Woo hoo, one more niece! And a big one too! I'm glad everything went well. I think the next chance to get mail is the 7th, when transfers are. I hope I get the pictures. Speaking of which, yes I did get the root beer and make and drink it, the Brazilians hate it. They think it tastes like medicine, so I gladly partook of all of it. And the last package came also with more pictures and goodies. Thank you. The Book by Jon Bytheway is really good. Did you read it before you sent it?

So I got my package on Tuesday because the whole mission got together to listen to Elder Anderson speak to us. It was really special, he asked Sister and President Tanner to bare breif testimony, and then a councilor in the Area Presidency, Elder Masigradi (I'm not sure how to spell that really) [Mazzagardi] spoke, then Elder Anderson's wife spoke, followed by Elder Anderson himself. So Sister Tanner always bares a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon, it's clearly the focus of her study and life. She is also progressing in Portugues and bore most of her testimony in Portugues. President Tanner spoke about obedience, and how we are demonstrating our love for the Saviour when we obey his commandments. Elder Masigradi [Mazzagardi] started his talk by saying "You can teach and baptize the rich also!!" It was a little unexpected and was spoken with real fire, if you know what I mean. It was good though because some people don't even try to teach the wealthy, they spend all day in the poor areas or favelas. He also had a really cool accent, I want to speak Portugues like he does. Then Sister Anderson spoke, she told us that we might be the most blessed missionaries to have President and Sister Tanner as our mission President. They have been friends for many years. I suspect that President and Sister Tanner are good friends with most of the Quorum of the Twelve, because clearly Sister Tanner was General Young Womens President, but also President Tanner once told a story about how Elder Ballard called him on the phone one day and said "Hey John, you wouldn't happen to have any photos or portraits of John Tanner (the one that gave everything he had to the church in the  days of Joseph Smith)?" He's on first name basis with the Twelve. She also talked about how President and Sister Tanner are the perfect example of a celestial marriage, and that we should learn as much as we can about marriage just from watching them. Then Elder Anderson spoke to us. Let me first explain that he does speak Portugues, along with French (where he served as missionary and mission president) Spanish, and English. So all the languages were thrown in there. I bet it was easier for the Americans to understand him than the Brazilians. It made for some funny moments and he was really funny about it. The focus of his talk was this quote "You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can't count the apples in a seed." It was really funny because the word apple has an accent on it, maçã, which makes it a little harder to say and Elder Anderson couldn't figure out what he was saying wrong. But the message was really good, it was about how we can't be discouraged if we don't immediately see the fruits of our mission because we can't count the apples that will come from the seeds we have planted. It was really good. I don't have my notes here with me to tell you a lot more. But this is the third time that I have had an Apostle speak to me on the mission and the best and most powerful part of there talks is always their testimonies of the Savior, because really that's what their calling is, and what our focus should be in this life. It's always a testimony that is on another spiritual plane and the spirit was overwhelmingly strong as he closed his talk with his testimony.

Oh and before he spoke he wanted to shake the hand of every missionary. That was cool. He said Tudo Bem to me. Others got Bom Dias and Tudo Boms. We all tried to figure which one was the best to receive and what it really meant. 

So this week we were teaching Luana who had told us last Sunday she wanted to get baptized, but during the week she told us she had changed her mind. We had a lesson about receiving answers to our prayers and then Elder Lobo and I bore testimony of the blessings that come from baptism, it was a really special lesson. She said she would continue to pray and ask for an answer. During Gospel Principles she tapped my should and said Elder Bruce, I just received an answer to my prayer, I want to be baptized. So she had already been interviewed by our Zone Leader, which meant the only problem was that she didn't have clothes for baptism (which neither did I, so I walked home after with partially wet underwear, only a little because I'm tall enough that it just barely reaches the bottom). So we scheduled the baptism for 6 at night, and everything went perfectly, except  her foot came up the first time and we had to do it again. It was a really special day for her, we almost encountered some problems but everything worked out in the end. I'm going to try and attach photos. Hopefully it works this time. Nope.

So I haven't moved yet. The apartment should be ready any day now, and we are just waiting for the word to start moving, it will be on the road Pedro Lessa but I don't know what number, I'll try and get that to you next week. Hopefully I'll be living there then. Other than that this week should be a normal week of work. 

Well those are all my adventures this week. Until next week. Te amo.

response to Dad's letter:
The portugues is good. I feel comfortable talking and teaching to people. No problem. I don't get every single word but I understand the feeling of the phrase most of the time. It's not translating anymore. It's just listening and understanding. I would see the new 3D Star Wars but honestly I feel like you wouldn't feel like it's worth it. But if you have nothing else to do....

You can tell COL Keith I got the letter and thank you.

Thanks for all the updates on sports. Patriots will win.

I hope and pray everything works out with the job situation. 

Love
Elder Cameron Bruce