Pictures from the Referal Center

No email this week, but Jesse did send some pictures of him and his companions at the referral center...

Elder Williams

Elder Baird

Elder Tucker...

Elder Boardman & Elder Williams

Good Week

Hey, the weather has been so good this week! Nothing like Provo Utah in the summer time, I actually feel like I’m back in Brazil at night cause I sleep with a fan on high and with one sheet. Wymount is great, I think they need to get some air though…. I can’t believe I am complaining about that after spending so much time in Maceio. Anyway I can’t sleep very well at night, I don’t know if it’s my cough keeping me up… or Elder Tucker’s cough… or Elder Boardman’s cough. Or just the new change I don’t know I’ve found that Drowsy Allergy pills put me out and help with the scratchy throat. I sound like I’m deathly ill… I’m not I feel like anyone who comes in here will catch something.
I love the devotionals here, I get to be front row at some of the coolest devotionals ever, last night was Elder John H. Groberg … The other side of Heaven. Him and Sister Groberg spoke (Jean) They seem like great people, they are great people they’ve done so much good.
Today we went bowling again… I think next week is miniature Golf though so that will be nice, we have got another Elder in here Elder Baird, he got sent home after 4 months in England and had knee surgery… He should be going back out soon. Although they are talking about expanding this mission President Allen wants him to stay. It’s a fun bunch of guys. The 2 that have been here the longest are from Utah, Elder Boardman and Elder Tagg. Delta and Spanish Fork.
The tanning has been effective, I feel better I am pretty sure that the prednisone kept me in check and coming off has made things a little bumpy, but, all is well. They’ll take care of it.
The mail is so different wow, quick, the news is news instead of olds, They have unlimited Granola here, and laundry is much different I’ve got it good as far as all that goes.
We have some great investigators, one guy who is blind has been loving all the lessons, he actually investigated the Church sometime ago and was really rude to the missionaries, but he talked with a member and his views were changed and Then we somehow got a hold of him and he has committed to be baptized in three weeks, The biggest thing here that I am coming to realize is the experiences are different but the Spirit is the same, and I don’t think I’d trade one for the other… if I get reassigned here or anywhere or back to Brazil I am alright with it. I’ll do what I’m told.
This last week in Priesthood I was able to give a lesson, on the first lesson… That was fun I hope you all know I love you.
Until next week, I’ll probably have to call you tomorrow Mom.
Bye!

The Comforts of the MTC

Since the first day here I have been in a threesome, one of my companions, Elder Sagebin spoke Portuguese, which was really neat, He left for Portugal yesterday, actually kind of sad He was a fun kid. My other companions name is Elder Boardman, he is a great guy and always happy. He is the boardmaster, literally in the internet chats (what I’m doing) he is in charge of everything. He has muscular dystrophy, which means basically muscles don’t build, Elder Boardman is the FIRST RC full-time missionary… He had actually received a call to Seattle Washington, When the President of that mission found out about his disability, he said his body wouldn’t be able to handle normal missionary work, the news got back to President Hinckley, and he said it’s time like that People with his disability serve full time… Anyway, to me he is a big deal. And to a lot of people here, everyone knows him, My new other companion’s name is Elder Tucker, he has muscular dystrophy as well, He will be trained here and then go home to finish out his mission, from a computer at home. He is really really funny, they both are actually, it’s like I’m living with the two funniest people on the face of the Planet, and seriously they have really good sense of humors.

We live off Campus at Wymount, good place… It’s comfortable.. by the way, can I ask who brought over the Krispy Kreame’s last night? P-day is for sure different, I never ever thought I’d go to fat cats as a day activity, but, it was pretty awesome, some how I lost both games though… I don’t think I’ve ever been so hot a bowling. That was a good time. So if I am still here when Steven gets home he better be sent down Wednesday at about eleven, to see me just by chance. Ok that’s Wednesday morning afternoon ish.

So, I’d be lying if I said I’ve got the groove of things here, I don’t. I’m learning though, there are a lot of similarities of here and being out in the field as far as teaching goes, I don’t do phone work, I spend most of my time responding to Portuguese email’s and chat, chat is basically like a normal appointment you would have in the field, but the people seem to be way more interested because they find you. Instead of you finding them. I’m not as good as some of the Elders here, to tell the truth I have always had this thing about internet correlation, and finding it hard to believe you can love through that kind of connection, but this is really opening my eyes, not only to the power of words, but also to see that there is no distance to the spirit. Since Elder Boardman has been on board… haha… um he has helped 50 people be baptized, that’s truly amazing. I feel like this has a lot of potential. I have felt a little forgotten since I’ve been here, I’m just now starting to “do” stuff I have done a lot of sitting around which I didn’t like but I feel like I’m starting to help out now. I really do have awesome companions though, they are both wheelchair ridin. This gives me a good opportunity to help out, with simple things… I will never take myWorking body for nothing. They are just awesome I attend the pleasant view 1st ward, I am liking that, I did see a bunch of people here I know, Seeing Ryan was SOOO funny, he just Kept saying “UH HUH” like take that Jesse, Kevin Lloyd was also comical, he was shocked to see me. They are both gone now . I just keep seeing a lot of ramdon familiar faces. I haven’t really explained my situation to to many people for the most part I just tell them I’ve been here a week.

Gym time is great, and the equipment is nice, and it doesn’t get much better than 4 square. The adjustment being so close to home, with this barrier is hard… but I’m doing alright. I do miss you all, I think I took being able to just chat for granted, I do have some good news, checking Email everyday is ok for me so if anyone has something importantish to say feel free to drop a line.

Elder Boardman has been feeling a little ill these past few days, he is a machine I hear, this is the first time he’s let a sickness get in the way of work, I made him go to the Doctor’s though, and get checked for swine flu…twice. Came back negative, both times, things are looking good, he’s just got a bug I guess/ I honestly made him go for both our sakes. haha selfish

Well I love you all once again, Elder Williams

Thanks so much for the guitar MOM I love you, I hope you are happy, You were pretty tough in front of me I was very impressed. I hope you have a great time with the visitors sorry I couldn't be there with you to get you through it.
Kristen Thanks for the Treats! Man I love those, for sure I’ll be a chub now.
Tawny I hope camp is fantastic! I bet you are loving it. Tell me all about it ok? I’m pretty sure I see every 26 possible, I actually just saw one as I was typing that 26 and no, it’s not either of the 26’s on this paper it’s the digital clock on my desk. Love you

See You in ONE Year Elder!

Elder Williams was set apart, again, as a missionary for The Church tonight! He leaves tomorrow to Provo for a bit while he finishes up some of his treatments, and once he is done he will be called somewhere else. But even though he is close, we won't be able to see him again :(

It came kind of as a shocker that he was leaving so quickly, and we are sad that we aren't up there to give a proper goodbye. We are glad we got to spend some time with him, and that he got to meet Ty and bond with Easton through incessant teasing! And we are so happy that he gets to get back to work!

Family Time

Although this is definitely not was Jesse had in mind, spending his year mark of his mission at home with his family, it has been so great to see him and see the growth he has already made while serving the people in Brazil. Coming home meant he got to meet Ty for the first time and really bond with Easton. The whole time we were there Jesse made it a point to tease Easton, and for some reason Easton would just come back for more! They had a lot of fun together, but probably the highlight of the week was when Jesse took Easton & Ty shopping for some "stylin'" clothes. Jesse has always been, as he says, "ahead of the styles" so he wanted to teach the boys a thing or two about how to look good.