Brendan, you are Grandmas first missionary she was proud of that you know! How are things going? We had a light dusting of snow over the weekend but it is 77 now perfect! We are busy with soccer and hauling the kids all over the place. I am sure you are totally busy and probably have no sympathy. I hope all is well with you and hope your testimony and inner strength grow strong while you serve the lord. We have a lot of missionaries from our ward in Brazil right now I think 4 we are the Utah Farr West Stake. Well time to do some home work with the kids take care and I will try to shoot you an e-mail or two.
Love, Uncle John Posted by: John Winter Date: September 25, 2007
Well, my experiences with the pass-a-long cards, for the first 5 seconds or something it was intimidating, but after that I pretty much was talking to anyone I saw, stopped people in the section at the crosswalks, so they couldn't leave, it was a good tactic. I go out again this Friday, but this time I go to the park, so we should have people that are sitting down, hopefully I'll be able to understand more of what they say now.
So now that we are the oldest District (other then the others that came at the same time, we are the oldest district on our floor though) we had this thing that happened the nighjt before the other district left. They have these fans that are in there room, it can get pretty hot sometimes at night. So, they cose a district to hand them down too (it's been going on for a while apparently) and they chose us, so now I have these fans that are on me all night, its very nice. However how they gave them to us was the funny part (I will write you a letter about that)
Brendan's district enjoyed the water guns we sent him for his birthday. (His district couldn't believe that I would send them)
My bed is very small, I kinda have to sleep at an angle or get up on the side, its hard sometimes, but its ok ... I'll live.
Well, I have a total of 3 weeks 6 days left at the MTC (CTM in Brazil). I will leave May 28th, which is a Tuesday. Posted by: Wendee (Mom) Date: May 6, 2007
Last week was AMAZING! I gave away all the cards (pass-a-long), we walked up to people on the streets that looked sad and when we went over to them they stood up and smiled and talked with us, it was so awesome. I just want to let you know I had a great time and am looking forward to next time (which really is next Friday).
Currently I am in Mosiah chapter 2 with the Portuguese MOM and can almost pronouce everything well, and am almost up to my reading level in English (as in how fast I can read and comprehend) HOWEVER, my application to being able to think and say is very slow, I can say a couple phrases off the top, but nowhere near as much as I would like too.
I believe we are getting new Brazilians tomorrow (for our room, we already had some con and go), we will see how well that goes down, to see if they are rowdy or not.
Elder Winter would love to receive mail, apparently he is winning the award of the least amount of mail received. Please take a moment and write him. Posted by: Wendee (Mom) Date: April 25, 2007
2nd email from Elder Winter. He was able to go to the Campinas temple today. He was able to purchase some nice Brazilian scriptures for dirt cheap ($8 US) He was really happy to get them for a good price. He had a great devotional about giving our 100% and he was able to sing in a quartet and was able to lead the music. He really likes the choir director. Packages take about 10 days to get there, and letters 7-13 days (there mailing system is very interesting). He is able to do his email in a cookie shop cross the street from the CTM. Brazil is a funny place. So many people look American, but aren't. He will have the opportunity to do some prosolyting next week. He is a little intimated only because he does not have a huge grasp on everything. He has his testimony, and the first lesson down in portuguese but anything else and he might have drool coming out of his mouth. He is loving the whole experience but has many challenges.
Posted by: Wendee (Mom) Date: April 12, 2007
Here is what is happening with Elder Winter while at the Brazil MTC.
We went to the Campinas temple (which is just outside of of São Paulo) and it was amazing. I couldnīt believe how awesome it was! They had a newer video and stuff, also we had some things in Portuguese and we had some Brazilians wearing headsets (because they knew we were coming and they thought about just having the session in English).
I haveīt taken any pictures because we arenīt allowed to have the cameras out until Pday and even then we canīt take them out on the street, so I havenīt had a lot of opportunity in taking pictures, but you should see some by next Pday.
The Brazilian people are AWESOME, I already have an Elder who is serving (he left Tuesday)Made a lot of friends here!
Conference WAS in English (thank goodness), but that doesnīt mean that I canīt speak phrases in Portuguese (which bytheway I can say prayers, testimony, food things, and so forth) and most of the Brazilians think I have a very good accent, which is good for me.
There is one thing I can say and that ITS HOT AND HUMID, its a really good thing we got those short sleeves, I would have died. Still though its a good thing that I am going south, and its cold, at least that what the Brazilians say. One of the people in my district is going to Manous (the amazon), we told him he is going to die... haha.
Elder Winter Posted by: Wendee (mom) Date: April 4, 2007
