Who Says Maringá Doesn't Baptize? November 18, 2013

18 November 2013

Dear Everyone,

1. Did you actually get to see Elder W. on his last night, or were you already on your way to Maringá? I got to see and talk with Elder W. on my last night in Londrina, Monday night, and I saw him Tuesday afternoon just before getting on the bus!! How is he doing with civilian life??
2. Did your former companion Elder S. stay in Ouro Branco, or has he moved elsewhere also? Elder S. is here in Maringá as well, but he is in the other district.
3. Who else is living in your house? In our house is me, Elder B. (my companion), Elder D. (I was his district leader when he was a secretary and now he is my zone leader), and Elder B2, who I met at the CTM. He was in the group just after me. Our house is the worst house in Maringá. I think it is better than where we lived in Ouro Branco because it is cleaner, but it is really old. Two times this week I woke up with a cockroach walking on my arm and Elder B2 woke up 2 or 3 times with them on his legs. Let’s just say that Sister Genaro has asked us to look for a new house, and we are searching diligently.
4.  Are you in a branch or a ward? We are a ward, but our ward meets way far away in the center of the city. However, they have rented this warehouse really close to our house and on the 1st of December we will start to have meetings there while we are searching for a lot to buy and build a new chapel.

So on to Maringá news:

Who says that Maringá doesn't baptize???? We had 2 baptisms this week. L. is 16 and with a priesthood blessing he stopped smoking, drinking, and using coffee in one day!!! The other is A.C. She is a neighbor of L. and we are going to baptize her mom this next week. So, we should have at least one baptism this next Sunday (we always are hoping for more), which will give us the opportunity to invite tons of people to church for the baptism, and hopefully that will translate to us having tons of baptisms the following week.

It is very hot here in Maringá, just like all of the areas in the mission, but the streets are covered in trees so most of the time you walk in the shade. That is nice while we are doing the 45-minute walk to our area!! 

Today after we finish emailing we are going to go to the post office so I can get my CPF which is like the Brasilian social security number. It will make getting things like bus passes a lot easier, and you get this SWEET-looking card!! We are also going to visit the cathedral in the center so that should be some good pictures for you guys next week!!

I think that is about it! 

love you guys a lot!!

Elder Cummings