3/11/13

HI ALL!!!!  Jake will land in San Jose on July 4 at 9:00am.  His homecoming talk at church will be on Sunday, July 21 at 9:00am.  You are invited to join us to welcome Jake back from Brazil.  Thanks for all your support over the last two years!






Hi!!!

Things here are going well, but still no Brazilians falling in love with me! haha. Just my comp!

The area is great. We were able to baptize two people on Sunday. A 16 yr old that likes to play basketball with us and all of his aunts are members, and a 9 year old girl. Her 23 yr old sister is a member already and her mom will be baptized on the 23rd. Just trying to complete families here haha. 

I know Bryce Bridge! he should be a senior now right? Almost all of the guys that I played with should be graduated.

I don't mind where I live. It would just be awesome to live with the guys on the team but don't wait really long, I don't want to go without housing. Sara sent me the info about the classes. I am talking with her to help me.

Maybe you will have to send an email to Pajaro through his home email. He is already at home. I will see what I can do.

Things are great here. We are going to a churrascaria today like tucanos. We are excited! 

Also, some areas should be opening in the mission that have never had missionaries there before. I will let you know who goes there. I think Elder Biddulph will train a new missionary in one of these new areas.

Cant think of a funny story this week. I am sure I will have one this next week!

love you all!

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

3/4/13

Hello!

It's not our job to keep the people active, but it ends up being our responsibility. The ward should take everyone that we baptize in and help them. It doesn't happen that very well here.... the ward right now is struggling a bit. The leaders are good, but the ward is full of a bunch of ancient members that don't want to do anything. The bishopric is trying to wake everyone up.
I don't need any more packages and feeding a warhead to a homeless guy was really good. He was hungry and I bet he had never gotten candy from anyone.
I am not sure about transport. Taxis will rip us off, I promise you. I think the best thing is to rent a car.  That is crazy that some hotels are booked. I think its because you guys are going to be here in the middle of one of the biggest parties in Brazil. São João. It's the second biggest losing only to Carnaval.
I want to go to Lake Powell.  It's just one week mom! and I will be with you guys for 3 months before I go to school. You have to share me!
I sent something to Dave, you can read it. I was really happy getting an email from him! Russia should be an awesome adventure for Alex. I heard that it is rough baptizing people there, but I am sure that he won't have a problem. Its going to be way different than Brazil, but I gave some advice about the language and in general.
You said that we might eat together with the Biddulphs right? we will find a good restaurant. Do you want to eat at one like Tucanos?

This week was full of adventures.

Funniest thing that has ever happened to me on my mission: we were teaching a lesson to a lady and we got a phone call. Elder Biddulph went to answer it and I stayed and talked with the lady. He stopped talking we ended the lesson and we left. When we got out he looked at me and said we need to talk! Our investigator that is 30 yrs old with 3 kids called him. She said that she wanted to go out with him after the mission!!!! he hadn't said anything on the phone, he was in shock. So we went back to the church for him to call her back and say no! Every reason he said why he wouldn't date her she didn't accept. I was laughing the ENTIRE day! she is old and LOVES Elder Biddulph hahahahahaha. That is the story of the year I think. He was so sad and disgusted and mad at the same time. You know me.... I was just laughing at him the whole day. I am still laughing every time I look at him. wow... that was funny.
There is a lady here that is the owner of the lan house about 40 yrs old and she is trying to sing in English. First, she can't sing. Second, she doesn't speak English. I am sure you can imagine how it is turning out. She killed the song "imagine all the people"

Anyway, I love you guys and hope you are excited to see me! I am coming back in no time! 

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

2/25/13

Olá!Things are going well! we baptized a lady named Leide this week. We knocked on her door 2 weeks ago, and she made it! I love these types of miracles. She had problems with some commandments, but she has a ton of faith and is doing really well. She didn't want to take many pictures, but we got one. I will send it next week.

I got my package! it was awesome and I am having tons of fun giving out the candies! Today we were walking downtown and a homeless guy asked for money, but I gave him a warhead! haha we didn't stay around to see his reaction, but should have been really funny.

It's crazy that you guys are already planning the trip. Still seems far away, but its coming!

Another funny thing that happened this week that I have never seen was a guy that was sitting on the sidewalk and out of nowhere he just screams hiel Hitler! I looked at him and just laughed. That was one of the weirdest things that I have seen here! 

Also, transfers are this week, but it seems like we are going to stay here. We will know for sure tonight, so I will have to let you guys know next week. 

We will play volleyball with the young men in the ward today right after I talk to you guys. 

Things are going well! I am happy with my comp and my area. Should have lots of baptisms here this month! 

Not much new, just working hard still. Hope you guys are doing well. Tell Kyle that I said happy bday, I will write him an email too.

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

2/18/13

Hi!!!
The week went well, but we didn't have the baptism. She wasn't ready yet, but this Sunday she will be baptized. and the family that we are teaching traveled this Sunday, so they weren't able to go to church. We are hoping that they are baptized in 2 weeks. Things are going really well though, a lot of people are visiting church, and a missionary just got back from his mission so he is really excited to work with us.

100% of the people here are surprised with my height. It doesn't matter where I am. EVERYONE says something. 

 So some funny things that happened this week. We were saying a prayer with that family that we are teaching, and they have a 2 year old. In the middle of the prayer she takes off her diaper and pees on the floor! hahaahah It was hilarious! the mom was saying the prayer and she said " sorry God but I think you will understand why I am interrupting the prayer." then she put a towel on the puddle and continued her prayer!!! haha

Another funny story. our water stopped this week because the people that live under us moved out and turned off the electricity of their house. It also turned off the water pump that gives us water. sooo.... I had to break in and turn on the electricity. It was easy because we live above them and I just jumped from our balcony into their front yard. I will send pictures. Also, I am the only one in the house illegal at the moment. Even funnier!!!!

Things are going well here. One more week and there are transfers. There are only 3 more transfers in my mission! whoah. 

Its been awhile since I have written in Portuguese...

espero que vocês estejam bem e que as suas semanas estejam boas também. amo todos de vocês, e não se preocupe, vou estar em casa já já!

abraços!

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

2/11/13

Hello,

Nothing much new here. Our zone is having a hard time. There are a lot of people that are dis-animated because of many reasons. The main one is that it is Carnaval right now. Basically no one wants to hear about the church, and when they do they music is so loud that they cant hear us speaking. and no... I am not exaggerating. The music is as clear as can be from one street away, and just think... EVERY street has a sound system. Have you seen pimp my ride? Remember how they put sound systems in the trunk of the car? Almost every car here has that.... haha
  Iput 6 more pictures on Costco.com. from our zone meeting, and a lunch that we made together. :)

Operation care and comfort need socks now!? what the heck! that guy was right! I think he saw the future! hahahaha he almost didn't pass my eagle project because of those dumb socks. 

Everything here is peachy. We are working hard and hopefully we will have 4 baptisms or more the last week of the transfer. 

We played basketball today with some young men. Wasn't the best basketball in the world but it was good enough to have fun. We don't have much time today because all of the lan houses are closed. We are using the church computer so we have had to switch back and forth.

Anyway, love you guys and hope everyone is happy! 

Valentines day already passed? if so happy valentines day! 

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

2/4/13

Hello
I heard about the Superbowl.... sad. I can't believe that we lost.
Sao Paulo has a lot more things to do than here and Sergipe. What are the dates that you are thinking of? He said that if you get a hotel anywhere near downtown (centro) than it should be fine.
This week went pretty well, we baptized the son of the ex-bishop that stopped going to church for 5 years. He loves us, and I think he is secretly wanting to come back to church, but his pride doesn't let him. He knows its where he is supposed to be, but he feels bad when he sees the people that are there. He went last Sunday, and he said that it was hard, but that he will try again this next week.
Not much new, we have a leadership meeting this week, and we will do a zone meeting later in the week. We are working well together and always laughing.
I got Sara's email, and it would be so fun to live with them. Would it just be 3 or would there be 4 people? if I could, that would be the best option. I sent Sara the registration date. I got another email from rob. I sent it to you guys.
I don't think I will stay here for much time. I will stay 1 or 2 transfers here I think. I am thinking that he will do the same thing to me as he did with my trainer. He just spent one transfer in each area until the end of his mission. He was zone leader too. But, you never know, lets see what happens.
That is awesome that you talked with Yellum! does he like coaching the girls more than the boys? I thought that Caldie didn't want to coach anymore? will be fun to see those guys again.
 Thomas wrote to me and already said that I would talk with him when I get back. He is excited to speak!
  I don't even think I want anything for my birthday. We will talk on skype, then one month after you guys will be with me. I don't need anything really. Just save the money and we can go to The Counter when we get back :D
We are living joaquim leão which is close to trapiche, prado, levada, ponta grossa. If you look at Farol, where I was before, I am to the left and down. hahaha. It shouldn't be that hard to find on the map.
So, some things that happened this week. We were eating breakfast on Friday and we heard an explosion. Turns out it was a gunshot about two streets away from us. Some guy tried to rob a bike and ended up getting shot. He is alive. haha
Next funny story... I gave a message the other day inspired by call of duty. A member had the game and I ended up talking about the talk that President Monson wrote about our call of duty. Thomas would be proud of me. We should have another baptism this week, hopefully he doesn't fall through. He should have been baptized on Sunday, but he had to "visit his sick sister." We will see.
  Iam happy, and things are going well here, time is flying by.
Love you guys and hope you have a good week!
LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

1/28/13

Hi!I love being in the field! the apartment is still a little messy, but way better than it was before.
You talked with my companion Elder Biddulphs mom? hahah I have to tell him.

 We shouldn't have had so many visits with these apostles and leaders, but we were spoiled. Elder Holland wasn't even supposed to come, but felt that he needed to visit.

Good to hear that Marleau isn't terrible. I am always scared to see how he plays. Glad to hear that the bay area sports are winning in everything!

Sister Gonzaga will love whatever you bring to her, she wont expect it. 

 Wow, all of the missionaries in our ward are coming home soon! should be really fun to see all of them again. 

Anyway, this week went well. We are working with an ex missionary/bishop that stopped going to church for 5 years. We are reactivating him, and will baptize his son this week. He is full of problems. Also, we are working with Alberon still who is that miracle baby that almost died twice. He is scared about baptism, but I think he will be baptized this week as well. Should be a great week! We are working well together, we are just laughing the whole day together. 

We don't let the other get tired and stop working which is usually what happens when people get to the end of their missions. I don't think I will have this problem because I stayed a while in the office without walking. 

We are happy here.

We traveled to 2 areas to do baptismal interviews. Sao Miguel which is about an hour away by bus. Its fun to travel, but hard because we don't get to work much in our area

I am excited for these next 4 weeks with Elder Biddulph. Love you all

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS