Brazil week 7

Hello there,
We had a zone activity last Tuesday at the institute building which was cool. We watched Emma Smith and played air hockey. We tried to make some food on our own but it sucked. The night before I was on a split with Elder Santos and we met up with a member at the chapel, he was wearing a neat soccer jersey so I asked him about it. Next day he ended up taking me and 4 other missionaries in his little car to an outlet store where they sell Offical Jerseys for like half the price. I ended up buying a Palmeiras Jersey and chilled the rest of th day. That night we met up with an ex-member who use to be in the Stake Presidency. Had a chat with him, he is old, got into black magic and showed us his little wtich shrine thing and then we left...fast. 
Friday was a members sons baptism. It was raining very hard and our chapel is above a store and the roof is metal so noone could hear the speaker speak. The baptismal font is outside aswell so the kid got baptised in the pouring rain. There was presents and such after and one kid had a helicopter that flies when you pull the cord hard enough. He was having trouble so I decided to help him. Over zealously pulling the cord, boom, no more helicopter. So I felt super bad and I bought him another one.
Saturday was chill, we had lunch at the members house super far away. It is crazy how people are so hapy with so little. Very hmbling. We went to an investigators house and he was eating food aswell and insisted that we eat with him. Being fat, I ate al of it. After the lesson he gave us a ride to our next area which saved up 20mins. We started doing what I like to call "Pandora's Box" tracting. Every house you get something different, whether it is a drunk dude, a pastor, a family, a crazy witch doctor, or people that act nice but dont let you in, ect. 
Sunday was Stake conference in jundiai and there was a youth choir and some good talks that was pretty cool to watch. President Tanner was there. After the conference he gave us a ride home to inspect our house. Sister Tanner hooked me up with a pretty nice pillow. They said it was great except the whole fact that the oven was missing..still at the chapel from the pizza night..
Monday I did a split with Elder Miller from my group. It was way cool. It is nice to be with an American Companion for once but it wold be hard to not speak english the whole time. Elder Augusto will be transfered on the 27th and I will probably stay here. 
Yesterday we had district/zone meeting and president Tanner was there again, he gave us a little prep-talk and invterviewed each one of us. Sister Tanner made banana bread which was good. I was almost last to be interviewed. I brought a flash card of points to talk with him about. Ends up the Campo Limpo ward would be closed if missionaries werent here..great. I got the Package from you guys. I am not sure if it was a fat joke or not...with the LARGE Gs, fat pills, and a workout drink...I get it. Ha thanks however, I really loved it...and so did everyone else..Thank you Borther and Sister Miller, Jenna, my family, and everyone for the pakages. They mean more to me than you know.I sent my package this week so you guys will get it some time. There are presents for each one of my family, Grandma lela, Grandma Gayle, Jenna, Sister Miller's late birthday present, Branson, and Chris Mcdonald. I hope it gets to you!
Thank you for everything. Hope you have a merry christmas. I will be skyping home either the Wednesday before Christmas, or the Wednesday after. Not sure yet. 

Love, Elder Merrick Reynolds

Brazil Week 6

"A proverb in the Old Testament states: 'He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city' (Proverbs 16:32). 
"It is when we become angry that we get into trouble. The road rage that affects our highways is a hateful expression of anger. I dare say that most of the inmates of our prisons are there because they did something when they were angry. In their wrath they swore, they lost control of themselves, and terrible things followed, even murder. There were moments of offense followed by years of regret. . . .
"So many of us make a great fuss of matters of small consequence. We are so easily offended. Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way."
                                                      -President Gordon B. Hinckley
Hello everyone! I am in Jundiai right now with Elder Santos because of a split.(Split, where you spend 2 days with another missionary) Jundiai is pretty dang big, it is about an half-hour north of Sao Paulo. Things are going good here, I am quite jealous of Elder Santos and Petersons house. They live behind a members home....which means they get free food, laundry, cleaning, and deserts all the time. Plus their house is way nice, so dont be suprised if I stay here. I am not complaining however after seeing pictures of the snow there! It is hot and sweaty here but I like it better than the snow. It is December and almost Natal(Christmas) but its more like having Christmas during July in St.George!
I put that quote up there for my self benefit more than anything. It is chill however. Maybe, just maybe if I can listen to the counsel of ol Gordon, we will end up being friends. Anyway on a better note, Sunday was the Superbowl of soccer here in Brazil. Corithians,basically the Lakers of Brazil(team of the ghetto), ended up winning and WWIII broke out. The  whole day there was fireworks and bombs and such going off in the streets...Alllll day. It was cool I just wish i could have watched the game.
Things are going well in Campo Limpo, lots of progress and such. We have 4 families lined up for baptism which means 2 of them will actually -probably- get baptised. I love the ward here even though it is tiny. I was in shock when I saw the chapel here which is the size of the STG Temple just different colors. Seriously, paint it white and throw a Angel Moroni and you have a temple. 
I learned how to make a bunch of shakes out of the fruit here. To be honest I dont know the names in english, i just know what they look like, but they are good. Also I make a mean batch of beans and rice. I finally got sick of hotdogs so I actually have to learn how to live and cook on my own ahah. So basically I learned that the Church of JSofLDS is true...testimony aside. Either the church is true or there is no true church, and we are still waiting for the restoration(period). Which to know if the Church is true is easy as read the Book of Mormon and ask. For anyone that dosent want to do that, go ahead and read everything for James E. Talmage. 
Anyway sorry for the semi depressing email this week, hopefuulllly next week will be better. The only reason I am still  here is because of your support (thanks for never forcing me). I love you all!

Love, Elder Merrick Reynolds