Dear Future Sponsor,

Hi, my name is Rodrigo Sampaio Rodrigues, I’m 18 and I’m from Fortaleza, Brazil. I’m member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for eleven years and I have a strong testimony of The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Currently, I’m serving at the church as ward missionary and bishopric’s secretary. Me and my family we’re all members of the church. I mean my parents and my younger sister. The other members like uncles, aunts, grandparents, cousins they are all catholic. But someday they’ll be all latter-day saints.

By March 2009, I’ll be going on a full-time mission to the church. I’ve waited for so long to serve as missionary and I’m seeking to prepare the best I could to serve with all my heart. I know I’ll be an official representative of Jesus Christ and I’m seeking to know him better and feel his atonement sacrifice in me.

After my mission I would like to realize an old dream and goal. My dream and goal is to study at Brigham Young University at Provo. I’ve dreamt of it since childhood and I feel strongly connected to BYU even though I’ve never visited the campus. I feel that I can learn at BYU many things specials which I couldn’t learn at whatever other university or college. It’s not only the secular knowledge but the spiritual background that I can get that is special and precious to me. My parents support my dream in everything they can but they aren’t able to pay my BYU education and keep me in the United States.

I feel I need to study at BYU, to learn the gospel and to bless lives here in Brazil and around the world. I’m fallen in love with the BYU purposes and I truly believe in them and I want to make them part of my own life. I know the Lord has something especial to me at BYU and I want to find it out for myself. But I need help.

I’m Brazilian, younger and poor. My family doesn’t have funds to pay my BYU education. But I still believe I can. I’m seeking for a Sponsor, someone who I can trust and who can help me to get into BYU. I’m open to opportunities of work and study and I’m willing to do whatever is possible to attach my goals. I mean I might work to pay BYU or study to get a scholarship, anything, I’m just waiting for one opportunity and I’ll make it my own and do my best.

I have some ideas. Before applying to BYU I need 550 score at the TOEFL, my English I good, but not that good sufficient to BYU. I can work for at most 18 months and simultaneously study for the TOEFL and save money to pay at least part of my tuitions and fees at BYU. Know that I was always a good student at school and I can certify surely that it won’t be a great problem. I just need help to improve my English to satisfy BYU standards.

I can work doing everything. Don’t worry about it. I will accept good and “bad” jobs without problem and reclamations. I just want to work and I don’t worry about the nature of the work. 

I intend to apply for something related to English, like English Teaching, Research or Communications. But I still don’t know specifically what I will do I’m waiting for the helping from the Lord to decide the right way for me.

Be assured that I will anyway get into BYU after my full-time mission. And if you’ll help me I promise you to do my best and work hard. I promise also to pay every cent spent with me as sooner as I could. I’m using all the ways I can and seeking with faith for someone who could help me. I just want the first door to be opened and I certify that as sooner as you imagine I’ll be walking by myself.

I’m just a simple boy. I’m worthy.  I have a testimony and a gift which I want to enhance. There’s no better place to do it than BYU. I believe I can. I will not give my dream up. Before mission I just want to make contacts and find someone to help me. During mission we could keep contact and as me as you will be able to prepare.

I don’t need luxury, I don’t want money, I just want an opportunity. I hope have been convincing and truly sincere. I know Jesus Christ is beside me. Please, help me. Trust me. Make me achieve my goals. Study at BYU is what I mean to be.

Openheartedly,

Rodrigo Sampaio Rodrigues.

P.S.: I wrote this letter for myself without any help from anyone.

My Home Address:

Rua Carlos Magno, 611

Parque Santana II – Mondubim

Fortaleza, Ceará.

Cep.: 60767-760

BRAZIL

Phone Number: 085 3232-0091/ Cell Phone 9157-7773

E-mails: rodrigomaxsud@yahoo.com.br; elder_rodrigues_lds@hotmail.com