This one time.. I ate armadillo.. and.. wait, what?

Hi everyone!

This week, we had a lady come to church with her daughter, after a few weeks of bad luck (nobody coming to church). It wasn't exactly what we were expecting, since we had spoken with various people, and 5 of them were telling us that they would for sure be going, and 8 of them were saying that they would maybe be able to make it.. 5 + 8 = 1? This math is a bit tricky.. haha! But yeah, it's always like this -- we have 10+ people who we invited, who said they'd go, and then Sunday morning, there are 0-4 people at church.. I'm not sure why, but.. that's just how it is! It's always like this.. always!

Anyways, I learned how to make tapioca last week (finally -- and it's really easy, too.. haha! oh well.. -- basically, you have this certain type of flour, and you spread it out on a frying pan, and it all sticks together, and it's more or less like a burrito in the end -- but yeah.. it's really good! if you're confused, look it up. haha), we walked 2 hours from Conde to Valentina for our district meeting (2 weeks in a row now), um.. what else.. I went on an exchange and stayed in Valentina for one day with Elder Lisboa, and we were doing a bunch of street contacts and door contacts -- he's really good at it! I bascially just stayed quiet most of the time and helped when I could -- sometimes it's hard to participate when the other person starts the contact, and also, when it's between 2 Brazilians, I barely have time to think, since they're talking so fast! hah

My companion and I are becoming good friends (it wasn't easy.. hah) -- but yeah, we're doing lots of good things here in Conde now -- basically, this week we dropped almost all of our investigators who weren't progressing in any way, shape, or form, and then, we found a ton of new people to teach. It's working out pretty well! We also received a reference from a sister missionary in another area, and we went and contacted him yesterday, and he told us about how he was being taught by two elders 4 or 5 years ago, and then he lost contact with them. He said that it is his dream to be baptized (I can't believe he said that -- this is something any missionary would love to hear from an investigator XD) -- so we're going to be teaching him this week, and mark a baptismal date for him. This weekend is General Conference, a broadcast where the leaders of the church speak to everyone, and I am really excited. Watching General Conference is always awesome, but, as a missionary, it's the coolest thing ever! haha! If you're interested in watching it, go to http://www.lds.org on October 4th and 5th, and you can watch it live, online. I promise that you won't regret it! :)

OH! I forgot to mention something very important. Two Saturdays ago.. I ate ARMADILLO!!! XD I didn't know what I had eaten until the next day, when I asked a member here in Conde, who speaks English, "What's Tatu?", and he told me, and I laughed hysterically for a few minutes. XD I had been thinking that that was what it was, seeing as it had a shell and all.. haha! I didn't know that people eat armadillo.. But anyways..

I love you all -- have a wonderful week!!! Keep me in your prayers, please!

Be sure to watch General Conference this weekend!!!

Elder Canto

Transfer #7

Hey everyone! So yesterday night, we got our phone call about transfers. It was very exciting news.. everyone is staying here in Conde! Again! All 4 of us! haha

 I'm planning on making goals for Elder Cesar and I to improve on the work that we're doing here in Conde -- we have lots of room for improvement! Oh man.. I have 7 minutes left to email.. yikes.. hah, this always happens

So there was a parade on Sunday to celebrate Independence Day (Brazil), 1 week late, but, it was still awesome! It went on for about 3 hours, and there is a crazy amount of schools here in Conde. They had the bands from each school marching and playing music, and there were other things as well. The Brazilian style of clothing is pretty interesting for parties and celebrations. Oh, and at night, on the way home, the power had gone out in the center of the town, so we walked along the streets and it was completely dark -- I used our cell phone to see where I was walking XD The cobblestone roads and sidewalks like to stick out and try and trip you

I'm excited to have 6 more weeks here in Conde. We have 2 investigators who we've been working with for about a month, and we're hoping that they will feel more ready to be baptized soon. Other than that, we found some new investigators last week, and we're beginning to teach them this week.

I've been studying Preach My Gospel a lot more the past week, and it's helping a lot! I was reading through The Book of Mormon when I arrived in the mission field, and then I read part of The New Testament, and various other things. I realized that I was barely studying Preach My Gospel! I'm planning on reading it a lot more from now on -- it helps a ton with missionary work. Lots of great suggestions and advice.

I need to go now, but, I want you all to know that I love you, and I am so grateful for your letters and emails. I know that the work that I am doing here is true the work of salvation, and I have such a strong testimony of the things that I am teaching people about here on my mission. I love being a missionary, despite the many difficulties and trials that experience here. I am learning so much! I am definitely a different person than I was when left -- for the better. I am still the same person, personality-wise, though, of course! haha

Have a great week, everyone! Keep me in your prayers!

Elder Canto