Things are Good in the Hood in Brazil!

Happy birthday shoutouts first off to Alex Holmes on the 5th and Aunt Jill on the 8th! I hope you both have awesome days! Know that I will be thinking of ya! Shoutouts also to Tanner Stutz on the wedding here in a few weeks! Kinda mad that I won’t be the best man but hey, I’ll get over it. 

Wow craziness happening at lake powell this week! That is so nuts! I am so glad that everyone is okay and that no one got hurt. I’m glad to be blessed with the promise that my family will be taken care of as I serve a mission! I read the entire email astonished! Sounds like a crazy day. Did the ski boat as well suffer damages? Sounds like everyone still managed to have a great week of shredding the knar! From what I hear, mom was the shralp master! I’m glad someone as athletic as her is keeping my title safe! Send some pics the next week of the week on the lake! 

This week was a good one but as you guys already know things are getting a bit tense down here because of the world cup! haha A lot of people are really excited. A guy that lives close to us painted his house green and put a big Brazil flag and the fifa mascot on it and it turned out way cool! Another part of the area painted part of the road with a bunch of Brazil stuff which is way cool as well. Everyone is putting up a ton of Brazil flags and what not so there are lots of people that are excited! Others though, aren’t so happy and there are still strikes going on protesting the cup. The guy that cut my hair told us that two buses were burned this last week in our area which made it clear why I waited for 30 minutes for my bus on Friday and it never passed! So things are getting crazy here in Brazil but we are still working! I don’t know what it will be like during the world cup, if we will work or not. President hasn’t mentioned anything to us but I would assume that we will have to take some time off. We will see! 

As for the week, it was a good one! Mom made a comment about how no one is married here and literally no one is married or even has the thought of getting married. To me it makes no sense that they already live together and we can marry them for free, but yet a ton of people just don't want to. We have taught this one couple a few times and yesterday they went to church with a member. I was pretty stoked they were there. But last night we had a lesson with them and they have no interest whatsoever in getting married. They know they need to, but they just don’t have any desire to change. It’s sad to see that the only thing that is interfering with the blessings that they could receive is a piece of paper that says 'married'. They have been together for over 3 years as well! So to me it makes no sense but that's life. Usually here in Brasil the wife wants to get married and the husband doesn’t. So when the wife doesn’t as well, it makes it even harder. We will see where they go but I realize that I’m so blessed to come from a family where I see the blessings of marriage and of a family raised in the gospel! The importance of the family is losing importance everyday but I know that my family has the true happiness that our Heavenly Father provides and the happiness we will share forever! 

We had a few other people at church as well. A 15 year old went and loved it so we will see if we can teach the whole family. Another lady went as well that has to be married but as well doesn’t have her birth certificate so it will be more long term with her. Ricardo and Aline are awesome as usual! Ricardo has already invited a friend to go to church next week and is planning on inviting everyone at work. Unfortunately his birth certificate didn’t get here. It’s frustrating dealing with a situation that is out of our control. They are so ready to be baptized. I just pray that they won't get frustrated with waiting and give up. Keep them in your prayers so that we can put a ring on it!! 

This week I asked president if I could go to the temple because it has been about 8 months and he let me go this week! I love the temple and every time I go, my testimony grows even more about this church! The church is so true and so perfect! After we bought some liahonas and films for Ricardo and Aline that they liked a lot! So it was a good day for sure at the temple! 

This week we have a meeting with the entire mission where I think president will say his good byes! It should be good and from what I hear, President Dalton will be there as well! So it should be way good! All the zone leaders will be giving a mini training to the mission so I’ll be able to give that! I’m pretty excited for this week. It should be a good one!! 

Well that’s about all I’ve got for ya! Things are good in the hood in Brazil! Make sure to cheer your hardest for the states in the world cup! Keep the faith going! Love you all and have a great week!! 

Love 

Elder Holmes