Benfica 20-1-2014

Bom dia meus familiares, amigos, e outras pessoas que não falam Brasileiro! :D

Vou enxertar parte da minha carta a Presidente Souza. Mais um milagre.

Esta semana presenciamos um milagre e uma experiência espiritual. Passamos na casa de uma pesquisadora, e ela falou que não podia nos atender no momento, porque a mãe estava muita depressada. Um pensamento passou na minha cabeça de dar uma bênção, mas achei que era só eu, e não atendi. Ao andar, falei para Elder Tenney sobre o pensamento e como deveria ter seguido, e antes de chegar 100 metros da casa, tive a forte impressão que devemos voltar. Não hesitei, voltamos, e a mãe (católica) aceitou immediatamente, e já leu a escritura que tínhamos deixado com a filha. Ela nos recebeu chorando, e acreditava plenamente na bênção. Sentimos o Espírito tão forte. Vamos voltar e ver se nosso serviço ajudou em abrir os corações deles.

Okay, chega do Português. Opa, disculpa. :D Its just so much fun to write em português! And its kind of addicting when you start.

Well, not a whole lot is happening. We have 2 baptisms lined up for this week. They both need a lot of support from the members, and due to some problems that the ward had with a past missionary, they arent too excited to help. :( But we just have to keep working hard, show that we arent the same missionary, and that we will make a difference.

Mom, I ate something that I desperately wanted to take a picture of and send you guys, but I didnt have my camera so I will just tell you. I got a feijoada at a local bar/restaurant thingy (just R$7 for lunch! And its good food) and they put A LOT of fat pieces in it. I took one out that happend to have skin on one side, and guess what the skin had?? It had HAIR! It looked a lot like eyelashes, but it was actually part of the chin. :D Oh gross! Oh yes! I still ate the non-fatty parts, just wanted to gross you all out. ;)

The padded envelope hasnt come yet, but thats okay. We are REALLY liking the mashed potatoes! (Elder Tenney got BBQ sauce, so we make a cheap version of Smashers) Thank you so much for the birthday and Christmas stuff! :D

Hey Dad, have you read Jesus the Christ? Im slowly making my way through it, and it sheds a TON of light on the life of Christ. I really enjoy it, but after a bit I get kinda sleepy. :P Also 3 Nephi (??? its not Néfi?) is really good too. I think its awesome that you are developing a study habit. Its something that keeps me alive down here.

How do you like the Kindle? Im wanting to get one after the mission to buy books in Portuguese to read and learn more modern language. I saw one at Targino's house, and he let me look at it and try it out, and I think it would be a great way to read stuff like Harry Potter in Portuguese to keep in practice.

Alisha and Todd, did your letter come yet? I sent it a few weeks ago, so it should get there pretty soon.

Todd, sounds like you are getting super good at racquetball! Thats so awesome, I miss it quite a bit. Instead we get to paint houses and watch soccer. Today we are going to watch The Best Two Years in the chapel for P-Day. Itll be really interesting to see the differences and similarities, even though a lot of the movie is staged and wouldnt happen.

Alisha, how are things going with you? I had another dirt-tasting Açai the other day, but it was like a good dirt. :) There are so many things you guys have to try when you get down here! Maybe we will pass on the Panelada or buchada, but the fruits here are wonderful!

Sarah, are you doing okay with everything? Got any big news? Im dying to hear from you.

Well, I have to go. Have a fantastic week, all of you! I will write some more next week!

~Elder Wille

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Here's the Portuguese part in English, courtesy of Google translate:

I'm going to graft part of my letter to President Souza. One more miracle. 

This week witnessed a miracle and a spiritual experience. We passed the house of a researcher, and she said she could not meet us at the moment, because the mother was much depressada. A thought crossed my mind to give a blessing, but I thought it was just me, and did not answer. While walking, I told Elder Tenney about thinking and how it should be followed, and before reaching 100 meters from home, I had the strong impression that we must turn. Do not hesitate, come back, and the mother (Catholic) immediatamente accepted, and have read the scripture that we had left with her daughter. She received us crying, and fully believed in the blessing. Felt the Spirit so strong. Come back and see if our service has helped to open their hearts.

Benfica 14-1-2014

Hello family! Exactly 6 months and one day until I get home! (whos trunky? not me!!! :P) But in all seriousness, I dont count down. It makes the wait take too long and draws out all the agony. :D

Dad, the Monroe family sent me a card with pictures of the family and I got a bit curious about one. It looks like their oldest daughter Allison is serving a mission. Which one is she serving in?

Also, I was wondering if you could get me a copy of my Line of Authority. In the same copy of the Liahona mentioned below is instructions on how to get it, or you could look on the internet. Could you send me a copy? Thanks!

Im sorry they released you from an enjoyable calling. :( I imagine here its a lot like Mexico where all the faithful men have huge callings, even the young whipper snappers. Our bishop is probably only 35 at most. I hope your next calling is something that you also enjoy doing!

Give Alex a big missionary hug for me please! I miss that guy so much. Could you tell him to email me too? We can email friends here, and it goes much faster than snail mail. Also, could you give him my Parabéns for serving as a missionary and tell him Welcome Home?

Okay, so we had interviews with President Souza, and it was really cool. I found out that I probably wont be a Zone Leader, (No, I didnt do anything wrong) and that is okay with me. My personality type is better for training and opening areas, which is exactly what Ive done. I thought a bit about it a week ago, and realized that ever since I became senior, Ive opened every single one of my four areas, and trained in 3. Its hard work, but if thats where the Lord needs me the most, I will do it.

On the bright side, I finally wrote down those recipes. They dont have exact measurements of stuff, so I guessed and will have to adjust when I get home. Im keeping a journal more closely of events and miracles that happen down here. Im starting to see more clearly where God acts in our lives, the importance of everything. Its amazing, and Im a bit sad that I didnt see all this earlier. But I still have 6 months to see and enjoy all the wonderful things.

Ive learned a lot here. Ive learned that there are two paths. One is easy, but without possibility to lead us where we need to go. The other is hard, very hard, and takes everything we have, but it is only by this one where it is possible, whereas the other is not.

Okay, a bit of Portuguese and a time saver from my letter to President Souza:

Temos duas datas esta semana, Isa e Vanize. Temos que ensinar bastante para elas ainda, mas com o Senhor tudo é possível. Ontem, eu perguntei se ela tem desejo de se batizar, e ela disse que sim. Depois eu perguntei por que, e ela disse a resposta maior que eu já ouvi na minha vida. Eu sinto que eu preciso ser batizada. Ela deixou café mais cedo aquele mesmo dia.

And now I have to tell you about an interview that I had. Dad, please dont get trunky. ;) It was a lady, 29 years old, and it took almost 2 hours to finish the interview, not counting waiting for the Sisters. It was marked for 2 in the afternoon, and we arrived at 2h10 (2:10 pm) and waited 40 minutes, left at 2h50 for the house in hopes of seeing a message as to what happened. We got there, and right as I opened the door, I saw the screen light of the cell phone go out. I missed a call by 30 seconds from one of the assistants. (Elder Bohman, I think I mentioned him in a few letters) I called back, and he asked if I knew about the interview today, I said I did, and he said that the Sisters are there waiting. We had just missed them.

We got there, and couldnt get the door to the chapel opened. We called a member to open it, and it was the other 16-pin key that opens the door. (the keyhole looks like a phillips head) I started the interview at about 3h15. She didnt have worthiness problems, just testimony. She had passed the interview already, and her husband is a recent convert, but she had a lot of doubts and didnt get baptized. After an hour and fourty minutes, I ended the interview after digging deep and finding a tiny nugget of faith that we have a profet. Eh, I mean Prophet. :D anyway, I walked out of there with a feeling that I hadnt done enough, thinking that she might back out of the baptism, and things I could have said to help, etc etc. Her baptism was scheduled that very day, and I could hear the font filling up. I hoped desperately that she would be baptized and well integrated.

When I called to check up on the Sisters that night, there was much rejoicing in their house. The lady did get baptized, and was very excited. Sister Miles informed me that she had been working with her for 4 months and had not been able to baptize her, and that it was the miracle of her mission. We really do have the Lords help when we are about His work. I thought I had failed in the interview, but the Lord showed me His tender mercies because I had done my best in that moment, that even though my strength is not sufficient, I havent used all of it until I use His.

I want to end my letter on a good note, so I will close now. Until next week!

~Elder Wille

Miracles in Benfica 6-1-2014

Welcome to the new year! I cannot believe that it has gone by so fast! 6 months and I will be talking Portuguese with you guys instead of writing it! :)

I found out that Benfica is the ward and stake, and that it isnt a state division. The area that Im in is called Jardim América, and the neighbor one is called Dama. That might help finding where I am. My street is João Sorongo #435, or something like that. I know its 400 and something, right across the street from Depósito João Sorongo.

Well, the miracles still happen. I have two for you today.

First, on Christmas Eve day, not a whole lot was happening. We didnt have a lot of investigators, so we tried to find new people, which didnt happen too well. We arrived at a corner and stopped to think what to do next, and I had the impression to retrace our steps. I felt something pushing my left shoulder to turn around, and we walked back. As we walked about 70 feet, I looked at the houses passing on the left. Some open, a lot closed. One had a man visible busy doing something. After about 6 houses, I stopped, turned around again, identified the exact house we needed to visit, the one with the person in it.

We called him over, [name redacted] is his name from Rio, and we asked about him and his family. He said that his mom died about 3 months ago, that it would be the first Christmas without her, and that it wouldnt be very happy. We shared the Plan of Salvation and it seemed to comfort him. We have tried to share more, but he isnt home a lot of the time.

Number two. A few days ago, I was cleaning out our beast of an area book. This area is pretty old, and has a ton of papers in it. I went ripping pages out that were older than a year. I was in the process os crumpling up a page that was two years old and particularly lacking information when I just couldnt bring myself to finish. I smoothed it out, looked at it, and put it back.

*Note for people: since houses here are really cheap, (rent is sometimes as small as R$ 250 or R$ 300, wouldnt that be SO nice??) the people of Fortaleza move a lot.*

A baptismal interview fell through this last Saturday, and I felt that we needed to pass that house that day. We went at the former interview time, and it just so happened that she hadnt moved, she still lived there, and she was actually home at that hour! She studies with the Jehovas Witnesses, but accepted to read the Book of Mormon and she came to church yesterday! Her name is [name redacted], is about 35. She lives with her dad, who was making comments and warnings on how we had to leave or he would kill us. At least thats what I think I heard. Hes a bit old, uses a cane, so Im not too worried about dying at his hands, however we need to keep our image as high as we can. So we will find a members house to teach her at.

Okay, so the post office nabbed my birthday presents. :/ Im going there as soon as we finish here.

Dad, I completely agree with you guys that I need to marry someone fun. Ive thought about it a bit, and that is something that I definitely want. Someone with a sense of adventure. :) but not too much adventure, we all know what happens with too much. :D

I have a story that I think youll like. We have a canal really close to our house, and so the mosquitos are a pest here. Even with fans (ventiladores) and bug spray they still attack like rabid beasts. Elder Tenney counted 135 bug bites after 2 weeks! We decided that it had to stop. We bought some aerosol insecticide, closed all the windows, gassed the place on our way out for the day, and came back. Good thing, no mosquitos. Bad thing, lets just say that when we step outside of our house into the strong morning sun with near 100 degree weather, it feels like a cool spring day in the mountains. :D hahaha! gostou?

Well, I gotta end this monster of a letter. Plus my time is about up. Thank you so much for your care and love! I wish you all a happy new year, may it be bright and cheery!

~Elder Wille

Benfica 30-12-2013 (last email of 2013!)

Hello Family!!!

My birthday box hasnt come yet. Maybe this week or something. We opened some presents on Monday during P-Day, and some more Christmas Eve, and then the rest on Christmas Day, at 6 in the morning. :) Sarah, I love that pen that you sent me! It is super awesome! My other DW pen is dying, and I keep losing my normal ones! :/ Loved it!

Mom and Dad, what is Hap-pay? Duck Dynasty sounds pretty great. And the hickory almonds that I ate today, I think I died from tastyness!

Alisha and Todd, how did you know that I needed a cookbook here?! Im going to have a lot of fun with that, thank you so much!

Im preparing a training session for this weeks District meeting (yep, sou District Leader) and its on the Doctrine of Christ/our Purpose. Its been kind of difficult to see exactly what I should teach, but Ive been inspired to teach the missionaries to guide their teachings so that the focus is the Temple and not just baptism. The baptismal interview questions should be the guideline, but the goal is the Temple.

Another interesting thing is that I learned that its not being immersed in the water that makes it so we can enter Heavenly Fathers Kingdom, but its what its a symbol for, the covenant.

I now know a bit more why Temple covenants are so important, and why the blessings are so great. And thats also the reason Ive decided against pirated movies. Something small that I can easily do to be more like Christ right now. President Souza did a common interview during the transfer meeting, just read the questions out loud for everyone to think about. After the 'Be honest in all dealings with fellow men' he said that includes pirated movies. It struck me a bit, so I decided no more.

So, we are teaching a family, [name redacted] (21 years old) and [name redacted]. (18 years old) [name redacted] is from Minas Gerais, a different state, and he came here for work. Somehow he met [name redacted], I think the internet.

They are great people, they absolutely love us. When they heard that we could only stay 45 minutes in a visit, they asked if we could pass more than one time per day. :) They finally accepted that we can pass by once every day. [name redacted] always asks when they can give us lunch, and last time we visited, they made us brigadeiro! :) We just have to get them married. We're shooting for the 18th of January, but I dont think its going to happen that fast, with the 4 week wait at the cartório.

Mom, I didnt quite understand what you meant about the letter that came on Saturday. Could you give it to her?

Ah man, my time is up. Love you guys! Have an excellent time, and with Alex (or Elder Richey) a happy birthday for me when he gets back!

~Elder Wille

P.S. O nome de meu companheiro é Elder 10E. :O hahaha. Elder Tenney.

Benfica 17-12-2013

Hi family!

Well well well, I got transferred again today. 3rd transfer in a row! And even more news, Im training again! I dont know who will be my new companion yet, he gets here tomorrow. And Im opening an area to boot! Sounds like just about all my other areas! :D hahaha.

I thought about it, and there is only one area that I didnt open. Oh yes, explanation: opening an area is when the missionaries in an area are transferred out, and new ones are put in. It really hurts the progress, because the new ones have to rely on the papers that the last companionship left behind (Area Book) but sometimes it is necessary.

Some exciting news. We hit a new record of arriving missionaries. Tomorrow there will be FOURTY TWO new missionaries arriving, and only six or seven leaving. The mission now has around 180 missionaries, and when we divided the missions, we had less than 100. Its so weird! First we had one companionship working in two wards at one time, now we have two companionships for almost every ward! We created two new zones.  (Planalto and Sumaré) Its growing like crazy! So, Elder Burnham was training 3 missionaries at once, and then he died (at his sons' hands) and all three of them are training! Just after being trained! Elder Bramwell is also training, and Elder Wadsworth is a Zone Leader.

Tomorrow I will have a grand total of three sons and two grandsons. Ive got a pretty big family coming up! :) (when you train, you have a 'son' and the tree goes from there) I think that there may even be enough time to have a 4th if the Lord sees fit. O.o If I remember right, Elder Nascimento had 3 or so sons.

Mom, I'sa getting the address from Márcio Barbosa right now. :) Ele não é Élder mais. D: He will send his address to you via email. :D I thought it would be faster that way. And as for the present, I had a $20 bill floating around from international travel, so only 20 made it to him, not 25. He preferred dollars to reais, cause the dollar has more power there.

Thanks for the recipe, it didnt make it into the box. Or the postage people took it out. :( I started making root beer today, for my temporary comanion, Elder Saturnino de São Paulo. We will see how it goes!

Dad, Im so glad that you were able to use the Ancestry Ski pass! I said a special prayer that your leg would let you go. Sounds like you had a good time! :) The Christmas tree looks awesome! The spacy look really adds to it, great job! Is that silver wrapped present on the left for me?? :D

We had a bit of ice cream to go in the sandwiches too. Its on the edge of the photo. :)

Lately Ive been thinking of the things we did together, like fishing at Scofield and early morning at Powell. We have to remember to do more of that when I get back. :)

Sarah, did you get my letter yet??? How was your birthday?? What fun things did you get to do? Did Hayden take  you out somewhere cool? Is the snow just awful now? It doesnt even occur to me sometimes that its cold and snowy there! Im so used to heat and sun that to think that right now theres snow at home is weird! What are your plans for school and work and life in general? Quite a few people want to know, so I thought Id ask! :) But even more so, I just want to hear from you, and how you're doing!

Alisha and Todd, I will write you a letter, cause Im a bit short on time here, sorry!

Im attaching a photo taken at the Christmas Conference. This is the entire mission. :D Im way at the back, almost in the center.

I want to say so much more, but Ive run out of time! So much is happening, but its all good. We didnt baptize in Guadalajara, but I saw more miracles happen there than in all my other areas combined, and that made up for no baptisms. Elder Bramwell is just powerful.

Well, I gotta go now. D': Skype at 7 for you guys, I might be just a hair late, installing skype and stuff, but I will do my very best. I love you all so much, and hope you have a wonderful Christmas Holiday! Tchau todo mundo! Amo vocês!

~Elder Wille

Guadalajara B, 9-12-2013

Hello Family and Friends!

I finally got some pictures off, hope you all enjoy them! The pizza was half Portuguesa and half chicken and catupiry. I have absolutely no idea what you call it in english. Im actually not a huge fan of pannetone itself, so it was actually a chocotone, with condensed milk in it to add variety. It was tasty.

Then a few days after, when my package came (it just barely missed thanksgiving) Elder Bramwell and I went suicidal. We made ice cream sandwiches from cake with nutella. @_@ I took the first bite and already felt my arteries clogging. :D it was fabulous! and super healthy. :P hahaha

So this Sunday was kind of a bummer. We were expecting 8 people or so at church, and when we went to get them, all we found were closed doors. :( Not a single one showed up, not even Andrêza, our super eleita. Her husband got home from a dangerous night motocross event at6 in the morning. they were both too tired to go the next day.

Sarah, I got a letter written to you! Im sending it off today. :) And I want to wish you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week!!! :D I cannot believe that you are 19 already! You are now old enough to serve a mission! :D hahaha. But seriously, I cant believe how much youve grown up! 

Dad, that sounds like a pain in the.... leg! :) a really nasty one too. I really miss snowboarding too, but I think youll be better than me when I get back. Im so out of practice. :S when we went with the ancestry ski pass, you had your horrible stiff board, yes? It must be super nice now, especially at brighton, but thats a HUGE bummer that you probably have to miss out on it this time. D:

 So far, I dont know if I get to use skype. Presidente Souza provavelmente vai nos dizer na conferência de natal. Oh sorry, at the Christmas conference he will probably say if we can. ;)

Its cold over there? sometimes I have to remind myself that cold still exists. :D its the hotter part of the year right now, at least I think. Fortaleza has basically four seasons: rain/pressure cooker, hot, hotter, and Nebuchadnezzers Oven. (haha, bible joke ;P) Usually at the end of the day, I have sweat dripping down my back and face. Does that remind you of somewhere? :)

A bit about school. I took english 1010 and portuguese at UVU, I think that was it. Im just hoping that I dont have to redo them at Snow.

Mom, my package came! :) but the post office nabbed elder Wadsworths package. D: that really bummed him out, and he got the notice after the window closed for picking it up.

Yep, we got suco de maracujá (passion fruit juice) it actually makes you sleepy, didyou know that?

I will try my best to get the money to Elder R Barbosa, theres not a good bank here close, just the 24 hour ones that steal about %10. But I will try my best. I can definitely get his address for the card, I hope thats not too much trouble to bounce that back.

Unfortunately, I still havent sent the package. well actually, I havent even put it together yet. D: we are always running around doing stuff. It will probably be very late, sorry! :(

Mom, I assume that the things are for making jam, but how do I got about making it? and what the heck is ultra gel? :D

well, my time is ending. alex richey gets back in about a month! that is so crazy! I will be back really soon too. Okay, gotta go, bye everyone! Until next time!

~Elder wille

Guadalajara B 2-12-2013

Hi family! Boy this week was busy! Are we really into December? I cannot believe how fast it is all going!

We had a zone conference this week, and I got a tie!

For those who dont know yet, President Souza gives a tie to every missionary who baptizes a couple, just to give incentive to baptize families. Elder Villalba got 3 (!!!) ties this time, and President Souza called him up with each one, one right after the other. It was incredible.

And I got some very trunky news. After the conference, I wanted to show a picture to President Souza, and he asked me if I already knew what day I was going home. When I said no, he looked at something on his smartphone and said I will be home on July 16th, leaving on the 15th. o.O I believe he said that he already told you guys, but its so weird knowing what day Im going home! And just after many of the aniversários, of birthday and wedding.

Elder R Barbosa is leaving I think next week on Thursday or something. Its so weird, and sad for me. On the mission, he had a huge influence on me. A lot of what I learned was from him, so hes a super good friend. I really hope I see him again after the mission.

So, Thanksgiving we ate pannetone and passionfruit juice and pizza! i took some photos for you guys to see. Im copying pictures to my new flash drive, so It will have to wait, sorry! We wanted to go all out and get ice cream and soda, but everywhere was closed at 21h20 (9:20pm) so we just went home and ate the prebought food. It was still really good. :) My package has not arrived yet. How many are coming? 4? :O

Dad, thank you so much for keeping up on my college stuff! It really means a lot to me.

A job would be really nice, so I think I will go with that option. Its good to stay busy after the mission. And I would very much like to be in the same apartment complex. :) Snow Lodge was awesome.

Talking to the counselor sounds like an excellent option. I think I have to change my major from generals back to engineering, and see if my UVU credits will pass to Snow. I hope they do, cause english 1010 is pretty standard.

Congrats on your shelves Dad! They look really awesome

Mom, I got some cooking lessons yesterday. I learned how to make Frango ao Molho (Souped chicken?) and rice with carrot shreds. :) Its super tasty, and even easier to make! I have to note all the cool foods that Im learning.

We do get an ocean breeze, but since we only have openings on one side of the house, the wind cant pass through the house. Its stifling. So, our hammocks here are a bit different from dads. theyre like a piece of fabric, no spaces. I think its a bit hotter, but I still like it.

Oh bother, my time is up. :( Love you all, hope you had a great thanksgiving! Alisha, get better soon, okay:? Love you Sarah! Hugs and beijos para todo mundo!

~Elder Wille

Note for the Maurer family: So sorry for the delay to write! But I learned how to make coxinhas this past week, and I can make them at home! :D