21 Aug 2011 - Jardim América Area (Dad)

[In answer to your questions from last week: Michael says he drove a delivery truck at BYU on snow, so apparently that qualifies him for winter driving. CC stands for Comfort Coupe. Go figure, since a coupe is a two-door and the CC is not. They claim it is like a coupe because of its raked roof. Marketing folk. Hey, VW is the same company that has had a Thing, Beetle, Rabbit, Golf. So CC doesn't sound so bad in comparison. I don't know exactly what the missionary that I mentioned who brought goodies back from Brazil brought. I remember mention of a jaguar or something like that. Maybe you could bring a pet poison arrow frog or piranha.] Delivery truck...van same thing. I'll bet they handle the same in the snow. Oh I see a lot of Golfs here in Brazil. They even have a Gol here too. They are both equally as ugly. Well I won't be bringing back any Jaguar pelts but maybe I can bring some rugged city rat pelts home. They have myths that some of these lakes around here have piranha, but I doubt it. They also tell me they find huge snakes in the lakes too. Personally I doubt anything can live in the trash dumps err lakes that they have here. The rivers and streams are really sewage....

 

Did football season start yet?!?!

 

[I mentioned I walked the trails on the summer ski slope during our visit to Solitude while Michael rode a mountain bike.] How do you go mountain biking without a bike? He flies down the mountain in 4 minutes and you have to walk all the way down? They ride double on the bikes here. In fact they can usually fit 4-5 on the bike. If it's on a motorcycle I like to call them 'eternal families' because the whole family will die together and go to heaven together. (you can probably exclude that last part from the blog post ) >:) [Oops. ;-)] Too bad you didn't get any footage of him sliding down the mountain face first for about 3 feet. That's real mountain biking.

 

[Michael and I drove straight through from Fort Worth to Salt Lake City, with a three hour nap at a Wyoming truck parking area.] Never send two tight fists on a road trip together. They won't stop to sleep or to eat anything. Watch out, those Wyoming truck stops are shady places. [No chipmunk hunting like Jeffrey did on his "man trip," just sandwiches for us.] Well eating chipmunks would have made the trip better, but you can try that on the way back home.

 

My new area is rich, bling bling and for some reason all the members are asking me for dollars even though they have gold watches and Ipods (which are extremely expensive here ) In my last much poorer areas nobody asked me for money....rich people jeeze. Speaking of extremely expensive...I looked at the cameras here and cameras with AA batteries are R$ 300ish and if I want to upgrade to lithium battery thats a R$500- R$700 camera. It would be cheaper to send disposable cameras from America.

 

Being senior is a lot different. When I was a junior I wasn't really worried about anything and I just let my senior do his thing. I have to think a lot more now and I feel a lot more responsible for our numbers and everything. It's really good though. It has definitely made me a more humble person. I think about the investigators and I'm praying for help always. Praying so I can teach the people the right things and that the Lord may guide me. It's hard enough being in this area, but now I'm responsible for everything ;) It's fine though, I feel like I'm doing everything that I can.

14 Aug 2011 - Jardim América Area (Mom)

The week was a good week. It was a little sad since it was my last week in the area. Transfers again! I'm in Jardim América with Elder R. Santos. He too is from São Paulo, like almost everyone else. The area is small which is good; I don't have to walk as much. I don't know much about him yet. Oh yeah I'm Senior now...took me a while but I finally made it. I'm just chugging along. I loved my last area so much and I was only there for 5 weeks. It is definitely one of the my favorite places in the whole entire world.

[I am excited because one of the little boys from summer school has been transferred to Park Glen Elementary. He reminds me so much of you.] Does he have a chili bowl hair cut? If not, he's just an impostor! That's cool though, little kids are really cool. When you work with them it is easy to see why we need to become more like them. Oh I just remembered something. Evan's mom went back to school to become a teacher and she is old. She still got hired though, so there is hope for you. I think she teaches 2nd grade or something. Today we had transfers and a family from the ward took me to the chapel. They brought the little kids. The poor little kids were crying when they had to say goodbye. Then their mom started crying and even the dad. They are the 1st people that have done that, well at least that I saw. I love them so much. They were already crying on Saturday when I told them I would leave. The little 5 year old boy kept asking when I was going to leave. He wanted me to spin him too (I pick them up and spin them). Poor kids. I say it a lot, but as I have more time on the mission I learn to love the people more. I was only there for 5 weeks and I love them as much as the other people that I knew for 4.5 months. The love I have for them is indescribable! I'm happy, happier than I have ever been. I love 'em.

14 Aug 2011 - Jardim América Area (Dad)

[I mentioned someone in the ward said their son brought back some cool stuff from Brazil.] What did he get from Brazil? I've got some cool key chains and some soccer shirts. Someone gave me a cup with a lid so I could keep it in my backpack. Does that meet the cool standard? I'll go shopping near the end of my mission. I hear Havaianas (flip-flops) are popular in America now. They are only $5 here. I got some with little Brazilian flag on them. Those are a little more expensive though.

I didn't get a new camera yet, I can only go on P-day since the store was out of my area.

Good news is that I got transferred and there is a super walmart-like store here. So I should be able to get a camera there. My new companion is from São Paulo. He's got 6 months....yep I'm a senior. Took me 1 year and 2 months...kids in my group are ZL and Assistants already. Ugly duckling anyone? Just kidding. I'm happy for them. Were are in Jardim América....it's weird because it looks nothing like an american garden here...My last area was hard to leave. They are great people and I love them so much. One of my favorite families in the whole world took me to the chapel for transfers. The 2 little kids, ages 5 and 8, were crying when I went to say goodbye. Then their parents started to tear up. I tried to be manly but they got a few tears out of me. They are special people and I'll miss them. I can feel a bit of the love that Christ feels for all of us when I think of these people. Yesterday they invited me to bear my testimony and it was going well. I told them God loved them. I told them that Jesus loved them. As soon as I said that I loved them, I just couldn't speak. It came out of nowhere and I got all choked up. This is the Lord's work. I do love it here, I love the Gospel, and I love God's chosen people of Fortaleza, Brazil. I know this is the best place ever. I hope I can get better so I can be a better senior, a better Jeffrey, and a better missionary.

7 Aug 2011 - Jardim Castelão Area (Mom)

[Today Paul LeFleur bore his testimony and likened life to his experience at the beach this past week. He got caught in a riptide while in Florida. He said it is like life. You try hard and still end up going backward. But as long as you are trying as hard as you can, you make it back to shore. He said he had a boggy board, which would be the Holy Ghost. Adversity (riptide) comes out of nowhere and if we have the skills we can overcome it..] My last companion was telling me about rip tides and stuff like that. He is from Corpus Christi so he use to surf and stuff like that. So his analogy makes sense to me :) It's a good one though. I thought of one one of these days, but in my old age I have forgotten it :) We are challenged by the Prophets and stuff to think of real life examples to help us teach so that the people can understand better. If I ever teach a surfer, maybe I'll use that analogy. I might have to learn some new vocab though...

7 Aug 2011 - Jardim Castelão Area (Dad)

[Day 36 in a row over 100 degrees and still counting. Looks like we'll beat the all-time record this week. Not a record I want to experience beating.] Whatever, that would be a worthy record to experience. You live in an air conditioned house and everything so it doesn't really matter how hot it gets outside. How hot is it at night there? 

The people here are great, especially in this area. For some reason I have loved them a lot faster than any other area. Well I have gotten close to them I should say faster than other areas. I was a little shy, but I guess I'm opening up more. It's good to have a nice companion and great members. It makes even a hard area nice to work in. We got a baptism yesterday so the blessings are starting to come already. 

[I asked him about his school plans.] I could get Michael's job with my mop handling skills. I show off to the Brazilians with my broom balancing skills that I learned at college....yep a place of higher learning for sure. [I asked if the robber from last week was wielding a gun.] Yeah he was armed. He was throwing his .38 caliber revolver in my face but I made it out alive :) He didn't believe that I didn't have pockets either so he gave me the search. I surprised myself because I wasn't scared and I was talking to the kid with a little bit of sarcasm and joking around a bit....that's just me I guess. I thought it was a member, since they like to joke around like that. I even saw the gun but it didn't register. I just looked and smiled at the other duplo of elders waiting for them to talk to their friend...but they didn't.

[... As the prophets have mentioned, the only thing we can give God that isn't already His is our will, and ultimately that's all He's really asking for....] I watched a video on lds.org that was talking about that. There was rich guy that always wanted more money and stuff. The missionaries talked to him and told him that God didn't want his money or anything else he had. All He wanted was him! It's so true. People try to please God in other ways, but He just wants us to follow His commandments. It's the way we show faith and our love for Him. Pres. Batt or someone said that good missionaries say that they are serving to help themselves or help share the gospel, to share the joy that they have etc. But the great missionaries will serve because they love God. Of course, they will do the other things, but first and foremost they will do it for their love of God. We need to follow Christ not for blessings nor fear etc but because we love Him. That is true obedience!

31 July 2011 - Jardim Castelão Area (Mom)

[Today is a "relaxing" day. Not that much time before Lauren and I drive to Utah. We went to IKEA on Friday to get her some stuff for her apartment.] I'm glad that you got time to relax. Hey where were all my apartment things when I went to school ;) Girls always have so much stuff in their apartments. I had a picture of the beach and that's about it. She goes back to school in like 2 weeks right. Are you ever going to tell me what car you guys bought? Who left for Utah? They are going to the cabin already? 

[Scott came home (friend from the ward who returned from the Philippines). We attended his open house on Saturday and listened to his talk yesterday. I have to say he made me miss you. He is the first of your class to come home.... Just a word of advice, when you come home and have to give a talk on whatever assigned topic, use examples from your mission.] That's funny I always hated the kids who couldn't stop talking about their mission. Every time they had to talk, they always just told mission stories. I guess you learn a lot but you learn other stuff during your life too. It's weird think that Scott is home. It made me think what it would be like being home and I didn't like it at all :) It's super scary to think about going home. I remember in my first area, I was swinging on the hammock and I had 3 months on the mission. I was already scared about going home. It's weird how you remember a lot that has happened. Only 2 from my class went on missions. Me and him right?

I can already imagine my homecoming talk will just be tears. I get all teary-eyed thinking about it. Oh how I love it so much. I'm not perfect but I'm trying to do my best. It's hard, but I love it. I need to do a lot more, and I'll do it. I love it so much here. I love how it has changed me. I LOVE LOVE the people here. They aren't just people on the street. They are my people! I can understand them and I have the only thing that can change their life. I can't wait to serve another mission. Oh Mom, there is nothing better. I love it.

31 July 2011 - Jardim Castelão Area (Dad)

[Bats in the house. Hm, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like that. Especially the eye-nibbling part. As long as they aren't those blood-sucking bats though, I'm thinking you're pretty safe unless you sleep with fruit piled on top of you.] Luckily they were small bats. They weren't those huge fruit bats the size of bobcats. 

[Scott Ross (a friend of Jeffrey that just returned from the Philippines) spoke in sacrament meeting today and heads off to family vacation and USU tomorrow.] It's really weird to think that Scott is home. It makes me scared to go home. I still have 11 months left but it makes me think and then I get sad :) I guess I have to go home though since they don't have Ranch or Taco Bell here :) I don't know how I could go through life without it.

[Scott talked about having the right to choose and choosing the right. He mentioned the acronym for choose the right in Tagalog, which was TAP, or something like that, instead of CTR. That reminded me of the one in Spanish, which is HLJ, for haz lo justo, which means do the right. Doing has a little more power behind it than choosing, so it comes across a little better in Spanish than English. I'm assuming it is the same (as Spanish) in Portuguese.] In Portuguese they kept it as the same letters (CTR) but it means keep your path. It has a different meaning when you change the language. Sometime it gives you a new perspective.

[Oh, by the way, Scott said he took about 1700 pictures on his mission. He obviously lived in a safer country and had a little different mission rules. Anyway, when safe, photos sure are great for remembering. Making a back-up copy of the photos is probably wise in case some numbskull does decide they need your camera more than you do (as I'm sure they'll be able to sell the camera for a hefty two to five dollars).] I have about 800 pictures so far, but I always wish I took more. I have been trying to take pictures of the people in the ward and stuff like that. I have a CD but I haven't sent it yet because I don't have a post office in my area still. I need to make some more DVDs though. Well speaking of the camera....I have some good and bad news.....1st I'm still alive...2nd I don't have a camera anymore. I got robbed last Pday. They took my camera and another elder's and some other stuff. I wouldn't even tell you but then I would have to explain why I don't have a camera anymore. :) He got 1000 reais in loot though, good for him. He probably thinks all missionaries walk around with all that stuff. We just got done playing soccer and he got us about 10 feet in front of our house. I was thinking of laying a smack down...but I chickened out :) I didn't want 3 bullet holes in my chest either. Don't worry though, they don't rob missionaries here, or at least that is what they tell us here. We were in our soccer clothes so that is probably why. It'll be a good story though when I get back. The ward members promise me that I'll get my stuff when the vagabond learns the errors of his ways but I doubt it.

Today the Stake President took us to a meat buffet, the best kind of buffet! It's like Texas de Brazil but it's.....Brazil de Brazil. It was a nice place, better than any place that I have been to in the US, but then again I am partial to Taco Bell.... It was good meat, it would have been better with some BBQ sauce or A-1 steak sauce.... I got to eat pickles, green olives, caesar salad dressing, and some other stuff that I haven't eaten in forever. I'll probably gain about 123 pounds though. 

[Regarding the hard area, I'm guessing you aren't doing anything wrong. Sometimes we only get two talents to work with instead of five, but then the Lord expects only an increase of two instead of five. And for the times when you only get one talent in opportunities to work with, as long as you don't bury it and you do what you can with it to double it, the Lord is just as satisfied. And the next thing you know, the talents start pouring in.] I haven't thought about hard areas that way. That's a good way to think about it. I always believed that if I work as hard as I can it doesn't really matter how many baptisms and stuff I get. As long as I can say that I worked with all my heart, then my garments will be stain free! 

[I wouldn't worry too much about forgetting Portuguese. It's been thirty years since I really spoke Spanish and amazingly I still remember a lot.] I try to study Portguese a lot. I love learning it. I love learning languages. I think I'll study Spanish when I get back too. I wish BYU-I had Portguese though. I try to learn a lot from the speakers though. I haven't had a Brazilian for a few months, but I've been trying to work on my accent. It's hard to gauge your own accent though. It's funny because some people call me Brazilian (by the way I speak, but my blue eyes give me away!) and others just stare at me and are like "I can't understand a word you are saying." I don't know how that works, but whatever.

[I mentioned I am reading the book, "Believing Christ."] I don't think I have ever heard of that book. Since I have gotten on the mission, I have had a real thirst and desire for more gospel books. My last companion had some books by Russel M. Nelson and I read them. I have been reading Miracle of Forgiveness for the last 3 weeks and I almost finished. :) I just love reading them. I have a few written down to read when I get home. Who knows...the mission changes you. I couldn't care less about those kind of books before the mission. I think when I get back I'll just watch sports and read church books ;) just kidding. Since I have been on the mission my mind has opened a lot too. There is so much that we have to do. So much that matters in life. Stuff like paying attention in church, sacrament, scriptures, prayers, fasting, being nice etc etc weren't really that important. I just figured you had to do them and check them off the list. They open the doors for so many blessings though. There is a lot to do, yes, but that is what life is all about. All the stuff we have in life is to help us get better. Sacrament isn't just something to do, it cleans us! It's so important that only 2 times a year,  during General Conference, it isn't required. I have a lot to learn and I don't know if I will during my 2 years but I'll keep trying. I'm like a sugar-high, nose-picking primary kid sometimes....I just don't listen/pay attention. Things just go over my head. It's hard being a primary kid when everyone else is a missionary but I'll stop eating crayons and pay attention soon.