Festival of Lights

Is the Branch President in Wesley's baptism picture?

Yes, I think. He's Japanese.

How big are the spiders there?

In the house, they're the normal size. In the forest, they're the size of your fist. :)

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Marathon is defined as a long-distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles and 385 yards. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that this week was the very same. Beyond the fact that we probably walked as much this week, we were doing a lot of hurried work to obtain our goals in the little time that we had. 

In this season, the spirit of Christmas is starting to penetrate the mission. Many people animated to find the families that are more open to the spirit this season, and others more animated about speaking to their own family. That, and we have a lot of activities. This week, for example, we had our Christmas Mission Conference where everyone in the mission unites, share their sad excuses for theatrical presentations, bear their testimonies, and take a look back on the events of the whole year. This time it was really good, and powerful. Even better than that, it seems more areas came prepared for their presentations than last year. :) However, it took out a whole day of work, so there is little more to do than put your shoulder to the wheel.

This week we were blessed, though, with one more baptism. Bernardo is a friend of one of our other recent converts. We started teaching him when he arrived one day during one of the discussions. When we saw him ready to return later, we invited him to participate, and we gave him a Book of Mormon. Since then, he's been even stronger and more spiritual than his friend, reading every day, praying every lesson (even asking to do so) and animated to do everything the Lord asks of him. When we invited him to be baptized, he didn't wait a second before he shouted, "I want it to be in the lake!" :D No objections there!

This goes to show a few things. One, there are bright pearls among the worst of people;two, that there are always people being prepared of God; and three, we must give everyone an opportunity to hear the Gospel, because we never know where we'll find them.

Yesterday, we went to sleep to the sound of fireworks bursting in the sky, celebrating the birth of our savior, and this wonderful season. Too bad we don't have fireworks at home. :)

 

ELDER ANGUS

Word of the week:

Fogos (foh-gohs) Meaning "fires," or in this case, fireworks.

Photos:

-Baptism of Bernardo

-Lake Peixoto (pay-SHOW-two) Where we did the last two baptisms.

United Forces

How old is Wesley?

16, priest age. ;)

Did Wesley get baptized in the lake?

Yes. My companion got super excited to do it.

When you talk about displays of your companion and branch president what do you mean?  Is it what they say, or how they act, or did they put together visual aids?

:D It's how they act. For example, my companion will ask a simple question, and when they answer correctly, he jumps to his feet and gives them a double-high-five, all the while shouting, "That's it!" XD 

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Over the last few weeks, I've had a few adventures on P-Day. Two weeks ago, we hiked the trail up to the top of the big hill that overlooks the city. It's nothing like the usual trails I know (well cut and trodden) as we weaved in through all the trees, avoiding the large spiders, and swinging on the vines, until we arrived at the top. Then, we understood how small the city was, and at the same time, how huge the windmills really are. 0_0 Then last week, we went to the beach closest to us. The beaches here are different, as there are no off-shore rocks, just sand. That, and if you pick up one handful of sand, thousands of little crustaceans will come squirming out, like a giant prison break. Both situations were great experiences, and the two make me re-think my perspective on things. 

When you get a higher or larger outlook on things , you start to understand a little more about God. From a high place, we see tons of little humans running about their daily toils, and among the sands we find hundreds of little creatures striving for their survival, all of which appear hidden to our regular gaze until we take a focused look. God has a much greater and wider vision of all of us. In fact, he can see all of his creations, and yet he can still examine each of us individually. Our personal relationships with God show the great love he has for all of us. A mother of twelve children doesn't forget their stories, nor does a painter forget the work and process of his several hundred paintings. We are children of one of the most loving beings we know and believe to exist. Our Heavenly Father. 

Something even as good as our relationship with God, is our relationship with others. As we can see, none of us exist alone in this world, for all living things were created in abundance. Our search to work well one with another makes a part of earthly trials. This week, we were able to see the great effects of team work and the blessings that come from it. In Osório, we have all our meetings in a rented building at the edge of town. The Branch here has existed for almost ten years, and hasn't experienced any real growth, until now. Their dream was always to have a chapel built to have our regular church meetings, and they always declared, "Maybe this year we'll get one." However, now things have changed, and that anomalous "maybe" has been eliminated. To build a chapel, the branch needs to maintain a frequency of at least 80 people for at least 8 months. This month is the last, and will be the most difficult when half the branch is traveling to the beach. So, what they've done is organized every single member that has a car and assigned them up to eight families each to go and take them to church. Prabably half of the families had one excuse or another, but at the end of all accounts, we have been able to maintain our numbers with the many less-active members who through the combined force of the church, have decided to return. \'o'/

There are tons of other great blessings and stories I could tell, but I guess that will have to wait until next time. Anyway, thanks for all the help, support, prayers, thoughts, comments, and anything else that y'all have done to help the work. I'd give you all Christmas presents, but I'm unfortunately super poor. Talk to the missionaries though, and they can get you free books and DVD's. ;)

Signing Off-

Elder Angus

Word of the Week:

excelente (ex-sell-en-chee) Excellent.

P.S. I goofed the last subject. It's Entropy, not Enthropy.

Enthropy

Is it warm where you are?

Extremely. Just sitting draws a sweat. :/

What do you want us to write about you in our Christmas letter?

- Write what you want about me, as long as you use ridiculously cheesy comments like "Jess is still rotting away in Brazil," or "Jess has yet to be Exiled from Brazil." We can't let anyone take me seriously. ;P Just Kidding, say whatever you want.

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Laws of nature show that everything will naturaly flow from order to disorder. This week was a living proof of that. However, our focus has been completely steady: Baptism. 

Something my companion says a lot that's super contagious is "Está Animado!!?" (are you excited!!?) Whenever we teach or help somebody, he tries pumping up so much excitement and happiness they almost explode. I laugh so hard at the little displays he does, but in the end, it is helping out a lot.  His contagious attitude has spread to the ward members. The branch president, Pres. Chiaki, is really animated to help us every day, wanting to visit as many people as possible within the short time he can spend with us, and even showing off his own little displays to animate our investigators. 

But what's better than animated missionaries, and animated members, is the animated investigators. Parents that didn't want anything to do with us are opening more doors, and people that were near impossible to help, have begun helping themselves. This week we had two baptisms, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Wesley is João Batista's brother. We actually have little time to talk with him as he's always on the street playing on his skateboard, but with what little time we had, we saw he really wanted to become better. This week, we invited him to be baptized, and he accepted. Then we fought off the doubts, the false comments, small slip-ups and bad comments every day until we finally helped him finish what he started. Now he feels truly happy, and is already helping the young men out a lot. 

However, I think an even better example is that of Adinam. We found him almost two months ago, just knocking on doors (...well, gates) When we arrived at his house, we knocked once and he already started calling us in. He was elect! He had already received the missionaries before, and he was living all of the commandments and reading the scriptures every day. Everything we taught, he remembered and easily accepted it all. But, he never went to church. Every week he'd promise to be there, but he never went, something that makes you want to rip your tie apart. We'd tried picking him up, giving him responsibilities, and even calling him six times to remind him and wake him up. Nothing, but we weren't out of ideas yet. Finally, we took Pres. Chiaki with us and told him to invite Adinam to be baptized immediately after the church meeting. So, with all the effort and  animation he had, Pres. gave one of the funniest baptismal invitations I've seen, but it worked! He not only appeared this week in church, but he even followed through and was baptized in the end!

This week was really rewarding, but not without a huge mess of problems and strange situations. However, like the sky diver, crazy experiences like these make me even more excited to do this marvelous work. I hope that all of us might unite in such a work and a wonder.

Elder Angus

Oh, and thanks for everything!

Word of the Week:

Bagunça (Bah-GOON-suh) Mess, in all meanings of the world. For example, esta semana fui uma bagunça, de mais!

Photos:

- Christmas Lights in Osório

- Baptism of Wesley

(I'll send photos of Adinam's baptism when I get them)

Just Go

Are you excited to be an Uncle?

YES! I can't believe I forgot to write it down! When I got the announcement I shouted in excitement and told the news to all the other missionaries. I was so happy I must have forgotten to write it in. Sorry, x70x7. Parabéns! Congratrulations! Junie looks beautiful. Expect me to spoil my little niece once I get back. :D Take good care of her. I'll include her in my prayers now.

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One more week, one more transfer, one more companion. However, this time, I wasn't prepared. Elder F. Viera is like mission work on steroids. From the moment he arrived until now he's been nothing but active. He's definitely different from all of my other companions, but what I've learned from him is something really excellent: We can baptize every week. 

Alright, this week we ran into a lot of troubles, so we weren't able to baptize this time, but we have already found many others that are ready to be. There are many people we found, especially families that have already known the Church before. One of them, I had mentioned before, who is John. Every day since the new Elder got here, we've been running around trying to find this kid and help him out. After three days, we were finally able to find him at home. So, in case we'd never find him at home again, we taught everything and invited him to baptized. The kid got so excited he'd probably be baptized the same day! ... But, unfortunately the mother, didn't let him. However, since the world hasn't ended, the work still continues.

Here in the mission, we have something called Nova Era (New Age) where the missionaries stopped with routine teaching of the same people, and begin the search for the truly prepared and help them as soon as possible. As a result, the baptisms in our mission boundaries have more than tripled the usual. But whats the difference? Simplicity, Honesty, Obedience, and Diligence. These four qualities combined give a force that touches the hearts of all men, and gives us the opportunity to see into their hearts. Then, we help everyone with desires to serve God, enter the waters of baptism. My desire is to see us all do what we can so that each and every day, we can help our brethren come to a knowledge of the truth and sing with us the "song of redeeming love."

That's about it. Until next time.

Elder Angus

WotW:

Tio (chee-oo) Meaning uncle. I'm an uncle now!

Fighting the Winds

Where are the other two missionaries from?

Elder Sousa is from Forteleza, Brazil.

Elder Eliason is from Virginia.

If you never have much food in your fridge what do you boys eat for breakfast and lunch?

We eat whatever. I eat PBJ for breakfast, Lunch is provided by the members (Lunch is the big meal in Brazil, not dinner) and we eat whatever we have for dinner.

Do they celebrate Halloween over there?

I thought they didn't. Read ahead.

What did you do on October 31st?

Knock on doors. ;P

Are you willing to serve the people of Osorio for the rest of your mission?  Would you have been happy to serve there for your whole 2 years?

That's a very good question. This is something that is really difficult to respond, because this is all a question of the soul. If the missionary is truly a representative of Christ, as much in heart as in calling, they'd be willing to do whatever to help every living being of whatever city they pass. Sometimes, we as missionaries become a little discouraged when people aren't involved in the missionary work, or when people aren't open to the gospel, and especially when the church itself is full of wickedness. There have been many missionaries that have passed through areas, wishing to be transferred. One time I even felt so. But then, one missionary arrived in that area and motivated all the members to take a stand for what was right and to "wake up." After that, I was sad to leave the area. Personally, I am simply in the mode of obedience ("I'll go where you want me to go") but I know that there are stronger and more powerful modes of serving the people as you have stated. Love and charity. Now I know that I need to be better. Thanks Mom.

This week was eventful. There's a lot that happened, and probably very little that I'd be able to tell. To start, this week the "good winds" of Osório became simply "feet sweeping winds." Every day we walk from one side of the city to the other, and over the last few days, I was getting a headache just trying to walk against the wind. By the sound of it, this happens every year, and it's always a cycle. Wind->Extreme Heat->Rain->Wind->etc. This next week better be enjoyable. :l

Something that was also very interesting, was Halloween. As missionaries, we never realize what day it is until something different happens. On the thirty first, we were walking through the streets looking for people to teach, like usual, when alot of kids started walking around in large groups. The first thought in my head was "Oh no, somethings up." Imagine how much worse it got when everybody is going around in black with painted faces! >.< Then, it struck my companion and I. Why did the last person have candy prepared?... OH!! It's funny, because they actually don't celebrate Halloween officially here, so this really caught me off guard. However, after realizing it, we took advantage of the situation and got some candy. :P Alright, just kidding, but it would be interesting to tract on Halloween. 

Anyway, Let's finish with how the work is going. This week we had a lot of disappointments; people that don't keep promises, others that we can never find again, and others that just don't care anymore. Never the less, we found someone more ready than ever, and right in front of our eyes. John is the cousin of a member, Luke, and has known the church for quite some time. He had even gone to church several times, but had never desired to become a member. We were walking down the street one day and found him and Luke talking together, so we decided to stop by. After we talked a little with them, we began teaching John a simple message of the Restoration, and then Luke bore his testimony. Finally, we challenged him to be baptized, and he accepted! If all goes right, he'll be baptized this week, and we'll be running behind everything to make it happen. 

Sometimes we underestimate the power and the promises of God. But, if we put our confidence in him, and do all that we can, He will make all things fall into place. If there's anything to be learned, it is this, that All of God's promises will be fulfilled. So, what do we have to lose? Why should we let laziness take control, or opposition take it's toll? Why should we shrink against the fight, or wait for the tempest to pass before we make our way? Why should we fear the loss of the things we have when there is so much more to receive? If we do everything to find those prepared of God to hear his word, we are guaranteed that we will find them, or they will find us. So, as Christ said to his disciples, we must leave behind the world and take up our cross, for therein we will find true happiness.

Well that's about it. I'm sorry if nothing meshes really well, but I always get excited when I talk about this stuff. Anyway, until Next time!

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

bruxa (Broo-shuh) Meaning witch. Halloween here is actually called "Day of the Witches" (Dia das Bruxas) 

Prison Shifts

0.0 I don't believe it. Mom didn't make any questions... I hope everything is alright. ;P I'll just make some questions up then.

How are you?

I'm fine.

What's your address?

Corner of  R. 7 de Setembro with R. Osório Firmiano. We live on the top floor of the apartment complex. (I think I got the streets right)

Are you brushing your teeth?

...

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This week was interesting. As you all may remember, one of the missionaries that lives with us, Elder Souza, caught chickenpox. What I didn't realize then is that he'd be quarantined until he's no longer contagious. Which means, he spent the entire week in the house. By now he is going crazy. Fortunately for the rest of us, we've already had it, so we can leave to proselyte. However, seeing as someone always has to stay with him at home, we took imprisonment shifts. :)

Nobody cries over a day off, but in our type of work, extra days off leave you with a strange feeling of being unproductive. After my first shift, I was ready to leave that house.  Now just imagine Elder Souza. 0_0  Oh well, he's already getting better, so in a few days he'll catch some fresh air.

Beyond the strange circumstances, this week was really good. We were able to find a lot of new families to teach. With the mission as it is, we are seeking for those that God has prepared to hear his message, and as we do that, we see that God truly prepares his children. One of these families is really small, in fact, just a mother and her daughter. She had actually received the missionaries before, but they were called in an emergency to return to the United States, just after 9/11. Since then, she'd lost all contact with the church, but God never forgot her. 

When her daughter was born, she had a huge heart problem, and wasn't going to survive. Amazingly, there was a sudden heart donation of a five-year-old child who had recently died. The heart was very large for such a small child, but they went ahead with the operation. The doctors advised that it was highly likely she would die or that the body would simply reject the heart. However, by the mother's faith and constant prayers, the child lives today, and at only six years of age, she is one of the smartest young children I know. 

Now, God led us to her door, and she's happier than ever to receive God's plan for her and know that she and her daughter can be together forever. If there's anything that makes this work worthwhile, it's this: participating in God's marvelous work "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

Sorry there's not much more to write this week, but thanks for everything y'all do for me. Your prayers have  been welcomed, and mine go out for all of you. Until next we... write.

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

poder (poh-der) Meaning Power. Those who are called of God are promised power and authority if they humble themselves before Him.  I always think of air-bending when I read this. (Maybe some day :P)

Photos

- Looking in from the outskirts of town

- A missionary's fridge has never been so full. This is what happens when someone gets sick and members have compassion. :P

Know of all the Nations

Have you been able to do very many service projects since you have been in Brazil?

Yes. I've been able to relocate dirt (twice), build a concrete wall, help people move, construct a gate, and destroy a house. :P My companion has already washed dogs and dishes. Not together! ;P

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The one day that never ends well is the start of daylight savings time. I always wake up ready to die. Unfortunately, the mission has limited time and therefore can't be wasted with a few more hours in bed. Especially when the work is being accelerated with every passing minute. 

I remember when I arrived here, I couldn't do more than talk with ten people on the street for any given week. A few months back, we received the challenge for every missionary to do 60 contacts each week, and that was super crazy. But, as acceleration suggests, it didn't ever just stop there, because 60 people is very little for the number of people we pass each day. In this last week, my companion and I did 120 contacts, each one. What changed? I think the simplest answer is outlook.

Our outlook on things is a heavy differentiation on the actual outcome. If we think something is impossible, it probably will be. But if we have faith, and we act on that faith, we can do all things. When I arrived in the mission, we had about 40 baptisms each month. Now, the mission helps more than 150 each month enter into the waters of baptism and make a covenant with God, and that number is still growing. This is true for all people, all nations, all situations. We need to remember who we are, and what it is we truly have. If we truly believe, nothing is impossible. 

So, we can never count anything out. This week, we continued helping out Rita, but especially her husband, Bryan. When I had arrived here, the missionaries weren't teaching Bryan anymore, as he had expressed that he didn't believe in God, didn't want to follow him, and was satisfied going to his church. (Batuque, or demon/spirit worship. I think it originates from Africa) However, ever since Rita's baptism, he's changed, a lot. Every day he's reading the scriptures, he sits with the family to pray, and even does a few of the prayers himself. He changed so much that even Rita was astonished. There are still a few things to do, but I'm really ready to help him follow the right path, together with his wife.

Anyway, that's about it, so until next time!

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

catapora (kah-tah-por-uh) Meaning chicken pox. We live with another companionship at our house, and one of the Elder caught chicken pox. Poor guy. 

Photos

- Baptism of Márcia

- Baptism of Rita

(Both two weeks back. Sorry for the delay.)

More pictures of Osório!

- Aftermath of the destroyed house. (we forgot our cameras until after it was all cleaned up)

- The delicious wildlife. :P~