019/085 091012 "You Talk To Fast"

Picture: Elder Eyring's District

Hi all,

So guess what I got told this last week. "Slow down! You talk too fast!". YAY! Yes, my pronunciation is still terrible in Portugese, but, I'm able to think fast enough in Portugese to talk too fast! WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And also, someone said that I look like I'm 27 years old. I couldnt really believe it. She was serious though. Then I asked someone else, who said I looked 23 to him. I asked someone else, who said 19 (yay for right!), and then another who said 17. So I guess I'm just a mystery age or something. Its normal for people to think people look different ages, but 10 years in difference . . . . . hmmm . . . .

So guess what I found from the scriptures this week. So, in Alma 45:22 it talks about Alma's sons preaching, then 48:18 about all his sons preachings, then in 49:30 names his sons, Helamon, Shemlom, and Corianton. So Corianton, that sinner who commited fornication DURING his mission, even him, was able to recieve forgiveness and preach once more. YAY!!!! Now I'm not saying this because I have any ideas about myself, don't worry, I just love showing the great examples of repentance, because nothing else brings me greater hope.

So I had testimony meeting yesterday at church. I think I should tape it next month as an example of what testimony should be like! After the bishop sat down saying everyone that would like to give their testimony to come up, the entire congregation seemed to stand at once, because all wanted to bear their love for Christ their Lord! It was incredible! And still after this more people slowly filtered up to the pulpit. Basically, there was never that awkward silence where no one will give their testimony, because of my awesome ward! =D

Ahhh, its been a good week.

So what all should I tell y'all? I dont really know what people want to hear. As far as things I'm actually doing, well, I'm being a missionary. There isn't much more to say then that . . . . But if anyone wants me to include something else in this general email, just ask.

So there is this funny thing, any time I cheer my nation on for the World Cup in 2010, they just start laughing. They think I was joking or something like that. I am kinda struggling to understand this . . . . . (no, I'm not struggling to understand.) I just am slowly hoping more and more America can actually stand strong in the World Cup if they don't win. [which they sadly won't . . . .])

I might take a nap today . . . . so y'all know . . . . .

Well, I think thats all for this week.

Até mais! (until more, I can't say Bom Dia right now, because it's afternoon for me, and that just feels weird.)

Elder Eyring

018/086 091005 Brazil gets the Olympics

Picture: Brazil Olympic Committee Celebrates!

So guess where the Olympics will be in 2016! Just guess where! Come on! Well, I'm a missionary in Rio getting really excited about the location . . . . so I wonder . . . . YES!!!! IN RIO DE JANEIRO!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

Just a little excited . . . . .

So it was kinda funny. When there was a temple announced in Fortaleze Brazil my companion was stoked because he's from Fortaleza, but all of these Rio citizens were slightly sad and slightly indignant. They asked, and What about Rio? So yes, my goal before I leave is to have a temple announced here in Rio. Lol, I'm just one missionary, so I will have to hope that others will help with this, but yeah, I would love to hear that so!

So my favorite quote from conference. I can't remember who gave it, I remember it was someone with a strong accent from the seventy. But I loved his talked so. More or less, "The impossible can become possible" I thought that summed everything up. With the talks on repentance, how we always can repent of whatever sin, and how those we love will be blessed through our righteous desire to repent. Talks on learning to love and that perfect example of love, our Savior. Talks on receiving inspiration. President Monson saying in Priesthood how we can truly live without anger. So many things seemingly impossible, but yet, through the Savior, the impossible becomes possible. I love it!

Oh, random tidbit of information I found out that I am kinda proud of. So when Henry B. Eyring was in high school, he played basketball. Guess for what school. East School High, the home of High School Music (well, at least it was shot there). The First Presidency has an old Wildcat. While I'm not a High School Musical enthusiast, I must admit when I found this out I was laughing my head off (which was kinda bad because I found it while reading an old Ensign and then everyone else around me looked at me like I was crazy. They had no idea what just happened. For all they knew I just lost my head and when into the laughs of a lunatic! Luckily I could explain to them since the tentacles of High School Musical have penetrated even Brazil).

I really like conference I have decided. =)

Well, until next week!

Elder Eyring

Oh! P.S.!!!! I had a Brazilian from a different area that I was visiting tell me how it was amazing I could speak Portuguese! I was complemented by a Brazilian on my language! WOOT!!!!!!!!!!

017/087 090928 Another list of food I eat

Picture: Brazil Food


So I remember when I got to this area that I´m in now I noticed how people seemed to have a little bit money, and the thought went through my head, "Yes! Maybe I´ll stop gooding quite as weird food since these people can afford more!" I was wrong. With more money they seem to just experiment more. Let me give another list of I have had to eat. Cow stomach, Pig snout, Pig ears, and Pig tongue. Why! Talking to others from my CTM district, none of them have had one of these things served them. Wait, no, one of them had these things served them once. Why in the world is the pickiest eater getting the strangest foods! Well, at least by the time I get home I really will be able to eat just about anything. For all of you who thought I was strange for being a picky eater, =P x 10. ;) Sorry, I just get disheartened by the food some days.

So, funny story time. Well, pitiful actually. So, yesterday, my companion and I were going to a house to pick up a person we baptized yesterday. Then, on the way to the church we picked up someone else. Turns out, this was another person we were going to baptize (that is baptized now). (excuse the terrible English, I have lost English skills a bit) I didn´t know this until the end of church. Sad, huh? In my defense though, I never taught this girl lessons, and the interview happened while the other person was being interviewed, so I didn´t know that the interview was happening. I think I just made things confusing. Basically, I had a baptism without even knowing. That was interesting.

So right now I´m in regular street clothes. Jeans and a T-shirt with tennis shoes. I´m going to do a little bit of service after this Internet usage, so that's why. But it is so weird! I haven´t gone out in street clothes for months. I wore jeans once in the CTM for a service project, and then the last time before that I guess would be June 1 or 2 (I remember the 2 I went to the Oquirrh Mount Temple open house and was later set apart, so I might have never changed into jeans that day). Yeah, it feels weird!

Oh, that reminds of another funny or stupid story from the week that shows clearly that I have no sense of fashion whatsoever. One of the members in my ward was really excited about this one shirt a friend gave him, and when I saw it I thought it really wasn´t that appealing of a shirt, but to be nice I said I liked it. He then went on to say how it was R$500,00 (about $280.00) and was made by this huge fashion designer. So yes, I have no fashion sense. But I really wonder how in the world someone can have such a strong opinion that a piece of cloth he likes can be sold for so much money. It was a basic button up shirt, that wasn´t that special. I kinda can understand why dresses are incredibly expensive, because I can actually see the art in designing a dress, but this shirt? I think its basically the same thing as some modern art that is a blank canvas with a plain black frame that sells for a million dollars. And why again is America in an economic crisis?

Oh, one thing continuing from last week about how women truly are better then men. An example from my mission (and really of all missions from what I´ve heard). Its almost impossible to baptize men it seems. Yesterday was my first baptism of a man. My companion who has been on his mission for 21 months said this is his second. We have a rule that we have to do make ten street contacts with men every day each person, because the church drastically needs more men. Women and children are willing to humble themselves and come unto Christ. With Men, some are. Its pathetic in some ways.

So what other things should I say . . . . hmmm? This past week not much has happened. Our apartment was being renovated, and we were told that we had to stay in our apartment because there was someone else in it that isn´t part of the mission. So yeah, that sums up this week.

Oh, and I hate mosquitoes. Every couple of weeks, I have nights I can´t sleep because I am so incredibly itchy. Its terrible! Thankfully enough I´m on a mission for the true church representing our Savior, so I am given the strength to make it through the day, but without that boost of strength, I would surely die of exhaustion. So yes, mosquitoes are evil.

I think I am slowly developing Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). As time goes on I keep on noticing how half the things that I talk about in my life I keep on saying "we" or "ours" or such things. I feel like Golem or something. I know its just the fact that everything I do I do with my companion, so I get habituated to saying we and such, but still, I am possibly going to be diagnosed with MPD before I get home!

For you all in Utah, its starting to get cold now, huh? Lucky. Its getting hotter every day here. It had been raining for a while here, and for a little bit I was hating the rain, but now I changed my mind. The sun is out again. And its humid. And Summer is coming, but still not here. I am definitely dreaming of a white Christmas, which thing I will not be able to have. Unless you count the blinding sun as it being white. Well, at least ice cream on Christmas day will taste so much better.

Well, have a good week y'all. I think I have rambled enough for this week. Best of luck in whatever is going on!

Elder Eyring

014/090 090907 This week was interesting

Picture: Maracana Soccer Stadium

So this last week was interesting. On Saturday, I went to the hospital because the mother of the first person I baptized was in the hospital and we made a visit. That was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I was in a hospital as a religious minister . . . People actually came up to me and my companion asking for a blessing for a family member (they were members). It was so humbling . . . .

This trip had some major advantages though. Namely, the sightseeing on the car ride there. We took a road to get there that went up a mountain on the side of Rio, then you could see all of the city from the mountain to the beach. It was plainly amazing. I have never seen a more beautiful city in my life. Keep in mind too that I´ve been to London, Paris, Tahiti, Costa Rica, New York, D.C., Vegas, San Fransisco, Sacramento, Seattle, etc. It is plainly amazing.

Then on the way back we took a way that just so happened to take us by the soccer stadium in Rio. Let me just say, it is HUGE!!!!!! I mean HUGE!!!! Wow. It is going to have the World Cup in 2014, and possibly Rio will have the Olympics in 2016. It was amazing! That was so incredibly incredible!

The Lord truly is blessing me a lot. I honestly don´t know why I am so blessed, but oh, I´m grateful! I really don´t deserve all that the Lord gives me!

Lol, just random side comment, Dragonball Z is on right now where I´m doing email stuff. Its the beginning of the Boo series. I´m not watching, don´t worry, I just know where in the story it is because I´m a crazy freak and can with seeing something for 5 seconds know where in the story it relates too.

So, everyone, I´ve made an odd decision. I have plenty of reasons, but I´m just going to give two. So, my odd decision, I´m not going to write friends for a little bit. Because, I´ve been far too distracted. I really haven´t been giving my whole heart, might, mind, and soul to the work, and that's bad. And second reason, I felt calmer when praying about this then other choices of what to do. Not that this is the only right thing to do, but I think its the best thing for me personally to do. So yeah, for a little bit, I´m not writing to friends. But this shouldn´t be too different for anyone at home, just different enough that someone would notice and so I´m saying something.

Now, please still write letters. I can´t really expect you too, but please! still write letters! I will respond to every single letter after this. I promise! And right now is the beginning of a school year, with so many things going on. I want to know whats going on SO badly! I guess I won´t know for a little while what is going on, but its so much better if something is written soon after something happens then a two months after it happens. So yes, I´ll write back to every letter! Pinky-swear!

Oh, and I´ll still write this general letter so people can still be clued into my life ;) And I´ll write a lot of letters today for y´all =)

So yes, the Lord blesses all of us so plentifully. I really have been blessed to have my eyes opened to see how the Lord truly is throughout everything in our lives. Lol, and as such I feel like such an unthankful fool. I´m learning though! Our Savior and our Father truly bless us in all things, even our trials. It is amazing!

Well, till next week!

Elder Eyring

P.S.

Oh! I am adding something else!

So, I broke one of my goals for my mission. I thought I would be able to go two years without holding a girls hand, but I failed miserably. My heart was stolen by a little 9 year old, Deborah. Now time for excuses ;)

This is a little girl that I got the opportunity to baptize. But she had the same problem I had with baptism, she was scared to get dunked in the water. So, trying to comfort her before, she took hold of my hand for one part, and I couldn´t say no! So adorable! And she was crying. How could I say no! It took a while after we got in the freezing water to get her baptized too. But it worked out! And she was confirmed this last Sunday too. Yay!

Ok, that's all. Have a good week all!

Elder Eyring