Nov 12

HELLO!!!
How is everything with yáll? Everything´s great here. We finally did something fun today on pday. We played soccer and volleyball with the elders. It was fun—I actually made a goal left footed! As we were finishing playing, it started raining cats and dogs! The streets were rivers!! It was insane! But I love it when it rains here because then it´s not so hot for at least a couple hours.

Sunday, I played in Sacrament meeting. Normally the lady uses the recordings on the electronic piano but these songs weren´t recorded. I had never seen most of them before, but it went surprisingly well. Thank heavens! The funny part was that the sacrament hymn was to the tune of Drink to me only….with thine eyes… Sound familiar, Klein Choir alumni?!! I wanted to crack up laughing! If only Prad were here…(smile).

We taught a family way out in the boondogs this week. We have to take 2 buses to get there and it is in the middle of the mato. None of the houses have numbers. It´s pretty funny. The family loaded us down with fruit and fruit pulp to make juice with. It was great!!! We took a bunch of mangos too and made mousse de mango. Mmm…muito gostoso! One of the fruits is called jaca and it is a huge green spiny oval. It looks like something out of star wars. I didn´t really like it, but it was a fun experience taking pictures and dissecting it. Brazil has so many fruits it´s incredible! Not even my Brazilian companion knows them all!

Mom—Thanks for the recipies. I´m excited to make pancakes for my companion! Thanks also for the packages! My companion and I loved the popcorn and she wanted the recipe of that too. My companion´s name is Sister Bulhões.

Em—I loved your drawing of the little Japonese Indian saying Happy Thanksgiving!! HAHAH! It was so cute!! Thanks

Clay—It´s like you´re back from the dead!! Thanks so much for writing me, cuz! I love you so much! Have you been having fun in Hawaii? Let me know when you hear from BYU business, k? I´ll celebrate down here while you´re celebrating up there.

Aup—I remembered the password to the blog. _____. At least I think it is…Thanks for doing all that.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ethan and Grandma Turtle and Suzanna!! I love you all so much! Did Ethan have a party? Grandma—I can´t believe you´re 92! That´s so awesome!! Remember when we had a joint birthday party a couple years ago in Cali? That was fun. We have so many fun memories! Thank you for all your continuous emails and support. I couldn´t have asked for a more loving Grandma! Tell all the California clan hi from me and pass along my email to Billy, would you (if you get a chance)? I´d love to hear from him. Thanks!

So…I am kinda embarrassed because I don´t have any pictures of my family. (It wasn´t on the list of things to bring!) Everyone always asks and I have to hang my head. Could someone snail mail me some pictures—the one from California with the blue shirts and maybe some when I had long hair? Everyone keeps nagging me about it. I would be very appreciative.

Becky—Thanks for the package! You are so sweet! My companion and I are going to gain so much weight this week!!! I´ll follow the instructions for my cake and take a picture for you. How are you feeling? What´s the latest from the doctors? Tell Mick I love him! Let me know when he gets his mission call!!!

If anyone is feeling a desire to send me peanut butter, that would be very welcome. My supply is running low and I can´t buy it here. Peanut butter is to me like nutella is to Emily. Hahaha!

Does anyone know how to get me Abby´s mailing address? I´m not allowed to email her, but she emailed me and I´d like to keep up the correspondence.

Last night I started to get really sick. My throat was really swollen and my nose was running like crazy. It hurt to talk. Finally, I took medicine when I got home, but in the night I started to get a fever. I was really weak and dizzy when I woke up this morning. I said a prayer that I could have the strength to get better. I don´t have time to get sick. There are so many elect people waiting to hear this message! I got a blessing from my district leader (after sleeping a couple more hours). I´m feeling a little better now—better enough to play soccer and volleyball at least! (And teach of course) Heavenly Father is so sweet to me. I know He is aware of each of us in our own lives. He hears and answers prayers—even those of a little missionary in the middle of nowhere south America! What a blessing!!

Love, Sister Ellis III

P.S. We finally got a hold of a cd player to borrow from the ward. It was so fun listening to the cds you made, Kit. Thanks!