"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!"

Ok first of all thank you Amber for the package. I just got it this Monday, and it was the best thing that has happened to me on my mission! haha jk! It has been tuff this last week. I have been trying to be happy but it’s really hard. But I got my package and my week has been so much better! I was sad there was only two small letters from you, - jk! The candy made up for that! Thank you, thank you, thank you, sososososo much! I love American food. It was the best, but I think my comp has had more than me! He LOVES American candy. Thank you Amber for the package and the pictures. The house looks good and Amiah is funnier then ever. Thank you Micah for your letter, I love you and it sounds like you are doing good.
I have been so grateful for my area. Some is poor, and some not so much, but I am so grateful. I feel like a bad person sometimes cause when I was in America I took a lot of things for granted. But everything is good. The people here are so nice, but it’s hard for me because I can’t be myself in Portuguese. Its hard to explain, but I am not myself. I can’t express myself like I would like. My baptism was really good. The water was really cold. The lady was screaming when she came out of the water because the water was really cold. My ward is really big, its bigger than the Heber ward, haha!
Yes, I do my laundry by hand, but then I put my clothes in this machine thing that tries to wash clothes but its not worth anything. Haha! Then I hang my clothes to dry. Its pretty cool. I am lucky enough to have a bed! haha. I saw my first rat- I thought it was a cat...it was HUGE!!! It was in the middle of the road.
Umm, things are tuff but you guys have been helping me out a lot. My journal is good, but sometimes I don’t have time to write in it at night. I have three months out, and it’s going fast.
I miss you all and think of you all the time. Thank you for the updates on the family and stuff. How is Erin and Steffon? Did they buy a new house? What’s going on with them?
And Zack what’s up my bro? Man I do miss you! Your hair looks good, are you getting the ladies haha, jk! (mom I was joking) I am going to send some pics right now.
How is Sydnee have you heard how she is doing? Do you talk to her at all? Umm I have so many things I could talk about but you will just have to wait till after my mission to hear all about it. Oh ya, I had some guy tell me that he was going to kill us at 10 o clock with his gun. It was freaky but he was so drunk he couldn’t even stand. Here in Brazil there is a church on every rua (road) its so funny cause there will be one person in the church and he will be yelling and singing by himself about God and what not.
Well this week was better but its still tuff. I am just putting one foot in front of the other. Mom and Dad, it sounds like you are busy. Thank you for all that you have taught me and have given me in my life. I owe so much to you. Some day I will pay you back. I don’t know how, but I will. Oh ya Dad, how do you like the truck Kenny got you? And did you sell my jeep? Haha! I love you all!
Chao!
Love, Elder Reiss


Ok these are my pics

The one is of my baptism. The guy is the one I baptized a couple of weeks ago
and the lady is his wife. It was amazing! In one year I will go to the temple
with them and their kids.


The next pic is a horse in the front of a store... haha! How cool is that? I see
strange things like this everyday!

August 27, 2008 Email

Hey family- I am sorry for my short email last week. But before I forget, Amber and Kenny the password is applepie1 or applepie10 or applepie2… I don’t remember! Haha! I haven’t read your last weeks letters so I will print them today. This week has been really hard, the language is so hard I get mad at myself and frustrated. I tell myself I would be of more help if I was in a English speaking place because I can't do anything right now. I have 3 months here and I can barely talk and I can’t understand. It’s so hard. I fast every Saturday and I pray 24-7.
I have never been home sick before and I think I am now, I miss home really bad. That doesn’t mean I am not working hard cause I am, but it’s hard when I have no one to talk to and stuff. The mission is really hard, I work so hard in this language but I don’t feel like I am improving at all. I don’t know...there are times when I just break down because I want to talk and I want to help these people but I cant… I get so mad, uhhhhhhhhhh. But other that that I am doing good! I have another baptism this week. I am baptizing the wife of Ailton (the guy I baptized a couple weeks ago) SO THAT IS GOOD!!! I think they asked me to baptize her because they feel bad for me, and I can’t do the confirmation yet...but its all good.
The work on the mission is really hard, but I love it. We walk everywhere and my area is amazing I wish you could see it. It’s really hilly. It’s up and down where ever you go and tons of people. I love the food here, it is amazing! I love rice, and I love beans, I love fruit and the food on the streets (street venders). And they have good candy. Thank you mom for my package will you just send a couple of things: a pair of basketball shorts for my comp, and chunky peanut butter, and candy and what ever you think I need, haha! Thank you and I love you tons.
I will send a couple of pictures next week of my area for you all. Its nice to hear from you and how the family is. I am sorry fam for not writing everyone letters and stuff but just know that I think about you and that I love you.
The weather is hot and it rains once in a while but nothing like I heard, I haven’t used my coat yet. Today for p-day we went to this park.... it’s like the central park of Sao Paulo.... and I got to play baseball with Elder Griner and Elder Tuttle. They are from Utah. It was good to play catch.
I hope that this letter was better than last week. I had a longer time to write today. How does Zack like school? Is the jeep still there? Anything interesting happening in America? Well, I love you family. Thank you for all of the support.
Love, Elder Reiss
Please send to Syd and to the family

August 20 email

Hey family I only have 10 minutes to write. I love you all, and my baptism was good. I didn’t read your emails yet- I have to print them off and read them on the go. Everything is good. I decided I am not going to complain about the language because that wont get me anywhere, will it. But all I will say is that it is really hard! OK- Well sorry my letter is so short I have no time, we are teaching a lady in like 10 mins! I love you so much and I will reply on your emails next week…. love you.
Love,
Elder Reiss

Hey Sydnee is having surgery today or tomorrow, tell me how she is doing.
Love you all