December 23, 2008

Thank you for everything, and Irmã Maite did a great thing by having mom write that little thing! She is the best, and I totally cried, as did all the elders which makes me really happy!
Oh it is so good to hear from you and about people and everything. I cannot believe that I have so little time left here at the CTM. I can´t believe that in two weeks from today I will be out there teaching real people in Brasil.
Okay so you want more of the story about the man. Well, we were in this super busy place in Saõ Paulo, and there was a beautiful beautiful theater, the best infrastructure so far I have seen in Brasil other than the temple, and there a a bunch of statues there too they all have life jackets on. All the statues in Brasil have the same thing because people weren't paying good enough attention to them, so the city or something put bright orange life vests on them, so one has to notice them. It is funny. But, there are so many people!
We met him fairly close to the theater and by a bridge. It was awesome. Yes, I was able to get my message across, it just takes a lot longer and has to be in the words that I know. So, I didn't write it in the other e-mail, and you can erase this too if you want, but the first time we went proselyting a man jumped off the bridge. Definite suicide. Yeah, I am glad that we weren't anywhere near when it happened and only found out after we had left, but our elders were really close by. Yuck!!! SO I need Verle´s e-mail so that I can e-mail him, I guess he may not be able to e-mail while in the MTC.
What a great story about Daniel. [I wrote and told Kami of Daniel praying for Grandpa to live a couple more days so the Judds could see him when they went to take Verle to the Provo MTC December 10th. Grandpa Juan died Dec. 11th at 8:00AM]. Oh the faith of a child. What a great example to us all.
I would like to have a copy of the funeral if anyone has something like that. I so wished to have been there. I will remember grandpa everyday on my mission. I love love love him! Tell grandma that she needs to stick around for a good long time, that may sound selfish, but I need her! I will come home from my mission and I will take care of her! I have often felt like she and I are kindred spirits!
I am so excited for Christmas here at the CTM. I am really excited!!!!! It will be, and has been a little sad without all the kids and all the family traditions. I missed going to Pine Valley to get the tree that is for sure, but my companion is awesome on the piano seriously awesome, she plays the Brasil National Anthem. That is how good she is. You should look it up; it is so cool! We sing it every Sunday, and my goal was to be able to sing it before I leave this place! It is fast and hard.
I am so excited to go to Goiania! There are a few elders and now one brasileira sister who are coming with me and every time we see each other we are like "Yea! We are going to Goiania!" And then we high five and stuff! It is so fun!
SO, last week at the temple Dave Miz was there [Dave Miz is one of Kami's High School buddies also serving in Brazil]! I didn't get to see him though. I came out of the temple and my elders said we just met an elder from St. George who said he knew you and he wrote his name for us. I couldn't believe it! I wish I could have seen him! He was in the same place as me!!!!! Crazy!!!
I still love it here and am loving my learnings. This week will be packed with milestones. We have the third lesson in Portugues this week. WOW! Then I will be able to teach 3 lessons in Portugues! Continue to pray for me; I realize this is the only way that I am able to do this! Miraculous. Teaching with scriptures and all! 20-30 minute lesssons! Of course I only really know my part, and could struggle through my companions part, but it will come I am getting better at my part. Our brasilheira sister roommates left today. They are teh 2nd set that we have let go. They are awesome!
MMMMMMEEEEERRRRRRRRRYYYYYYY CHHristmas!!!!!!!! HAVE SO MUCH FUNN! Eu amo vocês! !! SOO much! I miss you too! Love love love!!!!
SISter Judd!