Aug 8,2009

Well.....Hope that you all had a good week this week. I am sorry that I wasn’t able to write a good letter to you guys last week. But I was in a hurry and I really didn’t have time to write a letter. We actually almost missed the boat so if I would have sent you a letter I wouldn’t have made it back to my area on time. But I am now here and things are going pretty good. But quite a few things have gone on since that last good letter you all received. But things have cooled down and are a lot better. Zone conference was really good. We received a few trainings from President and the Assistants and it was really good. We learned about how we need to find more new investigators through the members and our own efforts. They talked a lot about doing contacts in the streets and President has now made a new goal for all of the missionaries. He wants us to do at least 25 contacts every week. Which probably doesn’t seem like that much, but for our mission it is. So I now have to try and accomplish this every week as well and I am not very good at that, because we have a ton of people to teach. And tons of things to do and now president is asking for more. But I will have to see I am not able to do so. But the best part about the Conference was the last talk that one of the assistants gave. He talked about the value of time. And it really got me to thinking….I only have eight months left. It seems like yesterday I arrived on the mission and all this time has already passed by. I felt like I am running out of time and really need to do the best that I can to be able to finish off with my head held high knowing that I did all that I could. But yeah….the conference was great!After the conference Elder Milkanin, Elder Teixeira, Elder Oxborrow (my son), and I snuck off and we took the bus to my last area where Elder Milkanin and I served together and we went to visit some of the people that we met there and everything. And it was awesome. We visited a few members that we learned to love in the area and we also went to visit João and Franciane, the amazing family that I was able to teach and baptized. And when I knocked on the door he came to the door all surprised and let me in and I was able to chat with them and take some pictures. It was really good, I really enjoyed be able to see them. And they are doing really good, they are firm in the church still and João got his first calling in the church the Sunday before I passed by. He is going to be the first or second counselor in the Sunday school. But I can’t remember exactly which one it is. But I really enjoyed visiting our last area. We should up at one ladies house and we scared her and she started crying because she was so happy to see us and I couldn’t help it. She had done so much to help us so we both gave her a hug. I know that it was breaking rules, but she deserved the hug for all the she does for the missionaries. We also tried going to the center of the city to buy some things that they don’t have here but I weren’t able to because of the traffic, which is why we almost lost the boat. So we went but to the mission office and we packed up and we left. But it was a good trip and I really enjoyed it. The only part that sucked was the boat ride, because it is a 25 hour trip. It was rough and you know that I am not exactly a real patient person so I didn’t really love the boat ride. But the moon was gorgeous and so were the stars, so we stayed on top story on the boat the entire night. And the boat was packed so I ended up practically sleeping in the same hammock as an old lady because she decided to put her hammock so close to mine. I got a little upset with that and thought about talking one side of her hammock of and letting her fall on the floor while she was sleeping. But I thought that might be a little rude, so I didn’t. But yeah after a huge trip on the boat we made it back into the city.And that is when the work started again and everything was awesome until we started finding out that some of the members starting talking bad a bout us and saying that we are in love with Carla and her sisters and planning on returning to marry them. This really pissed me off. They have a little problem in the branch with gossip and well somebody started this rumor up and so we passed a good week trying to fix that problem and on Sunday we were able to, but we lost a couple of investigators because of it. Carla´s parents no longer want to go to church because all the young women are saying all the things. And Carla’s mom told me it would be better if I don’t pass by her house anymore. So I can’t even teach her daughters anymore at their house, I have to teach them at their grandma´s house. It just caused a ton of problems. But yeah……it sucked and I was super pissed off at the branch for a few days before I was able to talk with the branch president and it seems like we are going to be able to get it under control. But we are looking to have a baptism next week if everything goes the way it is planned. We have been teaching a family for a while and they have been progressing but they just have a problem with going to church so if they go to church on Sunday we are going to baptize them but if they don’t then I won´t baptize them. Because I didn’t come on the mission to baptize people that are not doing to stay strong. We also have a couple of other people that are progressing and I am hoping to be able to mark their baptismal dates here pretty soon. But we will have to see how their progress goes.We saw a dead monkey yesterday and training is still the hardest thing that I have done on the mission. He struggles a lot with the language and I have to teach everything and do everything. I have been hoping that this is the first and last time that I train someone because I have no idea how to train and I feel like a chicken trying to swim. I have no idea how to do it and I wasn’t made to do it. So I am trying to do the best that I can, but I think that I am going to drown here pretty soon. But with the help of the Lord I just hope that my son can at least learn something from me. So pray for him if you can. But that is about all that as been going on; I hope that this letter makes up for last weeks. But I love you all and I hope that everyone has a great week. But I as able to have a little bit of a cool experience this past week. My companion and I gave a blessing to a really sick lady and after two days she said that she is feeling ton better. She had a huge pain in her stomach for the longest time, but said that she is finally starting to feel better after the blessing that we gave her and we are now teaching her and it is going pretty good with her.And mom…….as for the day that I am set to go home……..let my call the secretary and I will tell here in a second…………..I called the secretary and he isn’t a hundred percent sure yet because it hasn’t been planned yet, but I did the math and looked at the calendar and it looks like my last day on the mission will be the 23rd of March. So you could plan on arriving one day before or on the same day. It is up to you or sometime around there. And I loved the idea of Camille coming too. That would be awesome and what about Juston, how are things looking for him to be able to come as well. And I will be waiting your package with my glasses and the ensign and the goodies. And I never got that package yet, I think that it must be a different one, but I have no idea who it is from. Because I did receive one from you with my shorts and the jump rope and guess what? I am starting to lose a ton of weight last night I was looking to in the mirror and I saw my six pack for the first time in two years. Which is awesome! But I love you and I hope that Steven can get better, he is in my prayers and I tell him that I love him and have Camille give him a hug and a kiss on the forehead for me. I love you him and I hope that he can start feeling better soon. Give Kaya a hug for me and tell her that I love her and I miss you as well. And say hi to the ward for me, I love you and I miss you tons. Sorry I didn’t have any cool stories, but we are kinda low on those right now. But I love you and I will talk to you next week. LOVE YA!!!!With Love, Elder Jory B. Spotts

July 22, 2009

Olá, eu espero que todo mundo esteja bem. Tivemos mais uma semana de trabalho, mas não foi uma semana tão boa. Mas estamos trabalhando e tentando fazer nosso melhor, mas eu sinto muito saudade de todo mundo. E não ajuda quando ouço que todo mundo está viajando e se divertindo sem mim. Well there is a little bit of Portuguese for you guys, but I will now in English so that you can all understand what I am saying. So this last week hasn’t been a really exciting week, it has actually been a difficult week. But we are making the best out of what we are given and we are trying to keep our heads up. I really don’t even know where to start. But let me think of what I can tell you all that is going on. We have been working a ton and really staying busy, but I am not going to lie. It doesn’t seem like things are going our way. We have been teaching a bunch but we aren’t having any amazing experiences. And being a trainer isn’t the easiest thing to do on the mission. You have to have a lot patience to be a good trainer. And I know that everyone at home knows that I am not the most patient person and I get frustrated quiet easily. So I am thinking that I have been called to be a trainer so that I can develop patience or at least try and develop it. My companion doesn’t know really how to do anything; he is trying to learn everything right now. He is just starting to get the hang of things and I have to do almost everything alone. It is just something that I am not used to doing. I am used to having somebody by my side that knows how everything works and supports me and helps me. But I am now trying to teach almost all the lessons alone and it is difficult, but I am learning and slowing trying to teach my companion. So with patience and a little bit of time things will start to get better. But I am being a little tested right now and am learning. I got sick on Thursday last week as well, but mom nothing to worry about, it is just a cold. I have been coughing; I have a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and at times a runny nose. And I have and a headache for the past few days. So that puts a little bit more stress on me. And I have been really exhausted lately because of the work and the sickness. But yesterday I was able to rest a little bit, because Elder Teixeira, he lives with me, decided to put his hand in the fan and it cut his hand all up. So we had got to the hospital and my companion with Elder Milkanin because they had appointments. So we went to the hospital and decided to return home and wait the other elders and I took a nap that I needed. And then I started feeling a lot better and am starting to feel a little bit better.And you will never believe what happened on Saturday, we went to this guy’s house and he was drunk. But he wanted to talk with us so we entered and I had no idea what to teach the guy because he was drunk. So I just asked him if we could start with a pray and I said the prayer, at least I think I said the prayer. But anyways during the prayer I felt like I should teach the word of wisdom, so I did. But the drunk didn’t like to be told that he shouldn’t drink. So he told me that God governs his life and I was going to tell him that God does govern his life and that God is telling him to stop drinking but he didn’t give me the chance. He threw us out of his house. On my son´s third day he got thrown out of a house and it was the first time for the two of us. But I have already been here for almost 1 year and 4 months and he has only been here for a few days. So it was an interesting experience for us both. But on Sunday we had a few great investigators go to church, we were able to take 9 people to church which is good. And I also got invited to visit the Seventh Day Adventist church so we are going to go to another church on Saturday morning just to see how false this ladies church is. But we have a few investigators that are progressing and will be baptized on the third of next month, or next week. We also found out the Carla´s parents believe that we are anti-Christ because she prefers to believe all the crap that she hears from everyone. But there is nothing that I can do, we will continue to pass by there because of the girls but I don’t think that I am going to teach he parents anymore because I am tired of looking at her face. But I love her and I hope that some other elders can pass by there in the future and help her feel the truth, because I have tried everything. But that was about the summary of our week. It was a difficult but interesting week. Hopefully this week will be a little bit better. But I hope that everyone is doing well. I am shocked to hear that Whitney has a kid……when I left she was single…..and now she has a family. It is just really weird for me to have to see things changing without being a part of it all. But the next time that you see her, give her a hug for me and tell her that I love her and tell her congrats as well. If possible, visit Adam for me and tell him that he is in my prayers and that I love him. I feel bad that he has to go through this; I wish that I could take the suffering away from him. But it is good that he is repentant and is willing to change his life. But give Grandma Norton and Roberts a hug for me and send a hug to Camille and Becky as well. I am way jealous that you get to spend time with them. I sure do miss them and love them too. But I will let you go and I will stop talking, but I love you mom and I miss you………..8 more months and I am going to give you the biggest hug a kiss ever. I love you tons mom. Send Kaya a hug and tell her to stay out of trouble. Love you ALL!!!!! Until next week.
With All the Love in the World,Elder Jory Brent Spotts

July 15, 2009

Hey! How is everyone doing this week? I hope that everything is going well. It sure does sound like everyone is doing well. And so am i…things have been going pretty good here. We have been having some success and things have also been a little slow at the same time. But not a whole lot is going different. We had a pretty normal week this week. But let me fill you all in on everything. The assistants decided to come and visit us and work with us a little bit this week, so we worked with them for half of the week. Which was pretty cool. On Thursday we went to the jungle and we helped one of the members out. He just got down buying some land so we went to the land that he bought and we cleaned it up a little. We cleaned the house and we painted it and we cut the weeds in the front and we just cleaned up the yard a little bit. We actually ended up staying there almost the entire day. We even did some exploring in the jungle it was way rad. We cut down a bunch of bananas and we ate a ton of coconut and we had a blast. I was hoping to send some pictures but they are on my camera and I can’t take them off yet. But I will try and send some pictures some time soon. And I also forgot to tell you about some things that I ate these past few days. I ate Rocky Mountain Oysters, alligator, and cow tail. But I would have to say that alligator is the best out of the three. I actually think that alligator is one of the best meats that I have eaten in my life. I really liked it a lot; I even ate a ton of it…things that only happen in the Brazil Manaus Mission.And on Friday I had the best teaching day of the entire mission, I don’t know how…..but I managed to teach 13 lessons in one day. And usually I struggle to teach 5 or 6. I was also able to teach a few people that were really interested in our message. And one of my investigators said that he wants to be baptized and so does his wife. But they have to get married first, so we will have to help them out with that. But the work has been going good. I hope that it can keep going as good as it has.On Saturday we had three baptisms and the ward had two baptisms. Jessica, Jane Kelly, and Alzicleide we all baptized. They are Carla´s sisters and cousin. It was an awesome baptismal service; the only problem was that during the day some time the church ran out of water so the font didn’t fill up all the way. But we managed to get a hose and we pumped water from outside into the font so everything went great. The only problems with Carla’s family now are the parents. Apparently Carla´s testimony wasn’t enough. The parents have now started looking at the internet sites that talk bad about the church. So I am going to have some problems pretty soon, but hopefully sometime the mother will be touched by the spirit a little bit stronger. But I am not too worried because the girls have been showing a great example to their mother, they have been going to seminary and everything is going great with them. So I am excited about their progress and am a little bit worried about the parents.And well as of Saturday I also found out the Elder A. Oliveira wasn’t going to be my companion anymore. He got transferred on Monday and my new companion´s name is Elder Oxborrow, he is from Vegas and he just barely arrived from the MTC. I am his first companion and that means that I am training. I have now received the greatest responsibility that there is as a missionary, trainer. I am really nervous for that but I am also excited, it will be a new experience. But it is also going to be very difficult, because he doesn’t know anything; he only speaks a little bit of Portuguese. So I really need your prayers, so pray for me.But that is just about all that has been going on lately. My new companion arrived today and well that is just about it. But I am glad to hear that you were given the time off to be able to come and get me and I hope that Juston is able to come as well. I really wanted him to come too, because he really needs it. I just hope that he will be able to come, but we will see how everything turns out. And I am also glad to hear that Kaya is back with you, it sounds like she had a bunch of fun with Dad and his family in Alaska, but I hope that everything is going good for you guys and that you guys have a great trip to Blanding. Take some pictures and send them to me. Oh, and that reminds me that I need you to send me some things. My glasses broke and I think that I might need a new pair, I also wanted a copy of the May Ensign because I wasn’t able to get that from the Mission Office and they already ran out. But I think that is all that I need, but I hope that everything is going good and I wanted to tell you guys that I love you and I hope that everything goes great for you guys. Everything is awesome here; I am really enjoying the mission a lot more now. I love you and I miss you!
With Love, Elder Spotts
PS-Sorry this letter wasn´t as good as the last

July 8, 2009

Well, one more week has gone by and things are going pretty good. We had a pretty good week this week. We received some pretty good blessings but we also had some difficult days. And right about now I am trying to remember just exactly what happened this week. But what I can remember was that it was a pretty good week. But I hope that everyone doing good. It seems like everyone had a great pretty good Fourth of July. I wish that I could have been there with you all but it isn’t exactly an option as a missionary. But I think that I did have a pretty good Fourth, Elder Milkanin and I sang the National Anthem which is just about all that we can do to celebrate. But yeah….on to the news of the weekThis week we started teaching a new investigator, Brisola. He is a young man that is really interested in the gospel and believes that the church is true. He went to church with us and is progressing really well and is wanting to join the church. So we are going to continue to work with him and see if we cant mark is baptismal date here pretty soon. The only problem is that he lives with his girl friend and she is pregnant so they will have to get married if he wants to be baptized. But things have been going great with him.We did have a great week with Carla´s family. They are starting to make more progress. Alzenira, the mother, really liked the message about the family and then on Sunday we decided to follow the guidance of our president. I received an email from president on Wednesday last week and he recommended that we read the Book of Mormon with them and pray about the Book of Mormon with them. The lesson actually started out horrible with them saying a bunch of ridiculous crap about the church and spirit wasn’t there. We answered their questions and stupid comments about the Book of Mormon. But it wasn’t helping because the spirit wasn’t there. But out of no where I don’t even remember what my companion said, but he said something and when we said it the spirit entered into the room. We testified about the Book of Mormon and with the spirit still in the room I asked Sildo, the father, to offer a prayer and asked God if the Book of Mormon is true. He did as I asked and the spirit was so strong. Even I received another answer that the Book of Mormon is true. I actually have never felt the spirit testify to me so strong about the BOM. After the prayer the girls were crying and I know that they felt and so do they. It was an amazing experience. But the parents didn’t feel anything. I even asked them if they were going to go to church and they said I don’t know. But the girls said yes. After the lesson we went home to grab some things for church. And we went to church. We passed a few houses first to grab some people but no one wanted to come with us. And when we arrived the Carla´s parents hadn’t arrived yet. So I figured they weren’t going to come but they did after the first hour. And well as it was fast and testimony meeting everyone bore their testimonies. I went up and I bore my testimony about the mission and how I have never felt so much joy in my life and sadness at the same time because of the people that accept and reject the gospel. And afterwards I sat down next to Alzenira and she turned to me and asked me if I feel sad after leaving their house sometimes and I told her yes. And I bore my testimony again to just her and after I got done talking with her, her daughter, Carla, got up to bear her testimony. And while Carla was talking, her mother started to cry. Her mother for the first time was touched by the spirit. It was awesome. We went back to their house last night to have her mother sign the paper for the girls to be baptized because the girls want to be baptized. Her mother said that she isn’t sure if the church is true. But she has a lot more of an interest in learning about the church she asked for the Church´s internet site and she even kept one of the Baptismal Papers and signed it. After signing it she looked at me and said I am going to keep this one. So that when I get baptized it is already signed. So she admitted that one day she will get baptized. So things have been going well. The girls will get baptized on Saturday and sometime in the future that parents will as well. Things have been going great. After she signed the papers my companion and I stayed there just talking with her for the longest time. And it was an awesome talk. I have to thank my Father in Heaven for touching her heart. After trying for so long He finally succeeded and I am receiving the blessings.I also had the opportunity to teach a little bit of the gospel in English. For the first time in forever, and boy was that hard. It has been forever since the last time that I spoke English to an American and I struggled A LOT. We ran into the American from Kansas on Monday night outside the house of a member waiting for our family night to start. And he told me that he was on a mission and he just wanted to argue with me but I didn’t let him. I just chatted with him and then started to teach after he said what he wanted. I struggled but was able to teach a little bit of the gospel in English. And it was a little bit interesting. He said a lot of truth as he talked with me, but he was missing a lot of the truth as well. Where just a lot of holes in what he taught, missing a lot of the truth. He believes that he are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, which is true. But he doesn’t understand that we are saved by His grace after ALL that we can do. But I didn’t want to argue with him, I know that it was just going to cause problems. So I didn’t say anything about that. Just bore my testimony about Jesus Christ. But things have been going really well.We are also having some great success with the guy on the bike´s, Rosemir´s, family. The last time I was at their house I felt like I needed to invite them to be baptized, so I did and everyone accepted. So they are going to be baptized on the 25th of this month. They have been progressing pretty well. Even a member that has been helping us with them went to their house and had a family night with them without even warning us. But it turned out to help a ton. Things have been started to go a little bit better here. But that could change at any second. Because not everything is going perfect, the branch hasn’t been helping us very much and we have been having problems with the leaders. They just like to tell us what to do and just wait for us to break a little rule to judge us and criticize us. They worry way to much about what we do and not enough about the branch. But we are trying to work things out with them. But yeah things have been going good. I don’t really have time to go into details of the problems. But it has been difficult.But I hope that everything is going good for you mom. I sure do miss you and I wish that I could have been with you on the Fourth. But next year I will be there. And it sounds like Kaya will be coming home pretty soon so you won´t be alone any more. But I enjoyed you letter and the pictures. The city looks gorgeous and so does timpanogas. My companion enjoyed the pics too. But I love you and I miss you and just try and send the memory card when you can. I love you and I will talk to you next week. And send Melissa Louder a hug for me.
Thanks love you mom and send everyone else hugs as well.

July 1, 2009

Well, it has been one more week and things seem to be about the same. and i am coming to realize that this is probably the hardest area that i have worked in on my mission. but i am holding in there and hoping that i will be blessed in the long run. but i hope that all is going good for everyone at home. i have been thinking about you guys a ton and now that the Fourth of July is coming up i a going to miss you guys and remember about the great times that we always have at the parade. but the bright side is that next year i will be back an the real party can begin. but we had another week and it went pretty well. Nothing to complain about. Latey we have been seeing a bunch of snakes around here and it has been heating up. we saw a snake yesterday at one of our investigator´s house and i didnt exactly like that. but whatever.....but i cant remember if i told you guys about the experience that we had last week. The experience about the man that was sitting on a bike and i felt like i should talk to him so i did. well we started teaching them and things are going pretty good with that family. they werent able to make it to church on Sunday because of the soccer game, Brazil vs. USA. this country lives for soccer and it is terrible trying to teach a lesson when the Brazil soccer team is playing, because no one wants to listen. but that game was pretty crazy, the USA almost won in the Final Game. all of the brazilians were shocked and almost crying when the States were beating Brazil 2-0 at half time. but then the states started playing worse and brazil started playing better and brazil won, 3-2. It was a really good game and it looks like the States will do good in the World Cup next taking second in the world in this tournament. And i will be at home to watch that as well. Oh and some new news with the mission. We just got word today that the mission is moving its boundaries and combining with another mission. so our mission is now bigger and has a lot more missionaries, which should be pretty cool. so i could not be transfered even further into the jungle now. The mission now covers 4 states here. Amazonas, Acre, Roraima, and Rondonia. As for the work and teaching in our....we are wrking and teaching, but we are having a lot of trouble finding people that really have the desire to serve and follow God. we have been teaching a few girls that want to be baptized but their parents wont let them, so we are now trying to teach their parents the messages so that they will let them. and the same family that we have been taching or a long time is having some troubles, Carla´s Family. Her sisters want to be baptized but their parents are fetching losers and dont want to be good examples for their daughters and the mother says a bunch of crap to them so they are scared of the mother. and i am started to get really impatient with the mother. but i just got a letter for President and he gave some good ideas to help. because the parents dont want to pray to know the truth. so we are going to read and pray with them. because i really like this family and i want them to accept the gospel. But it is hard for me to let them make their own decisions. because they have no idea what they are doing with their lives. they are going to regret it if the reject the gospel of the Saviour of the world. so i am trying to do my best to help them receive a testimony of gospel. But things have been going really good with Carla, she is the example in the house and we are working with her to help her family. She is now the Music Leader in the branch, which was weird because she doesnt even know how to lead music, so i have to teach her everyday how to sing the songs and lead at the same time. She lead the music for the first time in Sacrament meeting on Sunday and did a pretty good jobs. Her sister Jessica is also awesome, she wants to be baptized and went to seminary for the first time last night and loved it. She said that she is going to go again tomorrow. but we have been having trouble with the parents. so i am going to start being a little bit more serious with them and help feel the truth. But yeah.....i am thinking that that is just about all that has been going on. There was an activity in the branch on friday that didnt go to good because it started way late. but we had about thirty investigators there which is awesome. but the members didnt even talk with them or try to help them. so we got a little bit upset at that but we didnt sa anything because we cant. but things have been difficult in this area so pray for me and my companion so that everything can work out for us. but i think that is about all with things that have been happening around here. things are going good. just trying to do my part and hoping that success a long the way comes.It sounds like you have your hands full with work and things, sorry that i cant be there to help you out around the house. i looked at the blog and it is pretty cool, i didnt even worry about asking my president. because he will probably so no so i just looked at it with being told no. so if it was breaking the rules it was breaking the rules innocently. ;) but i hope that all is going well. i wish you a happy fourth of july, it will be my last. but give everyone hugs for me and tell them all that i love them. and my companion also wanted you to see if you could buy a memory card for the PSP, either a 2GB or a 1GB. Look at the prices and you decide....look for something that is around 40$ or so, but hopefully it turns out to be less. but i love you and have a great week. i will talk to you next week.
With Love, Elder Jory B. Spotts

June 24, 2009

Dear Mom and Family, How is everything going? I hope that all is well and that everything seems to be going well. But it sounds like things are going pretty well for you and everyone at home. But things here going great and i have been feeling a lot better lately about the work and things are going. On Sunday we had 10 people go to church. Which was good, and things have been going a lot better with most of investigators. On Saturday we had a good lesson at Carla´s house. For a while we were struggling a lot there and it didnt seem like things were progressing, because they were reading and fulfilling every commitment that we left with them. But for some reason i wasnt able to feel the spirit at their house and we Just couldnt figure out what they were needing. But we finally remember that we didnt explain about the Book of Mormon to the mother, Alzenira, because she wasnt there the day that we taught about that. So on Saturday we decided to teach it again and it went perfect. The spirit was there and it was exactly what they were needing. And things seem to be going really well there. The daughters seem to want to be baptized, because they have already said so but we are having alittle bit of trouble with the parents. But we are going to continue and pray that the parents finally realize the truthfulness of the gospel. The next time we go we are going to try and mark their baptismal date but yeah, that is everything goes as planned. But i am feeling a lot better about the work and things have been going good. We had a few Young girls tell us that they want to be baptized, but the only problem there is that their parents dont want them to be baptized so we have to convince the parents first and then we can baptize them. But things are going pretty good.On Monday we had a pretty cool little experience. We were walking in the street and i passed by a man that was sitting on a bike and i didnt think anything of it. Then out of no where i felt like we needed to go talk to him. So we turned around and went back to talk with him. We explained about the church a little bit ando w God loves him and then i said that we would like to leave a message with him and his family. And He didnt even say Yes or no. He Just gave me his address and said that we could pass by whenever we wanted. So we went there yesterday and we felt the spirit really strong inside his house during the lesson. It was a great lesson and we are going to go back there on Thursday to teach them again. But yeah... i am trying to think of some other things that have happened that are pretty interest to fill you in on. Sorry that my letters really havent been that good that i heve written to you guys. I really dont like to write very much and i always forget about the cool things that happen during the week. But things have been going really good, and i hope that my letters will start getting better. We had a little bit of an interesting experience on Thursday last week. We were sitting in front of a members house chatting with her about the church because she is having some trouble because the members here arent very good examples for the people in this city and she doesnt want to go back to church because of that, and she doesnt want to take her fiancé to church either because of that. But we were chatting with her and leaving a message with her and out of no where we see like three men running in the street with HUGE knives and right behind them are the cops. We saw a chase!!! But the men entered in some weeds and got off of the Road so the cops slammed on their brakes and one decided to get out armed and chase after the guys with knives. So they ran into the woods and my companion looked and me and said listen for the gun shot. And no less than a few seconds after He said that we heard the BANG. Then the cops drove passed the members house again with three guys in the back seat. It was pretty crazy to hear that and witness that. And right now we have a member that is wanting to feed us rocky mountain oysters because they eat weird things here like that. Today the US soccer team is playing Spain in the world cup selections , you probably dont even know about that. And they Will be playing in the semifinal, which is pretty cool and that game will be today. Oh and i found out on Wednesday last week that one of my investigators likes me and wants to date me. But i had to explain to her that missionaries cant do that. But yeah.....Summer is also coming here. We have been experiencing some REALLY HOT weather lately which isnt to exciting. That is one thing that i am definelty not going to miss.......the hot weather. I hate the Sun, all it wants to do is burn me and make we sweat a ton. But that is Just the way that things go here. But ever since the Zone Conference i have been feeling a lot better about the work. I have been able to feel the spirit a lot better and things are going good. And i have also recently stopped reading the scriptures and i starting actually studying them. Looking at the footnotes every chance that i get and i have been learning a lot. It is incredible the things that you can learn and realize looking at the footnotes. I have learning more and more about the way taht God works and teached His children, i have been getting to know Him so much better. It is pretty RAD!!!But yeah......it seems like things have been pretty interest at work. You had a guy put a pen in is his butt and now some guy hung himself. It sure does seem like you have got your hands full there. And i thought that Kaya already had her drivers license, but i guess not. And let her know that she cant put any stupid stickers on the car because i dont want to have to take them off when i get home. Dont let her put any bumber stickers on it. And it seems like everything is ready with the PSP, and my companion will be excited to hear that. And when you send it, dont send it in the original Box. Take the PSP out and everything that comes with it and put it in a different box and you can put it in any name it doesnt matter. Either way he will get it and he will pay me too. But my companion does want to know a little bit about the PSP. The color and the accessories that come with it, so in your next letter describe it to me a little bit. And i think that is Just about all that i have to write. I really cant think of anything else. But everything has been going really good. I miss you and i Love you and i will talk to you next week. Stay out of trouble and keep up the good work. Give everyone hugs for me and i will talk to you next week. I Love you and i miss you.
With Love, Elder Jory B. Spotts

June 17, 2009

Hey Mom! How is everything going? i hope that all is well. things here are going pretty good and it isnt my fault that you didnt get a letter from me, because i had written you a huge letter and when i went to hit that send button the internet stop working and i didnt get to send it. so did get upset because it wasnt my fault. but it was probably a good thing that you didnt get it because it just talked about a ton of negative things. Because i have been struggle a little bit lately and it has been hard. My patience has trully been being tested lately because a lot things are started to go wrong here. the members have stopped helping us and it is difficult without them. Our teaching pool is small because no one wants to go to church, they just like our visits and i cant keep teahing people that just like to hear. they have to progress our i have to let them go. we are having some trouble with Carla´s parents. we dont exactly know what is going on there but we are still teaching them and the daughters all want to get baptized and the are progressing and fulfilling all of the commitments that we leave with them. but the mother is scared of being baptized and the father doesnt want to accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God. but i am not playing around anymore i am getting a little frustated with them and i am going to be straight forward with them from now on. but we did travel by boat again, we actually just got off the boat because we had Zone Conference again. and it was really good. It helped me out a ton, i felt like everything was said directly to me. President talked about the importance of every soul and also the importance of trials. and i was struggling for a little while to believe that i am that important to God and that He had lost confidence in me. but after Zone conference and my interview with President i am feeling a thousand times better. and hope that we will be able to get back to week this week and find some people to teach. The trip to Itacoatiara was pretty good too. On the way there we had clear skies and we were able to see all the stars. so the four of us missionaries laid on top of the boat and just looked at the stars and talked the whole night. it was a gorgeous night and it felt good to just relax and forget about all the stress that the mission brings. and while we were in Itacoatiara we went around visiting a bunch of members after the conference with Elder Milkanin(one of my old companions) and i met some pretty sweet people. i met a family that had recently traveled to the other side of the country to get sealed in the temple. and they are a very humble family with a small house and not a lot of money. and they were happy and talked about the experience they had in the temple and how it was the greatest thing that had ever happened to them. it was pretty cool. the trip went pretty well. the only thing that sucked was that we had to wait on the ship port for 3 hours to catch the boat go come back to Maués. and the boat was PACKED full of people. i ended up sleeping on the ground at the port for a long time at 1 o´clock in the morning and i was way tired. i am still pretty tired because of two trips. And as for the baptism.....it went well. but she almost didnt get baptized because of her mother. her other signed her Church record and was cool with the baptism. but she kept talking to carla about it and she tons of stuff and well Carla went to the interview crying telling us that she wasnt going to be baptized because of her mother. but we talked to her and she decided to do it and it went really well. now we are just going to try and help her family out. but we are going to need the help from the Lord to be able to help them understand the importance of baptism and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. but yeah......just pray for me every day because i need the prayers. and as for the PSP......my companion wants a white one if you can find one, but if not then you than just buy a black one or whatever color. and you can go ahead and send it in his name......Elder A. Oliveira. and he wants the psp that has a microphone and that costs around $200 or cheaper. he doesnt want anything more expensive than that. and go ahead and send it with the Halladays(the family in grandma´s ward) and it should get here some time next month then. and well i dont know what else to tell you about that. but yeah.....Well everything is going pretty good and i hope that this letter makes up for the one that didnt make it last week because the internet fell. so dont be mad at me because it wasnt my fault. and say hi to the new neighbor for me. and what do you mean that he is doing to help me with my grants and schooling stuff, because we are going to have to start looking into that here pretty soon. because i want to be able to start studying as soon as possible when i get home which means that i am going to have to get prepared and you will have to take care of all that stuff while i am on the mission. but yeah....sorry that you are a lone. if i could i would totally come home and give you company, but that is kind of hard because i am on the mission. but i love you and i miss you and i will write you next week. Love you and give everyone hugs and kisses for me. talk to you later.
With Love, Elder Spotts