Andy's Mission Scripture

Andy's Mission Scripture:

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."

~Alma 29:9


Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas in Campina Grande

Oshi! Ola vocês! Puxa o tempo passa numa pisca do olho!
Como vocês estão!? Natal está chegando!!!

Ahhh! I cant believe Christmas is arriving so soon! Its funny as a missionary you really see
the holidays coming and going especially this time of year as we see the decorations go up in the stores and people putting up lights. Here they do have christmas lights! but there are not nearly as many like back in the U.S. Its like only a couple houses here and there...whats cool is that here usually the houses have a little veranda entrance before the actual entrance into the house with a gate, ``a little room entrance`` and in this room a lot of people put their Christmas tree there and lots of lights, so its way cool to walk down a street at night and see all the Christmas trees! I put up one picture of the most extreme house i have seen here that is the closest to an average american lit up house...anyways here in Campina Grande it actually sort of feels like the the Christmas season weather wise. Its actually gets cold here! This time of the year is definitely the best time of year to share the Gospel and the true meaning of Christmas. One member told me that this will be the best Christmas of my life becuase I can be the best present to somones life sharing the gospel. You guys can too! ANyways I love you guys very much until sunday  




Thank you Grandma and Granpa!  I love you!










My new crazy rubiks cube!
This thing is nuts! I need to put up another picture of it deformed...Irmão Rafael gave this to me...
He is the master of rubiks cubes...i still dont know how to do this one yet...
but i will by the end of my mission...i swear...


Monday, December 12, 2011

Short and sweet message but Andy's clearly happy!

Oi!!! Tudo Ok com todo mundo!

Right off the bat im sorry to be frank but this is going to be my shortest email ever because I was helping my companion out with many things and writing a lot to the Pres and I just uploaded a ton of photos for you guys to catch up there. But in short Holy Crap! I love my new area and my new companion and my new bishop and members! Im very excited to work here! I have so much to do! Im super excited as well to talk to you guys shortly, ahhh i cant let that distract me! SO...About the phone call im not exactly sure yet...I think i will try to use a computer in our capela...I will fill you in more next week. Love you all, Have a great week! Elder M. HOwell IM going to be sending a surprise to you guys tom!

























In Travel to Campina Grande!
My son, Elder G. Olivier on the left!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Transfers...Andy Senior Comp in Campina Grande!

Puxa Vida!

Flip! My whole world has been turned upside down, well my whole missionary world that is! From this day forth my mission will be completely different becuase...I was transfered to Campina Grande, Jardim Paulistano! As a Senior! On top of that I was called Treinador! I´m a Father! haha Dont worry not literally! that would be crazy! My ``son`` is Elder G. Oliviera! He is from Minas Gerais! He is a Brasileiro if you didnt notice from his name! Im really grateful that I have a brazilian child just in case i dont understand something exactly right and can continue to help me with my pronunciation! Whats awesome is that i will be living in a house full of Brazilians again! but unlike the first time i will understand what they say! haha This is going to be an adventure! ahhh I have the responsibility to lead all the discussions and train this greenie all he needs to know in 12 weeks so that by the end he will be able to train right off the bat! I am nervous im not going to lie! Im nervous that i will not be able to handle this role, but that is where my faith comes in. I have never felt so unprepared so unqualified...my I was called of God...so this must be the right time for me but i sit here writing this email with so much anxiety on what is to come and how i am responsible for everything involved for the progress of this ward here...I sat sleepless looking at the ceiling in the Moroni house (the house right next to the presidents house) thinking Im just a 20 year old guy with 8 months in a country that ive never been to speaking a language ive never studied before i came, but now this country is starting to feel like home...Everyday its becoming more familiar to me...Im petrified, that this all happened so fast but i trust in the Lord with all my heart that everything will be all right if i give it my all! I know that prayer is such a simple thing and overlooked severly by many but the confort i felt last night was unbelieveable...I love you guys! I pray for you! Plz pray for me and my companion here as we are reopening an area!!! Love, Elder m. Howell