A Mighty Change

Are you staying warm?

Yes

How are your shoes holding up?

Yes. There are a few holes and it's no longer water proof, but it's still good walking. :P

What was the temperature there this week?

The coldest was about 0 degrees Celsius (That's 32 Fahrenheit, but feels a lot colder here)

 

Something really good is happening. The Lord is anxious to return, and the missionary work is being heavily accelerated. This week, a new general authority passed through (Elder Antunes) and talked an entire 7 hours about the missionary work and what we must do. Although the time was extremely long, every second was filled with information and instruction. In fact, I'm still trying to summarize all of the notes I took. However, during all of this talking and instruction, one thing was evidently clear; the Lord needs us to act, and we need to act now.

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time today, but I'll try to say what I can. This week hit record colds. Of course, it never passed far below freezing, but it began snowing in places that had almost never seen snow. That, plus the humidity, means that I was in coat, hat and scarf. But in the end, I'm still out there in the street!

This week, however, really magnified my understanding of faith. As we already know, faith is a belief in things not seen which are true. However, something little understood is that faith isn't a belief that something "can happen," but that it will happen. Just yesterday, we were on full gas, trying to help everyone with everything we've learned, and the fruits are showing. In fact, we even had the pleasure to see that God truly does act. One young woman had visited church for the first time yesterday with a family of recent converts. The family had already taught a few things to her, but when she arrived, her heart and eyes were opened. She felt the church was true. That night we taught her for the first time, and invited her to be baptized this next Saturday. She accepted.

Truly God does marvelous things. This I know. Thanks for all the love and support.

Elder Angus

Word:

tempo (tem-poo) Time, something I need more of. :P

Elder Frosty

Note from mom: To give you some idea about Jess's remarks in this letter I thought I better give you some background.  We bought a van back in 1990 before Jess was ever born.  It is now all rusted, banged up, missing a few hub caps, broken side mirror, and dings all over from hail.  When you drive the car it makes sounds like a rusty old tin can rolling down the drive.  Jess drove this car to high school everyday and enjoyed every minute of it.  He said every one loved his car.  He calls his car "free candy".  He is sad that we are selling it.  Kevin also made a arbor for the garden.

How are things going as the district leader?

Good.

How many companions are you over?

mine and two other companionship's

How long has your companion been out?

about five months

 

I like the pictures. Unfortunately, I'll become a little depressed about free candy. The fact that offers were already given goes to show how desirable she is. I also like the garden. Just so you know, I'm holding on to a few fruit seeds in order to bring home. The trees are beautiful, and the fruit is delicious. :P Give Dad a congrats on the work. Just don't move while I'm still here.

~~~~~~

If it get's any colder here, I'm going to doubt I'm still in Brasil. I'm used to the cold, it's true, but moist cold is terrible here. It might not even seem that bad, had I not been walking all day in the freezing rain. Brrrr. If that wasn't good news enough, it'll reach record colds this week (if the weather men are right). That means we'll be needing a defroster because we'll be walking in a literal freezer. Ugh. Fortunately, I'm one of those people that doesn't stop because of suffering. Be it good or bad, this quality puts me on the street and teaching everyone in my path. That is, if there's anyone on the street under these conditions. 

Weather on the side, this week was really interesting. In fact, I actually spent more time in other areas than my own. With my new responsibilities, I have the opportunity to interview investigators preparing for baptism in the other areas. However, even though I'm the one teaching or asking the questions, I'm probably learning the most. This week we had three baptisms in our district, all of which I had the privilege to speak with. All of them were really motivated and excited, but one of them really touched me because of his story of how he'd been tormented in thoughts and in dreams by terrible things before he'd known the church. His son had been taken from him, and his family rejected him, and he felt so alone. Then, in just the last three weeks since he began going to the church, all of this changed. His thoughts were purified, his actions changed, and his family desired his return. Best of all, he even received his son again. 

This is just one of many stories I've had the privilege to know and to see. And it's truly interesting to see how no matter what difficulties, God helps those who are willing to change. Even more interesting is that every person receives a testimony in a different way, all of which will help them most. I know that the church is true, and I know that Christ lives. He lives so that we might live also, in spirit as much as in body.

Thanks for all the prayers. I'm sorry I don't type very fast, because I'm out of time.

Elder Angus

Word:

Barbaradade (bah-bar-ah-dah-gee) An expression of amazement or shock. Really doesn't mean anything.

Grape Juice and Cheeze

Where in the world is Jess Robert Angus?

Carlos Barbosa ;)

How are you liking your new area and your new companion?

Well

Are you still a trainer?

No, but I'm still the boss. :) District Leader

----

And thus did the voice cry out from the wilderness. "O ye nations of Carlos Barbosa, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins." That's right, I now find myself in the city of Carlos Barbosa, famous for it's wine and cheese. In fact, just this month they're holding the annual Festi-Queijo (Cheese-Fest). This means that there are thousands of cow statues in the street, and occasional pukeing because of over indulgence. 

The city is really cool. There are a lot more people here, the city is beautiful, has a lot more hills, and is a lot colder. Unfortunately, trying that short sleeve stunt here will get me killed. I guess coats serve a purpose after all. :P My new companion, Elder Barbosa, is from Espírito Santo, a state that's very hot all year round. Because of this, he hit the flu season hard. However, unlike my big flu, we played it smart and stayed at home. Now, with a few pills, and a lot of homemade recipes by members, he is back up and kicking. What a marvelous thing!

As for me, I'm no longer trainer, so they felt I could be even worse as a District Leader. XP The story behind this gets even better, because I didn't even know I was District Leader until I was already arriving in the area. That's like arriving in a new country and the people tell you you're the president. ... Okay, not that extreme, but you can imagine my surprise. In the end, it is a wonderful opportunity I have to serve my fellow missionaries. 

And now, how is the work? Sicknesses on the side, this area is wonderful! The people are really receptive, and the members are really cool. Even better, the families are elects. During our search for new investigators, we found one family of nine people all in the same house. We sat them all down and taught them about the restoration, and then invited them to be baptized. Their replies were simple. "Of Course." :D My companion and I were grinning from ear to ear. And had I had more time to write, I'd say all the great and remarkable questions they had. But, We'll leave that until next time.

In the end, I'll leave you all with a simple comment. The best leadership is that of love and humility. The Book of Mormon shows examples of the best Kings that worked for their own sustenance and served their people. Even Christ, the king of kings, came first to serve his fellow men. When we are given positions of leadership, we must be firm in what is right, but humble and loving as well. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and the greatest gift of all.

Thanks for everything! And until next time.

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Queijo (KAY-joh) Cheese. Grape juice and cheese are not good to eat in excess. I've already seen the consequences. :l

Our Father's Business

It appears that my time in Rio Pardo has come to an end, but for which I'm truly grateful. Unfortunately I don't know where I'm going to until tomorrow, which means y'all won't know until next week. :P However, I feel the time was well spent. 

What I feel even more is the weather. Leaving Colorado, I'd hoped for more stability in the climate, but received worse. Just this week we had rain and sun, freezing cold and burning hot, and sometimes all of it in the same day. Everyone here is getting sick. :l As for me, I've been able to avoid further sickness for the time being. Booyah! If I could say the same about being tired, I would be jumping off the walls. Unfortunately every man needs his weakness.

This week we'd started visiting a family of members that hasn't visited church in more than two years. Recently, the father had been passing by the church during one of our weekly coordination meetings and invited us to come by. This family has some of the strongest ties to each other and to God than I've seen in a long while. When entering the house, we couldn't help but tell them this. We spoke with them, it appears as if they'd always been active, in both the church and the doctrine for many years. In fact, their daughter even slept with the Book of Mormon near her side! The only problem is that because of persecution and other problems, they stopped going to church. Now, a couple of years later, they spoke with us that they truly feel a hole where the Church once filled, and they don't want to continue this way anymore. This next week, they'll be going to church for sure. ... Unfortunately only my companion will see it. :P

Today I'll be short but sweet. Endure to the end. The gospel of Jesus Christ fills our heart and soul with joy that we sometimes never imagined. However, if we want to maintain this joy we've found, we must continue walking until we arrive. Just as dinner isn't eaten as we enter the door, we must continue until we arrive at the table. As Jacob writes, endure in your path until ye obtain eternal life.

Thanks everyone for the help and support. I'm rooting for you.

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Transferência (Trans-fer-ENS-ee-uh) Meaning Transfer. :l

Photo: Baptisim of Silvania from last week.

Não Temais

Note from Mom: Hello to all our friends and family.  I thought I would let you know what was going on in the family so you know what Jess is talking about in his letter.  Our daughter Madison is expecting a little girl in November.  We are all really excited but wish that she lived close by.  Jess's birthday is coming up September 17th.  If any of you would like to send him a birthday card I am sure he would love it.  His address is as follows:

 

Elder Jess Robert Angus

Caixa Postal 13008

Porto Alegre - RS

CEP: 91010-971

Brasil

 

Thanks for all your prayers and support,

Debbie

*******************************************

To Mom: O ... ... ... <-Super Long hug

I'm glad to see the family is getting better and stronger. I'm a little sad to know that we'll still be faulting testosterone in the family (I was hoping for a nephew), but I'm glad that another child of God will arrive in our family. However, if there's anything that I'd ask for my birthday, it's ties. At home, three ties is enough for a lifetime, but on the mission, six ties doesn't even fill a week! :l But I'm fine with just about anything, even if it's just a booby-trapped box. :P

Do not fear. Nor be ye dismayed. Little of us truly understand the magnitude of this commandment. Many of us are lost in a world of stress, anger, worry, sadness, and other troublesome emotions. We become wracked with questions, doubts, misunderstandings. We look everywhere, but hide within ourselves. A little bit back an Apostle, Deiter F. Uchtdorf, spoke that one of the most popular regrets in life is this: I wish that I'd let myself be more happy.

We need to be happy. It is our purpose here to grow and to find joy. Obviously we will pass many great trials and afflictions in life. Just as Adam was taught that he must work all the days of his life, so must we. However, we must remember that when we are doing what is right, the Lord will be with us. When the Lord is with us, nothing is impossible. When nothing is impossible, there is no need to fear, but there is reason to shout and rejoice. Maybe many of you think that I'm speaking foolishness, but I've seen for myself the effect. I already know the weight of a heavy conscience, or of a needy family. In fact, sometimes I feel like I'm carrying the whole church on my shoulders. But, what I've learned is that when we never let our weaknesses pull us down, nor abandon our efforts on what appears to be a lost cause, God Completes the Rest.

This week was the baptism of one of the strongest converts I've seen. In fact, she'd already been converted before I'd arrived here, but because of worldly influences and persecution, she never wanted to commit nor follow. For the past four months, we'd testified, taught, and invited, and it had appeared as if to no avail. Then, the senhor completed his part. A week or two ago, a member visited this family to say hi and to talk with the husband. When they were talking, he bore his testimony, just about the importance of a united family, but it touched her soul profoundly. We arrived just a few days later, and she'd already began preparing everything for her own baptism, and her testimony is a force to be reckoned with.

So, be of good cheer, for the Lord thy god is with thee, for wherever thou walk-est.

Thanks for all the love and support. Unfortunately I haven't received a promised package from the youth yet, but maybe it'll arrive in a few years. ;) Just make sure you send to the "caixa postal" (p.o. box) because the office is overloaded by worried families of other missionaries. :P

Anyway, até próximo!

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Guri/Guria (goo-REE/goo-REE-uh) Meaning child/ young man/ young woman/ laddie. This word is used mostly by the southerners.