23 March 2010

Here is Jonathan's email from this week - Enjoy!

Subject: 2 weeks until transfers

Dear Family,

It sounds like Washington DC was great. Thanks for all the pictures. I am glad that Dad is back on his feet and that Remington made a few bucks selling the dirtbike. Not much has happened this past week.

I saw on the numbers that the 2 children of the family in my last area were baptized. All that is left now is the father, but he never really seemed too interested when I was there.

I have Sarah's christmas present. I just need to find time and figure out the best way to send it. I think that I will send 1 package home and then you can forward on her present. Do you guys want anything in particular from Brazil? Matt might be able to suggest some things for me to send also. It's exciting that Erin's baby is almost due again!

This past Sunday we went to the group meeting instead of the Hamburgo Velho ward. There were about 15 or 20 people there. I gave a short talk just saying who I was and where I was from and a little bit about how family prayer is important. Not much else happened this week.

The pictures:
One is of the bairro of Kephas

One is of the little boy that lives below us and always brings his toys up to our porch

[Apparently he didn't send this picture, though he thought he did?]

The last one is of me and this guy on the street that said he was a member. He was telling us a story about how he took on 40 people that were all trying to kill him, and that he killed them all and was only left with big scars on his left arm and 3 knife wounds on his chest right next to his heart. I don't know if it's true though. He said he also is an airplane pilot. I don't know if I believe that. He had a pistol on him, also. I didn't get a close enough look to see the make and model.

[And he didn't talk about this picture at all:]

Until next week!

Com amor, Elder Steele

9 March - Ola

Dear family,

This week has gone by pretty fast. Dad - i´m still not bumping 1/4 yet. I just barely pushed 1/8th. We have zone conference tomorrow which should be fun. My area is actually called hamburgo velho not novo hamburgo velho. Novo hamburgo is the name of the city though. The ward and the group meet at the same time. I haven't been to the group yet but this sunday I think we are going to do splits during church and I will go to the group. Thats great that you have had a break in the weather. Its been really hot here lately. I think in the 80's or 90's. The time is starting to fly. What room is liz taking when she moves home? Thats exciting that matt and erins family's baby is almost here. To answer matts question - I have a cell phone, and we walk everywhere here. Our house is in another area too, so every morning and every night we walk almost 2 kilometers to our area. I don't think I could do that preaching on the bus. I might start laughing and no one would take me seriously. See if you can make your visual aids the size of a Book of Mormon. It is nice to be able to leave them inside of my scriptures or inside of the lesson pamphlet. Good luck to zach on the interview. I will be praying for him. How is liz doing? Has she moved home yet? Mom - Maybe if you could fit could you get me a pair of size medium basketball shorts. I gave away my other pair in the CTM and they only have weird ones here. How is grandma and grandpa doing. I dont think I have heard from Grandma jeusky either. Send me an update.
Its 6 30 here and I have to go now. I will try to write a little longer next week. I love you all.

com amor,

Elder Steele

2 March Email

The following is an email sent 2 March:

Don't have much time to email at all today. I have been transferred to Novo Hamburgo Velho which covers 2 areas (novo hamburgo velho and novo hamburgo campo bom). Campo Bom has been closed for a few months due to a shortage of missionaries in our mission. The bus ride was 2 hours to the Rodoviaria (bus station) and then about an hour to novo hamburgo. Our area covers the hamburgo velho ward and the campo bom group (30 or so people i think.) I don't know how long I will be here for. My last companion, Elder Green, stayed in Canela to train an Elder Lynn who is the brother of another elder in our mission. We walk a lot. During transfers I got some of the remnants of the packages that were sent to the CTM for me. Please send my thanks to Chuck and the Ward primary for those (the CTM gave all of the edible items to the Americans there). I don't know how long I will be staying here for. The next transfer only ends in a week. My companion is Brazillian and his name is Elder L. De Oliveira. He is from natal. He has been a little slack the past 3 days but i think we will change that soon. anyway my time is up here at the LAN house. I will respond to your emails next week. Thanks though.

Tchau, Love you all

23 February

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I've been busy. During the week of 23 February, Jonathan spent his online time emailing Remington back and forth. He did respond to a personal email of mine as well. The following is an email from my mom from that week:

Hi Everyone,

Jon did not send us an e-mail this week, instead he spent over an hour e-mail/texting Remington. It is a slow process - and we know how talkative boys can be .... ;-)

Here are a few things I found out. Transfers are on Friday. Jon currently only has one companion, as his other companion had an emergency transfer to buenos aires, where Jon thinks another Elder who came into the Porto Alegre Mission the same time he did, got homesick, and went home.

Jon just got his hair cut. They also had a time change, so he is only 2 hours ahead of us, and when our time changes, he will only be 1 hour ahead.

And here is the personal email he sent me that week:

We had a Family night yesterday with the branch president and some other families in the ward. It was about choices and was really good. Choices in life are really important. They have mardi gras here to. Its called carnival and is way bigger than in the states. they party really hard in the northern parts of brasil though. When will you finish your masters? i have 25 min left at the lan house if you want to chat.