10/7/16 - Trials lead to blessings...finally back!

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After being home for seven weeks recovering from mono Pier was finally able to return to full-time missionary service. His seven weeks home was an enormous trial for him! For the first two weeks he slept 16-18 hours a day. It was a slow recovery, and he still tires easily, but he feels such a strong desire to serve the Lord that he was begging to return to the mission field. On Wednesday, September 28th, he received the most wonderful news! One of "dream" mission locations has always been New York and last week he learned that he would be serving in the New York, New York North mission until his visa clears for Brazil. He was beyond ecstatic!! He will be speaking Portuguese in NY while he visa-waits. Pier left for NY on Monday, October 3rd. Below are some pictures from his arrival. Here is what he had to say about his first few days:

I am in the Danbury area. It is 70% Hispanic and 5% Brazilian. Apparently we go to a Spanish branch and I have been told to learn Spvnish too. Every time we knock on a door or have a lesson, I don't understand a thing. I have this great guy as my companion, Elder Brasileiro from Brazil! We are supposed to be able to speak all 3 languages, Spanish, Portuguese, and English, and I am so grateful Elder Brasileiro can because I can only speak one! We still haven't run into any Americans, haha. The hardest thing is not being able to communicate with ANYONE. My companion knows all 3 languages almost perfectly, and here I am with southern english, and the most broken Portuguese imaginable! But here's the cool part, Brazilians are super nice (like Southerners) and they are super emotional. So it means A LOT to them that an American is learning their language just so he can talk to them about God! so whenever I say anything it's the coolest thing. The all get really quiet and turn towards me and nod their heads and nudge me along trying to get me to talk more. What I say is so broken and structured wrong, but when people listen that seriously, it's great! I'll miss the entire conversation my companion is having with them, and then he'll turn to me like I'm supposed to say something. So I get this terrified look on my face and say something stupid in Portuguese like "uhhh...yeah. It true! I love God. God bless me. He bless you too!" And then everyone laughs because apparently they were talking about buying groceries or somehing, haha! I'll get there...eventually.
Thank you to all who have been praying for and supporting Pier during this trying time. He has felt your love and concern for him. Please continue praying for him as he serves in NY!

 We love you!
Leslie
Elder Dick being greeted by President Smith


President and Sister Smith with all the new missionaries on October 3, 2016


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