THIRD AREA: Happy Mother's Day - May 10, 2009

Max called home from the Kerns' on Sunday, May 10, 2009. Everyone was there to talk to him! It was great to hear his voice - it makes the distance between us close. He seems so excited about the work and is definitely in missionary mode. We are proud of you Max!

We were able to talk for an hour and here are a few things that were said:

Max and Elder Piccin live in the best apartment on the mission. He usually eats hot sandwiches (meat, cheese & bread) with cold bananas and juice for breakfast. He recently found Brazilian oatmeal - which is a lot like flavored malt-o-meal (he likes the strawberry). Rice and beans are had with every meal, and they also have a lot of pasta. Chussurro (Brazilian barbecue) is the favorite food, and he has even tried chicken hearts!

He said that this area he's in right now, Cavalhada, saved his mission but he suspects he'll be leaving on the next transfer.The Kerns' family. Max's home away from home.

Luciana - the Kerns' youngest daughter, who is four. Evelyn thought it was great that Uncle Max has a four year old friend in Brazil. She laughed and laughed when Max told her they call her Lulu.

Juliane - was baptized the day before we talked.

Apparently everyone in Brazil is either a fan of the "red" soccer team or the "blue" soccer team. Max likes the blue, but attending games are against the rules. Apparently the games get really messy. Adam and Emily thought the funniest part of the whole conversation was talking about the copy center and Max kept calling it the "Sheerox" instead of Xerox (Zerox), no matter how hard they tried to correct him, he didn't realize he was saying it wrong. He apparently is becoming more fluent in Portuguese, comes with living with a native companion.
The greatest thing was hearing his voice and how happy he sounds. After our Christmas conversation, I think most of us were worried or concerned or sad, but now he is an awesome missionary filled with the Spirit and yearning to teach! Evelyn was asked what Max is doing in Brazil and she answered "teaching the people about Jesus" That is what he is doing. People need to be taught about Jesus, to come to know Christ and to feel of the power of the Gospel and its truth, Max is an instrument in the Lord's hand to bring people to Christ.