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!

11/21/11

Hello!

I am glad that you laugh every time you get a letter. I am sure you will when you see my haircut haha. I told the lady to just go for it  so she hacked it hahahaha. I have been getting letters from missionties and I got one from Hailey from BYU. Next time we see the zone leaders I am sure they will have another letter for me haha. That is awesome that it is already thanksgiving! I hope you do the turkey bowl! haha its almost already been 1/4 of my mission. I cant believe it and I am sure it has been flying for you too ha. 

Thomas is so lucky! he got a signed marleau stick! it is probably the best birthday he will ever have in his life! I think I can print letters and pictures but it is expensive. It is easier just to look at them one time hahaha. The crazy lady gave me a book for my Portuguese hahahaha for 8 year olds which is probably about where I am at in my speaking. The book is harder than all of the scriptures that I have haha strange. And you don't have to worry, people are usually afraid of me or love me. I am friends with a leader of a gang haha. we played basketball together:)

 I am back to normal now for 3 weeks. It was just for a little bit of time. hahhaahaha. Iam glad that your phone gives you a reminder of me every morning haha. 

so...I want to talk about a midget that is in our area I need to baptize him!!!!!! 

we had divisions (I forget what the word is in English) and I was the senior companion. I had an elder that is a rule breaker and doesn't like working haha. we worked really hard the day he was with me and it went really well. It was hard but I hope I impacted him is some way to change what he is doing. I already talked about the haircut... haha 

We had a power outage again  that is always fun:) I took a 3 degree shower for 1 minute and then the water went out hahahahaha. so I was soapy and freezing. ha good times.

We have a wedding and baptism this week! André and Aline. This is what we have been waiting for for the entire transfer! and transfers are this week. For sure I will have a new comp next transfer. I saw a bunny that looked like nibbles. I didn't have a camera though:( 

We are planning another activity for the church I named it gincana de mormon hahaha because it is about the Book of Mormon and a gincana is like a competition. I know, creative. I am sure you are proud of me mom!

We made french toast today with that syrup you sent and with peanut butter that some guy in our ward gave to us! It was the best lunch in the whole world. That's all Ihave. Have a fantastic thanksgiving and a fantastic week! love you all!!!!

LOVE ELDER LANGLOIS

11/14/11

Hello! this week was fantastic! but my companion had what I had except he had to go to the hospital so it was way worse than me.  I will talk more about it later.
To be honest we dont really have that many people to teach right now because we have been sick the past to weeks, mostly my companion so we haven't found many new investigators BUT we are still baptizing. Go figure haha. Right now we have a young man that is afraid to pray because of the things he has done in his past... but he wants to serve a mission but we are working with him and we have a wedding planned and two baptisms after:) they know the church is true and are ready to be baptised but need to be married first because of the law of chastity. They are awesome! I sent more pictures today by the way.
My journal isn't the best. My emails are better but I will continue to try and improve that.
I told dad about bring sick and not you because I knew you would just worry and I know you already are worrying enough. They have everything here though. A huge hospital and all the medicines so i will be fine even when I get sick. Don't worry. Everything is fine now.
Sounds like Natalie's soccer game was fun!
I can't believe Thomas finally got a stick from Marleau! That is the coolest thing ever for him! he has talked to him enough that he knows Thomas now haha. and no I am not worrying about my hair here. Only cut it really short. It doesn't matter. Hope you have a fun thanksgiving. This holiday doesnt exist here so christmas is already here. There are christmas trees and a few lights haha. I have a feeling that this will be a depressing christmas hahahahah. Make sure steve and thomas play together. If not I will be sad.
Alrighty, this week was great.  We went to a tucanos that is here! its called a churrasco or bbq. It was amazing!!!! and also there is a costco of brazil right next to the churrasco haha so we did a lot of things that made me think of home today! it was great! They have those hershey cookies and cream bars here and they have frosted flakes, sucrilhos:) also that thing on the plate in my photos is a grilled pineapple with cinamon sugar to make you jealous:)
We had divisions last week with me who has 4 months on the mission and elder Ramos who has 3 haha. It was awesome and we will have a baptism because of it! we are doing it again this week too. Remember that lady who thought that adam and eve smoked weed? she has a frog the size of my head... we think she is a witch! We also had a baptism this week of a boy named Lucas. He will be a missionary for sure! he is awesome, a little timid, but will do big things!
Thank you to all who have written to me.  I am sorry if I can't write back often but I will try.  Hopefully you will read these emails to keep updated on what I am doing.  I want another letter from Taylor and Thomas haha. This was my week. Tt was really good and this week will be full of work! love you all!!!
ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

11/7/11

hello!

I had a fantastic Halloween. We didn't do anything haha. Seems like the Halloweens in the US are still the same and sounds like you didn't buy enough candy this year haha. basically you dressed up as me for Halloween. That's really cool... first time that has ever happened! 

Everything in our area is fantastic. The food is good the members are good and we are continuing to have success. We had three more baptisms this week! it was so fun! Isabelle Elisabete and Leandro. I have pictures that I will put up. The two girls were contacts on the street one is 16 the other is 8. Leandro is a 14 year old kid and we were teaching his dad. He was interested and really likes call of duty and English so it was a perfect baptism for me hahaha. look it helped again;)

I haven't heard from Tyler for a few weeks. I will shoot him an email to see if he has left yet or not. We will see.... I already emptied the stuff out of the first boxes and only have the stuff that is wrapped left.

and yes I got Sara]s package and I opened it! hahaha I hope she isn't mad but I didn't want to wait. It had everything that I could want. Especially the deodorant toothpaste pads for shoes and the candy basically everything. The deodorant here isn't the best and they don't have the sticks only spray. oh! and the Betty Crocker things will be awesome as well!
and those pictures can be sent through email! I need them by next week! so please remember for next week.

That's funny you ask if I am growing. I have no idea and i don't know if I am gaining weight either. If I start to look fat in the pictures you better tell me! I have a story about riding buses. It happened today. We traveled to a post office for Elder Maciel and we took a small bus on the way back. There were no more seats so I had to stand. We took a picture.... :) 

Its true. Christmas will never be the same until I get home haha. 

I have no idea what the rules are for Christmas  when it gets closer I will ask. 

so... some stories this week.... 

last Tuesday we visited a lady that is a little off her rocker (like that?)  and she had a dream about killing her husband and about putting a bible in the mouth of her child and she asked us to interpret.... yeah how the heck am I supposed to interpret that? we made up something about how she needs to take care of her children and be the man of the house or something like that. Not the best answer but better than her killing her husband! 

I cut my own hair! last week we had hair cuts but he didn't cut the front very well so I did this week. nothing special. It rained like crazy this weekend and we didn't have umbrellas with us hahaha it was awesome!

I forgot to tell you guys that my companion is a district leader. This means that the president trusts me to put me with him. I will keep you updated on everything that is going on. Its crazy how fast this first quarter of mission is going.

and on a sad note, everyone in our house was sick last week. Stomach for me. Everything is better now though. It already passed. No need to worry at all. 

Hope you guys have fun for the holidays! eat a lot for me and remember that i love you and i am thinking about you! That's all I have this week. love you all!!!

LOVE ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS

10/31/11

With the holidays approaching, we want to ask everyone on this email list to take a minute and write Jake a note.  Just respond to this email and we will mail them to Jake.  It would be awesome for him to get a ton of mail during November and December.   Thank you for being such great friends to Jake!  Doug & Sheri

If you want to send a letter through US mail, one piece of paper with an envelope is $.98.


Elder Jake Langlois
Brazil Maceio Mission
Av. Dom Antonio Brandao, 333 Sala 402
Ed. Work Center, Farol
Maceio-AL   57021-190  Brazil

http://elderjakelanglois.blogspot.com/

My people! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn't it funny that everyone thought it was going to be Jed.... hahaha.That is so cool. He will have a lot of opportunities to serve with missionaries as bishop. at least here... we visit with the bishop almost 2 or 3 times a week. I am glad that is isn't dad. ha The packages were awesome! I will wait to unwrap everything until the days that are marked. I already saw the clothesline thing and I think it will be useful. so original. I love that we have the same desire to dress up on Halloween, me being a skeleton or a soccer player every year. We have Halloween but people just drink and nothing else haha. pretty exciting huh?
  David Lambert broke his foot? how the heck did that happen?! that is crazy... Tyler will be getting is really soon. My stomach is fine. sometimes when I eat too much though it hurts. I am still trying to control that haha. I have plenty of money. We get 100 reais every month and it is plenty for food and soap and stuff like that. I haven't bought anything to keep or for you guys yet. There really isn't anything here worth buying except soccer jerseys sooooo I will probably come home with 10 of those haha.
Some things are really hard to find here, or they are really expensive. Sliced bread.... woo! it is so expensive haha. We had pizza today that was frozen and it was really good. Yogurt is really good but the granola is really expensive haha. we like stuff that is really simple and cheap.
we didn't have a baptism this week but we have to marked for this week and they are pretty firm. The last baptism we had was Amanda and she is 15 years old and had been going to church for 3 months. (very rare) usually people visit 2 or 3 times and are baptized. she just needed to be baptized so we did it. that party was really fun but a lot of work. People don't realize how much really goes into throwing a party like that haha. it was fun and worth it.  the intestines were interesting... I don't have any juicy stories to share... yet haha. and juicy could be literal....
so some funny stories of the week haha. if you think you are good at math... try to do a word problem in a different language. oh my gosh!!!! I spent 20 minutes trying to read the question and I realized that it was the easiest problem in the world. I thought I was good at math... haha oh and we taught a lady that has a lisp in Portuguese. that was pretty entertaining.... almost as entertaining as the guy that stuttered haha.
and for the most entertaining we were teaching a crazy lady named Beti. she literally is crazy. We were teaching the second lesson about the plan of salvation and there is a small part about Adam and Eve.  We talked about the forbidden fruit and she asked if it was some sort of symbolism and said... are you sure that they weren't smoking weed and the fruit was just a symbol  for that? and we had no idea what to say haha. We just moved on.
  Iknow you will laugh at this next one and think I am sad but I will tell it anyway. Call of duty actually helped me in life. My companion can't remember our area for anything but the second day I already knew where everything was. It's my awesome mapping skills ahahhaha. I am sure you are proud of me for that one! oh! and i gave a talk! in portuguese obviously. It was really good even though I had 10 minutes to prepare. I just winged it and it turned out pretty well. People are saying that I speak better than an elder here that has already served for a year and 2 months.... go figure.
Being on a mission is awesome and is just like a game. We try to teach and baptize while everyone else tries to avoid us. We focus and how the people we teach feel and not so much on the lessons. It is working really well and are having some awesome success. Sounds like everything at home is going well. I miss you guys but know that when the two years is up I will return and be that much happier to see you.
The best thing about being a missionary is knowing that what we are teaching is true and that when people ask questions we have zero fear because we know that this is the perfect gospel. I feel good every time I think about it! I love you and appreciate everything you have done for me throughout the years. I wouldn't be the person I am now without you.

love you guys!!!!!!!
ELDER JAKE LANGLOIS