Hey!
Well, I am exhausted! I donno why, but I haven't slept super good the past two mights, and we have been workin harder than ever! I love it, it has been good!
It was super good to hear from all you on Christmas, super good! Afterwords I was on fire and just wanted to work! Unfortunately, didn't really get to teach anybody that day. There were some crazy parties goin down, and nobody could hear when we "knocked doors". Nobody answered for our set lessons. So we stopped by a members home, not sure why. But I was sitting there trying to figure out how to get the music to turn off. It was so freaking loud. Couldn't hear anything inside the house of the member. So the thought came to me, if it started raining, people would go inside! So I told my companion and prayed for rain. It came! But not enough, so I prayed for more rain. And it started pourin. It was really cool. It was a great reminder to me that this isn't our work, and we aren't doing it alone. Nothing great came out of our teaching in the rain, but it was a great testimony builder for me, and that was much appreciated.
Saturday we helped a family move. One of the sons is a member, and the others aren't. It was a lot of fun, but sadly they moved out of our area, so we don't get to teach them anymore! It was fun though, and I had a good workout. They often would say "Elder Loveland, carry this stove down to the house." (The truck had to park pretty far because of the small streets.) And so I would haha.They made a lot of jokes, 99% of which I didn't understand. But it was a much needed workout. Saturday morning we also went running which was super great. I loved that.
Sunday was a good, long day, lots of walking and no one was home! Francisco was not at church, and I'm trying to get either us or a member to go with him next week. I think my companion finally agrees thats a good plan.
Our best investigator right now is a 16 year old boy named Davi (Dave). He wants so badly to be baptized, but he has been recovering from surgery and just now can sit up in bed, with some great effort. I'm not sure if he will ever walk.I have been talking to his mother, who won't let him go to church because he is not healthy enough. Which is probably true. But now he is, and I promised him the Lord would help him if he did his part.
I have had some great conversations with him! My companion likes to play his guitar with the neighbor, so I have had some great opportunities to talk to Davi. Yesterday we talked about Mormons in the NFL, of which he is a big fan. He loves Steve Young a ton, was suprised he was a Mormon. He is a great kid. This Sunday I will carry him to church if I have to. His mom is a member,and we committed her to stop smoking and come back to church. Smoking is tough for her, don't think that lasted a full day. So I'm open for ideas with that one!
I have been asking "how" a lot lately, and i think its drivin him [my companion] nuts a bit. But we often set goals and our plans don't match. And we just show up at the house and then he just starts and I testify. I am trying to plan more with my comp the lessons, I need to, because I can't wing it a well in Portuguese. [Its ironically amusing since in high school, he would often pull things together at the last moment, including major writing assignments!] That's tough, especially when its a workout just to figure out what people are saying!
He is a super good teacher and really connects well with people. Super good comp, I love him a ton, and works hard. I learn so much from him everyday, and just try to do my part. I often feel inadequent to help, but I have been thinking back to the setting apart when Pres Lindgreen said the language would not be a barrier. So I just trust that, and open my mouth. Pretty funny when someone just openly starts laughing during my testimony though. Haha! Not what I was going for!
I am trying to be more positive this week. I don't think I've ever had a huge problem with this but, lately I have become impatient when we spend a ton of time at members, or other stuff. But I had a talk with one of the other elders, and he helped remind me to make the best out of every situation. If you are in a members house for two hours, talk to the members, they are excellent language practice. Really try to understand them. Seems obvious, but it was something I was looking over, for sure.
My companion is kind of mad at me for telling the president I used gmail last week. He asked me specifically in an email, among a billion other questions if I was only using myldsmail. So I explained why I used it [to send pictures], and hopefully he won't kill me or my companion.
I kind of get the feeling everyone here has the mindset that if the president doesn't know, its not breaking the rules. Not a huge problem with my companion, but it is a little depressing. Haha. I have never been a fan of rules, but on the mission, on the Lord's time, and on the Lord's errand, Ill do my best to follow the Lord and my leaders. He knows the best way to bring people to Christ, and that requires sacrifice on our part. Since I only have two years, I'm gonna do my best to be obedient. After the mish, I guess we´ll just have to wait and see ;) haha
This past week I have worked on my contacts, and not scaring people! I am kinda large and when I get excited, I just kind of charge in and start up a conversation. Bold, which is good, but scary. Scary is bad. This lady ran away from me this week! Hahaha, its gettin better, and I'm working at smoothing out the bold and being myself, which is tough in a different language! But it is coming!
Well, I am not sure what else to say! Have a great week! And pray for me! Also send me and address for Jacob, so I can send him a letter!
Peace out, I love you all! The kids can send me emails if they would like! Including R and K.
Love, Elder Jake
P. S. Sometimes my P-days are on Mondays, others Tuesdays, so just write me Sunday or whatever, cause I can't tell when they will be when just yet!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Knocking out my best two years
Elder Jake with his comp Elder Dos Reis. He is quite a bit larger than the Brazilians -- thanks in part to G'pa J!
________________
Hey!
So, Brazil is great! I really love it here! The people are great, so humble and so wonderful.
Real quickly, I need Ross to email that ab workout I left in in utah on accident! Also that email from Bro. Burnett!
Thank you! Well, the past few days have been good! I am so grateful for the attitude and mindset the Lord has blessed me with. I am just so excited to be here. Truly a blessing. There are missionaries that really just don't enjoy it and can at any time tell you the time they have left before they get to go home, down to the hour!
Four Elders from my district made it to my mission! And two others to Cuiba! I got to see one of them yesterday, and I have talked to him on the phone a few times. I am glad I got to come a few days earlier, because he is havin a hard time, I think. It has been nice to know a bit, a very little bit, to help him out and encourage him!
PS, can i get letters and info from Jacob? My comp is from curitiba and he wants to know! To answer some questions. The language is coming! Slowly, but each day gets a little better. I love it. The Lord has really been blessing me. I am still struggling a ton, don´t get me wrong, but I can have conversations with ward members. I have talked to a lot of people about construction, the U.S. and my family. People seem to love those topics. My companion and I communicate rather well now, and I am learning so much from him! Everybody is impressed with my language, and with my accent. But I don't know, cause they are all members and are all super nice haha, but I am feeling very blessed with my language, as simple as it is.
(P.S. Turns out it is even harder to stay awake in Elders Quorum when it is 90 + and super humid, in a suit, and you dont understand a thing that old mumblin man is sayin!)
I can understand about 70% more or less of what most people say, but if they only say four words, I miss one. And that is bad haha
9My comp is crazy. He writes a five-minute email.)
Schedule. Brazilians are crazy. We don´t set appointments, except maybe once. We arise at 6:30, get ready and study til 11. Then we go to lunch at a member's house, and then just walk around the city stopping at houses to see if they are home. Seems nuts to me!
Also that whole be in the house by 9:30, 9 if we dont have an appointment, is a joke! The first
day, we got in at 11! I haven't made it in before ten! I don't understand why not. It's kind of annoying because I want to be in bed by 10:30, but I have stuff to do!
Also church starts about a half hour late, haha. So strange, but I don´t mind that now because I don't understand a whole lot in Elder's Quorum and Sunday School. Also during Sacrament, people will just stand up and walk across the room and stand there talking to someone. Haha Everything is so chill here! Too chill in many cases.
(I have no time.) This week was good! I am really learning to love talk to people! We have this one drunk guy that has stopped us twice asking to change his life. It is really hard to understand this guy. But Sunday, we had an appointment for once and we were in a hurry. He stopped us and talked to my companion forever. My comp told him I didn't speak Portuguese for the sake of time. So we stood there for 15 mins. And then I had enough. I placed my hand on the drunk's shoulder and said, in Portuguese, "Brother, we are in a hurry. If you pray, God will help you, and help you have the faith to trust him. But you need to stop drinking and stop using drugs. We'll pray for you." It came out in real good Portuguese, and my companion was very grateful.
He asked me why I hadn't done that earlier! He also said it came out in a kinda scary voice. Which I am okay with ;)
We had a baptism! So great! I will try and send pictures!
I have really loved kids. They are great to teach, and great to talk too! We taught a lot of kids this week (6-15). It has been awesome! At the end of the lesson once or twice, we taught the kids English and Japanese (which none of us speak). One of my favorite phrases I hear every day is "Hey German, speak English!" Guess it is pretty popular phrase towards Americans.
Yesterday comp had a meeting, with othere district leaders, so we did contacts in that city. It was my and my home boy Elder Adams from the MTC, and two Brazilians. The Brazilians didn't really want to work, so me and him did contacts ourselves! Very hard haha, but I loved it!
I love you all! I will send some pictures of stuff.
We had cleaning checks, and I took some "before" pictures. These Elders are gross. The place was and still is a disgusting. But it is better. Thanks for teaching me how to clean! We stayed up until 12 cleaning. (We haven't had a P-day since I got here yet. It was worth it though.
Bye!-Elder Loveland
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Oi de Brasil - First letter from Brasil
Well, I am finally in Brasil! I love it here. It is beautiful, warm, and full of people who don´t speak english! Wonderful.
This place is crazy though, Sao Paulo. I'm in a suburb right now, that I do not know the name of, but it is pretty dang poor. Like nothing I've ever seen before. It is crazy.
I have taught my first lesson, two actually. I felt okay, but that could be because I have no idea what anyone is saying. I c'an communicate what I want alright, but they have to speak pretty slow for me to understand. I'm excited that Im picking up the language. Just trying to be patient.
My companion, Elder Dos Reis, is Brazilian, which is sweet. He doesn´t speak english very well at all. But he asked me to teach him, so I do a little, but the focus is definitely on my learning Portuguese. It is nice not to be the only one asking questions though.
He is a great guy, and is the district leader. He has been on a mish for 6 months! He's got a great heart, and from what I can tell, he teaches really well. We communicate better every hour as I pick up more Portuguese, and that is good.
This morning during comp study, he just put his head down on the table mid-sentence. He said (in Portuguese) that is hard to be this new, be a district leader, and a trainer of someone who doesn't speak Portuguese! I believe him! But he seems to like me, and we are getting to the point where I dont have to ask him to repeat every sentence. We actually get along quite well.
Last night we got to the apartment at 11! So much for mission rules. Haha, I finally made it to bed at 12. We were so late because Elder Dos Reis left his cell at some meeting and the sisters had it. Then we had to take them to the bus stop because it was so late. It was a good day, I liked it.
Everyone tells me I have a really good accent, which is sweet. I hope it improves, along with the whole speaking/understanding bit.
This city is crazy. Everything is built right next to each other. Every building shares walls, and every thing is gated as well. The craziest thing is that kids fly kites in the middle of the freeway because of the wind the cars make. Pretty nuts. Also, people walk through the freeways and sell stuff. These people are crazy!
Also the air here. Iis horrible, I can feel years of life tricking out of my toxin-filled lungs. I do miss my Oregon air. I have had a headache all day from the carbon dioxide.
Everyone thinks I am super huge, which in comparision, is very true.
I have no idea how much time I have. Today is not my P-day, but my companion missed his Tuesday cause of me, I think, or something. Our next P-day is on christmas. Hopefully I can figure out that phone call thing from my comp. If not, my president is pretty cool, he can help me. He is a pretty large man, and is way nice. Seems excited to have me here.
9 horas de manha Eu acho por telefonar. Ta bom? This is the number you are supposed to call. I think it is easier if you call, ******** If you have questions, I would email my president, because I dont have answers!
I have a billion stories, that I can't write cause I got no time. But email me the SOP letters here, and anything else. I can print them off, and reply through snail mail, which I think takes a week give or take.
Então, Eu amo vocês! Ate Natal!
Elder Jake
This place is crazy though, Sao Paulo. I'm in a suburb right now, that I do not know the name of, but it is pretty dang poor. Like nothing I've ever seen before. It is crazy.
I have taught my first lesson, two actually. I felt okay, but that could be because I have no idea what anyone is saying. I c'an communicate what I want alright, but they have to speak pretty slow for me to understand. I'm excited that Im picking up the language. Just trying to be patient.
My companion, Elder Dos Reis, is Brazilian, which is sweet. He doesn´t speak english very well at all. But he asked me to teach him, so I do a little, but the focus is definitely on my learning Portuguese. It is nice not to be the only one asking questions though.
He is a great guy, and is the district leader. He has been on a mish for 6 months! He's got a great heart, and from what I can tell, he teaches really well. We communicate better every hour as I pick up more Portuguese, and that is good.
This morning during comp study, he just put his head down on the table mid-sentence. He said (in Portuguese) that is hard to be this new, be a district leader, and a trainer of someone who doesn't speak Portuguese! I believe him! But he seems to like me, and we are getting to the point where I dont have to ask him to repeat every sentence. We actually get along quite well.
Last night we got to the apartment at 11! So much for mission rules. Haha, I finally made it to bed at 12. We were so late because Elder Dos Reis left his cell at some meeting and the sisters had it. Then we had to take them to the bus stop because it was so late. It was a good day, I liked it.
Everyone tells me I have a really good accent, which is sweet. I hope it improves, along with the whole speaking/understanding bit.
This city is crazy. Everything is built right next to each other. Every building shares walls, and every thing is gated as well. The craziest thing is that kids fly kites in the middle of the freeway because of the wind the cars make. Pretty nuts. Also, people walk through the freeways and sell stuff. These people are crazy!
Also the air here. Iis horrible, I can feel years of life tricking out of my toxin-filled lungs. I do miss my Oregon air. I have had a headache all day from the carbon dioxide.
Everyone thinks I am super huge, which in comparision, is very true.
I have no idea how much time I have. Today is not my P-day, but my companion missed his Tuesday cause of me, I think, or something. Our next P-day is on christmas. Hopefully I can figure out that phone call thing from my comp. If not, my president is pretty cool, he can help me. He is a pretty large man, and is way nice. Seems excited to have me here.
9 horas de manha Eu acho por telefonar. Ta bom? This is the number you are supposed to call. I think it is easier if you call, ******** If you have questions, I would email my president, because I dont have answers!
I have a billion stories, that I can't write cause I got no time. But email me the SOP letters here, and anything else. I can print them off, and reply through snail mail, which I think takes a week give or take.
Então, Eu amo vocês! Ate Natal!
Elder Jake
Notes from the phone call
It was great to talk with Elder Jake for 30 minutes by phone. It is always good for me as a mom to hear my missionary's voice, to hear how he is really doing. He sounded good, a bit subdued because so few were heading to Brazil that day.
He was one of three missionaries leaving from the Provo MTC. The other two missionaries had time to finish in the Provo MTC, so Elder J is the only one headed straight to the mission field. They may have been a few more brand new missionaries that met up with them in Dallas. He thinks one of the reasons his visa came through faster was because it went through the SF consulate, which is supposedly faster.
For those missionaries remaining in the MTC, if they haven't received their visa, at 11 weeks, they receive alternative flight plans to a stateside mission temporarily. At 12 weeks, they leave for that mission. If they receive their visa after their flight plans have been arranged, they will still go to their stateside assignment for one transfer (six weeks), then head to Brazil.
He was one of three missionaries leaving from the Provo MTC. The other two missionaries had time to finish in the Provo MTC, so Elder J is the only one headed straight to the mission field. They may have been a few more brand new missionaries that met up with them in Dallas. He thinks one of the reasons his visa came through faster was because it went through the SF consulate, which is supposedly faster.
For those missionaries remaining in the MTC, if they haven't received their visa, at 11 weeks, they receive alternative flight plans to a stateside mission temporarily. At 12 weeks, they leave for that mission. If they receive their visa after their flight plans have been arranged, they will still go to their stateside assignment for one transfer (six weeks), then head to Brazil.
Elder Jake has left the country
On Tuesday am, we received the following email just prior to his leaving. Then he was able to call home from the airport. More about that later. The letter is a bit hard to read because the shift key isn't working. Good luck reading!
Ola meu amors1 - spelling has taken a dive. Good luck1
Well, today I fly to Brazil111 (those are supposed to be exclamation points but this computer is broken).
i am very excited, even though the shift button on this computer is broken1. i am traveling with some other elder i have never met, who has only been here for two weeks. its pretty crazy.
this week has been really hard. i have been fasting and praying like crazy for the other visas in our district, and they haven't come yet. im a bit confused, but i know there is a plan. that is one thing i know for sure.
it has been hard cause i feeel like i let my district down, and now im going to brazil andthey aren't. i definitely have survivors guilt. i know without a doubt those other missionaries deserve it more.
In my district, 7 of us are going to sao paulo south, but the other five are going to cuiaba, including my companion. im pretty sad, he's a great guy, and become a good friend. the other elders going to cuiaba too have been come way close, so it is kinda a crazy. pretty mixed feelings. people keep hugging me. kinda strange, im not dying here people1
thank you so much for the letter1 i was laughing pretty hard when i read the letter, seems like everyone is havin a blast1 w is proly the weirdest kid ever. [I will try to post that letter and subsequent family updates on the family blog.]
just to warn you, i wont have time to reply/write letters this week because of the time, and because i want to try and write a lettter to all the elders in our district. try and boost morale one last time. its been a tough couple days.
this week has also been good because it has been so hard. it once again forced me to rely heavily on the lord, and put a lot of trust in him. i have realy come closer to my savior. for that i am extremely grateful. i become truely grateful and closer to my savior everytime i leave those i love, because i know, that if nothing else, the savior loves them more than i do, and he is there to comfort them.
thinking about that really makes me happy, and brings me to tears. i am eternally indebted to my savior. that sacrifice is so humbling, there is no way i will be able to repay him. all i can do is love him, and keep movin on.
i get a lot of comfort from the words of joseph smith, when lymann asked him how we endure. he said "we trust in the lord, and move on". thats what i have been doing, and i will continue to do. well, i am so excited to fly today. as well as scared out of my mind. im definitiely going to get to know my lord a lot more in the next few weeks.
i will be teachin in 24 hours. in portuguese. pray for me1 i am very excited for the flight, i have a book of mormon, in portuguese and english, and some pass along cards. i hope my travel comp isnt expecting to sit there and wait for three hours in the sl airport. we are gonna talk to everyone there, maybe find that one non-member ;) well, i know that this letter is nuts, and scattered, but my miind is in a million places right now1 i love you all1 have a wonderful day slash week1-
elder jake
Ola meu amors1 - spelling has taken a dive. Good luck1
Well, today I fly to Brazil111 (those are supposed to be exclamation points but this computer is broken).
i am very excited, even though the shift button on this computer is broken1. i am traveling with some other elder i have never met, who has only been here for two weeks. its pretty crazy.
this week has been really hard. i have been fasting and praying like crazy for the other visas in our district, and they haven't come yet. im a bit confused, but i know there is a plan. that is one thing i know for sure.
it has been hard cause i feeel like i let my district down, and now im going to brazil andthey aren't. i definitely have survivors guilt. i know without a doubt those other missionaries deserve it more.
In my district, 7 of us are going to sao paulo south, but the other five are going to cuiaba, including my companion. im pretty sad, he's a great guy, and become a good friend. the other elders going to cuiaba too have been come way close, so it is kinda a crazy. pretty mixed feelings. people keep hugging me. kinda strange, im not dying here people1
thank you so much for the letter1 i was laughing pretty hard when i read the letter, seems like everyone is havin a blast1 w is proly the weirdest kid ever. [I will try to post that letter and subsequent family updates on the family blog.]
just to warn you, i wont have time to reply/write letters this week because of the time, and because i want to try and write a lettter to all the elders in our district. try and boost morale one last time. its been a tough couple days.
this week has also been good because it has been so hard. it once again forced me to rely heavily on the lord, and put a lot of trust in him. i have realy come closer to my savior. for that i am extremely grateful. i become truely grateful and closer to my savior everytime i leave those i love, because i know, that if nothing else, the savior loves them more than i do, and he is there to comfort them.
thinking about that really makes me happy, and brings me to tears. i am eternally indebted to my savior. that sacrifice is so humbling, there is no way i will be able to repay him. all i can do is love him, and keep movin on.
i get a lot of comfort from the words of joseph smith, when lymann asked him how we endure. he said "we trust in the lord, and move on". thats what i have been doing, and i will continue to do. well, i am so excited to fly today. as well as scared out of my mind. im definitiely going to get to know my lord a lot more in the next few weeks.
i will be teachin in 24 hours. in portuguese. pray for me1 i am very excited for the flight, i have a book of mormon, in portuguese and english, and some pass along cards. i hope my travel comp isnt expecting to sit there and wait for three hours in the sl airport. we are gonna talk to everyone there, maybe find that one non-member ;) well, i know that this letter is nuts, and scattered, but my miind is in a million places right now1 i love you all1 have a wonderful day slash week1-
elder jake
Sunday, December 13, 2009
He has his visa!
In a letter to Serena we received on Saturday, Elder Jake wrote, "Tell your silly mom that I did indeed receive my vista!" (I am assuming that he meant to write visa.) He is flying to Brazil on Tuesday.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Ola!
[Here's Jake's latest. Regarding the postscript, we are unclear. We think he has his visa. But he could also be projecting with faith that his visa will come. With Jake, who knows!]
Hey! Well life here in the MTC is going great! I am loving it, it is hard work, but it is the Best work! I have never been this happy, which is sayin somethin, cause I have had an amazing life! For some reason this week I have become extremely grateful for my body. I have some nice legs ;) and they work great! And I got to hear the beauty of the music during the Christmas devotional, I get to see this beautiful snow covered tundra (Provo) with those amazing moutains behind! I am super greatful for this world, and everything I have been given, God really hooks us up. Pretty Awesome.
As far as Visas go, we are planning on leaving the 15th, as a district. We are still awaiting about 13 visas, but last week I had a real cool experience. I felt promted to tell the district the following. I was super nervous because of the signifigance of it. I told them, in the best Portuguese I could manage, that if we worked super hard, and spoke only Portuguese, and studied hard, our Heavenly Father would bless us, that we could leave together as a District, on time, the 15th. This was a really bold statement, because of the fact that there are at leat 20 Elders ahead of us, who are waiting for visas, they have been here ten weeks, and there are around 225 other visa waiters. But I have seen the blessings of this statement. Our district only speaks Portuguese now, pretty much all day. They don't use English anymore! The Lord has really blessed us there, we have only been speaking for 8 weeks! We do all interviews, classes, and district meetings in our beautiful mission language! It is so cool. These wonderful missionaries are settting the standard for the branch, and I am so proud to serve them. They have such great faith. We are preparing to leave, taking care of the required things, all blindly. All lot of people laugh at us for thinking we will leave on the 15th, but I know that if we work really hard, the Lord will help us out. I am so grateful the Lord made this promise to me, and to our district. It was pretty scary at first, but Im glad I followed my promptings. What a blessing :) About 5 visas came in last week, the first we have seen since we got here! (except one sister the 2nd week i think) So things are clicking.
One of the ladies in the travel office is a Brazilian, and my campanion and I go visit her to speak in Portuguese. It is so cool! I love it! I am so blessed to be able to speak English, let alone Portuguese! She told me my Portuguese was really good, which made my happy. But I was only using present and past and future (youd think that'd be all, huh?), but I still gotta master the imperfects and stuff! I got a ton of work to do!
This week, I am super grateful for the great guys back home! Kevin, Justin, Keaton, Ben, Pug, and the rest of the crew. That weblos group has been a great example for me! I cannot wait til they all have the opportunity to serve! They best start studying! And those scripture mastery, SUPER helpful! Also, remember to live up to the Gospel, share it through your example, and pray for opportunities to share it more in depth. You guys can change a lot of lives before you even leave high school! I am found such a desire to learn. I just love studyin the Gospel and itas kinda annoying because I want to read everything! I so badly want to kow it all, and I have to be patient with myself as I read super slowly in portuguese. But itll be worth it!
I love serving people. It is the greatest thing ever. I think if I were not livin the dream here on a mish, I would go to the airport with my family and sing some songs and share some treats with those waitin for flights, those who arent with their families just yet. Im not sure why, but i have a strong desire to do that!Brighten the days of those travelers! Well this week has been good, I am super grateful for the letters!
I still need an address for G and G L. I love you all! My great families, and my great friends too! Have a great week!
Livin the dream,
Elder Jake!
PS - I might not write next tuesday, because I received my visa friday :) I'll be flyin to Sao Paulo, Have a nice week!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Oi! - Tuesday - Dec 1, 2009
Hello again from Beautiful Southern MTC Campus!
I hope you all are doing fantastic! I have kept you all in my prayers! I am glad you got the flowers mom! You deserve at least something for puttin up with me. Thank you so much! Thank you very much for the packages! The package from you guys was wonderful, and from R and K as wel! I am so lucky to have such great family!(I haven't gotten one from pillowtie.com yet, but boy am I excited!) I am also very grateful for the package from the Mc's! Also a great family! I ended up having a very good Birthday here, it was quite enjoyable. I got a card from my district that was perfect, very strange, and very fitting to the group! A few elders even decorated my room a touch, pretty bomb.
Thanksgiving was also a really good day! We heard from Elder Holland, who is just an amazing speaker, and is quite the motivator. He speaks with so much power. I learned a ton on that day, but mostly from the Spirit. I have learned so much this past week from the Spirit. Those precious minutes before a meeting starts and the prelude music is playing, has been more important to me this week than the meetings themselves!
Our schedule on T-day was different. It was mostly free time, and a good day to read andd relax, and unfortunately, we also didn't speak any portuguese! But the day was great! We started out with Breakfast and study time, at 10 we had the devotional from holland which rocked my world. Then after lunch, we watched a humanitarian services presentation, and after a sack Dinner we make some first aid kits for that. It was a cool day. It would be so cool to work for the Church Humanitarian services! I was so greatful for the many people who worked on that day! We ended the daywith a fireside, where there were some musical numbers, and then people were given a chance to go up an express why they were grateful. I was a lil disappointed by this. A lot of the missionaries didnt take it seriously, and just got up there to crack jokes. It was really odd and uncomfortable for me to feel the Spirit leave that group, where usually the Spirit is so strong!
Visas. Well, we still have no visas, we havent heard anything. I think the district is going to fast for them this week, I think. Last night the had this meeting that was put together last minute. It was for all the barzilian missionaries, and who ever else happened to be in our zone or area (including the Romanians which was sweet). They said they were going to talk about the descions thay had made for us. We were pretty nervous. They spent the whole meeting talking about how we should take what we have been given, we should trust the Lord, that they are doing every thing they can, and praying for help with these choices. It was pretty nerve racking, we all expected the worst, and were just waitin for them to tell us already! Then they closed with a prayer and we left. Super weird, kinda annoying. They did tell us that we are going to start taking tutoring online with Skype, with the Brazilian MTC teachers who have no one to teach! Pretty cool I guess, but I already have a brazilian teacher, which is a massive blessing! But I am pumped for all the help I can get with this language I am doing better with the language, but it is still struggle. I can usually say what I need to throughout the day, but I am in no way fluent and in no way using the correct tenses all the time, many of which I don't understand!
Life here is good, I am learning how to work harder, and Smarter each day. Sometimes I get frustrated with myself because if I had figured out how to work like I do now when I first got here, I would know so much! But I guess thats all part of the learning process. What I have learned, more than anything, is a love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have only begun understand what he has done for me, and what he will continue to do for me. I have learned a love for my fellow human beings, I have learned a love for this work! I have learned how to better listen to the Spirit, and follow its promptings. Even if I learned no Portuguese here, it would still be absolutely worth my stay here, because of what I have learned.
Well I love you all, pray for me, I need it, and have a great week!
Love, Elder Jake
I hope you all are doing fantastic! I have kept you all in my prayers! I am glad you got the flowers mom! You deserve at least something for puttin up with me. Thank you so much! Thank you very much for the packages! The package from you guys was wonderful, and from R and K as wel! I am so lucky to have such great family!(I haven't gotten one from pillowtie.com yet, but boy am I excited!) I am also very grateful for the package from the Mc's! Also a great family! I ended up having a very good Birthday here, it was quite enjoyable. I got a card from my district that was perfect, very strange, and very fitting to the group! A few elders even decorated my room a touch, pretty bomb.
Thanksgiving was also a really good day! We heard from Elder Holland, who is just an amazing speaker, and is quite the motivator. He speaks with so much power. I learned a ton on that day, but mostly from the Spirit. I have learned so much this past week from the Spirit. Those precious minutes before a meeting starts and the prelude music is playing, has been more important to me this week than the meetings themselves!
Our schedule on T-day was different. It was mostly free time, and a good day to read andd relax, and unfortunately, we also didn't speak any portuguese! But the day was great! We started out with Breakfast and study time, at 10 we had the devotional from holland which rocked my world. Then after lunch, we watched a humanitarian services presentation, and after a sack Dinner we make some first aid kits for that. It was a cool day. It would be so cool to work for the Church Humanitarian services! I was so greatful for the many people who worked on that day! We ended the daywith a fireside, where there were some musical numbers, and then people were given a chance to go up an express why they were grateful. I was a lil disappointed by this. A lot of the missionaries didnt take it seriously, and just got up there to crack jokes. It was really odd and uncomfortable for me to feel the Spirit leave that group, where usually the Spirit is so strong!
Visas. Well, we still have no visas, we havent heard anything. I think the district is going to fast for them this week, I think. Last night the had this meeting that was put together last minute. It was for all the barzilian missionaries, and who ever else happened to be in our zone or area (including the Romanians which was sweet). They said they were going to talk about the descions thay had made for us. We were pretty nervous. They spent the whole meeting talking about how we should take what we have been given, we should trust the Lord, that they are doing every thing they can, and praying for help with these choices. It was pretty nerve racking, we all expected the worst, and were just waitin for them to tell us already! Then they closed with a prayer and we left. Super weird, kinda annoying. They did tell us that we are going to start taking tutoring online with Skype, with the Brazilian MTC teachers who have no one to teach! Pretty cool I guess, but I already have a brazilian teacher, which is a massive blessing! But I am pumped for all the help I can get with this language I am doing better with the language, but it is still struggle. I can usually say what I need to throughout the day, but I am in no way fluent and in no way using the correct tenses all the time, many of which I don't understand!
Life here is good, I am learning how to work harder, and Smarter each day. Sometimes I get frustrated with myself because if I had figured out how to work like I do now when I first got here, I would know so much! But I guess thats all part of the learning process. What I have learned, more than anything, is a love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have only begun understand what he has done for me, and what he will continue to do for me. I have learned a love for my fellow human beings, I have learned a love for this work! I have learned how to better listen to the Spirit, and follow its promptings. Even if I learned no Portuguese here, it would still be absolutely worth my stay here, because of what I have learned.
Well I love you all, pray for me, I need it, and have a great week!
Love, Elder Jake
From Elder Caldwell - Elder Jake's Companion
On Monday, we received this letter from Elder Jake's companion at the MTC. Elder Caldwell will be great missionary remembering kind gestures such as these.
Nov 27, 2009
Dear Brother and Sister L,
I just wanted to write you a quick letter and wish you a happy Thanksgiving. I have had the the the awesome opportunity to spend the past six weeks with your son as my comp.
Since he is ALWAYS with me, I have gotten the chance to get to know him very well, maybe even too well, it is also kinda hard to write this without him knowing.
I’m sure you already know this but Elder L is an amazing person. He is the best companion anybody could ask for. I have never met someone who follows the promptings of the Spirit as well as he does. SO many times during our study time, I’ll look over at him and he is praying. He not only has been a great companion and district leader but he has been a great example for me. He pushes me and makes me work and learn. I have never met you before but through your son, I know a lot about you. I just want to thank you for raising such a great son. I’m actually glad we didn’t get our visas because, if we did, there is so much I wouldn’t have learned. I hope you have (had) a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Love Elder Jesse Caldwell
Nov 27, 2009
Dear Brother and Sister L,
I just wanted to write you a quick letter and wish you a happy Thanksgiving. I have had the the the awesome opportunity to spend the past six weeks with your son as my comp.
Since he is ALWAYS with me, I have gotten the chance to get to know him very well, maybe even too well, it is also kinda hard to write this without him knowing.
I’m sure you already know this but Elder L is an amazing person. He is the best companion anybody could ask for. I have never met someone who follows the promptings of the Spirit as well as he does. SO many times during our study time, I’ll look over at him and he is praying. He not only has been a great companion and district leader but he has been a great example for me. He pushes me and makes me work and learn. I have never met you before but through your son, I know a lot about you. I just want to thank you for raising such a great son. I’m actually glad we didn’t get our visas because, if we did, there is so much I wouldn’t have learned. I hope you have (had) a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Love Elder Jesse Caldwell
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