4/16/12 Email from Colatina

My week was not as bad as yours, but it was a tough week for me.  I tried to be with members as much as possible this week, I taught a few lessons this week.  We don't really have a big teaching pool, just 2 families. Tomorrow will be a good day I will have a new area and also a new companion, a fresh new start.

[We shared with Adam the news of one of his sister's friends committing suicide this week.]  I don't really know what to write with that news, I am trying to think of something that I can say to help.  The only thing that I can think of is this:  "Be of good cheer for I am with you," "Peace be unto your soul".  These things always bring joy to me when I am reading the scriptures.  The Lord is always there to help us in our times of need and distress, especially when we are in situations such as this, "come unto me and I will give you rest, for my yoke is light and easy laden."  We need to seek the Lord for He is ready to help us on our path and is there to comfort us in all things.  Even though I may not be there to help you all, i am praying for you, and I know that Christ is ready to comfort you all, especially Megan now in her time of need. I miss you all and wish that I could have been there to help with this. Study the scriptures a little more this will help to bring peace and comfort.

My most spiritual moment this week was my interview with President Araújo. I got some letters too during the interview, one from my trainer Nate Turley and one from one of the people I baptized.  These were much needed letters, they had some really good advice and news in them.

I miss you all and love you all

Elder McBarron

4/9/12 Email from Colatina

Well, this week was not really a good week here.  We got a notice that the husband of a member died and we really liked him.  And, I was sick this week and I couldn't work Thursday.  I began drinking 1 liter of water for every 45 minutes and also drinking Gatorade.  I got better but I was still weak.  I have been drinking a lot of water since then, but I am getting home at night with a headache.  I have been trying to lower my stress level and have been able to do that a little.  I am doing all I can to not have a stressful life right now because I know that stress adds to the likelihood of having health problems.  Also, there was no one here for Easter, the streets were pretty much deserted, we were able to work this week but we didn't reach our goals.  We pretty much could only visit new members or less active members. 

I am glad that you guys had a nice Easter there.  I enjoyed my Easter package, but here it was just hot.

Today as I was walking to the place where we use the Internet, I saw a dog get ran over, but the miraculous part is that he did not die.  He got up and ran towards his home with a little boy following him crying.  It was strange to see the dog get ran over.

My best experience this week would have to be the lunches, they were the best this week that I have ever had here in Brazil.  Friday we had pretty much what is a fish pie.  I guess it is a custom here that on the Friday before Easter they eat this.  It was really good and yesterday we had a lasagna that was really good.  They use more cheese here and we use more meat in the states.

Well that is pretty much all that is new. Love you all and miss you.

Elder McBarron

4/2/12 Email from Colatina

This week was better than the last, but it had it's downs.  I can't believe that it is April, in 25 days I will have been here in Brazil for one year.  It seems like I have only been here for only 4 or 5 months.  I am really liking Colatina I like the hills a lot.  I am missing Mexican food and American pizza, yesterday I was craving a Hawaiian pizza from Papa Murphy's.

[Are you getting out to meet new people yet?]  I am trying to get to know and find new people.

[What was your best experience this week?]  My best experience this week was General Conference.  I really liked the 3rd session.  Can you send me a copy of the talks of President Eyring from the first session, President Uchtdorf from the 3rd, President Monson from the 3rd, and from Elder Perry about the Book of Mormon.  I want to have a copy of these 4 talks in English.  I missed watching Conference in  English but I understood a lot of what was being said in Portuguese.

I am trying to do things that I have not done yet, and trying to have balance in all things.  Miss you all and love you.

Seu Filho

Elder McBarron

3/23/12 Email from Colatina

I am paying for more internet time today so that I can write you all and say what I want to say.  I am learning how to be a leader and it is taking more out of me than I thought.  I am more tired and I think that that is also due in part to me not talking about things.  This week I have been studying a lot in the Christlike Attributes section in Preach My Gospel.  I have learned a lot of things that I am changing right now.  I am trying to do the best I can to have fun and also work diligently. I really like my mission, I really like working in this area and I am trying to find other things to make me happy while I am working. One thing that makes me happy is climbing hills here, I don't know why but it is probably because of cross country, it relieves my stress.

I miss you all and I am glad that you are here supporting me.  I got my package on Saturday.  I really like the tie, I used it yesterday for church.  My companion and one of the other missionaries really liked the slinkys so I gave them the slinkys.  The other missionary that was left, I gave him some of the punching balloons, he really liked that.  He is like me, he can be entertained by small things.  Thanks for the jelly beans I have not opened them yet.  Oh, and I really liked the toy swords that you sent, that made me really happy when I opened the package. 

 

Tomorrow I have 11 months on the mission and in 32 days I will have a year!  I am excited for that.  I am glad that I got to say what I have been feeling and everything.  I miss you all and love you all!

 

Elder McBarron

 

3/19/12 Email from Colatina

Sorry for not writing a longer email, I have a lot more stuff to do as a senior companion that it is harder to have time to write a lot.  This week was a little rough.  Well, it is starting to cool down here a little bit, but I have heard that Colatina is always hot.

 

[What lessons were you able to teach this week?]  We have been teaching more less actives than we have been new investigators it is what I think this area needs.

 

[What was your best experience this week?]  My best experience this week was the zone conference that we had.

 

[What was your last service project that you did?]  Pretty much all of our service projects deal with moving construction material here in Brazil.

 

Love you and miss you.

Elder McBarron

3/12/12 Email from Colatina

[Where is the new area and who is your new companion?]  Well I am doing ok, I am in my new area, working and all that. My new area is called Colatina there are a lot of hills in my new area.  My new companion is Elder Zaranza, his is from Manausse.  I like him and he just got done being trained.  We have nothing set up, they left nothing for this transfer and I have no idea what they have been doing.  I am pretty much opening a new area.

 

[So what have you done for fun? how is the new ward/branch?]  For fun I have been climbing hills and taking pictures, I got my camera back at the transfers.

 

[Did you have to stand and speak your first Sunday? Do you have a ward mission leader?]  I like the branch and I didn't have to talk the first Sunday.  We don't have a ward mission leader here.

 

Elder McBarron