Last week in the MTC!

Well this is my last week in the MTC! I only have 6 more days and I am done! It’s hard to believe, but its here. I am so nervous, and am scared out of my mind. But oh well- I got to do it some time. I am so excited at the same time when I think about it and realize this is why I am here to teach people -not to stay in the MTC and be served like a king! (O yea just to let you know they say my name like this - Heis- and it means king).

Well anyway, Friday, I went down town again and I placed 8 books of Mormon and a lot of pass a long cards, it was the coolest experience. I talked to some crazy people, and then I talked to some people that seemed to be so interested to what I was TRYING to say. I started to talk to this guy and he found out he could speak English; he lived in America till he was 6 then moved to Brazil. I asked him if he knew who we were. He said yea I know you pretty well actually; I got excited and asked him how he feels about God and stuff. Then he said.... I am totally against it, you probably don’t like people like me. So I asked him why......he said.... I am SANTANIST..... Haha! Don’t ask me what that is! So when he said that, I was thinking in my mind what to say to him and all I could think of was (as I open my arms like I was going to give him a hug) “We love everyone”, haha! It was funny. My companion just looked at me with a weird look, and I tried to teach him but he didn’t accept. It was so funny! It was really a good experience. Then a prostitute came and was trying to talk to us... at the time I didn’t know what she was or what she was saying, then all of a sudden she started to yell “SEX! SEX!”- and I was shocked! Haha! She was asking us about sex- I just said “No, I don’t understand, Sorry”, and walked away. It was really really scary. Come on, I am just some boy from a small town that doesn’t know anything! Then a guy came up to us and was telling us how much he likes Mormons so we gave him a book of Mormon talk in a short lesson about the restoration and gave him my testimony. You can tell when people are interested they glow and they have the biggest smile on there face. Well there were a couple of other stories but I will save them for later. 

I thank you so much for your letters, I have gotten like 8 letters this week because the mailing system is so crazy and stuff. So some letters I get in a week, and others it takes a month. But thank you so much for everything and all your support.
Zack before I forget the password is 2367#. Zack please listen to mom they know the best, and they know what will be best for you even if you don’t think so. I know you want the cell phone but that’s not important, its not important to have what other people have and to want what other people have, what is important is that you follow the gospel you just be yourself and an example to others the best you can......so how is football, and your summer? Its almost over! Next letter I get from you better be about something else then your cell phone –haha! Have you seen any movies? How are they? How is life, you have any questions? 

Its really cool, I am really good friends with a kid named Elder Hurst he is in my branch, he is the catcher from Snow Canyon he is a good kid. We talk about baseball a lot so maybe that’s not the best thing- haha! Well mom, I think that after this week you should get rid of mission ties, it will save money and I would rather just email and write letters. But that’s my opinion, thank you so much I will let you know my new address as soon as I can. I love you all and pray for me so I don’t have a heart attack when I enter the field.
Love you all-Peace!


P.S. Mom can you please send me a package of candy, I miss American candy so much! Haha! You can send it to my mission in Interlagos-that would be the best....put skittles and M&Ms, and ranch -oh ya ranch, and just good American stuff.
Haha! I love you, and write me what you think.


Thank you for everything!

7/22/08 Email = A Good Week!

Sorry for the delay on posting this email. I've been out of town and just barely got to this.

Well hello family! How is life in America? I bet it’s not as good as here. Haha! Well if you can't tell already, I have had a better week this week! It’s been really good. I only have two weeks in the MTC and I don’t know any Portuguese. Haha! But oh well I guess I will learn in the field, when you pray and you ask for comfort and strength have faith that the lord is there to answer your prayers... because he is there all the time 24/7. That is why I am a lot better this week cause of the atonement and Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for him, for the church and for the teachings. I have a really cool scripture for this week and maybe for next week cause I love it so much, it is really good. It is MAT 10:39, it is the best scripture for me right now I really love it.
Thank you for all the letters, yes mom I have been getting all of them, they are amazing. Dad I am sorry I didn’t send anything to you on your birthday but I didn’t want to remind you that you are 56 ... wait how old are you now... well I guess it doesn’t matter haha! JK- love you dad.

You guys won’t believe how much wait I have gained….. you ready for this...20 pounds! Yup that is right.... I weigh 180 -haha I love it! I have never weighed this much in my life......now some how I am going to have to turn all that into muscle haha..... It is really hot right now it was only cold for like a week or two and now it is back to being really hot......I love it..... 

I don’t need anything from home yet. But I think later if you could send me another memory stick for my camera that would be great- so I can send you mine and you could develop them for me but I will let you know more about that later...I haven’t received any home mail from anyone for a long time because Sao Paulo is on another strike so I don’t know when I will get those...but I wouldn’t send letters later then next Sunday because I wont get them before I leave for the field... I wrote Micah a letter, did she get it? Tell her that I want here to write me back as soon as she can through mission ties.
Tonight is my solo I am really nervous cause I can’t sing or anything but o well haha. I am thankful for the CTM and for all the instructors and my branch president they are so smart and help me so much. OK so all of you need to buy a Preach My Gospel manual and use it in your life, with church, friends, family, or whatever it is really amazing.
This Friday is my last time to go proseylting so that will be fun. I am getting excited to get out of here and to be in the field even though I don’t know Portuguese. That is crazy Sarah is almost home from her mission it seems like she just left. Crazy -that is how my mission will be.....

Well I love you all and I cant wait to here from you again.
Zack you better be doing good, and having a lot of fun. I love you and I cant wait to here about you and football.

I still need Micah’s email.
I will try to send some more pics.

I will be on for a 15 more mins.   :)

One Tuff Week!

This was another tuff week for me, I only have three more weeks and I am getting really nervous. My proselyting went really bad- I didn’t do good at all. I know I am supposed to open my mouth, but it’s hard when I can’t say what I want to say all the time. It’s really hard on me when I can’t talk... I get really frustrated, and I get mad...You know me! I am not patient at all, but this weekend it was like the Lord was yelling at me telling me to be patient, and not to worry. We had a whole bunch of firesides and talks given, and it was like they were directed to me! It’s crazy how He works. Talking about firesides…guess what?? Next week, on Tuesday, there is a big fireside for all the missionaries… and I have to sing. (solo ) ya all by my self.....don’t laugh! So please pray a lot for me cause I need it haha. But anyway, I am doing a lot better now and I realized I can’t get mad and I just have to trust the lord even if it is really hard at times. I met a teacher that knows Brandon Merchant....small world…he went to his same mission. His name is Elder Cavalante. He is really cool, so you should as Brandon if he knows him. Thank you for all your letter and your love. Thank you mom for the treats at Mr. Cheney’s... I am going to eat that brownie Sunday after this haha. So dad, have you sold the jeep yet! I hope not -haha let me know. Nana thank you for that letter and for everything how are you and how are your knees doing? MOM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you liked the pictures I sent you- haha they were funny huh? Let me know about the doctor’s appointments and how everything is going with that...
Hey Zack how are you doing? I am sorry about your phone -I forgot to say something about it last week but I don’t know anything that is going on with that. I’m sorry- maybe you just aren’t supposed to have a phone. Haha! Have you started football yet, and how are the drums coming? Well it sounds like the family is doing really good right now and you are all really busy. This week I have to give lesson 1 & 2 in Portuguese and lesson 4 in English it’s so much, but it keeps me so busy. I got Micah’s letter- tell here thank you for me, and that I am sending her a letter in the mail today. I am sorry if I haven’t answered all your questions I am really bad at that -haha, but I guess you can here all about it in two years haha! Mom or Dad, can you talk to Sunny and get Skylar’s address for me and get an update on him so I can here about him and how he is doing? That would be really cool… thank you! How is Sydnee? Have you seen or heard from her at all? Its sound like she is really busy with work and stuff. Well this email I had a lot of questions so lets see if you can answer all of them for me, and hopefully it’s before next p-day haha jk.

PS. Just to let you know, I did get all the mission ties letters, but not the letters in the mail yet- so maybe tonight or in a couple days... the mail system is really funky here. I got Micah’s letter and a letter from Sydnee, but that’s it. But I know that I receive all of them it just depends if the mailmen decide to go on another strike. Well I love you all, and I cant wait to here from you! EU TE AMO

Elder Reiss with his district.

This picture was sent from Elder Ray and Sister Joanne Linford.



"Thought you would enjoy seeing your missionary sons and daughters at the Sao Paulo temple."

Front Row: Elders Reiss, Morley, Parry, Dastrup.
Back Row: Elder Linford, Sister Linford, Sisters Lotulelis and Miner, Elders Howe, Metcalf, Wilson and Miller.

"I am at the peak, not the hump!"

Thank you for all your letters, and the picture was amazing. I do miss that Mt. Dew –haha. They have some here, but I can’t drink it…dang it! Haha! Well it sounds like the family reunion was really good, and you had a lot of fun. I haven’t gotten Micah’s letters or anyone else’s yet because the mailmen are on a strike- haha! Yea this place (Sao Paulo) is crazy with strikes and protests. I should be getting them soon because this is the last day of the strike, I think! I love hearing about all the new stuff- keep it coming. It’s a boy- well Amber and Kenny congrats! You should name it Landan and if he is just like me- you two will be lucky! haha! Sorry I am not there to help with the house I hope everything goes well.
I am going to try to send a picture with this email, but if it doesn’t work I am so sorry. We went to the temple this morning and they got a picture of my district and they are going to send it to all the parents. This week has been pretty normal. I am stressing because I only have a month left in the MTC and I don’t feel like I am ready to get out there and speak the language, but I know the lord will bless me and I will be just fine.

This Sunday I was called to be the assistant to the president......wow.... what did I deserve to get that? Haha! Well it’s a good experience and it’s so easy- haha it’s nothing like being the AP in the field. My p-day is really good and I am having so much fun. I love it here and love this gospel. I am never scared when I am out in the streets because I know the lord is with me and he will protect me. This morning was amazing the temple is so pretty.....I went to the Sao Paulo one... so bonito! I get to go into down town Sao Paulo again so that will be really fun.

I miss you all and I hope you are having a wonderful time in America. I love it here but I miss American food and Mt. Dew! Oh yea…this 4th of July was really cool. During lunch they decorated the lunch area with red, white, and blue balloons and banners and they had a big American flag up and we sang our national anthem. It was really cool. And we had hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken nuggets, chips, and ice cream. Oh it was so amazing! Now you can see why I am getting so fat!
Well I am going to be online for 30 more minutes so if you are at the computer hurry and write me back! :)

This is a picture of my room mates. The one in the suit is my companion.


Some crazy Brazilian with shaving cream all over his face! Haha!

7/1/08 email- and a HILARIOUS story!

Wow! Thank you for all your amazing letters. Kenny some advice… STOP PLAYING SOFTBALL so you don’t kill anyone… Have you thought of that? haha jk. OK- here goes the answers to moms questions... no I don’t need anything, maybe some snacks from Mr. Cheney’s. Money: they give us money once a month... I am doing good with that. Email: um… anyone can email, but I only have 45 minutes to email. The cookies were amazing- they were the best! And it was nice to see new faces... its crazy how small a world it is actually, there are like 4 kids here that I played baseball against. One is the catcher from snow canyon. He is in my branch. His friend, who played shortstop, is coming in the middle of July- and he is going to Interlagos. And yes, I have clean underwear! I change them every other day...haha!-jk. My mission is like a roller coaster. This whole week I have had up’s and down’s it’s so hard. You know me, I hate when I can’t do something, and right now I am struggling with the language. But I have faith, and trust in the Lord. It’s just hard when you can’t communicate with anyone.
Calin wrote me, and that was really good. It made me excited to hear from him and stuff. The district is good. I love them, they are like my family and we are really close.

OK- I have a crazy story for the whole family! You can share it at the family get-together. So last Friday, we went proseleyting (sorry cant spell). It was nuts! I thought that New York was busy, but this was 10 times worse! We were in downtown Sao Paulo, I couldn't even walk there were so many people. There was a protest there for all the teachers, people yelling and screaming, there are a lot of freaks in the world...but yet we are all brothers and sisters, and children of god. Anyway… I was amazed and excited! I loved it! It was the coolest experience. So we (me and my comp.) were walking around for about 45 minutes when we started to try and attempt to give a group of 3 a book of Mormon. (One man and two ladies around the age of 40.) As we were trying to talk they were laughing at me and saying something, I couldn't understand them so they pointed at my pants. So I look down, and my zipper is ALL THE WAY DOWN (good thing I had clean underwear)! Oh shoot! I felt so dumb, but what to you know… they loved me, and my comp. They laughed, and wanted pictures of us and stuff. So after they laughed… and took pictures… we talked about the Book of Mormon. Even though they didn’t understand anything I said, you could tell that there was the strongest spirit there. Me and my comp only had two Books of Mormon. All three of them were so interested that I pulled my own personal book of Mormon out, and gave it to one of them. We left them to read 3 Nephi chapter 11 and they were excited. They wanted our emails, and they gave us theirs. So when they read it, they could email us and tell us about it. They probably won’t email us, but that’s ok. After we left our testimonies in the Books of Mormon the older women asked for a kiss on the cheek… haha… we laughed, and tried to explain why we couldn’t and asked if we could shake their hands. It was the craziest, best experience that I have had. I have learned why I am on a mission now! Jesus Christ suffered for everyone’s transgressions and sins. As I was walking down the main street of Sao Paulo, I would see the reflection of me and my comp in the building windows. Two missionaries, and about 1 million people around us....WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK. I am here to bring people unto Christ and make it so they can have happiness and eternal life, so one day we can live in God’s presence.

I love this gospel with all my heart and I learn so much every day. I hope you all enjoyed my story. I’m sure I will have a lot more embarrassing stories like that! But hey… if my zipper is down, and people notice, that might be a good strategy to get investigators- haha jk! But I love you all and thank you for all your letters.
I want to here more about you guys too... MICAH what is up with you? I want mission ties letters from everyone- haha! And mom if you make a big list of questions and send it through mission ties I will answer every one… Haha! I am trying to become better at this letter writing thing.
Love you all and god bless

P.S. It’s funny what you start doing as a missionary. I started to name my ties… and they are: blue still, Sunshine (my new tie), Old Yeller, AL, and that’s all for now! haha