November 27, 2012

First off thanks for the packages. I have started the decorating of our house and also the Thanksgiving Dinner was AWESOME. We did it at a members house with a bunch of investigators and less actives, and everyone loved it. We left just a simple message about gratefulness and everyone shared a little about what they are grateful for. It was awesome and delicious. I made the pumpkin pie alone and it was quite a hit. We had to improvise a few things but in the end it was all good and tasty. The members where we had the dinner added you on facebook. They wanted to say thanks personally.

All the Skype stuff will be easy. Tons of members have it. What time do you think would be best to call?

The work is really picking up. Amanda and Fabio have their date marked for this weekend and they will be interviewed on Saturday. Amanda is 100 percent ready, and hopefully Fabio will feel the same way.  And there are a few other people that are progressing but won't be baptized for at least a few weeks.

Vila Humaita is the Ward. I live in Vila Guarani.

I haven't gotten the glasses repaired. I don't think they are repairable. A few people in stores have told me so. So I don't know what to do. I don't know if I can buy new ones?

Black Friday hit Brazil for the first time this year. The US has a big influence on this country.

Oh about mailing chocolate. Unfortunately, Junior Mints can't handle the trip anymore. They came all melty. I still ate them but it was a little messy. so I guess they will need to be taken off the mailing list. bummer.

Amelia got baptized WHAT? Isn't she like 3 still? That's crazy.

The Mission does one special meeting for Christmas, where we will sing a few hymns and hear some messages. Always great. While there I will talk to President about the whole school thing. I might ask him to come home half a transfer early to get  back in time for school. But I'll see what he thinks about that too. And yes we get to watch the devotional. But I think it is rebroadcast a week later here. So don't spoil the ending for me.

Oh and we are going to go caroling for sure. I made the suggestion and am basically forcing everyone to go. Haha. It was so awesome last year that we have to do it again. And on Christmas we are told that we can spend the day visiting members but the curfew is the same. So yeah.

Oh and two Brazilian Sisters were wondering if you would be willing to send them two little English hymnals. I said I would see what I could do.

Well sorry for being so late, we went to the temple at a later session today and caught HEAVY traffic on the way back. It was nuts. SOOOO many people here in Sao Paulo.

Até mais. Tchau tchau

Elder Cameron Bruce

November 19, 2012

I'd be down for 44 degrees and rain. It's pretty hot here. I'm not so bothered by it though. Oh big news, transfers came in, and........ nothing changed. I'll stay at least one more transfer with Elder F. Oliveira. He was really worried he was going to get transferred.

 

Before I forget, would it be possible for you to send two pen drives of 16 GB? I will use one to send you all the pictures I have, because CDs and DVDs would end up being kind of expensive for me.

 

That's so weird to think that Kasen was baptized already? Is he really 8 years old already? Sheesh I'm old. I'm happy everything went smoothly. And it is really awesome that Jeremy could baptize him. That rarely happens here. The father oft times, is inactive, unworthy, or not even a member.

 

I will have a dog when I have my own house. Finally my plans will come to pass.

 

Yet again Katie is being a fubeca (slacker, maybe one of my favorite words). She didn't send an email this week either. Her transition period ended last week.  But oh well.

 

So I still don't know anything about the Thanksgiving package. Hopefully someone will grab it for me at transfers. But I don't even know if it is in the office.

 

I'm excited that Christmas is so close already. It seems like it was just yesterday. I feel so old in the mission talking with Elder Oliveira about what happened last year in the mission. He doesn't go home until 2014, ouch. He'll make it home before the world cup. Which is a huge deal for all Brazilians.  And yes we will have a special zone conference before Christmas. I'm excited to eat Sister Tanner´s cookies or brownies that she always brings. yummmmm.

 

Philippines? Bummer, could have been Brazil. No one is getting called to Brazil anymore? No new Americans have gotten here in months. Crazy. But that is awesome that she already got her call. (Nichole's sister Whitney, age 19 got her mission call)

 

Yeah in that press conference that Elder Nelson, Elder Holland, and Elder Evans did they said that they would be permanently reducing the time in the MTC by a third. Nuts! You already leave not knowing how to talk, imagine even less time.

 

(Reply to a mention about the conflict between Israel and Gaza)  SECOND COMING!! Recently I have been studying a lot about this (just finished Isaiah last week). This is possibly one of the signs. And it's one of the signs that means it's CLOSE. I know it's wrong to hope that a war happens but if I'm hoping for the war just because it means the second coming will happen is that wrong?

 

So did I tell you about Amanda and Fabio? Well it didn't work for this last week so we will move their date to this week. They are super solid. Moreso her than him. But he is still moving along real well too. We also have another family (kind of family, involves one woman her three kids, her sister and brother and a cousin), that is getting ready for baptism too. Also a man that has been going to church for like 12 years will finally get married in December so he can get baptized too. Things are looking pretty good here in Vila Humaitá.

 

Thanks for everything. Te amo.

 

Elder Cameron Bruce 

 

November 12, 2012

Cold and rainy sounds nice. As long as I don't have to go out on the street. It's getting pretty hot here, but for me it hasn't been so bad. I don't think it compares with Santos last year. Weird that I can say that now. Last year. But my companion, who is from the south of the country where it is much cooler, is struggling. He has a little bit of a weight issue too. He is trying to start a diet but isn't very dedicated. I try to help, I even stopped buying soda for the house. But he likes to find little excuses. It's hard to blame him. I don't think I would be able to handle a diet, especially on the mission. The irmãs that serve lunch don't really like it if you don't stuff your face full of food. Oft times he is guilted into eating more.

 

I heard about the elections. Bummer. Everyone here was rooting for Romney too. Do you think that he will run in 2016 for President? I feel like he could have a pretty good chance. Question: Did that whole health bill thing with Obama pass? I feel like I wasn't home when that happened was I? Missed that.

 

The elections are finished here. They were only elections for Mayors this year. Here in Brazil elections are very different. There aren't two dominant parties. There are a bunch. Like 10. But everything is all wrapped up. Thank goodness.

 

I got the letters yes(from the Activity Day girls). Very cute. Haha. I let me companion try and read them, he speaks English a little, but he couldn't understand much. Tell them thank you very much. I guess I should send a thank you letter. I might just send one for you to read to them all. The Thanksgiving package hasn't arrived but I sure am hoping that this week it comes.

 

The ward members are really improving here. We brought a young couple, Amanda and Fabio, to church and everyone was super friendly. Two families already marked a family night with them and everything. PERFECT. To be honest a person needs to feel the spirit at church and also needs to feel wanted by the people there. Very often a person might feel the spirit but because they are shy or don't feel very welcomed they don't want to come back. But Amanda and Fabio are both really excited. We have a goal with them for this Sunday. But I think it might take one more week. Kind of a bummer for my companion, since I think he will be transferred this next week. But we are all on the same team.

 

We don't knock doors at all here. We only do contacts on the street. Here the majority of people don't have cars so they either walk or grab the bus so there are always a bunch of people on the street. Every once and a while we knock a random door. I think we might have to knock a few more doors because when you knock a door you can enter into the house right then, but if you do a contact on the street you have to pass by another day, and they might not be there, or they might have given a false address. But we'll see. Maybe I'll have to go back to knocking some more doors.

 

I haven't spoken yet here. I have given class twice in Gospel Principles but that's normal. I wouldn't be surprised it I do speak pretty soon here though. Oh wait, I lie, I bore my testimony on fast Sunday. But that was my choice.

 

The reason that the Nephites had a Utopia, was because they loved the Lord. I read about that the other day. It all comes back to what Christ taught, the first and great commandment, Love the Lord. Nothing more important. This has been a theme recently in my mission. In zone conference President talked about the WHY we serve and that it needs to be because we love the Lord. Charity.

 

Oh by the way, my glasses broke. The frame above one of the lenses broke. Unfortunately they will have to be replaced. I will go to a store today and try and find some options and see some prices. But I don't know what to do. Hopefully I can just move the lenses into some other frames.

 

No Katie did not send an email. I'll excuse her during this transition period.

 

Well that's all I can think of for now. Agradeço por todo o amor e apoio, tchau

 

com amor,

Elder Cameron Bruce

 

November 5, 2012

Answer to DAD:

Well I'm doing really well here in the new area. Since the area basically had nothing going when I got here we have been really working on getting things going here. More than anything that involves getting the ward excited, because if I do 140 contacts (which is our weekly goal) I usually find 2 people that actually let us teach them and normally they don't progress. Referrals are really the way to go. So we are planning all sorts of activities and such with the ward. Last Saturday we had everybody go out with us and give out pass along cards. I think that really helped everyone get the missionary spirit.

 

But we are teaching a few families, the only issue is how far they live from the chapel. It's difficult to get people to church here. As far as what we are teaching, it's just the normal stuff in Preach My Gospel.

 

Wow Kasen is going to get baptized already? Yeesh. He doesn't want to wait 10 months?

 

I can't think of anything for my Christmas list. Another calendar would be cool. Peanut butter is always nice too. But nothing special.

 

I'm going to go read Mom's email now. Tchau tchau.

 

Elder Cameron Bruce

Answer to MOM:

More Spanish speakers........... boo. Just kidding, Spanish is alright. I just hope they know that when they pray in Spanish the answer will come in Portuguese. But that is super cool that they are both going to places so far away.

 

I haven't heard anything about more missionaries, but I can only hope. I want to train an American so bad. It would be so much fun. I want to see how I was when I got to the mission.

 

I'm really glad to hear that Grandma Bruce is doing better. And that your mom is handling things well. They are both always in my prayers.

 

Nothing really happened for Halloween here. Some members had a family night but we didn't go because we had another family night marked already. I was a little bummed but not to big a deal. They saved some cake for us.

 

I'm still waiting for a puppy. I will get one for Christmas someday. I know it.

 

Well I saw a tiny bit about Sandy at a members house. Looks like it was pretty bad.

 

How's the election? Is it this week? I'm sure everyone will talk to me about it.

 

Well that's all I got for this week. Thanks for everything.

 

Com amor,

Elder Cameron Bruce