Elder Tylor Houghtaling: Raposo Tavares Ward - Raposo Tavares Stake

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission

São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Monday, May 15, 2017

I'm on! Happy P-Day!

I'm on and reading through the emails, and writing the President.

I had an idea a few days ago to refer a family to the missionaries. Can I write your name down as the one who is referring them? Shhh... Shhh... it's a secret. They don't need to know. I'm finishing up my letter to the President. Thanks, I will send the referral now.

Are you able to speak now? I have some interesting stories from this week.

Here is a story from Friday. On our way to the interview approaching a bus stop to get off to make our way to the office, we noticed a 10 year old girl, traveling with her mom, staring at us. We smiled at her, she smiled back. Because the bus was crowded we figured it would be hard to attempt a contact, so on our way out the door, I dropped one of the "Finding Faith in Jesus Christ" DVD cards. It fell straight into her lap. As we were walking past the bus she and her mom were examining the card. She smiled and waved at us, thanking us for the card.

Another story from this week comes from Saturday.

We were walking in the Cohab of Raposo, late for an appointment with some contacts Elder Dukes and I made on Tuesday. We saw a bar fight in front of us, so we turned onto another street. There were a few kids playing in the street, and one of them asked Elder Do Carmo and I if we were twins. We responded no. After talking a little, we taught them the restoration in the format of a story. They sang for us, and we got their address, then we sang to them in English and Portuguese, "Praise to the Man." Their names were Beatriz, Yasmin, Vitoria, Samira, Gabriel, and Nicolas.

On that same Saturday, those contacts we had appointments with, turned into six new investigators. As we were passing the apartments of these contacts, I was tempted to pass by and go to McDonald's and buy a sweet treat. But I had the thought, the if I skip this appointment, I wouldn't be working hard enough. So we chose to go to the appointment.

Those six new investigators were a different experience that happened on the same day... It's hard to explain how, or what happened. But I almost passed the appointments by.

Us missionaries are trying to resurrect this ward by hosting classes of English, violin, an mathematics. Elder Dukes and I are teaching English, Elder Do Carmo is teaching violin, and a member of the ward is teaching mathematics. The biggest difficulty is trying to have these classes because there is soccer being played at the church on the same day.

After the lesson we remembered that the district is fasting so that the mission can get the 70 baptisms on Jun 10th. The mission planned an activity to reanimate the missionaries by having a giant baptismal meeting on June 10th with a goal to baptize 70 people. We have 93 people marked for this date.

Today, so far we've been cleaning a lot. We'll be going grocery shopping after.

Elder Do Carmo says, "Hi!"

I LOVE YOU AND DAD SOOOOOOOO MUCH!

5-09-2017 District Meeting

5-12-2017 Interview with President Thomas

Brazil, São Paulo West Mission

São Paulo, Brazil

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Elder Houghtaling's Email
Tuesday, May 23, 2017

May 21, 2017

Wow...the week flies by fast. We have 2 or 3 investigators in Sacrament Meeting today, Gustavo (14), and Elaine (35).

This week... Tuesday is P-Day. We will be going to the temple.

May 23, 2017

I'm on.

I have about an hour until my time expires. Sorry that it's so late. We were weighed down by two boxes of materials that we were taking to the district from the office by bus.

I'm doing great. Although our arms are throbbing. We took a bus on the Highway Raposo Tavares until the final stop, which is a short walk from our house.

No, this P-Day we didn't have time to relax. The day started at 5:30am when the alarm of the other elders started playing, and I wasn't able to sleep well after that. Elder Do Carmo and I got up at around 7:00am. Then we left for the temple at 8:30am. We didn't leave the temple until 2:00pm, after the 10:30am session, and then participating in some sealings. We went to Shopping Butantã for lunch at Subway, then bought two notepads and a writing utensil baggy.

After the mall we went to the office ad I discovered a box from Hannah, and the package from you. I haven't opened any packages yet. But I will tonight. However, I didn't see any cards for me. Elder Do Carmo got a card from Sister Jardim, his girlfriend.

After making phone calls to members asking for a ride, so one was available to give us a ride, so we opted to walk up a big hill, in suits with a box of Book of Mormons, then a set of stairs to get to the bus top on the Highway of Raposo. I sent some photos of what our bus basically the same type of bus that we took on the way back.

http://www.caio.com.br/produtos/index.php?a=10&p=28&lg=P

There is also this one that is more common to see in the accordion fashion here on the road of the Temple.
http://www.caio.com.br/produtos/index.php?a=10&p=64&lg=P

#Caio and Mercedes Benz kick-in it.

I'm typing a series of long emails, and trying my best to keep concentration, as there is a loud teen behind me playing GTA, that has swear language activated.

The LAN house just kicked out that teen who was playing GTA, as his time just ran out Thank goodness, but they're still fighting, because he doesn't want to leave. He's saying, "Aw man! Not Fair!"

I just took some photos of a child who is playing GTA now.

I plan on eating Pão com mussarela e mortadela.

I LOVE YOU!