Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 3:28 PM
We´re working hard to have baptisms every week. The First Presidency seems to be putting a lot of pressure on Brazil to turn over better results. I continue with my goal of 3 a month, but the best would really be 4-5 a month, or one a week. If the Prophet´s putting the heat on us, it must be that the Lord´s putting heat on him. But the funny thing is that honestly, we ARE capable of this. It´s not SO hard to find people who receive baptism here. If we could unite our efforts and conquer our natural men, it would not take long to have a temple here in the MidWest of Brazil. The problem is just that, haha.
Wow, now that he´s been to church a few times, it just lacks the Elders grab him by the neck and chuck him in the waters. Let them know I want to see the photos, haha. Today baptism, tomorrow sealing, and, at the end, a new Quorum Pres.
Thanks for the advice, Dad. I´d say that´s more or less what I´m going through now. I´m struggling against myself to not succumb to the temptation to rest, to sleep in, to give over to the hungers of my body, and having a tough time finding courage to fast in this blazing heat. I have to deal constantly with a rag-tag band of Elders who have desire from "Little" to "None" in terms of baptizing, and who don´t exactly seem to remember that Jesus Christ could be coming any minute now. I don´t have any problems with my companion, but I feel that I´m failing him. I feel that I´m failing my zone, and that I´m failing myself. I suppose that now is really the time that I need to put myself to the pedals and work the rest of myself away.
I´ve been feeling lately like I´ve been erasing myself. I don´t remember any musics I listened to before the mission, and I can´t recall where I left off in TV and books and secular study I´ve absolutely blanked. At first I feared this, that all my talents and learning and likes and ways were slowly fading away. But as I stare into my soul and see that big black stain of sin, I know it´s for the best. As Pres. Hinckley said, if we want to be happy, we need to lose ourselves in the work. And I´d rather lose the man I was, and all that made him, what I liked, and the many things I didn´t like about him, than live forever condemned in the man I was. If I have to take a spiritual pencil and erase myself so that The Lord can start me over from scratch, so be it. I´d rather be a different me and be exalted than be condemned as the man I was.
Thanks Dad, for your example. Thank you for having chosen to be a missionary, and having been faithful on your mission. I never once needed another man to be my example, save Christ, than you. I´m so grateful for you having shown me the way, so that one day, my sons can serve missions as you and I did. Your decision to serve a mission helped me make mine, and serving my mission has helped me, and helps me to be the man I need to be.
Love,
Bryan
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Email - 8/23/10
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 2:49 PM
Man, I miss having a dog in the house. It´s always so much fun when you can play with them and hug them and squeeze them. The only hugs I´ve had for a long time now are from missionaries. I´m sorta starting to miss some things back home. Not that I´m not happy here, but these last few weeks have at times been frought with difficulties at times and with a bit of hastle. Really all this stress would be no problem if I could have just 10 minutes to myself to deal with my OWN problems, but hey, you know how it goes, you only solve your own problems solving first the problems of others.
Recently I´ve been a bit whiny to myself, haha. I´m not sure what the big deal is with me lately. If I´m just getting worn out, or if I´m tired of being a leader in a time when not everybody wants to do what is right, or if I myself am just giving room to the enemy of my soul. I don´t know. There are days when I just want things to be the good old way they were for so much time on my mission. When I want all that fun and union to come back, but some times I think that maybe it´s just MY attitude that´s all wrong.
But I´m just whining a bit much. I am stronger than these little problems, and the ones I can´t solve, The Lord will help me to solve. I have to work on those 6 Christ-like attributes, that´s all.
Dona Maria was baptized this Saturday, and confirmed this Sunday, making her officially the oldest baptism in the history of the mission. Clocking in at a wonderful 103 years of age, Dona Maria managed to walk into the font, and with all the spunk I´ve ever seen, managed to crack a few jokes here and there as I and E. Pimentel helped her in the water. As I said the prayer, and lowered her in, she went with little complaint. Afterward she managed to even joke about how she felt the water (which was kinda cold) was too hot. During the special musical number, where we sang If You Could Hie to Kolob in Portuguese and English, to our surprise, she hummed along, as though she already knew the song, and then told us about how she was seeing three bright lights behind us, and many others in the rest of the room.
It was, to say the least, a very spiritual night. She said in her interview that she saw a man in white sitting by my companion´s side, and at the night´s end, we were told by one of the bretheren, "If not for you two, she would not have been able to receive baptism on this side of the veil."
Wow that´s weird about Darllen. She´s a convert of a friend of mine. No I don´t have a problem with you talking with her. It´s . . . weird, but I mean, she´s a good kid and all that jazz. She basically found out about Facebook one day and went and got lost in the internet universe, you know how all that goes, right? Just don´t putup any naked baby pictures of me, okay?
Yogurt huh? Dude, what I wouldn´t give to eat home-made food again. I´m so tired of the 70% ham and pale sickly white cheese sandwhiches for lunch, or the rice and beans and beans and rice and AGH. I mean, I love the food here, but when it comes to variety, you only have fruit to excite you, because the rest of what´s consumed down here? Ayayaya. But yeah.
This week was an excellent week for us. I hope this week that´s starting is as promising as this one. Love you all and take care,
Bryan.
Man, I miss having a dog in the house. It´s always so much fun when you can play with them and hug them and squeeze them. The only hugs I´ve had for a long time now are from missionaries. I´m sorta starting to miss some things back home. Not that I´m not happy here, but these last few weeks have at times been frought with difficulties at times and with a bit of hastle. Really all this stress would be no problem if I could have just 10 minutes to myself to deal with my OWN problems, but hey, you know how it goes, you only solve your own problems solving first the problems of others.
Recently I´ve been a bit whiny to myself, haha. I´m not sure what the big deal is with me lately. If I´m just getting worn out, or if I´m tired of being a leader in a time when not everybody wants to do what is right, or if I myself am just giving room to the enemy of my soul. I don´t know. There are days when I just want things to be the good old way they were for so much time on my mission. When I want all that fun and union to come back, but some times I think that maybe it´s just MY attitude that´s all wrong.
But I´m just whining a bit much. I am stronger than these little problems, and the ones I can´t solve, The Lord will help me to solve. I have to work on those 6 Christ-like attributes, that´s all.
Dona Maria was baptized this Saturday, and confirmed this Sunday, making her officially the oldest baptism in the history of the mission. Clocking in at a wonderful 103 years of age, Dona Maria managed to walk into the font, and with all the spunk I´ve ever seen, managed to crack a few jokes here and there as I and E. Pimentel helped her in the water. As I said the prayer, and lowered her in, she went with little complaint. Afterward she managed to even joke about how she felt the water (which was kinda cold) was too hot. During the special musical number, where we sang If You Could Hie to Kolob in Portuguese and English, to our surprise, she hummed along, as though she already knew the song, and then told us about how she was seeing three bright lights behind us, and many others in the rest of the room.
It was, to say the least, a very spiritual night. She said in her interview that she saw a man in white sitting by my companion´s side, and at the night´s end, we were told by one of the bretheren, "If not for you two, she would not have been able to receive baptism on this side of the veil."
Wow that´s weird about Darllen. She´s a convert of a friend of mine. No I don´t have a problem with you talking with her. It´s . . . weird, but I mean, she´s a good kid and all that jazz. She basically found out about Facebook one day and went and got lost in the internet universe, you know how all that goes, right? Just don´t putup any naked baby pictures of me, okay?
Yogurt huh? Dude, what I wouldn´t give to eat home-made food again. I´m so tired of the 70% ham and pale sickly white cheese sandwhiches for lunch, or the rice and beans and beans and rice and AGH. I mean, I love the food here, but when it comes to variety, you only have fruit to excite you, because the rest of what´s consumed down here? Ayayaya. But yeah.
This week was an excellent week for us. I hope this week that´s starting is as promising as this one. Love you all and take care,
Bryan.
Email - 8/16/10
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 2:42 PM
NOSSA. 4 am!? That´s no good. I would never, ever, ever want to get up at that time. That´s the kind of hour of the day that really breaks a guy. Our dog is crazy, huh? Does he still sleep in his crate, or does he have a cushion to sleep on.
We´re gonna baptize the oldest woman in church history!!! WOOHOO!!! She went to church this Sunday and loved it so much that she even DANCED to the HYMNS! Dude, you have to see this lady, mom; She´s absolutely a riot. I die from laughter every time we teach here. Crazy old coot, but I love her. We asked her, "Dona Maria, how long ago were you born?" "Dunno, my son, musta been a million years ago." I love it.
I don´t even know who this kid is. The name Mobley looks familiar, but I really don´t know who he is. But I´m glad to know I broke the 6-year curse that hung over our ward for sending missionaries. And the best part is that while these poor little kids are all suffering and knocking on doors, I´ll be dating and living the good life. Suckers, hahaha.
Oh, I´ve decided. I want a really big, really sour green apple when I come home. And apple cider, nice and hot. And jam. And hot home made bread with butter and honey. And I dunno, some kind of delicious meat and vegetable and dunno what else.
Gotta split. Pray for us, please. Pray that we don´t cede to temptation, that our investigators harken unto our words, and the words of the Spirit. Pray for my companion, his grandmother passed away. Pray for us, we´re praying for you.
Love,
Bryan
NOSSA. 4 am!? That´s no good. I would never, ever, ever want to get up at that time. That´s the kind of hour of the day that really breaks a guy. Our dog is crazy, huh? Does he still sleep in his crate, or does he have a cushion to sleep on.
We´re gonna baptize the oldest woman in church history!!! WOOHOO!!! She went to church this Sunday and loved it so much that she even DANCED to the HYMNS! Dude, you have to see this lady, mom; She´s absolutely a riot. I die from laughter every time we teach here. Crazy old coot, but I love her. We asked her, "Dona Maria, how long ago were you born?" "Dunno, my son, musta been a million years ago." I love it.
I don´t even know who this kid is. The name Mobley looks familiar, but I really don´t know who he is. But I´m glad to know I broke the 6-year curse that hung over our ward for sending missionaries. And the best part is that while these poor little kids are all suffering and knocking on doors, I´ll be dating and living the good life. Suckers, hahaha.
Oh, I´ve decided. I want a really big, really sour green apple when I come home. And apple cider, nice and hot. And jam. And hot home made bread with butter and honey. And I dunno, some kind of delicious meat and vegetable and dunno what else.
Gotta split. Pray for us, please. Pray that we don´t cede to temptation, that our investigators harken unto our words, and the words of the Spirit. Pray for my companion, his grandmother passed away. Pray for us, we´re praying for you.
Love,
Bryan
Another Email - 8/10/10
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 11:37 AM
Would you believe me if I told you that, even looking at that picture, I have no idea where you are? I guess it m ust make part of the Daffodil Parade, probably in Orting. But I dunno. OH NO THE GIRL AT THE COMP BESIDE ME IS TRYING TO SING IN ENGLISH. HAHAHAHAHA. IT B URNS MY EARS. ITS NIRVANA THAT SHE´S TRYING TO SING.
Sorry.
Would you believe me if I told you that I´v e been eating rice and beans for two years, and the only things I want to eat when I come home are mexican food or asian food, which contain rice and beans? Funny how, you change to the point where you can´t see past this. I dunno how I´ll live without Goianian food. There are so many things I have been eating here for so much time in my life that I don´t even know how I will be able to survive without Them. Guarana, Açai, Acerola, Maracuja, Churrasco, I canpt even begin to think about it, haha.
I´ve been thinking a lot these days about what I´d like to talk about when I get home. I forget, will be speaking the Sunday I come back, or only to the youth in November? Does the Bishopric have a request, or am I free to choose the topic? If free to choose the topic, I don´t know. I know that I´d love to talk a little about less-active members, and I´d like to talk about the Atonement, but whatever they want me to talk about, I can spin it my way, if they have some assignment or another.
We´re planning an activity here in our Ward, maybe on my Birthday, to have Fireside, and a baptism, with music, and singing, and it´s still rather vague, but we´ve been practicing the hymn already. We´re thinking on singing "Oh How Lovely Was the Morning" To the Tune of "Come Thou Fount" and "If You Could Hie to Kolob" In English and Portuguese. It´s really turning out pretty well I think.
There are days when I feel sort of tired, being a leader in the church. There are times when It´s taxing to have to help so many along, when it feels like a burden, because no one, not even myself, seems capable of doing the smallest things that I ask, or that the Lord requires of us. At times I look around me and feel like the whole boat is sinking and I haven´t the slightest idea how to make it stop. But I guess that is, in part the point. I´m not the one who will make it stop. Who makes it stop is the Lord, and I need to trust more in him, and be more worthy of His trust. Nevertheless, there are days when I wonder how The Prophet and the Apostles handle it all. Because it´s no easy thing, saving the souls of the children of men. It´s not easy to save, in or out of the church. Oh what I would give if I could just take some of the weight off my shoulders, but then, at times I don´t even know if I´ve faith enough to let the Lord shoulder my burdens. It´s funny. You can preach, preach, preach about how the atonement heals. You can use it to heal the lives of others. But when it comes time to heal your own life with it, that´s where the difficulty comes.
I suppose that maybe I´m just impatient, who knows?
Gotta split.
Love,
Bryan
PS
Had to take out R$ because I needed to clean my suit, and while it only cost some 23, the stupid bank machine only let me take out 50. But meh.
Would you believe me if I told you that, even looking at that picture, I have no idea where you are? I guess it m ust make part of the Daffodil Parade, probably in Orting. But I dunno. OH NO THE GIRL AT THE COMP BESIDE ME IS TRYING TO SING IN ENGLISH. HAHAHAHAHA. IT B URNS MY EARS. ITS NIRVANA THAT SHE´S TRYING TO SING.
Sorry.
Would you believe me if I told you that I´v e been eating rice and beans for two years, and the only things I want to eat when I come home are mexican food or asian food, which contain rice and beans? Funny how, you change to the point where you can´t see past this. I dunno how I´ll live without Goianian food. There are so many things I have been eating here for so much time in my life that I don´t even know how I will be able to survive without Them. Guarana, Açai, Acerola, Maracuja, Churrasco, I canpt even begin to think about it, haha.
I´ve been thinking a lot these days about what I´d like to talk about when I get home. I forget, will be speaking the Sunday I come back, or only to the youth in November? Does the Bishopric have a request, or am I free to choose the topic? If free to choose the topic, I don´t know. I know that I´d love to talk a little about less-active members, and I´d like to talk about the Atonement, but whatever they want me to talk about, I can spin it my way, if they have some assignment or another.
We´re planning an activity here in our Ward, maybe on my Birthday, to have Fireside, and a baptism, with music, and singing, and it´s still rather vague, but we´ve been practicing the hymn already. We´re thinking on singing "Oh How Lovely Was the Morning" To the Tune of "Come Thou Fount" and "If You Could Hie to Kolob" In English and Portuguese. It´s really turning out pretty well I think.
There are days when I feel sort of tired, being a leader in the church. There are times when It´s taxing to have to help so many along, when it feels like a burden, because no one, not even myself, seems capable of doing the smallest things that I ask, or that the Lord requires of us. At times I look around me and feel like the whole boat is sinking and I haven´t the slightest idea how to make it stop. But I guess that is, in part the point. I´m not the one who will make it stop. Who makes it stop is the Lord, and I need to trust more in him, and be more worthy of His trust. Nevertheless, there are days when I wonder how The Prophet and the Apostles handle it all. Because it´s no easy thing, saving the souls of the children of men. It´s not easy to save, in or out of the church. Oh what I would give if I could just take some of the weight off my shoulders, but then, at times I don´t even know if I´ve faith enough to let the Lord shoulder my burdens. It´s funny. You can preach, preach, preach about how the atonement heals. You can use it to heal the lives of others. But when it comes time to heal your own life with it, that´s where the difficulty comes.
I suppose that maybe I´m just impatient, who knows?
Gotta split.
Love,
Bryan
PS
Had to take out R$ because I needed to clean my suit, and while it only cost some 23, the stupid bank machine only let me take out 50. But meh.
Email - 8/9/10
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 2:39 PM
You know what´s funny (Re: sad) about using the internet in public places? Usually there´s a sign that says "Porn Sites Not Allowed" Which generally results in the people going and looking at the semi-porn on Youtube. And the other signs say "Please, be Quiet." So the 8 year old boys playing Warcraft and Counterstrike all shout at the top of their lungs. I love being a missionary, but I´m excited by the idea of being able to use the net in my own home where the only madness will actually be ME, since Dad´ll be typing misspelled words and random numbers called "work" and Mom´ll be burning here new keyboard typing the miserable sob stories of the average joe, while I chat in a foreign language with people on the other side of the world.
There´s really not a whole lot to say about what´s going on these days. E. Pimentel and I are, as per usual, working hard. Sunday I was sitting in the chapel, without any idea what to do, and, as I sat, I could feel the urge to get up and go and I dunno, DO something, and so we left the chapel at random, without waiting for one of the members who was helping us that day, and I just kept repeating in the street. "I know we´re going to find an elect right now." So we hardly spake a word to one another, as we walked, and followed the Spirit where He was leading us. We got to a street I felt we had to go down, and as we entered it, I couldn´t help but remember the two old ladies who´d stopped us a few days before. Nevertheless, I turned in the other direction.
As I turned, E. Pimentel said something I didn´t understand, and when I asked him to repeat he was reluctant. When I pushed a bit more he said, "I was just remembering those two-"
And that was all I needed to hear. We ran back in the other direction to the house of the two old ladies and upon being invited, enter in.I admit that there was nothing grand to the lesson we taught, but the women are of interest to us. One is an inactive member, who is the care taker of the other, a woman of 103 years of age, who´s mind is still lucid. If you see your son in the Liahona next month for having baptized the oldest woman in the history of the church, you´ll know why.
In other news we still have Wislene preparing to go on her mission here. It´s really cool to be the missionary helping the member get ready. I remember I hated the idea of having to help the Elders before my mission (Though when with them, I loved it) but it´s humbling to see how she is always excited to help us out. I remember that Megan has a friend who got her call recently, too. Whenever I get down thinking about the badness in the mission, I can always cheer myself remembering that the Work is Christ´s, and that it exists to Redeem, not condemn. That´s one of the biggest lessons and greatest jewels I´m bringing home with me. Doing missionary work heals me of my sins, even as it heals others of their own.
I realized the other day that I have only got 11 more weeks on the mission. When I realized this, I didn´t know how to react. These 2 years have been the best of my life. I have changed so much, and have so much more in me I need to change. There´s so much to do here still, so much to see and hear and so many people to save and so many places to go and I can´t stand the idea of having to leave Brazil! I have a life here. I lost the old me here, and I´m build the new. How can I leave this place now, when I´ve only just begun? What I wouldn´t give to have some part of Brazil always with me.
But I guess that´s how the work gets you, huh? Having served here, I´ll never want to forget, and the Lord has commanded that I progress, not fall. I can only believe that when I finish here, it won´t be the only dealing with Brazil in my life.
But I´ve gotta go. Much to do, and little time in which to do it all.
Love,
Bryan
You know what´s funny (Re: sad) about using the internet in public places? Usually there´s a sign that says "Porn Sites Not Allowed" Which generally results in the people going and looking at the semi-porn on Youtube. And the other signs say "Please, be Quiet." So the 8 year old boys playing Warcraft and Counterstrike all shout at the top of their lungs. I love being a missionary, but I´m excited by the idea of being able to use the net in my own home where the only madness will actually be ME, since Dad´ll be typing misspelled words and random numbers called "work" and Mom´ll be burning here new keyboard typing the miserable sob stories of the average joe, while I chat in a foreign language with people on the other side of the world.
There´s really not a whole lot to say about what´s going on these days. E. Pimentel and I are, as per usual, working hard. Sunday I was sitting in the chapel, without any idea what to do, and, as I sat, I could feel the urge to get up and go and I dunno, DO something, and so we left the chapel at random, without waiting for one of the members who was helping us that day, and I just kept repeating in the street. "I know we´re going to find an elect right now." So we hardly spake a word to one another, as we walked, and followed the Spirit where He was leading us. We got to a street I felt we had to go down, and as we entered it, I couldn´t help but remember the two old ladies who´d stopped us a few days before. Nevertheless, I turned in the other direction.
As I turned, E. Pimentel said something I didn´t understand, and when I asked him to repeat he was reluctant. When I pushed a bit more he said, "I was just remembering those two-"
And that was all I needed to hear. We ran back in the other direction to the house of the two old ladies and upon being invited, enter in.I admit that there was nothing grand to the lesson we taught, but the women are of interest to us. One is an inactive member, who is the care taker of the other, a woman of 103 years of age, who´s mind is still lucid. If you see your son in the Liahona next month for having baptized the oldest woman in the history of the church, you´ll know why.
In other news we still have Wislene preparing to go on her mission here. It´s really cool to be the missionary helping the member get ready. I remember I hated the idea of having to help the Elders before my mission (Though when with them, I loved it) but it´s humbling to see how she is always excited to help us out. I remember that Megan has a friend who got her call recently, too. Whenever I get down thinking about the badness in the mission, I can always cheer myself remembering that the Work is Christ´s, and that it exists to Redeem, not condemn. That´s one of the biggest lessons and greatest jewels I´m bringing home with me. Doing missionary work heals me of my sins, even as it heals others of their own.
I realized the other day that I have only got 11 more weeks on the mission. When I realized this, I didn´t know how to react. These 2 years have been the best of my life. I have changed so much, and have so much more in me I need to change. There´s so much to do here still, so much to see and hear and so many people to save and so many places to go and I can´t stand the idea of having to leave Brazil! I have a life here. I lost the old me here, and I´m build the new. How can I leave this place now, when I´ve only just begun? What I wouldn´t give to have some part of Brazil always with me.
But I guess that´s how the work gets you, huh? Having served here, I´ll never want to forget, and the Lord has commanded that I progress, not fall. I can only believe that when I finish here, it won´t be the only dealing with Brazil in my life.
But I´ve gotta go. Much to do, and little time in which to do it all.
Love,
Bryan
Email - 8/2/10
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 1:50 PM
Yeah, there are a lot of things these days that are requiring a lot of getting used to. For example, we had a surprise, mission-wide transfer on Thursday. E. Clark is in Uberlandia with E. Maxwell now, and my 20th companion is E. Pimentel! The whole of our mission is changing, and not always for the better. Not that the changes coming from our leaders happen to be wrong, or bad, but there are changes happening amongst the missionaries as well. I feel some days like the Apostles must have felt when the Apostasy began. Sometimes I see missionaries I never would have believed to be capable of doing the wrong are the first to rise up and do it. Some days I see fights between missionaries, and all too often I hear one or another speak ill of the other. The worst is when I find myself less than I know I can be. I love this mission and these missionaries, but sometimes, I don´t even know how to handle my own personal weaknesses, let alone the problems created by others!
But I suppose that´s where faith comes in, isn´t it? All things are in the Lord´s hands. And I know He can and will cure us of this sickness, as He in times of old cured me of my sicknesses. I longed with a great longing to participate in this work, and I have never been so happy and felt so rewarded as I have in this last year and 9 months, but I must admit, I´ve seen eanough things on the mission to really change who I am. I left home with one vision, exceedingly narrow, of the universe. Now I see another, and perhaps I find it a bit too broad some days.
But I´m just whining, really. What have I to complain of? Everyday I work to better the lives and eternities of the people around me. I have the support of generations long gone and yet to come behind me. The Lord walks at my side when I am righteous, and corrects me powerfully when I am wrong. It´s not that the Lord prohibits me from error, but rather that He watches me so that, when I´m erring, I don´t go too far. How humbling it is to represent the Lord, and have absolute perfection as the standard of excellence! Even when I´m doing my best, I never come so close to Him, yet even when I´m doing wrong, He, by the grace of His Atonement, never lets me go too far.
Love you all, and am doing well. Hope I´m bringing honor to the family name. Never have I had a time in my life so full as this. Some days I wish I could have you all here, seeing me. Other days I´d really rather not, haaha. I guess you wouldn´t understand the most part anyway, as it´s all in portuguese.
Gotta split, much to do still tonight.
Love,
Bryan
Yeah, there are a lot of things these days that are requiring a lot of getting used to. For example, we had a surprise, mission-wide transfer on Thursday. E. Clark is in Uberlandia with E. Maxwell now, and my 20th companion is E. Pimentel! The whole of our mission is changing, and not always for the better. Not that the changes coming from our leaders happen to be wrong, or bad, but there are changes happening amongst the missionaries as well. I feel some days like the Apostles must have felt when the Apostasy began. Sometimes I see missionaries I never would have believed to be capable of doing the wrong are the first to rise up and do it. Some days I see fights between missionaries, and all too often I hear one or another speak ill of the other. The worst is when I find myself less than I know I can be. I love this mission and these missionaries, but sometimes, I don´t even know how to handle my own personal weaknesses, let alone the problems created by others!
But I suppose that´s where faith comes in, isn´t it? All things are in the Lord´s hands. And I know He can and will cure us of this sickness, as He in times of old cured me of my sicknesses. I longed with a great longing to participate in this work, and I have never been so happy and felt so rewarded as I have in this last year and 9 months, but I must admit, I´ve seen eanough things on the mission to really change who I am. I left home with one vision, exceedingly narrow, of the universe. Now I see another, and perhaps I find it a bit too broad some days.
But I´m just whining, really. What have I to complain of? Everyday I work to better the lives and eternities of the people around me. I have the support of generations long gone and yet to come behind me. The Lord walks at my side when I am righteous, and corrects me powerfully when I am wrong. It´s not that the Lord prohibits me from error, but rather that He watches me so that, when I´m erring, I don´t go too far. How humbling it is to represent the Lord, and have absolute perfection as the standard of excellence! Even when I´m doing my best, I never come so close to Him, yet even when I´m doing wrong, He, by the grace of His Atonement, never lets me go too far.
Love you all, and am doing well. Hope I´m bringing honor to the family name. Never have I had a time in my life so full as this. Some days I wish I could have you all here, seeing me. Other days I´d really rather not, haaha. I guess you wouldn´t understand the most part anyway, as it´s all in portuguese.
Gotta split, much to do still tonight.
Love,
Bryan
Another Email - 7/27/10
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 12:50 PM
Well it´s good to know you´re working hard, huh? Saturday we built a park as part of the Helping Hands project. It was a lot of fun, though it sort of ate our day and work time to pieces. I´m looking at these shots and the shots from last week, and the only people I recognize are you, Br. Van Duyn, and Br. Palmer. I won´t even know anyone back home when I get their. I´ll have to do like Abraham, seek the fathers´ blessings, and then head off to a promised land, hahah.
Well I don´t know much about Enoch, our about Zion, but I know that on the Mission what´s mine is yours, MORE OR LESS. There are some things which remain absolutely mine and absolutely yours. For example. My bed. My garments. My scriptures. My clothes. My CDs. But Our food. Our room. Our ties. Our teaching supplies. Our baptisms. Our money. Our dishsoap. Our dirty dishes.
I also know that as a missionary, our vision is the following: As many people as come into Zion, the better. But as soon as they come into Zion, we´re going to do everything to make them feel like they never want to leave again. And as many people as leave Zion, we´re willing to do anything to make them come home again. Economics have never really been something to us, I guess. I suppose the vision my leaders are giving me is more of winning a war, and the one yours are giving you are more geared toward living a lifestyle.
At times I feel almost hypocritical. I want to bring souls to Christ so much I really come to hunger and thirst for it. It becomes almost a drug to me, to see people´s lives be saved, and the more I do it, the more I want. But other days I see members commit the greatest attrocity and abomination and insanity and apostasy in Zion that I´d love to be the first to grab them by the shirt and throw them out the front gate. But I dunno. It´s often been my nature to follow Christ in the hour he overturned all those tables in the temple, instead of when he said come unto me, ALL ye ends of the earth.
But on the Mission we often say one to another the following, in response to a "Elder, can I use this?" "Elder, you don´t even need to ask. Didn´t we make a covenant in the Temple to do this?" Many are the times I can remember that my mind has been pointed to the Temple. We ought always seek to live what we promised before God in His House.
It´s only fair to seek riches. Jacob said that you could. But Christ reminds us that before we seek after these things on this earth, we ought to seek His Kingdom. So for me, I´ll worry about money as a priority only AFTER I know, with all certainty, that my wife and I have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to exaltation for all eternity.
Gotta run, love lots,
Bryan.
PS.
Congrats on 30 years of marriage! Here´s to 30 times 30 times 30 more!!!
Well it´s good to know you´re working hard, huh? Saturday we built a park as part of the Helping Hands project. It was a lot of fun, though it sort of ate our day and work time to pieces. I´m looking at these shots and the shots from last week, and the only people I recognize are you, Br. Van Duyn, and Br. Palmer. I won´t even know anyone back home when I get their. I´ll have to do like Abraham, seek the fathers´ blessings, and then head off to a promised land, hahah.
Well I don´t know much about Enoch, our about Zion, but I know that on the Mission what´s mine is yours, MORE OR LESS. There are some things which remain absolutely mine and absolutely yours. For example. My bed. My garments. My scriptures. My clothes. My CDs. But Our food. Our room. Our ties. Our teaching supplies. Our baptisms. Our money. Our dishsoap. Our dirty dishes.
I also know that as a missionary, our vision is the following: As many people as come into Zion, the better. But as soon as they come into Zion, we´re going to do everything to make them feel like they never want to leave again. And as many people as leave Zion, we´re willing to do anything to make them come home again. Economics have never really been something to us, I guess. I suppose the vision my leaders are giving me is more of winning a war, and the one yours are giving you are more geared toward living a lifestyle.
At times I feel almost hypocritical. I want to bring souls to Christ so much I really come to hunger and thirst for it. It becomes almost a drug to me, to see people´s lives be saved, and the more I do it, the more I want. But other days I see members commit the greatest attrocity and abomination and insanity and apostasy in Zion that I´d love to be the first to grab them by the shirt and throw them out the front gate. But I dunno. It´s often been my nature to follow Christ in the hour he overturned all those tables in the temple, instead of when he said come unto me, ALL ye ends of the earth.
But on the Mission we often say one to another the following, in response to a "Elder, can I use this?" "Elder, you don´t even need to ask. Didn´t we make a covenant in the Temple to do this?" Many are the times I can remember that my mind has been pointed to the Temple. We ought always seek to live what we promised before God in His House.
It´s only fair to seek riches. Jacob said that you could. But Christ reminds us that before we seek after these things on this earth, we ought to seek His Kingdom. So for me, I´ll worry about money as a priority only AFTER I know, with all certainty, that my wife and I have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to exaltation for all eternity.
Gotta run, love lots,
Bryan.
PS.
Congrats on 30 years of marriage! Here´s to 30 times 30 times 30 more!!!
Email - 7/27/10
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 12:35 PM
The July-Fest, as it roughly translates, was pretty great. I´ll have to show you the videos some day. Our ward´s youth really put their best into it and it came out really well. As for what we ate, we ate canjica, which is a kind of corn drink with hominy corn in the midst, corn cake, popcorn, and corn on the cob, with the usual Goianinho, or Little Goian Guarana. The funny part was seeing who didn´t dance, but came dressed in their costume anyway. Our friend, Wislene, came dressed up looking especially hill-billy. Elder Clark and I were sure to tease, haha.
50 years is actually a sign of really slow progress, if you think about it, since in 50 years we only have managed 2 stakes, while in other places in Brazil, we manage to put together stakes in a matter of 5-10 years at the most. There is a lot of apostasy for us to fight, in and out of the Church, but Christ is at the helm, so one day, even if it be the very Last, there will be a temple here.
We baptized Janaina this week! It was a very well attended baptismal service, and it was a beautiful way to end the week. We held the baptism at sun-set, and we had reps from the Bishopric and Ref-Soc as well. E. Clark and I sang in English, Be Still My Soul, which always gives that extra ZEST to a baptism. The kids love it, haha. It was really rewarding for us, this baptism. Janaina is a wonderful person, and through her baptism her boyfriend has started to come back to church, and the two of them are great people. It´s funny, when E. Clark and I went there, I always felt like I was back home with my friends.
Sunday we had a big deal happen in our ward, too, as Wislene got her mission call! Wislene is a recent-convert of about 2 years now, who was baptized by E. Viera, one of the APs a few months back. To make a long story short, she´s a young woman whose testimony has grown greatly, and who has been a great help to us here in the ward, always showing us people she knew, and fellowshipping the people we teach. E. Clark and I met her a few months back (Re: LAST YEAR) when she served a small-time mission. She had to overcome literal opposition from the Bishop, who happened to be of that "Women shouldn´t serve missions" attitude, but finally got her call to serve in São Paulo.
Today we had a Zone activity, which was awesome. We played volleyball and had a barbecue. I continue to suck at all physical activities.
So we went off to the waterfalls last week, me, E. Clark, and a few of the youths of the ward, and it was absolutely beautiful. A tiny bit less safe than I´d imagined, as we walked basically INSIDE the fall, but it was a lot of fun. I´ll send the pics next week. I totally biffed and forgot them at home.
[
It´s always nice to have someone taking specific care of the lunches. Usually, things go great here. This week we got some more or less bad luck. Sunday a less-active sister was to give it, though she seems to have disappeared. Monday the family who gives every Monday unmarked with us, though the Ref. Soc forgot to notify us. Tuesday there is no lunch, as it´s Preparation Day. Wednesday we´ll be receiving money. Thursday, too. Friday nobody marked, so we´ll have to schedule, and I believe Saturday might be money, too.
But I don´t complain. I´ve already been in situations WAAAAAAY tighter than this one. Remind me one
day to tell you about when I ate lunch made by a recent-convert´s brother´s BOYfriend. That was awkward.
This week I so didn´t get even a 4th of my studies done. I dunno how I´m going to study all my books before the end of the mission. There´s so much to do and see and read and think and write and register that really, I have no idea how I´ll pull it off.
Gotta get going, I need to write Dad soon, and sorry for not sending letters last week. I had no time as we got home really late from the waterfall.
Love,
Bryan
The July-Fest, as it roughly translates, was pretty great. I´ll have to show you the videos some day. Our ward´s youth really put their best into it and it came out really well. As for what we ate, we ate canjica, which is a kind of corn drink with hominy corn in the midst, corn cake, popcorn, and corn on the cob, with the usual Goianinho, or Little Goian Guarana. The funny part was seeing who didn´t dance, but came dressed in their costume anyway. Our friend, Wislene, came dressed up looking especially hill-billy. Elder Clark and I were sure to tease, haha.
50 years is actually a sign of really slow progress, if you think about it, since in 50 years we only have managed 2 stakes, while in other places in Brazil, we manage to put together stakes in a matter of 5-10 years at the most. There is a lot of apostasy for us to fight, in and out of the Church, but Christ is at the helm, so one day, even if it be the very Last, there will be a temple here.
We baptized Janaina this week! It was a very well attended baptismal service, and it was a beautiful way to end the week. We held the baptism at sun-set, and we had reps from the Bishopric and Ref-Soc as well. E. Clark and I sang in English, Be Still My Soul, which always gives that extra ZEST to a baptism. The kids love it, haha. It was really rewarding for us, this baptism. Janaina is a wonderful person, and through her baptism her boyfriend has started to come back to church, and the two of them are great people. It´s funny, when E. Clark and I went there, I always felt like I was back home with my friends.
Sunday we had a big deal happen in our ward, too, as Wislene got her mission call! Wislene is a recent-convert of about 2 years now, who was baptized by E. Viera, one of the APs a few months back. To make a long story short, she´s a young woman whose testimony has grown greatly, and who has been a great help to us here in the ward, always showing us people she knew, and fellowshipping the people we teach. E. Clark and I met her a few months back (Re: LAST YEAR) when she served a small-time mission. She had to overcome literal opposition from the Bishop, who happened to be of that "Women shouldn´t serve missions" attitude, but finally got her call to serve in São Paulo.
Today we had a Zone activity, which was awesome. We played volleyball and had a barbecue. I continue to suck at all physical activities.
So we went off to the waterfalls last week, me, E. Clark, and a few of the youths of the ward, and it was absolutely beautiful. A tiny bit less safe than I´d imagined, as we walked basically INSIDE the fall, but it was a lot of fun. I´ll send the pics next week. I totally biffed and forgot them at home.
[
It´s always nice to have someone taking specific care of the lunches. Usually, things go great here. This week we got some more or less bad luck. Sunday a less-active sister was to give it, though she seems to have disappeared. Monday the family who gives every Monday unmarked with us, though the Ref. Soc forgot to notify us. Tuesday there is no lunch, as it´s Preparation Day. Wednesday we´ll be receiving money. Thursday, too. Friday nobody marked, so we´ll have to schedule, and I believe Saturday might be money, too.
But I don´t complain. I´ve already been in situations WAAAAAAY tighter than this one. Remind me one
day to tell you about when I ate lunch made by a recent-convert´s brother´s BOYfriend. That was awkward.
This week I so didn´t get even a 4th of my studies done. I dunno how I´m going to study all my books before the end of the mission. There´s so much to do and see and read and think and write and register that really, I have no idea how I´ll pull it off.
Gotta get going, I need to write Dad soon, and sorry for not sending letters last week. I had no time as we got home really late from the waterfall.
Love,
Bryan
Email - 7/20/10
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 7:27 AM
Hi Mom!
Just a quick update this week! We had a june harvest festival this week and it was a lot of fun. The young men and young women of the ward practiced really hard their "Quadrilha" Or Square Dance. I took a bunch of videos, so we´ll have to see if they worked out well. We ate a lot of corn stuff which was really cool, too.
Sunday was the 50th anniversary of the Church in Goiania, and we had a big activity planned involving the whole of Goiania and Aparecida. We filled up the Stake Center downtown, and had a missionary choir that sang beautifully during various special parts of a story of one man´s conversion, ending with a film about Jesus Christ and the Atonement. It was so powerful that one of our investigators finally felt the spirit and last night she finally accepted to be baptized!
Today, actually as soon as I finish this e-mail, we´re gonna hike out to a waterfall on the edge of our area. It´s gonna rock hard core.
Sorry Mom, didn´t mean to make you feel bad. It´s just that there´s a lot to study. The Liahona, Jesus the Christ, The Bible, The Book of Mormon, Preach my Gospel etc, etc. I never manage to finish studying it all. But I love to study the scriptures now. I never liked it as much as I do today, and I´m sure the difficulty will come after the mission, when I can read everything.
Send a hi to the Elders back home. The new guys might see me when I get there, hahaha. If you want to ask about the calendar, you might ask them. Usually they know who is behind everything.
Actually, Elders know pretty much everything. Which is why it´s not good to ask them too much, so that they don´t accidentally gossip (which is the next deadliest sin after breaking the law of chastity.)
But my time has run out, and looking at that shot, I feel ancient. Sign me up for the AARP and I will SO use old people benefits everywhere.
MWHAHAHA.
Bryan
Hi Mom!
Just a quick update this week! We had a june harvest festival this week and it was a lot of fun. The young men and young women of the ward practiced really hard their "Quadrilha" Or Square Dance. I took a bunch of videos, so we´ll have to see if they worked out well. We ate a lot of corn stuff which was really cool, too.
Sunday was the 50th anniversary of the Church in Goiania, and we had a big activity planned involving the whole of Goiania and Aparecida. We filled up the Stake Center downtown, and had a missionary choir that sang beautifully during various special parts of a story of one man´s conversion, ending with a film about Jesus Christ and the Atonement. It was so powerful that one of our investigators finally felt the spirit and last night she finally accepted to be baptized!
Today, actually as soon as I finish this e-mail, we´re gonna hike out to a waterfall on the edge of our area. It´s gonna rock hard core.
Sorry Mom, didn´t mean to make you feel bad. It´s just that there´s a lot to study. The Liahona, Jesus the Christ, The Bible, The Book of Mormon, Preach my Gospel etc, etc. I never manage to finish studying it all. But I love to study the scriptures now. I never liked it as much as I do today, and I´m sure the difficulty will come after the mission, when I can read everything.
Send a hi to the Elders back home. The new guys might see me when I get there, hahaha. If you want to ask about the calendar, you might ask them. Usually they know who is behind everything.
Actually, Elders know pretty much everything. Which is why it´s not good to ask them too much, so that they don´t accidentally gossip (which is the next deadliest sin after breaking the law of chastity.)
But my time has run out, and looking at that shot, I feel ancient. Sign me up for the AARP and I will SO use old people benefits everywhere.
MWHAHAHA.
Bryan
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