Dear family, it was wonderful to talk to some of you yesterday. I really enjoyed it. Sorry I got a little choked up at the end but it was so good to hear from you and I was so happy.
It is so cold here! I mean imagine the coldest Arizona day, then imagine that a little colder. But all the time. No heaters except in the cars. After I got off the phone with you I sat and chatted with my missionary friend and just waited. We boarded our plane and right before we boarded, a pilot took a picture of us outside the plane. Only in Brazil right? It was cool because in Campinas (The airport we were in) we boarded the planes like the Beatles did in the 60's. It was cool. I felt like a Beatle!
I was pretty nervous to go to Curitiba and to meet my mission President. I mean this is the place you dream about your whole life! And then you get your call and you research it and you dream about the President in your call packet and his wife. You dream about the temple, the people. It is nerve racking in all honesty.
We got off the plane retrieved our luggage and started walking to the lobby. I was nervous! Would he be there? What was going to happen? What were we going to do today? But as we walked out the door into the lobby, I saw Elder Jackson turn his head and get the biggest smile. And as I walked out and turned the corner, I saw President and his 2 assistants standing there. He came up to me and shook my hand and then gave me a huge hug and said "Welcome to the best mission in the entire world!"
For the first time in 2 months it felt like I was with family again. It was awesome! We walked outside and he snapped a picture of us and then one with us. Then we went in a van. We chatted with one of the assistants and they took us to the Curitiba temple. They snapped another picture of us and we loaded back into the van. Then we went to the President´s house. They live in an apartment building. I think it´s owned by the church. We went to his floor and on his front door was a big sign that said welcome to the best mission in the world new missionaries. We walked in and sat on the couches. It kind of smelt like the Wilcock's house. I liked it. From there, the missionary in charge of finances started talking to us about our new card. Then we had an orientation, a small one. All this was going on while President Araujo was having interviews with us. He poked his head out the door, got a huge grin and pointed at me "Elder Askins" he smiled, "English or Portuguese?"
He laughed while I walked in his office. Of course it was in English. We talked about things. About my wonderful family and about what things I did before my mission and why I was serving a mission. He is such a great man. After the interviews were finished, we took pictures with President and Sister Araujo. Then we washed up and had a wonderful lunch. President Araujo said to eat up because tomorrow was P-day and we probably wouldn´t eat very good. Hahaha he loves to joke.
He told us that if we wanted to be the best missionaries we needed to be 100% obedient and to work as hard as we can. He told us that this past month, they made a goal to have 200 hundred baptisms and the had 201 baptisms! How cool is that?! Elder Nelson was right when he said "It´s the Lord´s time for Brazil."
After lunch we went to the chapel and as we waited for the meeting to start, I heard President Araujo jamming out on the piano to Joseph Smith´s First Prayer. That´s when it clicked, the way he acted, the way he dressed, the way he played the piano. He reminded me of grown-up version of Chad! It was so cool. We had an orientation meeting and I met my trainer, Elder Savage. He´s been out one year and six months. He is a great missionary.
We are in a suburb called Cheebow (That´s not how you spell it, but that´s the way it sounds) He says in 3 weeks we will have a baptism for sure. After the orientation, Elder Savage, his old companion Elder Shaw, and I waited outside the chapel for like an hour for the ward mission leader to pick us up. He took us to the market, where Elder Shaw got meat and bread and Elder Savage took my bags to the house. From there we went to the ward mission leader´s home and met with his family, 2 kids that Elder Savage and Elder Shaw just baptized on Sunday and their mom who isn´t a member. They had a small lesson, which I didn´t really understand. Then the family wanted to take pictures with Elder Shaw. I offered to take them, but they refused, they told me I had to be in the pictures too. Which was really cool. Very loving people.
After that we walked home. Our condo is small. Maybe a little bigger than our living room total. It´s freezing because Curitiba gets COLD during the winter and no one has heaters in their home. I changed into my sweat pants, and sweat shirt and went to bed. I was so exhausted.
This morning we woke up, met the Bishop and his second counselor and Elder Shaw left. Elder Savage said to take this P-day to rest because we are going to be working very hard the rest of the week. I can´t wait.
I love you all so much. I hope everything is going well. I know that God hears our prayers and answers them. He loves us so much. More than we can imagine and He wants to bless us. I know that this is His work and that we are bringing His children to Christ. Which is a comforting thought. I love you all and my thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Remember: Through Christ we can do ALL things. I love you and God bless. Don´t stop believing! Because I can´t do it on my own!
Con Amor!!
Elder Nathan Palmer Askins!
Elder Nathan Palmer Askins!
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