Good laughs and working hard!

Excerpts of João's email to Ana on December 114, 2009

If I could sing to you I would, If I could hug you I would!!!! Happy Birthday. I woke up and immediately thought about you. I wrote in my planner that today was your birthday. I wish I had something for you, at least something more than this e-mail. But I hope you know that we are best friends forever. Happy Birthday!!!

I had a really busy week and being a Zone Leader is no joke, a lot of things to take care of and a lot of missionaries are looking up to us to know what is acceptable and what is not. I enjoy my companion Elder Pape. We were together Christmas in Staten Island. He is just a little older than me in the mission. From Oregon. We have really good laughs together, and we are working hard. I've talking a lot of french too, and I'm picking up Creole, a twisted french they speak in Haiti. It's been good for me.

This next week I am going on exchanges with the ASL (American Sign Language) missionaries, and I am going to vist Manhattan. They work there as well. I was given an ASL name, I don't know if I ever told you about that. When I get home I'll show it to you.The area I work in there are a lot of Jewish people, and they are all celebrating Hannukah. There is so much diversity in New York. No one is really from New York here.Well I have to get going, I love you, and I miss you so much, you don't even KNOW!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!