Yesterday was Sunday, and the day before was Monday... right???

Those are the only days that I EVER remember in the week. I remember the first and last days of every week and the week just fly’s by!!!
YIKES!

My week basically sucked... we didn’t get to get any work done pretty much and our baptisms fell through. Monday we had dinner with Edinea and it was the best food I have had here! It was wonderful! She made food for over 15 people I swear! She made a LOT! haha. But it was really good and really fun to answer her questions that she had and she said to say hello to you guys! She also told Connor that she will get him a sweet hat. She already gave it to me and Connor will like it. It’s a really cool one. Promise!

Tuesday, sat in the house all day with Elder Castro. We literally just sat there until 8:40 that night then we went to our house. He hurt his foot really bad and the others needed to work really bad. Wednesday until Saturday is pretty much explained Elder Carrell arriving here again with his new comp then the next day going back to Londrina because sister told him too. He will not come back again which is sad.... But his comp stayed with us and was just transferred yesterday. Crazy week with figuring out what would happen this week.

So story time.... normal weekly thing by now... haha

1. We live right next to the train tracks here and it is ANNOYING. We wake up at least 20 times every night.... But anyways, everynight when we go home we have to cross the tracks. It’s super funny because we are walking towards the tracks and if we hear the train in the distance coming we start running. This week we ran SUPER fast because it was close. The thing is... the train is super long and goes like 5mph.... It’s quite frustrating when we get stuck on the other side. haha.

2. Imagine this... CREEPIEST thing ever. I was sleeping when all of a sudden I hear 3 pounds REALLY loud. I look at the clock and its 3:30 in the morning. I looked around and everyone was sleeping in the room. I was like... I am probably just hearing things. haha. But sure enough, I wasn’t... I looked at the door because I can see the door from my bed and all of a sudden, 3 more pounds and the door was shaking. Someone was knockin on our DOOR! It was so creepy. I literally just waited a while and ended up falling asleep after. But it was crazy. We have a gate around our whole house with a lock but I am thinking it could have been someone trying to talk to our neighbor in back. haha.

3. We talked to more interesting people this week... haha. This one guy said God cloned himself and he is 28 beings now... Interesting theory I must say. haha.

4. Another interesting person... haha. We were teaching this guy and he seemed AWESOME! This guy was so interested and everything was going awesome. Then at the end we challenged him to pray about the things and he just simply says... No... That was a new experience. Normally they just lie and say yes here... haha. It made me chuckle.

So I got the package and it was perfect you put those shirts in there! I was going to ask to have a shirt sent for Elder Delgadillo, because he loves Google and wanted one. Guess who happened to stay at our house THAT NIGHT! Him... haha. So it was perfect. He is now in my area which is really fun to have him. He loved the shirt!

I got to noticing something this week that was really crazy. I notice more and more how true this church is every week. This week I started to realize how something always seems to happen during the first vision EVERYTIME. Either a phone call, some kid crying or just something is happening. It is crazy though. It’s so tough but honestly a testimony builder because the fact that I know the opposition is trying to stop them from knowing because he knows it’s true too. I know for a fact this church is true without a doubt and this opportunity to be a missionary is one I would NEVER give up. I love being a missionary and a representative of Jesus Christ. Share the gospel with EVERYONE! It’s the best thing you can give ANYONE!!!

I love you all so much! Thank you for all you do!
Smile lots!
Até mais!
-Elder Millett

ps. the huge spiders in our house say hello... they are HUGE!

Long yet fast week!

So I am just in a good mood this week! Everything seems like it is going well at home! All this week was rejection after rejection... It was great. haha. Anyways... Starting off with those questions.... (My questions are in parenthesis.

(Loved the picture of your zone with the ties.  What does the symbol mean that you made from the ties?)
-So that symbol you can ask ANY MISSIONARY about.  It’s the symbol for baptism.

(How is Ronaldo and his family doing?  How's Edinea's family?)
-Ronaldo... this week was interesting with him. He was going crazy this week with drinking then finally one night I got inspiration to say a certain something to him and something changed in him. It’s a pretty personal story so I think I will share it when I come home. I have it written in my journal though. He stopped drinking! We gotta now work on the other stuff. You can just tell the entire family is so much happier too now! I am super excited for them. The mom was crying when we got there at first one night when he was drunk and explained how she just wants the entire family to be baptized and sealed in the temple. That just made me SOOOO excited! One more of their daughters was baptized this week. It was awesome. Only one more son, which has drug problems, and the parents! We can baptize the parents in ONE WEEK NOW! I am super excited!

-Edinea herself is doing awesome! She actually invited us to dinner at her house tonight which I am so excited. I am really looking forward to it tonight. She is loving every minute of church and said something really awesome the other day. She said... I got baptized and I will stay firm in the church til the day I die. She also said, I want everyone to have this gospel and I will try and share it with EVERYONE, even if I feel uncomfortable doing it. I was so happy! She said she invited us to dinner because we did so much for her, it’s the least she can do. She is just such an awesome lady! We are going to be eating with the family tonight it sounds like so I hope we will get to teach them the first lesson tonight. We will see!

(How was the Brazilian all you can eat buffet?)
-Always awesome. We are going back again today! haha. I am so excited because it is so cheap! haha. And we are poor here...

(Have you had the chance to play the piano at all on your mission?  Do many members play?)
We don’t have any members in our ward that play. The problem is I haven’t been to a full thing of church since 8 weeks back because we are always running to find investigators before church. I have played before for everyone. Super nerve wracking! haha. I don’t like doing it... haha.

Anyways, today is transfers and I haven’t gotten an email and neither has anyone else received an email for where they are going. So as of now I have no idea if I am staying here or going to another place or what. Confusion with the new secretary...

But my week, I had some great and crummy experiences. Another week of just getting shut down in every possible way. It was so annoying but I am still happy no worries! We had our 3 best investigators just totally deny everything. 2 even received answers that everything was true! I can’t believe it! It was heart breaking for me to watch such good people deny such a good thing. Then of course, we had a baptism this week lined up and everything then it fell through because of the grandma. I was so upset because instead of telling us at the beginning of the week he didn’t want to be baptized he told us at the END of the week, Saturday and wasted every day for us. One day we had to wait for him at his house over an HOUR! it was annoying. But I made that little video for you guys I hope you get a little laugh. haha. This week just wasn’t the best. But did have some good improvement here. We got 55 in church this week! I was so excited! That is the highest attendance in a long time. It is so tough here with the people staying active. But we are working on reactivating right now!

Story time!!!!

-So we have a member who has a daughter-in-law that was at lunch with us this week and she can’t speak Portuguese! It was so weird! She spoke Spanish. But it was so cool to see because I could understand pretty much ALL of it! I was so surprised. It was a cool thing though because people say Portuguese is a pointless language but I can now understand Spanish because of it! It was a really fun lunch though.

-We talked to another religion about beliefs and this guy would not let us go until he proved everything right. It was so annoying... but a lot of fun. We kinda bible bashed a little. I will repent though don’t worry! haha. But it is just crazy all the things some people believe here. I just can’t wrap my mind around how someone could believe that only 144,000 people are going to be saved after this life. It was a crazy thought and the guy even believed that he wouldn’t be saved. I am learning not only a lot about the LDS Church here, but a lot about other churches too. It is crazy!

-I got proposed to 2 times in one day!... It was interesting. Literally we were talking and in the lesson this girl goes, will you take me to the United States and we can get married there? I was like... WKljsglksj (Not sure what he means here)... that’s all the reaction I could give. I was speechless! I had no idea what to say! But it happened again that same day with another girl. We are the first American companionship to be in this area for 3 years president said. So that might be why... After she said that, we wrapped up the lesson and cleared out of there. Haha. It was really funny though. I got a good laugh after all was said and done.

-So that picture I sent of me in front of the church... We did our studying there because we were out and our house is really far away from where we were. Anyways, sitting there this old man with no teeth came up and just started preaching about Mary and stuff from the bible. It was super funny. He would say something then reach out for a handshake after EVERYTHING he said. It was HILARIOUS! I loved it! We listened for a good 30 minutes and saw no sign of stopping. He then said it was his birthday this Sunday, (yesterday) so I told him, hey you want a present really cool?! It is the best present I can give you! He was so excited! I then told him we have church on the day of his birthday and that it would be the best birthday of his life there! Yeah he didn’t go... but it’s all good! We get a good kick out of talking with people like him. A little crazy....

But this week has been different. Only 2 of us in the house because we have Elder Carrell in Londrina because he has been sick like this whole transfer and Elder Castro went with the other ZL in Centro. It was a very different week. But it was good. These weeks just pass by so fast here and I can’t believe it. We are so busy I have no time to think about anything else but the work we are doing then I look at what day it is... it’s already the 20th! Loko! Time is just speeding by. I have been gone for a long time already!

Well we will see if this next week goes better or what happens. We will see... haha. I am going to learn how to make a few things with a member this week including the BEST cheesy bread you have ever had. I will get to make it for you when we get home! It is so wonderful the bread here! 10 times better than anything we have in the states. But it should be fun.

Don’t got much more time so I gotta go! But thank you for the letters and the support! I especially love in this last email the picture of Connor doing the superman pose (he has gotta fill my roll in the family for 2 years haha) and ESPECIALLY the one of that adorable little doll Dantzel! She is so freakin cute! haha. I gave the monitor a big hug... yeah a little weird I know.

Te-amo tudo mundo!
Take care!

Com amor, Elder Millett!

Wow, What a week!

Anyways, this week was great and had a lot of struggles! it was one of those times I just wondered why I was here and things like that. I had a really good talk with Elder Carrell that night though and it's always good to have those talks. Things are honestly tough here. First thing that has just been really getting to me is people just lying straight to our face. It just gets really upsetting when they are doing that to us and all we want to know is the truth. Like honestly, one house we had gone to the mom doesn't like us but the rest of the family is awesome. We had gone there 3 weeks already trying to see the husband and all but it was always the mom answering, or ignoring us. haha. Anyways, we clapped the gate and literally she just shut the door. Then literally we just waited a little longer and she came out and started cleaning the front porch. We yelled to her asking how she was and if anyone was home, and she ignored us... Anyways, the next day we came back and she was outside. We got talking to her and this was the last time we will ever speak with that family. We got there and she straight up said to us, oh I couldn't hear you probably. She was 10 feet away from us. It just gets redic these little lies... haha.

So the week started out rough this week. Me and Elder Halpin just got in a huge argument. I literally was so upset so I just called the District Leader and we did a division for the day. It was a really good division too. I learned a lot of things and I got a break from my comp. But we came back and worked everything out. We even had interviews with the president this week about everything and I spoke about our relationship as comps but literally after that, I haven't had nothing but good to say about him and he speaks good about me now. It's so much better working with him now and I am getting along really well with him. It is crazy. Finally now that we only have one more week together maybe... haha. I don't know. We will see what happens for transfers!

We had a huge problem this week with finding people to teach which was so tough. All of our investigators that we had told us not to come back or others we just had to give up on. It was rough. So we literally spent another day just clapping at the gates. We got to talk with a TON of Jehovah witness people. It just was a crazy day. We taught this guy too which was LOKO! We asked him, do you know a church with 12 apostles on the earth today? He was like... I am a church. I am the prophet, the 12 apostles and everything else. You can just imagine all the other things he said... he was just not there fully in the head I decided...

Some great stories for the week....

1. FIrst, we met the craziest drunk man! We were walking down the street and he goes, I want to stop drinking! So of course we talked with him. We want to help him stop so we were there for a little talking then all of a sudden.... He was like... are you Americans?!?! He was so fascinated with the fact that we are Americans that he started screaming, I AM TALKING TO AMERICANS! haha. He was so excited. He wanted our autograph and everything. He kept following us after that and we could not get rid of him. It was so freakin tough. We finally had to run from him.... oh the joys of missionary work.

2. I was out in the middle of nowhere this week after dark. We got permission to go out to this place out in the middle of nowhere (the farms). Me and Elder Denna were out there just to visit one family which took 2 and a half hours to get out there. It was pitch black but amazing out there. It felt like I was in Idaho again. This whole place just makes me feel like I am in Idaho. Elder Denna was also very grateful that my wonderful mom got me such a nice flashlight that I always have with me. Just so you know! haha.

So more that happened, I taught my first Sunday school lesson ever this week and my first ever in Portuguese... Very difficult... haha. I did not do too bad though it sounded like from what Edinea said after. She is just the sweetest lady ever. We went there on Friday and the first thing she said to us was, Elders, I would like to do a fast for my family so they can listen to your message and understand why I am doing this. This lady is just AWESOME! I am so proud of her and Bruno too! 8 year old Bruno that we baptized also gave the prayer in sacrament meeting even! It was super awesome. I literally was shocked at how great of a prayer it was! I just am so grateful for them and they are a huge example to me!

I got another family that for sure needs the help of prayer. So I would ask you would pray for them... The family of Ronaldo. He is having the toughest time and we are trying to help them. He is not doing very well in work and they got kicked out of their house. They are now living in our area. The 4 kids were baptized but the parents can't be baptized because they are not married as of now. It was really sad the other night because he asked us for help with food. We talked to members and they helped with food and they are making it along barely. He really wants to be baptized and be married legally to his wife but the other night he came home super drunk. It was a terrible experience because that night he just literally was so sad about everything that was going on and is trying so hard. Please pray for them! The kids and family are just super awesome!

I love you all so much. Glad to know you are all having so much fun without me! haha. Its so freakin hot here right now and it's just crazy! Walking a ton here also! I can't wait. We are going to hit up the all you can eat for 2.50 here after then SLEEPING! Can't wait! Well and some more letter writing... haha.

I love you all!
Te-amo e até mais!
Elder Millett

ELA FOI BATIZADO!!!!

In the center of the city... it's huge!

Edinea foi batizado!

Edinea got baptized this week! It was a super awesome week because she is just super awesome hands down! I literally am so happy and I had the chance to baptize her! I loved it. It was just a wonderful day. So basically gotta tell you how the week for her went down... So first she had told us how all these people were fighting her pretty much not to be baptized. The problems just started there. The boyfriend in particular. She told the boyfriend how things had to be now and he broke up with her. She literally said it didn’t bother her at all that he broke up with her, because she has what is important in life, and that’s God. I told her I had a pretty similar experience leaving everything at home and all too. She says every day, say hello to your family and let them know I will feed you if you are ever starving so they can know their kid is taken care of! haha. Then her family was saying bad things about the church and she literally just bore her testimony and her mom wants to come to church now. Her heart was softened drastically because she wouldn’t even talk to us. She even had friends talking bad about the church and she ended up losing a lot of those friends because she didn’t want that in her life she said. She was just GLOWING when she got baptized. She was so happy and this week went really good for her. I know for a fact she was prepared by our Heavenly Father to receive the gospel at this time. It’s just everything literally fit together and only fit because the lord put us in her path.

Bruno was also super happy and said just how much happier they are with the gospel. (her son) and every time he sees us runs up to us and says, “Thank you so much for baptizing my mom and helping her and I be so happy”. That kid bout made me cry! He is awesome and has some new friends in the church and loves it!

Anyways, besides that this week was crazy.... Here are some stories....

1. Plain and simple almost got bit 3 times by a dog. We were tracting and seriously none of the places there had gates so the dogs were just really territorial.... it was a close call. I might have hit a dog with a rock this week too.... but hey, who’s judging! (Everyone probably after reading this... haha)

2. We were out tracting in that area on Wednesday. We were talking to this lady who clearly wasn’t anywhere near Mormon and these two guys came around the corner. One of the guys had a big brick of some sort of drugs and the other one, loading a gun.... yeah that’s a red flag right? I said to Elder Halpin, after finishing talking to the lady, let’s get out of here. And he goes; “Elder we have more houses to knock here”. He had a freakin gun and was acting super sketchy. I did the normal thing anyone would have done and made Elder Halpin leave. haha. He thinks he is invincible....

3. I played an accordion for the first time in my life today. Bruno had it and I WANT ONE! haha. They are a lot of fun. I played “Come Thou Fount” and it was a lot of fun. Random pointless story, but was really fun.

4. We were walking along the road in this kinda ghetto area at night when this guy stopped us and was like hey! MORMONS! STOP! We were like awwhhh shoot.... we gunna die. haha. But he walks over and says this... Hey Elder Millett, can I use your shoulder real quick so I can adjust my sandals? I was like, what?  haha. It was so random. He then continued to talk to us and did a line of drugs in his hand right in front of me, then was like... anyone giving you troubles around here I can take care of? You are always welcome in my area. I run this area! It was super random! We just said thank you and now we basically see him daily... haha

5. These kids we had talked to the week before were out on the side of the road and called us over. (8 o clock at night) They were listening to music and all of it was American. Anyways, we got talking and the mom of them said to go sell this cocaine and they can use the money to buy candy. These kids were younger then Connor! It was like.... what the heck is going on here! The fact they are so open with it too is crazy. But it was great, we taught about the word of wisdom to them and told them never to use those drugs... then an Eminem song came on that I really liked. I rapped the entire thing for them joking and they thought it was the COOLEST thing ever and were just screaming. It’s just they can’t understand any of it so they thought it was so cool. We are now gonna go over and teach the local drug dealer this week. Probably the 4th drug dealer we have taught on the mission so far! haha. I wanna baptize one!

So this week was pretty good though all in all. I loved the end result of the week especially. Now we have a super strong member in the branch here and I really want to get this branch frequency up while I am here! It is so bad! It’s like 40 every week. My goal is 80 by the end of the month. And I will make it happen! It was 45 this week so we will see how next week goes!

I am loving it here and am so glad to hear from everyone at home. I love letters. I got Connors this week and loved it! Seriously letters from family are the best! I have grown a different love for my family now that I am away and I just love hearing from everyone. Everyone asks me if I miss my family and I just say... Nope, in all honesty they would rather have me here. And I know it is true. Without my family supporting me and friends I really don’t think I could do this. Thank you so much! I love you all and continue to send lots of letters!!! I love letters!

Até mais todo mundo! [So long everybody.]

Te-amo!

Elder Millett