​Happy day-after-Fathers-Day-in-Brazil​!

Well it was quite the week. I spent a good chunk of it traveling to go to a training in Belo Horizonte. And it was quite the experience because I cot to be with my MTC companion Elder Silfies for a few days! He is a District Leader as well serving out here in my Zone. US two work in the areas most distant from the mission house. So basically we spent 3 days sitting. I sat in a lot of buses and taxis and even an airplane this week! I will send pictures.

The other good thing is that the Lord really blessed our area even though we didn't have a lot of working days. Erica has been progressing super well. We started teaching her on the 14 of July, and in just one month she has read all the way to Alma in the Book of Mormon, almost all of the Pearl of Great Price, and until Section 50 of D&C. She is also pretty deep into Jesus the Christ. She is an attorney and I'm very jealous of the speed she can read things. She told us this week that she has decided to be baptized! And she really loved the meetings yesterday at church. The Lord truly prepared her to receive the gospel and it has been so amazing to see her progress! She chose her brother to baptize her, who was baptized almost a year ago.

It's nice to hear that the fads are the same in Brazil as the US. Everyone here is playing Pokemon Go on the street and everyone is talking about the Olympics haha! Everyone is pretty sad that Michael Phelps has more gold medals than the whole country of Brazil.

Also the Branch here is doing well. We have been able to maintain an attendance of around 100 for the past few weeks. We just need to push a little farther in order to become a ward and build a chapel here! We have to help some more men receive the Melchezidek Preisthood as well. Honorato should receive the higher priesthood in October along with some other men, which will help. I know the Lord will help us to grow here.

It's also getting quite hot here as we enter into the summer in Brazil. Janaúba is the northernmost area in the mission, and therefore also the hottest. Looks like I will have to start using sun block again.

I love you guys! Have a great week!!

Elder Searle

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Cat with strange markings

On a plane headed to training with Elder Silfies

Elder Silfies and Elder Searle

All the leaders at the training in Belo Horizonte