Brazil!!!! :P Just kidding. Read ahead.
Are you writing to other people each week?
Just you and the mission president. Just that I don't read, nor do I type very fast. What's worse is that the little time I have on the computer isn't enough to practice. :P
What happened to the woman who you wrote about last week?
Don't know. I'll ask my last companion next time I see him, but the last thing I heard is she would be going to church this last Sunday. We shall see.
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Campo Bom. Beyond a phrase meaning literally "good field," it also happens to be where our hero has found himself in the continuation of his grand adventure. In video games, large fields normally hint at the use of horses or transport, but for me, it's still all on foot. But there's no use complaining, because the walking will help me when I get home, seeing as I no longer have a means of transport... :P (I still can't believe someone bought my van)
Anyway, new area, new people, new companion. Elder Caetano is from a small town in Pará, Brasil, and has just about as much time as I do in the mission. He's been having troubles with a few "dead" (homesick) missionaries and hasn't been able to get a lot done in the last few transfers, so when I arrived, we got straight to work. Now, when I say work, I mean we went crazy with contacts and looking for new investigators. The best part is, we got more than we expected, with time to spare.
The best part about having so many people to teach is that each one has his own story. One was a young man in his twenties who had passed through a lot of difficulties. A few day's before we arrived, his life plunged into a downward spin, losing job, friends, health, and hope. Finally, he decided that he needed to return to God and ask for his help, knowing he couldn't get through without it. Then, a few hours later, two young men in formal wear knocked at his door. When we taught him, I could feel the spirit really strongly, and I knew not only that he had accepted our message, but felt he would do all that he could to follow it.
Him, like many others, is one of those whose prayers God has answered, and in whose answer I've had the pleasure to take part. However, there are also many others who may not have asked in a time of need, but have been prepared to receive our message for a long time. Such is the case of a young woman whose door we knocked on. When we had first arrived, she immediately called us in, after which she informed us she was about to leave, so we conversed a little and marked to return. When we returned, we discovered that she'd actually been really nervous the first time because we were the first visitors she'd ever received, and not knowing what to say, the first thing that came to mind was "come in!" Nevertheless she let us sit down and we shared our message. By the end, she was teaching herself more than we were teaching her. We invited her to be baptized and she readily accepted. :D
Through the mission I've come to see many great works and wonders among mankind, but I'm glad to say that the great majority of them have been the changing minds and hearts of those I've had the pleasure to help and to teach.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support. I'll be needing them as I need to do my best in the time that I have left. So, until next time!
Elder Angus
Phrase of the week:
vai te catar (vaee chee kah-tar) Slang meaning "scram" or "beat it." In fact, it literally means "go pick-off ticks from yourself." Hopefully the ticks aren't as abundant on humans as they are on the dogs.
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