Raposo Tavares Ward - Raposo Tavares Stake - April 24, 2017 and May 1, 2017

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission

São Paulo, Brazil

--
Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, April 24, 2017

I'm on!

I just need to read some emails. 

Alright, I hope I'm good now.

This Thursday, April 27, 2017, marks my one year anniversary of me being on my mission in Brazil. I guess what might happen is McDonalds, if we are passing by, or pizza from Mr. Magoo's pizza.

I'm doing well.

Elder Bomtempo was here to see how is the house's obedience. This was a week long trio with him, me, and Elder Do Carmo.

So, on Wednesday we had a Multizona in Cotia with the zones of Cotia and Raposo. The car I took a picture with was a Chevrolet Trailblazer owned by the church and driven by President Thomas.

In this Multizona President Thomas and the assistants hid money in the chapel. After lunch he let us loose to find the money. I found R$20 in a Faith ion God pamphlet. Other missionaries found notes of R$10 and R$20, but no one found the two R$50. He had hid R$300 in the chapel.

Everybody got to keep the money that they found. It was funny when President Thomas asked all of us if anyone found the R$50. No one raised their hands, then everybody rushed to find the money, but President Thomas told everybody to stay sitting. They were hidden well. The purpose of this activity was to teach the missionaries what effort it takes to find the elect investigators.

The chapel we were at would have stunned you. It is amazing. It is the Cotia Stake Center. The address is Rua Ladislau Nunes dos Santos, 71 - Centro, Cotia - SP, 06700-115.

We are teaching someone from India in English. His name is Robbi. He is in need of work. People in my ward are not able to speak English to help him so us elders are taking him to the Osasco Stake Center so he can get a job. One of the members will be driving us there on Thursday.

Another one of our investigators, Roberto, asked us how he can be baptized. He is coming to church on his own, and he wants to know how he can pay tithing. He is Elect!

On Friday night we received a cold downpour of rain, that got me a little sick, but Elder Do Carmo, he got sick... 

I was reading through the missionary health guide that was distributed a few months back, and it looks like my companion has the flu. I've been giving him warm things to drink as the handbook says.

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Multizona in Cotia. It was cool demais.

Mulitzona in Cotia. As well as a week long trio with Elder Bomtempo Executive Secretary.

And pizza from Mr. Magoo. Catu Bacon with chocolate crust.

And pizza from Mr. Magoo. Catu Bacon with chocolate crust.

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission

São Paulo, Brazil

--
Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, May 1, 2017

I'm on! I'm trying not to laugh too loud while I'm reading your email. I am laughing about Dad locking the keys in the car, and also the unfortunate circumstances of your car. How did Dad lock the keys in the car? Did the alarm go off when the door was opened again? Oh, he grabbed the screwdriver instead of the keys. He laid the keys on the passenger side seat and then power locked all of the doors. The alarm did not go off because the keys were not in the ignition.

I've read everything now. Yes, the car that Hayden is driving now is his third car, He's had it for about a year now. Well.... The head gasket on his first car (Volvo station wagon) broke, and his second car (Dodge van) the transmission stopped working right. I guess he has made a good choice with his third car, and he's taking good care of it.

Today is a Brazil holiday. I think it's one of 100 holidays here in Brazil. I am still able to write because the LAN house is not closed. Holidays, weekends, strikes.. Any of these types of days or any other reason, they will party.


Elder Do Carmo and I will be together for one more transfer. Elder Guimãraes is being transferred to Pariaspólis (largest favela in Brazil) with Elder K. Souza. A favela is a Brazilian shack or shanty town; a slum. No, Elder Campos isn't being transferred. But I will take the bed of Elder G tomorrow morning. I'm currently sleeping on the top bunk. I will make sure that my companion upgrades his closet. Elder Dukes (grandson of Elder do Carmo) will be the new companion of Elder Campos. What I mean by grandson is that Elder do Carmo trained Elder Nascimento, and Elder Nascimento trained Elder Dukes.

For my one year anniversary on April 27, 2017, we bought pizza. Catubacon with borda de chocolate. I will send you photos in a separate email. Actually, I will send you these photos on Wednesday because this computer isn't allowing me to do so. We din't burn anything like missionaries sometimes do for their one year anniversary, but the pizza was burnt a little but not much. It was the best chocolate filled crust ever; tastes like chocolate from the USA.

Robbi got a job near Av. Paulista in an Indian Restaurant with benefits of free food and housing.

Everton who was in the hospital is now in his home as of Saturday.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Raposo Tavares Ward - Raposo Tavares Stake - April 10, 2017 and April 17, 2017

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission

São Paulo, Brazil

--
Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, April 10, 2017

I'm on!

How are you doing?

I had to say goodbye to the ward, as I was transferred back to Raposo. I'm companions with Elder Do Carmo. The Silva family cried, as well as me when it came time to leave.

Yes, I was emergency transferred back to Raposo. Yes, I went to the mission office immediately after Odair's baptism. This transfer might have been because of a problem with Elder Johnson and Elder Lira in Kennedy, or straight up inspiration from the heavens to President.

There are two Elder Johnson's in the mission, the younger and the older. The older is from Michigan, and he was in Jd. Kennedy, but now he is in Nova Granada. Elder Johnson the younger was in Raposo with Elder Do Carmo, and is now in Jd. Kennedy. So it was a three way switch... This also means I am back in the same apartment with Elder Guimarães, but this transfer answered my prayers as I was having some difficulties with Elder Freire.

Just small problems kept adding on. For example, I was the only one cleaning our bedroom and bathroom. As well as baptismal font and classroom before the baptismal service. No matter how dirty it gets he won't clean. And we won't start working until 4 or 5 o clock.

But yes, I feel free now. Really free. My stress is in the green. It was in the yellow and orange for a few days. I now have more time to study.

I told Heavenly Father to please help my companion, and then the transfer happened. Elder Johnson the older forces him to work, as he was companions with Elder Freire before, so I'll take that as an answer to my prayers.

I really like Elder Do Carmo. I'm happy I am now companions with the best friend and missionary I know. 

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

April 8, 2017 - Odair Jose da Silva, ~40, Nova Granada B - Baptism

April 8, 2017

April 8, 2017 - Message from Alexandra Pinheiro, "Good evening. Congratulations for the wonderful son. He taught us the right way and he showed us the way to salvation. I think he's going to save other families now. Your son is worth gold.

Elder Houghtaling and Elder Freire

I had to say goodbye to the ward, as I was transferred back to Raposo. I'm companions with Elder Do Carmo.

April 4, 2017 - Photo courtesy of Zenilda Ferreira Batista

April 4, 2017 - Photo courtesy of Zenilda Ferreira Batista

April 4, 2017 - Photo courtesy of Zenilda Ferreira Batista

April 5, 2017 Photo Courtesy of Deborah Queiroz

April 5, 2017 Photo Courtesy of Deborah Queiroz

April, 7, 2017 - Photo courtesy of Irina Garre Rocha
Power was out today due to a repair, but those two did bring us some light. We love our missionaries... Tylor told us today about his cat Maple and about how she was rescued. My cat chose to sit in his lap and he used that cloth as a blanket, which she really enjoyed! He is very well! :-)

April, 7, 2017 - Photo courtesy of Irina Garre Rocha

April, 7, 2017 - Photo courtesy of Irina Garre Rocha

Pizza of General Conference

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission

São Paulo, Brazil

--
Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, April 17, 2017

I'm on. I'm currently reading your email.

How are you? 

I'm glad that Simon isn't suffering anymore. I remembered on Monday night I was praying for the health of Simon, and I received confirmation that he is being cared for on the other side by our loving Heavenly Father. Then, the next day, Tuesday, Sister Zenilda Ferreira Batista informed me that Simon is now with Heavenly Father.

I don't have much time this week because of a lot of emails, ~30 minutes. Let's make the best of it.

Here in Brasil, people are calling Trump crazy, out of his mind... Careful about what you say Mom... Remember I'm using a public computer. But it's true. I think it is because they don't have anyone like Glenn Beck.

For Easter the missionaries got a few pieces of chocolate from the Primary. Was your Easter good? Do people in the States use Easter to party and get drunk like some people do here?

Elder Do Carmo and I are destroying the area, with an amazing 12 new investigators this week, and a few of them are really good. Two of them are Everton and Emerson who are being taught since my last time in this ward. Pray and ask for one more transfer for me with Elder Do Carmo.

Saturday, before I arrived and after Elder Johnson left, Elder G and Elder Campos returned and Elder Campos took the closet that was Elder Johnson's so that I would have to take the old broken closet that I already endured six weeks with. I arrived. Elder Do Carmo had the idea to move Elder Campo's stuff back to where it was, so that I could use the less broken closet. Elder Campos returned at the end of the day, said some hard things to Do Carmo, then took my stuff out. Elder Do Carmo told me, then he said I could use the broken closet for another few weeks and then went upstairs. Elder Campos said a few words to me then left. A few days later Elder Do Carmo traded closets with me. 

Elder Campos has a special condition commonly known as Missionário morto. This has symptoms of disobedience and a lack of Christlike attributes. He was like that when I got to Nova Granada. He thinks that just because he is ending his mission, he can do whatever... Makes me sad to see missionaries who aren't working.

Because you asked, I could use more deodorant, body wash, and a new Gillette Fusion shaver body, as it disappeared after a few splits. I will go to CarFour to see if they have any Gillette Fusion bodies I can buy. I bought a Gillette Mach3, but I don't like it.

Is there any way during the week if you can download conheça os mórmons in the format of .amv as well as a few other films of The Church in Portuguese? Send them to me in the email so I can watch them. This MP3 I have only reads videos of .amv format.

Tell everyone that I love them.

I LOVE YOU!!!!

I was in Educandario on Tuesday, April 11, with a lizard friend. On Wednesday I was in Conciecao on another split.

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