Letter #15- He was a skater boy, she said see you later boy; he wasn´t good enough for her

Hello from Brazil!

This has been a fantastic week! I do not remember when I have ever been this happy! I am in my new area. Nome de la Cap da Imbuia (kapow da em-boo-yah) and it is just great! It has been freezing here! The coldest for me it has ever been! But it made for an interesting change up. and the rain. oh gosh!!! It has rained every day this week, well, except today. It is bright and sunny and actually getting kind of hot. But i cannot complain. 

So the area I am in is a suburb of Curitiba. It is just great! The ward is awesome and Elder Awerkamp is awesome. The people are awesome. It's all awesome! Everything is going great! The work is hard. Not as many people are as receptive as in Timbu. But no worries. I have constantly thought this. "If life gets hard, work harder." 

While I've been on my mission I've remembered many quotes I have heard. One that I love is by Coach Hornbeck from high school. "Just because you are moving, doesn't mean you are going somewhere." I have tried to apply this. Make our time affective! So this week, Elder Awerkamp had 2 different meetings in Portao with the President! Because he's the District Leader. So I went with some other elders in our district. I just have to tell you the story.

So we are in the other area with the other elders and we went to lunch yesterday. The three of us walked in. We shook everyones hands and the last person is this mentally challenged Brazilian. He shook my hand and glared at me. He came and sat down and just glared at me. He screamed (this is all in Portuguese, remember) "What's your name?" "Elder Askins" "Are you an American?" "Yes I am" "I don't like you!" (the other elders are just laughing hysterically) He got up and walked around screaming "Who took my meds? Who took my meds?" He came to me and screamed "You took my meds!" And raises his hand to hit me and another elder says "No he doesn't have it" And so he sat down. I asked to go to the bathroom and he says "Do you have to poop?" And just laughs. So I went to the bathroom, but I was so nervous I can't pee and when I came back I sat down and he started screaming again. But I looked over and I saw a camera with the light on. When he saw me notice it he shouted "YOU JUST GOT PUNKED!" in English!!! HAhahahahaha and then he started saying how he can speak English, how he doesn't have any problems or anything and how he served a mission. He gave me a big hug and we laughed how funny!

But on a more spiritual note. I had quite an experience. I was praying a few nights ago and I was asking Heavenly Father why I was transferred, why I left my area, my trainer, the whole shebang. Not complaining, but looking for understanding. I had a dream that night that I was at a baptism, and my mission pres was there. I asked him why he transfered me and he looked me deep in the eyes and said "Elder, we both know it wasn't me who transfered you, and the Lord did it because there is something that YOU can do there. Maybe no one else can. In the furnace of our afflictions, the Lord makes us strong.

I have noticed that since I have left my other area and been with a new companion, I am speaking more and better. I know the Lord transfered me because I can learn and grow more here and I can help the people. My last night I met with a family that I just love. I gave the dad a hug goodbye and he said "Askins, there are people there waiting for you." I find it interesting. In Portuguese, the word for wait and hope are the same. So I will find who is waiting.