a baptism since the beginning of the year.

Another interesting thing that happened this week or well today is that our washing machine was stolen. I don´t know how but someone stole our washing machine last night. So we live in like a condominium of 4 houses. We live in one of the upper homes. On the front porch we have a spot for our washing machine to go. There is like a wall with a gate at the bottom of our stairs that lead to our porch. I don´t know how but someone hopped the gate and took our washing machine taking it down the stairs and over the gate. They also stole our neighbor´s machines as well. Last night I woke up only two times. Once to go to the bathroom and the other I woke up to water running. I thought it was just raining and went back to sleep. Well it turns out that the rain I was hearing was water from the pipe that leads to the washing machine. The robbers left it turned on all night! It reminded me of the Home Alone robbers leaving the water running in every house they stole from. Anyway we called the President and the secretaries and they are going to send a new washing machine to us. Also the house is all barred up so they couldn´t get in. It´s just the front porch that doesn’t have anything to protect it. 

Gotta go, I love you

-Derek

2-15-2016

Yeah so my camera is all good and I still have it. I just haven´t sent any pictures in awhile, sorry about that. I will get some ready to send next week to you guys. I am also working on some letters to send to you guys. So transfers are today! The way that we do transfers now is different. We now get a phone call on Sunday night and they tell us where we are going and who will be our next companion. Then on P-day we are transferred. So yesterday we got the call and my companion was transferred and I stayed. I already know who my new companion is Elder Ramirez. He will be ending his mission with me. I think it will be a good transfer. My apartment is pretty good. Not as fancy as my last apartment in Farroupilha. I will take some pictures for you guys. 

I am also surviving the sun. I have also worked out a special process of putting on sun block and Aloe Vera. 

This week was pretty hard. Our baptism fell through this week. My companion was sick as well but by the end of the week he got better. So as the missionaries we are doing what we can to help everything move along. But in all it is going good here. We met a really cool family.  So we are going to work with them a lot this week. 

I love you, have a great week!

-Derek

2-8-2016

Things are going good. Today I will give it a shot and try sewing on my buttons. So we´ll see how that goes.

So transfers are going to be on P-days now and not on Tuesday. The next transfer is on Monday the 15th. Well pretty much next week. So will wait to see what happens. I will probably stay in the area; my companion has a lot of time here and will probably be transferred. 

We are getting ready for Carnaval which means just a lot of crazy parties and stuff. 

Love you!

-Derek

2-1-2016

I got the email. I will be sure to give those sewing instructions a shot! My buttons are popping off like crazy! I don´t know if I am getting fat or if it´s normal wear and tear. 

As for now the weather is still pretty hot. Fall comes the same month spring does there. 

Well this week I have been learning a lot about patience, being myself, and trusting in the spirit. I also learned that the sun still burns skin even though it is overcast

Any way things are going good

I love you and hope you guys have a good week!

-Derek

1-25-2016

Sorry I wasn´t able to send anything last week. We went to the temple and didn´t have time to enter our email. I was pretty sad I couldn´t talk with you guys but today we were able to make it on. 

This week we had interviews with the Mission President which went well. He bought us all ice cream, which was awesome. We also watched a world missionary broadcast on Wednesday. Which was also really great, I learned a lot about teaching by the spirit. Anyway those were the big events of the week.

The new area is really great! There are a lot of people to teach. This week we are going to try and reactivate some members. The church here is HUGE. It is 3 stories tall. It has a big lawn and parking lot. I think it is one of the biggest churches I have ever seen here. Everyone in the area knows where it is. My new companion is Elder Góes he is from Salvador, Bahia. He teaches very well. 

The weather is really really hot! Today will reach 100 degrees. The sun here is really strong. I am not sure why but it is super hot. I am using a lot of Sun block to try and not completely burn. We have a strategy of weaving in and out of shadows to stay out of the sun. 

Anyway things are going good. I love you. Can´t wait to see you guys again! Have a great week!

-Derek

1-11-2016

So this week was pretty good. I was transferred to a new area called Vista Alegre which is a neighborhood in a city called Cachoeirinha. The members here are really great and the area is really cool as well. This area is closer to Porto Alegre so I will be able to do an eye exam and maybe get glasses.

My New companion is Elder Góes. He teaches really well!

I love you guys and hope everything is going well! 

-Derek

1-4-2016

Luckily enough I will be in Porto Alegre tomorrow because well I was transferred! I will be leaving Farroupilha. I am a bit sad about the transfer; I am really going to miss this area. The ward, the people, the bishop, and my companion. But you know that´s just part of the mission. Once you get too comfortable in one area you have to make some sort of change to keep growing. It’s kind of hard because I have had a new companion almost every transfer now. But anyway I am sure it will all work out in the end. 

Have a good week, 

-Derek