Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 8:39 AM
Me? End in Anápolis? That´d´ve been just my luck. But now I´m here in Aparecida again, and I think I´ll end my mission here. After all, this transfer that starts today, and two more, and then I´ll be "carried triumphant through the air" as Moroni puts it.
Ah, well, You can send her the address of my mission and ask her to send me a letter. I don´t have Andy´s mission address, so I dunno what he wanted to know. I think he wanted to know if she was living in the limits of his mission or not. What town is she in? As for me, eh, she lives a long way from here, but it´d be nice to hear from an old friend. At times I think the only friends I have who are active in the church are 1) Friends of my parents or 2) All called Sister, or Elder or 3)Brazilians.
It´s okay if you almost forgot, Mom. What matters is that you didn´t, haha. Also, eh, if you forget once in awhile, it´s okay. I mean, I know you have to work hard, and that you often don´t sleep well and wind up sleeping until later. The only one who has to wake up despite these conditions is me. Also you don´t have to worry about messy hair as you´re my mom, so no matter how you look, you´ll always be pretty to me.
It´s better to send mail to the office again. I´m sure the Staff will hate the idea, but there is no reasonable way you can send mail to me and have it arrive safely. I live in an apartment that has a mailbox shared with all the other apartments in the block, one box, many letters, so it´s best to just send mail to the office. I hope Pres. Prieto won´t mind too much.
Here in Aparecida (which is basically Goiania, just that we´re about 2hours by bus from the city center in Goiania and everyone insists that this is a different city) it´s a lot hotter than in Anápolis. Man, it´s pretty annoying to walk around melting some days, breathing in a mountain of dust, but you know what they say, the more an Elder suffers on the mission, the prettier his wife gets.
I have to split now, but I´ll be sure to write again next week. Don´t worry, and don´t forget to get on Colin´s case.
Love,
Bryan
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Email - 6/16/10
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 8:24 AM
Yeah, so, two quick notices.
1) I GOT TRANSFERRED!!!!! I was in Anápolis Wednesday, and I got the call, and now I´m here in Aparecida de Goiania. Pres. Tobias put me with E. Clark, who was in the MTC with me. FREAKING COOL. I was sad that I didn´t get to say good bye to the people in Anapolis, but I´m super excited at this moment.
2) I GOT TO HUG SISTER TOBIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had our last conference with Pres. and Sister Tobias. It was a heart-breaker to say good-bye to the people who´ve been my parents away from home for so long, but it had to happen sooner or later, huh? I´m excited to meet my new Pres., but I dunno what else will really happen. I´m working now to build a stake in Aparecida.
3) Oh, could you look and see if you can find out where Kate Hetland is? Last I heard, she was in Arizona, and, well, Andy´s down there these days and wanted to know if she lived anywhere near.
Gotta split, as we have to go and grab our lunch today.
Yeah, so, two quick notices.
1) I GOT TRANSFERRED!!!!! I was in Anápolis Wednesday, and I got the call, and now I´m here in Aparecida de Goiania. Pres. Tobias put me with E. Clark, who was in the MTC with me. FREAKING COOL. I was sad that I didn´t get to say good bye to the people in Anapolis, but I´m super excited at this moment.
2) I GOT TO HUG SISTER TOBIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had our last conference with Pres. and Sister Tobias. It was a heart-breaker to say good-bye to the people who´ve been my parents away from home for so long, but it had to happen sooner or later, huh? I´m excited to meet my new Pres., but I dunno what else will really happen. I´m working now to build a stake in Aparecida.
3) Oh, could you look and see if you can find out where Kate Hetland is? Last I heard, she was in Arizona, and, well, Andy´s down there these days and wanted to know if she lived anywhere near.
Gotta split, as we have to go and grab our lunch today.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Another Email - 6/8/10
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 8:51 AM
Well we had our last interviews with Pres. Tobias yesterday night and I feel that I´ve discovered the key to, at the least, my own success this month. At the end of the interview, in which we conversed about my patriarchal blessing, President asked if he could give me a blessing of his own. During the blessing he commanded that I do as Pres. Hinckley says, "Forget yourself. Give your all in the work, and be 100% in everything." It was truly a special experience for me last night. I´m sad to see Pres. Tobias go. He and his wife have been the parents of my family for the last year and 7 months. The missionaries have been my siblings. It always hurt to see a group go home, but when Pres. Tobias goes, it´ll be a bit sad. On the other hand, I´m excited to meet Pres. Prieto, and to work with him all the rest of my mission.
I always liked the scripture in the New Testament, where the Lord declares that if a man find his life, he shall lose it, but if he lose his life in the Lord´s service, he shall find it forever. The same thing about being born again. I think maybe I held back at times on the mission. I can´t do that anymore. I never want to go back to who I was before the mission. And so I have to do as the Lord has asked. I have to lose my old life here, and the Lord shall show me the new one. I have to be born again, dying to the things of the world, and coming alive to the things of the Spirit. I have to forget who I was, and focus on who the people I´m teaching can be.
I can´t hold back anymore.
I remember that Elder Nelson told us that, if we wanted more faith, we needed to do things that try our faith. I believe the Lord wants me to be more patient, more virtuous, and more charitable,for these are the things he most tests me in. I remember once I prayed that I might be a instrument in the Lord´s hands, but I suppose I never gave thought to if I was an instrument well-tuned or not. And the Lord well knows that trumpets that are poorly tuned serve for nothing. You´ve got to be a well-tuned TROMBONE, haha.
Gotta split. My time has run out. I wish you all well. Send my love to the ward, to the quorum, and the children and the family. I´ll write again next week, about how the Last Conference with Pres. Tobias went.
Well we had our last interviews with Pres. Tobias yesterday night and I feel that I´ve discovered the key to, at the least, my own success this month. At the end of the interview, in which we conversed about my patriarchal blessing, President asked if he could give me a blessing of his own. During the blessing he commanded that I do as Pres. Hinckley says, "Forget yourself. Give your all in the work, and be 100% in everything." It was truly a special experience for me last night. I´m sad to see Pres. Tobias go. He and his wife have been the parents of my family for the last year and 7 months. The missionaries have been my siblings. It always hurt to see a group go home, but when Pres. Tobias goes, it´ll be a bit sad. On the other hand, I´m excited to meet Pres. Prieto, and to work with him all the rest of my mission.
I always liked the scripture in the New Testament, where the Lord declares that if a man find his life, he shall lose it, but if he lose his life in the Lord´s service, he shall find it forever. The same thing about being born again. I think maybe I held back at times on the mission. I can´t do that anymore. I never want to go back to who I was before the mission. And so I have to do as the Lord has asked. I have to lose my old life here, and the Lord shall show me the new one. I have to be born again, dying to the things of the world, and coming alive to the things of the Spirit. I have to forget who I was, and focus on who the people I´m teaching can be.
I can´t hold back anymore.
I remember that Elder Nelson told us that, if we wanted more faith, we needed to do things that try our faith. I believe the Lord wants me to be more patient, more virtuous, and more charitable,for these are the things he most tests me in. I remember once I prayed that I might be a instrument in the Lord´s hands, but I suppose I never gave thought to if I was an instrument well-tuned or not. And the Lord well knows that trumpets that are poorly tuned serve for nothing. You´ve got to be a well-tuned TROMBONE, haha.
Gotta split. My time has run out. I wish you all well. Send my love to the ward, to the quorum, and the children and the family. I´ll write again next week, about how the Last Conference with Pres. Tobias went.
Email - 6/8/10
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 8:41 AM
We went and asked at the post office this week. They claim that, if you can pass the number of the box sent, and the date, they can find out where it´s at. I guess there should be some number or something on the receipt which is the code of the box or something? The postman was really whiney and honestly he wasn´t too interested in helping, but this is what I understood from him.
I think I´m just used to the water. Technically I shouldn´t drink it, but I never got sick from it, so I don´t think it´s killing me, right?
I think it´s funny that you find 58 warm. That´s only 14 deg. Celcius. Here that´s really cold. Normally 20 is warm, and anywhere from 25-30 is way too hot for me.
This last week I went to Goiania to renew my visa (I´m legal again) and then we had our last Counsel of Leaders with Pres. Tobias. Yesterday we had our last interviews with him. I´m sad to see Pres. Tobias go. He and Sister Tobias have been like my Father and Mother away from home. I´ve come so far with them, and I´ve changed so much. I´m going to miss them a lot, and I´m glad they promise to always keep in touch. I feel so much like part of a big huge family. The mission has really changed the way I see the world, the church, myself, and the gospel. I´m excited for the new President, but I don´t want to say good-bye to MY president, you know?
I´m glad to hear you´re involved in a project to help others, it sounds like Dad is, too. I want you and Dad to know that in these next 5 months I´m going to dedicate myself even more to the work. It´s the "end" of my mission, so now comes the big test to see if I´m green and growing, as dad says, or "Sempre novo" as Irmão João says, or "Sereno e Constante" like Pres. Tobias says, or if I´m a dead man walking, haha.
I really like the photos you sent. It´s so weird to see the other side of the world. I didn´t even remember that it was that way. I´m so used to palm-fronds and tropical situations, I´d forgotten the forests, mountains, and ocean of my youth. Strange, how lost I´ve become in this world.
I´ve got to split, I still need to Send Dad my e-mail, but here´s some pictures of the week.
Actually, just one. Me and Pres. Tobias. It must be interesting compare this one to the one from when I arrive. I wonder how different I must look.
We went and asked at the post office this week. They claim that, if you can pass the number of the box sent, and the date, they can find out where it´s at. I guess there should be some number or something on the receipt which is the code of the box or something? The postman was really whiney and honestly he wasn´t too interested in helping, but this is what I understood from him.
I think I´m just used to the water. Technically I shouldn´t drink it, but I never got sick from it, so I don´t think it´s killing me, right?
I think it´s funny that you find 58 warm. That´s only 14 deg. Celcius. Here that´s really cold. Normally 20 is warm, and anywhere from 25-30 is way too hot for me.
This last week I went to Goiania to renew my visa (I´m legal again) and then we had our last Counsel of Leaders with Pres. Tobias. Yesterday we had our last interviews with him. I´m sad to see Pres. Tobias go. He and Sister Tobias have been like my Father and Mother away from home. I´ve come so far with them, and I´ve changed so much. I´m going to miss them a lot, and I´m glad they promise to always keep in touch. I feel so much like part of a big huge family. The mission has really changed the way I see the world, the church, myself, and the gospel. I´m excited for the new President, but I don´t want to say good-bye to MY president, you know?
I´m glad to hear you´re involved in a project to help others, it sounds like Dad is, too. I want you and Dad to know that in these next 5 months I´m going to dedicate myself even more to the work. It´s the "end" of my mission, so now comes the big test to see if I´m green and growing, as dad says, or "Sempre novo" as Irmão João says, or "Sereno e Constante" like Pres. Tobias says, or if I´m a dead man walking, haha.
I really like the photos you sent. It´s so weird to see the other side of the world. I didn´t even remember that it was that way. I´m so used to palm-fronds and tropical situations, I´d forgotten the forests, mountains, and ocean of my youth. Strange, how lost I´ve become in this world.
I´ve got to split, I still need to Send Dad my e-mail, but here´s some pictures of the week.
Actually, just one. Me and Pres. Tobias. It must be interesting compare this one to the one from when I arrive. I wonder how different I must look.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Another Email - 6/1/10
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 9:04 AM
These days we´re working hard on climbing out of a pit that I think maybe we dug ourselves into. Our mission is baptizing very few people, compared to a few months back, and we´re all struggling to break the barrier down and get back to where we´d been. In Anápolis we put up a good fight this month, and almost met our goal. We want every missionary in town to to baptize 1 person in the month (or 2 for every companionship) so that we can help the work go on. The problem is that, well, we just came seem to get people to go out to church in certain areas in the city. Almost every ward or branch in town baptized this month, we only needed one more, but we don´t know how to make it really out of the bucket, you know?
These days I feel a bit like Captain Moroni. He must have fought that war a long, long time before he won it. I don´t know how he found the patience to support such trials, nor how he managed to never want to give up. I wish I could have the charity that all the great men in the scriptures had, to love unconditionally other people, and to never let my temper get the best of me. I try hard not be impatient with others, but I can´t seem to keep my calm as much as I´d want.
President Tobias likes to refer to our months as wars, and often times, it really feels like it. I feel that Anapolis won the war of May, but just barely. We´ve had some serious problems here in town these days. Not with anyone in town (our team really has become a lot better) but we´re still pretty slow in winning our war. But we´re progressing.
The war of June is upon us, and I suppose that´s what most frustrates me. Just as soon as we win a war, the next one starts, and we have to go and take on Satan´s forces once more. But I´m sure we´ll come through fine.
I´ve gotta send mail to Pres., now, so I´ll split.
Love you, and take care!
Bryan
These days we´re working hard on climbing out of a pit that I think maybe we dug ourselves into. Our mission is baptizing very few people, compared to a few months back, and we´re all struggling to break the barrier down and get back to where we´d been. In Anápolis we put up a good fight this month, and almost met our goal. We want every missionary in town to to baptize 1 person in the month (or 2 for every companionship) so that we can help the work go on. The problem is that, well, we just came seem to get people to go out to church in certain areas in the city. Almost every ward or branch in town baptized this month, we only needed one more, but we don´t know how to make it really out of the bucket, you know?
These days I feel a bit like Captain Moroni. He must have fought that war a long, long time before he won it. I don´t know how he found the patience to support such trials, nor how he managed to never want to give up. I wish I could have the charity that all the great men in the scriptures had, to love unconditionally other people, and to never let my temper get the best of me. I try hard not be impatient with others, but I can´t seem to keep my calm as much as I´d want.
President Tobias likes to refer to our months as wars, and often times, it really feels like it. I feel that Anapolis won the war of May, but just barely. We´ve had some serious problems here in town these days. Not with anyone in town (our team really has become a lot better) but we´re still pretty slow in winning our war. But we´re progressing.
The war of June is upon us, and I suppose that´s what most frustrates me. Just as soon as we win a war, the next one starts, and we have to go and take on Satan´s forces once more. But I´m sure we´ll come through fine.
I´ve gotta send mail to Pres., now, so I´ll split.
Love you, and take care!
Bryan
Email - 6/1/10
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 8:43 AM
Well, this is what they claim is my postal code:75114-310. I don´t doubt it, as my companion´s letters all arrive rather quickly. Nevermind that he isn´t waiting for mail from out of country, but they come fairly quickly to him.
As for the package, no real news yet. We saw the mini-van that delivers packages a few times this week, so maybe it will get here today. I feel like a poor kid who doesn´t know if Santa will find his house this year or not. Haha.
Water down here in Goiás is allegedly bad for us to drink. We have little water-bottles which we drink the filtered tap water from, but in all honestly, before the bottles were issued, I drank tap water every day, and when we pass the houses of the people we teach, we drink the same water they do, and I haven´t had any medical problems yet. The taste was a little funny at first, but these days I don´t remember any difference. Milk, on the other hand, I have never gotten used to. I am anxious to come home and drink milk from good old American Cows again.
It hasn´t rained in more than months here in Anápolis, nor, for that matter, do I think it´s rained in Goiânia. The cars and buses that once tossed mud on our white shirts now kick up dust storms that fog my glasses. Yes, it´s a lot of fun, huh? I had some ice-cream from McD´s the other day, but it´s been nearly 2 years since I ate turkey.
Man, what I´d give to eat at a food storage café. I don´t even know what I´ll eat today. Today´s the start of a new month, which means our money is almost all gone for, which bites, since, well, still have to go to Goiânia tomorrow. Oh what fun it is to blow all my money on bus rides, haha. I don´t even remember what my call-name is anymore. Nor do I remember if it´s already been expired or not.
I´ve got a few more photos to send home this week. Let´s see if they help cheer you up a bit, huh?
1) Elder Lewis, Elder Challis, Me, and Elder Clark, at the Airport in Goiania, renewing our visas. These guys are my group. As in, the missionaries who have the same time as I do. They´re some of my favorite friends on the mission. Of my group, who isn´t here is Sister Judd (whose already home) Sister Romeiro (going home now) and Elder Brown, (who´s stuck in Minas).
2+3) These are two young ladies, granddaughters of a sister here, that we baptized this month.
4) This is me, to my left a returned missionary in the ward, and to my right my companion, on top of a horse-cart. Yes, we´re hillbillies.
5) Me with Sisters Judd, Riggs, and Romeiro. Sister Judd and Sister Romeiro are from my group. Sister Riggs is a Texan.
Well, this is what they claim is my postal code:75114-310. I don´t doubt it, as my companion´s letters all arrive rather quickly. Nevermind that he isn´t waiting for mail from out of country, but they come fairly quickly to him.
As for the package, no real news yet. We saw the mini-van that delivers packages a few times this week, so maybe it will get here today. I feel like a poor kid who doesn´t know if Santa will find his house this year or not. Haha.
Water down here in Goiás is allegedly bad for us to drink. We have little water-bottles which we drink the filtered tap water from, but in all honestly, before the bottles were issued, I drank tap water every day, and when we pass the houses of the people we teach, we drink the same water they do, and I haven´t had any medical problems yet. The taste was a little funny at first, but these days I don´t remember any difference. Milk, on the other hand, I have never gotten used to. I am anxious to come home and drink milk from good old American Cows again.
It hasn´t rained in more than months here in Anápolis, nor, for that matter, do I think it´s rained in Goiânia. The cars and buses that once tossed mud on our white shirts now kick up dust storms that fog my glasses. Yes, it´s a lot of fun, huh? I had some ice-cream from McD´s the other day, but it´s been nearly 2 years since I ate turkey.
Man, what I´d give to eat at a food storage café. I don´t even know what I´ll eat today. Today´s the start of a new month, which means our money is almost all gone for, which bites, since, well, still have to go to Goiânia tomorrow. Oh what fun it is to blow all my money on bus rides, haha. I don´t even remember what my call-name is anymore. Nor do I remember if it´s already been expired or not.
I´ve got a few more photos to send home this week. Let´s see if they help cheer you up a bit, huh?
1) Elder Lewis, Elder Challis, Me, and Elder Clark, at the Airport in Goiania, renewing our visas. These guys are my group. As in, the missionaries who have the same time as I do. They´re some of my favorite friends on the mission. Of my group, who isn´t here is Sister Judd (whose already home) Sister Romeiro (going home now) and Elder Brown, (who´s stuck in Minas).2+3) These are two young ladies, granddaughters of a sister here, that we baptized this month.
4) This is me, to my left a returned missionary in the ward, and to my right my companion, on top of a horse-cart. Yes, we´re hillbillies.
5) Me with Sisters Judd, Riggs, and Romeiro. Sister Judd and Sister Romeiro are from my group. Sister Riggs is a Texan.
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