Week 43...Paulina, Brazil

Well, this week was definantly a tough one. It´s a big change from worrying just about you, your companion, and your area to about 10 areas and 20 missionaries. I´m just grateful that our mission president likes small zones. I am in Paulinia right now. We are living with another group of Elders in our house. I am living with 3 other Americans. It is alot different going from living with only Brazilians to Americans. I lost alot of phrases that I used before my mission and it´s pretty funny to hear them again. Our area is super nice and our zone is the richest in the mission. We will have a zone activity at the house of a billionare. I love our new area because it is rich but also the people are really open and we are having alot of success. Right now we are trying to find new people to teach. I think my mom wouldn´t recognize me. My companion and I are talking with literally every person that passes in the street. I am that annoying missionary that everyone in the street is scared of. It is really hard to change but I´m sure one day it will almost feel normal.

I think the Lord knew what he was doing when he put me with my companion. His name is Elder Lee. He is a really good missionary and has the same desires to work and be obedient that I have. He has a little more than a year on his mission now. So we are two newbies leading our Zone. The only problem that is frustrating is that some missionaries have pride in our zone and they don´t want to accept the counsel from two new comers. The thing I love about our zone is that the Assistants are in our zone so if they don´t listen to us, when it comes time for Zone conference they will hear it from them. Our mission changed alot of the leadership this last transfer. They took out 6 Zone Leaders and put us in. They said that the leadership was old and they weren´t wanting to do anything. I love our mission now. It is so full of energy and I have a feeling that our mission will be changing soon.

We also heard some good news and bad news. Tbe Elders that were waiting for visas in the United States will have to stay two weeks now in the MTC if they serve one or more transfers there. I heard my companion from the MTC is waiting in São Paulo. I´m super excited to talk to him. That´s basically my week with alot of stress and sleeping at 11 or 11:30. It´s all good though because some times we need to sacrifice a little bit. I love you guys tons

Love,

Elder Zachary