Christmas Day

We got to speak with Elder Sork today.  He was able to answer a lot of questions about his area and the people he is working with.  We also got to meet his companion, Elder Kozowlski, who assures us that Carson is doing great and has a good handle on the language - right where he should be for being four months out.  Our call got cut short due to computer problems at the home he was in, but before we were cut off we did get to hear him conversing with the family in Portuguese.  It was pretty cool.  I know he is frustrated with not being able to say everything he wants to say, but it sounded to me like he was doing just great.  Here are a few pictures of his Christmas day with his companion and the hosting family:

Don't Waste The Gift You Have Been Given

Hey Mom,

I think you´re teaching Seminary right now.  I was hoping it was Christmas Break already but I guess not. Please as soon as you get the chance, try to message me and see if I am still online so we can figure out the call schedule for Christmas!

First off, transfers: Nothing changed. Me and Elder Kozlowski are companions still, and will be staying in our area. We were both really happy – me, because I am afraid of being with another Brazilian (but its bound to happen this next transfer) and Elder K, because he didn’t want to have to change areas right before Christmas with a whole new ward. We have some really good families here and are really starting to work with the members, in the past they haven’t had much trust in missionaries but we have had several people tell us how the ward thinks very highly of the work we are doing and that several members literally prayed that we would stay in the area at least one more transfer.

If I don’t get the chance to IM you, here’s the deal for Christmas: WE talked with a member last night and the plan is to do skype about 11;00 Joao Pessoa time. If all goes right, the time difference is about 5 hours, and I will be calling AFTER Elder Kozlowski (12-12:30 Joao Pessoa time) so be READY to receive a call starting anywhere from 7-7;30 your time. (Also double check all my math because maybe it’s wrong). I would like to Skype, it’s gonna be hard but it’s always hard on missionaries - I want to see you guys! So yes, lets skype. I don’t really know how skype works, I´m assuming I just look up your account. Also have email (or instant message via email) ready and if I have problems with skype. I will be letting you know what’s going on via IM.

Here’s the stuff that happened this week: 

We had our conference Christmas this Monday after I sent emails, it was good, I got a cake from a white elephant - my companion got sticky notes - haha. It was kind fun but also kind of sucky because I am really struggling with finding enjoyment being in a large social gathering full of people I don’t understand. At the least, I got to talk a little with Elder Allen and Elder Bradshaw who arrived here with me.  They´re doing great and their Portuguese is too.  (I’m a little jealous but I know I shouldn’t compare). They had a talent show that was fun to watch, I didn’t do anything because I still haven’t found a way to get my hands on a violin. And it’s only been 4 months but I am really worried by the time I get back I´m not gonna be able to play and that I won’t have that muscle memory. Vamos ver! (In hindsight, Carson told me via IM he wishes he would have asked for approval to bring his violin along with him.  He is sure they would have said okay.  I joked about sending it, but given the mail situation we have had – that is not going to happen. I sure wish there was a way to get one in his hands…)

Tuesday we had interviews with president again.  He’s trying to help me and I know he’s called of God. It is just so hard to understand him.  His accent is terrible so it makes it even HARDER, but he speaks a little English too so it’s alright. Elder Kozlowski is really patient and really supportive and is always encouraging me. He is an example of a good missionary and a good friend, and he has a strong testimony that he shares with me often.

We have 2 new investigators, two guys in their twenties, preparing for baptism on Christmas eve, because a less active member brought them to our English class that we have each Saturday. Now the member, his name is Carlos, is active again and we are looking at baptizing 2 quorums! There names are Jeff and Gill, they are both really educated, smart guys who have dreams of going to the US someday. They are so far really interested in the church, very impressed with the organization and atmosphere there. I hope that all goes well with their baptisms.

Last night we went to visit a member and talk about Christmas plans but ended up just comforting her. she and her husband have been trying to have a kid but she had a miscarriage a few months back. We have been having lunch with them this last transfer and she was pregnant again and hopeful but last night she told us that she had another miscarriage during the week and lost the baby. I actually understood what she was saying, but I had no idea how to help her. I cannot imagine what she is going through. I had no guidance on what to do or say to help her. I was just silent. Elder Kozloski shared a message in 2 Nephi (verse 2 was a highlight) and it was really powerful. I just don’t know why I can’t do that. It’s like I NEVER know what to say, assuming I understand what’s going on.  So that was pretty crummy.

My thought:  Alma 7:10-14

This is a good scripture that talks a little about the birth of Christ, and the spirit of Christmas. This  reminds us WHY we celebrate Christmas. Not only because the Son of God was born that night, but because he was born for a PURPOSE: to take upon himself the sins of the world, to enable us to repent of our sins and be saved.

 This scripture lays out this concept perfectly and I encourage all to read it and remember that we need to be so grateful during this time.  Christ truly was born for us, and he was born to fulfill his calling as the only begotten and to overcome death and sin. I am so grateful for His sacrifice and for this time of the year when we are reminded of the gift God gave us, the gift of his son. Don’t waste this gift! Use the atonement in your life everyday! Repent and find strength in Jesus Christ!

Love you mom, have a good day and I´ll talk to you in a week!

What Did I Say?!

Monday, November 11, 2017

Hey Mom,

Just a reminder that next week (18th) we have transfers, and I won’t really know what is gonna happen in regards to a skype call for Christmas until that Day. So, if possible, please be available that day to discuss plans for Christmas. Also, today we have a Christmas Conference as a mission, I have some cards I am giving to an Elder going home on the 18th and the hope is that he will mail them in the US so they will get to you.  They´ll get to you guys after Christmas but I wanted to at least send SOMETHING. I really hope it all gets to you!

I received my Christmas package on Tuesday, it took more or less 20 days to get here, not too bad, honestly faster than some letters! Thank you for everything, I’m planning on taking Elder Kozlowski out to dinner tonight. You´re gonna have to remind me to object lessons with the Rubik’s cube though... I don’t remember :(

Here’s my week in review:

Food Experience:  We had Pizza Doce, Brazil style, and dang was it good. That’s my food of the week, haha.

Funny Experience: This week Elder Kozlowski approached a woman and another person of considerable age sitting beside her to make a contact. He introduced us and then asked how this woman, and her MOM, was doing. The contact got really awkward really fast when the woman explained that the person sitting beside her wasn’t her mom, but in fact, her husband..... Still confused on their relationship because this guy was ANCIENT - also confused why Elder Kozlowski thought he was a woman - but in his defense I certainly didn’t think they were married! To say the least, they didn’t accept our invitation to visit the church.

Missionary Experience:  I have an eternal blister on my pinky toes. I inherited dad’s weird squished pinky toes and they´re having it pretty rough out here! Still waiting for calluses to form, but every week the blisters pop and then just come back. 

We didn’t have any investigators at church this week, which was a bummer, but last week had 2 baptisms and their confirmations were this week. Icaro, a guy we are teaching, is still really struggling overcoming doubts about the restoration and also changing the beliefs of his childhood. We hope to baptize him next week but I have a feeling he’s going to be a long term investigator. 

Language Experience:  I had another dream, this time I was with the family speaking English during the dream but we came across a Brazilian family, they were speaking Portuguese... Again, I didn’t understand them, I was frantically trying to get their information so we could visit them to give them a lesson.... Here is the good news:  Even though I am not understanding, my brain is still trying! Also, after trying to explain the role of prophets to a really old guy this week, he asked if I was talking about sex... So not sure what I was saying, but whatever it was, it was NOT right. We watched the Christmas devotional yesterday and I didn’t understand anything, just picked out words. So that was a bummer.

Teaching Experience:  DAD - I TAUGHT A BRAZILIAN BEAR SALMON MOSQUITO! I taught it to one of our recent baptisms, Mateus. He and his family loved it.  It was cool to share a little piece of home with them. What was also cool and made things a lot easier is the game doesn’t really involve any speaking, haha. (Urso, peixe, mosquito)

Cultural Experience:  I learned that some people here think the Mormon church is a church of vampires. Also saw my first monkey here, they don’t normally have them in this area but while we were knocking doors (clapping outside gates) we noticed a monkey in a car with its window down. We talked with the owner and he had NO IDEA it was there or how long it had been there! Sadly, I didn’t have my camera with me :(

The word got out that I´ve got maple with me (thank you Tanner) and this stuff is like liquid gold down here. All the Brazilians now want me to come to their house to make ´´panquecas´´ so they can enjoy some of the maple - haha.

My Thought: Mosiah 4:6-8  This scripture explains a little bit about the importance of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I couldn’t find the scripture I specifically wanted, which names Jesus Christ as the only person in which we can find salvation, but this scripture has the same idea. During this time as we celebrate the birth of Christ, it is important to remember the purpose he came. One way we can show our appreciation for him during Natal, and during EVERY day of the year, is to use the atonement in our lives and honor the sacrifice that he was born into the world to make.

My emails are all over the place, I’m always just frantically trying to get stuff down - hopefully you´re able to use it to keep people informed about how things are going down here. If you´ve got any suggestions, let me know. I really like Elder Kozlowski, he has been an awesome companion. I am worried about getting paired with another Brazilian this upcoming transfer. Keep me in your prayers!  

Love you Mom, have a good week.

With Wings Like Eagles

Hey mom, real quick I´ll just give a brief run down of what happened this week - it was pretty uneventful.

Our investigator Circa, after explaining to her that the ´´God in the US we worship´´ that her pasteur was talking about is a prophet and that we believe in the same God, she was open again to the gospel, she had decided to be baptized even though her mom didn't like the church, it was going great! But Thursday her son came out and handed us a note from Circa saying she isn't interested in the church or recieving new lessons. That was really tough, she was progressing a lit and we were really excited to baptize her and her children. This got both me and Elder Kozlowski pretty down

We´ve been listening to the music you put on those SD cards mom, and I have gotta say, you put some pretty weird stuff on them! Elder Kozlowski has had a pretty good luagh a few times with some of the random stuff that comes on. But majority of it is good, thank you for taking the time to do that (and so much more) for me! 

We are watching the Christmas devotional in the church building this coming Sunday, problem is, its gonna be in Portuguese so I´m probably not gonna get much out of it which really sucks especially after what you saíd. But I´ll do my best to listen hard and stay focused and maybe understand a little bit. Language is still killin me. I was never a talkative guy back home and that's one thing I am really struggling with here.  If I just talked to people more, I would probably improve a little more, but just the thought of making a contact or teaching lessons gets me worked up and dreading the event. 

We have a transfer on the 18th of December so my plan is to give them to an American going home and he can send them from home - they wont get there by Christmas, but hopefully they´ll get there eventually. I´ll just send everything to the house because I don't know peoples addresses. But hopefully you guys get them eventually. Also, because of this transfer so close to Christmas, I don't know what will happen about making a call to the family, if I stay in this area it will be easier but if I get moved again its gonna be a mess trying to figure things out. You guys may just have to keep a computer/phone close by at all times during Christmas. I will email on the 18th after transfers happen and hopefully have some more details for you. Also, next Monday the 11th we have a mission conference during P Day so I will be online either way earlier then normal or way later, not sure.

My thought for this week:

I was reading Mosiah chapter 21 about the people of Limhi, son of King Noah. They were oppressed by the lamanites because of their iniquities, but instead of turning to the lord and humbling themselves, seeking for strength in him, they instead decided to rely on their on strength, and went to war with the lamanites. And lost not once, not twice, but THREE times, each war taking the lives of many of their people, and only after the 3rd loss did they finally recognize the need to rely on the Lord, who eventually delivered them. In contrast, the people of Alma a few chapters later, were also oppressed my the lamanites,and they suffered many hardships, but from the beginning they trusted in the Lord and put their faith in him, relying on his strength to deliver them, and because of this they were eventually delivered and also supported through their afflictions rather then everyone dying... Just a reminder that yes, we need to exert effort, to do work on our part to deal with problems in our lives, but when we also use the strength of the lord, things will be a lot better!

Love you.