Week 20

Hey, so this week was interesting. As you all know, I have a new companion, Elder Almeida from Quiaba, which is apparently the hottest part of Brazil. He is great, very excited. He has 1 year and 1 month in the mission and he works hard. Also, we now have a brand new American in our house-Elder Fisher of the great and wonderos land of Lindon, Utah. He is great. I promised his trainer, Elder Sosa, that I wouldn't speak English with him unless he needed to, although at times, I slip and speak a little English. But it is great to help and see where I was just a few months ago and where I am now. 

We also had a huge activity at the church. We had lots of food, some crazy fruit artistry and even a few bouncy houses and water attractions. It was great. I will send pictures. As far as teaching goes, we have two people that we are going to try to focus on-Leandro, who is a youth of 16 and has a friend in the church (although we are going to cut him if he doesn't attend church this week). The other person is Issac who started to talk with us one day when we were sitting down and let's just say we were quite shocked about how much he knows especially when he asked if the Spirit World was close to Kolob. But, we talked with him more the next day before church and he has basically frequented our church and he says that this is his favorite church. He just needs to feel firm before he will be baptized. 

As for strange things, the strangest thing I have eaten was in the Missionary Training Center and it was cow tongue, which I didnt know was in with the fashion. The weirdest thing I have drunk is suco do acerola, which basically tastes like they juiced a pumpkin . Needless to say, I am not the biggest fan. Our apartment is one of the nicest in the mission and we have a washer and a few drying racks for our clothes. they don't use clothes dryers here, but it's all good. I am loving the Brazilian people; they are all really nice and a very pleasant people.

But, I am well and it is always good to hear how you guys are doing. Keep having awesome weeks and keep telling me everything. Can't wait to Skype you guys on Christmas. Keep getting better, mom, and keep working on the house, dad.

I love you all so much and I can't wait to talk to you guys.

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Elder Jardine teaching some cutie kids

Elder Jardine with his zone

"This dog reminded me of Tucker, so I took his picture."

Elder Jardine and his companion teaching Leandro

Week 19

Well, this week was good and before I forget, I will answer all of your questions. First off, the other two elders in my house are Elder Sosa of Mexico, who is a great guy and loves to try to speak what words he knows in English; the other elder is Elder Morrise and we don't exactly get along... (but he is being transferred, so it's all good). But, he is an ok guy. 
Christmas is pretty much the same here minus the fact that it is hot and rains occasionally. As for our recent converts- Erika is extremely happy and firm as a rock. She is probably my favorite person to visit with. As for Danilo, he has slipped back into smoking and not coming to church, so we will visit him this week to help him out. 

As far as meals go, I make my breakfast; members feed us lunch every day minus p-day, and for diner unless a member invites us, we normally just take an hour break and eat açí of cookies with Coke. My Portuguese is better, but I am not fluent yet, and I have yet to receive your packages.

My week was good. We worked hard and are trying our best. We have a new investigator named Leandro, who is 16 and a friend of a member and things look promising. This week was a pretty normal one; work, walk, talk, teach, eat, sleep-so not really anything super exciting happened.

Keep telling me how things are going and I always enjoy seeing your pictures. Hope you guys have a fantastic week.

I love you all so much and can't wait to see you in 20 days on Christmas.

Bom sourte and tchou!!!!

Com Amor,

Elder Jardine

Pics from Week 18

Week 18
Well, this week was good. We worked really hard. We also tried a new area one day and we taught 4 lessons and found one elect person. His name was Jovani and he was our last lesson in that area. He was excited to learn more and he really wants this gospel. The Spirit was extremely strong in our lesson and it was terrific. Our best lesson of the week. Unfortunately, he didn't come to church, so that's a bummer, but we still have hope for him. 
As for my Thanksgiving, I low key thought that it was on the 25th and about mid-day, I realized that is was the fourth Thursday of November... but the bishop took us and the other missionaries and the ward mission leader our for pizza, which was great. 
This week actually went by really fast. On Wednesday, we had interviews with the president where we mainly talked about the types of missionaries and I promised him that I would be the missionary that he could count on, like Ephraim (see Ephraim's Rescue) and help my companion (who is, in my opinion, the greatest missionary in Brazil, possibly South America). 
Speaking of my companion, he dies (returns home) next Tuesday, which is sad, but I will be sure to tell you about my new companion. Also, attached are some photos of Thanksgiving, my Christmas decorations, a view in the area we tried where my companion said in his best english "This is the Place" and an owl who has the same face as me every time my companion says that he has um semana (a week left).

It's always great to hear from you guys. Keep me informed and keep sending me pictures. 

I hope the Lord continues to bless you and hope that you all have a great week. (Hope your shoulder gets better, mom.)

With the love of our Savior,

Elder Jardine

P-day activity

Week 17

Well, this week was better. We worked hard and had more success. We pray for guidance every day and we try super hard. At times, it is difficult because we obey all the rules and work super hard, but don't have much success, but we'll keep putting our faith in the Lord.

It's good to hear from you. I hope things go well with your surgery, mom, and hope that you all can get healthy again (I had shoulder surgery on Monday, November 21st and our family has been fighting a really bad cold for a few weeks). 

This week, I actually had an interesting experience. We have a less active member named Edimuton who is the son of a recent convert. Most of the time that we visit him, he says a lot of things that I can't understand, but know that they are not nice and guessing by how he acts, he doesn't like us at all. But this week, he had a fever and while he didn't want one at first, and after a few experiences that I had ( the one when Jaron gave me a blessing when I was in the hospital getting an IV) he humbled himself enough to ask for a blessing. I gave him one and, lo and behold, the next day, he was better. So that was an interesting experience.

Just keep enjoying life and know that I will only be gone for two Thanksgivings and I will Skype on Christmas. 

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Well, that was my week. Enjoy Thanksgiving and I will tell you when I receive your package.

Love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Jardine