Pass the Sun and Into the Fire

Why are you walking to a neighboring city?

We are responsible for five cities, but only two are close together and already have members that are active in the branch.

------

Hey everyone!

This week was once more an.... experience. We had transfers, and my companion left me. :(  As well, I'm no longer district leader. :l However, I am training again! :D  One more greenie to help adjust to mission life. Elder Fonseca is from Forteleza - CE, (the hotter part of Brazil), and arrived just in time to receive the last part of our hot weather. He arrived and said, "Wah, it's cold here." Then I replied, with a sad smirk on my face, "It's gonna' get worse".  Unfortunately it got a lot worse.  Since that day, it hasn't ceased to rain, blow, or freeze. Probably the worst and most disheartening weather I've had in the mission, and my new son(companion) gets to experience it in his first week. :P Poor thing. Anyway, it looks like the rain-wind-cold will stop here in a few days, so he'll be a little happier.

Fortunately, the mission work overcomes all things! (As well, a cheap umbrella!) This week we taught some really excellent people. Just yesterday, after passing hours looking for someone to teach in the rain, we knocked at one door that appeared richer than everyone else on the street. After a few minutes, we hear a voice on the other side of the door. "Who is it?" I thought it funny, talking to the door, but began the usual introduction. After a few seconds, we heard the sounds of locks being opened and a young man opened the door and let us in. He was a programmer (Like me!) and really smart. He had been taught in his youth to seek out God, and he had a great faith in Christ. We began teaching and invited him to pray and to be baptized. Instead of saying yes or no, he said something that made me smile: "I don't promise to be a leader in the church, but I promise to seek the the truth and teach my children to do so also." Our response: "That's all we ask of you".  I feel that he has a great desire and will go far.

As well, we have been looking to teach more simply, and focusing on the basic gospel principles of Christ and the Restoration. Because of this, we are seeing some real results. Something really evident here is that the people don't like to sit and listen for a long time, so if we don't talk fast and focused, they end up understanding nothing more than 'faith is good'.  Although it is a good start, there is much more to understand. However, now we are beginning to see those who truly understand, and desire to change. This makes all the difference and the work worthwhile.

To close, I'd like to talk about something I learned a lot about recently: Free Agency. One of the greatest gifts that God gave us is our ability to choose what it is we desire to do, whether it be that which is good, which brings happiness and liberty, or that which is bad, bringing sadness and captivity. Many people ask why  bad things happen in the world, and why God does nothing. The answer is simple: God respects the freedom of choice for everyone, and will let the punishments of wrong choices fall in their proper timing. If all people that did wrong were killed on the spot there would be no freedom.  It would be "do what is right or die", which is exactly the plan that Satan had ever since the beginning, when he was cast off from the presence of God. So what did God do to help those that choose what is right and suffer because of those that do the wrong? As the scriptures say, he sent his only begotten son. Christ didn't only suffer for our sins, but much much more. He suffered for our pains, sadness, worries, guilt, and all thing that weigh us down. He descended below all of these things, that through him, we all might be lifted up. If you suffer, seek him and obey his commandments. Only then will you truly understand and feel his love wrapped around you.

Thanks unto all those that do so much to help me, and I hope that in some way I've been of some help to all of you. Until next time!

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

enlouquecido (en-low-keh-SEE-doo) Meaning 'went crazy.' Somebody told me I need to name my first son Enloque Sido Angus. I'm still considering the idea. :P

No title Jess? Sheesh, you are slacking.

Are they Catholic?  (I had asked Jess if most of the people in his area were mostly Catholic.)

Yes. It is tradition of all people here to baptize their children in the Catholic church. What's worse is that even members of other religions will do this because of tradition. Apostasy! However, only half of these people are active in the church. Normally one visit every other year is good for them. They also worship hundreds of saints.

I'm going to stop saying that I walk a lot, because it seems like every week I end up walking more. This week alone we walked to the neighboring city four times, which is an hour journey each way. Fortunately, the weather was nice, so we had nothing but clear skies. :)

This week was also interesting in the search for new people. It seems as if many people here are allergic to change, because we are able to teach many people for the first time, but when we return a second time, they hide faster than a groundhog from a heavy mallet. I don't know if I should say it's funny what they do, or sad, because they're truly missing out on something greater. However, there are many blessings I can see in those that desire change. 

What's best is seeing all of the youth that are ready to change. If I remember right, I already talked about the young woman, but recently we found another truly cool young man. He has barely turned the age of an adult, and already trying to find his purpose in life. We found him looking for another contact, and he invited us in. We sat and talked about the restoration, and he understood every single word of it. Then, he already began bearing his testimony of how he believed the gospel was true. We've marked his baptism already for September first, and he's really excited.

Oh, sorry I can't write faster! I'd practice more if I could. :P

Thanks for all of the support and the love. Y'all are the best.

Elder Angus

Word:

Compromisso (comb-proh-mee-soo) the opposite of laziness. something you take initiative to do. nobody here likes this. :(

Photos:

- Rural area of Carlos Barbosa

- Family Night with recent converts

99 Umbrellas

I have the worst of luck with umbrellas. Whether it be wind, rain, children, or brain lapses, I never keep the umbrella for very long. This week alone destroyed at least three, one of which broke three times in three different places. I must be really lucky. :P Anyway, what's the work without a little sacrifice.

But yes, the week was really strange, ranging from extremely hot sunlight to freezing cold rain. However, the people we found this week were probably better than ever. As well, I got my birthday gift a month early! It's amazing how unpredictable the postal service is here. Anyway, I've made a personal promise that I won't open everything until my birthday. The candy, however, has no guarantee to last so long. >:P 

But, just to be smarter with my time, I'll talk about the people. This week, we were able to talk to the family of the girl I talked about before, and they are really golden. They are a humble family, but their experiences show just how much they've always trusted in God. Many times, the worst of accidents have happened in the family, even near deaths, but God always placed his hand in their lives and raised these people "from the dead" so to speak. Even when they were sometimes ready to abandon God and all that they believed, the other members of the family returned them to their faith, and miracles happened. I have learned so many things with their experiences that I can't write it all, but one really touched me.

When we had invited the girl that wanted to be baptized to pray, she told us that it had been ages since she spoke with God. She had gotten angry at Him because God had let her nephew get extremely burned when under her care, and it seemed as if He'd do nothing to help. However, when she returned to pray and speak with God, she said He filled her with love, and she was finally content.

Sorry to jump, but the time is up. X( However, thanks for the love and the prayers. I'm praying for all of you.

Elder Angus

word

caridade (car-i-dah-gee) charity

next week I promise photos.

Jedi Fiel

Every day we seek to be faithful to the Lord by doing street contacts. We've been asked to do at least ten per missionary per day. So, we've been finding creative ways to mark our contacts until we reach ten, such as JEDI and FIEL (meaning faithful). It's interesting, though, that even if we don't find anyone special on the street, just talking to everyone gives us more spiritual force as we teach. I'm glad to see that God always fulfills his promises. 

This week was good, until it got hot. I think it funny that my mom told me to be careful of flu weather after I'd already passed it and gotten the flu again. :P I don't know what happened, but in the middle of all this cold, God turned on the furnace. Fortunately it's cold again, and feeling alot better. My companion, however, is on just the other boat. Where he lives, it never falls below 80, so he's practically dieing of cold here. :) He'd probably like it in the states, maybe.

This week, the work was inspiring. Recently we've been looking to teach people a lot more with members of the church. In fact, we've been filling lists of all friends and all people known by the members, and asking them to pray that God show for them a few names on the list that would be prepared to receive the gospel. Until now, God has been faithful, and hundreds of names are waiting to be taught. :) Now if only we had the time...

But in the end, these people turn out to be truly ready. It's interesting that, no matter how much you reason or think about people that might be ready, the Lord already knows and is willing to show them to us if we ask. This week we encountered a few of the best people I've taught since I was here, and I know why. God is guiding us to those he has prepared. Let this be an invite to all members. Make a list, and ask God to show who is ready. Then, pray for these people daily, and work to help them receive. If you do, God will too.

I'm praying for all of you too. Thanks for all the help that y'll have given me. It's always welcome.

Elder Angus

word:

fiel (fee-el) faithful. always be faithful

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