Jardin Caxingui - August 1, 2016

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, August 1, 2016

I'm on. I hope that you can talk right now... hehehe...

I am doing just fine. Correction. Well, this week we had both extremes. The good extreme is we got a new investigator who wants to be baptized, but were just waiting on permission from the bishop because he and his active Mormon girlfriend are moving to a different area of Brasil this Sunday after Sacrament Meeting. So, I hope the bishop says yes.

The other side is we had two missionaries choose to go home early. One of them is Elder Costa. He said he was having problems controlling his blood sugar and felt like he couldn't continue. I don't know about the other because he wasn't in my district. He was in my district before he left. Elder Costa was in the CTM (MTC) with me, but he left the CTM earlier than my group. I think the name sounds familiar because of Edi Costa E Silva, the sister in my ward that your'e friends with on FaceBook.

In my district, well, I don't know how many Elders are in my district or the area it covers. I think there are two sets of missionaries and in the Zone of São Paulo there are two districts.

So, the new Elder in my apartment is Elder Olivera (Olive Tree). Actually, all of the people in my house had birthdays. Elder P. Lima had his on the 22nd, Elder Johns on the 25th, and Elder Olivera on the 27th.

We're not playing sports today, but we did do exercises in the house today, and after this were going to watch the movie Seventeen Miracles, and then sleep.

Throughout the week we clean, shop, and do laundry. We do almost nothing on P-Day, contray to what the missionary handbook says.

We do almost no door knocking, the majority of the time we contact people in the streets. They are just about as friendly as people in America.

I don't think the email is delayed again because the last time I was receiving your email was more than ten minutes after they were sent. Now, there is no wait.

You asked about a flu going around in the MTC. I am pretty sure that is true because all the members I visit say there is a flu going around. But, I only caught a cold. Then again, in Portuguese, they use the same word for the flu and the cold.

You asked if I can see mountains where I am. I can't see any mountains from where I am. I can't see anything except city and suburbia even when I'm at the top of our apartment where we can see where Patricia lives, a place called Club Park. So yeah, it's like O Cidade de Nova York.

The sign that I sent a picture of was a sign in our ward building. I just wanted to show you that our church is getting hyped up for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brasil. I think the excitement is about the same as in the USA. 

I can't tell you how much I want to drive any car. Dad's specifically. I'm going to have to relearn to drive. I also would really love to learn to drive manual. And, also visit Palmyra and Salt Lake and other places of the church when I come back home.

I hope you haven't sent that care package yet because Elder Olivera really loves my sandals but stores here only has my type in small, red, and realllly expensive. About R$ 80, when we only get R$160 every 15 days. His shoe size is 41 here in Brazil. He would like white, and he said he would pay me back.

You keep asking if I need more Shave Secret. I have a bottle and a half left so I don't need any yet.

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Tylor would love to hear from you: tylor.houghtaling@myldsmail.net

Jardin Caxingui - July 25, 2016

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, July 25, 2016

I'm on. I'm glad to be on.

So, you were asking about the big building in the photo that I sent. That building is a supermarket, "Marko". Actually, that might be the outside of my chapel. Does the building your looking at have two stories? Oh  yeah, today we played basketball in the Stake Center.

The burger and fries is the best in the world. It is from a place that does delivery. And, why did I buy this chocolate?

There is a photo of the temple at night. I can see the temple. I want to go someday.

That dog "Thor" is huge!

Did I tell you that I went to Outback in Shopping JardinSul on Friday? I had a stake and ice cream. And, we shared the Bloomin' Onion and french fries. I am sending pictures! Those are all the photos I had of that night because I forgot my camera in our house. Oh, yeah, I ate so much that it was a struggle to keep the food down. I did this because you can't take food home from this Outback. My companion said that this will be the only time I will eat in Outback during my mission. And, this was his first time ever in his life. Let's just say that if you are able to eat at Outback, you must be rich. It's about 50 Reis per plate, which is very expensive. I think normally people try to keep lunch under 20 Reis per person. And, McDonald's is slightly over that. A BigMac with medium fries and Coke is 22 Reis. It's about $3.50, right?

How about Michigan. Is it getting colder? Or, is it staying around 90 degrees?

Is anyone driving my car? And, how is the restoration coming long? 

Maaaaannnnnn....it was really short this week.

I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU MORE!!!! Tamben!

Tylor would love to hear from you: tylor.houghtaling@myldsmail.net

Jardin Caxingui - July 18, 2016

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, July 18, 2016

I'm on. I hope Google Gmail doesn't screw up with timing now. Last week I believe it was Google's fault for the weirdness in the email. This happens occasionally so I don't think it was because you tried to send a photo of Simon then.

Wooooo! Was the Duran Duran concert fun? I wish I was there. But I'm here, and I'm able to have a conversation with you.

Festival Junhia was last night, July 16th, at the stake center. I took a lot of pictures. Edi Costa E Silva took a photo that has me and my companion in it. Thank you, Edi Costa E Silva! :-)

Wild parrots are plentiful down here.

Yeah, my companion Elder Lima is staying in Jardin Caxingui. I think he is a little heart broken, because he thought for sure that he would be transferred. But the night before I prayed that he wouldn't get transferred because I'm having problems learning where people live, and this weird address system. He has been here about five months. I have already told him that I'm happy he's staying. I do think this is Elder Lima's last six weeks in Caxingui. He loves Bon Jovi!

Elder John's goes home on October 11th this year.

And, we are all happy one of the elders in my apartment was transferred. One word to describe him is obnoxious because he is loud and farts all the time.

I don't know why but these LAN HOUSE computers won't let me transfer photos or video to or from my camera. It sucks. Alright, my problem is that I can't transfer HD video. Only grainy SD..... I have to use a computer to transfer HD video. No, I don't need hardware. I'll just ask a member to do that for me.

I've been sharing the candies from the other packages you've sent. Sending English Book of Mormons for them isn't needed. The distribution center sells these. I don't think I need anything. But, I do think I need to send a package back with stuff because I have run out of space. Yes, I will be sending back souvenirs. I was thinking of reusing the boxes you used and packaging a lot to maximize space.

Alright, I have a white tie with the black back that I'm having my companions sign. I have heard of missionaries having their companions sign a Brazilian flag but I prefer having them sign the tie.

Talk about things back home. Does McDonald's have Olympic cups? I think we go to McD's too often because the entire crew recognizes us whenever we walk in there. Yes, pizza is another popular dinner item. Brazilian pizza is so much better than American pizza. I don't think I need you to send my cookbook.

So, ISIS (ISIL) here is called O Estado de Islamica. (The State of Islamic/The Islamic State)

We got a few new investigators this week. Both are Catholic, but are very interested in the church or have a lot of friends in the church, and don't just want to bash with us. (Yes, we have had a few of those.) The best idea for bashers is don't bash only speak the truth and let the spirit do the teaching. Also, good ideas are to show Mormon messages. They're super natural and really powerful.

I always pray for the safety and well being of my family, and whenever I'm in the temple, I put our family on the prayer roll. I LOVE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!

Tylor would love to hear from you: tylor.houghtaling@myldsmail.net

Jardin Caxingui - July, 11, 2016

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, July 11, 2016

I want to talk.

Hello! How is Dad? And his car?

That's sad to hear about Milo, and Dad's car.

Hey, tell me about Dad's new car. Or, did he enjoy the rental car, or even mine. Is Dad's car white because so far you sent me photos of information of blue and red... Was Dad's rental car the blue 2013 Malibu? Oh, he didn't rent a car but drove mine instead? Does he really love driving my car? I'm glad. I saw the white car. He is for sure getting that 2015 Cruze? It's really nice. I actually had thought on Friday or Saturday that there is a new car, relatively new, sitting in our driveway. The interior of Dad's new car looks nice, like a mix of my car and Dad's old car.

Edi Costa E Silva, who you are now friends with on FaceBook, is in my ward. Her family has a I'm a Mormon video published by the church, but it is in Portuguese. That is so great that you know her. She says I speak Portuguese better than she speaks English. I'm so glad she sent you a photo of me!

I attached a photo of our my chapel.

I was able to meet our new Mission President, President Thomas and his family.

Transfers happen every six weeks. The next one is on Tuesday, July 19th, 2016. I don't think I'll find out if I will be transferred until Friday this week.

There is still some scorch mark on the floor after burning the white shirt but most of it is gone.

There was food judging in my Ward. There are a lot of Photos. The event was a lot of fun!

I LOVE YOU! I might get cut off in the next minute. Até proxima semana!

Tylor would love to hear from you: tylor.houghtaling@myldsmail.net