Oi,
Zone Conference was really good this week. We learned how to set a baptismal date with the Book of Mormon. That was cool. Well things are going good. President has really changed the mission. We have to knock 12 doors, teach 6 Introductory Class, do 2 contacts 10 with men and 10 others, and visit one less active. I have really seen the blessings of these new things. Well that sounds like you had a good Easter. Mine was kind of boring. We had a meeting with our Ward Mission Leader. Then we picked up Expedito and Amanda. They are a dad and daughter that we are teaching. She is 8 and really loved church, he also. He is blind but really good and really liked church. We visited a few families but that was about it for the day. I really miss making the marshmallow thing we did every Easter. I really missed being home and doing traditions. That is one thing I can’t wait for. We have some other people that are really good investigators too. Eduardo is one. He is dating a member and he wants to be baptized but we can’t find him home that is the only bad part. We found this guy that studied English for 15 years and he has stopped for 6 so we are going to teach him and help with the English. Things are going really good. I am really excited for transfers on Monday. I really hope that transfers will be good. I know that the best will come out of it. What ever happens happens, just have to put a smile on the face and deal with it. Elio should be baptized on Sunday. He will leave to another city this week and returns Saturday. Keep in your prayers for him that he can get baptized. Well we have many good people to teach and are working with. I really love this area. Well I know if I get transferred I will have a leadership position and if not I will still be Senior. Well keep praying that things will work out. Have a good week and be safe. Well have a good one. Thanks again for everything.
Elder Shelley

Mom,
Interviews with President was really good. Well I don’t know what will happen with transfers but I know that the Lord is aware of my needs and will help me. I have just really prayed to gain patience. I am just wishing the best for my comp. He needs to go to a different zone, so he can be happy. Well things will all work out. That is good that you guys had a good time at St. George. Well that is really cool about the 24th on the 24th. Happy Anniversary. That is really cool. We have an investigator, Elio, he has a baptismal date set for Sunday and his interview Tuesday. Please keep him in your prayers that he can pass. We had a lady in the church yesterday. She really liked it a lot. Well I gave a talk yesterday also about Service. The bishop stopped us on Friday and asked if one of us could speak and I said yeah. Well I decided to speak. Well that is about what is going on here. We have Zone Conference on Wednesday. I am so excited. Transfers are May 2nd. Just keep praying for me and my comp that everything will work out and that President and the Assistants will be able to put me and my comp in the best places where the Lord wants us. For P-day, we are going to go home and sleep for a little bit and then play soccer at 2 at our church. That is about it. Well have a good one. If you need anything just let me know. I love you and I am just going to do my best. Jani, (HAPPY BIRHTDAY) FELIZ ANIVERSARIO!
Elder Shelley

Mom,
Well Franco has both farming and city part. This week was pretty good. We taught some really good lessons. We found a couple families to teach. Well we had a man come to church yesterday. We taught him Saturday and the guy wanted to visit the church. He is an older man and has a problem with his foot. He is an older man in his 60´s. He has some problems with one of his toes. He was not feeling so good so me and my comp gave him a blessing. It is so good to be able to use the Priesthood to bless others. Well he really liked the church. I really hope that he will come next week too. The area here is kind of hard because some people just don’t want anything to do with the church. Well this week we met 2 guys that don’t believe in God or Jesus Christ. I think that is just really weird and how can they think that?! Well things are going well. I am trying my best to do what I am supposed to do. We have interviews with President on Thursday. I am really excited. Well that is about it for the updates. That is good that Matt is doing well. Yep there is a big difference with him when he feels like he has an assignment or job to do. That is really good because I have really been thinking about him lately. Well it sounds like things are working out.

That is good that there will be a break from school. I hope you guys have a good time on the trip. Let me know what you guys do. I hope Jani has a good time on the trip. Well if you need anything just let me know. I love you and thanks for everything. I know don’t have much time left and I want to finish with honor and excitement that my mission was good. I want to finish well. Please could you include these things in your prayers that would help a lot. I love you and thanks for everything.
Love,
Elder Shelley

Gotta Love Conference!

Dad,
I loved listening to conference. I loved hearing from Old Stake President Gibson. I loved the talk about knowing what your Priesthood responsibilities are. I loved all the talks. I liked Elder Scotts about not doing enamel water coloring on the fridge. It is so good to hear it in English. It is such an enormous blessing because you can hear the speakers and their emotions. I loved the talk about families and it reminded me of our family and how united and how much fun we have together. I am so grateful for our family and all the things that we do together. I can’t wait to do more stuff here in 5 months. Well I can’t wait to read the talks. There were a few talks on marriage. I don’t have to worry about that for at least 5 more months :-) I hope you guys have a good Spring Break. Yep that was crazy when we saw snow on the TV screen. Well only in Utah, LOL. We did have a baptism yesterday. It was Salatiel´s niece from Sao Joaquim, the area that I was in. The person wanted my comp to baptize her so he did. The new area that I am in is very hilly. UPS AND DOWNS, but very good and cool. It is not as hot as Sao Joaquim. Well things are going much better with the comp and area. WE are finding many people to teach. Keep praying that our investigators will pray and read the Book of Mormon and go to church and will have the desire to be baptized. Have a good week and hope work is going good. I am excited to see the basement and what you guys have done. That is cool that Matt will work at the Temple. I think that is a very good job for him to do at the Temple. I really thought about him during conference. Well he will do good and I know that Heavenly Father is aware of his needs. Don’t worry too much, the Lord will help you guys. I really felt that during this conference. I loved President Monson’s talk about going to the Temple. Go to the Temple as often as you can. That is really one blessing that I miss. I love the Temple and I am glad that we are sealed as a family and that we can live together forever. I am so grateful that we have a temple so close to our house I can’t wait to go back in 5 months. Well have a good week and I will definitely pray for Matt and the Temple. I love you and thanks for everything.
Elder Shelley

Oi,
Well things are going. This week I got sick and had to stay in the house for a couple days. I found out I have some problems with my intestines but I am taking medicine so things will be good. It is still a little hard with my comp. There are times when he will just throw my ideas down the drain, puts a cold bucket of water. It is kind of frustrating at times. I am still trying to love him and help him. It is really hard. The only thing he is excited for is P-Day. I am trying to stay excited but it is hard because he is not and I don’t know how to explain it. Well things will go better, I know they will. I can’t wait for Conference. It is the last on the mission. I can’t wait to get home and be able to watch it at home in regular clothes. LOL.

Well things are going okay. It is like starting over with Investigators and trying to teach people. It is hard in the new area to teach people. They just don’t want to hear the message and when they do they don’t want us to come back. Well that sounds like things are going well for you guys. Well I am trying my best to do my best. This morning we played soccer and basketball. Boy I really stink at basketball. The ward here is really good. The members help a lot more. Well nothing really new. The members from my old area are taking care of the mother and daughter. Here this week, we are going to send to LZ´s to do an interview and hopefully she will be baptized.

I hope you have a good week. I am feeling a whole lot better. Well have a good one.
Elder Shelley

Transferred to Franca!

Oi,
Well I got transferred with Elder Peterson to Franca. It is where we would go for district meeting. Well I hope that it will make him a little more excited to do the work. Well my week was okay. There were a few birthday parties we went to here. Well I am really going to miss the people in Sao Joaquim. Well things are going for me. Saturday and Sunday I got sick. It started Saturday after lunch. I started to get a headache and then my back ached. Then it was like my whole body was aching also. I felt really sick. Well that night I could not sleep and I threw up at 2 in the morning and I felt a little better. Then yesterday I felt a little sick also. I am doing much better now. I hope things are going well for you guys. That is good that BYU is going to the sweet 16. Man I really miss watching basketball, it is all soccer here. I celebrated 1 year and 6. I bought some fireworks and they were pretty cool. I have some videos of me burning my pants. Well that was a fun day. I hope things are going well for you guys. I love you and thanks for everything. Well Sao Joaquim closed for one transfer. Have a good week and if you need anything just let me know.

Elder Shelley

A Year and 6 Months!!

Mom,
This week, I went to a birthday party for Salatiel, he is a member here. He is really cool, he helps us out a lot. Me and my comp bought fireworks and I did not get trunky.

Well this week was a little rough. It is hard to keep my comp excited about the work, he just wants to leave. Well then yesterday we tried getting people to church and no one came. We tried picking up 5 young women that we taught earlier and they were still asleep and that was rough because we had two members helping. Well this is the second week that we have had no one at church.

Wednesday I hit a year and 6, I can’t believe it. Well it has rained everyday this past week. Yep it is normal here. Well I hope you guys have a good day and week. If you need anything just let me know. That is good that you guys did good on the talks, the thing that matters is that it is over. Well, I am excited to see Matt’s room and the basement when I get home. He sounds excited. Thanks for everything.

Oh Salatiel wants to meet Matt. He asked me if you guys are coming to pick me up and I said I don’t know because I told him that if yes it would only be you and dad. I kind of want to do something as a family. It would be a lot of money if all of you guys came to Brazil. I think it would be fun, but it would be a lot of money. This family really wants to meet you guys someday. Well we will see what happens. Well have a good one. I love you a whole bunch.
Elder Shelley