Time Compression

Holar from Brazil!

 

Surprise! I`m still at the CTM! Don`t worry, I didn`t do anything wrong or something like that, I just got an extra day here, which just so happens to be my p-day. >:D Apparently there is an area conference soon, so all the Mission Presidents are here in São Paulo. Makes, sense to delay travel a day, otherwise we'd be arriving at our mission areas with nobody to help direct us. So, I'm just living the life here for my last day at the CTM.

 

We went proselyting this morning as well. Normally we would have done it yesterday, but it rained a lot and that slows the buses down, so we ran into a time constraint X(. Luckily however, we had this extra day on our schedules in which we could try again. Rather than proselyte around here, we ended up going to Paulista Ave. (I think I spelled that right) which is downtown São Paulo. Their they have at least twenty times more people walking around. To get there, we took the onibus, where me and my companion taught someone who speaks English. Apparently she was an exchange student in Indiana, where she went to a Catholic high school. How cool is that! It seemed kind of odd, yet easier to be able to teach in English.   I think it went very well. Once off the bus, we talked with a lot of people. Probably the most interesting thing I've seen so far, is that the people who are most receptive to the truths we have to share, are those who don't normally appear to be receptive, and those who are young. All in all, I think it was a successful day.

 

As for the rest of the day, I've been packing up my things and preparing to leave. This mostly involves washing and folding laundry (something my college roommates can affirm that I dread) and searching for all my stuff that mysteriously disappeared. Surprisingly, the only things I can't find are a few articles of clothing, and a sandwich that went missing a few weeks ago. O_O I really hope someone took the latter. Also, I bought a cheap chess set a few weeks ago that had two black royalties instead of a white one, so I decided to hand the pieces out today and have everyone hide them in rarely seen places. It's like a meaningful scavenger hunt. Just like the right people to teach, sometimes you have to search in the most obscure or unlikely of places. ;)

 

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I could tell you all. Just a few days ago, we "baptized" our practice investigator. Even though she wasn't an actual investigator, it really felt like we had helped another child of God return to the fold. Recently, also, the instructors had a play to show us how we can work with members to help them spread the glorious gospel among their friends and family. And so, I've decided to tell you about faith and fear. In the Book of Mormon, the first people we read about is Lehi and his family. Laman and Lamuel always murmered against their father, a prophet, and the commandments of God. We read many times that they repented and that they began to do righteous things, but they always strayed off the right path because they feared what the future could hold. When asked to retrieve plates from Jerusalem, they tried once and failed.  Fearing they would lose their lives upon a second attempt, they began to doubt God and his power. Please brothers and sisters, be not like Laman and Lamuel, but be as Nephi, and have faith in the Lord and his promises. Fear not to share the gospel, or to do what you know is right. It is likely that we may consider this a "hard thing" to do, and that the risks are high. But please, doubt not, for the Lord will always bless and help those who act in faith.

 

Thank you once again for all your love and support.  I pray for all of you and ask you all to be strong and of great courage. Doubt not for the Lord shall deliver.

 

Stay awesome.

Elder Jess Angus (The best link to my name is McDonalds here. Who knew.)

Sunshine sprinkled with dew

Wow, it`s cool to see how the world goes on, and just how secluded I seem to be. At the same time, though, the world has the most powerful influence of all. Just today, for example, I've been praying for someone who will rule with wisdom and righteousness to win this election. It doesn't really matter who it is that wins to me, but I know that if that person holds to the strong family values and the love of God as they rule and make judgments, they will be a good leader and help this country to progress. As such, it is important that we always support our leaders in their positions. When we disagree with an action, it profiteth none but the adversary to comment with scorn or hate. We must be active in the civil process, kindly inform our leaders of our views, and make sure to elect leaders who are righteous and who listen.

Today is my last P-day at the CTM, and as such I may not be writing for a while. I head out to the field next Tuesday, sometime in the morning, and then the real work begins. Just yesterday, we had a little taste of what the work would be like, and I loved it. We went out in the afternoon and endure three hours of walking and heat to spread the word to the people and to share the Book of Mormon with people on the street. It was so fun and so spiritually enlightening. For example, we met one lady who was walking her dog and at first she said "she already had a religion," but when we told her about the Book of Mormon, how it testifies of Christ and the love of God to his children, and after we testified of the truth of it unto her, she seemed so excited to receive one and told us she would read it that night. :D So awesome!

We often take for granted the power of the Book of Mormon. It is not just another book of scripture, or just some story of the people in the ancient Americas. I know this book is true, that the the prophets who wrote the passages therein did so for the benefit of our day. This wonderful book truly does testify of God and of Christ, and I feel closer to them each time I ready and ponder its words. I would like to challenge all of you who are reading this to treasure up the Book of Mormon into your hearts, to seek for knowledge, truth, and understanding. However, I most of all seek for you all to find a greater testimony in Christ, for he truly is the foundation of all things. I know this is true and I know you will be blessed as you do this, and with that I testify in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thank you everyone for your love, support, and candy. I wish all the luck to your future, and say good luck in all your endeavors.

With Giant Hugs,

Elder Angus

P.S. For halloween, we totally went full out and dressed as missionairies! Some of us switched name tags for fun just to confuse the new people. ;) You can always find joy in the little things.

Note: Jess has only one more week at the MTC.  He won't get the mail that is sent to the MTC.  You can send him mail to the mission office down in Porto Alegre.  He should be able to collect mail from there until we find out his new address.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  He is doing great!

Elder Jess Robert Angus

Brazil Porto Alegre North Mission

Av. Visconde de Macaé, 245

Cristo Redentor

91350-290 Porto Alegre - RS

Brazil

Epoch of Zanarkand

Hello!

 

I`ve officially decided that I am going to share the subjects of my e-mails with one of my week`s journal entries. There is so much I write in these journal entries, mostly about random non-sensical stuff, I'm starting to second guess my willingness to go back through and read them. I'll see though. I hear I've got a strange sence of humor, and when I go back and read these entries or letters two years from now, maybe I'll get a good laugh. :D

 

Not alot of interesting things are happening on this end of the world except for the heat. It's crazy hot here right now. Standing in one place, you'll start to sweat within a minute or two. It makes me really miss cold Colorado weather. Especially when all the Air Conditioning units in the Training Center stoped working. 'XO I just got the halloween package from my mom this morning and it reminds me of being a little kid, having a bunch of candy all piled in a row and waiting to be devoured. I have to take it easy though because my teeth need to last me for a few good decades more. Recently, we wrote Dear Johns to the English language, and all of them were especially mean. I tried to let her off easy, but I think that was a bad choice because I just can't get rid of her now. English is my new little stalker. Not that I mind right now, though. I'll just worry about her later.

 

I think it's getting to the point here at the MTC where I can't really learn any more Portuguese. Given that I have only two weeks left here before the field, that's probably a good thing, but I am starting to get antsy. It seems like classes, although memorable, are starting to become less and less productive. I want to get going and preach the gospel to actual people! People who are searching for truth, searching for answers, searching for some confirmation in their life that there is a God and that he is looking out for them. I understand the purpose I have here though, and that is to help me to fill my purpose as a missionary. "Convidar as pesoas a achegaram-se a Crist, ajudando-as a receber o evanjelho restorado por meio da fé em Jesus Cristo e em Sua Expíação, do arrependimento, do batismo, de receber o dom do Espirito Santo, e de preserverar até of fím." Which means, "to help others to come unto Crist by helping them recieve the resored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptisim, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

 

Everyone, thanks for all your prayers, your love and your support. I want to wish good luck to everyone else that has also decided to go on a mission. Apparently, since the anouncements in General Conference, Missionary applications have increased to 400%+ than the usual! That shows how incredible this work is! My prayers go out to you all and I hope you all find your way to True Happiness.

 

Your Laborer in Brazil,

Elder Angus

Hit But Still Kicking

Hello World,

 

This week is all starting to fall into routine. Although there are new things to learn and more incomprehensible people, it all seems to be the same. However, it also makes it so I can enjoy the little things. For example, earlier this week we had the first breakfast of pancakes since I've been here. Everybody seemed so starved of pancakes it seemed like the trays were emptied before they even hit the counter. I'm among a crowd of crows! Anyway, another example is the drawings we make on the whiteboards during transition periods. I've really gotten to know my district well and they're all quite the crazy bunch. I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures to send ya'll when I hit the field in a few weeks.

 

We recently got new Brazilian roommates, and these Elders are awesome. They're the first Elders with us that don't know a lot of English, so we're helping them learn. So far we've successfully taught one of them the phrases "Howdy Elders!" and "Evnin' Ladies." :) They're helping us out with Portuguese a lot too. One of the coolest things is that I'm already catching onto the language so well. I can't speak it very well, but I can understand a lot of what the Brasilieros say (as long as it is gospel related). Just yesterday, we were practice investigators for the Brasilieros, and it was really fun. The best part about it is I also figured out how bad I would be at teaching the law of chastity. I got good ideas though. Beyond that and the random blackouts and loss of water pressure in the building, nothing else is new this week.

 

Now, for the spiritual part. This is all about Faith and action. As it says in James, "faith without works is dead." This may seem kind of extreme or harsh on the surface, but it states a true fact. If we are to claim to have faith in anything, what does it mean if we do not act? If we believe that the universe was created through the source of the "Big bang," what good does it do us if we do not seek out proofs, search for answers and test the results? Or, perhaps you don't use that knowledge to improve current technologies, advance human understanding, or simply search top advance your own? If you don't, it remains an empty belief, a bias that twists you in one direction of an argument, but does nothing for anyone but add a number to a chart. Is faith in Christ so different? Everyone, I challenge you all to act on your faith, dive deep, advance your knowledge, seek for answers, and help the world come to a better understanding of what our savior has done for us, and all we can achieve through him.

 

Thank you all for you prayers and for your support. My prayers go out to all of you as well, and I wish you all safety in whatever journey you are on.

 

Sincerely,

Elder Jess Angus

The Tie Half-Mast

Hoy, como vai o mundo?

 

Over the last week, I've come to realize that there are a lot of parties and holidays in Brazil. Just this week was a combination two holidays and one party, which means nothing for us other than our instructors are too tired to teach us for a while. One of the holidays was Kids Day, something that we don't celebrate in America :( but is really big here. Everyone pretty much got off work that day, but it also could have been because it was also Nosso Senhora Aparecido (Our Lady Appeared) Day, which is a major catholic saint around here. The most interesting part of her story, though, is she achieved sainthood as a statue. I don't know all the details of it, but it's pretty interesting.

 

This Saturday was our half day at the Missionary Training Center, so we honored the moment by tying our ties half mast. The funny thing is a day later, we were all asked to avoid "silly traditions." It could be just coincidence, but I'm not ready to accept that. I don't mind giving up traditions, but I'm certainly glad they didn't cancel our shower singing privileges. Just in this last week we've done near imperfect renditions of "Nearer My God, To Thee", "Barbra Ann", and many more beautiful songs. I've actually found that I can be a lot more sociable when you can't see my face.

 

This week I learned a lot about foundational strength. In order to help someone become closer to God, you must always start with the basics. Unless someone is completely solid in their understanding that God exists, that he loves us, and that we can return to him through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience to his commandments, they will never fully comprehend nor desire the mysteries of heaven. This is my greatest problem, because I'm fascinated by the mysteries of heaven. However, I have realized that as I search for the answers to complex questions, I often may falter in my Faith if i have not established myself sturdily into the recesses that God has provided. We must all learn to build strong foundations in Christ if we seek to know more and not falter. Build in yourselves Faith, Hope, Charity, Love, Diligence, Obedience, Patience and Long Suffering and I promise that you will find all things to have meaning. Follow the example of Christ, and he will follow you wherever you go.

 

I love you all, and thanks for your support and for your prayers.

Holy Conference, Batman!

Dear people of the cyberkinetic communication network,

 

The heat is comming as the Colorado-like weather we have in São Paulo is turning into what one might expect for Brazil in the winter/summer. Luckily the CTM has plenty of Air Conditioning so I'll be fine for at least the next five weeks I'm here. The atmosphere and culture around here is sometimes interesting to imagine. Alot of stores directly nearby have prices that are abnormally high, because they know missionaries live here and everyone thinks "Americans have tons of money!" In a way they're right, but at the same time they don't consider how much money we're actually putting into our mission already. :)

 

I'd say I was well fed this week, not in food (although it is pretty good) but in soul. This week was General Conference for the church, and what a truly blessing opportunity it is to hear the Prophet and Apostles address the church twice each year. This may sound wierd comming from me, who only a few months ago would fall asleep within the first talk, but there is a truly inspiring spirit that I felt this time. The spirit of the meeting, combined with the spirit of the mission combined to create a full fleged tidal wave of spiritual confirmations. I think that my feelings will be best displayed as I quote parts of my journal entry for the day...

 

"Ok, General Conference. Holy Pokémon! There really is no better way to put it! At times I surprised :o. I Times I was overjoyed :D. At times I even Cried :´)...First of all, I am so shocked that there will now be 18 year old Elders and 19 year old Ssters (serving missions)! Holy cow we are certainly in the last generation and we are viewing all the moments of the restored gospel (of Jesus Christ) explode onto all the faces of the Earth. Knowing the power of God, it nearly eliminates all fear for what's about to happen among the children of men. I can feel the spirit so strongly right now, more perminent than I have ever remembered it being before... It's this awesome feeling of truth, an ongoing witness that all of this is true ... (and) I hope to give to others like me... We are all enlisted until the conflict is o'er and we will love every minute!"

 

Sometimes I read my journal and see just how many mistakes I'm getting due to the Portuguese invasion. Well, that's it for my time. I pray for you all, each and every day, and I feel all of your prayers taking hold as well. I know God loves all of you and he will do what is best for his children.

 

Até mais,

Elder Jess Angus

Insert Nonsensical Title Here

Dear ´merica,

 

I´m glad to see that everything is functioning like a well oiled machine. Not alot of new things have been happening this week other than my sudden realization that I had a blue dot on my name plaqueta more than two weeks ago, and just this week, the third set of new missionairies will be comming in since I´ve arrived. :o I feel like I´m not progressing very quickly in comparison to the nine weeks I´m at the CTM, but in comparison to the four years of Spanish in highschool, I´m accelerating at a rapid pace! It just goes to show that the spirit´s gift of toungues really works. Unfortunately, it also requires the effort of the recipient, something that I havent yet put in 100% yet. But, I promise I will by the end!

 

My days have become somewhat routine now, but there´s always something new to experience. My journal entries over the whole time period have always taken one to two pages. Going back and reading them reminds me of two things: Alot of strange things happen to me and I have a strange sense of humor. Each day has a title, and each of them makes very little sense. I guess thats just the way I am. It makes me wonder though if anyone will take me seriously if I stop them on the street and say I would like to share great joy and peace with them.

 

There´s so many interesting things that happen around here and so many things to talk about, but I have so little time :(. Unfortunately, I can´t upload any pictures until I´m in the field. I might just send a letter with some developed pictures sometime next week so you can see a little of how my life is here in Brazil Part 1. I think I´ll just talk about a few interesting things about my life to finish up this letter. One, the pizza here is really bad, and by bad I mean healthy. They don´t put any sauce between the cheese and the bread, and all the toppings are really wierd. There is, however, one good pizza, and that is the banana-nutella pizza. :P~ The deliciousness of this magnificent creation is self evident, so I´ll leave it at that. Two, my roomate got sick last week and was quarantined in the room for over 40 hours. It sounds terrible, but because of that he is farther than all the rest of us as far as studying. Three, I finally put the mini golf set to use on Sunday afternoon during the three hour freetime after church. Everyone in the hallway took turns trying for a hole in one down the halway. And might I say, golfing on tile is very difficult. Finally, the Monday Lunch special is called Feijuada (I think I spelled that right) which is essentially, an entirre pig chopped up into rice and beans. Now, when I say a whole pig, I mean ALL the pig (although, I´m not sure about the intestines or gut)

 

That´s all. Thanks for all the love and support. I forgot to congratulate Danielle on her mission call (cool beans by the way) so I will do so now. Also, I guess I´ll leave you with a scripture in Portuguese. 1 Néfi 3:7 - "E aconteceu que eu, Néfi, disse a meu pai: Eu irei e cumprirei as ordens do Senhor, porque sei queo Senhor nunca dá ordens aos filhos dos homens sem antes preperar um caminho pelo qual suas ordens possam ser cumpridas." Never doubt the Lord, for he will always provide a way to conquer all the obstacles you face. My prayers go out to all of you.

 

Até mais,

Elder Angus