Montese 28-10-2013

Hello family, friends, and other important people in my life!

Elder Phillips and I had this marvellous idea. Its P-day, and we have to do some shopping, so we thought Lets get an abobora or jerimum and carve a jack-o-lantern! :D As a bonus, we will toast the seeds and have a healthy snack to boot! :) Im thinking of getting one of those catholic shrine candles to stick in it, I hope it all works out! :)

I had a bit of an interesting experience. We knocked on a door and found a lady who is studying to be a Jehovas Witness, and we talked about prophets. She gave a few excuses that our work is good, but she believes differently. I bore my simple but sincere testimony about them and the Book of Mormon. It was interesting, because she began to falter in her excuses, not finding the sufficient words to defend against the attackless invite. I think that maybe someday she will remember those two peculiar boys who knocked on her door a half hour before going to study.

Trivia for you guys: Im going to enter the Missionary talent show by doing a medley of mixed hymns. For example, try singing the words of Joseph Smith's First Prayer (Que Manhã Maravilhosa) to the tune of Come Thou Fount. (not in the hymnbook) Its actually pretty neat, mixing hymns like that. There are a few more like that, some that fit, but dont combine very well, like Away in a Manger and How Firm a Foundation.

Dad, Im glad that you can see the end, and that it has an end. :) I would really like to share the website with Targino, he will probably really like it.

Im guessing canyoneering is pretty much over for the year, unless you decide to do a winter canyon like the Bretheren. I think I prefer summer trips, personally. Less clothing to worry about and lug around.

I think I like having Brazilian companions too, though Ive had very few of them. I have a bit of a hard time understanding missionaries that only speak Portuguese. The spanish speakers who are learning it too are easier to understand for me, so I think they are my favorite.

Eu achei graça da história do Secretário Executivo. :) Eles falam o senhor para os pais, em vez de você. Qual tu prefere? O senhor é bem formal, como usted.

Mom, we are finding a new house for the Sisters that are going to take over our area. I think its a good change, Sisters are a lot more friendly and natural at sharing stuff. I believe they will have good success here.

About the Chocolate... >:D We didnt find ten pounds, but we did buy one that beats out the Pound Plus from Trader Joe's (by weight, the flavor isnt as good) Its a 1,1 kilogram bar of Semi-sweet chocolate for R$10! ($5) Its double the size! :D But its also for making decorations and toppings, not specifically for eating. But it works!

Bem, quero falar um pouco de Português para todos vocês. Eu estou bem, eu comi brownies dois dias atrás, com sorvete de baunilha. Não tive o tempo de fazer cerveja de raiz ainda. :(

Alisha and Todd, how are you guys? When does school end? Vocês conseguem ler e entender o base de português como Pai? :) E bastante diferente, e divertido também. Eu acho que é mais fácil falar, é mais fluido.

Alisha, chegou a estar grávida? 'tou esperando! :P rarrarra. Como está teu trabalho? Você gosta dos meninos?
E Todd, teu trabalho está melhor? O que você mais gosta dele? Já foi perseguido por um cachorro? :)

Sarah, estou sem notícias de você e muito triste. :( Você está bem? Precisa de algo que possa fazer? Eu penso em você muito, e oro que você esteja bem. Vou te ver em 9 meses e poucos dias! Que incrível, o tempo está passando rápido demais!
Se Lembre de se divertir, e especialmente se lembre que eu te amo! Tchau minha irmãzinha! :)

Bem família e convidados, eu tenho que ir. Vou seguir o meu Líder de Zona que também era meu Líder de Distrito em Bom Jardim, e usar uma frase que ele usa: Tchau, beijos.

~Elder Wille

Montese 21-10-2013

Dear Family,

Your letters today made me more trunky than usual. :S Im pretty much forgetting when the holidays are, cause we cant do a whole lot about them. Ah well. :)

So, this week was a bit rough. We had to continue to look for a house, and we walked in a zig-zag to hit all the streets. I think we only found 2 new ones in 5 or 6 streets. :/ We make a few contacts, and most of them are people who live outside our area. The rest are not interested or too busy, so theres not a lot of success in this area of work. I have to admit, I was starting to get pretty discouraged, when the only contacts that have potential are ones you cant teach.

That was the start of our week, but happily the end was much better. It went like this:

I was doing a role-play/practice with Elder Phillips on the Sabbath Day, and he was giving the textbook answers, so I dug a little deeper. Paused the practice, asked him what it means to him, and he started to explain to me. That little inspired question led to a revelation. As he explained, I went back to the investigator role, and asked a question in that sense. Immediately the tone of the practice changed, the Spirit of the Lord entered the room, and I found what Preach My Gospel really does. Yes, it has the doctrines and stuff that we need to teach, but its not asking us to recite pieces of information that we learned from it.
Preach My Gospel works like this: It teaches us the principles so that we can recognize them in our lives, and then drawing on that, which is our own experience, we can share what the Gospel is to us. That is our testimony which is completely true, and to which the Spirit can bear testimony. Ive been reciting and applying the doctrine from Preach my Gospel my whole mission, and its given results. But using this method it will be many times more effective.

I learned that by accident, just trying to train my new son. I had an experience actually using it not too long after. We started teaching this elderly lady, talking about faith and repentence, because its something that Christians believe and would benefit her, despite her refusal to change from being Caltholic. Her adult daughter walked in after starting, and she participated in the discussion. (she too is catholic and has a teenage daughter who is a member) We taught what faith is to us, and what repentence has done in our lives. After that, Father had another idea, and we completed the Gospel by talking about baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end. We invited them to baptism, and the younger mom accepted. I dont remember her name. D:

That experience changed our whole week. Even though the rest of the day wasnt too successful, that one lesson changed everything. It rekindled my flame for the Work, and Im much happier now. :)

Mom, my feet are doing great! Im going to Aldeota for my last checkup today. Theres no swelling, so I think Im all good to go! :) The tunnel has ended.

Dad, thank you for telling me about Cassidy Arch! Sounds like everyone had a pretty good time this week.

Im really sorry that this letter is short on notes to you guys, but know that I love you all! Follow the counsels of the Prophets and Quorum of the Twelve, they are inspired and are what Father wants us to know in these last days. The Ensign is scripture too, it helps resolve our daily challenges. Until next time.

~Elder Wille

Montese 14-10-2013

Hello Family!

Okay, my companions name is Elder Phillips, he's from South Carolina but was born in South Dakota, lived in Alabama, California, and Utah. He has 7 (!!!) sisters and two brothers. He likes a lot of the same style of music that I like, and wrestled in middle school. He set a school record in the triple jump from track and field to boot.

His family is all members of the church, some are a little afastados (gee, Im forgetting some important stuff) but the mission is helping.

He served one transfer in Fort Collins Colorado, Provo MTC, and now hes here. The transfer there kinda killed the portuguese he had down, so hes starting from almost the basics.

He also looks exactly like Alex Richeys older brother.

Well, not a whole lot has happened, but we make some contacts to try and make our teaching pool bigger. The thing is, everyone we teach doesnt live in our area. :/ I found a dad and his daughter that were pretty interested, sitting in front of their house, and we taught them. The dad, Cícero, was pretty into it until the end, and had listened to the missionaries before. The daughter was really into it, accepted the baptismal invite, and then we found out that they live in Maracanaú. :S

We are trying to coordinate the work with the members, but the meeting that was supposed to take place didnt. So, we are kinda just toodling around the area, trying our best on our own. Other than that, its great here! They have planes flying overhead every 10 to 20 minutes, super low cause we are about a mile from the airport. Trunky!!! Nah, Ive gotten used to it.

Living with the Assistants, its not a huge difference. They are gone a lot of the time, so its chill. But we do have some problems, for instance:

The owners of the condo put a brand new, shiny lock on the door to the sidewalk. Thats great and all, except they only gave us one key... Hmm. :) More coordination.

Mom, dry ice does exist here, but its incredibly hard to find and I would imagine insanely expensive. I found some leftover root beer extract (and maple too) that Elder Patino or Elder Canoy left behind, along with taco seasoning, some marshmallows, and a few other things. They do have club soda, so maybe that would work. I will give that a try.

Dad, I would like to pay tithing on the inheritance too. Could you do that for me? Thanks!

President Souza did put up the Wakeboarding Elder for me on the office picture board. Lots of people get a kick out of it. :) And the one I carry with my in my album, almost everyone laughs. Some believe its real for a few seconds. :)

How are you surviving all that load? I bet racquetball was a huge relief, a time to "sharpen the saw." I hope and pray that you can get all the things done for the release! And another canyon trip would be a welcome finishing present.

A quick favor, would you be willing to start to include the author or scripture reference of those quotes at the end of your email? Theres some that Id like to share with people, but I dont know where some of them are. Thanks!

Well, I have to go, sorry about the lack of news. We looked for a house, again, and I found a place that sells doughnuts. :) R$0,35 each, 3 for R$1. Thats like 7 for a dollar over there. Good price, eh?? :D

Thank you all for your prayers, I really appreciate all of you for doing so. Continue praying for that missionary experience that Elder Ballard talked about! The Lord is hastening His work, and He uses us to do it! What a privelege! The church is true!

~Elder Wille

Montese 7-10-2013

What?? Its October already? Happy one year anniversary to me in the field! :) Last week anyway.

Im kinda freaking out, I ONLY have 10 months left. Where has the time gone? What have I been doing out here? 6 more planners? Thats hardly any! Im honestly a bit scared.

Ive been thinking about some things, and I realized its amazing the changes Ive been through. I can identify 2 instances of personal transformation. One was a little after Snow College, and the other is here on the Mission. It really is interesting how much you change on the mission. Its miniscule by the day, but it definitely makes a huge difference over my 1 year and 2 months.

Well, about Montese. We went to lunch the first day, Tuesday, and I had looked briefly at the calendar. 31, Targino, beleza. We went to find his house, and lo and behold, I forgot to get the number of the house. We went back, 5 minutes of walking, got the number, and went back. Lo and behold again, it wasnt their day to give lunch. September doesnt have 31 days... :S The sister called her husband Targino and asked who has it, and we went to the right house, way down in the corner of our area. We got there around 1. :S

Conference this weekend was one of the best Ive seen, ever. Please tell me you watched all of it? Especially the Second session of Saturday? I was on cloud nine at the end. Elder Hollands talk was out of this world! I know that talk is going to help countless people.

Dad, yesterday I was talking with Targino, our Elders Quorum President, and I correctly identified him as a software person. :) He does a lot of other stuff as well as writes programs, lots of administration if I remember right. I told him that youre a software engineer, and he asked what language you use. I said java and he groaned. 'I do not like java' he says, in his thick brazilian accent. He uses Ruby instead, and cant stand Windows. He got a notebook which came with Windows 8, used it for half an hour, went crazy, took it off and put Kubunto on it. "Much better" he says.

Mom, I have a kitchen story for you. A tiny one. Ive sliced two different fingers cutting up mangas (not sleeves) for juice. Shallowly cause they didnt bleed, but its at the annoying painful depth. Im definitely going to make that when I come home. First youll think "What are you DOING?" but its okay. Ive done it before. Once... :D

Sarah, how am I going to talk to you now? You's so far away! :( But have a good time living away from home! Visit often! I love you so much! <3

Oh no, Ive run out of time. :( sorry! Have a great time everyone, remember to brush your teeth, and give Elder Ballards talk a try. ;)

~Elder Wille