I was able to visit a family that I had baptized today. It was nice
to see them with callings and loving the church. It gives me a sneak
peak on how it will be like in 10 years when I see their kids
marrying in the temple etc. It makes me happy. I didn't baptize
millions of people but I love all of the people that the Lord helped
me to baptize. They are special and they have taught me a lot of
things. I have a great respect for converts. They grow so much in 2
weeks. It takes other people 18 years to find out that the Church
they were born in is really true. These converts figured that out in
2 weeks and were baptized and go to church for the next 40 years.
4 more weeks. Times seems to be going slow. It seems like eternity
until I go back home. That is perfect for me because it doesn't
bother me. I don't think about home and stuff like that. Probably
with a week left things will get more emotional, more real. I can't
believe it is over already. I know that the Lord only needs me here
for 2 years so I can't go too crazy about leaving.
Monday, April 30, 2012
30 Apr 2012 - Bom Jardin Area (Dad)
I started Elder Bednar's challenge to read the Book of Mormon for 6
months with a special focus on the Atonement since I just finish reading
it. Now that I know the importance of understanding the Atonement and
knowing more about it, this reading should be all the more special. It
is a hard subject that most people just ignore. They know it exists and
that Jesus died for us and because of that we can live with him.
Apparently, there is much more to it.
The time is running out. I don't know what to expect. I just keeping working blindly like I don't know I only have 4 weeks left. At this point it seems like a lot of time. Sadly, someday I will have to face the facts and I won't be able to ignore it. The mission has been good to me and it has changed my life. Only the Lord truly knows how much it has changed me life. It is by far the best thing to do as a young man age 19-26. Nothing will replace it and though it isn't mandatory, it will accelerate our spiritual growth. It will be sad not to hold the honor as a chosen representative of Jesus Christ. I ask you as my father, my Dad, Daddy, old man.... how do I leave it all behind? How do I leave these people? It is easy enough to leave the country but it will be hard to not think about it when I get home. Obviously I can think about it but I have to move on. What did you do? How do you not lose the language? I love it here. I was downtown the other day and I was just looking at the Cearanse people thinking: I may never see these people again. I was looking at them as children of God and not random people. I loved them and wanted to help them. It was easy for me to love this people. The Lord has blessed me so much through these people. I don't know why He sent me here, I haven't met anyone that was only able to be baptized by my ways etc. I only have faith in Him. I firmly believe that I am supposed to be here and that fact was established before this life. I have faith that I was supposed to serve here from 2010-2012. I love this work and I hope to bring many habits etc back home with me.
The time is running out. I don't know what to expect. I just keeping working blindly like I don't know I only have 4 weeks left. At this point it seems like a lot of time. Sadly, someday I will have to face the facts and I won't be able to ignore it. The mission has been good to me and it has changed my life. Only the Lord truly knows how much it has changed me life. It is by far the best thing to do as a young man age 19-26. Nothing will replace it and though it isn't mandatory, it will accelerate our spiritual growth. It will be sad not to hold the honor as a chosen representative of Jesus Christ. I ask you as my father, my Dad, Daddy, old man.... how do I leave it all behind? How do I leave these people? It is easy enough to leave the country but it will be hard to not think about it when I get home. Obviously I can think about it but I have to move on. What did you do? How do you not lose the language? I love it here. I was downtown the other day and I was just looking at the Cearanse people thinking: I may never see these people again. I was looking at them as children of God and not random people. I loved them and wanted to help them. It was easy for me to love this people. The Lord has blessed me so much through these people. I don't know why He sent me here, I haven't met anyone that was only able to be baptized by my ways etc. I only have faith in Him. I firmly believe that I am supposed to be here and that fact was established before this life. I have faith that I was supposed to serve here from 2010-2012. I love this work and I hope to bring many habits etc back home with me.
Monday, April 23, 2012
23 Apr 2012 - Bom Jardin Area (Dad)
Last transfer news. Same companion, same area. We'll see how things
go. We have had an alarming increase of spiders in the house due to the
rain. It just keeps you on your toes though. It's good for you. Our bug
zapper that looks like a tennis racket exploded when we plugged it in so
we will be seeing an increase of disease-laden mosquitos. We found some
mushrooms growing in the kitchen area. All in all the next 5 weeks have
a bright future in store. If I don't catch some disease then I'm truly
immune to everything.
Monday, April 16, 2012
16 Apr 2012 - Bom Jardin Area (Dad)
I read that one talk that you were talking about. The one with the
girl who didn't think that she was good enough and the guy drew the 2
lines. Brad Wilcox or someone like that gave the talk. You mentioned an
interesting part but left out the rest of the mind blowing talk. So
luckily I was able to read it's full content. I can't really remember
exactly what it said, I just remember that it talks about how our
purpose isn't to repay Jesus for all the things He did since He already
paid the price. We are here to show Him how much we love Him and to
prove that we are willing to follow Him. Something like that.
Things here are good. I feel I am running out of patience a lot faster these days. Maybe it's because I'm nearing the end and Satan is trying to trip me up or maybe people are being more annoying :) I can notice a difference in these last days. Things are just harder. I'm feeling depressed about the language which never was a problem, about the ward members etc. I don't feel like they like me that much. Just a bunch of random stuff like that. I'm trying to do my best though, but not to repay Him but to show Him how much I love Him :)
Things here are good. I feel I am running out of patience a lot faster these days. Maybe it's because I'm nearing the end and Satan is trying to trip me up or maybe people are being more annoying :) I can notice a difference in these last days. Things are just harder. I'm feeling depressed about the language which never was a problem, about the ward members etc. I don't feel like they like me that much. Just a bunch of random stuff like that. I'm trying to do my best though, but not to repay Him but to show Him how much I love Him :)
Monday, April 9, 2012
9 Apr 2012 - Bom Jardin Area (Mom)
It's funny that my mom tells me to just let marriage happen but the
apostles tell me that my number one goal after the mission should be
celestial marriage hmmm ;)
As all other holidays here in Brazil, lots of people were drunk for easter. Although, it is a little different on Easter. For some reason wine is the drink of choice during these holiday times. They have a ton of Jesus plays about His death etc. The Church actually did one too. Well members of the church slapped the church logo on it, so I assume they had permission. We took some investigators to go watch it. It was ok, I wasn't too amazed. :) I'm just hard to please sometimes :)
[While I was sitting in the office two bunnies started playing in the front yard. Buttons came to watch at the open window. One of the bunnies hopped right by the window, up by the house, and the next thing you know Buttons is through the screen.] I don't know about this cat, it seems kind of retarded :) Are you sure it isn't a dog that looks like a cat? He could have caught you a delicious bunny and you could have eaten some bunny stew. Yum!!
I don't know where I will live. I don't have any desire to live outside of Texas because everywhere else is cold. It won't be all my decision anyways :) I didn't love Texas soo much until I left for school and came on the mission too. Everyone hates on Texas so you just naturally have to love it and defend the Holy Land.
The work rolls forth and things are going well. I'm trying to be the best I can and learn as much as I can before I get home and have to deal with life. It still hasn't hit me that much that I am leaving soon. Someday it probably will.
As all other holidays here in Brazil, lots of people were drunk for easter. Although, it is a little different on Easter. For some reason wine is the drink of choice during these holiday times. They have a ton of Jesus plays about His death etc. The Church actually did one too. Well members of the church slapped the church logo on it, so I assume they had permission. We took some investigators to go watch it. It was ok, I wasn't too amazed. :) I'm just hard to please sometimes :)
[While I was sitting in the office two bunnies started playing in the front yard. Buttons came to watch at the open window. One of the bunnies hopped right by the window, up by the house, and the next thing you know Buttons is through the screen.] I don't know about this cat, it seems kind of retarded :) Are you sure it isn't a dog that looks like a cat? He could have caught you a delicious bunny and you could have eaten some bunny stew. Yum!!
I don't know where I will live. I don't have any desire to live outside of Texas because everywhere else is cold. It won't be all my decision anyways :) I didn't love Texas soo much until I left for school and came on the mission too. Everyone hates on Texas so you just naturally have to love it and defend the Holy Land.
The work rolls forth and things are going well. I'm trying to be the best I can and learn as much as I can before I get home and have to deal with life. It still hasn't hit me that much that I am leaving soon. Someday it probably will.
9 Apr 2012 - Bom Jardin Area (Dad)
[Uncle Carl is my closest tie to apostles as well, although I was part of
stake conference with Elder Christofferson a year or two before he
became an apostle. When they were announcing a new apostle a few years
ago, his name is the first that came to my mind before they said it. It
was kind of cool. Hey, now I can add that my son had a companion who
used to ski with Elder Nelson's grandson!] We know that Neil L. Anderson is definitely a BYU fan from his comment a
few conferences ago when BYU was doing well in basketball. I'm still
waiting for the "Fort Worth area cool kids'' choir/sit with the Apostles
if you can't sing well group. They didn't form this group while I was
gone so I still have a chance. I remember that Elder Christofferson and
Anderson were both in the Pres. of the Seventy in our area before they
were called as Apostles. At least that is what I remember. Yeah me and
Elder Nelson are pretty much best buds now. [Well, actually Grandma and Grandpa grew up with President Benson and
also lived in the same ward back east and did things (if I remember
right) with Elder and Sister Maxwell.] They did things? They
probably went squirrel hunting with Grandpa.
[Your description of snowmobiling was quite eloquent. Of course a true Utahn/Idahoan would do it in camo while holding a loaded rifle and a Mountain Dew.] This is true about the loaded rifle with Mountain Dew. You never know when a wild caribou might stroll across the road and past the barrow pit (only Idahoans know what that is ....if that is how you spell it....that is how they say it at least) and into the snowmobile trail. You get some meat and a nice cold Mountain Dew in the process. I bet you Grandpa used to do that all the time.
[I watched a video today on BYUtv that followed two brothers over 5000 days.] Over 5000 days? That is like 13 years. Who would waste their time follow two kids for 13 years. They must have had an interesting life. That would have been cool if they followed me, Michael, and Sean for 13 years. We would have some classic footage. Some PG parts for violence and beat downs ;)
[...they interviewed the older of the two while he was on his mission in Chile.] Chile? That's a good place, they save miners from certain death so they must be receptive to the gospel. Well good ole Semana Santa has come and by here in Fortaleza. The rambling wine bibbers will have to wait another year to bother the missionaries. There were a few Catholic parades with some guy carrying a cross through the streets. If he really appreciated Jesus and His sacrifice, I doubt he would parade through the streets pretending to be like Him :) That reminds me of a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland....as I am typing there currently is a wine bibber screaming. He is half drunk lying on the ground outside of the Lan house....so back to the talk. He said that people shouldn't say that they are passing through their own little Gethsemane (that is how you spell it in english right). He said we have come nowhere close to be able to say that and it mocks Jesus' sacrifice when we try to lessen it to our human durability. Something like that...probably. However, Easter is good. The Church put on a play too and toured all of Fortaleza. It was cool and we were able to take some investigators to watch it. We also got to help a random guy that almost passed out due to low blood sugar. While helping, I met a guy from another area I passed through so it was a night full of drama, action, and blasts from the past.
[Your description of snowmobiling was quite eloquent. Of course a true Utahn/Idahoan would do it in camo while holding a loaded rifle and a Mountain Dew.] This is true about the loaded rifle with Mountain Dew. You never know when a wild caribou might stroll across the road and past the barrow pit (only Idahoans know what that is ....if that is how you spell it....that is how they say it at least) and into the snowmobile trail. You get some meat and a nice cold Mountain Dew in the process. I bet you Grandpa used to do that all the time.
[I watched a video today on BYUtv that followed two brothers over 5000 days.] Over 5000 days? That is like 13 years. Who would waste their time follow two kids for 13 years. They must have had an interesting life. That would have been cool if they followed me, Michael, and Sean for 13 years. We would have some classic footage. Some PG parts for violence and beat downs ;)
[...they interviewed the older of the two while he was on his mission in Chile.] Chile? That's a good place, they save miners from certain death so they must be receptive to the gospel. Well good ole Semana Santa has come and by here in Fortaleza. The rambling wine bibbers will have to wait another year to bother the missionaries. There were a few Catholic parades with some guy carrying a cross through the streets. If he really appreciated Jesus and His sacrifice, I doubt he would parade through the streets pretending to be like Him :) That reminds me of a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland....as I am typing there currently is a wine bibber screaming. He is half drunk lying on the ground outside of the Lan house....so back to the talk. He said that people shouldn't say that they are passing through their own little Gethsemane (that is how you spell it in english right). He said we have come nowhere close to be able to say that and it mocks Jesus' sacrifice when we try to lessen it to our human durability. Something like that...probably. However, Easter is good. The Church put on a play too and toured all of Fortaleza. It was cool and we were able to take some investigators to watch it. We also got to help a random guy that almost passed out due to low blood sugar. While helping, I met a guy from another area I passed through so it was a night full of drama, action, and blasts from the past.
Monday, April 2, 2012
2 Apr 2012 - Bom Jardin Area (Mom)
[I liked
Holland's Saturday morning talk, and also Elder Nelson's talk
Sunday afternoon. I can't remember who said it, but there were
a few sentences spoken about boys remaining bachelors, a little
more strongly this time. Interesting.] Holland had a good talk, he has always been my favorite :) I
remember that part too, guess I have to find me a super hot wife and
get married. ;) Technology is good because we got to watch it on the
computer too, in english in a nice air conditioned room in a wheel
chair. Wheel chairs are nice and comfortable when watching
conference.
[I joined the choir for Easter.] I have been practicing my musical talent as well. My companion bought a keyboard so I have been messing around with it. I learned how to play a few random things. I don't really have any desire to learn the piano so... but it is fun to play it and learn some random stuff. I learned the Battle Hymn of the Republic too :)
Conference talked a lot about families and teaching our children, well that is what I got out of it. When I was a kid I always wondered how people knew how to raise kids. Now I know we just have to follow the prophets :) This conference I fasted and had a few questions in my heart as I listened to the talks and not surprisingly I got answers. :) The Spirit is a wonderful thing, I also saw Elder David Archuleta singing in the MTC choir. I'm sure Lauren will be excited to know that he is serving a mission :)
[We are having the kitchen redone.] That is cool that things are changing at home and stuff like that. It would be nice for me to get home to a new spiffy kitchen :) It looks like you guys are going to hunker down in the house with all this renovation. I'm jealous, I wish I could live in Fort Worth for the rest of my days, but I couldn't live that close to my parents ;)
[I joined the choir for Easter.] I have been practicing my musical talent as well. My companion bought a keyboard so I have been messing around with it. I learned how to play a few random things. I don't really have any desire to learn the piano so... but it is fun to play it and learn some random stuff. I learned the Battle Hymn of the Republic too :)
Conference talked a lot about families and teaching our children, well that is what I got out of it. When I was a kid I always wondered how people knew how to raise kids. Now I know we just have to follow the prophets :) This conference I fasted and had a few questions in my heart as I listened to the talks and not surprisingly I got answers. :) The Spirit is a wonderful thing, I also saw Elder David Archuleta singing in the MTC choir. I'm sure Lauren will be excited to know that he is serving a mission :)
[We are having the kitchen redone.] That is cool that things are changing at home and stuff like that. It would be nice for me to get home to a new spiffy kitchen :) It looks like you guys are going to hunker down in the house with all this renovation. I'm jealous, I wish I could live in Fort Worth for the rest of my days, but I couldn't live that close to my parents ;)
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