Lame

Hey Dad slash family, 

The lan house (internet cafe) was closed today and my p day is about to end so I'll have to talk to you guy mais proxima vez...

And Dad that is totally not a mission story. I liked it, but I'm gonna have to call you out on that one.

And Mom I want to write you guys a proper letter about my investigators, but here in Brazil is its so much harder to find the time. Especially with my new calling and such. I'lll try though otay?

Love elder Tagg

A Miracle and a Half

Ay Mom

So yeah, I still got them slippers and I use them so that my feet stay clean when I walk through my apartment. 

Fank you.

Aight time for a miracle and a half. 

Ready?

So so my comp is new and still isn't used to walking so much.  His foot was really hurting him and so we sat down on the curb for a few seconds for him to "make sure he didn't break it."  But yeah so we get up and start waking home because it was already like nine o clock.  On the way home I wanted to have one more conversa before going home. We stopped a lady on the road and taught her the word of wisdom, because she was smoking, and gave her a pamphlet and invited her to re focus her efforts to stop and to be baptized. She accepted and we said a prayer and everything. We were marking a visit when I realized that I didn't have my planner and so we ran back to where we had sat and it wasn't there. I was all like "some Elect will find it and he will find us and we'll baptize him."

Well actualy and ex investigator found it and he gave it to his inactive friend and she went to church to give it to me! So yeah, miracle. Take that Satan!

I love you

Love Elder Tagg

Socks in the Freezer (I Put Them There to Freeze)

Ay Mom! 
So for Skype I'll be on 6:30 my time in my ward missionary leader's house and I'll just call you.. Just be sure to email me your information and all that junk. 

But I'm doing great and stuff! Why did Dad tell you that I went District Leader Trainer? I told him very clearly, "do not tell mom" I don't know how he got that confused.  Seriously though that does kind-of bother me. Not that you now know, but that it was so easy for him to just tell you and completely disregard what I said. Seriously guys? 

Well now in other news my new companion is Brazilian and he is unique... fer reals. But it's all good. I'm not one to talk, I'm pretty different myself.  (He's already found my socks in the freezer... I put them there to freeze).

We are working really hard to find new people that will progress to baptism. Right now we have two people on date for this month. One is called Jane, and the other is Maristela. Please pray for them to receive an answer about the church!

Tchau Tchau!

Elder Tagg

PS Oh yeah so... I just remembered that I actually did tell Dad that he could tell you if he really wanted to. So never mind, I ain't angry anymore!

Elder F and Elder Tagg

Dad!

So like totally everything is going good right now. Mahn, do you want to hear a mission story or like what?

So the other day Elder Ferreira and I were walking through the favela and like all these cops, all of a sudden closed off the street that we were on. Two cops ran by us and the had these HUGE guns. They just ran right past my comp and me. They arrested these dudes right behind us. Ferreira and I just left and walked past all the police. It was just like Jesus in that scripture where he walks out of the mob. 

Bye

Elder Tagg

Wuddup Mom?!

So wuddup Mom?! 

So yeah I'm still here in Brazil and things. But yeah would watch dem videos of the kids violin performances, but we really ain't allowed to. (Makes you too trunky). I actually haven't watched any of the videos you have sent.... Sorry, I should have told you earlier. 

But transfers! I'm staying and Elder T is leaving! This will be the longest I have stayed in an area until now.

Our baptism fell through for Sunday. Oh well my friends. 

But anyways, who do you want to win the world cup!?!? Brazil is going bonkers right now. I'm definitely rooting for Brasil. (If they lost things would go to pot down here.)

Oh and the pants I like that you sent in Washington are Calvin Kleins.  I cannot buy pants here. That is not an option.

BYE!

Elder Tagg

Hey Dad. 

So transfers are a week early this week (and the next will be 7 weeks) and I'm staying and I will be District Leader Trainer. Yeah maybe don't tell Mom. Unless you want. I just don't think she needs to know. [Ouch! by Mom]

That is a really sad story, Dad [a story about disobedient AP missionaries that had been shared in the last letter]. Was this before your mission split? Did you guys have three APs? I've heard of missions like that. Ours has just 2. But you're totally right about that... There are a lot of people who abuse their titles. To be completely honest with you, I kind of wanted to just stay junior my whole mission. i just hit 5 months in Brazil, so I'm kind of a really young DL... I'm kind of worried.  

So story time. Saturday I was on division with Elder P (a Brazillian) and it was like 7 and I got a call and it was Prez Tamner and he goes, "hey I'm here on your doorstep! let me in!" Elder P was in the bathroom.

Luckily, i was already dressed and our apartment was cleannnnnn---er than usual. But he just wanted to interview me and then he left. It was a real suprise.

Another story time- i just looked down and I forgot my tag. I'M NAKED!

Love

Elder TAGG

On a Scale of 1 to Amazing

Mom!

So I'm doing great!  I just got your package and I ate it all already. Thanks mahn!

My investigators are doing good. I have a baptism set for this week and I hope everything goes well. Her name is Luzmary. or Lu, for short. It's hard to teach her though, because she works and studies, and she can only come to church every other week. She is really the only investigator who is worth mentioning right now. Oh, and don't worry about my shoes, they've still got a few more transfers in them. I'll just use them up and then start on my second pair. I won't even get to my third pair I don't think.

On a scale of one to amazing, I'm doing very amazing.

So mission story time. The other day Elder T and I were walking down the street, and we turned around the corner and there was a mob of about a thousand Catholics walking down the street singing songs about mother Mary. They were being led by a truck and among the crowd there was a bunch of people carrying what looked like an open coffin with Jesus in it.

Your turn [for a mission story in return] Dad.

Here in Brasil there is this thing called BR. It's pronounced beh-ehhe. It means Brasileiro, (or Brazilian in english). They just use it to describe anything just super ghetto. 

For example: A random guy is driving down the street blasting super crude music in his beetle (Brazilians love beetle cars). They would say, "é beh-erre." (that's Brazilian). 

Just a thing I thought youd like.

Love Elder Tagg

PS I don't know if you are going to send another caixa (box) soon but I really needs some pants. 

To Eliza:

Yo I'm sorry dawg for writing you a cruddy letter. I guess i just don't have much to say. Ask me more questions and I'll have more to talk about! don't forget to pray and read your scriptures on the daily!

Elder Tagg

PS Did you know that our names start with the same letter?

To Audrey:

Hey whadup Audrey?!

Thanks for writing me! I remember when I went to the sacred grove. I have actually been there a few times. It's sweet. Are you playing any sports? Remember, the grind is real. its REAL. 

Elder Tagg

There is a God and He loves us

Mama

Wow I am so stoked for Evan [going to the prom with a cute date]. maybe the Tagg name will be passed down after all... 

So I think that it is time I let you in on a little somethinsomethin... 

Missions are hard... 

Despite my efforts to deny them, I must be real about my weaknesses. The fact of the matter is that I do a lot of comparing, numbers wise. This has not brought me happiness. I have really been trying to focus on people and not numbers. After the temple today I felt a lot happier. It was like I was being told that I should always be happy, and so I was.

One of the most profound truths most often taken for granted is the fact that there is a God, and even more than that, He loves each and every one of us. 

Elder Tagg

PS By the way I SAW ELDER M AT THE TEMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They were visa waiters and  former companions in the Washington Everett mission

Holy Shoes

Mom

Why did you call me trix? (I said "how's trix?"  Not the same thing)  You seem very determined to come up with a nickname for me... It won't work. remember Grandpa Cruisers story?

I liked that poem. There is a stinky guy leaning over the computer next to me.

I am super excited to see Elder M here in a few days. I hope he comes to my zone. He was a transfer ahead of me when I served in the Washington Everett mission,  and he was actually my trainer for a while. Elder Merr Merr we would call him. He's so awesome!

So I have big ol holes in my shoes. Sometimes one of my toes gets stuck in one of the holes and I have to stop and fix it or my toe will be repeatedly stubbed  (if you look you can see one of my golden tipped sockies pokin' through)

Yikes!  Glad we sent him with 3 pairs of shoes!

This was my getup right before the Sunday sessions. I decided to 'High Priest' it (ask Dad what that means). You guys have probably already noticed, and YES I have gotten a lot fatter. But I'm losing weight again by working out and not eating. I came to a bit of a realization when I found myself at 85 kilos. I promised that I would never be that fat ever again in my life. That was about 3 weeks ago. Now I'm down to 80. So it's going well. But basically that's an update on my body. When I was in Washington I was in a companionship that was totally into working out and drinking protein shakes, and I was loosing a lot of fat and getting a lot stronger. Then when I came to Brazil I was in a totally different situation. Every day we walk up to over 30 kilometers, so by the end of the day you get SUPER tired. so it is super hard to work out in the morning. Also, the freaking Irmas (sisters) here are INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!! We only eat almoços (lunches... why he breaks into portuguese randomly here and there I have no idea) here, but we eat more in one hour than I would eat all day in the United States (and I ate a lot). But anyways these two things combined with the fact that my metabolism is getting lower, it just started happening. I call it Satan's trifecta. 

Gotta go

Love Elder Tagg

Dad,

Yes it truly was a special general conference was it not?

My faves were Uchdorf, Bednar, and Adukaitis.  They are so awesome. (especially Adukaitis) actually Elder Bednar and Elder Adukaitis both visited the Washington Everett mission not too long ago. "One should not walk through garbage".  Love Adukiaitis.

 I don't know if you caught it but John Sears Tanner (my mission president) was just called as the first counselor to the Sunday school presidency. We are getting a new president halfway through next transfer.

Love you Dad 

Elder Tagg