This week was pretty busy for me. We had alot of travel going on in the mission and also all of the regular stuff we have to do every week. I'm starting to work more with the finances which is kinda hard for me to get a grasp on but hopefully I'll be able to get it down. It's amazing to see how the church works and how a mission operates. It's a side of the church I never thought I would see.

Other that normal work not a lot happened. I do have 3 companions now though. The third comp is Elder Brower who was my comp in the MTC so it's kinda cool being with him again. We are working in his old area so we just take turns walking with him and learning the area. Then he will go to another area after 3 weeks. I think we may have made church history to have 4 in a companionship. Maybe not but at least mission history.

People we are teaching... well I don't know them yet because our area just got moved. We are still teaching those 2 Tanha and Nelsia but it's been a while since we sat with them. I've just walked with Brower for one day so I still dont know our new investigators. I've been pulled over 5 times in the past 2 weeks. The cops pull you over and tell you you're going to get a huge fine for something ridiculous and then they say but if you just give me half of that right now then you can go on your way. So you just kinda have to talk your way out of it and tell them that you can't give them a bribe and they usually let you go. I did have one guy who almost took my license saying that it was nessisary to take it to the station for 90 days which is bull. We were lucky he stopped me right in front of the US embassy so I asked him if we could stop by there on the way to the station to see if they can take an American's civil documents. He decided it better to give them back. So now I've made a bunch of copies and I just give them the laminated copies now so they can keep them if they want. The government here is so full of corruption it sucks.

With the work here in the office, there is so much to do that it is a miracle that we get it all done. I know the Lord is helping us because I wonder all the time if the church will survive here because of the corrupt government, dishonest members, and all sorts of other problems. But some how the Lord blesses us just enough to get by. It's amazing to see how the Lord works many little miracles right and left to accomplish one great miracle. It's interesting to think about how often does that happen in our lives and we dont even notice? How offen does some little thing happen that we dont even notice make such a big difference? I know that is one thing I have noticed here is that it happens alot more than I ever thought all through my life.

That's kinda weird now that I'm getting to my year mark on Friday. I only have to miss holidays one more time before I go home. Like Valentines day. The next one I'll be home for. It's way weird to think about. The mission is continuing to fly by for me and it just keeps going faster. Before you know it you'll be at the airport waiting for me to come down that escalator and I'll have my lion skin on my back that I slew with my bare hands! I actually had a dream about that last night and I did beat the lion so I think it was a vision telling me that I can do it. I may try my luck we'll see. If you dont hear from me its probably because I'm in the hospital. ha ha jk anyways I better go but hey thanks for the emails every week. I think I'm the only missionary who hears from all his brothers and sisters.
I hope that everyone is doing well and that you are all happy and healthy. I'm doing great and I still love the work. Anyways I better go but I will talk to you next week. Love you all!

Love Elder Filho

Here's our questions for the week:

1. We will start working on a package. Besides toothpaste and some black pants, do you have any other requests? I know you have better food there now. What do you want us to send you?
Some mac and cheese would be nice. Some spearmint gum maybe too. the eclipse stuff seems to last longer. Oh also pics. I like getting pics! Thanks!

2. Dad was wondering if you've given many priesthood blessings. Do you have some experiences from giving blessings you can share with us?
Not alot, we try and have the members do it as offen as we can. But I did give a blessing of health to a guy who had malaria in Manga. It was a neat experience. When we gave him the blessing he was really bad, he was super hot and couldn't even stand up. Then the next day he was almost completly better. It was really cool.

3. Tell us about your new area. Are you in a new branch? Who are you teaching? What's the area like?
Well the new area is the city so we don't have alot of investigators which is good because we don't have time to teach alot. The ones we do have seem to be doing well though. There are alot of buildings, lots of cars in the streets, it's a really busy city. Trash everywhere but thats kind of this country's trade mark.