1/9/12

 hello!!!
> Tomorrow I will know where I am going and will leave my area because I
> am being transferred!!!!!!!!!!! whooooooo!!!!! yeah, I am excited so
> that is definitely not the only thing that happened this week. I have
> a lot more later.
> I haven't gotten the package, I think i will when I am transferred
> tomorrow. I don't know where I am going or who I will be with. I am
> excited to see a new area and actually explore Brazil. I don't have
> much time today because we are writing really late here. We went to a
> mall today and had all you can eat pizza there... so we were there for
> a long time and didn't get back to email in time so sorry but I can't
> email much this week. Glad byu volleyball is doing well, they played
> there first game right? Taylor will write eventually haha. iIhave
> faith.
> So if you think killing a fly is cool wait till I tell you what
> happened this week. I will only tell you because I am being transferred
> and the danger will be far away..... so we were sitting in our front
> room (us 4) and we hear 5 or 6 gun shots really close to our house! we
> all stared at each other and I went to the door and looked out the top
> crack, because I am the only one that can reach, and there were 3 or 4
> guys running down the streets away from the gun shots. Then I saw a
> guy on the ground. We waited until everyone left there houses and
> there were tons of people outside and we went and looked. The guy was
> shot 4 times and we saw him take his last breath and die!!!! basically
> the craziest thing that I have ever seen. I am sure you are way happy
> that i shared that with you:) I have pictures that aren't very good
> that i will send next week. I tried to take a picture from our
> house... didn't work.
> Can you send me a belt please? next time.
> another thing. Natalie.... you are not bad at math. I tried to teach a
> girl math and she didn't even know that there was a difference between
> 2-3 and 3-2. it was really hard for me. Anne and Mike sent me a card!
>Thank you to everyone who wrote me and/or sent packages at Christmas.
>It was awesome!
> Thank you!!!!
>The hardest thing is to find people that are actually
>married! everyone is "married" which means that they are just living
>together.  It is hard, that is why everyone baptizes a bunch of kids.
>Our focus is men though, like it is in almost all of the other
>missions because without men, the  church can't grow in that area. It's
>weird to think that the mission will end. Before the mission I thought
>the mission would never come. It is awesome. I am super excited for this
>transfer and for the upcoming weeks.

> Also we did service on Saturday and there were coconut trees
> there, so of course we had to try to climb them and get the coconuts
> down. I then found a giant pvc pipe and used that.... modern
> technology in Brazil!! that's all for this week. love you guys!!! i will
> be in a different place next week!
> LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

1/2/12

hello!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are so right. Skyping was awesome! Usually people feel bad after talking to there family because they miss them so much, but I have never been so happy in my life. Also something happened that made me happy too. I will tell you later. I decided that I dont have an accent, I just cant speak fluently. I have to stop and think when I am speaking in English. OH! and also, I was talking in my sleep in Portuguese with elder mccann hahahaha. elder ludwig was reaally scared and left the room.
That's funny you wrote about the transfers because there was an emergency transfer! he left and I have a new comp. Elder Vilar! He is awesome but it is likely that I will only stay with him until the real transfers, which is this week so thats alright I guess. He left because other missionaries were fighting. There were three couples that changed. I think I got the best comp!
So about the packages. Elder ludwigs package got stuck and he has to pay 250 reais for it! thanks for fudging the truth on mine:)
Thanks for all of the new years wishes! that was awesome to see and made me really happy!
  Iwould write back to people but I think things are normal again with my new comp. I will see how long he likes to stay in the lan house but I dont think I will have much time to do anything....
We are definitely blessed in the US! you guys have no idea. When you come to pick me up I will show you haha. so I talked to president about you guys coming and he said that if my stake president calls or skypes to us in Brazil, he can unofficially release me. Just to make it so I am not an elder and I dont have to keep the rules like swimming. Then when I get back to the US he will have the interview and release me for real. It happens a lot here so he said it shouldn't be too bad and I have a place for you guys to stay too:) ha we will see about that.
So some funny things that happened this week: my old comp S. melo drank a cup of water and he always flings out the last bit of water. We were at a members house and he did the exact same thing he always does... but he chucked the cup and it smashed into pieces!!!!!!!!! hahaha
also the emergency transfers happened...
I got letters from dave and julie, the ward haha, and sister rose!
and the COOLEST thing that has ever happened to me that already happened to lucas in the 4th grade....... I dropped a high lighter and it killed a fly!!!!!!!! the weirdest thing was that it didn't hit on impact, it bounced, the fly moved and off the bounce it died hahahahaha. sooooo awesome!!!!!
Also mom, that special journal paper that you bought for me will run out. When it does should i just by a notebook and right in that?
Thats all today! love you ALL and hope everything is going well
LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

12/26/11

We are laughing at granpda falling asleep while skyping :)

Merry christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i bet it was awesome! 

so my mom didn't write me this week because we are skyping in about 21/2 hours. (at least i think that's why). The things I opened up this week were.... super glue! I fixed my belt finally!  paper, now and laters, scissors, a new shirt, pringles, and a chip for my camera! everything that I could ever want:) 

so, some things that happened during my Christmas: on Thursday we had a mini party thing with 4 families from the church. It was really fun! they made a ridiculous amount of food and of course tons of left overs! We ate and talked for about 3 hours haha. It was really fun and felt a little like christmas. 

On Christmas eve we spent it in the house I will skype. We made 10 PIZZAS and had 6 liters of coke( which isn't that exciting) and had brownies! basically we were sooooo full. We spent the entire day there and watched the other side of heaven at night. The film about the missionary in Tonga. Christmas eve was awesome!

Then came christmas. I woke up at 630 and opened my presents. I think it is the earliest christmas I have ever had in my life. After we went to church and there were about 40 people there, whereas the usual is 120 hahaha. it was nice and quiet:) after that we had lunch and went to a house for dessert. (this is when mom will be mad at me) after that we had nothing so from 3 till we slept we had nothing to do hahaha. I watched 4 films, the restoration, the testaments, finding faith in Christ, and joy to the world. Let's just say that I found out the true meaning of Christmas! it doesn't seem that exciting to you guys but really I wouldn't trade it for a usual christmas. It was good to learn that christmas isn't all about gifts but really about Christ and what he did for us. By the way, I am not saying that I want to change our christmas! I am just saying that it is good for me to learn what a "humble" christmas is. :)

BUT the funniest thing that happened to me this week was when we were walking to lunch on christmas. This house is really long from the church and from our house about a 30min walk, and we walk next to a street that is really busy all the time. So this car is going about 50mph and pulls a u turn crazily and pulls up next to us. We were on the passengers side and the wife just looked at me really funny but the car continued to follow us. So we stopped and he pulled over all the way and said "hey my wife wants a photo with you!" I was like... what the heck is this guy doing. He risks his life to try and take a picture with me. I said alright and she came close to me and was super embarrassed and he took the picture. Yes, the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me because of my height. Really really weird haha. I didn't even know what to say hahahahahaha. oh well. that's all I have for this week. happy new years and I will talk to you guys next week! see you in a few hours family!!!!

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

12/19/11

hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry christmas!

And I know. I am the most spoiled missionary ever. Everyone says that they stop getting things after the first 6 months haha. I have a feeling that you wont forget about me though. 

So I think it will be 7 or 7 30 here. If iIam not mistaken its 4 your time. Not sure though so look into it! I already talked to Sara about everything she should know. You can't see the weight I put on.... its just a tummy, but I am so huge that it is 20 pounds there hahaha. I don't think there is anyone else that wants to see me that bad. 

the eyeballs are awesome and yes! I already wore that tie twice in a week. I gave the others to missionaries and a sister missionary.... she wanted it for her brother or so she says. Usually when we are making contacts in the street I give away the stickers and the kids love them but the American flags I give to the missionaries and the tootsie rolls I am eating:) along with the pillow mints hahaha. sorry. So the Whitmarsh's wrote me and made fun of the way I write haha after everything but my letters would be boring without it haha. so I will continue to use it:) sorry Richard and yes you used it right in the letter!

This Christmas definitely will be different but will be good. For sure I am learning patience with this comp and I will continue to learn throughout my entire mission. it will be good for me:) 

I am definitely ready for a change. Transfers are January 9 so its already really close. I am excited! I think I like my hair medium like it will be when we talk. It isn't short or long. Its good but the curls aren't really there either. 

We had a ward christmas party! it was really interesting. Elder McCann got a picture with Santa. Ask his aunt because it was the ugliest Santa I have ever seen in my life. I was so excited that he was in Brazil... but then he came out and he had to have been an imposter because Santa can never be that ugly but the food was good:) 

so... we also had the missionary party which was every missionary in our mission! it was really cool and I got to see my old comp and the other people that were in my house! We ate and watched a talent show put on by the missionaries. it was.... interesting. haha Do you know the jepsons in the San Jose stake? they have a son in my mission. I already talked to him. 

What I opened this week... chap stick which was good.  gummy worms:) peanut butter!!!!!!!!!!!!! mints! that's all but it was great! everything should be opened by the next time I talk to you guys! 

Oh and I got a package from the Birds! which made my month. I had no idea that other people besides my family send packages to missionaries! it was awesome! haha thanks!

Oh. and we played handball today. it is awesome!

Love you all and hope you have an awesome christmas on Sunday! talk to you later!

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

12/12/11

Hello!!!!

I am opening a gift every two or three days and reading (I don't think I am understanding because I am not reading them in sequence, but I did like the one about becoming a man hahaha)  because I already opened a bunch to kill the ants. This week I opened the tootsie rolls, pillow mints, silly putty, seeds and baby powder haha. Everything is awesome! but I wont need more baby powder, I already have the first one unused. haha

Things that T was going to ask you T got in this package haha. For the next one I need a new pair of basketball shorts because I gave one away ha and maybe bbq sauce and deodorant but really what you send is really good and is stuff I need. 

That is cool you went to dinner with everyone and the hockey game of Thomas! I wish I could be there! 

The biggest news is the saddest news haha. The blue chair is gone. One more thing from my childhood ruined hahaha. just kidding. I am glad. It was dangerous for dad, he always falls back in it hahaha. 

Can you guys do skype? that would be the best thing to do. I am going to a members house that has skype, and would have more time to talk because my comp and I don't have to split the time on the phone. Let me know because I am planning on skyping. I think it will be around 7 or 8 our time here. 

The comp is still the same haha and won't change but am still trying to help him. We will see by the end of the transfer if he is different. hahahaha I can't believe that those eyeballs have survived. P think it has been more than 4 years since we got them and a year and half on the  ceiling of the dyrengs. 

Christmas here in Brazil is nothing like in the US. Stores have decorations but I think people only give one or two gifts and that is it. Its more like a big dinner and a party. Its not near as cool as the christmas' in the US. I think we will spend it in a members house. we will see.

so..... this week we taught 3 lessons! basically not the best week haha. but I did some other things that made me happy. ... we made french toast! brownies! kettle-corn! and I used one of the mixes that Sara sent me to make a giant Costco muffin! it was awesome! so as you can tell my only excitement this transfer is through food. That is what happens when you have a person that doesn't want to help teach or find people to teach so that is my week. I love you all and hope everything is going well for you! happy holidays! 

ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

12/5/11

oi! familia e amigos!
So yes I have had a lot of success so far on the mission.... but I think it will take a break for this transfer. I will talk about that later. So I heard that when a missionary gets home he doesn't even want to eat his favorites because he is sick of eating... I can see that happening because we eat soooo much. hahaha it will be interesting to see what will happen when I get home.
Congrats to alex!!!! whooo! I am proud of him! and sorry to hear about Patrice, but it is better now that she is out of the suffering.
So I guess I will talk about my companion now. His name is Elder s. Melo and he is from the amazons. He is really cool...but I am starting to realize that not everyone in the mission likes to keep the rules so this is why we might have a break in the success. I am trying to lead by example and show him that you can have fun and keep the rules at the same time. We will see how that goes, but I am just trying to do my part and stay happy through everything. I am still in Maceio the Bairro or city within a city is Benedito Bentes. Farol is the main really big city and I think that I am north of farol. just a guess.
So I started opening my presents  each day and have one thing to say. Don't send star bursts individually anymore hahaha. They melted and got all over half of the presents. sooo... i had to open the ones that had gunk all over them, i didnt want to but i had too because the ants are pshycho here. haha i have already opened the pens, the tums, the granola bars, the foot spray, the toothbrush the socks, and the ties. They are all so awesome! things I needed that I wanted to ask you to send were there. The foot spray because my other one broke. I needed it once but then my feet got better haha.
  I am glad that I  missed getting the boxes out of the attic this year haha. and ever more glad that Sara finally helped hahaha. Good that you and mom had some bonding time getting all the decorations up. We had a family home evening in a house about symbols of the christmas tree so I got to put up some decorations myself. it was good.
  I cannot believe that you went to the sharks game without me...... unforgivable.
Just send what you think is good to send haha, I don't really know what I need/want. I like surprises you already know that.
so! the day after christmas I can skype you guys! I have a family that will let me use their computer to skype you guys! I think is better just to wait until the day after christmas to talk to everyone at the same time. I think you guys have to start a skype account though hahaha. that is soo awesome that Thomas got the new call of duty. I am soo jealous but so proud that he is preparing for his mission;) hahahahaha tell him is jacked up for getting a 10min misconduct too. He should know better!
  Tyleris in Brazil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he arrived a day after the day he was supposed to be in the field so straight from Provo to the amazons. He will have such a culture shock haha. good luck for him. 
I am gaining weight in my belly I think haha. Nothing is tighter I just have a bean belly. liked that? :) I am glad that people are worrying/ asking about me. It means that people actually love me! 
sooooooo..... with my new comp I am junior, but I am senior until he gets to know the area so really I have control until he knows where he is going and who the members are. so hopefully I can use this time to my advantage and work him really hard:) 
Something really really really funny that happened the other day. We looked up the word hang ( hang a person) and in Portuguese it is the same word as to marry hahahahah. its slang for marry. I thought it was funny at least... so I have gotten letters from Marissa and she is freaking out because P haven't written her but there is no post office so this is my letter to her:)
  I got the christmas card for the year! I love it hahahaha.
and the best thing I got in my christmas package were the eyeballs from Thomas and Parker. Those things carry more memories than a scrap book ( i am good today). I hung them on the ceiling but then decided that they would go better on the top of the Christmas tree.
so, that is all that happened this week. Love you guys and hope December is an awesome month for you!
LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

11/28/11

Family!!!!! and friends..... haha
So, funny story. I didn't even realize that it was thanksgiving until another American told me that it was so yeah thanksgiving was awesome! haha. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! which was fantastic!
yes! I love the turkey bowl haha. Sounds like it was as exciting as every other year and thanksgiving too. I bet the food was awesome. Sky! is getting married! that is so cool! haha he will have 2 kids before I get back I think. Congrats to him. haha
Gotta love black Friday. I forgot that even existed. It's been 100 or more degrees here almost every day. Its really nice though because there is always a wind that is 20-30 miles per hour. It balances out and is just like home just a little more windy.
  Idefinitely know what a flight delay is like especially when i am waiting to go to Brazil! that was the worst part of my mission haha.
We had the wedding and it was awesome! they have a little baby that loves me! She puts out her arms to come to me :( they both got baptized too andré and aline. We are in the middle of transfers right now. I will get a new companion tomorrow but will stay in this area. It should be really really good. maybe i will be a senior... I don't think soo yet haha.
My hair is a mess and will be for two years. Maybe I will let it  grow out the last two months I am here. haha that is really cool that Thomas is 14 now! he will be so different when I get home. I want to see a picture of him at least every two months to see the differences in him. haha I don't want to forget what he looks like. Every member that I talk to says that they wished they had me as a companion because I am so big. They said I will never have problems with anyone. you don't have to worry about a thing.
no way!!!!!! you cant get rid of the blue chair! hahahaha he worked so hard to keep that in the house. oh well.

If you send a package send stuff that is healthier. I am usually hungry at night and all we have in the house is candy so I just get fat. haha granola bars or something like that hahaaha. I am worried about it.

They are definitely not strict about the time on the computer. if your comp wants to stay on for longer then you can stay so we just finish and hope it is within an hour. 
So for Christmas yes, we can skype. BUT the mission president said that we can't use the members houses..... go figure. so I have no idea what I will do but I think I can call the day after christmas too if my new comp wants to. I will ask and look for a place to skype. we will see.
SO, I broke a chair this week in the house of a member a plastic one. It just snapped like a twig hahaha. I am so fat.
There is a dessert called a torta de bolacha and it is almost identical to the eclair dessert but doesn't have all of the weird ingredients that we don't have here.
Another thing that is funny is that I say I am 19 and no  one believes me at all. They think I am lying straight to there faces and I don't know what to do when they start provoking me and saying that I am a liar haha. whatever one day they will believe me:)
We had the primary program this week!!!!!!!!!! hahaha it was so cute but not as cute as it is in the US. No offense but the Brazilian children sing worse than there parents.... still cute though.
Oh, and tell Elise to write me. I thought about her this week. Don't know why just a random thought because a girl here reminds me of her haha.
anyway, nothing funny this week haha. Hope all is well and the holidays will be fantastic for you guys!
Love Elder Langlois!