Monday, January 24, 2011

No Accent with the Language!

Dad,
Well this week was awesome. We had interviews with President. I explained to him that my comp is helping me prepare to become a leader and that I really want to stay for one more transfer. I really hope that I can. One thing that made me feel good was that President said that I have no accent with the language. I almost leaped out of my seat when I heard that. Well I thought that was really cool. I made a really good contact with a woman the other day and we are going to teach her on Thursday. Well it was good to talk with President. I really love him. He said that we are using Skype to communicate with our families instead of calling, because he wants us to see our families and for you guys to see us. I am so excited for the next phone call. I am so excited to go hunting with you this year. Things are going very well. I think that I will stay and my comp will leave. We will see here in a couple weeks. Well I love you and hope that work is going well for you. I love you and thanks for all that you do for me. If you need anything just let me know. Um grande abraço pai!!!!!!
Elder Shelley

Mom,
Well it sounds like you are doing well. I can’t believe Rowena will be in Young Womens, boy am I old. Well this week was very good. We had Interviews with President. I really love this President. I expressed many things to him, one in staying one more here in Sao Carlos. I hope that I can. I love it here in this city. One thing that President said is that I don’t have an accent in Portugese. When I heard that I was really excited and I almost leáped out of the chair. Mom I really love this president he is really kind and patient to listen and get to know the Missionaries. I am so grateful that I have more time to get to know him. Well we found a couple more people to find and teach. We got a new Ward Mission Leader yesterday, so things will go well. I am really excited. I am not District Leader yet, but I am doing some responsibilities that District Leader has. Well things are going great. We learned a new thing for teaching and I am so excited. It is like a design outline thing. It is really good, when I get home I will show you guys. Well I really love this area, I hope I get to stay one more. Well keep praying for me, my comp, and the investigators. I really am working towards the goals that I sent to grandpa. Well thanks for all that you do for me. I really appreciate it a lot. Well if there is anything that I can do for you just let me know. Um grande abraço mãe!! Eu te amo!!!!
Elder Shelley

Monday, January 17, 2011

16th Months Out!!

Mom,
Well I hit a year and 4 yesterday. I am so excited. No interview with President because there were things in Ribeirao that they needed to do. So it should be here in a couple weeks. Well tell Grandma G. sorry for not writing her a letter. Tell her I will write one for her to make her feel better, LOL. Next transfers are like the 14 or 15 of February. I will see what happens. Well this week was really crazy, we had many baptismal interviews to do, it was good. Well yesterday we had a family night at a member's house it was really good. I gave the lesson about Matthew 14:22-30 when it talks about when Jesus walked on water and how Peter’s faith was shaken. It was really good everyone participated and the spirit was just so strong. Earlier in the day, I felt that I needed to share that message. I have really gained a testimony about listening to the spirit and the importance of Family Nights. I am so grateful that we did Family Nights every week when I was home. My testimony about following the promptings of the spirit. It was just a really good day. There is a new family that moved in on Saturday. They have 5 girls all in Young Women’s. Boy that day was crazy. Well me and my comp went to the church and cleaned the bottom part. I cleaned the bathrooms in the Primary room. Then we cleaned where we have Sacrament Meeting. Then we ran home and changed clothes to help the family move. Well we moved a piano(boy that was heavy) and a Rock table top. It was really good. Then we got a ride to Lunch. Then we ate in 50 minutes and grabbed a bus to ALa 4. Then did some interviews. Then got the bus to Ala 3 because there was a Priesthood meeting. Then grabbed a bus to our area to have a family night. Well the family night fell because the people showed up too late. Then went home and I got the numbers from Ala 4 and took a shower and went to bed. It was a good and crazy day.
Well have a good week and I love you. If you need anything just let me know.
Love,
Elder Shelley

Monday, January 10, 2011

Oi

Matt,
Well that is good that you had a good time at Los Hermanos. Well hopefully that the Jazz can keep on a winning streak. That is good that AF won. Well keep doing good with the mission. Well this week was pretty good. We taught quite a few lessons with member this week. Well Thursday we have interviews with President. I am really excited to share my feelings with him. I just got done playing soccer and basketball. I did make a goal in soccer, but nothing in Basketball. Well you know what that means I will need to practice a lot when I get home. I am just really horrible, and plus there is no net. Well hope you have a good week at ATEC and mission stuff. Well I love you and hope you have a good day and week. Um grande abraço meu amigo!!!
Elder Shelley

Mom,
Well I hope that you guys have a good time at Soldier Hollow. Yep be the guard of the Hot Chocolate. Well I hope that things work out for Matt. Well we are teaching a mom and daughter. The daughter is 26 and is in a wheel chair and suffered an motor accident a few years ago. Well they are very receptive and we are having dinner with them. Tell Grandpa Happy Birthday(Feliz Anniversario). Well yesterday we had a meeting that was too close to 3 hours. It was all the presidents YW, Elders, High Priest, RS, Primary. It was okay but long.

I am so grateful for Preach My Gospel. I wish that I could have started learning from it earlier than I did. I think that one of the best things that the Young men could do is dig into Preach My Gospel. I did not really study it until I got into the field. It would be a very good idea for them to know the manual before they leave. That is my opinion because it took me a while to really dig into that book. I think that the best would be an evening thing. I hated getting up early in the morning when we had 1:00 church. I think it will motivate people more. I think during priesthood class they share about a part that they read and kind of do a mini lesson. For example have the leader pick a section for the young man to read, and have him prepare a short 5 minute lesson about it. The reason I say that is sometimes you get called on the spot, and it will be easier to form a talk if you know a little of the material. Plus it helps them get into that wonderful manual. I hope that helped. That is really funny about Juli and the room, yep she is a very creative girl. Well I hope I answered your questions. Have a good one and if you need anything just let me know. I love you and thanks for everything.
Elder Shelley

Monday, January 3, 2011

Ano Novo!


Our Zone at New Year's Eve

Mom,
Well I am still here and with Menezes. Well things are going well. Well that is good that you guys had a good Ano Novo. Yeah I can’t believe that I have a little more that 8 months. Well I will let you guys know when I get the package. That is too bad that they canceled Mission Prep. Well I hope that you have a good week and if you need anything just let me know. Well nothing really new. My comp is a little sick right now. Last night we ate at a member’s house and the food made our stomachs sick, well he is doing okay. Well that is funny that it was 1 degree on 1-1-11. Well I did not go to bed until 3 in the morning because we helped cleaned up and the stake president gave us a ride home. Well nothing really cool to report. That is good that Urban Myer won the bowl game. Well have a good one and tell everyone I say hi. Well take care and if you need anything just let me know.

Elder Shelley