"I hate fast food"
The view!
Brazilian Food.
A family in our ward
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Letter from March 23, 2010
[My computer has been in the shop so I feel off-step with everything.]
Hey!
So thank you again for the wonderful letters! They make my day, my week every time! This week has been a lil crazy, but I took notes so I could remember some things to tell you!
Tuesday was a fantastic day! I loved it. I dunno why, but I was just in an amazing mood, and was so pumped to be on a mission. Really random, but it was one of the best days on my mission, and really I dont know why, nothing exceptional happened!
Wednesday, we were at lunch, and this sister there was leaving for her mission the next day! I was pretty excited for her. I shared a message about enduring to the end (something I needed to perfect). Anyways, at the end of the message, she started talkin about the mission ahead of her and got a lil overwhelmed and started crying. She was havin a hard time leaving everyone behind. I said something to the effect of, "Why are you crying? You're gonna get home before I will!" She found that quite funny, as did everyone else. That helped her perk up a bit, and I hoped we left a bit of enthuiasm for her.
Thursday was Zone Conferece (with 1/3) of the mission. It was way good. It was about the Book of Mormon! I love that book!. Then, the President announced the speakers for the day. Elder Mieo, sister Martinez, and ... I said "Elder L" under my breath and grabbed my Bom as the President echoed my words "Elder L".
I am not gonna lie, I was a lil nervous. I haven't done a whole lot of public speaking in portuguese. And I was speaking on the Book of Mormon! Missionaries talk about it all the time, I had no idea what I could say that would help the 70 missionaries in front of me with much more experience. But the Lord helped me out; I started out a little shaky. But then as soon as I started to speak, I felt so calm, and so confident that the Lord would help me. I spoke ( what I thought at least) really clearly, and with confidence, and "power and authority." I felt the spirit really strong as I testified about that book, and the power it brings is. I felt really good afterwards, and I was really grateful for the Lord, because if I had to do it alone, it would not have gone so well. Would have failed haha
I even had a few younger missionaries ask me how long it took me to be this good at Portuguese. I told them 5 months. But it was really a testimony of the power ofthe gift of tongues to hear that. The Lord really helps missionaries out.
Thursday night I saw Gustavo. Gustavo stopped me on the street about two weeks ago to ask about the church. Thursday, he pulled over his car on the side of the road and got out to talk to us for like 15 mins. He is awesome, and speaks really good English! He even remembered where I was from! Thats nevered happend before!
I have started to make friends with a ton of people on the street! I love talking to them, and they often honk or wave, even if they don't accept the message at first. Really starting to connect with people in this language!
So Friday, I was in the kitchen at about 7 30 and I kinda just had enough with this house. I grabbed a chair and sat down next to the ZLs, woke em up and said, "We need to talk." It was a pretty bold move, but I learned the day before that with the Lord, I can do all I need to. I told them we needed to change this, I needed to start following the rules as companionship, and I needed them to start setting an example.
That night we had a "house council". We decided to change things and start following all the rules, and to help each other out. We set up somethings to help us do this. (Its not easy with 4 elders haha, we like to talk to late sometimes). But it was good, and we are doing it well, despite some grumbling from a certain companion.
That night, after the council, the LZs had 5 or six appointments marked for the same time, so we helped em out. I went with Elder Guthrie and we went to teach at a members house, their non-member friend. We got there and Elder Guthie asked me if I could teach a lesson by myself, and I said I could. So he left to teach one of the other lessons, while I stayed with the family there. Was cool. I loved teaching it alone. Its a lot harder, but also pretty fun!
So thats just a few of my weekly highlights. My companion is really struggling, and is really stressed. He isn't happy, and Im pretty sure he hates me haha. But I am doing my best, and I have really learned to be happy no matter what! His mood doesn't change mine anymore, which is def a good skill to have! I am doing my best to help him out, as lil as I can do.
I called Alex last night. I was going to call him Friday, but President didn't get back to me until yesterday morning! But he lives outside of the mission. So President talked to the mission president there, and they decided I should call him, and let him know what was going on, and also talk to the missionaries who will visit him. Also, President of Sao Paulo Norte said i should expect progress reports from those missionaries as well, which is good! So that's the status. I didnt get ahold of him. but I left my number with his mom or wife or somebody. So we are doing our best :) Thanks for the reference! I really love doin this, and helping Bro B and Alex out!Thanks Bro B!
Dad! Number 3 in the high council! nice work! Haha thats really cool.And that is cool Bro T is there too. I was thinking about him this week actually, I really like his form of leadership. He is such a good guy and just always makes you feel like your important, and makes ya wanna do your best. Thanks for the sports update! And you can tell Kristin I just put the address on a letter to her, its ready to be mailed tomorrow! And yeah, I could use some pilot pens, those nice g-2s would be sweet. and peanut butter.maybe reeses cups haha whatever And thanks a ton for the comics! I love gettin those reminds me of the times we read it together. Thanks for all your encouragement and love!
Mom-Thanks for the letter! Ill check it agian to see if I missed any questions, but thank you so much!
Well, Time be running!
Love you all, have a great week!
Hey!
So thank you again for the wonderful letters! They make my day, my week every time! This week has been a lil crazy, but I took notes so I could remember some things to tell you!
Tuesday was a fantastic day! I loved it. I dunno why, but I was just in an amazing mood, and was so pumped to be on a mission. Really random, but it was one of the best days on my mission, and really I dont know why, nothing exceptional happened!
Wednesday, we were at lunch, and this sister there was leaving for her mission the next day! I was pretty excited for her. I shared a message about enduring to the end (something I needed to perfect). Anyways, at the end of the message, she started talkin about the mission ahead of her and got a lil overwhelmed and started crying. She was havin a hard time leaving everyone behind. I said something to the effect of, "Why are you crying? You're gonna get home before I will!" She found that quite funny, as did everyone else. That helped her perk up a bit, and I hoped we left a bit of enthuiasm for her.
Thursday was Zone Conferece (with 1/3) of the mission. It was way good. It was about the Book of Mormon! I love that book!. Then, the President announced the speakers for the day. Elder Mieo, sister Martinez, and ... I said "Elder L" under my breath and grabbed my Bom as the President echoed my words "Elder L".
I am not gonna lie, I was a lil nervous. I haven't done a whole lot of public speaking in portuguese. And I was speaking on the Book of Mormon! Missionaries talk about it all the time, I had no idea what I could say that would help the 70 missionaries in front of me with much more experience. But the Lord helped me out; I started out a little shaky. But then as soon as I started to speak, I felt so calm, and so confident that the Lord would help me. I spoke ( what I thought at least) really clearly, and with confidence, and "power and authority." I felt the spirit really strong as I testified about that book, and the power it brings is. I felt really good afterwards, and I was really grateful for the Lord, because if I had to do it alone, it would not have gone so well. Would have failed haha
I even had a few younger missionaries ask me how long it took me to be this good at Portuguese. I told them 5 months. But it was really a testimony of the power ofthe gift of tongues to hear that. The Lord really helps missionaries out.
Thursday night I saw Gustavo. Gustavo stopped me on the street about two weeks ago to ask about the church. Thursday, he pulled over his car on the side of the road and got out to talk to us for like 15 mins. He is awesome, and speaks really good English! He even remembered where I was from! Thats nevered happend before!
I have started to make friends with a ton of people on the street! I love talking to them, and they often honk or wave, even if they don't accept the message at first. Really starting to connect with people in this language!
So Friday, I was in the kitchen at about 7 30 and I kinda just had enough with this house. I grabbed a chair and sat down next to the ZLs, woke em up and said, "We need to talk." It was a pretty bold move, but I learned the day before that with the Lord, I can do all I need to. I told them we needed to change this, I needed to start following the rules as companionship, and I needed them to start setting an example.
That night we had a "house council". We decided to change things and start following all the rules, and to help each other out. We set up somethings to help us do this. (Its not easy with 4 elders haha, we like to talk to late sometimes). But it was good, and we are doing it well, despite some grumbling from a certain companion.
That night, after the council, the LZs had 5 or six appointments marked for the same time, so we helped em out. I went with Elder Guthrie and we went to teach at a members house, their non-member friend. We got there and Elder Guthie asked me if I could teach a lesson by myself, and I said I could. So he left to teach one of the other lessons, while I stayed with the family there. Was cool. I loved teaching it alone. Its a lot harder, but also pretty fun!
So thats just a few of my weekly highlights. My companion is really struggling, and is really stressed. He isn't happy, and Im pretty sure he hates me haha. But I am doing my best, and I have really learned to be happy no matter what! His mood doesn't change mine anymore, which is def a good skill to have! I am doing my best to help him out, as lil as I can do.
I called Alex last night. I was going to call him Friday, but President didn't get back to me until yesterday morning! But he lives outside of the mission. So President talked to the mission president there, and they decided I should call him, and let him know what was going on, and also talk to the missionaries who will visit him. Also, President of Sao Paulo Norte said i should expect progress reports from those missionaries as well, which is good! So that's the status. I didnt get ahold of him. but I left my number with his mom or wife or somebody. So we are doing our best :) Thanks for the reference! I really love doin this, and helping Bro B and Alex out!Thanks Bro B!
Dad! Number 3 in the high council! nice work! Haha thats really cool.And that is cool Bro T is there too. I was thinking about him this week actually, I really like his form of leadership. He is such a good guy and just always makes you feel like your important, and makes ya wanna do your best. Thanks for the sports update! And you can tell Kristin I just put the address on a letter to her, its ready to be mailed tomorrow! And yeah, I could use some pilot pens, those nice g-2s would be sweet. and peanut butter.maybe reeses cups haha whatever And thanks a ton for the comics! I love gettin those reminds me of the times we read it together. Thanks for all your encouragement and love!
Mom-Thanks for the letter! Ill check it agian to see if I missed any questions, but thank you so much!
Well, Time be running!
Love you all, have a great week!
Busy week - Letter from March 16
Hey!
So I have noooo time today! But Thank you for the letters, Ill get out what I can!
You want my daily schedule? Here it is. I wake up at 6 or 6 30, work out, make some AMAZING food. Today I made some exceptional eggs and toast.Then I study (after shavin and whatnot) til about 10 or 11. (Usually alone, but sometimes my comp joins me -- which makes my day). And then we go eat!
Every day we have lunch at a member's house. Lunch is always the same! Rice and beans. But I'm really gettin to like em. Then we walk all day, going from appointment to appointment. We have "appointments" all day. We dont really mark them, we just show up. A little annoying, but hey! that's alright.
Thats pretty much all we do. We find new people to teach by making contacts on the road in between appointments. And we visit them later in the week! And then we come home, I shower, and sleep. And read the good books a bit before bed usually. Thats pretty much it, but its a good life!
Pictures I think I will just email every week except this one because of the lack of time.
Loved the pictures! Send some more of the house, and of the McAllister house too!
This week I taught principles of the gospel at church! My comp told me about ten mins before, just said,"Hey, you're teaching." A little annoyed, but it went well, and I really enjoyed it!
I have been LOVING English class! And its amazing how they ask questions that tie directly into the lessons, I already taught the first and second!
I WILL CALL ALEX FRIDAY! pORTUGUESE ISNT sorry for the caps. Portugues isn't a prblem. I love talking on the phone in Portuguese, most people hate it.Portuguese is going well, I'm getting better and better!
Sunday we were making contacts and this lady we contacted followed us. And sang one line of a hymn over and over. For a long time. Quite hilarious!
This week was better, and I am really finding ways to have the time of my life!
Love you all! Write me! :)
Elder Jake!
So I have noooo time today! But Thank you for the letters, Ill get out what I can!
You want my daily schedule? Here it is. I wake up at 6 or 6 30, work out, make some AMAZING food. Today I made some exceptional eggs and toast.Then I study (after shavin and whatnot) til about 10 or 11. (Usually alone, but sometimes my comp joins me -- which makes my day). And then we go eat!
Every day we have lunch at a member's house. Lunch is always the same! Rice and beans. But I'm really gettin to like em. Then we walk all day, going from appointment to appointment. We have "appointments" all day. We dont really mark them, we just show up. A little annoying, but hey! that's alright.
Thats pretty much all we do. We find new people to teach by making contacts on the road in between appointments. And we visit them later in the week! And then we come home, I shower, and sleep. And read the good books a bit before bed usually. Thats pretty much it, but its a good life!
Pictures I think I will just email every week except this one because of the lack of time.
Loved the pictures! Send some more of the house, and of the McAllister house too!
This week I taught principles of the gospel at church! My comp told me about ten mins before, just said,"Hey, you're teaching." A little annoyed, but it went well, and I really enjoyed it!
I have been LOVING English class! And its amazing how they ask questions that tie directly into the lessons, I already taught the first and second!
I WILL CALL ALEX FRIDAY! pORTUGUESE ISNT sorry for the caps. Portugues isn't a prblem. I love talking on the phone in Portuguese, most people hate it.Portuguese is going well, I'm getting better and better!
Sunday we were making contacts and this lady we contacted followed us. And sang one line of a hymn over and over. For a long time. Quite hilarious!
This week was better, and I am really finding ways to have the time of my life!
Love you all! Write me! :)
Elder Jake!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ola Amigos!
The V family got baptized! That is so freaking cool! Haha that absolutley made my day! I am way glad to hear that. I wish I could have been there, but hey, thats alright! Congradulations! They are going to be such an amazing family and influence for the people there!
That is really crazy about the hymn thing at church. cause the EXACT same thing happened in our ward on Sunday! cRazy! [After the organist played the entire first verse, she realized she was on the wrong page.]
I am super pumped about the house windows and such, Send me some fotos! or photos! qualquer um.
This week has been crazy as usual, but I am really starting to have a blast here. Really getting to relax. Elder Guthrie has helped me relax a ton and in turn, I am helping him with getting up and such. Tomorrow we are going to play basketball! He's become a great friend, and we have some good times.
This week our investigators aren't doing so well. I am not sure what we need to do better, but we are trying! But at lunch I shared amessage about the Book of Mormon, and its power in my life. I really felt I should, even though they talked about it during Sunday School and priesthood (taught by the elders quorum president, who we were eating with). But I shared it anyways. And then at the end, the pres asked one of the other guys there, (there were about 6 single adults there Id never met), if he had a Bom. He said no. And that night he said he really wants to be baptized! So we will do that for him!
Maria Do Carmo is amazing. Her and her family are fantastic people! SO strong! She still wants to be baptized on the 9th of april, but she has been reading the Bom every day. She works on Sundays, but its with an odd guy who needs watchin after. So it needs to be done, even on Sunday. SO she asked if she could get three Sundays a month where should could get off early to go to church! SO legit!
As requested, the lil notes shall now be presented.Will be better next week. But, have the kids write an email everyonce in awhile!:
Mom, that is really cool about the 10k, super great.
S: You got your letter, but I love you anyways :)
J: You made french toast for the neighbors?! That is awesome! I am way impressed,that is way good
A! Nice job with your state fair project! I'm sure it was great, send me pictures! And M&Ms ;)
W! Sounds you too are being quite the lil missionary, and being a great example to your friend!Keep that up! And don't kick girls! unless they deserve it a lot
...Katie and Ross! Yeah, katie, email that to me if you can. And Elder Bradreich is in my Zone! SWEET! Thanks for that great letter Katie! and Ross, what on earth are you studying now? E´plain that, and why haha
Sorry to be so short, not much to write about this week! But I love you all! thank you for the letters! Even if I don't have to time to reply, I print em off and they are a huge boost! Also the snail mail letters, really make my day, and today was the first time in 2 months I had to reply to some! Sorry people! thank you!
Can you send me a lil leather bound BoM? in english. LIke small. Pocketsized. Maybe? LOve you all!Bye!
Elder Jake!
The V family got baptized! That is so freaking cool! Haha that absolutley made my day! I am way glad to hear that. I wish I could have been there, but hey, thats alright! Congradulations! They are going to be such an amazing family and influence for the people there!
That is really crazy about the hymn thing at church. cause the EXACT same thing happened in our ward on Sunday! cRazy! [After the organist played the entire first verse, she realized she was on the wrong page.]
I am super pumped about the house windows and such, Send me some fotos! or photos! qualquer um.
This week has been crazy as usual, but I am really starting to have a blast here. Really getting to relax. Elder Guthrie has helped me relax a ton and in turn, I am helping him with getting up and such. Tomorrow we are going to play basketball! He's become a great friend, and we have some good times.
This week our investigators aren't doing so well. I am not sure what we need to do better, but we are trying! But at lunch I shared amessage about the Book of Mormon, and its power in my life. I really felt I should, even though they talked about it during Sunday School and priesthood (taught by the elders quorum president, who we were eating with). But I shared it anyways. And then at the end, the pres asked one of the other guys there, (there were about 6 single adults there Id never met), if he had a Bom. He said no. And that night he said he really wants to be baptized! So we will do that for him!
Maria Do Carmo is amazing. Her and her family are fantastic people! SO strong! She still wants to be baptized on the 9th of april, but she has been reading the Bom every day. She works on Sundays, but its with an odd guy who needs watchin after. So it needs to be done, even on Sunday. SO she asked if she could get three Sundays a month where should could get off early to go to church! SO legit!
As requested, the lil notes shall now be presented.Will be better next week. But, have the kids write an email everyonce in awhile!:
Mom, that is really cool about the 10k, super great.
S: You got your letter, but I love you anyways :)
J: You made french toast for the neighbors?! That is awesome! I am way impressed,that is way good
A! Nice job with your state fair project! I'm sure it was great, send me pictures! And M&Ms ;)
W! Sounds you too are being quite the lil missionary, and being a great example to your friend!Keep that up! And don't kick girls! unless they deserve it a lot
...Katie and Ross! Yeah, katie, email that to me if you can. And Elder Bradreich is in my Zone! SWEET! Thanks for that great letter Katie! and Ross, what on earth are you studying now? E´plain that, and why haha
Sorry to be so short, not much to write about this week! But I love you all! thank you for the letters! Even if I don't have to time to reply, I print em off and they are a huge boost! Also the snail mail letters, really make my day, and today was the first time in 2 months I had to reply to some! Sorry people! thank you!
Can you send me a lil leather bound BoM? in english. LIke small. Pocketsized. Maybe? LOve you all!Bye!
Elder Jake!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tough Week But Good in Many Ways
Hey!
It is always so great to get your letters! It always pumps me up, and makes me excited to get some work done.
This week has a tough one, but it has been good in many ways. Today we went to the temple. I loved it so much! My comp didnt want to do a session, so I got to do one with Elder Brewer from my MTC district. (Also from my BYU ward/ building.) Also Elder Schmidt was with us, my roommate. That was awesome! It was so great to talk to them before going into the temple, but as soon as I went in, I felt amazing. I felt every single fear, and stress leave my body. It was a absolutely wonderful experience. I even understood most of it while I was in there! I have never felt so much at home on my mission, like I was sitting in God's living room. I loved it so so much. It was really hard to leave there, really hard. But that temple trip was exactly what I needed.
But afterwards, we went to the local buffet and ate well. I saw Elder Alves, and he said they baptized three people I was teaching with Elder dos Reis, and him. Maria Claudia asked if I could baptize her, she really wanted me too. But Elder Alves' comp did, which was great for him! She wrote me a letter, and a lot of people in that old ward have been askin about Elder Grandão. Its nice to know that I made an impact on a least a few people there, even if just a lil.
So I'll tell you a bit about my week, and why it has been important to my mission.
Last Thursday i think I just died. I got dressed and was just sitting on my bed, completely overwhelmed, tired, and feeling like I wasnt doing any good here. Elder Guthrie (ZL) came into my room, shut the door, and said, "Lets talk". I told him of my frustrations, and how I was stressed I wasn't doing all I needed to. We talked for a really long time.
To sum it up, he told me a few really good things. He told me that a lot of missionaries come on their missions to pass the two years and go home. He told me that one of the first things he noticed about me is that I wasn't one of them. I came here with a purpose. He told me how much of an impact I had made on my district in the MTC. (He trained one of the guys from my district.)
But then he told me that I am forgetting one thing, I am forgetting who I am. He said I bet "Jake" was never stressed, and loved everybody for who they were. And that I needed top do that. I needed to combine Elder L, and Jake a lil more. He taped "Jake" on the back of my name tag. That has actually made a huge difference.
I had become so frustrated with my comp at times, I had completely forgotten to love him. And I remember my phrase from college, "Optimism - Its Fun." I was able to stop stressin about stuff I couldn't change, and really looked for the good in my days and in my comp :)
But that didnt last forever,a few days later I was havin a hard day, I was doing my best, but just wasnt cutting it. I was just hoping I'd get a transfer or something. I remeber this moment really well. I was walking down the road, so discouraged with everything, and this thought came into my mind: "Remember the eternal perspective." I got this lil grin on my face, that i couldnt get rid off. I looked up into that beautiful Brazilian sky and said "You're good."
I knew I shouldn't have prayed fopr humility." Haha
I know God is watching us all, and he knows exactly what we need to grow, even if we don't like it that much at first. This knowledge has changed my days, I am really having a good time now, which is exactly what I should be doing, hard times and all. So all in all, this week has been a great experience. Well, one I'm very glad I've had! And Im lookin forward to this next one!
Gotta run.
Love you all!-Elder Jake
It is always so great to get your letters! It always pumps me up, and makes me excited to get some work done.
This week has a tough one, but it has been good in many ways. Today we went to the temple. I loved it so much! My comp didnt want to do a session, so I got to do one with Elder Brewer from my MTC district. (Also from my BYU ward/ building.) Also Elder Schmidt was with us, my roommate. That was awesome! It was so great to talk to them before going into the temple, but as soon as I went in, I felt amazing. I felt every single fear, and stress leave my body. It was a absolutely wonderful experience. I even understood most of it while I was in there! I have never felt so much at home on my mission, like I was sitting in God's living room. I loved it so so much. It was really hard to leave there, really hard. But that temple trip was exactly what I needed.
But afterwards, we went to the local buffet and ate well. I saw Elder Alves, and he said they baptized three people I was teaching with Elder dos Reis, and him. Maria Claudia asked if I could baptize her, she really wanted me too. But Elder Alves' comp did, which was great for him! She wrote me a letter, and a lot of people in that old ward have been askin about Elder Grandão. Its nice to know that I made an impact on a least a few people there, even if just a lil.
So I'll tell you a bit about my week, and why it has been important to my mission.
Last Thursday i think I just died. I got dressed and was just sitting on my bed, completely overwhelmed, tired, and feeling like I wasnt doing any good here. Elder Guthrie (ZL) came into my room, shut the door, and said, "Lets talk". I told him of my frustrations, and how I was stressed I wasn't doing all I needed to. We talked for a really long time.
To sum it up, he told me a few really good things. He told me that a lot of missionaries come on their missions to pass the two years and go home. He told me that one of the first things he noticed about me is that I wasn't one of them. I came here with a purpose. He told me how much of an impact I had made on my district in the MTC. (He trained one of the guys from my district.)
But then he told me that I am forgetting one thing, I am forgetting who I am. He said I bet "Jake" was never stressed, and loved everybody for who they were. And that I needed top do that. I needed to combine Elder L, and Jake a lil more. He taped "Jake" on the back of my name tag. That has actually made a huge difference.
I had become so frustrated with my comp at times, I had completely forgotten to love him. And I remember my phrase from college, "Optimism - Its Fun." I was able to stop stressin about stuff I couldn't change, and really looked for the good in my days and in my comp :)
But that didnt last forever,a few days later I was havin a hard day, I was doing my best, but just wasnt cutting it. I was just hoping I'd get a transfer or something. I remeber this moment really well. I was walking down the road, so discouraged with everything, and this thought came into my mind: "Remember the eternal perspective." I got this lil grin on my face, that i couldnt get rid off. I looked up into that beautiful Brazilian sky and said "You're good."
I knew I shouldn't have prayed fopr humility." Haha
I know God is watching us all, and he knows exactly what we need to grow, even if we don't like it that much at first. This knowledge has changed my days, I am really having a good time now, which is exactly what I should be doing, hard times and all. So all in all, this week has been a great experience. Well, one I'm very glad I've had! And Im lookin forward to this next one!
Gotta run.
Love you all!-Elder Jake
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