Helena Maria Ward, Osasco - September 5, 2016 and September 12, 2016

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, September 5, 2016

I'm on. I reeeeaaaly want to talk. Just give me a minute or two to read the weekly message from the president.

Well today a member, Geraldine Maia, who is friends with you on Facebook from Cotia, will be taking Elders Srur, Munhoz Jr. Adão (Adam), Marinho, and I to a shopping mall in Osasco today. I will be taking photos. So far I'm liking it here in Helena Maria.

Yep, my transfer went well. We had a member drive us to the mission office and then a different member drove us to the new area.

One imperfection about our house is, it is small, really small, and there is a river that runs right next to our house. This river is more of a river of sewage, comparable to the river in Lehi's dream. Some days we can smell this river. Other days no. But it creates a problem with mosquitos. I use repellent every day and night. And also the church provides repellent. I've killed a few already. I'm ok without the mosquito net, but thanks anyway.

So, Elder Cazier was transferred to a different mission. He is in Belem, Brazil. He was transferred because of his allergy sickness.

Aw, I want to be there at the cabin with everyone. How are the others doing (Grandma, Grandpa, etc.)? I can't wait to see the pavers that Noah, Grandpa, and Bob are installing there.

Our time was cut short because I waited a half hour waiting for you to reply. It did give me time to read your really long letter. Just in case we get cut off tell everyone I love them!

I LOVE YOU!

Elder Tylor Houghtaling, Elder Michael Wright, and Elder Kyle Burt - Reunion at the Mission home on Transfer Day.
Photo from Maria Wright.

Elder Tylor Houghtaling, Elder Michael Wright, and Elder Kyle Burt - Reunion at the Mission home on Transfer Day.
Photo from Maria Wright.

Oh... P-Day...

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, September 12, 2016


I'm able to talk now.

I'm doing quite well... So I heard about Elder Cazier. When my ompanion Elder Srur was training him, Elder Cazier had a head ache almost every day and was also fainting. So he was transferred to the Belem Brazil Mission. And things didn't improve so, he returned home.

Here's the thing with our weather now, its hot all the time. And then its a comfortable warm during the night. Overall good. I don't think it is comfortable during the warmer months

Elder Srur is great. He is really a cool companion.

I have not heard from Derek or my other friends in the past couple of weeks; I have only heard from missionaries back home.

In the videos, none of the elders are performing anything. And, the videos in the church were from a ward activity about the different cultures in Brazil.

Have you heard about Gabriel Costa, the son of Edi Costa? Gabriel will be reporting to the Brazil CTM on November 2nd, 2016 and then he will be serving in the Brazil Salvador South Mission.

How are things back home?

So, I was searching through the area book for people that live on the road Av. President Costa e Silva and I came across the name of Widisley (pronounced Wigisley) and so we visited him yesterday. Well, he is a 15 year old. Him and his sister are interested in the church but the father is less than interested and wishes to stay Catholic. He will allow them to take the lessons but I don't know about baptism yet.

A youth in out ward said this to his mom that told this to us on Friday, that Elder Srur and Houghtaling are the first missionaries in about 5 years that he's actually liked. His name is Helamã (Helaman).

But I do have to say that this area is so much better than my first area. In terms of being able to have a good group of investigators. The answer to your question is Jardim Caxinguiui, Zonã São Paulo. My new Zona is Osasco.

Elder Siglin is in Villa Sonia. They have a separate house where they live separately from the rest of the zone.

Our house is on the second floor in the back of the building that is on the address of João Bueno Valadão, 4, Helena Maria, Osasco, SP, Brazil.

We have a washing machine in our apartment. I believe all of the mission houses have washing machines.

I'm glad we are still only an hour ahead of you.

Oh yeah, sorry for making you cry the other day. After my mission I really want to return to Brazil to tour the country with you and Dad.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! LOVE YOU ALL!

Here's some Portuguese for ya!

My chapel is huge! It has three floors.

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

Jardin Caxingui - August 29, 2016

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, August 29, 2016

I'm on. I'm doing well but am a little nervous because I'm being transferred to the Helena Maria Ward in Osasco. Elder Lima is being transferred to Caucaia. I was not expecting to be transferred so soon. Osasco is more North than West of me. And I heard that this city is more of a poorer area, but richer in spirit. This might be an answer to our prayers for more investigators, and baptisms.

Oh, in reality my ward Jardin Caxingui is in the area of Jardin Peri Peri. It will be sad not to see Edi Costa after this. Yeah, I would use the interactive map on missionary.lds.org to find this.

I only heard that Elder Siglin is being transferred to Villa Sonia, which is the area (just South of my current area) that I go to every Monday to write.

Well for tomorrow, I will be at the mission office at 9:00 in the morning, and from there to my new area, I will be opening this area with Elder Srur. I'm hoping that members will be driving us. Elder P. Lima already had Elder Srur as a companion. He said that this companion is really cool as well.

Oh...with this new president many missionaries are having the chance to open, and close areas. When an area closes that means both missionaries are being transferred. But the next day a new set of missionaries arrive in the area, which is called opening the area. Is your question answered?

Actually, I don't like changes. And a missionary's life is changing completely constantly. There is no consistency in a Missionary's life. It stresses me out. I mean I'm not freaking out or anything because I know that this is what a mission is meant to do; give a lifetime of changes in a short period of time. I guess that an area gets too complicated, and this is just the way that an area is cleansed. I'm glad that things don't change with you as well.

I hear that me and Elder Srur will be sharing an apartment with another set of missionaries but this house will be a lot smaller.

I think my Portuguese is coming along well. All the members and my companion says that I have improved a lot.

Have I told you that you all are doing a nice job with the house? Which you are. You don't need to send the new Team USA t-shirt down as I probably won't be using it. But, thanks for the option!

You had a question about my car. Because my car is doing very little driving, I recommend that you check the oil the old fashioned way, by checking the level and the color.

Too bad about my parakeet White Cloud. I hope that she gets better.

Oh! Derek is in Pensacola, FL leaning to fix planes. He gets to see the Blue Angels practicing every day. And Erika is attending Florida Keys Community College.

Thank you for wishing me luck. I need this luck because I have sooo much stuff to pack!

I LOVE YOU!!!

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

Jardín Caxingui - August 15, 2016 and August 22, 2016

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, August 15, 2016

I'm on. I'm doing quite well.

Please tell Dad "Happy Father's Day" for me.

To answer your question about the food... I honestly don't know what I am eating, in terms of what the name of the food is. The problem of why I don't know the food here is because they usually don't give foods names here. Just general ingredients.

No, Elder Oliveria didn't burn his white shirt to make the one year milestone of his mission.

The other main the photo next to the church is going to be baptized in Foça Do Sul, Panana, Brazil. His name is Juan and he was originally from Columbia. He is the best investigator we've had yet. He moved to Foça do Sul in Parana, just yesterday. It is better for him to be baptized there rather than here because he will be spending more time over there than here.

Parana is a State in Brazil, and Foça do Sul is the city. Its not in my mission but is wayyyy South of here, about 14 hours by bus. He is moving there so that he and his girlfriend can complete their education in a university there.

Yes, I had a hair cut. We generally try not to have out hair cut more than once per transfer, and the cost is about R$20. But, the previous haircut was R$38.

How are things going back home? Oh yeah, I saw a video of Michael Phelps when he almost lost the gold medal. The announcer was saying, Will he lose? Will he win? Will he lose? Ill he win? Will he lose? Will he win? Will he lose? HE WON!!!!!

I get about R$175 every 15 days from the church, which is about $76 every two weeks. If it isn't enough, I'm supposed to talk to the Financial Secretary of my mission about increasing or decreasing, but in reality I only get R$320 per month because the minimum bill the bank puts out is 20.

Do you know what Dad's email address is, so I can send photos to him? Oh, in the previous package you sent dental floss. They have this in Brazil, but thanks anyway! I received the package on Thursday when my zone had an interview with the Mission President. I made it a point not to forget my package. The walk to the Mission Office is only a 35 - 45 minute walk. Other zones have to take a bus, like Casa Verde.

This week we have what is called a Multi Zone Conference. I will let you know how that goes. The time is flying.

My shoes are holding up well. There is wearing on the heel because more than a few times every day I have to climb and then descend hills in my area.

I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!

1 Year for Elder Oliveria!

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission
São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email

Monday, August 22, 2016

How's it going?!

I'm cold. But well. Its about 13 degrees Celcius here.

Yeah, the clouds are looking a little cold in Michigan, Oh! There is another Elder in the mission who is from Michigan as well! His name is Elder Taylor Johnson from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is an assistant to the President.

Did Dad really take that chance with my car? There is less than an inch between the front of my car and the garage door. Yeah, I don't need another reason to replace my front bumper.

Have you gotten to drive Dad's car more? And how is your car doing? Yeah, the thing is that I can get sent home and face church discipline if I drive. And Brasil has automatic cars also, but manual is more popular because its cheaper.

Brasil is safe but just with any other city you can't let your guard down.

Yeah, all of our investigators have fell through, Were trying to find more. 

Transfers are next week. Most likely I will stay and get someone else. Oh, and those yellow shirts, I actually was borrowing it from Elder Lima.

This week I will only have 20 months remaining! I really feel like time is cooking! In October I will be 1/4 of the way finished. WHOOOHOOOOOO! I can't wait to go to college and learn how to fly.

I watched the Olympics final football game between Brasil and Germany 2nd extra time and the shoot-outs with a family. We were watching the same thing at the same time. My companion wanted to watch but didn't want to be disobedient, because the president will find out sooner or later. But in the end the Frietas family members told us to sit down and watch the game. I think the entire mission watched it... I feel bad for Ryan Lochte the swimmer. But, actions have consequences. And I'm sure that those endorsements he lost from companies like Ralph Lauren and Speedo is because they are trying to protect themselves.

Elder Oliveria did buy sandals but it did cost him about R$120... Ouch. A Zone conference is like a stake conference but because its hard to feed 150 missionaries they split it up into two days. 

Here is the most recent photo from the Sao Paulo West Mission. I was only able to see Elder Siglin this time The others might have gone to a different multi-zone conference.

I'm glad to hear that our family is doing fine! We had an F1 tornado in Michigan? I know, right, that would be bad if our house got damaged.

Just in case we get cut offf, I LOVE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Congrats Brasil! 1st GOLD IN FOOTBALL!

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