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!  =)

Linhares - Week Fourteen

Hellooo family!

Well this week was pretty darn crazy!

Anyway, I have a new companion again. Last week I sent you a picture of me with him, but he was emergency transferred (it wasn't anything that he or I did), and now I have a new companion, Elder J. Lima, but I haven't taken a picture with him yet. He's cool, he's almost done with the mission so he knows a lot, but we don't get along quite as well as Elder Pithan and I did. I'm sad that he was transferred.

So, this week with Elder Pithan, which was until Thursday, was really good. We marked two baptism dates. One was with a 16-year-old named Wellington, he was really awesome, and he got an awesome answer to his prayer about the Book of Mormon! Just that when I came back to see him later in the week, with Elder Lima, he started a new course at school and doesn't have time to meet with us anymore, and he didn't go to church. LAME. I was really disappointed. We also taught his younger brother who was really cool too, Gutierrez, but he was almost always sleeping, maybe we'll try to pass there and teach him again.

Our other baptism date was with Eleanaidi. She's really good, but is really busy too, so we can't talk to her very often. She talked with the missionaries before, and accepted to be baptized if she got an answer. We will go back there this week, but she didn't go to church like she said she was. Dang it! Sometimes missionary work is frustrating.

With our other investigators, we're helping them prepare for marriage, but its annoying because when they do, and finally get baptized, I won't be here. Because once they get all the paperwork and stuff submitted, it takes 30 days for it to be finalized, and then they sign it. Lame. I'm pretty sad about that.

This week we also worked a lot with less actives, visited a lot, and because Linhares is Elder Lima's first (and will be his last) area too, he knows some of the less actives here, including a family that he baptized and are all inactive now.

We still walk a lot every day, The area we have now is just on the other side of Interlagos, towards center, and we work there too. So, we pass by the same streets a lot, but we don't knock doors, that's pretty rare. There are some missionaries that do, but I only have a few times, just because it's more effective to work with references of members and less actives, and investigators.

Oh, anyway.  That was my week, plus zone conference. It was really good. and I actually understood what President was saying this time. haha. But I still haven't received my packages. =( I'm a little disappointed about that. But they talked a lot about diligence, and focusing on the mission! Like dad just said to me. I feel like I can work a little harder, but I'm not too worried about what's going on at home. And the time really is going by really fast. Oh and I'm teaching English every week by myself in the chapel. That's pretty interesting. haha

It's great hearing from everyone!

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!!! Man 16 already. Crazy. I would have sent a letter, but it's a little late now. Maybe I will anyway. I hope you have an awesome birthday this week. Don't crash the car. =) and I thought it was hilarious that you were on the roof. Sorry I didn't spend more time with you before the mission. I love you little brudder!

Darcy, way to be awesome. Keep playing soccer! You're my favorite sister. =)

Blake, way to dominate the sax. keep it up bro! I love you!

Dad, Thanks for the advice, and I'm sure you are a big part of why I'm here too. I'm trying to do my best here! =) and just FYI, when I get back I want a Fiero! Maybe you can keep an eye out for me in a year or so. And then use my money to buy it. =)

Thanks fam! I love you all. Until next week!

Linhares - Week Thirteen

Anyway, yeah I got a Brazilian companion!! wooo! How exciting! His name is Elder Pithan! He's super cool, I like working with him, and we are getting along really well already. I’m going to learn so much faster now! We hardly ever speak English, but he's learning and isn't too bad, so I could talk to him in English a little if I wanted. More good news, we got another companionship in our district! So we're not living alone now! More fun like that.

Riley and outgoing companion, Elder Fischer

Riley and new companion, Elder Pithan

So we lost Interlagos, I’m not working there anymore, but in other areas. So now we don't have any baptism dates marked. We are teaching a few people, we're still struggling to find new people who can actually progress. It seems like everyone here has a marriage problem. They're all just living together. We are teaching a woman named Aline, who has a lot of interest, and already believes that it's true, but she, and her sister-in-law, who also has lots of interest, aren't married to their boyfriends. LAME. Our other good investigator Maria, moved out with her boyfriend, so, we can't teach her any more. Also lame. But my companion and I are working hard and are determined to find good news in this area. We are also going to invite people to be baptized the very first lesson too, which was something that Elder Fischer and I weren't doing very well.

Anyway, the work here is going good. We are still working with less actives, and Elder Pithan is really good at getting them animated. We washed a whole lot of dishes this week for a less active =) which is good, and now she's giving us lunch this week and she went to church! Woo! We are going to have two family home evenings with members this week, and have two more marked. Yay! So hopefully we can keep working hard have tons of success this transfer!

Anyway, that's about it for this week, it was pretty short because of transfers and stuff. I'm happy, excited to have a Brazilian companion, (next transfer I might be training, yikes!) and working hard. I like being a missionary, and today marks five months on the mission! Wow time has been flying by, but I still have lots of time left to work. =) Next week I'll make sure to write more about what's going on, who I’m teaching and stuff. I just need to note things better.

I love you all! Thanks for everything! Thanks mom for the pictures, and the Ferrari video. haha The two things I miss the most is my family (much much more than the next thing) because I think you're flippin hilarious, and car news.

Blake, you're a stud! Keep it up! Dominate the sax, and boy scouts!

Darcy, its okay to want to be a professional soccer star! =)

Drew, don't crash, burn and die. xD keep up on all the good music for me while I’m gone. Do good in school bro, and go to BYU...Idaho =)

Some of the members here wonder why Zack isn't married yet when I show them pictures. And apparently, we could be twins.

It’s super cool that Cam is finally going to graduate! And then move to New York! I’m totally going to road trip out there after the mission.

Anyway, thanks for everything fam!

Until next week!

Transfer Day - Linhares

Pull-ups?  I guess his new weight is weighing Riley down!

William.  Read about his baptism here.

Family! Well, transfers are right now. Well tomorrow, but I’m down in Vitoria today. So I can't tell you how they went until next week. I do know that I'm staying in Linhares. Everyone is, except Elder Fischer. So I'll be getting a new companion, I just don't know who yet. So, we had to leave our house at 5:30 this morning, because Elder Fischer had to come renew his visa. So we're chilling here for the rest of the day until transfers tomorrow. So I’m really tired. And hungry. And thirsty. Anyway, I really wanted to get transferred. This will be my 3rd transfer in the same area, so I was a little disappointed when I found out I was staying. But then I decided that if I'm staying, it's for a reason. Maybe there's someone there that I just haven't found yet, that I'm supposed to teach. So I’m not that disappointed anymore. I’m hoping that I get a Brazilian companion. Mostly so that I can learn Portuguese faster.

This week, also went by really fast. It seems like we didn't have all that much success though. We didn't have any investigators at church this week. Lame. We did mark a baptism date, so we hope that she keeps progressing. Soooo I’m dead tired. Sorry. Aaaaaaaa. Anyway, this week we felt like we didn't have much to do, which was not good. We ran out of old investigators that we had in our area book, we weren't getting any references, we were working with less actives, but none of them wanted to come back. So, we started knocking doors, which is like the first time we had knocking doors written in our planner for things to do. I needed the practice. We found a good family to teach, they're really awesome, but none of them are married so they can't get baptized anyway. =( lame. We were also able to meet our goals this week which seemed almost impossible to hit by the middle of the week. That was a blessing.

The good part of this week was that we got a lot of food. =) we ate dinner with the members at least three times. Two were actual dinners.  The other was just a snack before going home. Which was good because I had no money left and I get sooo hungry by the end of the days. ( I like to stop and buy some food at the bakeries between 4 and 6 to fight off hunger, because lunch is at 11 or 12 and we don't get home and eat until 9.) Speaking of food, I somehow managed to gain another 5 kilos this transfer. That puts me around 190 pounds. That's the most I've ever weighed in my life!!! I don't feel like I’m fat . . .  =( I even run to the church and back every morning with elder Fischer! My waist hasn't gotten bigger so I don't know where all this weight is going. haha. I guess I'll just have to eat less at lunch.

Oh, and we're not allowed to play soccer any more either. That's kinda lame, but its okay, I stink at soccer anyway (and I always get hit in the face.) There a few more new rules, but that's the one the missionaries don't like the most.

Well that's about it for the week. I'll let you know what happened with transfers next week. If you could, please email me pictures of the family, of Oceanside, of the temple, people here want to see my family and stuff. I'll get them printed and stick them in that picture book I have. And the other two elders in my district think that we're rich because we have three cars. Cars here are really expensive. ie. a Chevy Cruize is like R$67,000. so yeah.

I hope I get the packages you sent tomorrow!

You should totally buy Drew a Cavalier. I loved that car. Or a blazer. That was fun too. Just not that stupid Taurus. =)

I still think dad should buy his Chevelle . . . and Darcy just needs to keep playing soccer, so that she can be on the USA women’s team! And then beat Brazil!

Blake is basically a stud. He just needs to play sports. What's up with that? haha.

So I know birthdays are coming up. Will try and get letters there in time! But I don't remember whose birthday comes first . . .  haha I think it's Drew on the 21st, and Darcy on the 27th?  What a fail.

Well, I’m having fun. Still working hard. I want to take more pictures. And I think I need to have more fun! But I love it here, thanks for everything you did Mom and Dad to get me here. I love you all! até próxima semanã!

Linhares - Week Twelve

Well.  Nothing happened this week.

Just kidding. But the start of the week was kinda hard. Saturday to Wednesday, nothing was open and everyone was out partying and stuff because of Carnivale. Because this is a smaller city, everyone left for the beach that is close by or the other cities. So we still worked through it. This week we worked a lot with less actives, trying to get them to go back to church because we have a TON of inactive members in this ward. It makes me sad meeting them, and they say that they're going to another church now, which I think is stupid. Anyway, we visited a lot of less actives this week, and we'll keep visiting them

We baptized this week! Just one, it is the cousin of our other baptisms, her name is Ilaine. We decided that she could be baptized, because she's gone to church almost every time, will be able to keep going with her grandma, and who was firm. She wanted me to baptize her, so I did. The baptism was good, just Elder Fischer and I got a little upset with the members, because the ward mission leader didn't tell anyone about the baptism, and he knew for at least two weeks, and then they wanted us to hurry up the meeting and get it done because the Relief Society was supposed to have some activity in the same room, (but we already talked to the president who said she'd just do it in another room) so it was rushed, they still didn't use the room, and there wasn't very many people to support the baptism. but other than that, it was AWESOME! Their grandma will be baptized soon also, but she just has to get married first, so we're just waiting for that. This is the last week of the transfer though so I don't know if I'll stay or not.

I also talked in church this week about missionary work. I had an awesome talk prepared, but time was short, because they switched branch presidents yesterday, I took up too much time, so I felt bad too. They basically had to kick me off the podium. I was a little disappointed about that. It was about what prophets have said about why missionary work is important and how members can help. A lot of times here they'll say that if a recent convert goes inactive it was the missionaries' fault because they weren't ready, when they didn't do anything to fellowship or help the recent converts. Anyway, the members are really key to missionary work in any area, and the trick is just getting them to realize that and help out. One of the quotes I liked, I think it was President Benson, said that through missionary work, the members' testimonies will grow more, and it for sure will raise the spirituality in any ward where applied. It's in Preach My Gospel at the end of chapter 1.

I’m not sure if we'll have a baptism this week, the one that would, has been gone for almost all this last week, and now her ex-husband wants to live with her again, so she wouldn't be able to get baptized, but we'll see what happens.

The pictures are the baptism, there's a stupid shadow, I know. William, my convert, getting some practice for his mission, =D the view from our investigators window, and, something that I just thought was hilarious. It's the reason why Brazilians drive so crazy. They put their traffic signs behind things such as street lights.
[We didn't get the other two pictures he refers to.]

Well that's about it for this week. This might be my last week here! I'm working hard, eating a lot, (its okay though because I actually run every morning!) and I'm always hungry. (Like a boy scout but worse. Missionaries are always hungry!)

I love you all. I think your blog is hilarious mom, just so you know. Only after I go on a mission do I realize how funny my family is. Thanks for everything, I'm waiting for those packages, unless they got sent back again I'll get them at the end of this week! Thanks for all that you did to get me here mom and dad. Definitely the best thing I could be doing. I love you all! Drew don't crash in your first month driving! See ya!

Linhares - Week Eleven

Well I didn't bring my camera this week because nothing very interesting happened this week like it did last week.

Anyway, yes I send a letter to the president, but because he is a Brazilian he would like it in Portuguese since he is still learning English. So sometimes I write him in Portuguese, and I basically tell you guys the same things anyway. As for letters, it would be nice to have talks or devotionals that I could read, and yes I have to pay for using the internet, and it's cheaper just to sit here and read your emails than to print it out.

So today is the start of Carnival. Basically a week long party where everything closes and there is a lot of sinning and laziness. haha. Today we had to go all the way into the other elders' area to find an open lan house, and there are no open stores today. Most of the people left to go party I think. This will be an interesting week.

We haven't had a baptism this week. The other elders did, but we should have one the end of this week and another by the end of the transfer. The weeks just pass by so fast!

Last pday was Elder Fischer's birthday, so we went and ate at Subway again. Other than that we didn't do much special this week. We helped a member paint two of his doors . . .

This week we started teaching a reference of a member, named Maria. She's been to church a few times with her already, we've taught her 3 or 4 times already, invited her to be baptized, and she said yes! But for some reason she doesn't want to get baptized now. We talked to her about it, she prayed about the Restoration, and Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and received an answer. So yesterday we told her to pray about baptism, and she said that if she gets another positive answer, she will get baptized. So we're praying for that.

Our other baptism will be the cousin of our last two. She is there with her grandma most of the time, and we've just been struggling to talk to her mom to let her get baptized because she needs permission. But the mom is just never there! So frustrating. And the mom of William and Caique who we baptized, I’m assuming she doesn't want to stop drinking or smoking because she won't talk to us, and the other night she jumped out the window so she wouldn't have to talk to us! I guess that just what the Spirit does to people. They know what they’re doing is wrong. They feel guilty so they just have to run. Which is stupid. She's in her 30's and she jumped out a window to avoid talking to the missionaries! Epic fail!

Well that about all the news that I have this week. I feel like I am going to be transferred after this one, and for sure I'll have a new companion. It's even possible that after this transfer Elder Fischer could go home without ever seeing each other again! That kinda weird. So before the end of the transfer we're going to a pizza restaurant. ( Pizza in a brazil is kind of a fancy thing. And also, mayonnaise on pizza, is good. Sounds weird, but it's good. =)

Well, I don't have anything else really . . . I love you all! I wish I could have some of those Valentine’s cookies! Sounds like everyone is doing great, and doing good work. It's weird that Drew is driving! haha. Well that’s all for this week. See ya!

Oh, I think the time is changing this Sunday, so I'll be an hour closer to your time

Linhares - Week Ten

I had some interesting experiences this week!

First off, it's been a hard week of teaching. We been trying really hard to find new people, but many of them just don't have a very strong desire to learn or do anything to get there. That's the most frustrating part, is that they just won't do anything.

I had a few new experiences this week. I talked to a drunk murderer with a revolver in his pants. That was new. We were at a house in a poor area (this was the second time we were at their house) and just decided that they were the kind of people that wouldn't do anything, and were just making excuses of why they can't go to church (all of which didn't make sense). We were about to say a prayer and leave when this older drunk guy comes stumbling in, grabbing something in the front of his pants. He started talking to us, crying about how terrible a person he is and he doesn't want to feel bad anymore, rambling about how he had a revolver, (which he really did. Guns, BTW, are illegal in Brazil) and how he was the most feared bandit in Espírito Santo. Well, we managed to escape that one after he kept rambling. So that was something new, and a little scary.

Other new experience. We had a service project today at a members house that they are building outside the city. It was about a 20 minute drive out there (they took us out in their car), and we helped them build their new house for a few hours. After we ate lunch there, they had to leave, so we taught the first lesson to the other guy helping us that lives at the same place--his house is just farther back--and then we had to hitchhike back to the city. We started walking for about 10 minutes without any luck. If we walked all the way to the city, it would take a few hours. Finally, we managed to flag down a guy in a fiat pickup (it looks kinda like an El Camino, not really a truck) who was turning onto this main road. He let all 4 of us missionaries ride in the bed of his car all the way back to the border of the city, then we had to walk another 45 minutes to our apartment to change and get ready to work again. After getting soft serve ice cream. =) First time in my life that I hitchhiked.

Another awesome experience this week. I know they say not to tell home when you're sick and things, but this one is worth it. Friday, Elder Fischer and I ate something that was bad. We think it was a papaya that someone fed us. We each ate half and it's supposed to be a natural laxative. Anyway, Saturday, Elder Fisher woke up sick. By the time we were halfway through studies he had already been in the bathroom like 7 times. It got worse for me throughout the day. Basically the whole day we had headaches, our bodies felt tired and sore, stomachs were hurting all day, but we just kept working. The last visit of the day, we caught a recent convert smoking, and helped her realize that she needed to go to church this Sunday, not next Sunday like she wanted to, and she was really grateful for our help. When we got home, we realized that miraculously, all of our lessons that we taught that day were with members, even though we didn't have someone leave with us, which allowed us to reach our weekly goals. Also, when I got home, the pain and tiredness hit so hard, after we finished planning the next day. As I lay on my bed, I realized that angels had been helping us through the day. There is no way we did all that by ourselves. And we probably walked more that day than any other day this week. I knew that angels were helping us along that day. That was an awesome experience of the mission.

To answer some of your questions:
There are no sisters in this area, just me and my companion, and another companionship with a Brazilian, and an Argentine.

Culturally, I like that nothing is open on Sunday. But that means they're all going to bars, watching soccer, and maybe going to random churches at night. But in Center, nothing is open. Except for some ice cream places.

I don't like that people will lie just to make you happy. They are more emotionally driven, so they'd rather hide from you, or lie to you, than tell you that they don't want to take the lessons anymore. Or that they won't go to church/keep commitments. People here are also lazy. They'd rather just do what's easy. haha  Maybe that’s not so different!

Sounds like the family is doing great! I liked hearing about what every member is doing. Exciting things are happening at home! Well I already typed a lot and I still have to mail president. I love you all!

Scripture of the week. is from Jacob 6. I think its verse 10? I don't know but you can find it. I had Drew in mind especially for this one. All it says is "O be wise; what can I say more?" So just don't do dumb things. Keep the commandments, live the gospel standards, even if it's not the cool thing to do, because the Lord will bless you and you will have more happiness. I just liked how plain that scripture was. What can I say more?