Week 16--Week 7 from Sao Gabriel

Zack entitled this week's email -- "The Week of Walking" -- which explains his first sentence. Here is his email this week:

"Aptly named, I think. I do not even want to think about the number of miles I walked. Let's just say my feet hurt. Thanks for the gel pads, Mom, or I would probably not have feet right now!

This week was pretty nuts. I am in São Gabriel with my new companion, Elder Abreu. It is strange being with a new companion, especially as a junior, because everything that you had become accustomed to changes. He is a good guy and very smart. His teaching style is very different from my other companion and he only wants to speak English, haha. It is good because we are both learning the other language. The week was pretty slow, but I assume that is normal for every transfer.

Teaching for the week was good. I don't know if I talked about how Elder W. Ferreira and I taught at a school, but now we have the fruits of that. We found many new investigators this week and taught a lot of lessons, and I am excited for December and January! I learned from my Zone Leader, who also served in São Gabriel, that this area is one of the worst and hardest for baptisms. It is my job to try to pull it out of that slump. So far, only 1 though...

Our investigator pool took a big leap this week, but we still have a few old ones that we are working with. One is a 10 year-old named Camila who loves the Church and wants to be baptized. [H]er mom and dad are both members, but the mom is receiving discouragement in the baptism of Camila from her anti-church mother. The other is a 60 year-old woman named Neiva who just feels she is not ready and needs a few years to prepare! Any tips? I am thinking about watching "Charly" with Camila's family and then talking about how families can be together forever through the Father's plan. No one can deny Charly...

Sure, Dad, I will be careful with that, thanks . . . Oh, and good job on your talk!

Mom, thanks for that email. It sounds as though Stake Conference was really good. I will always remember the importance of the missionaries in my life through you. And, there is no way I speak Portuguese better than you sign.

Thanks for everything. I love you very much and pray that all is well. Your Christmas letters are on the way! Happy Thanksgiving!

Com Amor,
Elder Burnham"

We will miss him this Thanksgiving, but will give thanks for his service and dedication. We are so excited that he is serving the Lord in Brasil.

Until next week...