16 December 2009

About a week after Lucas’ baptism, I had a heck of a dream. I was serving a mission in Europe with Elder Reis as my companion, and Christ came down and landed on the ocean, As missionaries, we started going house to house with Him and telling everyone that He had returned. Of course, nobody believed us. At one point, Christ went into Lucas’ two-story home and I followed Him. When I opened the door, he was holding Lucas by his collar with one hand over a whole in the floor of the second story! And, to make a good nightmare worse, He dropped him and Lucas died on the floor. That’s when I discovered that it wasn’t Christ. . . . It was the Antichrist! And as I tried to warn everybody that he was the Antichrist. Still nobody wanted to listen, and I woke up exhausted and scared.
That’s it. It probably didn’t seem as funny reading it here as it did recounting it for the Elders with whom I was living, but don’t worry: I’m sure we’re not teaching with the Antichrist.

This week has been a good one. Alexandro was not baptized on Sunday because we kept feeling that it was too soon, so he will be interviewed tonight and baptized on Sunday after church because he won’t be in the area on Saturday. Also, Maria dos Reis will be baptized next Saturday (the 26th).

As far as the Christmas phone call goes, I can call at any time. I imagine that the afternoon here would work best. I’ve just talked to Elder Reis, and we feel it would work best if I called from 3-4 o’ clock here (meaning about 11:00 where you are, I think). My first half will be dedicated to Mom, as I don’t know how long exactly we will be chatting, and when I’m through, I give you guys and few rings and you can call the number I typed above. Speaking of Mom, she doesn’t write me very much, so we haven’t said anything about the Christmas phone call. It would be a huge favor to me if you could let her know. I don’t know how she’ll react, but it would be a huge help to me.

Outside of that, I don’t have much more to report. We’ll be singing three times as a mission choir: once at a hangar, once at the mission conference, and once at the mall (which is “shopping center” or simply “shopping” in Portuguese). Ask Brother Cheney is he can sing “Bate o Sino” (Bah-chee oh see-noh) for you.

I hope that everyone is preparing for a great Christmas. Our next two preparation days will be on Fridays: Christmas and New Year’s.

Here's to hoping I'll still be in Novo Mundo on Christmas,
Elder Daniel Floyd

9 December 2009

Okay, looks like you caught me: I’m more of a title-maker than a story-teller. I’ll do my best to bring to light these recent “I’ll-tell-you-next-week” stories.

A funny language mix-up: Okay, this one happened during the week of my mission in the field. At the end of lunch, I wanted to say that  I was full, but I didn’t know what to say because it’s kind of rude to say “I don’t want anymore,” and after I used some hand signals to pass on what I wanted to say, one of the members decided to joke around with me and asked, “Are you grávido [translation to follow]?” I looked to Elder Cacio who made some signals like he had a big stomach, so I thought it meant “full”. So, there I went and said “Yes, I’m grávido,” and everyone bursted out laughing. As it turns out, “grávido" means “pregnant”. I had to leave Guarapuava before I stopped hearing jokes about that line.

Roasangela is still trying to quit smoking, but it’s a struggle (as you can imagine). I’m afraid I don’t have much more to report on that story.

The thing outside of books that I’m happy I brought with me is my sewing kit. I’ve got a lot of use out of that.

Things here in Novo Mundo are still going great. Elder Reis and I are still preparing Alexandro for baptism. His interview is this Friday, and we hope to do the baptism on Sunday after church. Níuza and her daughters are still doing great.

To answer Lyn’s questions . . .

There are about 20 sisters in this mission, I think. I think that if I comment on whether or not any are cute I could be sent home :P . You . . . never . . . know . . . who’s . . . watching. . . .

The refrigerator is VERY modest. I’ll try to take a picture of it this week (You like how I didn’t promise anything there?)

Bugs and mosquitoes are not yet annoying. According to the missionaries who were here last summer, it doesn’t get bad. I’m not using any bug repellent.

We go to the grocery store for 1 big trip each week, but we may go 1 or 2 more times to make small purchases (like fruit, or lunch if a member falls through).

I used up the shampoo I brought with me about 2 weeks ago. Yes, I did buy more here.

One topic we studies recently during companionship study? Repentance: I learned some interesting things.

That’s all for this week, but I promise I’ll write more next week (and you can bet that’ll happen). You may have noticed a lack of a chapel phone number. I forgot to ask for it on Sunday. I won’t forget this Sunday.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

2 December 2009

. . . And, as always, your many emails. Things are going well here in Novo Mundo. Elder Reis and I are continuing to work hard trying to find the Lord’s elect. I still se Elder Gonçalves two times a week on Wednesday and Saturday during mission choir practice (and to answer your doubt: no, I am not conducting; I am singing). Giovane and Andrea are continuing to receive our many messages, and they now have a marriage date set for January 30th (it’s a lot harder to get married civilly in Brazil).

We are also working really hard to prepare Níuza and her family for baptism. Here, my friends, is a great example of somebody who prizes the opinion of the Lord. Almost every time we share a commandment (the Word of Wisdom, for example) she ends up lightly fighting with us saying that she can never keep that commandment, but in the end she always accepts the invitation to pray and receive confirmation from the Lord, and when we return she is trying her best to keep the commandment that we taught. Right now, we’re working on getting her married to her live-in “husband”. Her example makes me want to be better. It makes me want to forget about my own personal desires and discover exactly what it is that the Lord wants.

To answer Lyn’s questions:

I have had a few hilarious language mix-ups. If you remind me, I’ll start off my email next week with one.

Is the second question a reference to the term “down and out”?

I have not burned any food beyond recognition, but sometimes to cookies turn out a little over-done.

I used the maple frequently when I first got out, but not so much as of late. It will certainly last my whole mission.

I don’t whistle that much any more, and all of my companions until now have whistled at least a little bit.

That’s about it for now. I hope that Lyn feels better soon. It was good to hear that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Remember: 23 days until Christmas! I’ll send you the telephone for a chapel here next week, but it’s possible that I’ll be somewhere else for Christmas.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

25 November 2009

Didn’t someone mention something about a MissionTies letter with photos?

Anyhow, I have not yet made a turkey. We had our Thanksgiving dinner for lunch today, and all that included was chicken and mashed potatoes. It turns out that turkey is extremely expensive for missionaries: about 25 or 30 reais. With a budget of 120 reais every two weeks, turkey isn’t looking likely until Christmas.

On the other hand, I hope that all of your many Thanksgiving dinners go great. Next year, I’ll be sure to ask for a can of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce. Apparently, “cranberry” in Portuguese is “oxicoco” (oxi-coconut), but Elder Reis has never heard of it. It was also good to hear that everything went well with the no-talent talent show. I don’t know where Lyn picked up the idea for that, but if you can get the ward together to watch Dad play a tune with a fingernail on his teeth, you must be a miracle worker.

We´ve got a little miracle brewing right now with a woman named Rosangela. She’s the mother of Chauan who was baptized a few weeks ago, and she’s giving up smoking. I’ll give you more details on that next week.

The Christmas choir is going great. We have our first performance on December 10th. Outside of that, there isn’t much else to report here. If you are reading this email, please know that I love getting mail (yes, I am begging). I don’t have much time to write, but I like to know how everyone is doing. I’m also still curious about Jennifer and the boys.

Here’s to hoping you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

18 November 2009

Thank you for keeping me updated on all that’s going on around there. Before I forget, I want to add something to that Christmas wish-list I sent along: a can-opener. Not something electric, but the kind where I can crank a knob or something. Also, how long do I need to cook a turkey in the oven before it’s okay to eat?

To answer Lyn’s questions:

I do miss my naps, but I don’t feel the need to take them as much as I did when I was at home.

I do not cook breakfast every morning. I’ve gotten to the point where eating cereal takes up too much time.

I have been using those microfiber towels since day 1 in Provo. They are a blessing because they dry really fast, even when it’s cold.

I have been tweezing my unibrow, but it looks like it’s about time to do it again.

The one thing outside of church books that I’m glad I brought with me? Hmm . . . let me get back to you on that one.

Also, thanks for the pictures. What’s up with the one with Lizzie? You cannot imagine how envious I am of the washer and dryer. My sheets are at home right now drying on the line after a quick run through the “tanquinho” (it’s basically just a tank with a spinning knob that makes the clothes go round).

The work here in Novo Mundo is progressing nicely. Elder Reis and I are working great together, and I still feel very blessed to have received really good companions up to this point. We are still preparing Giovane and Andrea for baptism. They have been prepared for a long time to accept our message. We might even be moving their baptism up to this weekend. As for other investigators, we have found two of the Lord’s elect in Alexandro and Eryka (two different households).

As always, I continue to pray for your safety. I especially hope that all is well with Jennifer and the boys in Texas. Any news about what’s going on there? Please remind me next week to recount the story of the Antichrist tossing one of our investigators through a hole in the second floor of his house.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

11 November 2009

Transfers have come. Transfers have passed. I am still here in Novo Mundo. That is not to say, however, that I am with the same companion. Elder Gonçalves has been transferred to another area (sorry, can’t remember the name), and I have received a new companion: Elder Reis (pronounced “Hays”). He entered the mission field five months ago, and I think we are going to work great together.

I want pictures of the new washer and dryer. Email will do. As far as a giant blackout goes, I don’t know anything about that. We had a power failure in our neighborhood for about an hour last week, but I don’t know if it was part of anything bigger.

We’re still working hard here, too. I’ll keep you posted on the progress of our investigators who are preparing to be baptized. The bishop gave us for a referral the most prepared family in the ward. Also, Lucas was baptized this last Sunday. He’ll be confirmed next Sunday in sacrament meeting.

Outside of that, I had totally forgotten that Vinnie's saliva was holy water! I needed some of that when my eye almost swelled shut last week! That’s a long story, but I just got a cat hair or something caught in my eye. It took a while to get it out, and afterward my eye swelled up as if Elder Gonçalves had punched me in the face. Sister Araújo told me to buy some medicine, and so I did (with the debit card, I should say). Everything’s okay now.

Things have cooled down a bit here. I’m anxiously awaiting those photos that you said you sent. I hope that everything’s well with the whole family. How are things going up at Gram’s house?

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

4 November 2009

It’s been hot *there* everyday?! Remember when I wrote about how cold it was here? It’s not even summer yet and it’s been about 95°F here every day for the last week! I never thought that I would be living in weather like this! It does cool down at night, but inside our house it stays hot until the morning. The only air conditioning that I have enjoyed here is right now in the “lan house” (cyber café without the café?). And yet as much as I complain, I know that I can live through it. There exists no climate too hot or too cold that I wouldn’t confront for the Lord. I was thinking of talking to you guys about visiting Brazil for a few days at the end of my mission, but I’m afraid that Lyn and Elizabeth would get off the plane, feel the heat and humidity, and buy another ticket back to America without even saying hello.

Other than that, it was really good to hear about the chili cook-off and the Halloween party. It sounds like it was a blast and made a good impression on any visitors. It’s good to hear that Amanda is well. It’s also good to hear that Josh Lopez is doing well. He made a sneaky yet brilliant move: date the sister while the brother’s on a mission.

Congrats on your GPA, Lizzie. Just imagine us going and buying ice-cream randomly as a reward.

As far as Christmas goes, “Tell us something or else we'll send you something stupid,” has scared me enough to come up with some ideas. Not much, but if possible, I’m still feeling the absence of INSTITUTE manuals for the standard works. Also, anything by James E. Talmage outside of “Jesus the Christ” would be appreciated. President Araújo is really into study. If you’re wanting to send food, all I ask is chocolate. Those peanut and peanut butter M&M’s were a welcome treat. My shoes are still fine; I have enough clothes to last me for two missions. Maybe some good SPF 50 sunscreen would be nice.

You may have noticed that I took out the money to pay to fix the broken camera. You should only see a withdrawal of R$165.

Things here in Novo Mundo are also great. We have transfers again next Wednesday. It’s practically guaranteed that I’ll stay. With my luck, I’ll be transferred to São José dos Pinhais, where I here it is hotter than here and has absolutely NO wind.

Know that every time I feel hot I think of our wonderful air conditioning there at home. I hope that everything’s going great for dad at work.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

P.S. Is someone still planning on traveling to Brazil?

28 October 2009

First off, please accept my apology for not sending an email last week. I’m glad to hear that you did get my MissionTies letter, but I realize now that it probably would have been better to at last write a short email to warn you all.

It has been good to hear about everything that’s been going on at home. Thank you for the note about Sister Brock. I haven’t received anything from Lyn as of yet, but knowing her, she might have sent a letter through MissionTies to get back at me. I enjoyed the pictures from the pumpkin-carving contest. I didn’t know we had so much talent in that area of expertise.

Ever since last asked me to write about my latest miracle, I have begun to notice a bunch of little miracles that happen every day in the mission field. The latest that I’d like to relate is that the son of an “ancient” investigator that we had stopped teaching started going to church by himself. His name is Lucas and he’s 12 years old. As I commented long ago in an email from Guarapuava, the Lord always seems to provide us with His elect to teach. He has done that again with Lucas. We’ve been working for baptisms for a long time, and He has just seemed to place Lucas in our lap. He was not prepared while we were teaching him, but the Lord has continued to work with him during the time that we did not pass by.

I want to know more about this awesome Halloween party. Pictures and a feature-length film should be sufficient. To answer some of Lyn’s questions:

My favorite Brazilian meal? I have to study that one for another week. The food here isn’t that different from what you’d find at home.

I have met a family I will definitely come back to visit: Eliseu and his family, who we baptized back in Guarapuava.

I am not playing the piano or organ at church services here. I am, however, continuing to practice.

I am getting my haircuts from a barber. Just 5 reais.

My toenails are fine. You can take a look at them we I get back home.

I did get my tooth fixed.

I have worn Elder Jacobsen’s shirts already. Speaking of him, who are the elders in our ward now?

I have not yet made the spaghetti sauce.

As far as what I want for Christmas, the last time you told me it had to be smaller than a breadbox it came in a USPS flat-rate shipping container. I haven’t given much thought to it because it’s not something you really have to do. It seems like I just got my birthday box.

Outside of all that, I hope that all is well with everybody there. The work will continue here, and I hope it is progressing there.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

26 October 2009

21 Octobro 2009

Dear Family,
I hope you haven't interpreted the lack of an email from me as a slack on my part. A search through the General conference archives left me with very little time to write emails. I did, however, read everything that was sent to me, and because both emails were rather long, I had plenty to read!

It was good to hear that Amanda has gotten settled out in Orcutt. It was also good to hear about everything else that's going on around there. Sounds like Vinny need that obedience training still.

As far as senior companion goes, I can't believe they sent you a letter! I remember learning back in Provo that we shouldn't write home about such things to avoid causing pride in our parents, and here the mission is doing it behind my back. It's actually kind of funny, really. Just because I'm a senior companion now doesn't necessarily mean that I will be put with a junior companion, but it means that it is now a possibility.

Still no baptisms for the month of October, but I'm optimistic. We've had to make some hard decisions regarding long-time investigators, but I know the lord will lead us to his elect.

As usual I am thinking of you all; not to the interrupting of the work, but you are still on my mind. I love you very much, and I hope the Lord continues to bless you in all aspects of your life.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

14 October 2009

I’m glad to hear that you received the photo CD. I will take more pictures of the area. There is only one picture of my apartment in Guarapuava, and it was taken at night as I was leaving the area. The photo of apartment number “1313” houses another companionship; I just thought that some people would enjoy a little Munsters humor. Remind me in a year and a half to recount a story about a Fiat dealership in Gurapuava.

My latest miracle, huh? Makes it sound like you bought a few of those at the 99¢ Store, too! No, really, I would have to say that my latest miracle happened yesterday. We had six lessons planned for the day, with two planned to be taught with a member present because we had splits marked for the nighttime. At about 1:30 we received a call from a sister in the ward informing us that her thirteen-year-old son was still waiting at the chapel to go teach with us. Elder Gonçalves had talked with him on Sunday but has not confirmed any plans. So, anyway, we made our way quickly to the chapel and taught two lessons with him.

At this point I was thinking, “Yeah, now we’re going to have four lessons with a member present at the end of the day!” However, when the time for the nighttime split drew nigh, we received a call from the members that were supposed to do the split with us. Some kind of emergency came up, and they couldn’t make it. At the end of the day, we were left with only five lessons taught, but we had our two taught with a member present. The Lord, through the eyes of eternity which He holds, prepared a way for us the reach our goal even before we had a problem. And you know something, I didn’t even think of it as a miracle until now. I guess I’ve seen a lot more miracles than I give myself credit for.

We still don’t know what’s going on with the camera. The brother that took it to find a better price has yet to report back to us.

My shoes are fine, and no, my pants are not falling off. In fact, I’ve run into a problem here: more available food and less required walking. I’m getting fat again! Don’t worry; I’m looking into changing my diet.

I said I’d share a little thought about Allan and Camile and also about General Conference. My little miracle story has left me without any time, but I’ll prepare them later today, and if you don’t receive them through MissionTies, you can expect them in my next email. Also, I sent a letter to Brother Cheney through MissionTies. Can you confirm that he got it?

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

7 October 2009

However, I did get my Priesthood lineage printed out, and that’s pretty cool to have. Corrieos is no longer on strike, but they’ve got so much stuff backed up because of the strike that they are currently only delivering bills and other “important” documents, or so I hear (I don’t watch the news, you know).

Thank you, thank you Lyn for the spaghetti sauce recipe. I know I’ll be making some this week. I never thought I’d miss American spaghetti.

GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS AWESOME! I don’t think anyone watching will ever forget the testimony given by Elder Holland. I felt like going out and hitting some hard-hearted people with the Book of Mormon, but as you can imagine, I didn’t do that.

I just thought I’d inform you that we’ve found a great young married couple: Allan and Camile. I’ll explain their little story the next time I write.

Still no news on the camera. We’ve given it to a member to look for some cheaper prices in another area of town.

I was going to share a thought from General Conference, too, but the text is not yet online. You can be expecting that one next week, too.

As always, I hope and pray that everything is well with you all. I hope Amanda’s doing great at home and that Jennifer’s okay in Texas with the boys.

Until next week,

30 September 2009

The first thing I must do is repent and clear up some confusion. When I wrote “tomato sauce” in the last email I sent, I was thinking “spaghetti sauce”. That’s what I’m planning on making. There is definitely no need to send cans of spaghetti sauce through the mail, and it is unlikely that they would arrive here in one piece.

Speaking of the mail, the employees of Corrieos, the Brazilian postal service, have been on strike for some time and have just started getting back to work, which means that letters I sent and letters that were sent to me will probably arrive a little bit later than usual. Yes, the photo CD is on its way.

Also, I have my dentist appointment today. I forgot to withdraw the money I needed at the bank, so I’ll be taking it out tomorrow to reimburse the money I will be using now. Also on the subject of money, there is something a little less pleasant that I need to explain: This last Monday at our district meeting we decided to take some last-meeting photos. We all lined up our cameras and they did their thing. When I pulled my camera off the table, Elder Gonçalves’ camera and the tripod it was on went tumbling to the floor. NO, IT DID NOT BREAK, but a part around the lens either broke and fell out, and now it kind of whobbles around a little. As I was the one to pull my camera off, I have taken full responsibility. We’ve gone around looking for repair shops, but so far we have only found one, and it looks like there it will cost about R$120 (120 reais). We are still looking for other estimates. You probably know what I am going to ask, so I’ll just leave it up to you now. Personally, I think that the tripod leg was placed inside my camera’s wrist strap and fell for this reason when I snatched up my camera, but as I can’t go back in time and take another look, right now I am 100% responsible.

On a happier note, Chaun and Keven were baptized this last Saturday and Sunday, respectively! We’re still preparing Thiago and some other investigators. Elder Gonçalves was not transferred to another area, so he now begins his fourth transfer here in Novo Mundo.

I have gotten over my sickness and am back to work better than ever. I’m happy to hear about seminary and the garage sale, too.

General Conference is next week (as if you didn’t know!), and I am really, really excited. I hope that you're excited, too. How lucky we are to hear from living apostles and prophets every six months. I’ll keep you updated on the status of the work here. The cold has returned for now, and it has been raining a lot.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

23 September 2009

First off, here’s my physical address (finally!) so that I can receive mail directly in-home:

Elder Daniel Wells Floyd
Brazil Curitiba Mission
R. Luis Lepoldo Landal #1055
Novo Mundo
Curitiba-PR
81050-120 BRAZIL

My email, unfortunately, will be short again. I’m not getting stingy; I’m getting sick again. I have a fever, but I’m not sure how many degrees. I’ll check when I get home. Yes, President Araújo knows. I told him during the transfer interview we had after visiting the temple. Wow, you have got to get a hold of this place. A lot of small temples only come with a starting room and a Celestial Room, but the Brazil Curitiba Temple has a starting room, a Terrestrial Room, and a Celestial Room.

Things are going good as far as baptisms are concerned. We are preparing three for this weekend (1 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday). It’s only half of the goal we had for September: 6. But it’s still pretty good. Chauan (Shy-wahn), Keven, and Thiago (Chee-ah-go) are great! They’ll all make a great addition to the young men’s program here.

On another front, please let Brother Cheney know that I’m sorry that I didn’t get the letter he requested to him. I’ve been working on it since the MTC. If he still wants it, I’ll try to send it soon.

Other than that, thanks for permission to use your hard-earned money on something that is my fault. I have a feeling that my teeth are going to haunt me yet in my life.

Also, a request: could you please send a good tomato sauce recipe? The tomato sauce (molho de tomato) here is a lot different! It’s more salty than sweet and tangy. It would also be a great help if you could send it through MissionTies because it costs R$0.20 to print or copy and black and white page here!

That’s about it for now. If you have questions, please write them. I know that life doesn’t change much in one week, but it’s still great ti gear from everybody. I received a letter from the Ridgeways a while back; I’ll try to get something out. That reminds me, I’ll be sending out the picture CD tomorrow. Also, I’ll try to get a response out to Don’s email.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

P.S. "O gripe" translates to "the flu" in English.

16 September 2009

I don’t think I mentioned it last week, but what we did last Monday was not a service project. We marched in a parade. Turns out, September 7 is Brazilian Independence Day, and the missionaries and members in this area marched wearing Mormon Helping Hands shirts.

A Photo CD has been made. I will try to get it sent out with my other mail tomorrow. If not, it probably won’t be sent until next week.

Also, thanks for the thoughts about sending more boots. I still have the other two pairs that we bought before I left, and I plan on using those as long as I am tracting on comfortable pavement. As for the old pair, somewhere in the confusion of transferring to Curitiba I forgot them in Guarapuava. As you could tell, the one sole was pretty messed up, but they were still usable.

As for things here in Novo Mundo, not much has changed. The work goes on. We have three firm baptism dates right now for the 26th of this month, and I’ll let you know what happens with that.

I’ve also noticed that I make some mistakes every now and then in my emails. Please forgive me for that. Also, who’s excited for General Conference? I don’t know why, but I’ve never really looked forward to it as much as I do right now.

That’s about it for now. Hopefully next week will bring with it some good stuff I can share with you. I’ll let you know what we learn at tomorrow’s zone conference.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

10 September 2009

Wow, MissionTies must be getting behind. I figured you had sent photos or something because it took so long, but in the end it did arrive. Also, you’re probably wondering why I didn’t send an email yesterday like usual. Put simply, MyLDSMail.net had some troubles. We have been authorized to send our emails today.

It was kind of strange to hear about Grandma’s passing two weeks after it happened, but I’m glad that I did get the message. Thank you, Amanda, for reading it to her for me. Also, congratulations on the callings. Looks like you’ll be pretty involved in missionary work there in Santa Maria. If there’s one piece of advice I can give as a full-time missionary to a ward missionary, it’s this: make yourself available as much as possible to teach with the full-time missionaries. Ward missionaries in invaluable tools in the conversion process.

Thanks for the pictures of Vinnie. I still hope he remembers me when I return. I’ve included some pictures of the work boots we bought before I left. After two months in the MTC and four months in Guarapuava, you can clearly see that they’ve just about had it.

How did I include them, you say? My companion just bought a camera that has a cable that works with my camera, which means that I should be sending a photo CD home in no time. Also, you never mentioned it, but I’m sure Dad noticed that I spent about $6.50 about a month ago. That was to buy a thermometer. I hope it’s okay, I was pretty sick. My temperature never jumped over about 101 degrees.

Things here in Novo Mundo are going great. Not much to report, though I think I make take up a job translating LDS Hymns. What? A job like that won’t pay the bills? Don’t be ridiculous. . . .

Also, give my congratulations to Bishop Perrett.

Sorry that my letter last week was so short; I spent quite a bit of time writing to President Araujo. No, nothing’s wrong! I have to give another sorry, too because I don’t have a spiritual thought for this email. Please know that you’re all still in my prayers. Please, if it be possible, make sure that nobody else passes through the veil before I get home. I’m keeping a list, you know. I think that makes Bro. Jensen, Bro. Bendixen, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays, and now Grandma. The last, of course, being closest to my heart.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

3 September 2009

This week was a good week. I am continuing to use the wonderful belt that was sent, and the M&Ms are now long gone. Also, I continue to read the conference reports Lyn sent; thanks again!

Things here in Novo Mundo are going great. We never have a shortage of lessons to teach, and we are preparing many worthy individuals for baptism, including Chauan, Luana, Adevanha, Ane, and Isaide.

Where’s Lyn? She seems to have dropped off the face of the planet. I miss her sarcastic humor (that’s a compliment)! I was reading some of the first letters you all sent me during my first weeks on the mission, and I just had to smile. You guys are the greatest.

This week, people are being chosen to sing in the mission’s Christmas choir. Elder Gonçalves and I already let the zone leaders that we want in, but we’ve been informed that only four missionaries from every zone will be allowed in, so we’ll see what happens. I think I should know by tomorrow what’s going to happen.

Also, all the missionaries in Curitiba will be helping with a “Mormon Helping Hands” project this coming Monday. I’m not sure exactly what we’ll be doing, but we’ve been told just to we’re regular missionary attire, so I don’t picture pulling weeds. Also, I haven’t heard about Grandma yet, but I guess I’ll find out in the MissionTies letter tomorrow.

And . . . it's heating up around here! I don't think we've had a cold day for a week. That is not to say that it is unbareably hot, but just to say tah's it's really pretty comfortable.

My spiritual thought this week is centered around the theme “count you blessings” and is simply this: be thankful for your clothes drier.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

26 August 2009

First off, I still don't know if you ever received the letter I sent for Grandma. Please let me know if you have.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for the package! It was absolutely wond=
erful. I had totally forgotten that Life Savers existed. Also, the conference reports are a welcome gift. I hope I can ask for more of those in the future. And I think Lyn would like it here: there are no ice cream cakes.

I was holding out my hope that I would return to the same bishop I left. Oh well, that means I can call him Jay wherever I see him now!

As far as my mailing address is concerned, you can all just send any letters to the mission office. We live with the district leader and he goes by there every Thursday because we're so close.

Okay, so I know a little more now about where I am. I am serving in the city of Curitiba in a bairro(buy-hoe) called Novo Mundo, which name I have already explained. The equivalent of a bairro in English I think would be somewhere in-between a suburb and a city district. We are very close to the center here, and the people are great. This is my first time serving in a stake and in a ward, and we actually attend church meetings in a chapel! Outside of that, I don't really know what more to write right now, but I'm sure some stuff will pop up this week.

For this week's message, I would like to turn to the 143rd Semi-annual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held on October 5, 6, and 7, 1973 (report courtesy the Floyd family). Elder Sterling W. Sill, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve, spoke about laying up in store earthly treasures. Says he,

"Someone said, Money ain't everything," and his friend said, "Just name me three things that it ain't. But we also should think of some of those things that it is. Money is preserved labor, it is industry made negotiable, it is stored up accomplishment. It is the medium of exchange that we can trade for things that we can take with us and a great many of them we can actually send on ahead. We can take our families with us. We can take our education with us. We can take our great character qualities with us. And money is the medium that we can use to share the treasures of the earth with others who need our help."

The point I would like to make here is exactly how we can manage to be both missionaries and normal people. In today's world, it would be almost impossible to leave behind all your worldly possessions and become a full-time missionary. Even the missionaries of the Church today need a constant supply of cash sent to Church headquarters. God does not ask us at this time to sell all that we can, but we do have our time. We can lay up treasures on Earth if we have our eyes on how that will help us lay up treasures in Heaven. We can be missionaries while working, while studying, and while resting. It just requires an effort on our part.

I pray that we can use our earthly treasures to buy heavenly treasures (which includes laying up souls). I know that I am not very eloquent in writing, and this whole thing is probably a little scattered, but I also pray that the Spirit may testify of the things I write. Time is up now, but I will write again next week. Tell Amanda I say hi too.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

19 August 2009

Two more baptisms tonight (Tiago and Joce)! You can understand my excitement as that means that Elder S. Costa and I have kept up one baptism per week on average until now. The sad news is that I will not be around to see it, and here comes to big news:

I have been transferred!

In fact, I am not writing from Guarapuava at this moment, but from the city of Curitiba. I received the news on Monday night, so I had a couple of hours during the day yesterday to say goodbye to many of the members, recent-converts, and investigators that I have grown to love. It was not, however, fun to leave on a bus at three o’clock in the morning.

My new companion here is Elder Gonçalez. We live in a house with two other missionaries: the district leader Elder Hewitt and his companion Elder Pettigrew. I am now serving in the Novo Mundo Ward, which, being translated, is the New World Ward. New world indeed, Curitiba is very different from the interior from what I can see.

Thank you for the birthday e-card. It was a welcome treat. Also, I’m glad Amanda arrived safely, and I hope that she settles in nicely. Does this mean I won’t have a bedroom to come back to?  :) 

While preparing a lesson for the grandparents of a recent-convert this week, I viewed a set of scriptures in a way that I had never thought of before. I would like to talk about the time when the Savior came to visit the inhabitants of this country shortly after His resurrection. The people were all recovering from the great destructions that had taken place, and they began to gather at the temple in the land Bountiful. I would now direct your attention to 3 Nephi 11:3-7:

      3  And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

      4  And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

      5  And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hearit; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

      6  And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

      7  Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified
    my name—hear ye him.

As we read here, the people heard a voice three times. The first two times they did not understand it, but they heard it! They knew that it was speaking; they felt that there was something different about it, but they did not understand it. It was only the third time that they *all* began to understand the voice and when they *all* turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

Oftentimes, we talk to our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, etc. about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not as official representatives of His Church and usually not using missionary lessons, but we talk to them. Our Father in Heaven many times does not talk directly to His children. He does that through the Holy Ghost and through His servants on the earth. When we talk to others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (even in the smallest ways) we are testifying, “Behold the Beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased, in whom the Father has glorified His name—hear ye him.”

And yet they do not understand. They do not know what the voice is saying. They know that a voice is speaking, and they know that it is different, yet they do not understand it. That does not mean we should desist. Had Heavenly Father desisted after the first time with the Nephites, many people would have been unprepared for the appearance of the Savior. We must continue testifying. We must never withhold the invitation, “Hear ye Him!”

Unfortunately, my time is up, but please know that Jesus Christ lives and that the Father is testifying of Him. He is speaking through His living prophets today. This is the testimony I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

12 August 2009

Okay, here we go again. As with all emails at the end of a transfer period, this could be my last here in Guarapuava. I hope that I can stay, as I was moved around a lot a couple of weeks ago, but I’ll go where the Lord wants me to go.

Thank Vinnie for the birthday e-card. I laughed out loud, which really isn’t a great thing to do in a lan house in Brazil.

I realized this week that I really haven’t been keeping you posted on baptisms here. I think I told you about Everton. After him Elisue and Elton were baptized while I was in Prudentópolis. Then we baptized Junior this last Wednesday, and he was confirmed in sacrament meeting this last Sunday. He is the boyfriend of a member we have in the branch and really has a lot of potential.

I’d also like to share with you something that President Vincente, a counselor in the mission presidency, shared with our branch this last Sunday. When was the last time you had a spiritual experience with Jesus Christ? I don’t just mean a small thing, I mean a BIG experience? When was the last time you kneeled down before bedtime and asked God to give you a little free time to chat with your Savior? When was the last time you asked permission to ask a question of Joseph Smith, or Adam, or Moses, or John the Baptist? If we ask, we shall receive, and as I have said before, I cannot promise you all any kind of vision, but all things we ask for in faith will be given us, whether for our blessing our or condemnation (I’ll whip up a scriptural reference for that one next week).

Please remember that this work is the most important work on the earth and that we are to give our all to prepare the world and the Kingdom of God. Please know that I know this church is the Church of Jesus Christ. Please know that the Book of Mormon was not written by a man, but by many ancient prophets that wrote what God commanded them.

Tell Elizabeth I miss her humor, Lyn I miss her constructive nagging, Dad I love him, and Amanda I’ll write to her soon and that I’m praying for her success. Also, like a really bad brother, I forgot to wish her a happy birthday (she’s 22, you know). Send my love to all the family. Also, I realize that I forgot to wish Dad a happy Father’s Day back in June. It’s not until August here (it was last Sunday).

Until next week,
Élder Daniel Floyd

5 August 2009

Hello, Floyd Family!

Okay, I will start off this time by saying that I am much, much happier than I was last week. It’s really hard to be moved around a lot. One day you’re working in Guarapuava, the next you’re working in Prudentópolis, and ten days later you’re back in Guarapuava. Boy was that interesting. If you didn’t catch it, I have been here back in Guarapuava since 12:30 in the morning last Friday.

It was really interesting going to church and having to explain to everybody why the heck I was back. I can understand their confusion because I only saw this happen once with Elder Tonkinson, but he returned to Santa Maria after a years and nine months, not ten days. Testimony meeting was not the place to relate my experience in Prudentópolis, but I did say that I was grateful to be back and that I would in fact say goodbye before I leave again.

Thanks for the updates on Gram’s progress. I will get a letter written this week and send it through MissionTies to you (how many times have you heard that sentence?).

Not much to write about this week, just that we keep hearing a lot of stuff about this Swine Flu. They made announcements about how to avoid it at the mission conference and in sacrament meeting. We also get getting reminders about it in our weekly emails from President Araujo.

My little thought for the week comes from the mission conference: As humans, we always have the capacity to improve. One of our purposes in this life is to progress, so we much always improve, even when we are doing our CURRENT best. The Lord, while not being ungrateful, always asks us to do a little bit more than we are currently doing, and if we ever stop progressing, we start on the wide and easy path to you-know-where. So, to sum this up as President Araujo did: we can always do a little more and a little better. As a missionary called to serve in the Brazil Curitiba Mission, I have no right to invite any of those who read this to do a little more and a little better, but I can promise that it’s truth. And here and now I pledge to do a little more and a little better for you too (including these emails).

As always, I hope that all is well at home, that Vinnie is alive, that Elizabeth had a good summer break, that Lyn is not having hot flashes, and that Dad is able to stay on top of his every-increasing responsibilities.

Love,
Elder Daniel Floyd

29 July 2009

Hi Everyone!

I’m returning to Guarapuava! I’ll try to do my best right now to describe everything that happened: Last Monday (20 July 2009), I received the news that I would be involved in an emergency transfer. That means that for one reason or another, a transfer is taking place in-between the normal six-week transfers. I don’t know what happened, but Elder Teixeira who was serving in Prudentópolis was transferred to some place near Curitiba. That left Elder Pierce in Prundentópolis without a companion, so I was transferred to fill in that gap. I was able to move because both Elders S. Costa and Avis remained behind in Guarapuava.

On Tuesday I left Guarapuava and arrived here in Prudentópolis, and I have been here ever since. Because we will be having a mission conference tomorrow, President Araujo came on Saturday to interview us all. I was told then that I would be returning to Guarapuava. Elder Avis will be going home immediately after the mission conference, so when we all return from that, I will be back to being Elder S. Costa’s companion. President Araujo said that this was more of an extended division than an emergency transfer. Unfortunately, we still don’t know what will be happening with Elder Pierce.

He really is great, you know. You said he looked like a party guy. From what he has told me about life before the mission, that could be right, more or less. I don’t think he was negligent or anything like that. He’s been on a mission for about nine months now, and he’s from Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Miracles? I don’t know about that right now, but I do have something I’d like to share, but only 2 minutes to do so. I discovered from this little surprise transfer that I really, really love the people here. I never had time to say goodbye to my investigators and recent converts in Guarapuava, and my heart hurt just as much as when I left you all at the airport. I don’t have time to complete the thought right now, but know that I miss you and love you, and I love the people here too.

Until next time,
Elder Daniel Floyd

22 July 2009

I have been transferred.

Yes, I know, transfers are not for another four weeks, but nevertheless I am here now in the city of Prudentópolis (about 1 hour east of Guarapuava) with my new companion Elder Pierce (yes, an American). I received the news about 5:00P.M. on Monday that I was to be involved in an emergency transfer. I don’t know what happened to cause it, but I have taken the place of Elder Teixeira here. I am in the same district (proto-stake) as Guarapuava, but I hear the branch here only has about 60 active members. Before

I am really not sure of I will be staying or not because I was informed that these arrangements would be official only for ten days. The truth is I really want to head back to Guarapuava because I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to anybody, only Daniele and the family of Eliseu. I was really looking forward to attending the baptism of Eliseu tonight, but I guess the Lord has other plans.

I’m not really sure what else to write.

We have our mission conference next Wednesday, and I received news from President Araujo that a general authority WILL NOT be presiding. Interviews are this Saturday.

Let Lizzie know I love her and miss her.

Sorry I don’t have more to write, I’m just a little in shock. I hope all is well at home.

Love,
Elder Floyd

15 July 2009

Before I forget, here is the address of the mission office where you can send packages:

Élder Daniel Wells Floyd
Missão Brasil Curitiba
Praça Joseph Smith
15 Portão
Curitiba-PR
80610-210 BRASIL

Things have been interesting here in Guarapuava. Elders S. Costa and Avis have been a great blessing for me, and we are having a lot of success in finding people to teach. We have another baptism today for Everton, a member referral. He was the one who tracked us down because he wanted to be baptized. The baptism of Elton has been pushed back until the 29th of this month. I think one reason we have had so much success in the last week is that fact that we have three missionaries here. We only need one member to make two companionships, and you can do twice the work of one companionship with two, so you can probably see my point. It has been really interesting living the life of a missionary without Elder Cacio, but it has been a good experience.

I heard from both you and Sister Achiu that she will be serving again in Germany. I have not yet written her, but can you let her know I'm really excited for her?

This Saturday will mark five months on the mission for me, not that I'm counting. Please know that I am always thinking about and praying for you.

I know with a surety that this is the Lord's work. I want to share a short experience that happened yesterday. With a member, I was contacting people that we had spoken to on the street, and all I really managed to do for about an hour was schedule to stop by later. After leaving one doorstep, and as I was passing in front of another house, I felt impressed to stop and talk to the resident there.. When I clapped my hands (which is, as you know, the standard and necessity here), a woman of probably 55-60 years came out. When I explained that we were sharing a message about Jesus Christ and that he had called a prophet in our days, she let us enter.

We talked for a little while, and after a prayer we started the lesson. It went very well and she listen very intently and commented very intelligently. When I began to recount the First Vision in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, something began to touch my soul. As I explained that the boy Joseph had seen a pillar of light, I began to feel overwhelmingly that the words I was recounting were true. I knew in that moment that the Spirit was testifying to the woman, Solete, that the things we were saying were true. Something touched her as well.

After the lesson concluded, we set a time for us to return. I really don't know where this will go. I have no idea was lies in the future for Solete, but I know that the Spirit testified to her that we spoke the truth It is now only a matter of accepting or rejecting.

Thank you for all you are doing there in the United States to make my mission a  success. I'm out of time now, but I will write you again soon. Thanks for all the updates. I hope you are all safe and sound.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

1 July 2009

I was immediately scared as to the content of Lyn’s letter the minute I read the title. I am quite aware that I have probably been disappointing you at home with my lack of interesting stories and spiritual experiences, but one hour really is less than it seems. I am now sitting here with 9 minutes left and I haven’t wasted any time since I started.

The baptism of Adriana and Daniel went very well. I didn’t know until I tried to baptize him that Daniel has a phobia of water. As you can imagine, I had to do it two times. Also, their father Eliseu is now set with a baptism date for the 22nd of this month. I’m really excited about that. Elder Cacio and I have two more baptisms tonight: Holga and Michael of the Cezar, Paulo, Felipe, and Ana clan. That will make 12 baptisms for the period of time that Elder Cacio and I have been together (1 per week on average). I just pray that such success continues throughout my mission.

I also heard about Michael Jackson the day it happened. Strange, but I didn’t cry.

I promise you that whatever you are doing at home to help me is working. We always have food, investigators, and the Spirit. What more does a missionary need? We found out this morning that the western-most part of the Brazil Curitiba Mission has been transferred to the Brazil Londrina Mission. One American missionary from my group in the CTM, Elder Madrid, has now been transferred to that mission.

The next time I write, Elder Cacio will be in Curitiba (probably in the temple), and I will be with my new companion. I do not have the package address with me, but I will (I will!) remember next week. Should you send it within the next two weeks, I will expect to receive it at my next zone conference.

The language is going great. I am by no means perfect, but I am improving. I love you and think of you. Please know that you help me move forward in this great work.

Love,
Élder Daniel Floyd

24 June 2009

First off, thank you for sending the documents in “.doc” format; I was able to read everything. As far as the letters go, I didn’t receive any of them previously by MissionTies, but I did receive two from Dad with photos.

The baptisms of Felipe and Ana went off without a hitch. I didn’t slip or almost drown Ana, but this may be due to the fact that she is only eight years old.

We had another zone conference yesterday. No letters, but that is good because it means that nobody is sending letters to the mission office anymore. As far as packages go, there is a specific address for that, and I will send it by email next week. Also concerning a “certain” package, the only Ensign I really want is the conference edition. I have received English editions of all of the Liahonas except the conference edition. Institute manuals in English for the standard works would be greatly appreciated. Also, Lyn asked about measuring cups. We have them here in this apartment, but I hear they are not that common in other missionary dwelling-places. I have made due with all of the recipes I have because we have tablespoons and teaspoons (marked with both metric and American measurements), and the Brazilians use the cup, only it is called the “xícara”.

My email time is already up, but I will be sending a letter through MissionTies today with more information about the work here. I don’t know where the time went. Sorry, but such is the life of a Latter-day Saint missionary.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

17 June 2009

Please, please, please send Word attachments with the attachment ".doc", not ".docx". Docx is the Microsoft Office 2007 format, and there is no guarantee that I will be able to read these because most of the computers here have Office 2003. I think all you have to do is use "Save as..." and select "Office 2003 Format" or something similar to that. But many thanks for all the emails you sent. Hopefully I can read them next week.

Tonight we have another baptism! Two, in fact: Ana and Felipe. I will have the opportunity to baptize Ana. Hopefully, I won't almost drown her like I did with Paulo.

Eleseu and his family are doing great. Almost definitely, Adriana will be baptized next week. Eleseu and Jose will be married soon.

Also, I said that I would include some spiritual experiences in this email. I am currently in the process of compiling everything I want to say so that I can present it in the best way possible. I will not wait any longer than next Wednesday.

I had my first run-in with a Bible-basher yesterday. I won't name the denomination or the arguments he wanted to make, but suffice it to say that we maintained our cool and demonstrated Christlike patience. I know for a fact that we learn line-upon-line, precept-upon-precept. We can in no-wise understand deep doctrine if we do not understand that this Church is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I am thankful, now, that we review this stuff every week at Church.

I also gave my first talk. It was great, and you can bet I used the story about the bread rising on the third day. The problem is that in Portuguese, they use the word "grow" instead of the word "rise" for bread, but with a brief explanation of the English language before the punchline, it was a hit.

This Church is true. It is Christ's. He lives and He loves us. It is only through Him we live and breathe.

Until next week,
Élder Daniel Floyd

10 June 2009

I am proud to report that it has indeed heated up a little since I last wrote. I think I have noticed a pattern with the cold weather: It is really only very cold the days after the weather clears up after the rain. Probably evaporation or something. I don't know; I'm not a meteorologist. I probably forgot to mention that we have a little space heater that we use at night in our room, so we don't freeze in our beds.

I did make the cake. Two times now: Once for Elder Cacio and me, and another time for a zone meeting we had. Everyone liked it, but amid cries of "you need to make this for me," I had to remind them that if they wanted it, they would have to pay for it themselves. That got them all quiet pretty quick.

I did not write a letter for MissionTies for you like I thought I would. It is more difficult than I thought to take some time and write a letter to you, probably because we can only write on our Preparation Day.

Ana and Felipe, siblings of Cezar and Paulo, are preparing for their baptisms next Wednesday. They are really great. Hopefully their brother Michael and their mother Holga will follow suit.

Also, we are preparing a great family for baptism on the 27th of this month: Eleseu (Elishah in Portuguese), the father; Jose, the mother; and Daniel and Adriana the children. Eleseu is very knowledgeable about the Bible (for this reason, he says, he is no longer Catholic), and I he has accepted everything we have taught. They attended church this last Sunday and loved it.

I made the comment to Elder Cacio this morning that I don't know how the Lord works to prepare these people for us, but He does. We teach and we teach and we teach; we find new investigators and dump old non-progressing ones, and in the end, the Lord provides us with prepared, polished, soon-to-be members. I know He is in this work.

We are also still working with Fernando, Daniele, Andresa, and Rosane. They are all still active in the Church (thank goodness).

It rained yesterday and is raining today. Thank goodness for water-proof clothing and an excellent umbrella. Please let the family know that I'm well. By the way, could I have Jennifer's and Amanda's email addresses? Thanks. I hope the Lord is blessing you all in sunny California. I will talk a little more about miracles in the mission field the next chance I get to write.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

3 June 2009

I thought of many ways to start this letters, but all of them have to do with the number of times to write the word "cold".

COLD. If you use it one time, it seems much more profound and solid. Also, it doesn't sound like it escaped the mouth of a raving lunatic. However, it is very short.

Cold . . . COLD! This brings shivers to the bones of the readers, but unlike the previous attempt sounds like Old Man Jenkins escaped the loony bin.

Cold, cold, cold. This sounds like I'm really not having a good time doing missionary work. You would probably picture me shaking my head back and forth in a  depressive mood.

Cold, cold, cold, cold. Now my mind is thinking of nothing but the temperature. Better get me reading or teaching, and fast!

Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold. He is the last, and the one I choose to use. I don't know what Jay was thinking when he said it wasn't that cold. I've never been so cold for so long in my life. Not that I'm complaining or anything, just expressing the fact. The cold here is more profound, I think, because of the humidity. I believe it was -4°C this morning, probably 0°C in our house. There is no internal heating, and none of the windows and doors seal all the way, so there's nothing you can do about it. However, everything is nice and toasty under the covers in bed.

Okay, enough about the temperature. I must admit that I like it better than the heat, which I'm sure I will come to know in the summer.  I'm really am having a great time here.

The baptisms of Cezar and Paulo went pretty well, except for the fact that I slipped while baptizing Paulo and almost baptized us both at the same time. Also, we're teaching two great families who both have the potential to be members of the Church. I'll give you updates on them next week.

Please tell Sister Betz that everything is great with me, and I'll be happy to sit down with her and her granddaughter in one year and eight months when I have the time . . . and I'm in the country.

Lyn, planning the hoedown? I can't wait to here about how it goes. To me the words Lyn and Hoedown just don't go together.  I know you can make a great hoedown, Lyn.

If you send me a box for my birthday, what I really want is Church material. Institute manuals, Ensigns, you know. I can only read stuff published by the Church. Also, I may be needing a new belt. I'm down to 165 pounds.

I heard about both Prop 8 and the Swine Flu situation in the MTC. Last time we talked, you said that the Flu was nothing big, but it seems like the Church is taking a lot of precautions. What's up?

Well, that's all for now. I will try to reply more next week. I will probably send a MissionTies letters. I pray for you and hope that all is well.

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

27 May 2009

Yes, I have survived. The battle was harsh, the casualties were many, but I have managed to stay here in Guarapuava with Elder Cacio for the next six weeks. Transfers are more worrisome than I thought.

I did get some photos developed at Koris, a photo-developing store here. Lyn seemed pretty angry at me on the phone that I hadn't used the debit card, so I thought I'd give it a try. I did not, however, get a picture CD made. I am still trying to accumulate enough photos to send to you of the apartment, area, etc. Please understand that this takes time because Preparation Day time is precious to both me and Elder Cacio, and I cannot always do all the things I want to.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZZIE! I hope you had a great 3-day celebration. Speaking of birthdays, I never received the recipes that Lyn said she sent, neither through email nor MissionTies. I was hoping to make the chocolate cake for Elder Cacio on his birthday this Saturday, but I guess cookies will have to do. I know it's not your fault, but do you think you could send this one recipe again through MissionTies? Maybe, through the grace of our Creator, it will arrive before the 30th. For your information, I have been receiving your MissionTies letters in 3-8 days. I did, however, enjoy many of the letters I received at our Zone Conference last Thursday. I know that I am loved.

We have another two baptisms today: Cezar and Paulo. They are great guys. I'm sure that they will lead the rest of their family to the waters of baptism as well.

And on that spiritual note I want to close with my testimony, which I realize I have not shared with you explicitly in quite some time. I have a testimony of this Gospel: that is true, and that through the mercies of Jesus Christ we will live again and we can live forever with God and our families. I know that prayer works. I know it with all my heart. This has been manifested to me many, many times already on my mission, and I know the Lord blesses those who ask for His blessings. I know that the message of the Gospel will bless every last person who embraces it. I know that we have a very important job to do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ to share the Gospel with others. If we want the Second Coming, we need to stop waiting and start working. All of God's commandments are important, and He gives them to us because He loves us and knows how we can live good lives. Thank you so much for supporting me here in a foreign land. Thank you for bringing me up in the light of knowledge about God and His Beloved Son. I know that we have the actual Church of Jesus Christ here on the earth today, and it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This Church existed before the foundations of the world, and it will continue to exist forever. This is my prayer, my thanksgiving, and my tesimony, and I leave it with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sincerely yours,
Elder Daniel Floyd

P.S. I wanted to title this email "The Morning After", but since that term has undergone some radical changes in recent years, I decided to add "the War".

20 May 2006

Elder Daniel Floyd with President and Sister Araujo. The photo was taken on his first day in the mission field, May 4, 2009.

20 May 2009

I hope you all know it is difficult to start off writing emails here in the mission field because I never know what to say. I know what I want to include when I begin, but I never know how to start. I will do my best. . . .

First off, I got all three copies of your letter, Dad: the email and the two letters. Regardless of what address you typed in at MissionTies.com, both the letters arrived with the same address printed on the front. I will share that with you now:

Elder Daniel Wells Floyd
Av. Sebastião Camargo Ribas #906 AP:1
Guarapuava-PR
85055-000 BRAZIL

Also, I should be getting all the letters you sent to the mission office during our Zone Conference tomorrow. I look forward to reading them!

Well, we had TWO baptisms this last Saturday: Fernando and Daniele. Also we have TWO tonight, and TWO firm baptisms planned for next Wednesday. Missionary Work is more exciting than I thought it would be. Fernando, Daniele, Rosane, Andressa, Cezar, and Paulo are really great people. I will send photos when I can.

Speaking of photos, I have not yet made a picture CD, but we found a shop where I can get one made. I'm using a lot of time today to snap photos of the apartment, city, missionaries, and other things, so hopefully next week I will get a picture CD sent off. I will also try to buy a USB cable for my camera so that I can send some low-quality stuff.

As I said, we are having a Zone Conference tomorrow, and I am really excited. It takes up a whole day and it's two hours away, so it should be a lot of fun.

Elder Cacio and I are getting along great and are having a good time here in Guarapuava. Now that all the members know that I can make cookies, they all want to invite me over to make some. I have to remind them that I'm a missionary! But next week we'll be making cookies with a sister and her husband in the branch. Speaking of which, I was hoping you could ask the Bishop a question for me. I've got this little recipe down that makes fatastic cookies, but I want his permission before I share it with anybody. You know me: render unto Casaer that which is Casaer's.

I hope all is well at home. I look forward to reading all of your "old" letters. Please know that whatever you are feeding the missionaries there is working. We almost never have a lunch fall through, and our fridge is stocked to the brim with food from the members here. I pray that the Lord is blessing you all in Santa Maria and that the "Gripe Porco" hasn't got you down!

Until next week,
Elder Daniel Floyd

13 May 2009

I want to bear my testimony about prayer. It works. Try it sometime  :)  . If you talk to God, He will talk back. It may not be in a way that youy expect, but He will. Also, look to be inspired in your prayers. If you listen carefully, sometimes the Holy Ghost will guide you in what to say and ask for.

6 May 2009

Hello All,

I have recently discovered that the Mission Office here does not forward letters through the mail, only through other missionaries. I have also discovered that the "email with non-family" rule is a little different than I thought. I can receive email from anybody, but I can only respond (through email) to family.

Now some really good news: Mother's Day is here! Any I totally forgot! This coming Sunday I get to call home! We don't have the number yet for the telephone in the chapel that we will be using, so I will have to call collect. Anywho, I'm glad to hear that you're all alive and none of you have died of this Pig Flu yet. I'm also glad to hear that the economy hasn't got you down. Also...Lyn, making bread? Times are changing...

It sounds like Vinnie is really living it up. I swear that everybody here owns a dog. Even the people with cats own dogs. And if you don't see any dogs in people's yards, there's bound to be a stray walking down the street. I've also discovered why people here clap at houses instead of knocking at the door: you can't get to the door. Everybody has a front gate to their property, so you have to clap as you stand on the sidewalk.

Our golden contact family really wasn't as we thought. On our return visit, the wife met us at the gate and informed us they didn't want to have us back again. She blamed the unwilling-to-change-from-Catholicism husband, but I'm not sure. Anyhow, we now have two new families that are doing pretty well with the lessons: Andressa & family and Ulga & family. We only found Andressa because one of her relatives called the number on a pass-along card, and we only found Ulga because we taught her son. Also, Daniele and Fernando are preparing really well for their baptisms this Saturday. I can't wait!

Also, the TAHN-GUEE here is really good. If you don't get it, ask Jay  :)  .

I'm afraid my time is soon up,so I will try to type as much as I can.I'm sorry if my letters have been short. I also have to read an email from President Araujo, write an email to him, and read other emails.

Brazil is really an amazing place. I still don't think Lyn would like it,but it really is cool. The people are poorer on average than Americans, but they are nice. I found out that Brazilians only need to pay R$10.000 to serve a mission.

This email really isn't as long as I had hoped, but I hope it will suffice until next week. I look forward to writing you next week and reading all your letters on the 21st. I miss you and think of you always.

Love,
Elder Daniel Floyd

22 April 2009

Hello again! Can you ask Justin Lott how long it took him to learn to converse well in Portuguese?

This letter may be a bit short because the keyboard I am using has a lot of the letters worn off, and I have to keep back-spacing.

Guarapuava is an interesting city. There are two areas here, and Elder Cacio and I are assigned to the one that is not in the downtown city. It does get a little hot during the day, but not too much, and it has been cool every night. The way the area is laid out is pretty interesting. Because many (if not most) people here do not own cars, everything necessary has to be within walking distance (there are city buses to take you around, but they cost R$2.20 a pop). It's not like the United States where you have your residential area, and your industrial area, and your commercial area. The stores are mixed right in there with the houses. I admit, though, that the main street is mainly businesses.

Like I said, we walk everywhere. My feet have hurt every day since I arrived. They are finally starting to feel better, but they are not healed yet. I experienced my first Guarapuava rainy day yesterday. I cannot express how glad I was to have waterproof work boots because I didn't have an umbrella!

I was finally able to use my maple today. Pancakes! But we were a little short on baking powder and we aren't supposed to leave the apartment until 10:30, so they were a litle flat. Also, I've been putting my skills (though they may be few) to use. I thought I wouldn't make another cookie for two years, but I was wrong. I didn't have a recipe, so I just eyed the levels of ingredients and based it off  what I remembered from work (don't tell Jay  :)  ). They were a little cakelike, but still deliscious. At least, Elder Cacio liked them.

An interesting though before I continue: There is a old Church video about David Whitmer where he writes a letter testifying that he never denied the Golden Plates were real and he has some friend sign it. Dad should remember it. I have a lot of time to think, you see, because I sometimes zone out during long Portuguese conversations. Who played David Whitmer? I think it was none other than our famous Michael Balam.

There is a couple, Fernando and Daniele, who will be baptized on 9 May. We have been working with them may times a week. They live together and are unmarried, but they will be getting married on 8 May. They are some of the few people whose Portuguese I can understand.

There are also Lucione and her son Lucas. They are also preparing to be baptized 9 May. Good family with good faith.

I'd better go becayse I have a letter to write to President Araujo. Know that you are in my prayers and my heart daily. I feel so lucky to be here in Guarapuava. The people here are awesome. The Lord has a lot planned for this place. I hope all is well in the United States, and I look forward to writing you in a week.

I love you.

15 April 2009

First off, now that I am in the field, I have an hour of email time. Woohoo! Also, President Araujo had me send a written letter home, so that will arrive soon, I suppose.

This is my first day in my new area, Guarapuava. It took me a while to be able to pronounce it right, and I am still having a little trouble. It is three hours outside of Curitiba somewhere. Just ask Bishop Cheney. I think he should know. We went up a lot of mountains to get here, and guess what? It's cool! Cool as in frio! I know I am going to love it here.

My new companion is Élder Cacio. He is a full-blooded Brazileiro, and I think we are going to get along great. He has three months left on his mission, so he thinks we will be together until that time. He knows a little English, but I still have to look a lot of Portuguese words up in the dictionary. I know that the next six weeks (and beyond) will be very hard, but rewarding. I feel lucky to have a Brazlian companion who doesn't speak much English because I will learn the language faster, and I don't have to be an expert on English in order to teach it to him. We have a pretty big area, and there is no stake here, only a district. We'll see how long that lasts :P . Remember, pride somes before the fall.

I didn't realize how much I enjoyed working with Elder Pond until he left. You know me, I never cry. I was surprised that I cried when I said goodbye to you all (please don't read into that; I really do love you all very much), but just as if I had known him all my life, the tears came when he said goodbye and left the building. Elder Pond taught me so much about being a good companion. It was difficult to climb five flights of stairs alone when I had been using them with Elder Pond at least four times a day every day for six weeks.

A group of about fifteen of us went to Curtiba. Only three Brazilians in that group. We were able to take pictures together the night before, so it was great. If I ever get around to sending pictures home, I think you'll love them. I hear I can get a picture CD made and send it home, so I may try that.

The choir was great. In a previous emil, I mentioned something that Sister Christofferson said, and there's nothing like actually directing the choir to make you realize how true it is. It is sufficient to say that the song was way too difficult for the choir and that it was performed without a hitch.

Well, that's all for today. I have emails to write to Claudia, Jerry, and President Araujo. I still miss you all. If I have improved enough, my next transfer email may be all in Portuguese. Okay, that may not happen, but I can hope, right?

I know that I am going to love it here. I love my new companion. I love President Araujo. His wife is the nicest lady I have ever met. I miss you all and love you all. Just remember that no matter how hard it gets where you are, the Lord will bless you as long as you are faithful. I will write again in a week. Tchau!

9 April, 2009

8 April 2009

Well, this is it. In six days I'm out of here for good and into the great mission field!

I, too, was confused when no news of Brazil came up in conference. Trust me, I'll talk to Elder Lewis on Sunday. On another conference note, it would appear that because of Daylight Savings Time in America, there are now only four hours difference between us. We watched the first two sessions at 1 and 5 on Saturday, and Priesthood and the last two sessions at 8, 1, and 5 on Sunday. It was a magnificent conference. I've never taken so many notes in my life.

The pizza party was amazing. I don't think you will ever know just how great it was to me and my district. It tasted just like it came from the Pizza Hut on Main and College.

The choir thing isn't really that grand. There are about 75 people, yes, but we only have an hour one time to practice and parts are almost never sung. I think it will be great though. I'll let you know in my next email, and I'm not sure when that will get there since I will be traveling on my next preparation day.

Sorry for the short email this time. I need to get together with the pianist, violinist, and flautist to practice for Sunday, so I need to get going. I love you and miss you. I will write to you soon. Tell Jerry and Claudia thanks for the emails; I'll get back to them as soon as I can.

1 April 2009

We are now working on the third lesson in Portuguese, O Evangelho de Jesus Cristo. We have our milestone tomorrow, so I'll see if I really know it or not.

I will be directing the CTM choir on Easter Sunday in an arrangement of "Consider the Lilies". Piano, flute, violin, and 75 people: fun, fun.

General Conference this Sunday will be broadcast in English for all the norteamericanos. I really cannot wait for it. Elder Lewis of our branch presidency says we should be looking out for news about Brazil, so my interest is peeked.

Two weeks until I'm out in the field, wow. I feel so inadequate. I can barely speak Portuguese, and then it's only during a lesson. Need directions to the hospital? Sorry. Want to talk about the big game? Nope. But I know it will come. I'm doing as well as everybody else, so I don't think there is anything to be afraid of.

I'm afraid that there is no planned spiritual thought today, just a little testimony. The Church really is the same everywhere. I love it. The message of the Restoration is meant for everybody. If this were strictly an American religion, it would not be a big hit here. I know it's true. I know it changes lives. I know it has changed yours, and I know it is changing mine. May God bless you whenever and wherever you are. Thank you for supporting me here. The Lord knows and takes note of your sacrifices. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sorry if I forgot anything. I'm out of time. Have a good week!

25 March 2009

Oi! I am so glad to be sitting back at this computer again. I just love to write to you. I have been told I have a couple of letters, but I cannot read them just yet because the pictures that came with them are not yet printed, so I will have to comment on them next week.

I sent my first letters using MissionTies today, so I will see just how well that works. I have now been in Brazil for three weeks, and I have three weeks left. I am slightly less sick of the rice and beans this week than I was last week.

The weirdest thing has been happening to me. In those *cough* rare *cough* times that I end up talking about other things besides the Gospel and Portuguese, I have been unable to remember the names of actors and actresses. I'll think and I'll think and I'll think, and the names will be on the tip of my tongue, and then when I have completely moved on to something unrelated, the names will come to me. It took me a full two hours to remember Alan Rickman, and Audrey Hepburn didn't come to me until I woke up from a nightmare in the middle of the night.

On the more misionary-related front, things are going well. Sorry, still no baptisms to report, but I went proselyting again on Friday, and it was fun. Elder Pond and I gave away three Books of Mormon and about twenty pass-along cards. We are in the middle of trying to tech the 2nd lesson in Portuguese now. It is hard, but it is a lot of fun. We have been trying to speak as much Portuguese as possible (just not in emails home  :)  ).

It has been an interesting little journey for both Elder Pond and I. We are each other's second companion, and it's a little akward to leave your first companion behind. It helps, though, that we have a lot in common. We both are pretty obedient, punctual, and the like, and we both were in high school Drama productions. He grew up and lives in Colorado where he lives on a farm, his sister is also serving a mission here in Brazil, and they entered the CTM on the same day. She is a very sweet person.

I sometimes feel that Portuguese is an easier language to speak than to study. We study and study all day long until the language is coming out of our ears, and then we try to speak it. All of us feel humbled that the Lord felt we could learn a new language on top of the doctrine.

I had to give a talk this last Sunday on Knowledge. It was interesting writing a talk where you also need to apply it to missionary work and how each person in the room can apply personally to their lives. My main point was this: Seeking knowledge is a commandment. If knowledge is a commandment, then it must be necessary for exhaltation. If knowledge is necessary for exhaltation, then it must be preached to the people. And if it must be preached to the people, then it must be had, understood, and preached by the missionaries, the Lord's messengers. People choose to seek knowledge in different aspects of life, but as long as it is knowledge in a worthy field, it will help us in the next life, just as Joseph Smith said.

I assure you that your prayers are being heard. I am learning Portuguese way faster than I learned Spanish or ASL. I try to keep busy, and the Lord makes up wherever my own ability is lacking (whcih is pretty much everywhere). It has been an intersting experience singing in the CTM choir. Sister Christoffersen, who runs it, made a comment in her short talk on Sunday night that was interesting, and I noticed it myself when I sang on Tuesday night. Many of us in the choir are lacking in musical ability, and practice rarely sees us making a song perfect, but when it comes time to sing, something happens. Elders and Sisters harmonize, and the room is filled with a wonderful Spirit. The CTM is a place set apart from the world, just like a chapel. Satan cannot dwell here, and the Spirit always does. When we sing, we do not sing alone. Helping us along the way are unseen, but felt, forces for good. When we sing, angels sing with us. It is a most amazing thing. It is a most humbling thing. This Church is true. I know it is; otherwise, I would not have come out to serve a mission. The Lord is helping us here to grow into His servants.

Now for an interesting thought: In my study of the Old Testament, I came across a scripture that could possibly refer to the Nephites. It is is 2 Kings 19, I think. Hezekiah (not Zedekiah), the King of Judah, prays that his people will be spared. This is only a few decades before Lehi and company left Jerusalem. The Lord tells him that a remnant of Judah will survive, and that it will not only survive, it will thrive. The Lehites thrived in the Americas. The kingdom of Judah in the Middle East never thrived again. Pretty cool, huh? The book of Mormon is true after all :P .

I hope everything is well for you at home. Let people know that I really, really enjoy receiving letters. Please let me know how the Lord has blessed you at home. I will write again next week. I love you.