May 27, 2009

Family and Friends, the space bar here is driving me crazy, its all sticky and I have to manually lift it up. This Transfer is over, already, there is about 5 more days left.

This Saturday, A woman Named Aline who has 2 children, and is 24 and a single mom should be baptized, she has been an investigator that we've been working with ever since I was with Elder Da silva, Its been about 3 months.

I have come to the conclusion that missionaries are the most impatient people ever, that's actually not true. Me, for example, though I'm patient (and humble) I always want everyone's problems to be solved to the point where they are worthy for baptism in six weeks or less. Where that is very possible in a lot of the cases here in Brazil, sometimes it doesn’t work.

Aline has Been progressing slowly these last 3 months. So slowly that multiple Times my companions and I almost gave up on her, because we know there are people who are just ready to be baptized, and we don't want to let the people we are here for slip away. We've always been drawn back to her and both of us feel like she has something in store for her or her children. Well. 3 months isn't that long, but in missionary time it is, 3 months 8 times and I'm home. Aline is “finally” ready for baptism and desires it . I was astounded at my thinking that someone taking 3 months to enter the church is a long time. I don't really know how it is in other areas but heavenly Father knows me and I'm happy to be in a place where the people are so acceptive.

All my love elder Williams

This week Jose will get a wheel chair from the church. That'll be wonderful! Maura has to help him around because they can't afford a wheelchair, and if he is heavy for me imagine Grandma Maura. They don't know it's coming either, that'll be a good day.

Mom you aren’t letting Lauren drive… are you?. I can't picture her behind the wheel of a car. Don't send me a picture either.

Tawny , Pounders, careful. The waves are really cool how the break so closely to the shore. I didn't see turtles when I was there though. Lucky. There 20 pound frogs here though. Amphibians! are sea turtles reptiles or amphibians? I think they are reptiles ha yeah a frog is not even close. I'm sure they are reptiles actually that’s so cool though.
Tchou Tawny Eu espero que sua ultima semana LA em Hawaii é ou seja (Sei não Eu me esqueci se é ou seja é certa, que vergonha) maravilhosa. I think they both work

Hey!

This last week has been great, Except for Friday morning, I had a blood test, Yikes, hate that. I had to play it cool though I was with some guy I had just met for the first time. I'm so bad with blood I don't know why. I was pretty pale and sweaty afterward. The nice man who sat with me through it got a kick out of it.

Well, This "sickness" that I have is way too out of hand. Beneath my eyelids it’s a little rosy and my arms. No biggie, nothing I would imagine could send me home. But the problem is the medicine I'm taking is too strong to stay on. It could be bad if I stay on the medicine, like I could grow a third eyeball or something ugly like that. If it were up to me though I'd just keep taking the pills. Anyway I don’t want anyone to think I’m suffering OK.

As I was saying this last week has been great. We Baptized José, which was so neat. His wife Maura has been a member for a little over a month, she's the who found Elder Da Silva and I. Her brother Is the owner of another church and has been pretty hard on her, but through her tribulations she has respected and followed her Heart. We taught them about eternal families and José wanted to be baptized too! He has a hard time speaking and walking but with the help of the Bishop’s car we've have been able to get him to and from church.

The actual baptismal service was different. Elder Vasconcelos said the prayer and I held him in my arms and submerged him. I was afraid he would have a hard time holding his breath… also for just bones he's pretty heavy. All went so perfectly though. And aside from José's disabilities he is always always always happy, afterward Maura grabbed my hand And said “amo voce”. I'm starting to just barely understand the complete happiness this gospel brings. I've been smiling ever since.

I hope there is no unnecessary worry for me . I love you all thanks for the support.

Elder Williams

Elder Williams...

Hello Dear Family & Friends

I received a call yesterday from Elder Wilson, the mission Dr. in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He called me to inform me that he has been treating Jesse for the last 6-7 weeks for a case he has diagnosed as Chronic Urticaria (Hives) that possibly could be in the bloodstream, which makes it Vasculitis ( a very serious condition to deal with in Brazil). He told me that they would be making the decision about Jesse remaining in Brazil over the next couple of days, and that he would be in touch with me to keep me updated. He said, Jesse’s spirits have been good, he is working, and they are doing the best that they can. I don’t have too much information yet, but I spoke with the Dr. around 4:00 today and he said, that over the past 36 hours Jesse has made some improvement. They were able to decrease the medicine and keep him stabilized, which they haven’t been able to do over the last several weeks. He said he was “Cautiously Optimistic” and has moved the departure papers off to the side for a moment. He needs to have blood work done quickly, and this is a difficult thing to do in the area where Jesse is. The Mission President’s wife, Sis Beynon, has been working hard to schedule lab work for Jesse.

Thank you to you all for keeping him in your prayers and fasting for him. We will continue to update you as quickly as we get the information from Brazil. We appreciate all of your love and concern.

Love

LeeLee

Sister Williams,

I spoke with Elder Williams tonight. He is well, he had prepared an e-mail, but timing and closure of his e-mail site early prevented him from sending it. He is very sorry! He continues to do better than expected in regard to recurrence of his rash. He is scheduled for his blood work on Friday. We probably will not have any data until Monday.

Try and not worry. In my opinion he is doing better than expected. His Spirits are up!

He sends his love.

Elder Wilson

Happy Mother's Day For Reals...

I don't know if anybody noticed but i was super excited for the phone call last week, because I was thinking a week ahead. I thought last week as I was writing that email that mother's day was this passed Sunday, anyway, I have a number here I do not know the country code to Brazil, but the state code is (82) the phone I would like you to call is 33542349 ( yes phone numbers here have eight numbers.)
(82)33542349
Call around 3 o'clock in the afternoon it'll be six my time and if you don’t call I'll find a calling card and call mom's cell phone. Deal. I hope the timing will work out.

This last week has been really good, testimony meeting was maravilha, I think every member had something to say, even one of our investigators bore her testimony. And aside from the huge rain storm the chapel was full! The highest count since I've been here.

I have a question I heard of a flu and it sounds like it is pretty bad in México, I am on the lds site and they say the missionaries in the mtc will stay there until further notice but I see nothing about whats going on with the missionaries who are already there… I´m worried about two very good friends I have down there. I hope things are a ok.

Well I'm, ecstatic to speak with you all it'll pass faster than personal study. have a wonderful few days,
love elder Williams,

here is another number if the first doesn´t work, give the first a chance though.
(82)91323864
Kathy thanks so much for the email and filling me in, I really appreciate the support I am happy to hear the family is doing well
Tawny I don’t think you ever told me if you decided to take surfing for P.E. I love how casual it is there, yesterday you just went snorkeling with giant turtles, is there a law against touching the turtles? Breaking the law or not That’s so cool! Have another great week ! be safe.

The family while talking to Elder Williams that Mother's Day