Hybrid

Diligence. Laziness. Two words that are as different as black and white, and just as the gray scale goes, if you're being less diligent, your just being lazier. This week was probably one of the most interesting that I've had yet, specifically in the last two days.

Saturday, unfortunately, could be defined as the laziest of all. Filled with long discussions about mission experiences and snacks, practically nothing got done. In fact, I don't even like to talk about it, but suffice it to say that we returned home that day feeling sick, feeling dis-animated, and feeling wrong.

Sunday, however, was the most inspirational day I've had yet on the mission. Why? Diligence. From the moment we woke up until the moment we went to bed, we were looking to be better than what we'd been the day before. We were walking distances just to talk to people who weren't answering their phones. We talked to everyone we saw in our path. We taught as simple as possible, and as many as possible. We grabbed a member and drove all around looking for our investigators. In the end, we've been enlightened. Our spirits feel higher than the moon. People are happier than we've seen them. Prayers have been answered. Miracles have been wrought. One has been baptized. And in all this, we've had the pleasure to be witnesses.

If there is anything that I've learned, it's that laziness passes time, but only diligence brings happiness to our souls. As the prophet Nephi wrote, "it is by grace we are saved, after all that we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) My invitation to all of you is to awake, and rise from the dust. Be the people you can be. You are children of God, and there is nothing you can't do. All you need to do is believe and to work, Diligently.

Elder Angus

Oh, I forgot. Transfers are tomorrow. I'll be staying here in Rio Pardo, but I'll be receiving a fresh new companion straight from the Training Center. I'll make sure to inform all of you next week about him.

Oh, that and give Dad a high five. Bishop Angus, what a title. ;D Good Luck.

Word of the Week:

Estragada (es-trah-gah-duh) An adjective to describe when something is terrible or isn't functioning right. As well, a cook can use it to describe food that's so good, they don't want anyone else to eat it. >:P

Photos:

-Baptism of Vladimir

-Fishing in Rio Pardo

Wet Season

I once heard the phrase "Rain or sweat, always wet." At the time I thought it ridiculous, but now I'm starting to see otherwise.

This weeks history get's a little interesting. In the first place, the entire week was getting freezing cold. The air basically turns into fog, and everyone starts walking around in coats, except for Elder Angus. Quite a few people ask me why I'm not cold in a short sleeve shirt, so I use the opportunity to explain where I'm from and why I'm here. That's the upside. The downside is that the houses aren't built for winter conditions, so the outside and inside are about the same. That, and it rains a lot. (Thank goodness for Hot Chocolate) 

For some time now we've been teaching a man named Roni. His story is interesting, in the fact that we don't know it. I talked to him the first day I was here in Rio Pardo, and I thought that he was really a character. He lives on the street, but he has the intelligence of the Pope and Bill Gates together. He also claims to be a prophet and can see the past of anyone (accept for members of The LDS Church). Although he seemed like the strangest or most unlikely person who'd accept the gospel, he's been wonderful. He's still a little different, but at this point in time, he's already prayed about the Book of Mormon and read it through, as well as all of the other messages we've left with him. Now every time we pass, he asks when he can get be baptized. :) That and he wants to interpret his dreams.

It's interesting how sometimes we can judge people by their covers, or sometimes by what it is they do, and be completely mistaken. Time and time again, the scriptures have testified of one truth: do not judge one another, because we are all children of God, and the value of every soul is great in the sight of God. For this very reason, we should think of our own potential, and seek to share our happiness and knowledge with all that we can. Whether you are the one judging, or the one being judged, remember this great truth and you can find a lot more happiness in life.

Thanks for all the prayers, letters, and jokes. Fortunately I haven't received any loaded peanut jars in the mail, (Not a suggestion) which means I'm still on people's good sides. Que Benção.

Elder Angus

Word of the Week:

Que Benção (Kee ben-song)What a blessing! It's silly how many times I say this.

Sorry If I didn't write much, I didn't have a lot of time.

Woodcutting

Ugh, this week was hard to deal with because my companion and I were getting trunkier then ever. But it was still a wonderful opportunity to speak with my family on mothers' day. My companion said that his mother and his girlfriend cried. I don't know what that means about me though because my family didn't even get watery eyes. <_< Eh, but I feel they still love me. For one, they're nice enough to not move before I get home, a pleasure few missionaries enjoy. :P Anyway, I should probably get to the week.

This week was pretty interesting, putting all the trunkiness aside. The week started out on a high note, when my companion and I went fishing for P-Day. What's more interesting is that the fishing here is more simple. Instead of a pole, you have fishing line wrapped around a water bottle, with a weight and bait at the end. To fish, you swing the weight around like a mad man and chuck it into the water. If you were wise enough, you'd already have your foot on the bottle to secure the line, if not... swim! D: Fortunately nobody had to swim this time, unfortunately, fish don't get much bigger than the bait.

The people we've been teaching this week are pretty interesting as well. One family we taught this week was an old couple that were practically like children, innocent and of difficult understanding. They love us, always invite us over, but never understand what we're teaching. I guess some things just take a lot of time. Another cool investigator we found this week was a man named João Batista (John the Baptist). He is a really strong believer in Christ and found a lot of understanding when we passed by. My companion and I, and now him, have been joking ever since that if one of us, representatives of Jesus Christ, baptize him, we'd rip the time space continuum. 

Well, other than a lot of walking, weird weather, and a really stinky house, that's about all I remember this week. But in remembrance of mothers' day, I 'd like all people to know that the family is one of the most important things that we have on this earth. God and Christ have certainly spared no effort talking about "honoring thy father and mother," "loving thy neighbor as thyself," or being an example for your children. Almost half, if not more, of the teachings that God has given us are about love for one another, something that is the most important to apply within the home. Children everywhere, see that you honor your parents, and parents, see that you teach your children. Love one another as Jesus has loved you, for if you do, "thy days may be long on the land the Lord thy god hath given thee."

Thanks for the letters and the goodies as well as the prayers. I truly need them all! Until next week.

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Sanduíche (sahn-dooee-shee) Meaning sandwich. I always describe prayers like a sandwich. You always have bread, but what you want between. When you pray, You start with "God", "Heavenly Father", etc. and end "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." What you say in between is whatever you want to say to God. What a wonderful Snduíche.

Where the River Bends

This week was exhausting. Truly, extremely exhausting.  In the mission, everybody's been tossing around the word "diligently," as in working until you drop dead, and then some.  It would be safe to say that this week came somewhat close to that kind of work.  Xl  But I guess that's a good thing, because it's only when we put forth our best efforts that we begin to see the best results.

The weather here is really starting to be more of my enemy than my friend. The sun is scolding hot, but the mornings and nights are extremely cold. Then, throw the heavy rains in and you got a wonderful Xis Missionário (~hamburger made from missionaries). Okay, that probably doesn't make too much sense, but oh well. The nice thing is that a few of our investigators all live extremely close together.  So, we pass a few minutes at one house, go to the neighbor, then two houses down, then return to the other neighbor.  Unfortunately, even when they're so close together, one can still get really soaked when they forget their umbrella.  >_<  Suffice it to say that I've learned my lesson.

Last Saturday, we received a call from someone that had been switching between wanting and not wanting to be baptized.  Expecting the usual "I don't know if I want to be," we picked up the phone and received a wonderful surprise: "I've decided, I want to be baptized, Today!"  What a marvelous thing. My companion and I began rushing like crazy just to set everything up and find somebody that wasn't doing anything to attend.  A few hours later, we witnessed the baptism of Cleonir, and all the stress we had with helping her became completely worth it. 

If there's is one thing I like about the people here, it's that they have a lot of confidence and respect for one another. The best example of this is that the one who cuts the cake always cuts it evenly and always chooses first. I think about our normal custom (one cuts, the other decides) and I see how many of our customs are built off of mistrust. Love and respect are two principles that walk hand in hand and are extremely important for all of us to develop one for the other. Even if the person we are talking about is your worst enemy of all, we should learn to love and to help them. There are only so many people we will come to know and meet, because time on the earth is extremely short. Why then should we lose the great opportunities to make good friends or to be good friends while we can? 

That's about it for the week. The rest is just the usual labors and things I do every day at this point in time.

Elder Angus

Words of the week:

Bispo (biss-poo) Meaning Bishop.

Bispinho (biss-pee-nyoo) Meaning Little Bishop. Apparently returned missionaries can become like these. ;)

Photos:

-Eating Fried fish at Maria's house (I think he forgot this picture because there were only two in the email)

-Chimarron

-Baptism of Cleonir

1000 Miles

When I'm finished with this mission doodad, I wouldn't be surprised if the odometer read more than a thousand miles. After a few months out here, home seems close enough to walk to. ... Okay, maybe not, but you get what I mean. Why I'm talking about walking, though, is that we've been doing a lot of it this week. I remember complaining about walking a mile for nothing when I first got in this area, and now we're walking at the least four or five. One day, we spent two hours walking back and forth, looking for an address that was written incorrectly. But, it must be done, for the lives of the many are a lot more important than the exhausted legs of a young gringo.

Anyway, we also began teaching some really interesting families this week. One woman that absolutely refuses to pray, one that won't change but is helping others join, teenagers that think I'm Justin Bieber, and one that switches (wants or doesn't want to be baptized) every day of the week. What chaos! But really, it's a pleasure to teach whomever God places in our path, because the miracles he does are for everyone. 

This week we finally were able to visit a woman we hadn't visited in a while. When we had first taught her, she hadn't been doing anything we invited her to do, and it appeared as if she wouldn't progress. But, when we returned this week, she was happy to tell us that she'd begun praying and reading since the last time we'd passed by, and that her life had made a great change for the better. Family members who'd been lost had been found, work had been located, and everything else she'd been having problems with were becoming much better. All of this, she said, because she had faith in what we'd said. Que benção! (What a blessing!) Now we just need to  help her go to church.

Anyway, this week I've been studying the Book of Mormon a lot, highlighting any references to God, Christ, or the Holy Ghost. Because of this, the first few pages have become decorated with hundreds of highlighted words. As well, I've learned some pretty interesting things about the three of them. Just one, for example, is that the holy ghost is the means by which all holy prophets of old had received inspiration, and the means by which we may know of the truth for ourselves. If we are worthy and clean, all of us have the ability to feel and know what God desires for us. All we need to do is search  him in diligent and humble prayer.

Anyway, that's about it for now. Thanks for the prayers and the letters. You guys are all the Man. All of you!

Elder Angus

Word of the week: 

Neve (Neh-vee) Meaning snow, something that I'll never see here. :(

Sink or Float

Very few could truly know the gravity of this subject. Fortunately, the literal definition is enough to show everything I need to say, which is: "This week was tough." Really it was actually a little depressing. If I could pin it down to two downfalls it would be these: Insolence and wicked tradition.

This week we had a for-sure baptism lined up with a young man, Marcos who changed completely. Before we taught him, he was depressed and under all sorts of drugs. After, he was bringing the scriptures to work just to read during break. In fact, he and his little brother were ready to be baptized, when the mother suddenly changed. First she denied the baptism of the little brother, then she began to lie about when Marcos was at home. One time, she even threatened to call the police on us! So, we'd begun teaching Marcos in the home of a member. He was really happy, and so excited to be baptized. Then, the day of the baptism, it happened. After the mother threatened to kick him into the street, he sadly come to us and said he won't be baptized. I won't lie, just about then I was ready to shake the daylights out of that woman, but in the end I just feel sorry for her. I have no idea as to what happened, but it is the insolence, negligence, and sometimes hatred that people have that sometimes bring us all down the wrong road. Fortunately, some of us have been blessed to know the Gospel in its fullness, and have found others that receive it with open eyes and a ready heart. If we always remember that somebody is there, waiting for the gospel and ready to receive it, we will never become dis animated.

Traditions is another thing. We all know that traditions can be a powerful tool to unite us as families, civilizations, and faiths. Unfortunately, this tool is not exclusive to the Lord. We've taught countless families this week, almost all of which have received powerful witnesses of the truth of our message, know that the church is true and sometimes even know that their church is wrong. But, they choose not to change. Why? Tradition. They have so much confidence in the traditions they have, they fear what could happen if they change. They see their families, their friends, their peers, and they fear that if they change, they will lose it all. 

Really, all of us are victims of this. All of us have thousands of traditions, whether we label them as such or not. What we all need to do is sit down one day and think, "Is this really helping me, or is it limiting my potential?" Just as traditions prevent many from entering the true church, they stop others from going to college, lead others into addictions, keep others from work, and even make people believe they're nothing. Don't fall victim to them! I challenge all of you to do this. Think about every single aspect of your life and change those parts that Satan has control over. If you do, I can guarantee that you will feel more secure, more happy, and more one with God.

Anyway, thanks for enduring my council and lamentations. Remember, for every trial and time of darkness, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. For this very reason, we should never stop half-way. Thanks for the prayers and the support, I couldn't do this without all of you.

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

Bomba (bow-mbuh) Meaning bomb. Everyone down here thought the entire United states was being blown up. Unfortunately, I didn't know anything to tell them until this morning. (Thanks Mom) My prayers go out to all the victims and their families. 

Don't Do Dumb Things

Unto all peoples and all dedicated disciples of the strange Elder Angus Chronicles: Pay heed to the great words presented in the subject of this letter. These are the very words a wise leader once told me that we should live our life by. In reality, it was actually just a phrase he used teaching us about safety in scouting activities, but I like to think it extends  to all parts of life. :P

Anyway,  I'll just let y'all know first off that I really love my family, even if it is in my own strange way. They probably understand the gravity of this statement more than anyone else, just because they are the sole witnesses of the "sealed portion" of this letter. >:P Of this I will say no more. However, I will say that my love for others has been sky rocketing as well. Each week we receive a letter with the names of all the people baptized in our mission during the week, and although I'm in a different area now, I always search for the names of people I taught. You have no idea how happy I was this week to see the names of a family show up! Yahoo! ... Unfortunately I'm sitting at a public computer, so these shouts of joy were oppressed into mental jubilee (I like this word). 

This week has been substantially colder. When people say it feels cold here, they're not lying. For this my faith in God has strengthened dramatically, because only he could help someone like me leave the cozy confines of my bed at 6:30 in the morning. Unfortunately, for all the cold you feel here, it never drops below freezing, which means no snow here. :( Oh well.  However, along with the cold this week, we've also done a few things differently.  Mainly: contacts. This week alone, we did over 120 street contacts. O.O I wouldn't believe this number myself had I not been doing all of the contacting. Just for all of you to understand how big of a change this is, think about me. How much do I talk? How many people do I talk to? How often do I leave my comfort zone? If you know the answer to all these questions, this is one more witness to the power of God. Truly there is no other explanation for how someone like me could walk up to a group of five strangers in conversation and invite them all to be baptized. Hehehe That was a fun contact. 

Anyway, I'd like to leave you all with a thought, knowledge vs. wisdom. In a world like today, knowledge is somewhat easy to come by. With all of the professional courses one can take, you could learn just about anything from underwater basket weaving to astrophysics. Wisdom, however, is more important, because wisdom defines how we use our knowledge. Many people that I've met think that knowledge gives them power. In this they are right! Knowledge is power! But I have a step more. Wisdom is happiness. How can we think that God doesn't exist, that work is more important than family, that worldly desires are greater than service and charity, or that the so called "worldly wisdom" is greater than the commandments of god. To be learned is good, but only when we hearken unto the council  of our Lord, Savior, and God. Jacob 6:12 "Oh be wise! What can I say more?" 

Well, "that's all I've got to say about that."

Elder Angus

Oh, and thank you for everything, prayers and letters alike!

Words of the week:

Piada (Pee-ah-duh) Means joke.

Trocadilha (Troh-kah-dil-yuh) Means pun. I've learned a few of them, but I always forget. Maybe I'll give you guys one next time.