(Written Wed.) We left on Sunday at 3 in the afternoon to Zone Conference in Cuiaba, which we didn´t know about til 9 Saturday night. So we had a nice 18 hour bus ride to Cuiaba! Thankfully I slept for most of it, haha. But the conference was way, way good. It was about repentence. I´ll talk about it later. It was really funny because we were going from Cuiaba to Ji-Paraná last night, and the bus died. We all got out and waited two hours for another one to come pick everyone up. Thankfully we were in the middle of nowhere, but there was a gas station with food nearby. So that was interesting. Then, we´re like 2 hours from Ji-Paraná and the new bus that we were on died. Yet another bus came and got us, but this one didn´t have A/C; just open windows. Hahaha, yet another adventure in Brazil.
This past week was really good here though! The weather has cooled down a LOT and it rained quite a bit. One of the days was super muggy, but right now it´s still nothing compared to my first week here. Needless to say, I´m drinking lots of water, ha. But we are most likely going to have a baptism this weekend. Taine, is a 13 year old friend of a recent convert that we´re gonna baptize. She´s really shy but she accepted all the committments and was just like ``Yeah, I´ll stop drinking coffee.`` BAM! But, her dad is in Porto Velho working and won´t get back til this weekend. Her mom won´t let her get baptized until her dad gets home and they talk about it. So we´re praying for that. Our other investigators are not progressing quite as well, but we´re having major improvements. The one couple, Alrora and Roberto, are going to get married. They are both keeping up with their goals to stop smoking and drinking and once they´re married, BAPTISM! It´s exciting. I´ve never had investigators actually accept to get married; usually they just decide it´s too much committment/effort. Also, we´re helping a mom of two members to stop smoking and drinking. I´m pretty sure she has a firm testimony already, but she´s never been willing to obey the Word of Wisdom in order to get baptized. She´s really cool and promised Elder Abreu that she would actually do it.
Well, some cool highlights from Zone Conference were about repentence. One thing that President Oliveira had us all promise was to repent every day and to make it true repentence. If you do something wrong, recognize it, and just change the next day. Also, we all need to repent, because nobody is perfect. If we do that, then we´ll just be so much happier and not have the guilt and everything. What a blessing! Also, just get rid of the garbage in our lives. Lots of times we know exactly what it is that we need to change, but we´re just to scared to actually get rid of that movie, music, habbit, or whatever it is. The Lord promises that when we do, it will always be for our good. It´s an act of faith that many are afraid to make, but when the Lord commands, just do it (from the Stake Council papers).
Oh, and the World Cup starts this week: June 11-July 11. President is letting us watch the games that Brazil will be playing (YES!) with a firm member. Except, if any of the games fall on Sunday (like on the 20), then we are obviously not allowed to watch it. Our next P-Day will be on Tuesday (since Brazil is playing on Monday), so he told us to switch our days. So don´t freak out when you get another late email (sorry...). But, I love you and hope that you have a good week! Remember to pray in a quiet place where you can truly have a one-on-one conversation with the Lord. Tiao!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
It's hot!
Well, I have some awesome pictures of Ji-Paraná, but the computer is not working right. Next week. It is super, de-duper hot here! Holy goodness. Imagine walking around all day and pretty much just sweating the whole time. That´s what it´s like in Ji-Paraná. The members here are way cool. They feed us really well, and the people here have a bit more more than those in Vilhena. Everythings all just a bit nicer. Most of the streets have asphalt and sidewalks. However, the people are also more prideful, hahaha, and not as receptive to our good news! But, we are teaching a good little handful of people that are really firm and will get baptized. We´re teaching some parents of a recent convert, to stop smoking and get married. They are actually keeping up with the goals and everything! It´s amazing. They love every time that we come and visit. We´re also teaching some Indians by the river that speak Guarani. We´re trying to get a Book of Mormon in that language for them.
Opa! About dangue: it is a disease that Elder Onken and Abreu (my comp) got in Ji-Paraná from the mosquitos. He said it was the absolute worst time of his life. Hahaha. Needless to say, I sleep with my mosquito net over me and use the bug spray every night and day. I had like 100 million mosquito bites after the first night here. Also, my health has been really good. I haven´t felt sick or anything. We eat pretty good (I like to eat yogurt with granola in the mornings because the cereal I bought is nasty). The national health care here is pretty crazy too. I went to the hospital with Elder Magdo in Vilhena because he had problems with breathing, and it was a madhouse. So, I just decided that I´ll never get sick.
Sorry I don´t have much time to write right now, but I´ll leave this one thought. One thing that our president said is that while we are outside sweating from every pore, and thinking of complaining, we just need to think of the Savior, and his atoning sacrifice for us. He BLED at every pore for every one of our sins. This helps to put things in perspective. We are so blessed to have this in our life and to be able to repent. I love you and all have a good week! Remember to open your mouth and find people for the missionaries! This is a Church-wide work!
-Love, Elder Carpenter
Opa! About dangue: it is a disease that Elder Onken and Abreu (my comp) got in Ji-Paraná from the mosquitos. He said it was the absolute worst time of his life. Hahaha. Needless to say, I sleep with my mosquito net over me and use the bug spray every night and day. I had like 100 million mosquito bites after the first night here. Also, my health has been really good. I haven´t felt sick or anything. We eat pretty good (I like to eat yogurt with granola in the mornings because the cereal I bought is nasty). The national health care here is pretty crazy too. I went to the hospital with Elder Magdo in Vilhena because he had problems with breathing, and it was a madhouse. So, I just decided that I´ll never get sick.
Sorry I don´t have much time to write right now, but I´ll leave this one thought. One thing that our president said is that while we are outside sweating from every pore, and thinking of complaining, we just need to think of the Savior, and his atoning sacrifice for us. He BLED at every pore for every one of our sins. This helps to put things in perspective. We are so blessed to have this in our life and to be able to repent. I love you and all have a good week! Remember to open your mouth and find people for the missionaries! This is a Church-wide work!
-Love, Elder Carpenter
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
New City: Ji-Parana
Hola familia! I have some big news! But first, I just wanted to say that Tucker is a cute baby! I have yet to see him in person, but he looks a lot like Andrew as a baby with that dark hair.
I´m completely jealous that you all got to see the temple dedication for THE Gila Valley Temple! I want to go back to the temple so bad, so look forward to it in 2 years! I didn´t know that there was so much history behind it and everything. Que legal!
Oh yeah, we had the Musical Fireside Saturday night. I thought it was going to be a disaster, but it turned out great. We didn´t plan for things very well, but it all came together. We sang lots of hymns: I Know That My Redeemer Lives (I did a solo on that with verses in Portuguese and English), I Believe In Christ (all the elders), Master the Tempest Is Raging (I played organ), I Am A Child of God, the Army of Helaman song, and another song that wasn´t a hymn. I either played the organ or sang for all of them and it felt good to play the piano/organ again! We used the organ from the other branch because ours is really ugly. Thank goodness none of the songs were very hard to play, or I would have made a fool of myself. It turned out really cool though. While we sang we had a slideshow of pictures of Christ going on a projector. The members all liked it and all said that we sang muito lindo (very gorgeous). I´m was glad that they thought that, hahaha.
Ok, here´s the news. I am leaving in one hour for a new area/city called Ji-Paraná! Completely unexpected and also kind of crappy for the other elders because Elder Magdo left yesterday and now I´m leaving the area... weird. But, Elder Aquino and Onken (the other Vilhena elders) are being split up to be in the two Vilhena areas with new companions. I´m going to Ji-Paraná to be with Elder Abreu. We´ll still be in the same district with Vilhena, so that´s good because I really like the other two elders. I´m also really excited to be with Elder Abreu. From the time I´ve spent with him at district meetings and stuff, he´s quiet but I like him. I think we´re gonna work really well together. Ji-Paraná is supposed to be a lot bigger than Vilhena, and there´s only one companionship there because the work has been kind of bad. Apparently Vilhena and Ji-Paraná were both cities that got closed about a year ago because there was not much success. Then they got opened back up in January and February of this year, and they´ve been doing awesome! One thing that I´ve learned from the other elders is that it is all about attitude. The missionaries that think, say, and act like they are going to baptize actually do. That´s something we´ve really been trying to do here, and so far we´ve had baptisms almost every week. We baptized Edilson, a 12 year old friend of the other two boys that we baptized, this Sunday. He used to smoke (gasp! He´s 12! I´ve begun to learn that ANYTHING is possible in Brazil. It´s a magical place) and drink coffee but he stopped. There´s times when he messes around and stuff during lessons and I´m just like,´´You really want to get baptized?´´ and he was. I hope that they all keep going to Church and staying strong. They´ve all not had much of a home life, education, that kind of thing, and the gospel is what they need. Vamos orar!
Oh yeah, Ji-Paraná is the farthest north that you can get in the mission. Elder Onken was there for 3 months and he said that it is literally on the edge of the rain forest. And I will be eating lizard and weird things! He also said that it is really hot there (gag me...), but not as hot as Cuiabá. So I am gearing up for sweat! And it´s totally gonna be one of those experiences that I look back on and have all the good stories and things. I´m way excited. It kinda of stinks to have to learn a new area all over again and become friends with all the members, but I´m up for it. Oh! And they make really nice hammocks there for $30. I´m totally getting one.
Also, here´s something that I learned during the week. We were singing I Am A Child of God during the week, and it really just hit me EVERYONE in the world is a child of God. Back at home, it was just like, ´Well, duh!´, but here in Brazil you see the other side of the world. Not all of the people have very much and some of them have ruined their lives and the lives of their families with drugs and drinking and such. It is just amazing to know that Christ knows each of us INDIVIDUALLY and personally. He knows everything that we´re going through and just wants to help us. But most people never ask, and never receive the help that they need. That´s one thing that everyone has to realize, is that they can´t make it on their own and they need help from a higher power. I hope that we can all humble ourselves and realize this. I know that I am trying. Well, have a good week! Take a deep breath because piano and school are over (for those involved), but remember not to be lazy. Laziness is bad. Well, I love you all and look forward to hearing all the good news about your activities, goals, and achievements next week!
Com Amor, Elder Carpenter
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Fotos of Zach and friends
outside Zach's apt.
lumber mill
Zach's apt.
Kitchen- glad they don't have to use it much
Laundry room
Zach's desk
Happy Mother's Day
Rodizio with Elder Magdo
1st baptism (Zach baptized the littlest one in white.)My feet are getting better!
Opah. Graduation! How exciting for Jenny! Looking at those pictures made me think of Arizona and the fact that it is a desert and has no plants, ha ha. I´m glad that everything went well with the graduation. Talk about a long time coming! I´m glad that Jenny did good on her test. All that hard work and prayer paid off 
Well, we didn´t teach a whole ton of lessons this week, but we had another baptism! We baptized Katia, the 19 year old with 3 kids. She is the oldest sister of Maike and Riki (they were baptized last week). The whole family was there for the baptism and a bunch of neighbors. Hopefully, they´ll all want to baptized too, haha. Now we´re preparing to baptize the other brother, Jhony, this Saturday.
Good news. My feet are mostly normal! It´s no longer cold here in Vilhena, and my feet were getting a little big in the shoes, and it hurt for a couple of days, but now all my toes that had blisters are calloused and hopefully there are no more problems. I can walk!
One thing that I learned this week in personal study (one of the many things) is about the Priesthood. A Priesthood holder can only use his Priesthood to bless other people. It can never be used for one´s self. I´ve had the opportunity to give a few Priesthood blessings (in English and Portuguese), and it is truly something divine. The words that you say are not your own, and usually afterwards, you´re like ´Did I really say that?´ and the truth is that you just said what the Holy Ghost prompted. It´s really cool stuff, that we are really lucky to be able to do. Well, we are doing the music thing this Saturday with a bunch of hymns and us elders singing and playing instruments. I hope that all goes well! We are trying to practice a little bit every day. Remember the things that you read in the scriptues by writing them down. That shows the Lord that you are willing to learn and apply them, and then you´ll receive more inspirations. Love you and have a good week!
Well, we didn´t teach a whole ton of lessons this week, but we had another baptism! We baptized Katia, the 19 year old with 3 kids. She is the oldest sister of Maike and Riki (they were baptized last week). The whole family was there for the baptism and a bunch of neighbors. Hopefully, they´ll all want to baptized too, haha. Now we´re preparing to baptize the other brother, Jhony, this Saturday.
Good news. My feet are mostly normal! It´s no longer cold here in Vilhena, and my feet were getting a little big in the shoes, and it hurt for a couple of days, but now all my toes that had blisters are calloused and hopefully there are no more problems. I can walk!
One thing that I learned this week in personal study (one of the many things) is about the Priesthood. A Priesthood holder can only use his Priesthood to bless other people. It can never be used for one´s self. I´ve had the opportunity to give a few Priesthood blessings (in English and Portuguese), and it is truly something divine. The words that you say are not your own, and usually afterwards, you´re like ´Did I really say that?´ and the truth is that you just said what the Holy Ghost prompted. It´s really cool stuff, that we are really lucky to be able to do. Well, we are doing the music thing this Saturday with a bunch of hymns and us elders singing and playing instruments. I hope that all goes well! We are trying to practice a little bit every day. Remember the things that you read in the scriptues by writing them down. That shows the Lord that you are willing to learn and apply them, and then you´ll receive more inspirations. Love you and have a good week!
Mother's Day joy!
We talked to Zach on Mother's Day. He sounded really good. Except for his feet getting major blisters he is feeling fine. He says the people in his area are really good to him. They feed him a lot when they eat lunch with them. Zach is happy to be working hard! Here is his letter the day after Mother's Day.
Well, like I told you yesterday, we had 2 baptisms yesterday. My first baptism! It was pretty weird to actually be the one baptizing, but thankfully I didn´t mess up the words or anything. Afterwards, I was all smiles. I couldn´t stop! Now, we are just hoping that the sister and mom and brother of the 2 will get baptized too. Katia (sister) has a baptism date for this Saturday, and we´re still working with Wellington to get permission from his aunt to get baptized. We are praying for a miracle! Also, we taught this one guy a week ago who accepted a baptism date for the 22nd and he accepted everything, 1st Vision, reading, everything, but we have yet to catch him. He works as an ambulance driver and his work hours are just whenever they call. We also have 2 brothers and a friend of theirs with a baptism date for the 22nd. They are pretty cool, but they need to read the scriptures, haha. Sunday was kind of sad because we have lots of investigators, but none of them came to Church, only 2. Because it was really cold yesterday (and this morning/today it was 68-70 degrees!) they all gave lame excuses for not going. That´s one of the problems with people, they are all really cool and accept the commitments to read and go to Church but hardly any of them actually do it. I´m pretty sure that this is the same problem that all missionaries have. But we have our work cut out for us!
Well, it feels good to be a missionary. It´s weird because it´s different from what I expected. You aren´t constantly having spiritual experiences, but you do have them. A lot of it is just teaching people the basic, beautifully simple doctrines of the Church. You don´t have to teach in grandeur or majesty, only with the Spirit. Because I´m teaching in Portuguese I have no choice but to keep things simple, and I´m very grateful for that. I´m afraid that I would complicate things too much if I taught in English. And it´s also just about not being lazy and going out and visiting/teaching your investigators. It´s really up to you (or the senior comp, in reality) what gets done. Thankfully, we work hard, because that´s how I like it. And Portuguese seems to be coming to me as well! I was talking with 16 year old from the other branch in Vilhena last night, and I told him I was from the U.S. and he said he thought I was Brazilian! I was so excited. It was night time so I probably looked darker, but it made me feel really good.
Well, like I told you yesterday, we had 2 baptisms yesterday. My first baptism! It was pretty weird to actually be the one baptizing, but thankfully I didn´t mess up the words or anything. Afterwards, I was all smiles. I couldn´t stop! Now, we are just hoping that the sister and mom and brother of the 2 will get baptized too. Katia (sister) has a baptism date for this Saturday, and we´re still working with Wellington to get permission from his aunt to get baptized. We are praying for a miracle! Also, we taught this one guy a week ago who accepted a baptism date for the 22nd and he accepted everything, 1st Vision, reading, everything, but we have yet to catch him. He works as an ambulance driver and his work hours are just whenever they call. We also have 2 brothers and a friend of theirs with a baptism date for the 22nd. They are pretty cool, but they need to read the scriptures, haha. Sunday was kind of sad because we have lots of investigators, but none of them came to Church, only 2. Because it was really cold yesterday (and this morning/today it was 68-70 degrees!) they all gave lame excuses for not going. That´s one of the problems with people, they are all really cool and accept the commitments to read and go to Church but hardly any of them actually do it. I´m pretty sure that this is the same problem that all missionaries have. But we have our work cut out for us!
Well, it feels good to be a missionary. It´s weird because it´s different from what I expected. You aren´t constantly having spiritual experiences, but you do have them. A lot of it is just teaching people the basic, beautifully simple doctrines of the Church. You don´t have to teach in grandeur or majesty, only with the Spirit. Because I´m teaching in Portuguese I have no choice but to keep things simple, and I´m very grateful for that. I´m afraid that I would complicate things too much if I taught in English. And it´s also just about not being lazy and going out and visiting/teaching your investigators. It´s really up to you (or the senior comp, in reality) what gets done. Thankfully, we work hard, because that´s how I like it. And Portuguese seems to be coming to me as well! I was talking with 16 year old from the other branch in Vilhena last night, and I told him I was from the U.S. and he said he thought I was Brazilian! I was so excited. It was night time so I probably looked darker, but it made me feel really good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)