Loving new area

[Jake is zone leader in his new area.]

Hey Guys!

Well, another week has flown by! Lets see what I can do to sum up the week quickly.

Well the area. The area has a load of hills, and my lil toe is officially sticking out of the hole in my shoe! But the area is great! I love it! We live in between two giant ghettos, and next to a huge prison! (I'm sure you are greatful to hear that mom ;). But the area is actually really nice, one of the niciest areas I've lived in. Its ridiculous how many people in the ward speak English. I was shocked. I love English speakers, that really make me want to learn Portuguese better, not sure how that works, but its true. Maybe cause I realize my English is shot and maybe there is a chance I will leave the mish speaking one language correctly!

My companion is super legit. He is one of the most humble guys I've ever met, and has a great love for the work. We are super excited to see what we can do with the zone, we have made a lot of plans, mostly focusing on getiing people pumped! We have a pretty sweet training prepped for tomorrow's district meetings, and ... a fatty breakfast! By far the best part! Should be a blast.

I'm realizing I had lost a bit of the fire of missionary work before, and I am working to get back that excitement. It's starting to work :) I love being out here, I really do.

We had a baptism in the ward on Sunday, a woman I didn't reallly know that well, but I was really happy for her. She seemed so happy. This really is a great blessing to see these lives change.

Well, a lot has happened these weeks for you guys. I have been filled today with an overwhelming love for my family. Everyone! I love my family! It crazy how strong those feelings came to me in reading my letters today. My family rocks. I love my Grandparents, who have have and are setting such great examples of service, and faith in our Savior. I love my parents who have really showed me what is its to put it all in the Lord's hands and keep moving forward, and keep the optimism. I love my siblings, who have taught me so much about being a family, loving one another, and just being so happy with life! I really can express all the love I am feeling today for you all. I pray that you guys can feel it all the way over there is the good ol USA.

I gotta go, time ran out a long time ago. but thanks for everything! Keep smiling :)

Love, Jake

Tranferred to Santo Andre

Hey Guys!

I, like you guys, am super rushed this week! I Will have to be super short!

I got transferred! I am now in Santo Andre, back up in the Sao Paulo area. I'm pretty pumped, the area is def different, and beautiful. Like the trees and stuff. Should be a great transfer.

My companion is Elder Read. He has a year and one month on the mission. He is from the same group as Elder Finlinson and Elder Perry. This guys is a stud. I like him a lot. He is from Layton, Utah. I'm sure I am going to learn a lot with him, and the work here. Im excited, and a lil nervous, but Im sure we will destroy in this area. Should be a blast.

I was sad to leave Praia Grande, but the change, and the new adventure, made up for it a bit. Today, we had a training for leaders in the morning and I was able to see Elder Finlinson, and Elder Guthrie, and Elder Tyree. We had lunch together, and it was probly the funnest time I've had in a long time. I was pretty pumped, and grateful for the great friends I've got here on the mission. This new kids gonna be one of em as well.

Well, I love you all, I am really grateful to be here serving as a missionary. I miss you guys. Voces are the greatest! I will keep praying for ya, and I will be sure to do something dumb this week so you guys can all have a laugh next week :) Like run as fast as I can and do a sweet Superman dive onto the pull up bar. And then, as my body swings through, have the bar break, leaving my flailing body fly across the room, and hit the floor :) The bruises have almost left!

Well, we have to run to Sao Paulo, my comp accidently forgot the planners for the entire zone there, so we will go run there and get em! You people are so lucky to be together, and I am so lucky to have you guys supporting me here in Brasil! I happen to think my family is the coolest ever. I might even love you guys. Maybe. Dont get over excited!]

Love, Jake!

Being Led

My wonderful Familiy and Friends,

I love you all. :)

I really enjoyed the letters this week, I reread parts, and I have lil time left, but I am grateful for all of you.

I continue to share with others my Grandparent Loveland's immense willingness to serve with those around me. I am so proud of my Grandparents! They are super great, fantastic examples!

I have to let you know, the fact that A fasted for family this week was a pretty powerful example of faith, and trust in the Lord. I am extremely impressed with my lil Sister! Thanks A!

Mom, when I hear about all you are doing, I just count my blessings that my moutain of tasks, is only a lil mole hill next to yours. Wow, Keep that up!

This week has been pretty good. We are finally getting some awesome families in the teaching pool! I love these people, and I love working everyday. I'm excited to teach these people!Something that wasn't very strong in the begining. I get strength from these families. Families are the greatest thing God made.

Some funny stories: The first wasn't very funny at the time. I did a division with the members Wednesday night. The two marked apppointments fell through, the 4 back-up plans also fell through! The 6th house we went to, I knocked on the door (actually, I clapped my hands at the gate as is custom) and our investigator came out. She was sooo upset! She was yelling at us for coming at 10:30 at night (reallly, it was 8:20) and was upset because of who knows what else! She gave us a good yelling for a few mins, and then we left. I have never had anyone say that for sure. Most people are completely chill with an 8:30 visit.

And then! The member got mad at me for knocking at her door! He said he didn't want to do anything else, and wanted to go back to the church and wait for the division to end. That hurt, I was trying to be positive through it all, and as we walked home from the chapel it started to rain! Haha So ridiculous.

Then another member called me and said he noticed it was starting to rain and wanted to know where we were so he could give us a ride home. I almost kissed him on the forehead! haha its amazing how much a lil act of service can help out.

There is a crazy drunk guy trying to read this letter right now. Its incedible, all of the drunks here speak english, just basics, but they all know it!

Anyways, I was able to talk to that member on the way home and we had a good laugh about how crazy that day was.

We also taught a lesson with another member earlier that day. He taught everything. EVERYTHING! All five missionary lessons, The Restoration, the Plan of Salvation, the gospel of Jesus Christ, all commandments, patriarchal blessings, temples, home teachers, sacrament, temples and the temples again. And yeah. everything. Wow, ahah, I have never cut someone off some many times in my life!

Afterwards, I prayed for help in talked to this member and correcting his teaching a bit. I have had to correct a few other times this week, with missionaries mostly, but it is not my favorite thing to do. I only do it when the Spirit makes me, haha, but its another time when I just rely on the spirit as best I can. I know there are so many things that I need to improve, so I feel like I don't have a lot of room to help others, but the Lord has helped me out and I think I have been able to help these people.

The talk with the member turned out extremely well actually. Not sure how, just followed the Spirit. Complimented him a bunch sincerely, and then told him the problem, and told him it will help him be a greater help yet, and then complimented him again, sincerely. Seems like a good formula I will try to use more. Glad I'm not alone in cases like this.

Next week are transfers. I have never wanted to stay in an area so much, but I think I might leave. This assistances called the ZLs and I guess there is a good chance I might "be needed elsewhere". Whatever that means. I am just getting the hang of the work here! I hope I stay, but we shall see!

Well, I love you all! Have a great week!
Jake

Nerve-wracking but great week!

At Samantha's baptism, complete family.

*************************************************************************************

Hi Guys!
Sounds like the week abroad was extre,mely busy! I loved hearing abouit the adventures in California, and in that good ol small town especially. I love that place. Good times are always in store.

This week too has been crazy, so Ill get to the beef of it!

Friday night, we had a ward party. I loved it! It was a blast! It was kinda like a Caraval tyoe thing with games and lots of food and some dancing presentations. It was so fun, I completely lost track of time, and we left there at 10:25! Whoops. But we did a tug of war, Elder Harris and I vs. four young men from the ward. Totally dominated them!

More nerve racking, Samantha said she wanted to wait for baptism, and her mother agreed. They wanted her dad to baptize her, in a few months when he can. I don't have any idea what we said, but I just followed the Spirit. I have had to do that a lot lately, having no idea what to do, and just putting my faith in the Lord, and hoping it'll work out. In the end, she accepted to be baptized Saturday! I even "baptized" Elder Harris right in the middle of the ward party to get her more comfortable, more excited about the idea. It was pretty funny, and the ward seemed to enjoy it as well. He's a big kid so I was a lil scared!

We also had a ton of members bring friends there, so we will have some more people to teach! Yes! This area has been tough. Real tough.

Saturday night we had the baptism, and it went so well! I loved so much seeing this family together afterwards, they were so happy! Reminded me of how great my job is, even with all the stress and sacrifice, its a pretty nice gig. I love this family!

Sunday, we went and visited a referral we got from the site. It was the nicest house I've seen in brasil i think haha. Anyways, we started talking to this incredible family, and turns out the daughter (20) talked to a missionary on the airplane who was going to the MTC in Brasil. This lead me to ask why she was coming back from the states. Turns out she studies at OSU! She has not only heard of our hometown, but has been there! I almost cried of pure joy! NO ONE in Brasil has heard of Oregon! But also the little town? Whoa! Haha that family was extremely receptive, and seemed to really like the message. We are going to baptize them before the go to Oregon in four weeks so they can hang with you guys a bit :)

Yesterday I had an interesting experience... I was doing an interview for a baptism in another area. The interview was going well, and right around question three, the baby she was holding started to cry. This lady immediately started breast feeding her child. This startled me, haha, as she made no effort to cover herself or anything like that. I just laughed to myself and kept going. This is just another example of how completelty DIFFERENT the culture here is in Brasil. I'm so glad stuff like that doesnt happen very often in the States, hahaha

Well, that one time we almost got robbed . . . We were walking down the street, and a guy ran up to us and started screaming "get on the ground! get on the ground!" I didn't really have a desire to do this, and was not really intimidated by this small man, so kept walking. However, my companion was grabbed by the man and so I came back really fast. We were able to talk the guy into letting us go because we were just missionaries and were poor. He was a lil unbelieving, but with the stare of power and authority of God peering into his eyes, he ran off. Pretty crazy!

Well, like I said, the area hasn't been picking up as much as I would like. We are trying, working really hard, but its taking some time. We did a 48-hour division with the LZs to get some stuff going in our area, and had absolutely zero success. A lil frustrating. I have learned a lot from the song "Where can I turn for peace." I used to associate this song with when people suffer big things, death, big disappointments, sins, tragedies or stuff like that. But this week I realized that the song, or rather Jesus Christ, covers our everyday stresses too. That the peace from daily stresses also comes from faith in the Lord, and knowing that he knows your heart, he knows your desires, and will bless you with the things you need to get through, vencer. I am grateful for the hymns, and for the great blessings I have received already. Well, I love you all! Sorry this letter is lame, but I guess you'll have to deal with it!

Love you all, Elder Jake

Pictures

1) Elder J. Harris and I were rained on and so our investigators gave us dry shirts to wear home. We entered that house Mormon, and left Evangelical. The Evangelical preachers are always walking around in their colored shirts with the bible under the arm. Pretty sweet :)

Praia Grande!
Super sweet restaurant ruins in our area