Two letters combined....I'm playing catch up!

DECEMBER 9, 2009-
Well, December and it's hot, how strange? Actually, just to update you guys, it has rained for 18 of the last 20 days. Including 10 days in a row during this stretch and it is about to rain again today to go 19/21. Ha! Well, I taught some really good and really long lessons this week in Portuguese. I stated teaching and just kept going and the best part was that the people understand me. It is amazing to think that only a little over 3 months ago, I couldn't say a word in Portuguese and now I can say just about anything. I hope all is well with everyone of you there, I love you all and I am sorry if I have not replied to all of your e-mails, but know that I am thinking of you all and love you all a lot. Today, we went to the center of Osasco and played soccer, ping pong, and some basketball. The Brazialians were surprised to see an American play soccer. Tomorrow morning, my companion is training as a new district leader, so if I have any mail, I can get it then. I got a stack of mail from Gigi, Evan, Nana, Shelly Bivens, Emily H. and mom. Great letters, thanks a bunch! I am in the process of responding, only problem is that it's a hour walk to the post office. Well, things are really good here. I really like my area. I love you guys.

December 16, 2009
Christmas is very close guys. I am excited and people here are too. It's weird because it's smoking hot here, yet Christmas time. So, this week was good, we have taught lots of lessons, reactivated some less active families and also have found alot of really good people that are interested in the church. I taught another lesson in family home evening in the house of Irma Elaine. It was good. I taught about Jesus Christ and His life and the things HE did for us here.
In the house of the memeber that we have family home evening every Tuesday, I was talking to her last week about her son, Dennis who is 19-21 and in the Army. She really wants him to serve a mission. I told her to pray for him and that I would pray for him also, that he can have the desire again to serve a mission. Well, last night at family home evening, I was teaching the lesson and he showed up at her house. He sat in on my lesson and then my companion asked him to share his testimony and he did. He said that he was haning out with some friends a couple of streets over and was headed to his grandma's when he remembered that his mom had invited him over, so he felt like he should come. He did and he also felt in his heart that he wanted to share his testimony and he said that he knows that he should serve a mission for the Lord and that's what he is going to do. He says he has lots of blessings, a good job, but that it won't mean anything to him because a part of his life is missing.....he said he knows it won't be filled until he serves a mission, that he knows there are families out there that need him, just like there are families here that need me. It was very spiritual and a great night. Irma Elaine was very happy and crying alot. I talked with him afterwards about missions and sports and lots of other things. It was good to get to talk with him. He is a great guy and will make a great missionary. So thats the week. We had a Christmas party at church on Saturday.
I love you all and am very thankful for the e-mails, letters, and support. Have a great week!
Love, Elder Caldwell

I am so sorry for not updating Chase's blog. For some reason, the blog won't let me copy and paste the email. It cuts off words, so each week I have to type his email in. Well, I don't have a printer, so my mom usually prints them off for me at school and gives them to me. This has not happened because there was a fire at the middle school in the room that houses the internet server and phones for the whole district so, they are without phones and computers. I will continue to keep you updated until the problem is resolved. Thank you for continuing to check on Chase!
Chase is doing WONDERFUL!! He is loving the area of Osasco! He is using the language beautifully and is getting excited to be able to talk to us on the phone so he can speak English for a change! He is teaching a lot of people and has brought a lot of inactive people back to church! He also gets to play soccer on his day off! He is happy and growing spiritually!
Thank you for checking in on him! I will update with a real email as soon as I can!!
Jeanna