Serra - Week Nine

To answer the questions: No, I did not get the box yet. After Christmas the post office kinda stopped. Yes, it is still super hot. Yes, things are getting back to normal, kind of. Because we live near the beach (and it’s summer here) now everyone is going to the beach every day, which is also annoying.

Anyway, this week started well, was a little bit rough, but then we got back into the rhythm and taught well.

On my birthday, all of the elders in the district came, and we ate lunch and a cake that I bought from the store. It was really good, too.

 My first bday cake of the day.

A Legend of Zelda bomb bag that an Elder crocheted for my birthday.

Then we had to go to Vitoria because my comp needed to get his passport to get money that his mom sent to him. We did take a few pictures at a tourist spot near the office.

That night we didn't really work because a sister in the ward wanted to do something for me. It was only supposed to take an hour, but ended up being a lot longer. She made a huge cake for me, and it was awesome. She also put fireworks on it and I burnt my thumb while lighting it with a lighter.

I'm giving the first piece of cake (a tradition here) to the Sister that made it for me.

Tuesday was really difficult.  Everyone was still recuperating from the excessive partying from the night before. I also woke up at midnight because of the ridiculous amount of fireworks being let off by people in the neighborhood.

We started teaching a young woman named Mayne, who has a kid already, but she lives with her family and also lives close to a member. She is really interested in learning, and I think that the positive influence that the member gives her will make it easier for her to go to church. We were going to teach her again, but when we came at the time that we marked with her, she and the member went job hunting. grrr.

We have returned to teaching Maria da Gloria, her friend who is a member had died recently and she is still really feeling that effect. She is also not happy with many aspects of her life and wants to make a change. That's where I know that the Gospel can help, if she lets it that is.

One of the best (and most disappointing) things that happened this week was Elanio. He came to church with his friend for her baptism, and we started teaching him. We taught him for the second time this week, and talked about the Book of Mormon. He understood, but didn't pray yet to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet. He was saying, “Yeah well I'll read, but I'll probably still go to my church. I think faith is more important than what church you're going to.” Then his friend Tiago came, who was really interested to know more. We gave him a brief overview of the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit was really strong. He wanted us to stay and talk more about the Book of Mormon and about the gospel. It was great, but we had to leave. We will teach Tiago again on Tuesday. We went back to follow up with Elanio yesterday, and he said that he wanted to stay in his church. I asked him if he read or prayed and he said no. He said that he was content with where he is. I tried to tell him that God has much more to give him, and all he has to do is pray with faith and ask Him. But he didn't really want to listen. So disappointing. =(  *sigh*

Another super spiritual experience followed by disappointment was with Julius Caesar. We tried to visit an investigator, but she wasn't there. Her uncle? (I don't remember) was there and we asked if we could teach him. He was a kind of rough looking guy, almost 50. What really helped in this lesson is that we brought a member with us who loves to bear testimony and teach. We taught him the first lesson about the Restoration of the church. He understood everything super clearly, especially apostasy. It was awesome. Something that I've never heard someone say was "so he (Joseph Smith) was the one that brought the church of Christ back to the earth?" YES. It was a great lesson. One of the best I've had in a long time. And the Spirit was super strong testifying to all of us that it was right. But then he said that he was going to work a little to the south and won’t be back for two weeks. Flip, Elder!

Well that was most of my week. And I had some hard times with the comp this week also because he isn't really motivated to work hard, so sometimes I get a little frustrated. But I'm sure as heck a lot more patient.

And I'm really glad for the things that you've taught me mom and dad. Especially with this comp I think at least once a day about things that you have taught me to help me. Things such as, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. haha. I've also gotten really good at the “forgive and turn the other cheek” thing. haha Something that reminds me of mom and watching football. It's always the guy who retaliates who get the penalty.

Being with so many other people for long periods of time helps me really see and appreciate how I've been "born of goodly parents" and how I have been taught to do what is right. Thank you mom and dad for the example that you have given me, and for being the best parents ever. I love you! =)

I know that this is where I'm supposed to be and that this is the church and the work of Christ on the earth. Thanks for all the support!

Until next week.

Serra - Week Eight

This week started off pretty well. All of the missionaries in my district got together with permission of President, and we all just relaxed Christmas eve. The best part for me was singing Christmas hymns together, and it really brought the spirit.

Christmas Eve with the district.

 Opening presents.

 Christmas Day lunch.

The start of this week didn't go very well teaching wise, there were still a lot of people gone, most of our GOOD investigators we still haven't talked to yet, which is kinda lame. We were able to teach a few lessons, but not with much results. Our best day would have been on Friday but we had a division, and I didn't work in my area. It was good, but was a little disappointing that almost all of our appointments fell through. Saturday was a hard day. We weren't able to teach our investigators, so we switched our focus to less active members to teach them and bring them to church for Sunday. It was pretty good, and we got a good showing.

Sunday was the best day of the week for me. Although we didn't have investigators at church this week, we had some of the less actives there, especially Thierles, who we are trying to bring back to church so that he can go on a mission. At church we had some good talks, and the bishop talked a bit about the good Samaritan and how sometimes we pass by the problem. He also used a part of the Miracle of Forgiveness, about the sin of omission, that when we fail to act, we are also in the wrong.

After church we taught two really great people. The first was Merisley, we contacted her a while ago, but never got to teach her. We went by and she let us in. She has had positive contact with the church because one of her friends is a member of the church, and she has already been to two church activities. She has a lot of potential, especially because she lives with her daughter and doesn't have a problem with th whole marriage issue here.

The other good lesson that we had was with Elanio, who a recent convert brought to church last Sunday when she was baptized. Elanio liked church, but thought it was long (he was there for like  4 hours because of the baptism.) We taught him about the restoration, and it was really good. He seemed to understand what we were saying, but seemed a little reluctant to leave some of the traditions(?) of his family. But he is a great investigator and we'll see how it goes this week.

Thinking about new goals and everything for the new year. Learning about how goals are important for us missionaries, and how through goals people progress, I got to thinking in church and decided to do something that I've never done before. Making goals without following up is useless so I decided to do the following.
Set the long term goals, or the goals for the year. At the start of every month I will make goals for the month to help me reach my year goal. Every week, make goals to reach my monthly goals. At the start of every new week, review my goals and how I did, and make goals for the new week. Same thing for the new month. And I’m going to write these down on my desk where I can see it every day.

I think its interesting how sometimes we fall into a routine with our prayers. This is something that I have improved on the end of this week. There is a quotation from president Hinckley in Preach my Gospel about a missionary that when he prays, he really converses with God. Sometimes I lose that feeling and the difference between sincere prayer and praying because you need to everyday is immense. Really praying with sincerity, and really focusing on the prayer brings a special spirit that I have grown to love. It makes a huge difference in the day. I really have gained a testimony of prayer on the mission.

Today, I'm going to buy myself a cake, and the other missionaries are going to eat lunch with us.  Yay.

Well, I love you all. I hope you have a wonderful new years.

Serra - Week Seven

 We were setting up for the ward Christmas party but then....

we got distracted! 

 The mission Christmas party.

 Me with the Pres.

Caroling with the ward.

Me with some of the youth in the ward.

                                                   "To live without love is to live halfway."

Dear family,

I like the Christmas picture. =) Nice Photoshop-ing. I like how I have Blake's hands. All of the littles are so much different from when I left!

Anyway, I will call tomorrow, around 9 your time. 2pm here in Brasil. I can talk for as long as I want. =) President doesn't care, and we don't have anything to do tomorrow anyway... I will skype from the chapel, while my companion uses the phone to call home.

Tonight, the other missionaries will come over and we will spent Christmas eve together, which is cool, I guess. You said you send three packages? I only got two. So the paper tree, I don't have. haha. Oh well.

This week was really, well, slow in terms of work. We taught very little, but we helped out a lot with the ward. They had their dinner (that we didn't eat. >=( freak.) That we helped set up and clean and do everything.

The best part of the week was yesterday, when we went caroling with members of the ward to some less active members, from 5 until 9. It was great, I really liked it. It was the best thing that I've done all month. It brought a little bit of that Christmas spirit that is lacking here in my area. We brought the less actives fruitcake (which is actually a popular thing here, no one throws it out). It was really great to see their reactions when they saw a ton of members that they haven't seen in a while at their door to sing for them. Some of them started crying. The Spirit was really great. I loved it.

That's about all we did all week. Love you, talk to you tomorrow. =)

Serra - Week Six

Hey family,

Well, this week it was really hot again. Flip, Elder.

So we had some good things happen, and some things not happen, but that's alright.

So our best investigator at the moment is Ilda and her daughter Deborah, and now we are teaching her sister Joelma too. She is the one that lived in Campos. She read the Book of Mormon, and really liked it, and she said that she felt good while she read. She was going to go to church with us, but she didn't. =( and I don't know why yet. But she really likes our visits, and she committed to live the Word of Wisdom. Progress! I really think that she will be baptized.

We are also focusing on Marlete and her family, even though she's not married. Her daughter in law Magna, who was there when we taught the Book of Mormon read, prayed, and says that its true. =) We are also working with the family to get them married and to church, which is seeming difficult, because they are always doing something.

Thierlies went to church again, but isn't reading the Book of Mormon still. He's a really great member, he has a testimony, but he wants to return to activity before thinking about going on a mission.

The week has been pretty slow, people are already starting to travel. This next week will be difficult as well. But we are basically working with these two families a lot, and I really like them both. What is awesome is that every time we teach in these two places, the Spirit is always really strong. It is always the most spiritual lesson of the day at these two houses.

This week the mission will have its Christmas party. It's tomorrow actually, along with transfers but I'm staying again, so whatev. They said that this Christmas we can't go to a members house to use skype or something like that but I'll get back to you next week about what will happen for the call.

Sorry for the short email. i know its annoying. Next time I will write down my biggest spiritual experience of the week to tell to you. =)

Love you all. Thanks for all the love and support. I'm trying my hardest. I feel like the mission is a huge patience test with my companions. I seem to only get companions who have companionship issues, and President puts me with them because he knows that I'm patient. haha

Until next week, and then one more day.

TCHAO!!

Serra - Week Five

 The mission office.

Our new hammocks!

Well, this week was really hot. Really hot. Like 100 hot. But that's just part of the work here. But today its raining again. haha

The Christmas tree is in a member's house. And I am PRO and made a BALLER Christmas card. I hope you liked it. And I did pay more money to get that box there before Christmas. =)

Brazilian food. Well, if you just make rice, beans, and some chicken, along with some coke and a salad, that's your basic Brazilian lunch. haha. But to make something a little better, get some dough to make tortillas, and you put basically whatever inside (ground beef, ham and cheese, pepperoni), fold it over (almost like a taco) and fry it in oil. Its called pastel and it's really common here. I don't know...
basically beans, rice, pasta (some kind of noodles) a kind of meat and a salad is the basic food here.

This week we didn't have that much success, but we tried hard. We ended up knocking a lot of doors this week, but we did find some really great people. The problem is going to be Christmas because a lot of the good people that we are finding will travel. Lame.

So I don't know if I told you about Marlete already. She is a great investigator, she says that it's her dream to be baptized like Christ was baptized and she really wants to see a baptism. She has so much potential. The only problem is that she isn't legally married. That's something that is really annoying about the people here. They live together 20 years and aren't married. Her daughter-in-law was there when we taught the Book of Mormon, and she really liked it. She said that she wanted to read the whole book to know more about it. So I don't know how much that they will progress, but I really like them.

Our best investigator, Angela, is going to travel and won't come back until the new year. =( But she is going to take her book of Mormon and her notebook to take notes/write down questions. I won't be surprised if she read the whole thing by the time she gets back. She said that she'll have a lot of questions for us when she gets back.

We found a really awesome family this week knocking doors. We talked to a girl named Deborah and she said that we could come back when her family was home. So we did. She lives with her mom and we taught them. Ilza, the mom, lived in CAMPOS for 7 years, in the area I was, so we got along well, talking. We gave a really spiritual lesson there, and we marked to go back. They also have a lot of potential and I am excited to keep teaching them.

One of the inactives that we have been visiting went to church today and it made me really happy. His name is Tierlies, and he's 22. He prepared his mission papers 3 times, but didn't go because of dental issues, but he came to church for the first time in a while, and it was great. One is his problems is that he plays League of Legends a lot, the same that Cam and Zack play, and he keeps saying that he wants to play with them. haha

Well, that's basically my week. Oh and I bought a hammock, and slept there two nights in a row. It's pretty sweet.

Thanks for everything mom, dad and the rest of the family. I love you all.

We went to the mission office last Monday, but they said that they can only give the letters and packages on transfer day now. =(

I bought a harmonica, and I am learning to play some hymns. Pretty sweet. Do we have our trombone still? I'll want that when I  get back.

I think that's it. Love you all. =)

Serra - Week Four

 A service project.

I put Christmas lights up in our house!

Hey family, well, this week was kinda crazy. We decided to focus really on getting a lot of new investigators, weeding through those who don't want to do anything, and those who do. So, the week started out awesome. we were on fire. But then, about halfway through the week, we lost it. We taught little, so the week didn't turn out that well. At  least we have a lot of new people to teach now. We found a family that was really cool, but the third time we came they said that we couldn't teach them, and they gave us their Book of Mormon because the dad was trying to burn it... but we'll give it back again. We also found a really cool family that used to be Jehovah's Witnesses, and they had a lot of interest, but they're working a lot and didn't have the time to talk to us again. So its been frustrating.

This Sunday we found a super cool woman and her daughter, she really wants to see a baptism, and agreed with the restoration, but she isn't married. But she does have a ton of interest. so we'll see.

It's been either rain or really hot here this week, but personally, I prefer the rain. Christmas spirit doesn't exist here like it does back home, Christmas caroling confuses people, (not a Brazilian tradition) and maybe 1/16 of houses have something Christmas on the outside. But that's okay.

The email isn't very long this week. I sent a package home with a present for Drew, Darcy and Blake, you should get it soon. Sorry to the rest of you, I couldn't/ didn't have time to get something for everyone.

Well, I love you all, thank you for everything, you are the best family!

Serra - Week Three

FYI the graffiti says "independence is a fairy tale, revolution now." haha

So this week was interesting, went by fast, but it feels like we didn't get that much done. So this week we cut almost all of our investigators because they are being weaksauce. Its rather annoying. But we worked with some part member families this week, and we could have some success there. The problem here in Brasil is that people aren't ever married, just living together. Lame.

On Wednesday we had a multi-zone conference. It was pretty good. I really like hearing the mission president talk, he's really funny. Sister gave us good words about obedience and qualities of a good missionary. And one of the new things that our mission is doing, is a obedience report? spreadsheet? I don't know what to call it. Unfortunately we have some slacker missionaries here, so now we have to report on obedience, which for me and my companion, isn't really a problem. =) President talked a lot about change, and how we are going to change the mission. For our mission, we need roughly 42 new investigators for every baptism, which is more than just about every mission in Brazil. (This is one of the hardest here.) But he's putting in some changes so that we can teach more, find more, to baptize more. Woo hoo!  President told us about his conversion story, which was literally about "the lord calls men in their weakness and qualifies them for the work." The ward council where he lived was praying for a bishop. He visited the church out of nowhere, liked it because of the architecture of the chapel, and because it had a place for football in the back. So he decided to join the church. 1st Sunday, he was confirmed. 2nd, he was called to the bishopric, and 3rd Sunday, he had to preside the meetings, and then when the professor wasn't there gave a lesson which happened to be on one of the only scriptures that he had read in the Book of Mormon. President is a really funny guy, and I'm pretty sure he'll be a Seventy after the mission.

The rest of the week the work did not go all that well. We had a lot of appointments fall through. We tried our best, and we taught some new people who have potential. We are doing great. Saturday was ridiculously hot, and then Sunday and today it decided to rain again. Yay...

Well that's about it. We don't have any baptisms lined up since Sergio's wife decided to be offended over something silly, and now he wants time before we come by again. That ticked me off. But that's it.

I got that box already. I called the bank also. Yep. So now I just have to wait for the Christmas boxes. That's all. Thanks family for everything.

I love you all! Looks like you're having fun and staying busy!

Oh and I forgot that it was Thanksgiving until halfway through the day. I had gravy to make potatoes and gravy, but I left the gravy in Campos. =(

Tchão!