Email 8/3/09

Email Received August 3, 2009
5th Area: Joao Pessoa-Tibiri
9th Companion: Elder Malla

Baptism of Everton & Junior

I was trying to learn how to play this thing that I can't remember what its called in English-

I keep saying xylophone but I know its wrong

whats up brazil, whats up?

so i am officially addicted to this candy stuff the people here make out of GUAVA. its amazing and after eating about a thousand this past week i suffered from a few bad stomach aches but other than that, i am completely healthy (the point i am trying to make is that i am swine-virus-free as far as i know).

i got letters and packages this past week, including the sd card with the videos you guys made and it made me so happy. the kids all look bigger and once again i harldy recognize roxy... she is so pretty! ellie girl is also more beautiful than ever, and as for the 3 boys, they are practically men now! it was actually funny cuz in one of the vidoes i thought jax was riggs until he started talking and i recognized only by his voice that it was actually him haha.

yesterday we baptized both Everton and Junior (another name that looks american but not pronounced the same) and it was great- everton is the younger bro of hercules- and junior, their friend. i actually had a cool experience happen with them on saturday.

so it was the day they were to have their baptism interview at the church, and i was on the other side of the city doing interviews for others, so we had already been running behind and in a big rush to get them to take them there, and i was even more stressed cuz we had another family to teach that night that lives really far, and a ton of other things making it a super stressful saturday--- when to top it all off, we get there and junior had hurt his ankle really bad playing soccer, and wouldn't be able to walk all the way to the church to do the interview, which would mean it would have to be re-scheduled for next week and we wouldn't have been able to baptize him.

so everything was falling apart and me and my comp ran out to the main road to see if we could somehow get a ride for him but it was impossible- there were no members who had cars that live close, and i didn't have any money to get a taxi for him. i was so discouraged and about gave up right then, but i said a silent prayer, pleading with the Lord to be able to provide a way. not 5 seconds later, the ward young mens president pulled up on his motorcycle, and parked 2 feet in front of us, not even knowing we were standing there (he had gone to get something at the pharmacy we happened to be standing right in front of) and we explained the situation to him and he was able to go by his house and give him a ride, and he was interviewed, and baptized. i could not believe the instant, direct answer to prayer i had received and spent the rest of the night thanking Heavenly Father for it.

things are really well, my new son is great (picture) and we have a good amount of people to teach, and as always, searching for more. i have already started on making a few videos to send back to you guys.

have a great week everyone!

love elder sherwood