Campos - Week Three

Campos from an investigator's apartment

Images of Campos

Woohoo Campos!

Hey mom. So, yeah this week wasn't all that great because we didn't have any time to work this week!

So, two days this week we traveled to Quissamã, which is the city where the sisters in my district are working, to do baptismal interviews. The thing that is lame is that it's almost a 2 hour bus ride there, and another two hours back. So that killed two days this week. I also was sick this week so we stayed home one day, and come back to the house a little early the next. So really we had almost 3 days to work this week, so it wasn't all that great.

We did, however mark a baptism date this week! With a woman named Ellen that we started teaching last week? She is really awesome, has lots of curiosity and believes what we're saying to her is true, she just wants that sure witness. The first two times we taught her, (the restoration, and then the Book of Mormon) was awesome. Me and my companion work really well together, and teach with the spirit. She didn't pray about Joseph Smith after the first time that we taught her because she forgot his name. D'oh! But she wanted to! Haha.  We are going to teach her again hopefully twice this week, and mark a date with her mom also. I'm pretty sure she'll get baptized, we just need to help her quit smoking, but she has a desire to stop, so that will help.

We are also teaching a Woman named Ilza, who has a cousin? Or a brother-in-law or something....that is a member of the church in another ward. She said she prayed, but didn't get an answer. I was really disappointed when she didn't come to church, but she says she has some doubts that she wants help with, so we're going to teach her today.

We have a few other investigators, but it's just hard to get them when they're home! =(

Those are our main investigations right now.

My companion is pretty awesome, he's a lot better of a missionary than he thinks he is. We talked a lot on the bus ride yesterday, and we're going to make a lot of changes in our work, and hopefully it'll all work out.

Last p-day, I went to Walmart. It was an adventure. And it was almost exactly like Walmart in the states. Just has different brands of products. I was surprised to find Reese's at Walmart, but it made me happy. And they had KitKat too. I'm going again today to see if they have peanut-butter, and to buy a new tie. =)

Yes, Brazilian money is different. They don't have a 1 bill, they took it out of circulation. They use a 1 Real coin instead. The 2 is really common, like the one I sent home. They have 2,5,10,20,50,and 100 Real bills.

Happy birthday Blake! I will get to talk to you on your birthday! Woo! And I will send you something too, just I haven't yet. Haha sorry.

Well that's about it for this week. I'll talk to you guys on Sunday! woohoo.

A river thing

At a park

Yeah.

Campos - Week Two

The city of Campos

Riley's companion, Elder Sousa

Elder Fischer (Riley's trainer) and Elder Sousa (Riley's trainee) with Riley
His mission "family."

Elder Woodmansee  in a music store

Dang it! I thought I was going to beat Darcy at the Book of Mormon, but I guess when you're just reading, and not teaching the whole day, it goes a little bit faster. ;)

So, yes this week went by much better and less stressfully than the first. Even though we don't have much support from the members here, we're doing our best to teach and find! We've been putting in practice a part from Preach My Gospel called talk to everyone, and well, we're trying to talk to everyone. Our mission president set a goal to get 35 addresses each week for people to visit. And man it's hard. Mostly because I don't like talking to strangers, but I don't know anyone who does like doing contacts. Thankfully we didn't knock any doors this week which for me, is worse than contacts. haha. We haven't been seeing much success yet, we're still trying to build our teaching pool. But this week will be better, for sure.

So the highlight of the week was the mission conference with Elder Cook! So cool.  Firstly, I got to see all my friends from the mission and hang out with them for a bit. And secondly, and most importantly, an apostle talked to us!! First we heard from Elder Gudoy, and his wife. He is a counselor in the area of Brazil, one of the Seventy. His wife talked about loving your companion to have the Spirit with you, and he talked about diligence and obedience. It was really good. (President talked before them, bore his testimony and talked about how every day is a new mission for him) So, Elder Gudoy talked about the blessings that come from working hard on the mission, and that we gain the blessings for us, our families, and our futures one day at a time. And that we can be perfect on our missions, one day at a time and this will lead to the perfection that we want on our mission.

After him, Sister Cook talked to us, and made us sing. Apparently, she really loves music so she used this a lot. She talked about the Christ like attributes, and how she linked them with hymns and songs in the children's hymn book. She talked about how she studied each of the attributes, and thought of all the hymns she could that related to each one. It was cool. She was my favorite. haha.  And she talked about the song, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me"-and I really like that one. She said that the Savior is beside us every day, so we should be doing our best.

Elder Cook was awesome. He was an awesome teacher. He taught about how we need to grow the church, and not just baptize, but save others who have fallen away. He talked about how the Lord will establish the church by our hand, and that we need to have faith, and establish the church. He talked about when they made Preach My Gospel, and also the importance of making commitments with our investigators. MAN, the spirit was awesome in that meeting. I learned quite a lot.

This week was pretty awesome. Even though we didn't have too much success, I just love teaching the 1st lesson with my companion. Every time the Spirit is so strong and it just reminds me of the truthfulness of what we're teaching to people. We taught it 3 times or more this week when the Spirit was just awesomely strong. I love it. It reminds me why I’m here on the mission. Every time we teach it I just want to teach it more. =D

So that's about it. Oh and I really love study time, when it's really focused. It's awesome. Spiritually.

And a had açaí about 8 times this week. Man that stuff is good.

Well I love you guys. I gained a few more pounds since the last time I checked. =( I'm at 88 kilos.

Our family is awesomely musical. xD legit.

My comp is pretty dang awesome. He has an awesome desire to serve and will be a better missionary than I was!

The pictures are of my mission family. Elder Fischer my dad, and my comp, who is my son. =) I was sad because I think that was the last time I'll see him before he goes home. and the other is me in a music store playing bass.

LOVE YOU! Until next week. =D

Campos - Week One

Elder Woodmansee and Elder J Sousa

Some of the street art in Campos

The Bugre with the sister missionaries

Not quite the Ferrari Riley would prefer!

HELLOOOOOO

Wooo!! Well, I knew, it, I just knew it!

Sooo, I'm training! Yay! And not only that, I’m District Leader also! Wooooo

Yikes, this week was a little scary. We got to the transfer meeting, and it was good to see all my other friends from the mission. We had 6 new missionaries this transfer, and I was a little worried that I would train. Anyway, I got transferred to Campos! Yay! My area is on the south side of the river, the part that has the cemetery.

So, this week was really hard for me. Probably one of the hardest of the mission. My new companion is Elder J. Sousa, and he is really cool. Fresh out of the MTC, ready to work. Anyway, this week was hard because the elders before us left just about nothing for us to do. So I got to our area, not knowing where anything is, with just about no investigators, and no  addresses of members or anything. And I had to figure everything out for us. Yeah, it was pretty hard this week.

We knocked a lot of doors to empty houses this week. It's a holiday weekend here so that made it hard to. We tried to find people to teach in the area book, and tried to find members. At night was the hardest because we can't knock doors anymore, and all of our visits fell. Really annoying and frustrating. But there were definitely good parts to this week too. Like church on Sunday! And the lunches at members houses! They were all good this week.

This week was really, really hard. But I learned to trust more in the Lord. And that it will never be worse than this week, because now we have a few people to teach, know the area, and a few members to help us. And I learned to trust in the lord. Because there is no way that I can do it alone. I'm pretty sure I talked to more people this week, did more contacts, and knocked more doors than any other week on the mission. Elder J. Sousa has a strong desire to be a good missionary, and I want to be a good example for him, and help him do the best.

The only elder that stayed here is a little disenchanted with the ward, complaining that they don't help in the mission work. But, I learned from the sisters, (I have sisters in my district, with bicycles!) that  with WORK missionaries can have success in almost any area.

As a part of my new duties as district leader, I have to interview people that are going to be baptized! So I took a bus Sunday, after lunch, and traveled for an hour and a half to the city where the sisters are working. They have bikes because they are working harder than anyone else in the mission. Then we drove about 20 minutes in a Bugre (a little buggy thingy. See photos) with a member, to where the investigators lived. Everything was good with them so then we drove back, took another hour and a half bus. Yay!

So this week I’m determined to work hard, and have success in this area. This city is awesome. I know that with the lord's help my companion and I can have success in this area, if we work for it. There's a quote in Preach My Gospel from one of the prophets that says the key to missionary work is WORK! So we're going to work even harder, and talk to every single person that we see. Oh and people say I'm speaking extremely well for only having 6 months on the mission. =)

Well, it's a little scary still having to lead the companionship by myself, but it's a great opportunity that I have to improve myself as a missionary. I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to train and be a district leader. It's a lot of responsibility, but I’m pretty sure I was given this for a reason. Probably to help me be a better missionary and to trust more in the Lord's help.

Anyway, thanks for everything fam!

Congrats, Cam on the graduation, sad to have missed it!

Love you all, keep being awesome, I'll let you know how next week goes!

WOO mission!!!

Lots of love, I got to stay excited for the work and excited to work. =) And I want to be just like Dad when I grow up. =)

Love you all one more time!

Until next week. WOOHOO!

bye.

Linahares - Week Eighteen

Elder Woodmansee and Elder Lima with William's two cousins

All four Elders with the new members and family.

The cake Riley made

Baptism refreshments

Wellllll, Guess what? I got transferred. So today I'll be packing my stuff, saying goodbye to the family here that I baptized, and heading to transfer meeting tomorrow to find out what I'll be doing for the next transfer, or maybe more. I'm a little worried that I'll train, but I'll find out tomorrow!

This week, I had an interview with President, who basically told me I was being transferred, and I got my packages! Yes they were from you! (Nobody else has ever sent me anything. haha) Oh that's not true. I got a package from the (Neal) Mortensens. Anyway, THANKS SO MUCH that umbrella is pretty much BOSS, and the gorilla tape will come in handy for shutting my companion up . . . just kidding. But yeah, I pretty much ate all the candy, the pistachios were a surprise but they're awesome too, a great snack. That blessing from President Hatch is really awesome! I’m glad we recorded it because I definitely did not remember most of what was in it. That new journal is awesome, and everyone is jealous of my new watch. =)

So we had a baptism Saturday! Lots of them! My companion and I baptized two more cousins of my other baptism William. I'm disappointed that none of the adults there care enough to set an example for those kids. William is basically the spiritual example in the house, he goes to every activity, leaves with the missionaries, goes to seminary every day, and wants to serve a mission. I’m sad to leave that family.

Anyway, this week we worked a lot, and had a lot of  new people to teach because we just went through the area book visiting all the people. We had some good spiritual lessons this week. We started working in a different area so there were lots of people to teach. One lesson, the daughter of an older woman we were teaching came in, and we  started teaching her too, we found out that her son died recently so we started teaching about the plan of salvation and how that son will always be her son, even after this life. Most churches don't offer this knowledge. She cried about three different times during the lesson, and she has a lot of potential to progress.

We also finally got Naiara to commit to baptism! We talked with her for a long time last night. I'm sure she knows it's true, she just wants a certainty, and she doesn't really want to leave the community of her church yet. It was good talking to her. We talked about why the Holy Ghost is important. And also to help her understand that getting baptized sooner is better. So she accepted to be baptized on the 28th. She was also sad that I was going away, and told me that I had pretty eyes and that I was beautiful. Sooo it's probably better that I'm leaving! haha

We have two other baptism dates, two brothers of a member. One is 10 and the other is 20. They went to church yesterday and they both liked it a lot. (The 10-year old has been many times before) Reinan, the older one, is pretty cool, he's simpler, but he's already started to change his life. He promised  to live the commandments, (law of chastity, and word of wisdom), he stopped drinking coffee the day we taught him that, and he's been keeping commitments. Woo! I’m sad I'll miss that baptism too.

We have one other investigator who went to church (I can't remember her name because it's weird, and she's the neighbor of an investigator, but she went to church so we'll focus more on her instead,) but she said that she loved it! I'm hoping that she'll continue to progress.

As for experiences really spiritual, it's been hard this transfer. I think it's because Elder Lima and I haven’t been getting along too well, because he did things to annoy me, wanting to annoy me. Just arguing about stupid things and the like. This week I think five of the days I was mad at him before we left the apartment in the morning. I think that was the reason we haven’t had much success. =( The blessing that President Hatch gave said that I need to be one with my companions, and since reading that I have been trying to do better. But it's just hard sometimes.

Well that's about it for this week, I love you all, thank you soooooo much for the packages, I'm thankful for every single piece of candy and every item that I received.

I'm trying to do my best, a little nervous about the transfer, but I'll find out tomorrow!
Thanks for the support family!

Oh and mom, I don't know if you did yet, but if you could check my facebook every once in a while to confirm the friend requests (of Brazilians) because they keep bugging me about not seeing my photos. Thanks mom! Love you! parabens on the grades kids! (That's congrats to you!) way to be better in school that I was. Welll, That's it. Keep up the good work Drew, Darcy and Blake! Congrats Cam on the graduation. I think it will be awesome to visit you guys in the future! Dad, is such a craftsman. Well, I love you! Thanks. Bye.

Elder Woodmansee and Elder Lima "on an overpass thingy"

"In our study room sporting the jersey I bought Elder Lima"

Until next week!

Linhares - Week Seventeen

We're having interviews with President tomorrow, so I’ll get those two packages you sent!  Transfers is a week from tomorrow.  My companion has one more transfer after this one. I do not want to stay here one more, but if I stay, oh well, I'll still work my hardest and keep trying to improve as a missionary.

Nope! They don’t have Easter candy here like we do at home.  Just big chocolate eggs. So, if you can send lots of starburst jellybeans. =) and peeps, that’d be great! They don't have either of those here. Easter here is all about the big chocolate eggs...thats all they got. Tons of candy isn't really common here like we do, but they have those giant chocolate eggs that they buy, and I think normally you just get one or two. I didn't get any. So Sunday was just a regular day for me, except that I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting (like always) but about the Resurrection and the real reason that we celebrate Easter.

Um, it rained a lot this week, which was good. I liked it. Because its still really hot.

Anyway, this week we worked better, but me and my companion still aren’t getting along that well, but mostly is because he does things that I don't like. This companionship seems like a patience test sometimes. haha  This week we should have two baptisms of cousins of my other baptisms, if that makes any sense.  Their grandma still hasn't gotten the papers she needs to get married yet but she's gone to church I think 10 weeks already. Pretty awesome. This week we found and marked a baptismal date, with an old woman who is 75, and likes us visiting her because she lives alone and doesn't have people to visit her. She is really simple so we have to teach her like a 10-year-old. =) But I like her, her name is Geralda. Really funny.

The other person that we taught again yesterday for the first time is Naiara, who got mad at us the first time we taught her. But she was better today, talked a lot with us, asked a lot of questions, which was good, and she decided that she will pray to know if it's true. I think she knows that some of the things about her church are wrong, but she doesn't want to leave her church because she's used to the culture and the people and everything there. I think she knows what she has to do, she just has to do it. She also asked us, if your church is true, how come during sacrament meeting, everyone just talks to each other and they don't pay attention? Ouch. This is a problem in our branch, and members really make a difference. They need to be an example, even when they don't know they are being watched. Because this might make the difference of her deciding to get baptized and follow the church of Christ or not. Anyway, the members make a HUGE difference. I wish I had gone out with the missionaries. Tell Drew to start now!

Congrats to Darcy, Drew, and Blake for all the good work. Keep being awesome. =) Dad is a pretty awesome craftsman. I'm impressed. I want to be just like him. =)

I think that's about it for the week. Love you all!

Linhares - Week Sixteen

Hello!

It’s always great hearing from the fam. =) Sorry but there won't be any pictures today because the computer isn't working right =( Lame, I know. But yeah, this week wasn't too great either, but, my packages are here!! woo hoo! They're both at the mission home and I will get them next week when we have interviews with the president. OH, and I always forget to tell you about stuff like the weather, but it's HOT. Always. haha

So, the best think that happened this week was conference. Woo! But we didn't get to watch priesthood session.  I was disappointed, but I'm having one of the young men in the branch download conference for me so I will listen to it soon. And no, I didn't see Ted because I couldn't watch that one. Priesthood session was broadcast at 9 at night, so that's why we couldn't watch it. I liked Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk a lot, too. Oh and we watched it in Portugese at the chapel with all the members. I’m surprised that I understood just about everything! I'm amazed at how much my language skills have improved. Elder Pithan, my last companion, said I speak better than some Americans that have been here for a lot longer.

Anyway, the week was lame because we didn't have any investigators at conference. We had a family home evening which was awesome, taught a family of 7th day Adventists (who believe Saturday is and still should be the Sabbath day) and we're still teaching Naiara, and Juciara that live together. I don't know if they will keep progressing, but I'm hoping for the best. Neither of them came to conference. =(

We found a family this week, but they're mully, wont keep commitments, and just about no one there is married.

I was pretty disappointed with this week. Elder Lima and I are having troubles. Just sometimes I think we're not working as diligently as I want, but I need him to keep working hard too. We're having a lot of trouble finding new, quality investigators. This week I am determined to work hard and have success. The past two weeks we haven't been having much success and I think it's because we're not working very diligently. This week will be better.

We also had a talent show activity with the branch. That was good. I sang a hymn, and we had one of our investigators there.

Well, this week was a little discouraging, but I’m determined to change and have success the next two weeks before transfers. The time just goes by so fast!

I love you all and its great hearing from you! I noticed Drew is wearing my Mountian Dew shirt. (They don't have Mountain Dew in Brazil btw) And. I'm trying to play the piano every chance I get at the chapel. haha I guess I should have listened to you mom.  =) and I'm trying to write in my journal every day but it's really easy to forget! haha

That's about it for this week. It's great to see that everyone is having fun. Happy birthday again to Darcy and Drew! You only have to pass one more without me. I love you all and thanks for everything!

oh, and P.S. I think EVERYONE should serve a mission. =) Definitely the best thing I could be doing, better than all the school, dating, and car news that I'm missing. haha woooooo mission!

Linhares - Week Fifteen

Dear family, well this week want all too eventful.

It's weird just because I've switched companions a lot lately, so we switched the way we work here. I don't like the way we worked this week, and it's something I want to change this week. Elder Lima is really great, this was his first area so he wants to work with less actives a lot, which isn't a problem, but this week our only baptism date fell, and we didn't mark a single date this week. We haven't been working very effectively, and it's partly my fault too because I let it happen. But, this week we're going to change, and I'm determined to see more success this week.

We had I think 3 family home evenings with members this week, and got, 2 new investigators out of all of it, which isn't bad, but could be better. We are really struggling on finding new people to teach, but we can fix this too. umm, I’m trying to think what I did this week.

It was interesting this week, we taught a woman, who goes to the Jehovah Witness church, but isn't baptized or anything because she felt like it just want the right church. So we taught her, but at the end when we asked her to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet, she said, no. Because, she could feel by our sincerity, that we were messengers of God, and that we had the authority. Was awesome. But then she wouldn't mark another visit, so I don't know about her.

We have two other news also, Naiara, and her sister-in-law? I don't know, but she's been to church twice already, but I don't know if she'll keep progressing because we kinda botched the first lesson with her. We got on the subject of baptism and authority and having to be baptized the way that Christ was, and I think she felt like we were attacking her a little, so at the end of the lesson she was a little mad at us, but she went to church the next day so I don't know what will happen with that.

But that's about it, we didn't do too well this week and I was really disappointed with that.

but

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARCY!!!!!

Yay! 14 now? Man you're old. =) I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and keep being an awesome student. And an awesome soccer player. Keep it up darcy! I'm sending a present, but it won't get there for a while because I don't have money to send the letter right now so I have to wait for next week to send it. haha, my bad. But congrats girl, keep up the good work! Love you sis!

Love you all, I'm trying my best, I love hearing from you! The weeks just go by so fast. Halfway through this transfer already! And general conference is this week! yessssss. So jazzed for that. aaand, yeah. thats about it. Love you all!  =)