Week 1

Well, everything went well as far as flying goes. I got a little lost in the Atlanta airport, but I was eventually able to find my gate with time to spare. While at the gate, I met a bunch of missionaries. The first missionary I met was Elder (Nathan) Hansen from Oklahoma and we were able to talk and go get some dinner. It was awesome. The next missionary we met was Sister Lam from California and she was awesome too. 
From there, the missionaries just came in waves and we were able to meet them all. The red-eye flight was difficult, but I was able to get some sleep and talk with the people next to me (who I am pretty sure were like Courtney Glausi's cousin or something). [Courtney Glausi was a member we knew in Eugene, Oregon.]
I am at the MTC now and I have a companion who is also going to Campinas. He is Elder Crockett and he is cool. We share a room with two other elders, but I can´t remember their names currently, but they are awesome. EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! [Can you tell 1-that Nathan likes the Lego Movie? and 2-that Nathan is super excited to sere a mission. Love the little guy's attitude!] 
My next P-day is next Friday, so I won't be able to contact you till then. Forgive my spelling if there are any mistakes; the computer is set to Portuguese, so every word is marked wrong. Well, that's all I have to report for now. I love you soooo much and I miss you, but this is where I need to be. Please give everyone my love!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

He Made it to Brazil!

Got this letter from Nathan's mission president earlier this week. When I first saw the thumbprint of the picture, I wondered why there was a big white post in the middle of the picture. As I opened it, I realized the big white post...was our little guy. 

Dear Parents,

Sister Grahl and I are very happy to let you know that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil Missionary Training Center.  What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they begin their missionary experiences with us! We will surely take good care of your missionary.                                                                                                     

The missionaries now have companions and are settled into their rooms.  They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study.  Their branch presidents and wives will meet them this Sunday.  These wonderful couples are richly blessed as they work with, motivate, and interview the missionaries assigned to their branch.

The MTC has a full-time live-in physician to care for their health needs.  He is assisted by his able wife who is a nurse. We are also happy to report that the MTC food is plentiful, healthy and very good.

Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple.  This will be either Wednesday or Friday, depending on individual assignments.

Your missionary is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of many others. President Lorenzo Snow said: “There is no mortal man that is as interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the Gospel as is the Lord who sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord's children".  We love these missionaries as if they were our own.  We will watch over them carefully to ensure they are ready for a wonderful missionary experience after the rewarding time they will have in the MTC.

We thank you for preparing such a wonderful representative of the Lord.

Pres. Paulo R. Grahl and Sister Zuleika M. Grahl

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PACKAGES to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will be serving, not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC, please understand that the package cannot be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name. Your missionary will provide you with his district and box number. Also, please DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers.  The cost to process this type of correspondence is exorbitant.