Ryan's Mission Call / Ben Update

Ryan received his Mission Call!  He is going to the Australia, Melbourne Mission.  He will enter the Provo MTC on February 29, 2012.  We are currently working on his passport and visa.

October 31, 2011

Mommy,
I am sorry to say that I have not done any talking or thinking about the Christmas call but for good reason this week has been crazy!! I got to the house and then everything started breaking or falling apart!! We have been out of water for 3 days!! We don’t have water supplied by the city, we have a well and our pump is broken and we have not been able to get hold of the lady that owns the house!! So we have been showering at a neighbor’s down the street!! Also our Iron broke so I used my credit card to buy a new one because no one has money!! Our fridge is also broken and we are trying to figure out how we can get a new one! One of the Elders is going to Manaus tomorrow and he will talk to President about it! I hope that we can get the water fixed at least; we can’t wash clothes or dishes or ourselves!! It is really a pain to have to go to our neighbor’s house to take a shower!!
About my shoes I am sorry that I have not been keeping up to tabs on my SHOES!! It never crossed my mind to keep you up to date on that! I have gone threw one pair! I am on my last pair and I don’t think they will last as long as the ones in Manaus because of the streets here! I also don’t know what I am going to do for Christmas presents for you guys! I don’t think that I will get you anything. I love you all but on a missionary salary its way to expensive to buy a present and then pay 65 reais to sent a box to you! And since I am not in ca-hoots with the drug lords I have no money. :( I think that I will send something small though for everyone! at least some pictures and a letter or something....
One great thing about this area is that there are a lot of mango trees, (mangueiras) so almost every day we walk down the street and see mangos in the trees and throw stones or something at them to eat them! They are way good!!! One funny thing about it though is that the word for hose in Portuguese is mangueiras, the same word for mango tree!! I was very confused at first too!! hahahahaahah Imagine this sentence in Portuguese: I will use the hose to water the mango tree!! (Vou usar a mangueira de água da mangueira) Funny right??
I love you and yes I will ALWAYS be your boy! Remember that book about the mom and the boy? if you don’t it’s on my bookshelf go and read it!! I am sure that you will cry! But it’s true! The calling of a Mother is never over and I will get to a point when I don’t need you as much, but I will always need a mother and my children will need a grandmother! So you are not done yet!!
Eu te amo!!!!
Elder Vaughn

October 24, 2011

Mommy,
My birthday was very different than any other one I have had in my life. It was actually a normal day for me. We got up studied and than went and did missionary work. A lot of strangers sang happy birthday to me. I think that I would have had cake but the members did not know because I just got here but it was fine! I don’t feel any different at all! But it is really weird to think that I have been alive for 20 years!!
So Porto Velho, I am actually in a different state in Brazil, Rôndonia. Porto Velho is a lot smaller than Manaus! A lot smaller!!! And most of the roads are dirt roads! In fact some of the roads are actually lakes because of the rain! There is also a lot of mud!! A new word that I learned in Portuguese really fast!! hahahaha But I really like it here! The people here seem to be a lot more humble than in Manaus!! The house that I live in is huge!! 10 times bigger than the house in Tapajòs! It is also ten times dirtier! :(  I live with another companionship Elder Snyder and Elder Chaveiro! Elder Chaveiro is brand new on the mission and Elder Snyder was my district leader when I was in Tancredo Neves!! I like Snyder a lot and Chaveiro is cool because he helped me wash the GIANT pile of dirty dishes in the sink! It seems that every time I start a new area I have to start with washing dishes!! Hahahahaha!  Elder Melendez got transferred back to Manaus so I was really bummed when I found out about that! But I did get to see him and talk to him for a while.
I love ya and hope you all have a great week!!!
Elder Vaughn

October 17, 2011

Mommy,
YAY FOR RYAN”S CALL!!!!!! I am way excited for him he will have a great time! He will be a great missionary!!! I am so happy that he is finally going to go!!! With all that waiting I am very happy!!!
This week was good!! We have had some talks with Vivian’s parents who are not members and they are looking like they are interested!!! Yay for good examples!!! I love them and their family!! I will be sad to leave them!!! Because we found out about transfers and I am going to Porto Velho, which is in another state of Brazil! So I will be on a plane tomorrow to my new area!! I am very excited about going but it will be a little hard.  Another bad thing is that I have a limited amount of baggage and will have to leave my hammock.  I said goodbye to Elder Taylor, Soleburg, and Johnson, who all will be going home on Tuesday! I am going to miss them; but, it will be fine because I am sure that we will be friends for life and even after that! Another great thing about the transfer is that Elder Melendez is there so I will get to see him! I have not seen him since he left 12 weeks ago now. SO I will be very happy to see him!!
I love you all and will tell you all about Porto Velho next week!
Thanks for the package and the birthday wishes!!!
Elder Vaughn