Letter from Mike December 5, 2007

Hey Dad

Baptism was sweet action, but Elder J went in the water because I can´t get my elbow in the water cause it´ll open up. It was awesome though. This old lady is such a doll. Right when she came back from changing her clothes, she stood up and told everyone there that if they ever needed ANYTHING, spiritual or physical, she would be the one to call, becuase she´s entered into a covenant to do just that. It was awesome. She´s cries everytime we talk with her, and says we´ll never know what our names mean to her. That´s what it´s all about. You know? This is really what is important. Eternal and everlasting. That´s our work. It´s an out of body experience to think of exactly what we´re helping these people do. I almost can´t wait to die to see them on the other side haha I love it so much to do this. Everything here is fine. Working is hard sometimes, but when I just put my head down and talk to everyone, and just smile, it gets better. Prayer is amazing too. I spent a day in Alcantra this week on splits with the Zone Leader, ELder Casimiro, and it was awesome. We went to chew a few a elders out for slacking like mad, and I learned a lot. He talked to them about the three motives e have for everything. Fear, Pride, and LOVE. When we have a motive for love, these people feel it, and their motives for keeping compromissos (forgot english). I´ll talk about that in Church on Sunday. I really enjoy your letters. That Holland talk is amazing. I love him, what he says about rowing out and beating their head with oars. It´s awesome. He gave AN AWESOME talk in the Provo MTC, I think it was may of 06, but I really have no idea. About the sacrifice of missionary work, and how Crist´s sacrifice ties in. If you could find that, it´d be awesome. I watched it in the CTM, and am just now remembering it. It was amazing. But everything here is good. We have Gloria to baptize this sunday, and the weeks to come we have a few firm ones, but it´ll be a struggle to fill every week, but we´re doing our part. Thanks for everything. I love you and am so glad you can relate to mission life. If you ever beed anything, let me know. I´m sending you a tie! I hope you didn´t forget you asked for one. Thanks for everything. Love, Mike

Hey mommmy

Sounds like things at home are running as they should. Ken got his braces off eh? Man I remember that day. What a day. Went to mutual that night and we had it at the Esplins. Man I was feeling good that night. But thanks for sending what sounds like the goods. I won´t get any packages until the twentieth when we go to Rio for mission conference, but they should be there and I´ll have them in time for Christmas. So you want to hear about the trivia huh haha Nothing much. I wake up, go to the bathroom, shave, shower, iron my shirt, write in my journal, and then I just kind of sit for a while until 8. Then I sit on my bed and read O Livro de Mormon out loud for fifteen minutes to learn better Português. At 9, Elder Jensen and I get together and pray and study. At ten we go to the church and call people to firm up our plans for the day. We really try to get a lesson in before lunch, but it´s hard in the morning. We have lunch everyday in a members house at 12 or 12 30, after that, it´s work and walking city till nine or nine thirty when we get home and plan for half an hour. Then I shower again and hit the sack. Basic day. No I don´t have a toilet seat yet. But I´m used to it haha We teach a lot of people. We baptized Conceção last sunday and we´re baptizing Gloria this Sunday. After that, the baptisms are going to be tough, but wepre working hard to have one every week. Things here are really good. We met a guy from Ghana yesterday and I thought a lot of Steve. We were just walking up the street, and this HUGE black guy stops us and asks us in really weird english if we were the latter day saints. I was like Holy shmoly, this guys speaking english! Anyways, we taught him the first lesson and we´re going back tomorrow. Should be sweet. Don´t really know what else. I´ve been taking films of just some random stuff throughout my day and I´ll be sending that this week, maybe it will get there before Christmas. Sounds like home is home. Cate is big I bet. Blows my mind that I won´t know her till she´s two. But I hope everythings great. If you ever need anything let me know. I love you mom. I´ll talk to you next week

Photos From Brazil Nov. 20, 2007

MIke's Apartment Tour - Niteroi

Letter from Mike Nov. 14, 07

Yo yo mammy mom. How are you? I´m fine and dandy here in Brazil. We went to Sugar Loaf Mountain today and it was amazing. Truly I´m in paradise. Jungle paradise. I sent pictures last week so look for those fairly soon. But thanks for all the news. Can´t believe Layton. The year I leave. Sounds like the family is good. The whole lot of um. Everything´s good here. Haveing fun though. Been a tad sick, cause I was freezing for two days. Rain sucks, but I´m fine now... Had interviews with President this week. I think that Elder j may get transferred next week, but we don´t know yet. We´ll see....Got to wear jeans and a t shirt for the first time in three months today woo hoo haha Portuguese is really coming. I understand everything, but it gets really frustrating when you want to express yourself. It´s hard to mesh your personality with a new language, but it´s coming. I´m learning. The Lord is fulfilling promises....baptisms are few because it rained hardest of course Sunday and only two of our nine investigators showed...Oh well. Also, I´m learning patience! haha GLad to hear Em is still close. Love her lots mom. You know that. There´s guys out here with girls at home begging for them to come home, but I got one that is doing everything and anything to help me and encourage me. She´s loverly. You were that kind of girl, yah. Thanks for marrying Dad and bringing me down here to Earth to work. President Hinckley says that missionaries will have an increased love for parents. It´s so true. You guys, all of you are the first thing that comes to mind when I kneel throughout the day. Thanks so much. I love you. Give the world a hello for me and if you get time, drive through Taco Bell and have one on me. For me haha But every thing's great here. Tell Everyone I love them and pray for them individually to realize that they´ll be happy when the do what is right. SIMPLE!!! Thanks mom. I love you and will talk to you in a little over a month lol haha YEAH!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Mike Flips in MTC!

Letter From Mike Oct, 24, 2007

WOO HOO Moms rock!!! Mom you are swell!! I´m swell!! We´re all swell!!! This week was a doozy. Running running running, work work work, but it flies. I can´t believe I´m here agan, emailing you. WE got a firm baptism this Saturday with a little 11 year old girl named Luanna!! She´s awesome! Can´t wait to see her be baptized! Elder Jensen and I are champs. There I said it. We´re dominating the mission. We got 25 lessons last week and 100 contacts. DOMINATION!!! Did splits with the Zone leader these last couple of days. He goes home in three weeks and is trunky to the max. He lives in Morgan. Good guy though. Things here are good though. We´re having so much fun doing this work. Portuguese is finally sinking in. I´m doing so much better this week with it. English is a lot funner, but learning a new language is awesome... Rio. HA! What haven´t I seen? Drag queens, gay old men, bums naked on the street, breast feeding during lessons (more than you´d think). Brazil has it all. Today it´s soaking wet. Bucketfuls of rain, everywhere. Bought a big pimp umbrella AFTER I ran through the Centro trying to find one. And this guy gypped me. Shorted me two reals I realized when I left. Oh well.....I never know what to say when I write you guys. Love you all. That picture of Em and You is something else. You two together...The foremost ladies in my life haha I´m really really glad that you´re keeping in touch with her. Please don´t let that stop :) WEll I´m still normal. ?Haven´t turned gay or anything yet. still the same me. But speaking in a different language to strangers on the street everyday. We have mission conference next week and I am totally pronto for that. Presidente is a CHAMP!! Can´t wait to hear from him. Church was way funny. Bunch of teenege girls asking me where I was from, how old I was and if I have a girlfriend. HA They quickly scattered when I informed them all that I did indeed haha.....How is everyone? What are the haps? D leading assemblies. Totally jealous. Ken? Davis dance? Man, I never got asked to one of those. Crap. La Fou? How is La fou? Heavelny father does answer prayers......WELLL Family I´m grandiose. I encourage you all to serve a mission because there´s nothing else like it. It´s an adventure already and the next twenty two months is gonna be rad!!! I love you all and am doing fine. I weigh 60 kilos wet and with a quad, but I´m swell. I picture you guys praying for me all the time ad reflect on many a funny memory daily!! Write me always and spread the love throughout the world!!! Tchau!
Elder Brother (Bear) Son Michael

Letter from Mike Oct. 17, 07

Holy shmoly here I am!!

How are all of you? From the sound (and look) of it, you guys all sound swell...Ken. ? Guitar. Sexy indeed. Unparalleled....Everyone else? What´s the haps? Sound like football is domination this year. Well I´m in bloody Niteroi. That´s my zone. Fonseca is my area, and it´s a dandy. Lots of really humble humble homes. Antonio Carlos literally lives in a cave. It´s amazing. I asked him if I could go back and pictures, and he said anytime. Can´t wait to show you guys. We´re all so blessed...We have a house with who know´s how many rooms! They have 1!just everyone be thankful for what the Lord has seen fit to bless us with. We have amazing blessings.... well no Baptisms this last Saturday ,but this coming one we have at least one. Vera, and she´s a champ. It´s going to be so great to see her start her new life in the church. well LOTS has happened, and I have to save a lot of it for two years, but ?I have a goal to write in journal every night, and I´ll tell you all the crazy crazy happenings haha The priesthood. BAM! A blessing indeed. Elder Jensen and I gave four blessings this week, one just this morning. Such a blessing. Dad thanks for always being a righteous example for me there. We had Zone Meeting this morning and Dad I got your letter that you wrote on the first I think. Thanks a lot. Before I forget, my new address is as follows:

Elder M Young
Alameda São Boa Ventura 419
Apto. 1004
Fonseca Niteroi RJ
24130-005 Brazil

So do it to eh? start um up and keep um coming. Oh also Dad, if you get time, will you go through my emails and reply to anyone that emailed me that I can´t mail them? Tell them anything they need to know, address, etc. Thanks so much.....
HEY! Bry Cunningham...Anyone remember him? Son of Rueben? He´s my district leader! Carazzy eh? Small world.....Our apartment, yes, crappy city haha Cockroaches the size of twinkies haha Way funny to see in the shower haha.....Uhmmm...Cate is freakin adorable. Can´t believe it...She´s got my heart haha Don´t really know what to tell you guys. I have everything ? I need. In the mission, we can´t drink coke, and we can only listen to church endorsed music, aka Tab choir. That´s a toughie, but I´m doing it. Drinking Guarana Atartica with every meal, so go out and buy a bottle and toast to me. It´s swell. I would say that´s the biggest miracle I´ve seen yet. The Lord helping me with food. I eat everything and anything they give me. I´ve had some downright crappy desserts, but they are so humble, and you HAVE to eat it haha Crazy. The Lord as truly loosed my tongue isn that aspect.....The language haha Dad maybe it went the same way for you. I can understand nearly everything, but speaking is a whole different story. Really tough. I´m learning a ton though, and I just have to remember here a little there a little....I love you all. Especially mom and dad haha Hope you´re all great. Missions are the best thing. I´ve never done anytnear this cool, and I hope you guys are all looking forward to it for yourselves. It´s tough in every aspect, but the blessings are undescribable. I love you all, hope to hear from you, and will write you next week. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

Elder Mike Y

Learn Portuguese - Lesson #1

Portuguese Language Lesson 1

Article - definite: o - the

Nouns: places in the city

* restaurante - restaurant
* edificio - building
* mercado - supermarket
* jardim - garden

Verb: é - is

Adjectives:

* grande - big
* pequeno - small

Sentences:

* O restaurante é pequeno.
* O edificio é grande.
* O mercado é grande.
* O jardim é pequeno

Copyright 2006 Maria Oliveira. All rights reserved.

Learn Portuguese - Lesson #2

Portuguese Language Lesson 2

Article - definite: a - the

Nouns: places in the city

* casa - house
* igreja- church
* escola - school
* loja - store

Verb: é - is

Adjectives:

* grande - big
* pequena - small

Sentences:

* A casa é pequena.
* A igreja é grande.
* A escola é pequena.
* A loja é pequena.

Copyright 2006 Maria Oliveira. All rights reserved.

Learn Portuguese - Lesson #3

Portuguese Language Lesson 3

Article - definite: a - the

Nouns: places in the city

* praia - beach
* cidade - city
* estatua - statue
* farmacia - pharmacy

Verb: é - is

Adjectives:

* grande - big
* pequena - small

Sentences:

* A praia é grande.
* A cidade é grande.
* A farmacia é pequena.
* A estatua é pequena.

Learn Portuguese with Maria Oliveira Language Learning.
Copyright 2006 Maria Oliveira. All rights reserved.

Learn Portuguese - Lesson #4

Portuguese Language Lesson 4

Article - definite: o - the

Nouns: places in the city

* banco - bank
* hotel - hotel
* hospital - hospital

Verb: está - is

Adjectives:

* aberto - open
* fechado - closed

Sentences:

* O banco está aberto.
* O hospital está aberto.
* O hotel está fechado.

Learn Portuguese with Maria Oliveira Language Learning.
Copyright 2006 Maria Oliveira. All rights reserved.

Photos of Niteroi, not from Michael

Mike arrives in Rio! Oct. 10, 07

Went and taught with the assistants in the most humble places I´ve ever been. And it shows. These people just open their doors. Every other one opened yesterday and I taught five first lessons and one guy, on his one room home, told me he´d like to be baptized after I told him that being a member of the church is the first step in being with your family forever. It was amazing. Well we had transfer meeting this morning and I got my comp, Elder Jensen from Utah. He´s sweet. Domination at Portuguese. Our apartment...Well, we´re missionaries with not a penny to our name, but it´s cool.... It´s hotter that hades everywhere, all the time, but I´m trying to get used to it. The President and his wife are champs. The first thing she did is give me a pillow haha But I love them. Been eating beans, rice, salad, and other stuff todos os dias and I´m learning to like it....Well, I can´t drink coke haha but I can´t email anyone but family either. So much going on in my head. Things here are crazy. REAL missionary work is awesome. Teaching someone and seeing them feel the spirit is awesome. We have a baptism at the end of this week I think, so SWEET!!! I have to go, but thanks so much for all your prayers. I need them int his crazy city of RJ. Love you all.

Letter From Mike Sept. 26, 2007

...Things here are swell. I´m ready to get ou the MTC. Don´t get me wrong, this place is awesome, and the nicest I´ll have for sure in the next 22 months, but I´m ready for some new faces, and real people to teach rather than role playing with teachers or members that come in on Saturday mornings. I donpt know the language, and I´m not even going to pretend that I do, and I certainly don´t know every aspect of the gospel, but I DO know that the atonement of Christ is the real deal , and that if we put our faith into that, then we can do anything that we want, especially the things that he asks us to do. Portuguese is really a struggle. So hard and mind blowing how different languages are, but after I give it my all, I can feel the Lord giving me the gifts that I need to make myself a better missionary. This work is amazing. Just proselyting and telling people that Christ is the son of God makes my life better than it ever has been before...

Brazil MTC Video Tour Part 1

Letter from Mike Sept 12, 07

Mike sent this letter with Mission Ties service when the internet failed where he was working. Click on the letter for a larger image.

Photos from Brazil Sept 11, 07

Video from Michael Sept 11, 07

Letter from Mike Sept. 5, 2007

WELL FAMILY!!!!

Well, things in São Paulo are championtastic. Campinas this morning again, and what a beauty it was. I love the temple. Go all the time to everyone that can. It´s awesome. So this week is by far the week that has picked up and ran with me. Portuguese seems like it opened itself up and told me to have at it. Not fluent at all, but it´s really happening, and when you can feel yourself progressing in so many ways at once, it´s an awesome thing. Great talks this past week. Apparently Henry Eyering was in Brazil this week, and we were all excited that we´d get him for the fireside last night, but it was some area authority seventy. Not that that´s bad, but you know, compared to an apostle haha...OH!! SO HOLY SHMOLY!!! I got what has come to be known on the fourth floor as "The Package". Food galore good heavens you people know what you´re doing back there. Just in time too! I´ve lost 6 pounds haha Really thanks so much. I got it Monday, and you guys sent it the 18th (?). Takes some time, but it got here, Amen and amen. I hope you guys get my package this coming week. You´ll probably have to mail that card to my mission considering how long it takes, but any way it gets to me, swell...So this mission ties is rad. I get your messages the next day. i´m afraid that time is pinched, but I´ll try to use it on this end. Thanks a lot. I´m the letter man, and it´s because I have the best family and friends in the world. Get a hold of Mike and Jedd and tell them that I made head seeker. And that I set Dobby free this week. Wish the lad a happy birthday and TALK TO HIM! I´ve yet to hear from Jedd, and I miss him. Also, could you guys maybe get me the Wilde´s address before next week? I´ve been feeling like I need to write them...Mom I hope you´re great. I´m keeping my end of the bargain and I know you are too, because I can feel your prayers. Alma 23 you say. I was studying that the day before I got that letter. Mind linkage. Amazing eh? Let the faith grow inside of us and ít will work. I´ve learned to hunger for the scriptures. Dad, read the Timothy´s. Even if you did yesterday. Read them again. I love all of Pauls epistles now. Kids, one and all, take her easy. Have fun, settle down, listen in school and keep the high-jinkery to a minimum. Pray. All of you. Like BY said, pray till you feel like praying haha It´s so true.

Well I`M GREAT!! So good!! keep the letters coming and the prayers a praying. I´ve never been better, so throw worry from your minds. Ask dad, he knows. Missions are swell!! Stay in touch with my amigos. I have to keep them for the rest of my life haha I love you all and think of you all the time. I´ve realized what a support and strength you guys are. Thank you so much. Have a swell week and I´ll talk to you all again in a week!!!

Mike Elder Young

MissionTies Letter from Mike Sept. 5, 2007

Scanned letter from Mike and MissionTies.com Click on image to see it larger.

Letter from Mike Aug. 29, 2007

How are all of you? I can honestly now say that I´ve never been better! Everything here is so awesome. You should all want to be in my shoes! Today we didn´t get to go to the temple because we went to the Federal Police and got fingerprinted, hassled etc etc...It was awesome.

So go up to this handsome lookin fella, start handing the guy a pass along card and stumbling through some portuguese, and he´s like "Dude, save it. I speak English." HA!! The Lord directs you for sure! But yeah, we talked about Christ and I told him that I knew that he left the tomb and that he is a living God, and he told me that this was the message that Brazil needed. That it was gettng more and more corrupt and that what I was saying to him would help everyone in one way or the other. So he took my card with the missionaries number and told me that he wanted to look into all of that, becasue he also felt that Christ is more than a man. Anyways, proselyting experience #1=AWESOME!!

Everything is just swell. Portuguese is actually starting to pick up. We have to speak it in class now and that helps so much. Tough, but ~´m learning so much.

I got that first package and was quite pleased. You guys know me better than Dumbledore knows Harry. I appreciate it. Also, mom, got your letter and a few from mission ties. I love trivial news from the mainland. Thanks a lot. I pray for you, just like I promised. Uhmm, tell the Nielsen´s as well as Rolene T thanks. They´ve both sent me letters and it helps to know that the support of the ward is with me.

Well, we had the best fireside so far last night. It was awesome. Remember the story that Pres Mnson(?) told about the young mens pres that went and got the kid from the beah every sunday morning to get to church? That surfer kid is now President Arujo(?), an area athourity seventy, who used to be a pro surfer in Fotaleza. Look him up, because he gave the best talk I´ve ever heard last night, Obedience is key he said, and I knew that thanks to you dad.

You´re all so swell. I hope that you can feel the spirit of missionary work as I work and learn here. It truly is an amazng work. The most important thing in the world, and knowing that I have the full support of the best family in the world is so awesome. Never stop the letters. I love them.

Kids, one and all, be good. Be smart. Be wise and study the important things. Make sure and have fun though. The most important thing all of you can do is get close to the Lord and stay there. I love you all and smile when I thnk of you. May your week be full of smiles and laughter, good food, and lots of school hahahahah!

Elder Mike


Michael now has an email address! Click this > E-Mail Elder Young

Elder Araujo Article

Michael mentioned that Elder Arujo, an Area Authority Seventy, spoke at a fireside this week at the MTC. Here is the General Conference address that talks about his conversion as a youth in Fortaleza, Brazil. Note that the man in the photo portraying the YM President is Elder Arujo.

Click here to see video presentation of this story on LDS.org.

Strengthen Thy Brethren

Mervyn B. Arnold, “Strengthen Thy Brethren,” Ensign, May 2004, 46

Brother José de Souza Marques was the type of leader who truly understood the principle taught by the Savior: “And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also” (D&C 84:106).

As a member of the branch presidency in Fortaleza, Brazil, Brother Marques with the other priesthood leaders developed a plan to reactivate those who were less active in his branch. One of those who was less active was a young man by the name of Fernando Araujo. Recently I spoke to Fernando, and he told me of his experience:

“I became involved in surfing competitions on Sunday mornings and stopped going to my Church meetings. One Sunday morning Brother Marques knocked on my door and asked my nonmember mother if he could talk to me. When she told him I was sleeping, he asked permission to wake me. He said to me, ‘Fernando, you are late for church!’ Not listening to my excuses, he took me to church.

“The next Sunday the same thing happened, so on the third Sunday I decided to leave early to avoid him. As I opened the gate I found him sitting on his car, reading the scriptures. When he saw me he said, ‘Good! You are up early. Today we will go and find another young man!’ I appealed to my agency, but he said, ‘We can talk about that later.’

“After eight Sundays I could not get rid of him, so I decided to sleep at a friend’s house. I was at the beach the next morning when I saw a man dressed in a suit and tie walking towards me. When I saw that it was Brother Marques, I ran into the water. All of a sudden, I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder. It was Brother Marques, in water up to his chest! He took me by the hand and said, ‘You are late! Let’s go.’ When I argued that I didn’t have any clothes to wear, he replied, ‘They are in the car.’

“That day as we walked out of the ocean, I was touched by Brother Marques’s sincere love and worry for me. He truly understood the Savior’s words: ‘I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick’ (Ezek. 34:16). Brother Marques didn’t just give me a ride to church—the quorum made sure I remained active. They planned activities that made me feel needed and wanted, I received a calling, and the quorum members became my friends.”

Following his reactivation, Brother Araujo went on a full-time mission and has served as bishop, stake president, mission president, and regional representative. His widowed mother, three sisters, and several cousins have also entered the waters of baptism.

When speaking about the work of the Aaronic Priesthood quorums in his ward, Brother Araujo, who is once again serving as a bishop, stated:

“Our rescue work is the focus in all three quorums of the Aaronic Priesthood. We have a list of each one of our lost sheep. The quorum presidencies, advisers, and bishopric divide up and go visit them on a regular basis. We visit not only the less-active members, but we also visit the nonmembers in less-active or part-member families.

“Activities are organized to reach each young man. We discuss each young man in our quorum presidency meetings and in our monthly bishopric youth committee meetings. In 2003 we managed to rescue five priests, one teacher, and two deacons, who are now active in their quorums. We have also reactivated some families and have enjoyed the blessing of seeing some nonmembers enter the waters of baptism.”

[photo] A story told by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold was reenacted to illustrate the importance of reaching out to youth. A now-grown Fernando Araujo portrays the priesthood leader in this photo. Bruno Augusto portrays the young Fernando Araujo.

Letter from Mike Aug. 22, 2007

Elder Michael Young writes:

About the trip: I flew from SLC with one other Elder and then we met up with 5 others in Texas. We all commented on how strange it was to meet up with strangers in a foreign place and instantly feel a brotherhood. Very Cool!

On his 2nd P-day in the MTC:
So many things in my inbox! I have the best friends and family in the world! Well, I´m doing all sorts of fine and dandy. P-days rock. I´ve been out wandering the streets and I can´t wait to get down to the nitty-gritty haha I´ve been busy all week...It wears me out studying 24/7, but I couldn´t be more all about it. It's amazing having the spirit on your side. True happiness is in Brazil ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for the letters. Portuguese is a mean bully, kicking me in the mouth with every mistake I make. It´s fun, and I love trying to talk to the Brasilieros. Most of the time, they look at me like I have lobsters crawling out my ears, but it´s a fun experience. I can pray, testify, and give the first lesson in Portuguese, and this week we start on the second. It´s hard to train your tongue to something so different, but it´s an awesome experience. We go to the temple on every p day. The first five weeks we go to Campinas, which is about an hour and a half away, and the last four weeks, we go to Sao Paulo. The Campinas temple is rad. I love it. Portuguese isn´t the highlight of the trip, but it´s an interesting experience nonetheless haha Well, Mom, Dad, I love you. Thanks so much for helping me get out here and showing me what it means to be a servant of God. I couldn´t love it more. Don´t ever worry about me. I am so fine. I have a blast in this big frat house of a missionary training center. Let me know what you want to know. Thank you for all your support and prayers. I can feel them. I hope that you can feel mine.

Love from afar, Mike

Cakes and Pies

Here is a shot of a Ice Cream and Pastry shop in Bowling Green, Kentucky that reminded me of Michael and Ren. Cakes and Pies forever!

Campinas Temple Information

Here are some photos of the Campinas Temple that Michael attended.
Click here to see more information about the Campinas Temple.

Click here to see more information about the Campinas Temple.

First Letter From Mike!

We received our first letter today from Mike in Brazil. He arrived at the Brazil MTC safely and says all is well.

He has only seen a little bit of the area, but says how much he loves the country.

He says: " . . studying all day was way hard for me at first, but once you feel the spirit teach you something, it becomes much easier to put your mind to work and study for hours at a time. Personal study is where it´s at. I´ve been reading Jesus the Christ and I love it. J.E. Talmage was a genius."

About the food he writes:

"Like we heard, beans and rice every day. Oh boy except Monday nights, the Americans last nights at the CTM. We had grilled cheese, mango chicken, and french fries. It was a serious blessing. I´ve been living on rolls (the bread is amazing) and orange Fanta. The meat is always tough as nails and they always have these weird casserole combinations that I only try if the Brazillians are sitting with me...I´m making it worse than it is. It´s really not bad. With a little soy sauce and divine help, I can swallow the beans and rice, but bit by bit. Line upon line, precept upon precept, right:)"

His new companion is Elder Allred. That is all we know about him, his name!

On Wednesday they went to the Campinas Temple. He wrote:

"I went to the Campinas temple this morning. It is awesome. We had an early morning English session and I loved it. It´s beautiful. Be sure to check it out on the web."

He is having a great time and learning a lot. He misses all of us, but is so excited to be a missionary.

Michael now has an email address! Click this > E-Mail Elder Young

Michael Has Arrived! Letter from the Brazil MTC President

Dear Parents,

Your son or daughter arrived here safely at the Brazil MTC this morning. They
were greeted, and are now moving in and resting, and then they will have lunch.
This afternoon they will attend an orientation meeting and meet with the doctor
about immunizations, etc. Then they will go for a short walk around the
neighborhood with a teacher. Tomorrow they will learn how to pray in
Portuguese.

The food here is very good. There are always two kinds of meat or chicken, a
hot vegetable, beans and rice, fresh salad vegetables, a variety of fruit, a
dessert, a popsicle, and lots of Brazilian juices and other drinks. They can
eat all they want.

We are so happy to have them here ready to serve and help the people of Brazil.
It would be wonderful if you could pick them up at the end of their mission.
You can then relate to them the rest of their life about their experiences here.
It will be worth the time and expense.

They will be able to e-mail you on either Tuesday or Wednesday which ever day is
their P-day. They go to the temple that morning and e-mail you during the
afternoon. Attached is the information for mailing letters and other mail to
your missionary while he or she is at the MTC.

Click here to read document about mailing packages to the Brazil MTC.

Thank you for sharing them for this time. May you be blessed in their absence.
Love, Phyllis Cardon, wife of the MTC President

Brazil MTC Photos

Here are some photos of the Brazil MTC from other Elders who have been there. These are not from Michael.

Michael Countdown Clock

Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport

Michael will be flying to the Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport. Here is a photo, and a Wikipedia article about the airport you may find interesting.
His destination is 13 hours by air and 6200 miles away!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/São_Paulo-Guarulhos_International_Airport

Elder Young Leaves for the Brazil MTC

Farewell Fotos

Michael Gets His Call!

The Happy news Arrives

Ah yes, the day finally came, and Michael could not have been happier when he opened the letter!

Mike and Ken Toast to Rio!

Ken and Mike toast to Rio with Guarana!