Hey family..
To start off, I am still in Tianguá.
This is what happened... So Monday night we were supposed to travel to Teresina to go do some interviews with President on Tuesday. It turns out that we have an awesome bishop here and he said he was just laying in bed at like 11 (our bus was supposed to leave at 12) and he called up President Dias and asked permission to talk to us. President let him come over to our house and gave the bishop the mission president keys over the phone. So, the Bishop showed up at our house at 11ish. I was cleaning the house because I didn´t know if we would be coming back, and the other Elders were finishing up packing their bags. But the bishop told us to stop everything and get in our sunday clothes and to go to our `living room` (if you could call it that).
He talked to us about forgivness and repentence and everything. It was really good and the Spirit was felt. I liked what he said a lot. He used our own methods and lessons to teach us... He said, 10 years ago, when you guys were teaching me, you told me all about faith, repentence, staying strong even when things are tough... I was just thinking to myself that it is pretty ridiculous that all this drama happened in the first place. I never imagined that this kind of thing would happen on a mission. Before my mission I always thought the missionaries were perfect haha.
Anyway, the bishop gave a really good message or talk or whatever you want to call it, and at the end he asked us one by one to ask the other elders for forgivness and to start the repentence process and to forget what happened in the past and that everyday we need to start over with a fresh slate. So that was really good. He saved 3 missionaries from going home that day I think. The other three elders were packing their bags to go home and there was a lot of talk that they were going to ask president in their interviews to go home. But, after the Bishop´s visit, everyone agreed to stay on the mission and in Tianguá. The bishop called President Dias and explained that we were going to stay and everything was good.
There is still a tiny bit of contention in the house, but everyone seems to be doing good now for the most part.
So, other than that, the lady I told you about last week that decided to get baptized would have been baptized yesterday, but her husband is traveling, and so we are just waiting for him to get back, and we will baptize her on the first day that we have a chance. She was interviewed on Friday and cleared for baptism. It is an exciting time for them right now.
Mom, thank you for your email. It was good for me to read. I am greatful to have you for a mom!
I don´t know exactly what I should say for the reunion... So I will just tell ya a little personal revelation that I had this week and then bare my testimony... and I hope that will be good.
So I have been listening to talks from General Authorities and Apostles, and I listened to a talk given by President Eyring called `Always´. He talked about praying always, and the sacramental prayers where we promise to take His name upon us, keep the commandments, and always remember Him, that we may always having the Spirit with us. Then I listened to a talk by Elder Holland about how a lot of the time, and almost always, Satan will tempt you and try even harder to get you, AFTER a spiritual experience. So, listening to these two talks, I came to the conclusion... The Holy Ghost is vital for me to have. I can´t go very far with out the companionship of the Spirit in my life. As I keep my covenents, and keep the commandments, and always remember Him, there is no way that Satan can have any power over me...because I will always have the Spirit with me. So I can have these spiritual experiences, and when Satan comes with his attacks before and after, I will be ready because I will be doing what is right and I will have the power and gift of the Holy Ghost to overcome those temptations. All of this reminded me of the talk by Elder Richard G. Scott from the November 2010 General Conference. I won´t talk about it, but I would recommend everyone to read that talk.
I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. It is amazing to see how many blessings I have in my life. I know that these blessings come because of obidience to the commandements, and because Heavenly Father loves me. I know that Christ is the Savior of the world. I have a very strong testimony of His Atonement. I know that the power of the atonement is real. I know that we can use the Atonement for everything in our lives, because it really is infinate. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore Christ´s church on the earth for the last time. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true and living prophet of God. There is safety in following the prophet. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the only true church on the earth. The Gospel is true!
I love you all very very very much! I hope you have a great week!!!
Love Isaac
PS... a member told me yesterday that gay marriages are legal in all of the united states now... is that true?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
6.20.11 Crazy Days!
Hey everone!
So, i have some crazy stories now from my mission. But just to give you a little introduction to this email, everything is going good and I am happy... get ready for some drama!
So I will start way back when i got transferred to here. I havent been telling you, but one of the Elders that i live with has some kind of problem where he thinks he is the only person that matters and he won´t let anything stop him from getting what he wants. He also has a short fuse. He has a reputation for punching companions and fighting....
so the last couple of weeks, there has been a little tention going on in the house. The crazy elder is doing stupid things and the other 3 of us were getting sick of it all. Just so you know, I have just been trying to stay out of it all and just keeping my mouth shut. So last week my comp, and elder Cunha sent emails to president about the problems here and President came here yesterday to do a couple of interviews to know what is going on and what to do. Then president left to go back to Teresina the same day.
Well, the day comes to an end (or so I thought) and me and my comp go back home. We are just talkin to each other and waiting for the other two to get home. Well, 9oclock came and went, then 930, then 945... So we start to get a little worried. We knew that they were in a kind of shady area of town so, i was getting a little worried. I said, if it gets to 10, I will call president. 10 oclock showed up and they weren´t home still so me and my comp leave to go to the nearest payphone to call, (we don´t have a cellphone)
so I call president, and he said thank you and that he will call them. He called, they were on their way home and everything is good. everyone is safe, and good.
But then we all get back into the house and the crazy elder FREAKED! He tried hitting my companion but my comp stopped his arm and Elder Cunha broke everything up, and me and my comp left to go call President again. We call and President then try to go to the bishops house to let things cool down. Well, the Bishop wasn´t home and so we go back to our house to find out the Elder Cunha left by himself. Apperantly his comp tried to fight with him and almost hit him too and elder Cunha left to go find us in the street. So we found this out, talked to president again, and me and my comp went around the city looking for this elder, who was looking for us. We end up finding each other at the bishops house, he was home this time. Everyone is mad or frustrated. (us elders anyway)
So we go to the chapel, because the cell phone died, to call president again to see what we should do about the elder in the house and President just told us to go back home and that he is buying us bus tickets to go to Teresina to see what he is going to do. But none of us wanted to go back home because the elder there is goin crazy and could kill us haha. so the bishop went and calmed him down enough and then we all went inside and stayed up all night in case something happened.
President called again this morning to tell us to get all our stuff and clean the house, cause we could all be transferred, and some could be going home. (not me, don´t worry. i might just be transferred, or sent back here...we don´t know). But President bought bus tickets and the bus leaves at midnight tonight and we will travel to Teresina to be interviewed tomorrow so he can sort it all out and make a decision on what to do....
Crazy stuff. i never thought this would happen on the mission.. I am just glad that I am not in the middle of it and I hope everything will calm down here. It is crazy right now in the house.
But in other news... i dont know if i told you this, but a lady we went to visit told us that she is ready to be baptized. her husband was baptized 4 months ago, and she wasn´t ready at the time I guess, but now she is. She has already heard all the lessons and has gone to church many times. It was a great surprise to us when she told us she wants to be baptized now.
It sounds like your trip was amazing! I liked to hear and see all about it. Speaking of fireflies, there are lot of fire flies here too in Tiangua. They are really cool. I hadn´t ever seen a firefly before I got here. There in the United States, do they light up blue? here they are blue so it looks really cool when you see a feild full of them.
I got your package you sent me yesterday when President came here. I remember you mentioning something about a book by Elder Holland.. If you sent it to me, it wasn´t in this package. and also an ATM card. But there were pants, shirts, and beautiful ties....haha. And candy... thank you so much!!! Everything was much needed...
I also got another letter from Grandma Flash. I have gotten a few from her now... Please tell her thank you from me!! And Mirandas graduation annoucement came too. She looks completely different in the picture that was included haha... She looks good though!!
Well, that is about it from Brazil. I will include something next week for the reunion thing. Just put a little reminder in the next email you send, and i will think about something to say during the week. K?
Oh, I think I completely forgot that Fathers Day was last sunday... I think... I know it is sometime in June... haha. But Happy Fathers Day Dad!!! you are the best dad in the world! I love your example for me! I love you!!!
And Paige´s Birthday is comin up on sunday!! Woo! I hope you have a great day! I will be thinkin about you! I love you, Paige!
I love you all very much and I hope your week goes great!!!
Love, Isaac
So, i have some crazy stories now from my mission. But just to give you a little introduction to this email, everything is going good and I am happy... get ready for some drama!
So I will start way back when i got transferred to here. I havent been telling you, but one of the Elders that i live with has some kind of problem where he thinks he is the only person that matters and he won´t let anything stop him from getting what he wants. He also has a short fuse. He has a reputation for punching companions and fighting....
so the last couple of weeks, there has been a little tention going on in the house. The crazy elder is doing stupid things and the other 3 of us were getting sick of it all. Just so you know, I have just been trying to stay out of it all and just keeping my mouth shut. So last week my comp, and elder Cunha sent emails to president about the problems here and President came here yesterday to do a couple of interviews to know what is going on and what to do. Then president left to go back to Teresina the same day.
Well, the day comes to an end (or so I thought) and me and my comp go back home. We are just talkin to each other and waiting for the other two to get home. Well, 9oclock came and went, then 930, then 945... So we start to get a little worried. We knew that they were in a kind of shady area of town so, i was getting a little worried. I said, if it gets to 10, I will call president. 10 oclock showed up and they weren´t home still so me and my comp leave to go to the nearest payphone to call, (we don´t have a cellphone)
so I call president, and he said thank you and that he will call them. He called, they were on their way home and everything is good. everyone is safe, and good.
But then we all get back into the house and the crazy elder FREAKED! He tried hitting my companion but my comp stopped his arm and Elder Cunha broke everything up, and me and my comp left to go call President again. We call and President then try to go to the bishops house to let things cool down. Well, the Bishop wasn´t home and so we go back to our house to find out the Elder Cunha left by himself. Apperantly his comp tried to fight with him and almost hit him too and elder Cunha left to go find us in the street. So we found this out, talked to president again, and me and my comp went around the city looking for this elder, who was looking for us. We end up finding each other at the bishops house, he was home this time. Everyone is mad or frustrated. (us elders anyway)
So we go to the chapel, because the cell phone died, to call president again to see what we should do about the elder in the house and President just told us to go back home and that he is buying us bus tickets to go to Teresina to see what he is going to do. But none of us wanted to go back home because the elder there is goin crazy and could kill us haha. so the bishop went and calmed him down enough and then we all went inside and stayed up all night in case something happened.
President called again this morning to tell us to get all our stuff and clean the house, cause we could all be transferred, and some could be going home. (not me, don´t worry. i might just be transferred, or sent back here...we don´t know). But President bought bus tickets and the bus leaves at midnight tonight and we will travel to Teresina to be interviewed tomorrow so he can sort it all out and make a decision on what to do....
Crazy stuff. i never thought this would happen on the mission.. I am just glad that I am not in the middle of it and I hope everything will calm down here. It is crazy right now in the house.
But in other news... i dont know if i told you this, but a lady we went to visit told us that she is ready to be baptized. her husband was baptized 4 months ago, and she wasn´t ready at the time I guess, but now she is. She has already heard all the lessons and has gone to church many times. It was a great surprise to us when she told us she wants to be baptized now.
It sounds like your trip was amazing! I liked to hear and see all about it. Speaking of fireflies, there are lot of fire flies here too in Tiangua. They are really cool. I hadn´t ever seen a firefly before I got here. There in the United States, do they light up blue? here they are blue so it looks really cool when you see a feild full of them.
I got your package you sent me yesterday when President came here. I remember you mentioning something about a book by Elder Holland.. If you sent it to me, it wasn´t in this package. and also an ATM card. But there were pants, shirts, and beautiful ties....haha. And candy... thank you so much!!! Everything was much needed...
I also got another letter from Grandma Flash. I have gotten a few from her now... Please tell her thank you from me!! And Mirandas graduation annoucement came too. She looks completely different in the picture that was included haha... She looks good though!!
Well, that is about it from Brazil. I will include something next week for the reunion thing. Just put a little reminder in the next email you send, and i will think about something to say during the week. K?
Oh, I think I completely forgot that Fathers Day was last sunday... I think... I know it is sometime in June... haha. But Happy Fathers Day Dad!!! you are the best dad in the world! I love your example for me! I love you!!!
And Paige´s Birthday is comin up on sunday!! Woo! I hope you have a great day! I will be thinkin about you! I love you, Paige!
I love you all very much and I hope your week goes great!!!
Love, Isaac
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Tiangua pictures 6.6.11
6.6.11
Hey fam!
Well the week went alright. We had a great baptism of José Maria. It was a great day for him and his family. We did the baptism at a resevor area close to town. I will send pictures if the computor will let me. But his wife was so happy and I am happy for them. I am glad that he took to first step toward the temple. Now he and his family can enjoy the great blessings of a temple marriage and everything that has to offer. I am excited for them!
Another investigator (Thiago) is progressing really well. He ALWAYS has so many questions about things he has heard or is curious about. It is good though that he is so curious about our beleifs and stuff. In our last visit he was having a hard time understanding why we do baptisms for the dead. We had a good discussion about how God wouldn´t punish those who haven´t ever had the opprotunity to hear the gospel and accept to be baptised. We explained that God loves ALL of his children and that he wouldn´t hold back the blessings of baptism for only a small few. It was good and he accepted it. But another thing that happened with him was yesterday at church he got up and bore his testimony!. it was very spiritual. I will translate what he said for ya: ´´When I moved here to Tiangua, I didn´t know what I was doing. I knew that there was something that I needed here. I have always been religious and have looked for the right church. I never knew which one to follow because they all teach things so differently. But then I met the missionaries and they started to teach me about this church and it all seemed right, but I was having difficulties accepting the Book of Mormon. They always told me to pray about it and I was waiting for the right time to do it. Then one night I prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true, and I got an answer. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book. ´´... It was so good. He will be baptized soon.. I don´t know when because he is living with a girl that he thinks he wants to marry, but she is just 15 and he is 22. We are going to try to separate them from the same house and get him on a mission and then when he gets back, she will be 18 or 19 and then marriage is a little bit easier. Those are my thoughts anyway.
I am doing really great down here. I love everything. The other night I was having a tough time just thinking about what I am doin down here because sometimes it feels just like a big waste of time, but then I just said a prayer and laid it all out for Heavenly Father and I had a feeling of comfort and peace. So, I guess I am doing the right thing out here haha. Sometimes I just get a little homesick or get tired of being a missionary, but I know that Heavenly Father is lookin out for me and He knows me. So with Him, I can get through it all. But I am doing great.
My portugues is improving a lot. I live with 3 brazilians, I don´t know if I told you that already. So I don´t speak a word of English ever. It is really good for me. It is a little tough here for the people to understand me... I don´t know why. maybe I picked up a parnaibian accent. It is weird here because states right next to each other have different accents. But I think with a little more time they will understand me as I get used to they way they talk here. Sometimes its hard for me to understand them too.. haha.
Oh, some awesome news that I got today... Elder Bednar will be coming to this mission in November! I am excited for that. I guess he has something to tell me haha. I got to hear him in Portland while I was there if you remember. I like him a lot too. He is one of my favorite apostles. It will be a huge blessing to have him visit our mission.
Well, it sounds like your trip is going great. a lot of driving... but it sounds like fun. Tell kyle congrats for me if you get the chance. Im sure the sealing was wonderful. Be sure to take a lot of pictures on your trip and send me a couple.
Hey, it has been a while since I have heard from Paige, Brent, and Leslie. Tell them to write me an update or something. Also, Bailey and Chad. I want to see what Bailey looks like now and an update on what they are doing. Chad should be done with school for the summer right? did he have a good year?
Well, I better get goin... I love you guys a ton! Be safe!
Love, Isaac
ps... Dad, my mission is flying by for me. I will be out for 11 months tomorrow! crazy. you can almost start the count down... (i know mom already has.. haha) love ya!
Well the week went alright. We had a great baptism of José Maria. It was a great day for him and his family. We did the baptism at a resevor area close to town. I will send pictures if the computor will let me. But his wife was so happy and I am happy for them. I am glad that he took to first step toward the temple. Now he and his family can enjoy the great blessings of a temple marriage and everything that has to offer. I am excited for them!
Another investigator (Thiago) is progressing really well. He ALWAYS has so many questions about things he has heard or is curious about. It is good though that he is so curious about our beleifs and stuff. In our last visit he was having a hard time understanding why we do baptisms for the dead. We had a good discussion about how God wouldn´t punish those who haven´t ever had the opprotunity to hear the gospel and accept to be baptised. We explained that God loves ALL of his children and that he wouldn´t hold back the blessings of baptism for only a small few. It was good and he accepted it. But another thing that happened with him was yesterday at church he got up and bore his testimony!. it was very spiritual. I will translate what he said for ya: ´´When I moved here to Tiangua, I didn´t know what I was doing. I knew that there was something that I needed here. I have always been religious and have looked for the right church. I never knew which one to follow because they all teach things so differently. But then I met the missionaries and they started to teach me about this church and it all seemed right, but I was having difficulties accepting the Book of Mormon. They always told me to pray about it and I was waiting for the right time to do it. Then one night I prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true, and I got an answer. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book. ´´... It was so good. He will be baptized soon.. I don´t know when because he is living with a girl that he thinks he wants to marry, but she is just 15 and he is 22. We are going to try to separate them from the same house and get him on a mission and then when he gets back, she will be 18 or 19 and then marriage is a little bit easier. Those are my thoughts anyway.
I am doing really great down here. I love everything. The other night I was having a tough time just thinking about what I am doin down here because sometimes it feels just like a big waste of time, but then I just said a prayer and laid it all out for Heavenly Father and I had a feeling of comfort and peace. So, I guess I am doing the right thing out here haha. Sometimes I just get a little homesick or get tired of being a missionary, but I know that Heavenly Father is lookin out for me and He knows me. So with Him, I can get through it all. But I am doing great.
My portugues is improving a lot. I live with 3 brazilians, I don´t know if I told you that already. So I don´t speak a word of English ever. It is really good for me. It is a little tough here for the people to understand me... I don´t know why. maybe I picked up a parnaibian accent. It is weird here because states right next to each other have different accents. But I think with a little more time they will understand me as I get used to they way they talk here. Sometimes its hard for me to understand them too.. haha.
Oh, some awesome news that I got today... Elder Bednar will be coming to this mission in November! I am excited for that. I guess he has something to tell me haha. I got to hear him in Portland while I was there if you remember. I like him a lot too. He is one of my favorite apostles. It will be a huge blessing to have him visit our mission.
Well, it sounds like your trip is going great. a lot of driving... but it sounds like fun. Tell kyle congrats for me if you get the chance. Im sure the sealing was wonderful. Be sure to take a lot of pictures on your trip and send me a couple.
Hey, it has been a while since I have heard from Paige, Brent, and Leslie. Tell them to write me an update or something. Also, Bailey and Chad. I want to see what Bailey looks like now and an update on what they are doing. Chad should be done with school for the summer right? did he have a good year?
Well, I better get goin... I love you guys a ton! Be safe!
Love, Isaac
ps... Dad, my mission is flying by for me. I will be out for 11 months tomorrow! crazy. you can almost start the count down... (i know mom already has.. haha) love ya!
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