As you can tell I'm having a hard time keeping up with this blog, so I decided that I am just going to forward his emails to anyone who would like to follow his mission. Just email me and tell me you would like to be put on my list for Elder Crofts. My email is crofts_family@mac.com

5 April 2010

Jonathan received a phone call yesterday that he was being transferred today. He is now in Olinda, Aguas Cumpritas, which is north of Recife. He said it feels weird leaving his first area, and all the friends he's made. He said he had a slow week, he felt like he was in Denmark or something. He had fish for Easter along with rice and beans. He says that he really likes the beans and so far has not tired from eating them everyday. He wants to learn how to make them. A member wanted some help with English who then helped Jonathan with Portuguese. He listened to part of conference in Portuguese and the other part in English. He said conference has never meant more to him. It was awesome! Today, p-day, some of the missionaries went paint balling. He said it felt like basic training again. It was a blast, even if it was hot and sweaty outside. He also commented that the language was finally getting so much better. He thanks everyone for your prayers and support.

29 March 2010

His companion Elder Brinkerfoff was transferred this week to a new location and JJ got a new companion who is a native Brazilian. He is so excited to speak Portuguese 24/7 now. He thinks that will really improve his language skills. His name is Elder Melo and he is from the south part of Brazil, near Paraguay. He has served two years in the Brazilian army before his mission. He likes to work more than his last companion, he's one of the highest baptizing missionary, and still has six or seven months to go./ He said the weather is cooling off finally. He actually pulls a sheet over him now. They are coming into the rainy season soon./ He got to play soccer today and loved it. He forgot to put sunscreen on and says he burnt again. / He thanks you all for your love and support.

22 March 2010

On his p-day they took in some of the sights of Recife. He says it's a beautiful city. They even saw a beautiful beach and took some awesome pictures./ He said he is about to declare war on the spiders in his apartment bathroom. He used to kill them but they would come right back, so he has been ignoring them. Now he wants them gone for good . He's going to use the tennis racket killer thing on them./ He had another baptism, Wilson, a 14 year old boy that has been coming to church. Neither of his parents are members./ He had ward conference that was awesome./ He said that he needs to learn to make their beans because they are way good./ He's very grateful to be able to serve in Brazil!

Mosquito Bites

The power went out at 3:00 am Sunday morning. By 3:15 he was awake sweating. He didn't sleep very well so he was dragging at church, along with the members whose power was out also./ Every night he has to sprays mosquito repellant on his arms and legs and feet before going to bed so he doesn't get bitten. Well one night he was so tired he just fell asleep on his bed. Big mistake. In the morning his entire left arm was eaten. Bites everywhere and even blood on his sheets. His companion says this is the worst he's seen them./ He had his first zone conference which was good. He had to introduce himself and bear his testimony. He was able to see a bunch of MTC buddies. The chapel they met in was in downtown Recife and had air conditioning in the chapel....sweet!/ They had two more baptisms, JJ was asked to do one of them. He wasn't as nervous this time. It went really well. He loves the feelings at baptisms.

8 March 2010

He says this week has really flown by. It's really hot right now, it's their summer season now./ Leon did get baptized. It was an awesome experience watching someone turn his life around. He even asked if he could be a missionary. He already has a child so he can't go on a mission, but they are going to use him on splits, and see if he can be a ward missionary. They have two baptisms scheduled for next Saturday. One of the little girls he's teaching makes him laugh because she says she can only understand JJ, he has to do the talking./ This week they went into Recife to turn in some paperwork and he ran into some of his old MTC buddies, it was so good to see them. One of his MTC companions, Elder Somerville was there and doing good. They all talked about how hard the language is. His companion now is an older one too, he's turning 24 in a couple of months. He's giving him good advice on the language, mostly be patient because it will come. JJ says that sometimes he thinks he knows what people are saying and he responds and his companion will laugh because he was wrong. He says it's coming just not fast enough for him./ He loves everyone and says thanks for the letters and emails!

Jonathan says he's four months into his mission but feels like he's just starting. The MTC shouldn't count because he's learning the language all over again. He spoke in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, and blessed the sacrament, his first time in Portuguese. He said he was pretty nervous. He said it has been a good week with investigators. There is one who's name is Leon, 22, they have been visiting since he got there. He was quite the partier, and living with a girlfriend. They taught him the law of chastity and continued visiting about two times a week. He wasn't sure they were making progress when he broke up with his girlfriend and moved in with his LDS aunt, and started coming to church. He says it's cool to watch someone turn their life around. When they come to see him now, he's excited to talk about the gospel, and he has set a date for baptism. He says he doesn't mind the heat, but the humidity is getting to him. You walk outside and within 5 minutes you are sweating. But he is working on a killer farmers tan and neck line. He says the food is good, they make really good beans and rice. He misses peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and cold cereal, like Wheaties and granola.