No comp

First a note from Kristin:

Would you be willing to send Jared a Christmas card or letter?  They take about a month to arrive, which I why I am asking in November =).  There are two ways you can send mail to him.  The first is through the church's pouch mail.  You can only send one piece of paper (no envelope) folded into thirds.  You send it with one stamp on it.  This address is:

Elder Jared Sampson

Cape Verde Praia Mission

P.O. Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT  84130

The second option to mail to Jared is by sending it through the regular postal service to his mission office.  You can send it regular mail for $1.10 (three stamps).  This way would accommodate a regular "Christmas card."  This address is:

Elder Jared Sampson

Missao Cabo Verde Praia

CP 420

Praia, Ilha de Santiago

CABO VERDE

CAPE VERDE

Thank you!  Please let me know if you have any questions.

K

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was interesting still.

So since the beginning of the transfer (4 Weeks ago) elder jensen has had this headeche so I have been staying in and doing lots of divisions to try to work the area.  Pretty much the last 2.5 weeks I have been running the area alone.  We went to Mosteuros this week to the hospital on tuesday to see the results of the blood test, and the doctor hadnt come back so that was bad.  We had to go back wednesday too and the haice ride was terrible.  Some haices are better than others.  This one, imagine the worst most beat up minivan you have ever seen, then times that by 8 then cram a bunch of people in it and off road on the edge of giant cliffs.  Twas an adventure.  I sat on another Goat too, but this time, I didnt know it was there the first 20 mins of the ride until it made a noise.  The doctor called Pres Oliveira and told them that they knew nothing.  Elder Jensen Left today for Praia where he will see a specialist.  He was told to take all his stuff with him which means he probably wont come back.  I dont know what will happen to me but for now I will continue to do divisions with members all day, probably for the next two weeks until transfers happen.  That is my guess.  There is a chance I could get a mini missionary (someone from cape verde that is just trying out a mission, but hasnt been to the mtc or temple) but probably not.  I will probably just wait until transfers and then get a greenie.

This week Edson Muniz was baptized.  I would send pictures but the computer I am on doesnt have a slot and I forgot my usb converter (we are in sao filipe because this is where Elder Jensen and one other Elder took a boat to praia).  He is 16 years old and is the only real active male member in Figueira Pavao.  He will help us a lot.  We had the baptism in Sao Filipe as well because Relva didnt have water.

Speaking of water, we are out again.  I was hoping it would last at least until tomorrow because it am almost out of clothes, so I will probably just was them by hand when I have time in the next 2 days before I run out.  Joy.

So today we played soccer on a turf field and I got to run for the first time since Ive been here.  It was a small field, but bigger than the ones we usually play on.  I did two backflips, my first ones here, but they were both pretty bad.  I am out of practice.  

I am getting fat too here.  I think I am the fattest I have ever been in my life, which isnt that fat, but I miss running and healthy food all the time.  When you dont have much, you dont really get the choice of whole wheat or not, etc...  I dont think you can get lettuce in fogo either, and so I will have to wait for a while to eat a salad again.  Tear.  I try to excercise in our house every morning, but have been craving running all the time.  It ran around the soccer field this morning and that was great.  I hope I get a companion some time that likes running because I miss it and my body misses it.

This week I tried to help some members share the gospel.  It was rough and didnt make it that long. We did practice though with them.  I challenge everyone to practice sharing the gospel for FHE!  

Also, good luck to everyone in the musical on closing night.

I got the program from the choir concert a while ago and a great letter from my dear Aunt Cathy!

This weeks spiritual thought is that everything is for our good.  If you view everything as things to help you grow and recognize that all trials are blessings to help us grow, then you wont have problems.  This also relates to gratitude.  Be grateful always.  Dont be more grateful on thanksgiving day than any other day.  This means step up the other days and not be less thankful on thanksgiving.  Gratitude you wont find much in the scriptures or indexes of the scriptures because it is so closely related to humility.  Start today.  I feel like a sales pitch.. START TODAY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.  BE MORE GRATEFUL AND HAVE MORE HUMILITY.  ALL BLESSINGS AND TRIALS ARE FROM GOD FOR OUR BENEFIT!

Well, thats probably it.  I feel like I am missing something I was going to talk about but that was probably most of it.

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Sampson