November 08

I love it here, oh well! We got pushed back 2 weeks with Denise, Giberto and Delise’s baptism, sadly. but they are excited so December 7 is our goal!!

Marcelo is on track (as long as he stays away from those cigarettes) for this Sunday so I’m supper excited, he’s good!

This week has been a super crazy one to say the least! Yesterday we did splits, Elder Vargus (who speaks little to no English) came to my area and I had to lead the work, and lessons and I still don’t know a lot of Portuguese so that was difficult but he loved it he told me I’m doing an amazing job. I know my area, the lessons, the investigators, and enough Portuguese to communicate everything I wanted to say (which isn’t true). Elder Vargus is an amazing missionary I learned a lot from him in that short time yesterday! Funny story his girlfriend put her papers in after he left and she got called to the São Paulo south mission tabêm hahaha pretty funny she leaves at the end of this transfer its been funny to hear all the jokes people make lol.

We are hitting a giant wall in the form of no one is home mid day, it’s hard to find work to do then, and its sucking all of our energy. It’s really stinky. We have come up with some ideas of what to do but it’s hard because no one is home! And if we find someone home, it’s a women alone so we can’t teach them Oh and as I speak the movie Armageddon is on at the tv at the lan house, it’s weird to hear different voices lol.

Christmas day…my phone call will happen! I’m not too sure yet what time I’ll have to work that out with a member in all that

Carrie, Melissa, and I use mission ties, I write my friend via it because I cannot email them. Tell Laurie she can use it I don’t think the whole family knows about it.

Life’s pretty awesome here in Brazil. I’m working hard studying hard and following all the rules, even the ones I think are pointless!

Which brings me to my second point, I don’t wanna hear about someone not liking a church leader, I’m dealing with that everyday so I won’t be very nice, it’s so retarded that people just stop going to church because the bishop didn’t shake his hand when he came into elders quorum 25 minutes late!! Brazilians look for reason not to go to church our ward has about 400 members in it, less then 50 active, its gay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO TO CHURCH EVERYONE! Alright I’m done with that rant


Gorbi, Mission is awesome you’ll love it! Its also the hardest thing you’ll have ever done though, especially the mtc, those 9 weeks felt like 9 years I’ve been out for 5 weeks and it feels like 2 days its crazy!!

Well I think I gotta go I love you all and wish you the best and I pray for you all and I know you do the same!!

Oh and I loved that story about Josh!!! Blessings are freaking awesome I had to give a lot lately luckily all in English I haven’t had to butcher portugues blessing yet lol. Its just so awesome being a priesthood holder!!

Oh random thought I really wanna see Big Al baptize Caroline!!! For some reason I keep thinking about that story…it will be “delicious” I want Caroline’s point of view too, I know that’s like forever from now but it popped into my head!

I love you all and until next week everyone stay safe and don’t do stupid things

Elder Linford

Family how is it going!!>???!!?!?!??!

Don't send me letter past Oct 18th to CTM as much as I would like them lol
Dad, parts of the CTM have AC classrooms and the auditorium and The offices
Pass along to the Ellingsons that President Farreow is Canadian. He is in my branch president.

Okay so this week has been, well a unique one to say the least. On Monday my companion and 3 other elders were feeling homesick/just down and they were crazy out of it. My companion just wanted a blessing of comfort, and that was unique. It was the first one I had ever done and as soon as I put my hands on his head the spirit came into the room so strong, I mean, you already feel the spirit a lot in the CTM but it was like the celestial room strong… it was amazing. it was really cool, and that was on top of an amazing spiritual testimony meeting Sunday. I love it when the spirit is just so strong. It is so amazing. I can’t really put it into words, but it was really amazing.
Things are going great here every day. I love it here. It is not that the learning is that great, but it is what it is. I’ve really learned to study hard and with results. 14 hours in a room plus lots of prayers, seem to do that. And I really can’t wait to get into the field.
Tho I may not be able to speak well, but I know I’ll love it I can’t wait to get out and teach!
Friday we get to go out again and proselyte. That’s going to be fun. I feel like I can communicate so much better this time around!!! I really can’t wait I also can’t wait till it’s going to be amazing!
Well i don’t know what else to say so I’m going to go stay good I love you all
Elder Linford

Hello,
Well okay I leave in 3 days and I’m excited about that. This week has been a lot of meetings and stuff, I’m getting excited. I AM 100% HEALTHY so need to worry about that :)
Now that I don't have to email everyone back you guys can continue to email me.....
We went to the São Paulo temple today for the last time as a District. I’m going to miss these guys they’re pretty awesome, the spirit they carry with them all the time makes me happy. We also had exit interviews with the branch president and he told me if I live up to my goals that I’ve set I’ll get all the slacker companions. BUT it'll be the best thing of my life. I’m so excited to get out there. I don’t feel good about Portuguese at all, but I’m done here in the CTM. I know I’ll leave it all out on the street, so yeah the next email you get I’ll have lots of stories about my first weeks and my companion, I’m hoping for a Brazilian so I can leave Portuguese faster!
That stinks about good old BYU?? But I did call it down here in Brazil. Oh and Texas winning again helps make them look legit, and the big 12 south has 4 out of its 6 teams in the top 8??? Dad how’s your pac-10 doing???? Oh wait only 2 teams ranked :))) (doctor Linford puts up the ranks weekly) well I know its early but not even the sec looks as strong as the big 12 south. So we’ll see
This week just flew by. I sent some pictures home of our going away party( it’s all mixed up with some from the Mission President. conference.) oh I missed Elder Richard G Scott by about 3 hours on Saturday, that stinks but I’m ready to get out of here.
So yeah I’ll let you guys go but you can all email because i can write you back. Okay well bye I love you all
ELDER LINFORD!

CTM Steven and Elder Wright

October 08


So have you not been getting my emails??????? You said you haven’t heard from me in 2 weeks????? I've emailed you every week??? I send them to you and dad?? So yeah I don't know what the deal is???
I miss you and love you!!!!!!!!! (I'm really healthy now so you don't need to worry , I will be fine! (As Dad said in my blessing as I follow the rules, I will be blessed with health and energy), so don't worry I'm following the rules and being healthy, I know your my mom so you’re going to worry which is okay, but you don't need too I'll be fine I PROMISE!!!
I love you lots keep up the good work at home
love
Elder Linford

October 2008

first Timothy 4:12 “...be thou an bexample of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Okay well I’m alive it’s really hard to explain, but I’m alrighty I’ll be calling you when I get back to the CTM. The picture of of me and Irmano Cruz who is an instructor at the CTM

But yea these past few days have been really bad. Over all it’s the most discouraged I’ve been, but I’m good now. My companion and I got to watch conference from the happiest room in the CTM, it has couches and a TV, since I was not able to sit up they let us watch it there it was pretty awesome. The pain not so much. I loved conference how about you guys???

And yes I’ve been taken care of by doctor Linford. He is really great and so are the members of my district. They are awesome, and so is my companion. With all this stuff I was stuck in bed and after like 7 hours of BOM/ bible/ dc/ pogp/ pmg. i couldn't read any more church stuff, but sad news there was nothing else to do so I was thinking and that just wasn't fun. But, thankfully it’s all past, the past few days have been good I’ve only got 17 days left here, because there is a mission President, conference for all of Brazil. The day I would leave so were leaving 3 days early, expect lots of praying to make it through this!! lol
I've hit a wall and the Portuguese is moving so so so so slow right now but It is moving upwards!!!

The wamu question is I don't have my card yet they hold it while you are in the CTM, I just wanted to make sure it works when i get out there! No packages yet!!
For Christmas ties!!! and i just got an idea from this other missionary could you get me a usb hard drive like 20 gb ish? I’m going to put all my pictures and videos on there before I mail home a card so in case it is stolen or broken I don't lose anything!, that can be my gifts that’s all I really need! I’m doing great now I love you guys and I’ll hear from you soon! Okay well I’m alive it’s really hard to explain, but I’m alrighty I’ll be calling you when I get back to the CTM.
I love you
Steven

September 08 CTM

CTM
Hey Yall,
(RUN a spell check on this because I’m using a Brazil keyboard, and the computer is formatted for Portuguese not English. lol)
So this month’s activation code did not work. so I’m just sending a letter to you guys.

This week has been pretty hard, it’s been long and at some points you wonder if Hitler just left Germany for the CMT. Lol I’m kidding but really it’s really structured. So my days are pretty good you know waking up at 6:30 and getting dressed and to personal study at 7, and then breakfast at 7:30, companion study at 8:30 and then class from 8:30 till like 12:30 lunch then class again till 5 then dinner then more till 9 so I spend like 12 hours a day in a 10x10 room.

Today we went to the temple in Campinos. It was so amazing. It is so so so beautiful in and around it. It’s set on top of a huge hill overlooking the city so you really get a good view of the city and it looks amazing! A few things I’ve learned about Brazil since getting here,

1. The church is spending more money in Brazil than it is anywhere else,
2. Lands is for sale until the church wants to buy it then it doubles in price,
3. the church said it doesn´t have the financial means to build the buildings it needs here in Brazil because as soon as they plan a building out, they need another one, because the church is growing so rapidly,
4. If I work right I will baptize every week, and that’s committed members too.
5. The gift of Tongues is so real its so amazing the amount I’ve learned has been so crazy!

Now who is John McCain’s running mate? What’s the deal with Russia?? And football score!!??
Other than that things are going very good I love the people of Brazil already, and I haven´t even made it out of the CTM yet. My Portuguese skills are coming along at an amazing rate; I know how to pray bear my testimony, and all 55% of the grammar skills. I miss you guys’ lots!

Could you send me some pictures of the family, and stuff? I’m also sending you some letters you should get them in a week, there’s one for you guys, one for the Pearson family, and one for Mitch, Cortnee, Whitney, and Katie. It cost 2 hayies to send a letters here so I’ll get you their addresses if you could not read them and just forward those on that would be great. I’m also going to write a short blurb to a few people on here so forward it to them for sure and anyone you think would want to hear from me!

Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 5:41 PM
> Dear Parents,
> We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has
> arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and
> privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come
> through the front door of the MTC for the first time.
> They now have companions and are settled into their rooms.
> They are assigned to a district with capable and caring
> instructors for language and lesson study. The branch
> presidents and their wives, who are usually a senior
> missionary couple or mature Brazilian couple, will soon give
> them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their
> callings through the love they always develop as they
> embrace and watch over the missionaries.
> The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their
> health needs. He is assisted by his able wife.
> We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is
> abundant and very good.
> Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation
> Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either
> Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
> Important information is attached for communicating with
> your missionary through letters and other mail while at the
> MTC. Your missionary's district is (35-A) and the mail
> box number is (3). It is important that this information be
> written on all letters and packages that you send to your
> missionary. We ask that you send packages only in the first
> 4 weeks and after that send any packages to his or her
> mission home. We are not able to forward packages that
> arrive at the MTC after your missionary has left for the
> field. A package that you send that arrives after your
> missionary leaves will be opened. Only the most essential
> items are forwarded on and only those items that can fit
> into a 9 inch x11 inch envelope.
> We are also parents of children who have served as
> missionaries. And we have been missionaries who have left
> family. Please know that we are mindful of you and know of
> your love for your missionary.
> Your very important young person is about to make an
> eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will
> be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President
> Lorenzo Snow: "There is no mortal man that is so much
> interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is
> preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to
> the people who are the Lord's children."
> Please accept our love,
>
> President and Sister Woodward
> Brazil

--- On Sun, 8/31/08, Ray H Linford wrote:

> From: Ray H Linford
> Subject: Your missionary sons

Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008, 11:39 AM
Imagine my pleasant surprise when I welcomed Elder Steven Alan Linford to the Brazil MTC this past Wednesday. I am the Area Medical Advisor, Elder Ray H. Linford, assigned as the doctor at the MTC.
Our common ancestor was John Linford Jr. and his wife Maria Christian Linford, who came with the
> Willie Handcart Company to Utah in 1856. As you well know, John died at the fifth crossing of the Sweetwater on 21 October, the morning of the day the company was rescued. Maria went on to Salt Lake City with her three accompanying sons, George John (my great-grandfather), Joseph, and Amassa. Your ancestor was James, who had remained in England on amission. Youprobably have a copy of the "Black Book" which was prepared by Mary Hooper Blood Linford. It has the genealogy of the descendents of John Jr through about 1945. My roots go back as follows:
My father was George L. Linford, his father was George Albert Linford, and his father was George
John, who was the second son of John Jr. So that makes Alan and me third
cousins. The other missionary in this picture is Elder Sorensen.
They are a great companionship and are already doing well here at the MTC.

Sincerely,
Elder Ray and Sister Joanne Linford