Week 55 August 1, 2007

Hey Family!

Well I’m sitting here next to Elder Christiansen. He’s almost finishing his mission here and he lives in Idaho. He says that maybe one day he’ll go and visit the family.

So has dad talked about the camera thing yet? I talked to Cleber and he says that he’d love to do it. He’ll send the money to you guys to buy it and he’ll take the risk of it getting lost.

Well we had our first Zone Conference with the new president and a lot of things have changed. First of all, P-day is now on Monday. A lot of missionaries were happy. They said that none of their family was writing them because Tuesday night was so busy for them but now Sunday night is the night before P-day and there is no excuse. I laughed and thought about how good you all are at writing me even when you’re all busy. Thanks again for the time you all put in! During the meeting, he also changed a lot of the ways we teach. It was a very surprising and exciting meeting. He’s very very nice and we’re all excited for the things that are happening.

The baptism this Saturday was really interesting. We filled up the font the day before. Then Saturday morning we walked to the church at 6:30 to turn on the heater. Every baptism before had problems with the water and we didn’t want any problems with Lauren- she’s a nine year old skinny girl that wouldn’t be able to handle cold water. So we turned on the heater really early in the morning and then went back home to study. Before lunch we went to check on it and it did hardly anything.

Long story short we called some people to check on it and there was hardly any gas in the tanks. Also there wasn’t a store in the city that had the kind of gas tank that we needed to heat the water. So one of the member’s from that point on started boiling water in a big 20 liter container and pouring it into the baptismal font.

They found a place that could bring a replacement but they arrived only 40 minutes before the baptism. The water that comes out of the pipes is really close to freezing and there was no way that they would heat up in time. We talked to the kids and told them that if they want to be baptized in cold water they can, but if not it’s their choice. They all agreed to be baptized, even Lauren! I baptized Emerson (15 anos) and Vagner baptized Lauren and Jackson. It was a very great meeting but the water was freezing.

At the Zone Conference Irma Rosa came to see me again. She brought me a present- a pair of thermal socks. I got to talk to her and her daughter Manuele for about 10 minutes. Elder Luciano is still in Alegrete so I got to see him again too.

This week we taught a dentist. She is a friend of the branch president from the other branch. She’s very catholic but she seemed to enjoy the lesson.

Well we’re going to go and play soccer here in a little bit so I’ve got to go. This Monday I’ll be able to write you all again. Have a great few days and I’ll talk to you on Monday!!!

I love you infinity!!!
Elder Fowler