Hello, Greeting, Oi from Brasil

This is my current companion, Elder Andrade, He is so amazing and very patient with me.

These elders are all of the Brasilians that I live with and me. From Left to Right Elder Oliveira, Elder Andrade, Elder Barreiro and Elder Barry

These pictures have a story. Me and my companion were playing a little game of soccer in the area in front of our house. (Which I'll try to send a picture next week of it) and i kicked this ball on the roof of our neighbors house. So I climb up there with a pole to reach the ball. It was epic and yes... I still love to climb on things. I just don't have the time and the places to do it.


It's just me... I'm coming for you

This is my companion and his balding head. I want to call him baldy but I don't know how to in Português


This has really been an interesting week. With new experiences and new ideas and everything new. I love new weeks. Every week I can just push away the old week and just start working on the new. I learned this from my companion. One day we were sitting and I looked over and he was gluing his missionary planner shut... now that's just not normal. He was taking the pages and gluing them together... I thought it was kind of weird so I asked him what he was doing... basically he said that last week was horrible and he doesn't want to remember it and so he's closing out the week and focusing on the new week... Wow... inspiration... from the awesome Elder Andrade.

Elder Andrade is crazy... but I'm crazy too... so it's been working out pretty well. He's extremely patient with me and how I work and everything I do. I'm new and an American... so he's very patient with me. Very very very very extremely patient. I'm pretty much blessed because of it. He's totally de boa (Which is a slang that means chill). We work hard, walk everywhere, trying to do things different in this area because our area hasn't had much luck in the past 6 months-ish... so we are doing everything different. Well trying... because this mission is getting the same results as it was 2 years ago or more... and there was a promise that Brasil will be a giant help for the church, that the membership with EXPLODE. So if we are getting the same results then we must be doing the same things. So we've got to change to get new results. It's hard but really really really (add another really) fun.

Usually throughout the week I write down little thoughts and ideas and funny things that I can write and tell you on P-Day, but I forgot to do it this week. So I'm bascially writing whatever comes to my brain. Not much so it's kind of difficult to tell you how things are going. So I think I'll send some photos from today and past things so you can see how things are going for me.

Oh so I've been trying to learn how to be more organized everyweek and everyday... It's not working out too well. I start a system and then something happens and I forget it one day... then it's a mess... so I need to learn somehow to keep it clean in the house and everywhere. It's hard. My desk is a mess right now and so it my closet and everything... but I somehow know where things are.

One thing I learned this week is to keep moving cause time will keep moving too. Never will time stop for you so don't you stop for it.

Endure to the End

Signing Out
Elder Barry

Hello, It's summer here... but I'm probably just as cold as you are.

So yes it's summer... but today is rained like no other and I'm wet and really cold... really really cold. Like seriously... cold. I don't know if I have time to take a shower and write an email to home and to the mission president and stuff... probably not. We ate at McDonald's today and stayed there for a good 2 hours or so because it's P-day... and it rained a lot. wow... We finally just left and got soaked.

I really don't have all that much to say this week... not many things happened that I wrote down to tell you or nothing is coming to mind. This week went really slow and really fast... I remember this week was just slow and hard... It's really hard to understand and speak Português 24/7. I was tested emotionally and mentally this week. Like no other. It was really really difficult. I don't know what else to say about his week.

Oh I know. My new companion is just going ape on this area. holy cow. He's just going at it and not resting. Basically I follow and testify... then follow... try to speak to people. But he's really cool. He is just a chill Brasilian and is really really patient with me.

I just want to say thanks to people for the letters. I got to read them today and it really helps. I don't know why but it doesn't feel like I'm far from home at all. I feel really comfortable here and it's great. The only thing lacking was family and friends but I love P Days because I can still figure out what's going on at home. I love it.

Don't get me wrong I really love the mission. I'm jsut trying to sum things up for the people that don't understand the mission. This place is so beautiful in so many ways. The culture of people here is so loving. The members of the ward just recieved me with open arms when I arrived in this area in October. When my birthday happened, the bishop and the young men/young women were having a little seminary party and they also celebrated my birthday. I got a cake and everything. That was really really cool.

One thing this mission has taught me is patience with everything because everything is in the Lord's hands. I'm working on Português and I know I will get it in time. I know this gospel is true, why else would I be here? Enduring to the End and I hope you do too.


Endure to the end.


Signing Out
Elder Barry


When Elder Barry was in the MTC in Sao Paulo there was a dedication of a new ward building. They had a missionary choir sing and Matt sang a solo. A friend of mine, Grace Marie Dennis, found this picture on a web site of the sister who directed the choir. It's fun to see Matt doing what he loves to do.

First Transfer

So, (então) hoje (today) is transfers. So our P Day is Monday just cause they need to get transfers done. So that is why this letter is early.


I really don't have much to say this week which is also great because I don't have much time this week too.

We had a baptism, They were our investigators... well not really but they count as ours. This is an interesting story so I'll tell it. A lady and her daughter were living in Sobradinho 2 (which is that other area next to ours) and some other missionaries found this lady named Pricilla and her daughter Pérola (means pearl). They taught them everything and they wanted to get baptized. Since my companion is the district leader we walked to Sobradinho 2 and my companion interviewed her. She passed and so did her daughter. Then this lady wanted to get baptized in a river or waterfall... which... is extremely hard to find and extremely hard to get approved. So she didn't get baptized because she couldn't be baptized in the river. Well we were all bummed because that means she isn't baptized and stuff... well in a strange turn of events... she moved to Sobradinho 1 and we got her referal and went to go talk to her... She said she wanted to get baptized and she changed her mind. It didn't have to be in the river/waterfall. WOAH!!!! MIRACLE!!!! This whole transfer me and my companion haven't gotten any results and just this last week we got a baptism. It was way cool. All we have to do now is get her confirmed next week.


So I need to say too that I get a new companion. His name will he Elder Andrade. He's Brasilian. Now I'm going to be living in a house with 3 Brasilians which is going to be cool. I'm definately going to learn Português extremely fast.

In the Book of Mormon I'm reading about Nephi and Laman and Lemuel. I think it's interesting the differences between the brothers. Nephi is always doing what is right and striving to do what is right. Laman and Lemuel or L and L are always murmuring but doing the stuff. They technically are being obedient to everything. They do all the same things as Nephi. But they do it slowly and not with a real intent. So I think a small thing that can help me is be like Nephi. Strive to follow with all my heart. Strive to help others in all things. Be like Nephi.


Endure to the End


Signing Out
Elder Barry

The giant on the couch

Hello from the beautiful city of Sobradinho!!!

I'm doing great here in Brasil. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and for everything here. I love you all and hope that everything is going good for you too. This place is so beautiful and I love working here. Missionary work sure is hard but it is so worth it. It is so much fun. I love it so much.

So somethings that happened this week. I wrote down the ones I wanted to tell you. So lets see... which to start with... ok got it.

This past week we went to teach a man who was really, really old. About 10 years ago he had missionaries come by his house and teach him and give him a Book of Mormon. He's read it twice and is now re-reading it and has marked it up. Buy happen chance he found some of the members, they got us and we went over. The things he wanted from us were D&C which was really strange in the first place. A non-member wanted whatever D&C was, he didn't even know. Then he asked what RF was. Well RF is AF in English and means Articles of Faith. Holy cow. This man wanted a lot. Just by happen chance I had a triple combination in Português that I wasn't using. So we took that to him. We went in to talk with him and he was old. Wow... But we went in and got to know him and understand him. And before you knew it an hour had flown by. We are supposed to be in houses for only 30 minutes max. Holy Cow. I think in the hour time my companion had said maybe 5 phrases and the rest of the time was the man speaking. So we were trying for another 30 minutes to get out of there. He would not stop. Man. One thing I learned from this is couches in Brasil are really, really small and I can't sit comfortably on them for that amount of time. I looked around and really I looked like a giant on that couch. It was so tiny and so close to the ground. It would be fine for a lot of people... but I'm just so huge. I wish I could get a picture to see how big I look on the couches here. Wow. During the time we were in there I really couldn't stop myself from laughing and I felt to bad. Here are two missionaries in a house and they have been in there for 1 hour and 30 minutes. One doesn't fit on the couch and looks like a giant, talking (Well really listening) to a man for that same amount of time. I really feel bad because I started to laugh as he was talking. I tried to cover it up with a cough and I felt like I did a good job and he didn't notice. If he did notice, he thought I was laughing at what he was saying because he was smiling and slightly laughing too. It was probably the longest lesson of my life. You probably think I'm mean but you weren't there to experience this. It really, really was funny.
So next, Brasil probably wouldn't be a place you should be if you are deathly afraid of spiders. I bet in every house there are spiders in every corner on the ceiling and spiders randomly throughout the house. When I shower there are spiders in the corners of the ceiling. When I change or sleep or do anything I can assure you that there are spiders in every corner of the ceiling. Promise. So if you have anything fear of spiders and you can't suck it up you probably don't want to be here. Also the ants here are basically our best friends. They are everywhere in the house and they clean the house while we are gone. All the bugs we've killed during the morning or crumbs are gone before we get back home every night. It is pretty cool. There really is a more chill atmosphere here about bugs in the house. You can't really keep them out. So use them to your advantage eh.

One more story. One day my companion did a split with the zone leader because they had to go get interviewed by the mission president. So I was with the other zone leader until they came back. When they came back we switched and everything was fine. When the end of the night came me and my companion went to the house... and didn't have keys. When we left for the interview he had them... Then when he came back he thought he gave them to me because I usually have the keys... but he accidentally left them on the table... So, we were going to have to sit there and wait for the zone leaders to come back but they usually don't get back until 9:30 and my Companion (who is also a district leader and my trainer) needed to get numbers before that time when they get back. So... we tried to use a popcicle stick to get through the lock because it is really a back lock. But that didn't work. So my companion decided to take off the sliding door into our house. (Shoot I don't have a picture of that to send home to you.) So we wiggled and jiggled the door a lot, moved it and finally got a crack wide enough for my companion to get through. He went through and unlocked the door. So we just broke into our own house. Two missionaries trying to get into their own house and make it look like they aren't breaking into anyone else's house. To make it look worse we both have white shirts and ties. We probably look like some federal agent. So yes. I have broken into a house.

As I studied this week I started a couple of things at once. I started "Preach my Gospel" and "The Bible" and "The Book of Mormon". But the thing I wanted to share with you comes out of PMG Page 3. It's a quote from Harold B. Lee from a book called "The Teachings of Harold B. Lee" He says:

"The most important of the Lord's work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own house" - President Harold B.Lee
This really has hit me as I think about my family and about being a missionary. The most important work we have is strengthening ourselves and our family. Especially our family. In the Book of Mormon Nephi starts off saying "Being born of goodly parents" and then Mosiah talks to his family to help them. Then Alma talks to his three sons about their lives and trys to help them and teach them. Chapters 8 and 9 of Moroni has letters from Mormon to Moroni. What a perfect example to follow in the Book of Mormon. It has shown us how to teach our children and help our family. All through the 'War' chapters they talk about battling for their wives and their children. The Stripling Warriors were taught by their mothers so well that they were saved from a battle and were blessed by the Lord so that none of them died. Study the Book of Mormon because it can help you in all aspects of your life. I know this to be true. I have seen it in my life here in the mission. Apply these things to your life and follow the counsel of Nephi in 1st Nephi 19:23. Any thing in your life can be solved as you read the Book of Mormon. Be it as simple as Jacob 6:12 or as complicated as Alma Chapters 39-42. I know that as you prayerfully study the scriptures and apply them to your life, you will become a better person. I know the scriptures are true. Since they are true, they were given to a true prophet of God who restored the Church of Jesus Christ here on the earth. Never doubt that these things are true because they are. I love you so much.

Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry

This is what we call the Gehtto path. (Man I've lost my spelling)
(Sorry the picture is side ways. I didn't know how to make it right - Mom)
This one is me and my companion running away from the giant Sobradinho sign to the camera... a freaking sweet picture.
Me, my companion, Elder Barreiro and Another elder. I live with My companion and Elder Barreiro. The elder in the blue was just there on a trade that day. I'm wearing a Flamagos jersey, My companion is wearing a Gama (I'm not sure if that's how it's spelled) and Elder Barreiro is wearing a São Paulo Jersey. The other elder is wearing a Gremio Jersey.

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Hello Everybody,
Today is the day that I can technically be on a mission and I don´t feel any different whatsoever. It´s just another day of work really. Today has been great. I was surprised that the people I live with remembered it was my birthday. They celebrated my birthday as they sang to me this morning after we all got up and said our prayers. Then we got ready and studied. And I love studying. I just finished the Book of Mormon in English and it was so good. By the end of this transfer I have a goal to finish O Livro de Mormon and mark all the times it says "Senhor" or "Deus" or "Espirito Santo" or talks about a member of the Godhead so that´s going to be a fun thing to do. That´s what´s going on here. Not much more... But like usually I have little funny things I thought of to tell you so that this is enjoyable and spiritual.

So... I told you about the dog attack last week... well this week I got attacked by a bird as we were walking by a tree. It was protecting it´s baby chicks and nothing bled but it´s interesting to put it down... Oh and another different dog attacked me yesterday. So I think this will be a weekly experience of something like that. I finally understand why in all the cartoons it shows missionaries running from dogs... cause it seems like they don´t like missionaries that much.

I had my first really, really, really, REALLY crowded bus ride this last week... did I mention it was crowded? I´m not sure but let me tell you... it was crowded. Me and my companion got on the bus and stood forever... and it was really awkward because there was a lack of testosterone around us... Everywhere I looked it was women and girls... literally. The only men I could see were either in the back of the bus or not around me... talk about weird. Regularly I wouldn´t care but once you become a missionary then you start to notice these type of things and feel uncomfortable in these situations. Oh, and I said the other men were at the back of the bus... yes? I could see back there. I realized that I´m big in Brasil. REALLY REALLY BIG. Everyone looks up to me. I got on the bus and all I saw was the top of heads, really. That was a weird experience for me. Everyone here is short... ok well not short but shorter than me. At school I could see some people and look at their eyes or forehead... yeah no such luck here except for the rare occassion. So that´s how things are here.

So I got a brilliant Idea. I´m going to go buy another SD card for my camera. So I can transfer pictures from my big card to the small one and then send them home to you through email because if the small card gets a virus I can delete all the photos and still have everything on my other card... so you´ll start seeing photos of how things are in Brasil. I thought it was brilliant.

Well this is another week. I love you all. Thanks for the letters. Stay strong. Read the Book of Mormon because that book will help you throughout your whole life.

Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry