Hey family,
Well im here haha! Im here in Leme, Brazil. The last week in the Ctm was good but also hard. I love the guys in my district a ton. In our district some went to Maceio, Recife, and Curitiba and then Elder Andersen and I went to Ribeirao. Those elders going to Ribeirao left the ctm at 4 in the morning! We flew there and got there around 8 in the morning. Pres Preito, Sis Prieto, and the assistants picked us up. Everyone is super nice.
Then we went to the mission office and received a little training over finances and stuff. We get 99 reais every 2 weeks. i think it will be plenty, but we´ll see haha. Then we walked to the mission presidents home. We got there and Pres Prieto gave the "novinhos" a "tour" and when we returned to the main room 6 trainers for 6 newbies were there and they were singing called to serve haha. I totally didnt expect it. We sat down and each new elder had an envelope with their area and trainer. I was actually the last one haha.
Then we ate lunch at the Presidents home. Elder Andersen and i then had to go to the federal police again and re-register in Ribeirao. Then we returned to the mission office, got our bags and got on a bus to our areas. It was about a 3 hour bus ride to our area Leme. We arrived around 8 pm. A member picked us up, bought us some food and drove us to our house.
The house we live in is nice. My companion is Elder D. Souza. He´s great! I´m the first missionary that he´s trained. He is obedient and is teaching me how to work. He has 1 year and 2 months so far. We are the only elders in Leme, a city of maybe 50,000 people.
We walk a ton! Its been hard because I have a lot of blisters. I sat in a classroom for 9 weeks at the CTM and then have to walk everyday. Its been frustrating and difficult because you cant just stop working. Its made me think alot about the pioneers and what they went through. Walking thousands of miles in snow without shoes. What a sacrifice! I think my feet are starting to get better. I guess this is pretty normal though. Im doing good.
Here in Leme there is a branch. I guess there used to be a ward, but a ton of people have become inactive. Elder D. Souza and I are both new to this area also. We are trying to get to know the members and the area. Elder Souza is a district leader and this next week all the district and zone leaders are going to training for 4 days. I will be here in Leme with another american elder who only has one more transfer in the field than i do and then the other 2 days we will work in his area. It will definitely be interesting haha.
Things are changing/have changed in the missions. Zone conferences will now only be quarterly along with interviews with the president and i guess district and zone leaders will meet with the president more. I guess this is an international change.
I still havent been interviewed and I dont know when i will be but thats fine. Im trying to be obedient but i have some questions to ask the president. In brazil, and i talked to my ctm teacher about this too, its super hard not to teach a woman without another male present, because most of the men in families are always working. We´ve already taught a couple of lessons like this. My comp said its hard to do and my teacher in the ctm said the same thing. When i get a chance i will ask the president.
Eating with the members has been great so far. We eat with them for lunch. Beans and rice and meat everytime! Haha but i actually really like it so far. Hope it lasts. As far as the water goes, the ctm gave us these special water bottles to drink out of with filters inside. They´re nice, but the water comes out really slow.
Send letters and packages to this address:
Missão Brazil Ribeirão Preto
Elder Ryan Hawkley
Rua São Sebastião, 1003
Centro, Ribeirão Preto, SP
14015-040
This is the address to the mission office. They will forward all things to me through zone leaders and such. Please post on blog. Wait to send package. I´ll tell you what I want next week. I love you so much! Thanks for the love and support. Stay strong and continue helping others
Elder Hawkley
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