Monday, July 25, 2011

7.25.11 email chat

So today when I got Isaac's email I thought that I would send his pin number for his new bank card in hopes that he was still on the computer. Lo and behold he was still on and we were able to email back and forth for a few minutes. Here is some of the info that we exchanged.

Mom:I sent him is pin number, but I'm not going to post it on the blog:)
Isaac: thanks! I will write it down! it looks like we are on at the same time! I love ya!
Mom:I was hoping that we would be on at the same time... I love you more!
Isaac: Do you have any questions that I forgot to answer in my email??
Mom: You answered them all. Did you get the picture of Bailey? She is a cute pregnant girl.
Is this legal for you to email back and forth?
Isaac: Yes I got the picture of Bailey.. it is weird to see her pregnant. When is the baby due? i know in sept, but what day? And I think it is legall.... haha. The rules say you can email family members.. it doesn´t say how many times haha. (and elder smoot does it I know, so i think it is ok ;) )
Mom:Bailey is due the 30th of September. she is miserable in the philly heat and humidity. She vows never to be big pregnant again in the summer. At least as long as they are on the east coast. When will your new comp arrive? What happened to the other missionaries in your house. Did the crazy on get transferred?
Isaac: haha, poor bailey... I hope everything goes good for her though in these next two months. I will pray for her to not be so miserable. The crazy elder did get transferred!! i forgot to tell you that. He too will be going to são luis. An american will take his spot. it will be good to have an american in the house. My new comp will get here tomorrow sometime. i don´t remember what time so i will have to call the zone leaders again. but i am excited for the next transfer! I think it will be great!
Mom:I have loved emailing with you but I have to get my chores done and take a shower. I love you and I want you to be happy and healthy! Have a good rest of the day.
Isaac: I love you too! have a great week!

I could have gone on emailing him for a long time, but I knew he was coming close to his alloted time on the computer and I didn't want to tempt him to be disobedient. It sure was fun to know we were on the computer at the same time.

7.25.11 transfers

Hey family...

So everyone is worried about the transfer it sounds like, so to start off, I didn´t get transferred.... but my companion did. He will be going to São Luis tomorrow. My new companion will be Elder Ferreira da Silva. I got to know him in Parnaíba pretty well. He was in my district there. He is a good guy and will be an upgrade...haha. He is from Curitiba. He too was born into the church and has good family support. (from what I remember from Parnaíba.) The last time I saw him was Christmas time so I might not have everything straight. I will give you a little background on him next week.

This week was pretty good. Better than all the others anyway. We did a good job of working durning the week, and we didn´t stay in our house very much. So that was good. We also had interviews with President Dias and that was really good. I told him everything and he helped me out on what to do. He is a great guy. But because I told him everything, my companion was mad at me from Thursday until Sunday. But last night we had a talk and straightened things out. I guess I don´t need to worry about that anymore anyway because of the transfer.

Also is bigger news, Lene was finally baptized. She has been wanting to be baptized for about a month now, but it never worked out because her husband was always traveling. Then this week we found both of them in their house and Rafael (her husband) said that we should just do the baptism even if he can´t attend. So, we got things ready for the baptism on Saturday and it turns out that Rafael got back that night from traveling and was able to watch her be baptized. It was a good night for that family. Now they can all start preparing for the temple and the blessings it will bring to them.
So, I don´t really know what I can say about Brazil... It is hard to describe the terrain.. Where I am now is considered to be in the mountains, but really it is just hills compared to real mountains. There are just rolling hills of palm trees and thick, thick brush all around.
The weather is the exact same everyday. It the other cities in this mission, it is just HOT. The city that I am in now is a little cooler at night and in the morning. It gets pretty warm in the afternoon though, but there is a constant cool breeze that keeps me from gettin way hot like I would in the other cities I passed through.

Here in the Northeast of Brazil, the people aren´t very educated. Education is growing though. I think I read that public schools are fairly new (started about 100 years ago). But the public schools don´t offer that great of an education. The people that are a little more wealthy pay for their kids to go to private schools where the teachers are more qualified and there they get a better education. The older people didn´t have these opprotunities and so it isn´t very uncommon to find people that don´t know how to read or write. But I don´t want it to sound like everyone is this way... especially in the rest of Brazil. The missionaries from the south part of the country make it sound like the northeast is a completely different country compared to where they live.

The work they do here is normal work.. there are all types of jobs here. I don´t really ever talk to those who are in the medical or more wealthy professions because they usually are working and then go home to their big houses and stay inside. The people that I talk to work more with driving a bus, or working as a mechanic or someother blue-collar job. These people seem to be a LOT more humble and open to what we have to say.

The food is great. It is white rice, beans, and spaghetti noodles for almost every lunch. There is usually a vegatable salad or some lettuce and tomatoes to eat too. The most common type of meat I eat is chicken and cow. (The cow meat is really tough). Sometimes people make us fish too. I ate a lot more fish when I was closer to the ocean.

Other things that are different... transportation is different. People ride bicycles a lot more down here. Also motocycles are pretty popular. Sometimes you will see 4 or 5 people on one motorcylce. The record that I have seen is a family of 6 on one moto haha. There are cars as well, but they are really really basic cars. Nothing fancy. A luxery car down here is a new Toyota. The rich people drive those. The most common car is a Volkswagon Gol. Another way of transportaion is on a cart pulled by a donkey.. haha. I see a lot of people take that option. And to get from city to city, people take a bus... or if the cities are closer (like Tianguá to Sobral) people will take a van-bus type thing. It is smaller and fits about 30ish people maximum.

Well, I got your package. It came with president when he came here. Thank you so much!!! It had everything in there that you said. I am wondering what the pin number for the ATM card is.. I remember you told me it changed, but I don´t remember what you said it is. So, if you could, tell me please.

I love you all!!! Especially you, Mom and Dad! Oh and happy anniversary to Paige and Brent this week!! Congrats! (I am still waiting for an email or anything from you two... haha) I love you!!

Love Isaac

Monday, July 18, 2011

7.18.11

Querido Família,

This week was a little bit better. We worked a little bit more and I think things might pick up... who knows haha. There is only one more week of this transfer so we will see.

President called us on Thursday night to talk to my companion and the district leader. He told them to do an exchange. He told them to leave at 10 in the morning and to not go home until 9 at night and to give a report in their emails about what happened. I think that was a smart move. They at least worked in my area for the whole day. They didn´t find anyone new to teach because apparently all the contacts they did were with weird people haha. But I thought that was a good idea from President.

Then on Sunday, members brought 5 people to church. 2 girls didnt want anything to do with us and always turned their backs when we tried to talk or introduce other members to them. But another guy brought his friend with him. His name is Ebert. He is 14 years old. He liked church and after church and lunch, we went to his house to teach him about the restoration. It was a good lesson. It was good to teach again... haha. But it was good. He didn´t seem too interested in the first part of the lesson, but when I started to talk about Joseph Smith, he perked right up. It is always cool to teach the Restoration of the Gospel because EVERY time the Spirit just rushes in when we talk about Joseph Smith and the first vison. I think Ebert liked the story of Joseph because they have the same age and he could relate with the same questions and doubts. But anyway, we gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he will read and pray about it. He is a really good kid.

Yeah, so we do P-day a little differently here. Usually we wake up and play soccer at 8ish and then go back home and take showers and sit around. I clean my room and organize things around the house. Then we will usually go eat something for lunch and make something in the house and then take naps or do whatever in the house. My companion likes to use the internet more toward 4-5 oclock. I am fine with that. Today we didn´t play soccer, and we felt like using the internet earlier today.

Mom, my companion is from São Paulo. He has 1 year and 5 months more or less on the mission.


It sounds like your summer is going great. I was glad to see that picture of the sunset there. I was thinking that the sunsets here are just as pretty as the ones in Idaho, but I am wrong. I will try to send a picture of a sunset from Tiangua.

Mom, I think the package should get to me this week. President is doing a loop around the mission interviewing all the missionaries and he is coming here on Friday. So I should get it then if he doesnt forget to bring mail.

What are Paige and Brent up to lately? I havent heard anything from them for a long time. I guess they are still alive because I saw Brent in the picture you sent haha.

I love you all very very much! You are the best family. Thanks for the support and prayers!

Love Isaac

Monday, July 11, 2011

7.11.11 Square Dance


Elder Cunha and me (standing) Helema (membro sitting on left) and my companion Elder Andrade (sitting on right). This is our CD cover.





Th place where they square dance.



Me in a straw hat



Square Dancing costumes

7.11.11

Hey awesome family!

Just to start out, I love you all!! Thank you so much to take the time to write to me every week! I look forward to hearing from you every Monday! Your emails are great!

This week was the same old thing. We are working with Jose Maria a little. He was baptized about a month ago. He fell back into his drinking problems, which is sad, but almost normal. We go to check up on him a couple of times a week and leave spiritual messages with him. He knows what is right, but I imagine after 30 years of drinking, it would be hard to stay sober. But he is progressing. He is a great guy. I am excited to see what happens with his family. Everyone was baptized except him. His son went inactive about a year ago and he is coming up to a mission age. His wife and daughter are both active. But I have hopes that he will get his drinking problem under control and that he will become active to get the priesthood and that his example will help out his son get back to church and on a mission. His son is choosing to become a hippie. haha. He is a cool kid, but I dont think the hippie life is the best...haha

I am studying the New Testament in my personal study. It is going well. I found a study guide here that I use to study with. I am learning a lot. I am goin kinda slow cause I study other things too, but I just finished studying about the first year of Christs ministry. I really like the lesson He gave of being born again. It is interesting that first Christ says you have to be born again to SEE the kingdom of God. Then he states, you have to be born again in the water, AND by the spirit, to ENTER the kingdom of God. A lot of times people have spiritual experiences in their lives before baptism that they catch a glympse of an awesome life, but only through baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost can you enjoy ALL the blessings of eternal life. And it is a lifetime process to be born again. Not just a one day deal. So, I learned I have a lot to do still haha. I am greatful for the commandments and prophets to help me out. We really do have a loving Heavenly Father.

Dad, thanks for the advice. I have already emailed President about the problems and he replied to me and said that he is trying to figure something out. He told me to pray for him. I have been. He is a great President and I trust he knows what he is doing. He is a very spiritual man and so I am confident he is following the Spirit. I am trying to help my companion out, but, sometimes its a bummer that others have agency...haha. The next scheduled transfer is on the 24th of July.

Mom, my companions story is this... He was born into the church and all of his imediate family are members and a few of his extended family are members. He grew up in kind of a rough neighborhood. He has a girlfriend who is waiting for him and I think he is here to get a returned missionary status so she will marry him. When he started his mission, for some reason no one knew that he was coming.. like the people at the MTC. He showed up and they werent expecting him. And after the MTC he came here and the mission wasnt expecting him. There was obviously some communication problems, but I think that kind of hurt him. I think he doesnt feel needed sometimes. He is a good kid though and is easy to get a long with. We talk a lot and laugh, but I dont know exactly what I can do to help motivate him.

But anyway... Things are goin alright. I still love my calling! I am learning a lot through all of this and I am coming a lot closer to Heavenly Father. I find myself praying a lot more, more than I ever have in my life. And I am finding comfort in studying the life of the Savior. So, I guess there is a reason I am here in this situation. I cant wait to get back to helping others come unto the Savior though haha.

Oh one more thing, I got letters from Grandma Flash and from Sister Willoughby (i dont know if that is how you spell her name) and from you, with emails from Motes and Taylor Walker. You asked in your letter if I ever got a different letter with the who what where drawings, and I got some a while ago... I dont remember what month... but one of the drawings i remember is that Miranda drew ET and I thought that was hillarious that she got that card because I know she is afraid of ET haha.

I love you guys so much and I hope your week is great!

Love Isaac

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

7.4.11

Hello fam.

This last week was ok. No baptisms, and not much else either. I am getting sick of not doing anything, but, not much I can do being junior companion. I am learning a lot in all the time I have to study.

So here is some news... There is a city close by called Viçosa. Today at like 12ish, some people robbed a bank and ran away in all directions to the state of Piauí and to this town, Tianguá, and other surrounding areas. There are helicoptors flying circles around the city looking for the robbers. It is pretty crazy.

I really dont have much to say today because not much is going on lately. Elder Goodoy (of the seventy) is coming to the stake conference in Sobral coming up. That will be cool to hear from him. (Tianguá is part of the Sobral Stake.) I am guessing there will be a new stake president called.

All of the confusion is settled here. The elders still don´t like each other, but everyone is just quiet and mind their own business. Everyone is just waiting for a transfer. But I wouldn´t be surprised if another fight broke out here. The one crazy elder could snap at any minute. He is known for that. But as for now, it´s all good.

I am sad to be missing the fireworks today. I have been thinking about home lately. I love summer time there, especially the 4th of July. I ate a hamburger for lunch today and I will rock a red white and blue tie to celebrate down here. Its too bad that there won´t be fireworks.... But right now is a holiday season down here.. The catholics are worshiping the saints right now I guess, and people have big bon fires in front of their houses and people square dance. There was a big party on Friday night of professional square dancing and I got a little video and some pictures that I will try to send home. Their dresses and outfits are kinda neat. It started about a week ago, and will go to the end of July.

I don´t have any other news to tell ya.. I am glad the family reunion was good! I wish I could have been there. There isn´t a huge mosquito problem in Tinanguá... There are mosquitos here, but I had more of a problem in Sobral and Parnaiba than I do here. The mosquitos love to bite my ankles. They always go there for some reason. So I just simply put my sheet over my feet and they leave the rest of my body alone.

I hope you all have a great 4th of July!!! You are probably BBQin and swimming in the canal and all that fun stuff.. One more year and I will join ya! It is crazy that I have a year out here now... I still feel like I don´t know what I am doing and that I am one of the young guys still haha. I think I will feel that way till I come home. But, I love you all and I hope you have a great day and a fantastic week!!!

Love Isaac