Gray light, new day leaks through the window

April 11, 2011

Hey guys!

This week in Américo Brasiliense was pretty slow. We actually spent a good amount of time going to and coming from Araraquara because I finally wised up and went to a foot doctor (that's "podólogo" in Portuguese; I don't remember what it is in English) in the city. The mission's health plan apparently doesn't cover podólogos, so I had to pay 60 reais for her to cut my toe up again. It was completely worth it, though. She cut the side of my toenail that had become ingrown since my surgery in December and took out that part of the nail. It didn't hurt because she numbed it somehow, and as soon as we got back home that day, I was already allowed to use shoes! I guess I stopped updating you guys on the sandals situation, but I had been using black socks and sandals for a good couple months until a nurse at the health clinic told me to use flip flops. So I was using flip flops for the last week and a half or so. And then, in one day, the foot doctor fixed everything. Like, I'm wearing shoes right now. It is so awesome! I'm like a real missionary again!

So yeah, it looks like I'll be good for at least the rest of my mission as long as I don't mess something up and cut my toenails weird. I'm so glad that I don't have to worry about such a frustratingly stupid problem anymore.

I also got my package from Mom. Thank you! It was really nice to get all that Easter candy and stuff!

As far as the work is concerned here, it's going slow. Like, really slow. I don't know what it is, but it just seems like something is in our way. I don't get it, but we're going to work hard to get new people to teach. Because we don't have hardly anyone right now. My mission president is instituting a new standard in the mission where we need to knock at least 75 doors a week. I have never particularly enjoyed knocking doors, nor have I had any success with knocking doors, so I'm just trying to swallow my pride and trust in my mission president. We'll see if anything comes of it this week.

I'm almost done with the Book of Mormon in Portuguese. I was originally reading ten pages a day so that I could finish it last transfer, but it turned out to be a pretty lofty goal. So now I'm reading five pages a day, and I'll finish before the end of this transfer. I'm currently reading in Mormon, where it talks about how the Nephites and Lamanites became wicked. Something that I noticed as I've been reading, especially in the early chapters of 3 Nephi and these chapters in Mormon, is that the Lord always, even until the very last moment, allows people to repent of their sins and be purified by the Atonement. It struck me how merciful God is, and how the power of the Atonement is applicable even to people who commit the most horrible of sins. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everyone can repent always. It's so amazing!

I love all of you! I hope you're doing well! The Church is true!

luv

Elder Wiggins