Another Email

Well, today we were online at the same time as Thomas, so we got to write a few emails back and forth. It was pretty fun. It was almost like talking to him. Today, some of us also got letters from Thomas via Mission Ties.

He sounds like he's doing good still. He's liking the food better (except the boxed milk) and he's gaining a little weight. :) He let us know that he will be in the Brazil CTM until June 30. It only takes about six days for a letter to get from her to Brazil, so that's not as bad as we thought. He said he'd try to send us pictures next week!

Here's some of his email:

"Eie everyone? hows everything going? things are still going good here. i went to the são paulo temple today and the inside is pretty cool but i liked campinas way better! i didnt even know we were close to the temple until we were pulling in cuz all the skyscrapers around it ha. but it was good and i wasnt even that tired when i woke up at 5:45. we have rice and beans for 2 meals a day and have a sandwich and cereal for breakfast. but milk out of a box isnt that good. i get an hour of gym time a day except sunday and thursday. we switch off playing volleyball and basketball. it is pretty fun. i havent really learned anymore in the language since last week...i guess we have started our street contact but i can give the 1st lesson in english pretty well now. i just bought my first soccer jersey! it is pretty cool. its a ronaldo jersey. he is one of the best soccer players from here. i am pretty excited about it even tho i cant ever wear it ha. hopefully it fits in two years."

We're Right Here For You Thomas

Email from Brazil!!!

We finally got an email from Thomas!!! Trust me, we've all been waiting at our computers for the past 2 days. It was SO good to hear from him. Tom told us before he left that he didn't want us posting all of his entire emails for the whole world to see, but I thought it would be ok to share a few things.

"there are only like 150 missionaries here and the maximum is 650 so it is down a lot. there are 4 of us in the room. my comp is from sandy utah. tell becca he is about 5´10" ha. he reminds me of someone like blake and eric roisum. he is pretty cool. i like him alot. and the other two are really funny too so we are having a good time. the portuguese is coming pretty good. they teach so fast. i can pray, testify, and do some of the first lesson. it is pretty nuts!"

Goodbye Photos

These were the photos we took PRIOR to the bawling fest.

The entire family

















"24" months



















Thomas has many emotional sisters

E-mail from the Brazil MTC

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.

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


IMPORTANT INFORMATION . . .

WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE SENDING PACKAGES to the Brazil Missionary Training Center.
If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package cannot be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name and district and mail box numbers above the Brazil MTC address on all letters. Your missionary´s numbers are: District (18-C) and Box (34). Record these numbers for future reference.

Example:
Full name: (i.e. Elder Jeffrey Christopherson)
Mission name: (i.e. Belém)
District (##) Box (#)
Brasil CTM
Rua Padre Antônio D’Angelo, 121
Casa Verde, São Paulo, SP
Brazil 02516-040

DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers. We can only accept mail sent through the U.S. Postal System

See Ya in 2 Years!

Well, Thomas left on the plane today at 1:00pm.  We had a lot of family support there.  It was a very hard and emotional time, but we are very excited that he has made the decision to serve the Lord for two years.  We are so proud of him!  There were two other missionaries leaving from Idaho Falls for the CTM in Brazil with Thomas.

Thomas has arrived in Salt Lake by now.  They go to Dallas next, where they will catch their flight for Brazil (9 hours, 50 minutes).  

MTC Address

Elder Michael Thomas Long
Campinas
District 18-C Box 34
Brasil CTM
Rua Padre Antônio D’Angelo, 121
Casa Verde, São Paulo, SP
Brazil 02516-040