Week 83 February 11, 2008

Family,

This week was a really good week for me. My new companion’s name is Elder Santiago. He’s from Salvador Bahia. He has a lot of desire to work it’s incredible. It’s been a lot of fun teaching him about the mission and what we do each day and what’s expected of us. Looking at him reminds me of when I first arrived here on the mission. I remember that I was always really tired when it was time to study in the morning. Elder Santiago also says the hardest thing on the mission is staying awake during study time. In Santa Maria, we had a meeting with the trainers and the new missionaries and we had a big breakfast. I ate cereal for the first time in a long time. Here it’s really expensive and with how much I eat cereal, it wouldn’t last me one day to buy a box here. It was really nice to eat a good breakfast there. Also Elder Luciano is training too so I got to talk with him again for a while.

That’s awesome that you all had waffle night at Grandma’s house. I definitely miss having waffles with maple syrup.

I got two packages this week. One that you guys sent and one from Jason’s parents. They sent me some chocolate and some little toys and a letter thanking me for being a good friend to Jason. It was so nice of them to send me that.

I’m having such a great time on the mission. When I went to Santa Maria to pick up my new companion, I met a lot of Elders there at the bus station and I realized how many friends I have and how many good people I know.

Thanks for the support you all give me. I really really appreciate it. Have a great week everyone!

I love you all!!

Mom,

Thanks for telling me about the talks at church. I love it when you do that. Well I’ve got some new news for you and I hope you don’t get mad but I’ve been thinking about you coming here to Brazil and I don’t know now if I want it to happen. I’m really sorry I know this sounds strange. What we would end up doing is traveling to the areas that I passed through and visiting the people I baptized and some of the members. The only thing is that the people I’d love to see, I am fine writing letters too and I don’t know if it would be worth the trouble of you coming her alone even if it is completely safe. I don’t know why I’ve changed my mind but I think I’d rather go with you somewhere after the mission. We wouldn’t have to worry about the travel situations and what nights where we’d sleep at and stuff. I would love to see the people I’ve baptized again but I’ll be able to use msn and a webcam or cell phone to be able to talk to them just fine. Sorry for all this Mom. To tell you the truth I just wrote a letter telling you that I’d love you have you come here but something just came over me and I’ve been sitting here in this seat for the last 10 minutes just thinking about it all and I feel like I should change my mind. As I’m writing this letter to you I feel a lot of peace and I feel like I’m making the right choice in calling it off. I’m sorry for doing this to you mom I really am. Could you do me a favor though and pray to see if this is the right thing too and let me know next week how you feel about it. Thanks mom for everything. Have a great week and I’m sorry again for getting you excited in coming here and then changing my mind.

I love you infinity!!!
Elder Fowler