Hey fam..
This week was alright. Nothing too interesting happened... It was a
good week though. On Tuesday we had to do some splits with members
because for the first time in my mission we had way too much to do for
just 2 elders. That was a good feeling. So we split up and it ended up
being a great day.
Wednesday we did companion exchanges. I worked with Elder Deaver. He
is pretty new on the mission and has only about 3 months... He is a
great guy though. I am glad I can speak portugues though. Elder Deaver
is from Rocklin California. We are good friends. He likes sports too
so we talk a lot about sports. It is good for me.
Thursday was normal... nothing too special happened. We found a great
couple to teach though. They have a difficult life trying to get money
and they work very hard. They sell french fries at the park close to
their house... but that is a lot of work to do. But the guys name is
Junior and we taught the restoration and at the end we invited him to
be baptized if he knew the book of mormon was true... he accepted...
He just said.. "let´s go." haha. He felt the spirit and we are helping
him prepare for baptism on the 25th.
Friday and saturday were nothing special.. Saturday was the hottest
day I have ever experienced though. Then Sunday is always filled with
dissappointments. .Nobody comes to church. I can´t figure out the
secret to get people to church. I havent ever had this problem before
really. It is the hardest thing to do in Brazil but usually at least 3
people will come... Here lately no one is coming... I don´t know what
to do. I am gonna do a special fast and just pound going to church in
peoples heads haha. and use the members more to help out.
That is about all the news I have. Everything is just goin great.
Mom, I haven´t heard anyone talking about the rainforest here... I
don´t know why. I forgot that that was even a problem. I just asked my
companion if people worry about it, and he said no. No one does. haha.
So that is the answer I have.
I love you! Have a fantastic week!!!
Love Isaac
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
1.23.12 Baptism
opa!
This week was a good one. Elder Cruz and I are progessing a ton. It is way good. I am liking being a trainer because I am sure that I am learning a lot more than he is. It is awesome.
We had our first baptism together on saturday. Antonio was baptized. He is 46 and has just had a tough life growing up. I think he never realy felt important, and he has lived in the middle of a lot of things that shouldn´t happen. But he is a great guy. After the baptism I asked him how he was feeling.. and he said, 'better'... I really liked that. The gospel really has that effect on people. Any problem, any temptation, or difficulty, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the solution. And it makes our lives better.
We also found some elect people this week. I am way excited for them. A couple of families!!! I am just excited. Our lessons with them yesterday were just amazing. The spirit was so strong and the people were very interessed and paying attention really well. I love those kinds of lessons where the spirit just takes it away. It should be like that everytime, but unfortanatly we are human and get in the way of the spirit sometimes. But when we try to get out of the way, miracles happen... (did i spell miracles right?... if not just help me out with that spelling next week... haha)
Elder Cruz and I both bore our testimonies about the Book of Mormon at the end of a lesson and we shared how we both came to know that the book of mormon is true. When we got done, a lady said... so this book does miracles (that word again). and I just said yeah... the spirit was very very stong and I am just way excited for these people. Sometimes I just love being a missionary haha.
I am glad you guys are having a good winter. That is awesome there isn´t too much snow. I hope it stays like that forever in Idaho... Here it has been rainy. It usually rains in the morning, then stops at noon. I think the sun evaporates the clouds, if that is possible. And then when the sun starts to go down a little the clouds come back and it rains again. It is a good time of the year here. Nice and cool. I used a long sleeve shirt on Thursday because i was cold.
That is about all the news I have. I love you all. I know the gospel is true and that Jesus is our Savior. He lives.
Love Isaac
This week was a good one. Elder Cruz and I are progessing a ton. It is way good. I am liking being a trainer because I am sure that I am learning a lot more than he is. It is awesome.
We had our first baptism together on saturday. Antonio was baptized. He is 46 and has just had a tough life growing up. I think he never realy felt important, and he has lived in the middle of a lot of things that shouldn´t happen. But he is a great guy. After the baptism I asked him how he was feeling.. and he said, 'better'... I really liked that. The gospel really has that effect on people. Any problem, any temptation, or difficulty, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the solution. And it makes our lives better.
We also found some elect people this week. I am way excited for them. A couple of families!!! I am just excited. Our lessons with them yesterday were just amazing. The spirit was so strong and the people were very interessed and paying attention really well. I love those kinds of lessons where the spirit just takes it away. It should be like that everytime, but unfortanatly we are human and get in the way of the spirit sometimes. But when we try to get out of the way, miracles happen... (did i spell miracles right?... if not just help me out with that spelling next week... haha)
Elder Cruz and I both bore our testimonies about the Book of Mormon at the end of a lesson and we shared how we both came to know that the book of mormon is true. When we got done, a lady said... so this book does miracles (that word again). and I just said yeah... the spirit was very very stong and I am just way excited for these people. Sometimes I just love being a missionary haha.
I am glad you guys are having a good winter. That is awesome there isn´t too much snow. I hope it stays like that forever in Idaho... Here it has been rainy. It usually rains in the morning, then stops at noon. I think the sun evaporates the clouds, if that is possible. And then when the sun starts to go down a little the clouds come back and it rains again. It is a good time of the year here. Nice and cool. I used a long sleeve shirt on Thursday because i was cold.
That is about all the news I have. I love you all. I know the gospel is true and that Jesus is our Savior. He lives.
Love Isaac
Monday, January 16, 2012
1.15.12 Another good week
Bom Dia!
This week was another good one. Things are getting good here in Timon. Antonio is progressing really really well. It is amazing. He is opening up more and more every lesson. He will be baptized this coming Saturday. I am way excited for him. He is such a good guy. He is someone who looks like he would never accept the Gospel. He just has a cold face and doesn´t smile very much. But since we have been talking and helping him, he is just like a blossoming flower haha. I like him a lot.
But yesterday was the highlight of the week... So it started out way bad because the investigators that we worked with all week didn´t go to church and that is always frustrating. But then we had an amazing lunch after church and Elder Cruz and I went back home to study.. (We have to study and extra hour everyday for his first 12 weeks out here) We studied about listening better and we went out after that and asked good questions to people and really worked hard to listen to them. We went and a big walk to a place in Timon that hasn´t had missionaries for a long time visit there. People there were lookin at us weird because most of them probably haven´t seen missionaries before haha. But we went there to find a guy that I contacted in the street one day in Teresina. His name is also Antonio. But he and his wife were so nice to us and invited us right in. So then Elder Cruz and I just started applying everything we have ever learned to make that lesson the best ever. And it was. The Spirit was SO strong. I know they felt it. Edna (antonios wife) was commenting at the end about how we talk differently about the Savior and that she felt something different. They are going to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. They are a great family. And that was an awesome lesson.
So here are the answers to your questions, Mom. I don´t filter my water. I should but I don[t. We all have bottles that filter the water, but I don´t like it and i haven´t died yet or been sick so I think i am good. The group that came with Elder Cruz had 5 Brazilans, and 6 Americans. The visa problem continues, but it looks like the americans coming here to this mission are all getting it by the end of the MTC. I don´t know how it is in the rest of Brazil.
And Dad, when I speak in chruch I just write down a couple of points and then just talk. If I get stuck i look at what I wrote to remember, but I am pretty used to just goin by the spirit now ha. And I do still take worm pills. Every 6 months we take them. Sister Dias gives them to us and watches us take them to make sure we actually do. They are gross and it feels like I am eating chalk.
It is rainy here in Timon. Thursday there was a huge rain storm and yesterday rained a little but had a lot of cloud coverage. Then this morning it started raining at 5:30 and hasn´t stopped yet. I am hoping it will continue like this for a couple of weeks. It isn´t so hot with the rain. This is when the rainy season is supposed to start... and it goes till like april or may.
But I gotta get goin. I love you guys a ton. Thank you for all that you do and for the support and prayers and everything. you are the best.
Love Isaac
This week was another good one. Things are getting good here in Timon. Antonio is progressing really really well. It is amazing. He is opening up more and more every lesson. He will be baptized this coming Saturday. I am way excited for him. He is such a good guy. He is someone who looks like he would never accept the Gospel. He just has a cold face and doesn´t smile very much. But since we have been talking and helping him, he is just like a blossoming flower haha. I like him a lot.
But yesterday was the highlight of the week... So it started out way bad because the investigators that we worked with all week didn´t go to church and that is always frustrating. But then we had an amazing lunch after church and Elder Cruz and I went back home to study.. (We have to study and extra hour everyday for his first 12 weeks out here) We studied about listening better and we went out after that and asked good questions to people and really worked hard to listen to them. We went and a big walk to a place in Timon that hasn´t had missionaries for a long time visit there. People there were lookin at us weird because most of them probably haven´t seen missionaries before haha. But we went there to find a guy that I contacted in the street one day in Teresina. His name is also Antonio. But he and his wife were so nice to us and invited us right in. So then Elder Cruz and I just started applying everything we have ever learned to make that lesson the best ever. And it was. The Spirit was SO strong. I know they felt it. Edna (antonios wife) was commenting at the end about how we talk differently about the Savior and that she felt something different. They are going to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. They are a great family. And that was an awesome lesson.
So here are the answers to your questions, Mom. I don´t filter my water. I should but I don[t. We all have bottles that filter the water, but I don´t like it and i haven´t died yet or been sick so I think i am good. The group that came with Elder Cruz had 5 Brazilans, and 6 Americans. The visa problem continues, but it looks like the americans coming here to this mission are all getting it by the end of the MTC. I don´t know how it is in the rest of Brazil.
And Dad, when I speak in chruch I just write down a couple of points and then just talk. If I get stuck i look at what I wrote to remember, but I am pretty used to just goin by the spirit now ha. And I do still take worm pills. Every 6 months we take them. Sister Dias gives them to us and watches us take them to make sure we actually do. They are gross and it feels like I am eating chalk.
It is rainy here in Timon. Thursday there was a huge rain storm and yesterday rained a little but had a lot of cloud coverage. Then this morning it started raining at 5:30 and hasn´t stopped yet. I am hoping it will continue like this for a couple of weeks. It isn´t so hot with the rain. This is when the rainy season is supposed to start... and it goes till like april or may.
But I gotta get goin. I love you guys a ton. Thank you for all that you do and for the support and prayers and everything. you are the best.
Love Isaac
Monday, January 9, 2012
1.9.12 Awesome Week
Good morning!
This week was pretty good. So here is the big surprise... I am still in Timon. But my companion was transferred and I got a new one. His name is Elder Cruz. He is from Rio Grande do Sul. Way in the south of Brazil. He has been a member all his life. When he was 11, his mom died from medical problems. I am not exactly sure what problems, but they did a surgery and the conditions got worse. They were expecting her to not live for much longer and one day she died. His dad has since remarried and he really likes his step-mom. They are all members in his family. He has one week in the mission field. So with that said, you can know that I am training him. One of the most humbling things I have done. I don´t think I was prideful before, but just with all the trust of President Dias and the Lord, it is way humbling. 11 missionaries showed up with him. I am excited and I am loving to train. It is a good experience.
So we have an investigator named Antonio. He is a really really good guy. He doesn´t talk much at all, and so it is hard to know if he is feeling anything, or if he is actually learning. But we marked a baptismal date with him for the 21st, and I think that made all the difference. He just took off progressing. He is opening up to us more and talking about his feelings. He is really changing a lot. The gospel seems to do that to people. But yesterday he gave us a referral, and I didn´t know where it was so I asked him to go with us. He did gladly. We set up another time to go back and he said he will go with us. Then after that we had more appoitments to go to, and he wanted to keep workin with us so we let him. These are really good signs that he knows what we are teaching is true because he wants to help others receive the same blessings. It is really cool to see. He is already better than some members here. Antonio is a great guy.
That is great to hear that Melanie got married. I am happy for her. She was always saying that she wouldn´t ever get married. She seemed pretty worried about it when I was working with her. I am glad she is happy now.
I don´t have to speak in church too often. Probably once every 3 months... if that. It isn´t a big deal for me to speak in church now. I am gettin good at following the spirit and being able to talk about something for a while and make it make sense.
For income here, people just work way hard. (well some) Usually the jobs are all blue-collar type of jobs, but it gets the families what they need. The job situation in the northeast of brazil is tough. The 3 states that my mission covers are the 3 poorest states in Brazil. But generally the people are very happy and are thankful for what they have. I think that is why so many people are open to the Gospel, because God is about all they have..... And the hospitals are a little iffy. I am very glad I haven´t had to do anything there. I don´t like they way the hospitals work. It is free for everyone and so people just go there and the doctors have to get everyone in and so they end up not giving too much time to people and I don´t know if they really get the needs of the patient covered. Its just like get in, here is the generic prescription, and now leave so the next person can get it. At least that is what I saw when i was in Tianguá.
The members go to Recife to go to the temple. it is like a day and half trip. They get to go 2 times a year. The problem is is that not everyone gets to go because they get one bus a stake, and so there isn´t room for everyone. i think the priorities are families going to be sealed, and other members that will do the endowment for the first time. usually the youth don´t get to go because they bus is full of adults. When fotaleza is finished, it will be a lot better for the members here. It is only 12 hours away from Teresina. So they can go like once every 3 months or so...
I am glad that you guys are doing great! i love you all so much and I hope your week is amazing.
Love Isaac
This week was pretty good. So here is the big surprise... I am still in Timon. But my companion was transferred and I got a new one. His name is Elder Cruz. He is from Rio Grande do Sul. Way in the south of Brazil. He has been a member all his life. When he was 11, his mom died from medical problems. I am not exactly sure what problems, but they did a surgery and the conditions got worse. They were expecting her to not live for much longer and one day she died. His dad has since remarried and he really likes his step-mom. They are all members in his family. He has one week in the mission field. So with that said, you can know that I am training him. One of the most humbling things I have done. I don´t think I was prideful before, but just with all the trust of President Dias and the Lord, it is way humbling. 11 missionaries showed up with him. I am excited and I am loving to train. It is a good experience.
So we have an investigator named Antonio. He is a really really good guy. He doesn´t talk much at all, and so it is hard to know if he is feeling anything, or if he is actually learning. But we marked a baptismal date with him for the 21st, and I think that made all the difference. He just took off progressing. He is opening up to us more and talking about his feelings. He is really changing a lot. The gospel seems to do that to people. But yesterday he gave us a referral, and I didn´t know where it was so I asked him to go with us. He did gladly. We set up another time to go back and he said he will go with us. Then after that we had more appoitments to go to, and he wanted to keep workin with us so we let him. These are really good signs that he knows what we are teaching is true because he wants to help others receive the same blessings. It is really cool to see. He is already better than some members here. Antonio is a great guy.
That is great to hear that Melanie got married. I am happy for her. She was always saying that she wouldn´t ever get married. She seemed pretty worried about it when I was working with her. I am glad she is happy now.
I don´t have to speak in church too often. Probably once every 3 months... if that. It isn´t a big deal for me to speak in church now. I am gettin good at following the spirit and being able to talk about something for a while and make it make sense.
For income here, people just work way hard. (well some) Usually the jobs are all blue-collar type of jobs, but it gets the families what they need. The job situation in the northeast of brazil is tough. The 3 states that my mission covers are the 3 poorest states in Brazil. But generally the people are very happy and are thankful for what they have. I think that is why so many people are open to the Gospel, because God is about all they have..... And the hospitals are a little iffy. I am very glad I haven´t had to do anything there. I don´t like they way the hospitals work. It is free for everyone and so people just go there and the doctors have to get everyone in and so they end up not giving too much time to people and I don´t know if they really get the needs of the patient covered. Its just like get in, here is the generic prescription, and now leave so the next person can get it. At least that is what I saw when i was in Tianguá.
The members go to Recife to go to the temple. it is like a day and half trip. They get to go 2 times a year. The problem is is that not everyone gets to go because they get one bus a stake, and so there isn´t room for everyone. i think the priorities are families going to be sealed, and other members that will do the endowment for the first time. usually the youth don´t get to go because they bus is full of adults. When fotaleza is finished, it will be a lot better for the members here. It is only 12 hours away from Teresina. So they can go like once every 3 months or so...
I am glad that you guys are doing great! i love you all so much and I hope your week is amazing.
Love Isaac
Monday, January 2, 2012
Christmas Letter 2011
This is a great time of the year. I always loved being around everyone at home... doing our christmas eve program. All of my best Christmas memories are from that simple program. But now I am in Brazil.. for the second straight Christmas. Even though it is extremely hot, and there aren´t very many lights, and most people are drunk, I can still feel the spirit of Christmas.
2011 years ago, the Messiah came to the earth! That is one of the most exciting and most anticipated things that ever happened in the history of the earth. At this time of year we all remember His birth a little more. It truley was a miraculus (I can´t spell anymore) thing. But we should all remember why He came here in the first place...
He came to show us the way. He came to show us how to live. He came to teach us. He showed us how to be baptized, how to act, how to serve, and how to love. He did so many things that none of the books could contain everything that He did. We only have a small accout of his works. But His mission was much more that all of that. He came to the Earth to be our Savior.
There was no one that could have done what He did. He sufferend for each of our sins. He knew us at that time, and He was fully aware of us. He loves us so much, that he went through all of that pain, and torture, and even died...just for you... I often sit there thinking about that. I want to testify that I know He is the savior and redemer of the world. He died, and ressurected. He lives and we should continue to accept his invitation to follow him.
This part is for Grandma and Grandpa... Please remember the things Christ has done for you. Remeber all of the blessings you have received in your lives. I know life is hard.. almost every single day. But, certainly God has been blessing you with something throughout all of the hard times. I am serving a mission for the Lord. I am his servant and His representative. As a representative of Him, I am supposed to do and say exactly what he would say and do. So, I am inviting you, as He did, to follow Him. Show some faith in Him and learn about the Restored Gospel. Just give a tiny part of your heart to hear this ´good news` I love you so much, and the Savior loves you so much.
I love you all and I hope you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
2011 years ago, the Messiah came to the earth! That is one of the most exciting and most anticipated things that ever happened in the history of the earth. At this time of year we all remember His birth a little more. It truley was a miraculus (I can´t spell anymore) thing. But we should all remember why He came here in the first place...
He came to show us the way. He came to show us how to live. He came to teach us. He showed us how to be baptized, how to act, how to serve, and how to love. He did so many things that none of the books could contain everything that He did. We only have a small accout of his works. But His mission was much more that all of that. He came to the Earth to be our Savior.
There was no one that could have done what He did. He sufferend for each of our sins. He knew us at that time, and He was fully aware of us. He loves us so much, that he went through all of that pain, and torture, and even died...just for you... I often sit there thinking about that. I want to testify that I know He is the savior and redemer of the world. He died, and ressurected. He lives and we should continue to accept his invitation to follow him.
This part is for Grandma and Grandpa... Please remember the things Christ has done for you. Remeber all of the blessings you have received in your lives. I know life is hard.. almost every single day. But, certainly God has been blessing you with something throughout all of the hard times. I am serving a mission for the Lord. I am his servant and His representative. As a representative of Him, I am supposed to do and say exactly what he would say and do. So, I am inviting you, as He did, to follow Him. Show some faith in Him and learn about the Restored Gospel. Just give a tiny part of your heart to hear this ´good news` I love you so much, and the Savior loves you so much.
I love you all and I hope you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
1.2.12 New Year
ola minha querida família.
This week was alright. everyone is still on the holiday mode and a lot of people don´t have to work this week and so there was just a ton of drinking everynight. That is what the people in general like to do. It wasn´t the best week on my mission, but it was alright... haha.
New years was good. Me and my companion had to go to Caxias so he could do some baptismal interviews for the elders there and so we spent most of the day traveling and doin stuff in the other city. We got back at like 830 in my area. We ordered some pizzas and some coke to celebrate the new year and played a little card game... haha it was lame. we were both in bed at 11. But I couldn´t sleep because there was always someone shooting off fireworks. then at 1155 till like 1230 it just went crazy outside and there was non stop fireworks. They were shootin them off in the soccer field behind our house and so it was impossible to sleep. The fireworks here are really really lame too. I have a video I will show you when I get home, but they are just a tiny bit better than a bottle rocket.
haha Mom, you pulled off britney pretty well! haha I got a good laugh at that. Dad looked pretty gangsta too. I am glad he didn´t choose that path for his life though! haha. It was weird to see him in that kind of clothes. I am glad you guys had a good new years party though.
oh, and tell miranda to watch out... I think all of those boys you listed are returned missionaries.... they are on the hunt now. I am sure mindy is lovin it, but just watch out.. haha.
So, as of now, I haven´t heard of anyone getting transferred, but I am sure there will be some calls. A ton of people went home this transfer. I don´t think I will get moved because i only have 2 months here in timon.
There are a couple things I am needing if it isn´t a big problem... You can make it my birthday package if you were planning on sending one... if you weren´t planning on sending a bday package then now you can start haha. I need some more deodorant. The old spice you sent once was really really good... i think it is called sweat defence..(writtin in big letters) That stuff was way good. And also a consecrated oil thing to give blessings. My companion is needing one... Just a normal or big sized one he would like. And some beef jerkey. He loves beef jerkey and him talking about it gave me the craving too.. haha.
Anyway, I love you all! have a fantastic week!
Love Isaac
This week was alright. everyone is still on the holiday mode and a lot of people don´t have to work this week and so there was just a ton of drinking everynight. That is what the people in general like to do. It wasn´t the best week on my mission, but it was alright... haha.
New years was good. Me and my companion had to go to Caxias so he could do some baptismal interviews for the elders there and so we spent most of the day traveling and doin stuff in the other city. We got back at like 830 in my area. We ordered some pizzas and some coke to celebrate the new year and played a little card game... haha it was lame. we were both in bed at 11. But I couldn´t sleep because there was always someone shooting off fireworks. then at 1155 till like 1230 it just went crazy outside and there was non stop fireworks. They were shootin them off in the soccer field behind our house and so it was impossible to sleep. The fireworks here are really really lame too. I have a video I will show you when I get home, but they are just a tiny bit better than a bottle rocket.
haha Mom, you pulled off britney pretty well! haha I got a good laugh at that. Dad looked pretty gangsta too. I am glad he didn´t choose that path for his life though! haha. It was weird to see him in that kind of clothes. I am glad you guys had a good new years party though.
oh, and tell miranda to watch out... I think all of those boys you listed are returned missionaries.... they are on the hunt now. I am sure mindy is lovin it, but just watch out.. haha.
So, as of now, I haven´t heard of anyone getting transferred, but I am sure there will be some calls. A ton of people went home this transfer. I don´t think I will get moved because i only have 2 months here in timon.
There are a couple things I am needing if it isn´t a big problem... You can make it my birthday package if you were planning on sending one... if you weren´t planning on sending a bday package then now you can start haha. I need some more deodorant. The old spice you sent once was really really good... i think it is called sweat defence..(writtin in big letters) That stuff was way good. And also a consecrated oil thing to give blessings. My companion is needing one... Just a normal or big sized one he would like. And some beef jerkey. He loves beef jerkey and him talking about it gave me the craving too.. haha.
Anyway, I love you all! have a fantastic week!
Love Isaac
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)