Week 51 - Received 4/28/08
okay this week has been really tough. and i don't have very much time to explain.
First off, i want to say i'm sorry if my last few e-mails were extremely straight forward and a little bold. I hope that they were "bold but not overbearing". I think it is because with some of the things I have experienced in this area and the reject that has so often been the outcome of many of our encounters with people, it ended up fusing the truth so deep into my conscienceness (heart and mind) that i felt an urge to exhort ANYONE who doesn't have a testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ (including my family and friends). And i hope that everyone remembers that the promise from God is still there... that He still answers our prayers... and that if we honestly seek for His truth with intent to obey His will, ALL the blessings He has in store for us - all His wonderful blessings - will be generously bestowed upon us:
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Doctrine and Covenants 82:10
Okay, now on to the week and what happened.
WE LOST ALL OF OUR INVESTIGATORS. Even single one of our investigators that had potential to progress ended up gone for the holiday (Dia do Trabalhador - Brazilian Labor Day), or conveniently "out of house". So... finding people who don't really care if God has restored His church upon the earth has been one of our greatest challenges to overcome.
Also, two serious things happened this past week with 2 of the 4 families in the ward that are like family to the missionaries.
The first family is the family of Joăo Artur. This week he suffered kidney failure and there is no donner because he has severe diabetes... so, he had a surgury to extract two of his veins so that the doctors can drain his blood, filter it and pump it back into his body on a every-other-day basis. Pretty much, the funtion of the kidney is going to be performed by a machine for the rest of his life. This was heartbreaking for me and Elder Castro. We were helping him out A LOT this week.
Also, the family of Irmăo Irne suffered a lot. (He's the guy who's picture i sent with all the rubber tires.) His wife, Anna, suffered some sort of memory lapse (like a concussion or a stroke) while he was surving at the temple in Porto Alegre for a few days.
When he arrived home, she didn't know who he was and she hadn't eaten in two days! she was rushed to the hospital and stayed there for a day. now she's at home and has recovered her memory (for the most part - there are still things she doesn't remember), but she is VERY VERY weak and can't get out of bed - even to take a shower.
So this week has ended up being a "correiria" (hectic dash) to help people and fulfill our normal obligations as the Lord's representatives. anyway... that's about all i have for now... got to go and see what the transfers will be.
Mom - i will be able to call home on the 11th but they still haven't given us the news on where, what, or when. Don't worry... i'm sure that they have us do that little "quick call" and confirm everything before Mother's Day.
Dad - i ended up spending some serious money this week to fix my shoes. I priced shoes there in the Center a few weeks ago, and decent shoes ran around $100-$150 US Dollars. Elder Castro told me that we should look around for a shoe maker (sapateiro) and price how much he would charge me to "fix" my shoes.
so, instead of spending $300-$400 dollars on 3 new pairs of shoes, we went to this guy named Faustăo who did a really good job on all three pairs of my shoes for $40 US dollars per pair. So, if you could put $120 back in my account to pull me out of the "red zone" that would be cool. (also there were 4 lunches that fell through this past week and i ended up going to the supermarket and spending like 4-5 dollars 4 times.) That's it!
Okay, i've got to go.
i'll probably send another e-mail later today because we have to return and burn picture CDs and stuff like that!
Love,
Michael
PS - Natalie, i will send you an e-mail later today.
Part II
here's the pics.
there's pictures of my journal from April 24th - something cool i learned that i wanted to share with everybody.
and also there's a picture of me with Faulstăo the Shoemaker who fixed my shoes for the next year (i hope) and then there's one of me and Brother Joăo Artur. He just had his surgury and was recovering.
Also, i found out about transfers!!!
I'm staying here in Jardim do Sol and Elder Castro is going to Porto Alegre. I'm really going to miss him. Even though we had times when we pretty much butted heads, we passed a lot of stuff together - good, bad, and ugly. we have become great friend (grande amigos mesmo!), and i'm really going to feel his absence.
okay got to go.
i'm going to e-mail the love of my life, and then book it to buy Elder Castro's bus passage in the Center.
I love you all so much.
Michael
Posted by: Date: May 5, 2008
Week 50 - Received 4/21/08
urgggggt!!!! how frustrating! this huge e-mail that i just got done writing to everyone got deleted!!!!!
anyway, now it's going to be a resume of everything and not be near as good.
oaky so, i started out saying that this week was good and bad. we were able to find some cool people:
everton and lucia - a couple who are really cool. lucia earlier the same day that we met them received an answer to her prayer. she prayed for God to show her the truth because she has been "floundering" about for a really long time and is tired of learning lies and deceits from the people who claim to know. unfortunately, they are not married and didn't go to church like they said they would. Hopefully we are going to be able to marry them and help them learn the truth from God and not from some dude like everyone else they've talked to.
ex-pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist Church - this week during a split, me and delvio (also shown with me in the fish picture) went teaching together. we found this ex-pastor who told us that he came to the conclusion that men had ended up corrupting all of the true doctrine of Jesus Christ and that he wanted to be completely free of religious treachery. This was exactly what it needed. The Spirit prompted us to say things that stopped the ex-pastor in mid-sentence. it was a weird yet very cool to experience. we explained the First Vision, and how the people at the time confused the doctrine one against the other until all confidence in finding a Biblical certainty on which religion was right was destroyed. Therefore, as Joseph read James 1:5 one evening, his heart was touched at the simple yet deep council in such a way that he prayed unto Heavenly Father for an answer... and the answer he received changed the world.
the pastor looked at us with a blank stare and a million questions running across his facial expression unable to utter a single sound in response to the feeling of divine truth being unfolded before him. for the first time i asked, "what do you feel... right now." the pastor looked at me with humble eyes and he said "you tell me... it is the same thing i felt 5-6 years ago when you all first knocked on my door." I explained to him that it was the infulence of the Holy Ghost and that everything we had just said had been testified and made known unto him through his own feelings which is the best medium for God to give us guidence, answers, and direction. As i explained the Book of Mormon and it's importance, he said that he had to go to work and that he would be pleased to receive us another day to talk more. The day came that he marked... he wasn't there. although the pastor decided not to be there or was inconveniently pulled away from his house at the time of our appointment, i know that what happened was something special to help him realize that the Heavenly Father truely loves His children, and that He put His church on the earth in the time of Christ and Restored it to the earth in our time so that mankind might have a fighting chance to overcome death and pain, sin and shame, unhappiness and hate.
okay other than that, i just wanted to share a scripture really quickly that helped me a lot this week. in Mosiah 24:13-14 it talks about how when we trust in the Lord and ask for help, our burdens are lightened. this week i asked for lots of help. I received blessings that got me through the week and fortified my testimony. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week.
God bless,
Michael
Posted by: Date: May 5, 2008
Week 49 - Received 4/14/08
okay... this week has been really crazy mainly because we taught a lot and no one , and mom I hope that you don't change my e-mail when you send it out to everyone (the one that talks about there being only "one true church")... but please, let me explain myself.
Just so everyone knows, the following part in green is practically what we teach to people and something I have come to know for myself through a simple but sincere prayer to my Heavenly Father. Read with extreme open-ness with atempt to understand where I'm coming from, and I'm sure that you will better understand why I'm giving 2 years of my life to serve and share the message of the Restoration of the True Church with the people of Brazil.
First of all, there is one specific reason I am here in Brazil - help people grow closer to their Savior Jesus Christ. As stated in the missionary purpose, "help people to come unto Christ through faith in him and his Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end."
Now, let me explain the "one true church" statement made in one of the last e-mails.
During Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, before he made the Atoning Sacrifice, he established his church. This included the calling of apostles and prophets of whom he guided by revelation after he was resurrected and risen to the Father. Unfortunately, the people outside the church and even many of the members of the church in that era rejected the Savior and those he called to administer his gospel. Eventually, as recorded by the ancient records, the people killed the apostles and prophets ending the authority that Christ gave unto men. Because not one of the apostles passed this authority to anyone else as Christ had passed it to them, the only person that had this authority was Jesus Christ who had already risen and gone to dwell with His Father.
With the death of the apostles and prophets there didn't exist anyone on the face of the earth that could receive direct revelation from God - no one had been appointed to do so, and everyone had rejected the truth. The original church of Jesus Christ no longer existed on the face of the earth. This was the fulfilment of the prophecy in Amos 8:11-12.
The Church was physically never taken from the earth, therefore, it continued but instead of following God's council was conducted according to the wisdom of men. (See 1 Cor. 2:5)
Therefore, after the Council of Nicaea (spelling) in 325 AD, many religious leaders were called together under Constantine's reign to discuss and decide on a imperial religion because the notion of many religions was threatening to tear apart his empire. This was the beginning formations of the Catholic church. Years after the council decided and closed "court" (for lack of better words), many followers recognized that the church was straying from the true doctrine found in the Bible. These "reformers" such as Martin Luther, Joan of Arc, etc... were just honest people who saw the need for a change. they searched honestly and sincerely to grow closer to God, and this is the foundation of many of the religions that exist today.
in other words, what do we teach... we as missionaries teach, believe, and (in my case) know that all the religions that exist today that are based on the foundation of helping people grow closer to God and recognize that Jesus Christ is their Savior are good churches and teaching the best they can. The only difference is that instead of being the church of a religion scholar, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is exactly what it says in the name - The Church of Jesus Christ - because he leads the Church through revelation and direct direction to the appointed prophet.
We do not claim that it is the only true church of Jesus Christ to boast or to brag, but because of something that happened in the spring of 1820.
In a small town in upstate New York, a young boy named Joseph Smith was searching the Bible looking for guidance. He was worried about his eternal salvation and according to all the religions in the immediate area, he had to choose a religion and follow it. if he chose wrongly he would suffer eternal consequences.
so, he came to the conclusion that he had to choose with certainty.
While reading in the Bible, he came across James 1:5 which states, "if you lack wisdom, ask of God who giveth liberally unto all men and upbraideth not."
This passage touched his heart and he came to the conclusion that if anyone lacked wisdom it was him, for what to do he was unsure. On the morning of a bright clear day in the beginning of Spring Joseph went to a grove close to his home and there asked God in prayer about the desires of his heart. In Joseph Smith's own words while he was praying, he described the occurrence that would change the outlook of the world for the rest its existence:
"I saw a pillar of light, directly above my head brighter than the sun at mid-day which descended gradually until it fell upon me. [...] When the light rested upon me, I saw two Personages whose splendor and glory defy all description, standing in the air above me. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other: This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him."
-Joseph Smith History 1:16-17
In this moment, God and His Son, Jesus Christ appeared to the young Joesph Smith in a grove of trees in upstate New York. Jesus Christ told Joseph that all of the churches that had existed were wrong because they all acted in the name of Jesus Christ without his authority.
Throughout the next few years, Joseph was being prepared to be called to be the next "prophet" or authorized representative of God on the earth.
Thus, we clearly see that authority is essential to The Church of Jesus Christ.
In Short...
I know, that God called a prophet to make His will known unto His children in this time... and that the only true church on the face of the earth is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I do not condemn nor look down upon the other churches that are doing so much to increase people's faith in the Savior. I admire them. But I exhort everyone... everywhere to take the challenge given to all the inhabitants of the earth: Pray in faith and sincerity to know if the things i have said are true, and if God really has called a prophet to guide and lead His people, preparing them for the Second Coming of the Messiah.
PLEASE... if anyone who receives this e-mail has the will and desire to know, ask Heavenly Father in your prayers tonight. Kneel before Him and ask a direct yes or no question if He called Joseph Smith to be His representative. Remember that everything depends on God's timing. If He does not answer you immediately, search to find out as much as you can while living your life according to the dictates of your consience, then, ask again. I know that God responds to His children's prayers, and that every one of us is entitled to know if He called a prophet to guide us in our times just as in the times of Moses or Abraham. I testify that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever... and that because He loves us just as He loved those who came before us He would call a prophet to guide and help us just as He has always done. I love you all and hope that my "wording" has been made a little clearer.
Okay... now for the weekly report...
This week, there has been not much success and the people seem to have hearts of cold iron. it would be different if they at least treated us like normal human beings. If they simply said, "sorry i'm really not interested," i'd be like, "okay, but do you have a friend that might be?" and then leave them alone... forever if they really wanted. But here, people run from us like the pleague. At first i thought it was funny, but now, after several months of trying to find people who are prepared to hear this message,
Not to mention, the tempurature dropped dirastically yesterday, and have i never experienced a climate change that effected my body quite like what happened yesterday. we went to bed at like 10:30 in 85 degree F room with the fan on. at about 4am i woke up freezing to death in a 42 degree F room... So at 4 in the morning, i turned off the fan, got 2 blankets (and the blanket Natalie made me), put on some socks, a sweater, and my fleece sleep pants and curled back up to go to bed.
needless to say, we made something hot for breakfast... or at least i did - maracujá tea (freashly squeezed i might add), and warm toast.
Also, i experienced a miracle first-hand. but, regretably (for you all), i will not do the injustice of writing about it in the e-mail. as nephi might say, "it sufficeth me" to say that i was healed of an infirmity that was torturing me for the past week. i will write about it in my journal and scan the entry and then send it to you all after i can take my time and really ponder/think about what i'm doing.
anyway, i've already passed my time limit for e-mail. I love you guys so much. Thanks for understanding and know that i miss you.
Love Always,
Michael
Posted by: Date: April 19, 2008
Week 48 - Received 4/7/08
Dear mom and dad (and everybody)
This week I have a special e-mail. We were able to watch General Conference, and so that was special (I ended up taking about 6-7 half pages of notes, and cannot duplicate in words the wonderful feeling of the Spirit that abounded during the ENTIRE THING), but also, I wanted to share my last journal entry with all of you. I hope you can read my horrible hand writing and that the Spirit that I felt when writing it also touches each of you.
I am so thankful for being a member of the only church in the entire world that has Christ leading the way. It was made plainly clear to me this Conference… more than ever before. But I guess I had better let you all read my journal entry.
Dear dad – thanks for putting so much money in my account, but the contacts were really only $150ish US Dollars. The receipt that I sent to you was in Reals (Brazilian Currency). And I think (not really sure) that the exchange rate is around 1.65 or something like that. Other than that everything is going good. By the way, I love how you spell "Aerizona" dad. It's a shame that you can't come down here to Brazil and take my Friday night English classes with the Brazilians. (just kidding!)
OH! HOW COME NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THAT BRAD IS GETTING MARRIED???
Oh well… I guess being a few thousand miles away puts you outside the loop a little. Just send me the pictures if you can – Thanks!
Other than that the journal entry pretty much says what I want to say in the e-mail.
I'd like to just end with a few things (quotes) that I really liked from conference.
"God is, not was; and He speaketh not spake." – Elder Holland (quoting some other dude)
"Never be satisfied with anything other than your best efforts." – Kenneth Johnson (of the 70)
Also I learned "God knows that in order to live a happy life (temporarily here on earth and in the eternities) we must abide by certain precepts – by which He also abides and teaches us through His Son and His holy prophets." – My Field Journal
Also, Elder Ballard taught about mothers, and a little about parenting, and I just wanted to tell my parents that I love them very very much, and that I am EXTREMELY thankful for the things they have taught me. Mom… dad… "I couldn't have asked for a finer childhood or adolescence from either of you. You did your best and I'm sorry for the mistakes I made and heartaches that I might have brought upon you. – Love Always… Your Son – Michael"
And I think that's how I want to end this e-mail.
Love always,
Michael
*Journal Entry 1 - April 5th
So about that cool thing that happened yesterday...We booked it home from the morning session of General Conference so that we could teach Joao, Maria, Gabriel and Grace.
Something really lame happened...while we were teaching the Second Lesson, The Plan of Salavation, Joao started disagreeing with what we were saying. That lead to him and Elder Castro getting in a dispute - not yelling (like mom says), but talking loudly. This very moment, the Spirit left the lesson or more like we lost the Spirit. But I was very greatful for the experience we had a few minutes before all that. EXAMPLE OF FAITH:
1 - We taught the principal of faith by using a noeda (a coin) and hiding it in the palm of my hand. I held the coin openly (in front of everyone), told them it was not magic. I showed them where the coin was, closed both hands and asked them where it was - THIS IS KNOWING.
2 - Behind my back, I chose a hand to hide the coin. I was the only one who knew. I brought my hands to the front and asked them where the coin was - THIS IS GUESSING.
3 - Lastly, I hid the coin in one of my hands behind my back but this time I asked where it was only after promising that it was in my left hand. Choosing to believe in my promise and act upon that belief is a good measure of our FAITH: all of us can and should exercise our faith a little bit more in Heavenly Father and the promises he has made to us.
Also yesterday, after the lesson, we were leaving and Gabriel wanted to walk with us to the end of the block. He asked us in his deep curiosity, "When can I be baptized?" Elder Castro and I stopped for a moment shocked at the boy's directness. Tears started swelling up in my eyes - because of joy for the boys's sheer desire and also because I had to explain something very difficult to him...
Last time we taught the follow-up lesson (after the message of the Restoration) we invited the whole family to be baptized when they knew that what we were saying was true. At the end of our invite Irmao Joao looked at us both straight in the eyes and said, "I believe in God and Christ, but I will not leave a Ministerio de Cristo Vivo." I looked at him blankly and with authority of God said, "Even if God showed you that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His one true church?" Unfortunately he didn't think about what I had just asked him and replied simply, "No." My heart exploded into fragments.n Gabriel turned to us and said, "I accept." We smiled warmly at him as Sr. Joao looked puzzled.. Then Sr. Joao spoke words that cut deep wounds in those who haved received a testimony of the Restoration: "Boy, it is ridiculous for you to baptized into a faith other than that of your family." (Reminds me now of the talk by Pres. Uchtdorg during the moring session on April 6th).
Anyway, after that whole ordeal, as I already stated Gabriel walked until the end of the block with us and asked us that question about being baptized.
We explained to him that while Sr. Joao was so against baptism it was not the right time for him to be baptized. And though it hurt to explain this to a 9 year old boy who loves God and has felt His Spirit which prompts him to act, we know that it is not the Lord's will to tear apart families nor for children to be baptized without the parents consent and support.
Though he was extremely disappointed, he looked at us and said, "I like it when you come to our house. Everything seems more...peaceful, and I fell something really good inside of me" Then he gave me a sailor hat he made out of paper and told us that he made it especially for us.
Okay, now talking about [April 6th] for real...
Conference was amazing, and during it, I received personal testimony of each of the authorities who preside over the church in the First Presidency.
Many of the subjects talked about in Conference were (seemingly) directed toward me showing me/teaching me how I can better serve the Lord (as a missionary, as a member, and as His son).
Anyway, I just wanted to say here that I am forever grateful to be a member of this church because I know it is the only church upon the face of the earth that Christ himself directs and guides.
See D&C 6:34-37
Even though I miss my family, my dear Natalie and all my good friends, I am and will always be eternally grateful for the chance I have been given to serve God and my brothers and sisters here in Brazil.
Boa Noite!
Posted by: Date: April 19, 2008
Week 47 - Received Mar.31,2008
okay... so i'm still here. this is becoming the longest summer of my life. according to the brazilians, it is "cold". and they have already started wearing sweaters and jeans and stuff like that. i still sweat until my skin dries up, and try to walk anywhere I can find shade. my companion wears long pyjamas to bed and sleeps under 2 blankets, and i have a hard time sleeping above the covers in shorts and a t-shirt... It's Crazy!
other than that, this week has gone pretty slow. we are trying to work more with the less active people because we aren't having very much success finding new investigators. So, we've been working a lot with this lady named Juranda. We found her knocking doors about 6 weeks ago (2 weeks after we got here). She started going to church again and for a few weeks was an active member and really excited to be going to chruch. Then, her sickness kicked in again. we found out that she is bipolar and suffers from serious neurotic problems such as squitsophrenia (i have no idea how to spell it in English), hilusonations, etc...
the bad thing is that she has no one to help her and no one to support her. seriously my heart splits in two everytime we go to her house and hear how things are going. but, luckily, people only have to suffer for a little while when we think about the eternal spectrum of things.
also, this week, we found a new investigator named Regina. she is about 35 and has 4 kids. six months ago, her husband passed away due to a rupture in his vain or something like that. we taught her a little bit about how the gospel was restored and then went straight into the Plan of Salvation. she found comfort in how Heavenly Father has prepared such a plan for us to one day live forever with our families never to feel pain or get sick again. we explained to her that through following the path that Christ has set forth and following the council of His Prophets, we can one day return to live with Heavenly Father and our families forever in peace and un-ending happiness. She felt really good about this. then when we asked her if she would read a part in the Book of Mormon that responds to her question of what is and will happen to her husband, she said that she feels like she is "betraying" her church. this was really saddening. Right when you see the gospel beginning to bless the lives of people, they decide they don't want to REALLY know. anyway, in a nutshell, we described that our purpose as missionaries IS in fact to baptize people, BUT only after they have certainty that what we are saying is true and that God really did call a prophet in these last days. Then i explained to her that our first and foremost worry or concern was for her to be happy - in this life and the afterwards. I bore my testimony that I knew that all the calamities of the word are a type of sickness that eats at us little by little and that eventually (if we don't find a cure) we find ourselves in a deep depression (if not something worse). Then i said that i also knew that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only medicine that has the power to cure us 100% if we decide to take it (apply the gospel in our lives).
She decided that she would read the Book of Mormon without promising anything about attending church or having any sort of tie to the chruch. so, it was rough, but we are praying and fasting so that when she acts, she can receive a spiritual confirmation that what we said was exactly what God had prepared for his children's future.
so, that is about it. I'm sorry i didn't take a picutre of the "wagon" - or horse drawn cart. it was pretty interesting to use. but also, i'm so acustomed to seeing them on the road it's like normal now. also, i'm not turning an illegal citizen. although my Visa is in limbo, the Mission President said that everything is under control and that they are working things out with the Federal Government to renew my Visa. He said that it is normal for many missionaries. So, don't be worried. I'm not worried. Umm... what else? oh yeah, i forgot to say, even though the house is like 50 times better than the old one, we still wash our clothes in buckets, and now we don't have a kitchen sink (but we're working on it). anyway, i'm out. Hope everyone is doing well.
Okay i've got to go. I miss you all.
Love Always,
Michael
Posted by: Date: April 19, 2008
Week 46 - Received 3/24/08
dear mom and dad (and everybody),
things are going pretty well, and we've started working now with less-active members since it is so hard to find people here in the neighborhood.
Since we've been working hard and trying to contact the most amount of people possible to "fish out" those who want to know and don't want to know, we pretty much know everyone in the neighborhood - which is kind of lame.
Sometime i forget who i've already talked to and end up talking to people 2 or 3 times. Then, when they say that we already talked to them i ask, "oh, sorry... well... would you like to hear our message today?" most of the time they smile that "you're nice, but i'm sorry" smile and say thanks but no thanks.
anyway... that's how it's going.
we didn't really do much to celebrate Easter. Me and Elder Castro bought an Easter Egg, that we thought had lots of chocolate inside, and found out that we got ripped off - bummer! and then we went to work. that was about it.
i really like the Fat Mona Lisa. it made me laugh to think about you picking it out in the store.
okay, i have to go. i hope everyone is doing well. tell dad not to work himself to death. I want to be able to still do cool stuff together as a family when i get back!
AKA - you (mom and dad) can't get old!!!
hehe... I feel old in the mission. I still feel like i just landed a few days ago in the CTM, but then when i look at some of the new missionaries, it makes me feel ancient.
Okay, have to go for real.
Love,
Michael
PS - I have a huge envelope full of letters for mom and dad, Natalie and cade. I'm sorry that i haven't been able to send it, but we haven't been going to the center where the post office is. Tomorrow we have a meeting there, and i'll send them asap.
PSS - Pictures of the house, and stuff will have to wait. I didn't have any time this week.
OH - and the "wagon" isn't really a wagon. I don't know how to explain it. it was a horse-drawn cart. completely home made. i'll try and take a picture of one this week and then you'll know what i'm talking about. Posted by: Date: March 28, 2008
Week 45 - Received 3/17/08
Well, this week has been a week of learning. We are finally going to be able to move because the mission office finally got things worked out with Săo Paulo. According to the Secretaries, they have been running around like chickens with their heads cut off becuase there was a tragedy in the family of one of the Elders (really sad).
Anyway, that's the good news. Also, we found this really nice really interested lady named Charlene. She said that she and her husband have been looking for "a religion", and praying for God's help to find the one that is right for them. This was the first real opportunity we've had in this area to teach someone who was already looking. The bad thing is, they are more or less looking for a religion that caters to their desires, and not to their eternal happiness... but, with time and visits, and a manifestation of varacity, I'm sure that the potencial that they have shown just through the first visit will cultivate if they are REALLY seeking.
Also, because of what has been going on here in this area, i've been doing some studying, and have been learning some interesting things.
This e-mail will mainly focus on the thing most important i learned this week – decernment between desire/want and need and how God provides us ways to satisfy both.
I learned from an experience this week that desire is what we want for ourselves in the present moment. One of the ladies that we are teaching recently lost her daughter, and blames God for what happened. I cannot and will no attempt to comprehend the pain and suffering that she must be going through at this time. But, while we were teaching her, i felt impressed to tell her something i learned about in the past 3 days. I was reading a little from Our Heratige and learned a lot from the suffering of the saints and the trials that they passed. It was really interesting.
One of the things that caught my eyes was the story of Zion's Camp and why it was orgainized. At first, it was to help re-claim the lands and property of some of the saints in Missouri. So, this group of around 200 marched from Ohio to Missouri at a fast pace, and without sufficient provisions. Also, when they began to doubt God and blame the prophet for the struggles that they were passing, Joseph Smith prophecied that they would be stricken with a plege if they did not repent (admit they were acting wrongly and cahnge). Low and behold, the entire company was hit with an epidemic of cholora – even the prophet.
Eventually they repented and miracles were worked among them – saving many. They marched on. When they finally reached Missouri, they found that the promissed military help from the local government was unwilling to cooperate, and the campaign ended in a revelation from the Lord that it was to be disbanded and that soon, the saints would flee Missouri even though it was to be and still shall be the land of thier inheritance.
Many were frustrated with the prophet and with God, but this campaign had a purpose. Through the March of Zion's Camp, the Lord refined His servants. This was the purpose. Joseph Smith said (and i'm paraphrasing): the purpose of those in the company was not to fight. The Lord needed to prove and test those he would put into leadership. "the Lord could not organized His church until the faithfulness of those who would be in leadership positions was tested even as Abraham.
From Zion's Camp, 78 (or something like that) of the 82 callings of apostles and seventies were filled with saints who had proved their faith to God, the Prophet, and their brothers and sisters.
I then bore testimony that i knew these people did not want to go through the heart-ache, hunger, and pain caused by that march, but that because of their faith to what the Lord asked of them, they learned and were made better people.
I told her that i did not know why the Lord allowed for her daughter to leave the earth at such an early age, but that i knew (and know) that God is just... that His plan is undeniably merciful, and that if we search dilligently to understand His mysteries, they will be "opened unto our understanding."
Honestly, i have never felt so close to God, nor have I been so at peace with myself, understanding of the occurances of our surroundings or aware that ALL we pass is a moment that should be seen with spiritual eyes allowing us to see and recognize that it is only for our eternal good.
in summary, at the present many of the things we see and want on impulse are simply wants and desires (many of which have no signifacance on our future or eternal well being)... the things that we want which become long term goals are normally for our well-being and we have to make goals and work hard to accomplish them. Many (from my experience) are righteous desires. these righteous desires are the things that we should work hard to accomplish, and ask for God's help believing that when we fall short of that goal, if we have really given our best, God (through our faith) will help us to the outcome that is BEST for us.
Okay that's the update this week.
Sorry, i'm out of time already.
Love,
Michael
Subject: about how i feel this week... BURNT OUT!
Also, I just wanted to send this comic to each of you and say:
"when life seems to get you down, find a place where only you can go."
(I might have to explain it when I get home.)
And... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!! And... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW G-PA HAIRY!!!!!
Love Always,
Posted by: Date: March 18, 2008
Week 44 - Received 3/10/08
hi everyone.
so, the transfer is finally
ending, and it seems like it has been forever. Elder Castro and I are really good friends by now, probably because we've had to pass through more "stuff" than with any of our other companions. Especially this past week.
So, it was a decent week because we taught quite a bit, and we had an investigator in church. She was like the 2nd investigator that we've accompanied to church in this area. The sad thing is that after sacrament meeting (which is the last meeting here), she told us, "Thanks for the nice afternoon, but I don't think I would like to mark a follow-up appointment." So, that was little bit of a dent in our afternoon.
Then we had scheduled an appointment with a Sister named Patricia. She's like 32 and is passing more difficulties than any other person I've ever met:
1. She is going through a divorce because her husband (a member for many years) was caught sleeping with another woman and has another family. He was excommunicated and now there are a few more problems...
2. Her now ex-parents-in-law, and ex-husband are trying to take away her children, and her house.
3. Last week she suffered a minor heart-lapse due to her chronic heart disease, and was rushed to the hospital. There, the doctor told her that in the next four months or so, she needs to have a heart operation, and that she can no longer work.
So, things are really crazy in the ward, and tons of the programs are suffering greatly. I've never seen so many problems. I don't know how many people will understand this next phrase (probably only Natalie):
"DRAMA - URGGGGG!!!!"
But, something that is really comforting to me is how I have seen the Lord's hand in my life every day. (*importance of a Journal*)
This week something really cool happened, and I had been praying (for quite a while now) about how/what I can do to help the ward grow, or smooth things out, and until Saturday I had not received an answer. So, Saturday during my personal study, i was looking seriously for some sort of response and asked God to make it clear to me what I could do. As I was looking for something in the Guide to Studying the Scriptures, King Benjamin's address came into my head... so, ran behind my thought and started looking. I eventually found my answer in Mosiah 2:9. It talks about when King Benjamin said that he did not gather the people together to listen to his words with levity but that they should open their ears, hearts, minds, and take heed to what he had to say.
I applied this as if God was speaking. People have to be open to, and seriously listen not just hear what God commands of them. And, if we always remember that God knows us better than we know ourselves, knowing - as any loving parent - what is best for His children, we can understand that His commandments are only for our well being and eventual eternal happiness if (and only if) we are obedient. So anyway, after reading that scripture, I felt a deep peace and sense of satisfaction that as long as I'm doing what I know the Lord expects of me, all I need to do is be patient, and everything will work out according to His will.
So, now that today is P-day, I'm feeling pretty good. I feel like I have more certainty that the Lord is helping us even though things are hard, and I'm glad to be starting a new transfer to (more or less) begin again.
Oh, for the first time in my mission, we did something way COOL (outside of missionary work).
O MUSEU OCEANOGÂFICO. (The Oceanography Museum? - i have no idea if that is translated right).
But it was really cool. we saw penguins, a hairy seal (kind of weird), a fish who has the face of a human, and whale bones (they were really really really BIG)!
Yeah, so I'll send the pictures. they probably mean/describe more than my ruddy words.
I Miss Everyone.
Love Always,
Michael
i don't have time to explain much right now, but we also did a service project, and cut the grass and cleaned up this one lady's lawn.
we used the smallest lawn-mower i have ever seen in my life!
love,
michael
From Elder Castro - Week 44
How are you? Thanks for the chocolate orange. we are waiting for more (just kidding). I'm grateful to be serving with your son, but he has a serious problem... of forgetfulness (sorriso - smile). He is helping me develope a Christ-like attribute... patiance. I would like to ask a favor... could you send me a Mickey Tie. I liked the one you sent Elder Cousins... I thought it was cool. One day i would like to meet you... It would be a pleasure.
Continue reading the Book of Mormon. It will help you a lot.
Thank you for the support and prayers,
Elder Castro
(Translated by your son - Elder Cousins) Posted by: Date: March 16, 2008
Week 43 - Received March 3, 2008
hi. thanks for the thoughts and ideas on how we can help people. bad news, we've been trying to find new ways, doing service projects, searching for ways to serve, but it seems to no avail. but, as i have never said in the past, "never give up". but, i think i never said it in the past because i never recognized as i do now that the Lord is helping us (me in particular) every step of the way.
i did get your e-mail. thanks for the update. i makes me really glad that Cade got ordained an Elder and that he's preparing himself for a mission. i thought it was funny that he had a cast or something on, but he explained that to me in a different e-mail.
this week was pretty rough again. we found some new investigators that have potential to progress, but many of our old ones are stagnate - not really wanting to know, and if they don't really want to know (or are not willing to sacrifice something to come to a knowledge of the truth), God will not, and can not give them something that they will not treasure. (see Matthew 7:6)
anyway, that's about how it's going, and this week i'm putting moving into a new house a priority because one of the greatest factors aiding our frustration and stress is the house. it is seriously an obstacle affecting our work.
anyway, i'm happy to say that we had interviews with the President, and he said that i was doing fine and that the more i trust in the Lord, the more i will see miracles. i'm so thankful for President Johnson. Honestly, i don't think i've ever met a man more inspired, more sincere, and more righteous than what he has demonstrated. it is pretty impressing. he always seems to know exactly what his missionaries need (undoubtedly inspired), and that brings me lots of comfort.
okay, i've got to go for this week. i love you all a ton!
**********************
Mssg. to Dad - things are really rough here and i am honestly getting tired of working so hard and seeing nothing happening. but, i won't give up. i have to follow what the scriptures say and "endure to the end". there is not much else going on. i know that i'm doing what i'm supposed to and as long as i'm doing that the Lord is bound to bless me, my family, and those i'm serving. *I really hope you all are receiving a lot of blessings*.
Cade told me that every time you guys go out to Idaho or Utah, you rent a new car.
To me it sounds like you are getting old. - hahaha.
i don't know, maybe i'm just jealous that i have to walk everywhere i go.
okay, other than that, i had to spend some money this week but not too much.
1) i bought 7 bucks worth of food. and nothing bad. yeah!
2) i sent Natalie and you and mom letters summing up to 6 or 7 dollars.
3) nothing yeah!
but, i do have to buy a new umbrella (again... i know, how lame). this will be my 5th umbrella on the mission, and i will not buy another. i'm not even going to bother with an umbrella until i find the UMBRELLA OF SHEAR IRON. so, it might not even be this week because i've already been looking for about a week and haven't found anything close. just cheap crappy ones.
okay, i've got to go. I love you. thanks for your support.
Love Always,
Michael
Posted by: Date: March 5, 2008
Week 42 - Received Feb. 25, 2008
well, this has been the uttermost frustrating area in the history of my mission. People receive spiritual witness that the Book of Mormon is ture and that Joseph Smith was a prophet but decide to reject it and treat it as nothing.
One man we were teaching named Eduardo, told us that he read the Book of Mormon and feels that it is ture. then durning our next visit, he told us exactly what had happened:
As he was reading one night, he tried to imagine exactly how it would have been to be in the middle of the Nephites when Jesus came to teach them. he said that at that moment as he was trying to imagine what it was like a "sensation" that seemed to grow within his chest took him by surprise and he felt something different that he had never felt before in his life. he told us that he knew that it was from God and that he felt good about the Book of Mormon and believed it was a volume of sacred scripture. ==== Two days later he told us that he would prefer if we didn't return.
uhh... i have never had the urg to knock someone in the back of the head until the mission. just kidding, but it drives me crazy that people can regard the Lord's answers as nothing. it reminds me of when Laman and Lemuel saw an angel and then shortly after continued doing things contrary to what the Lord commanded.
anyway, even though it can be frustrating at times, i have felt and seen my testimony growing more in this area than any other.
okay personal responses:
Derek:
thank you so much for the e-mail, and the update on how things are going. I miss you guys a lot and was looking forward to hearing your mission stories before i decided that i wanted to go on a mission. I miss you man... ( or as mom says may-nard!)
Love Michael
Grandma:
sorry i haven't been keeping up with your e-mails super well, but i did want to ask you, how is everything going with the car, the accident or ditch thing that happened, and are you feeling better physically?
also, i wanted to ask what grandpa is up to? has he decided to go back to work or stay happily retired? (hopefully the latter) Also, thanks for all the support that you give me. i miss you guys.
love michael
okay i've got to go.
I love you all so much.
Love always,
Michael Posted by: Date: February 29, 2008
Week 41 - Received Feb. 18, 2008 hi everybody!
well, as the subject describes, this week, a dog ate a part of my pants. but it was kind of cool - well, funny - becuase we found and were teaching this really cool guy named Eduardo (that if things go well has lots of potential to progress) and his dog (a mini-colley) was bothering me during the closing prayer, and when we ended, he had the button of my back pocket of my green pants in his mouth!
I let him swallow it becuase i didn't want to try and take it from him.
then, also, we have been doing a ton of re-activation lately. first, is this inactive 18 year old who's name is Wanderlly (yeah weird), and he is a big Snoop Dogg fan. He says that he wants to go on a mission, but he doesn't seem like he'll ever let go of the rapper style of life. (we suspect that he still smokes and probably does drugs because he refuses to leave behind that sort of life style. but who knows. we're trying to help him in anyway we can, and the bishop and stake president will be the one to decide if he's ready for a mission, not us.
other than that, things have been really hard in this area - by far, the hardest area i've served. me and elder castro were talking about how frustrating it is........please see email..........
I hope that this is one of the things i take with me from the mission. I hope that i always realize that i never know the WHOLE story and that i don't have the right to say anything about something i don't know if it is demeaning (sp?) to someone else.
pretty much, if you don't have anything good to say, keep your lips shut!
okay that was a little bit of my frustration coming out in the writing. but now i feel a little better.
other funny story (and extremely scary moment when it occured) was that one day it was raining really hard (hence the pictures of the broken umbrellas, and wind beaten missionary) and we were out knocking doors. we came up to this one door and we clapped our hands... nothing happened. so, being bold, i went inside the gate to ring the doorbell. when i pushed the door bell in, a jolt of electricity ran through my body. it was the first time in my life that i was given a shock that i felt go in my hand, travel through my entire body and go out through my foot. the only thing that took my finger away from the door bell was that all the strength in my legs left and i collapsed on the ground. luckily, it wasn't so much that it did something crazy to my body, but it scared the heck out of me... honestly for a moment i thought i was dead. but, God protects his missionaries and teaches them in mysterious ways - aka i will never ring a door bell in the rain again... EVER!
i love you guys and hope that you have a really awesome week.
love always,
Michael
Posted by: Date: February 29, 2008
Received February 12, 2008
Hi Mrs. Cousins,
i just wanted to tell michael i love him, he is so awesome!
i envy him so much, i wish i could be a missionary so much,
i will try to write him too.
I love you all
Kiffin Parkin
Posted by: From Kiffen Parkin - Formerly 'Elder Parkin' Date: February 18, 2008
Week 40 - Received 2/11/08
so this week was really crazy.
probably the hardest week i've had in the mission - lots of tears and frustration, but also lots of cool experiences.
we had about 1'7 cool people marked for baptism on the 16th and 23rd of this month, and many of them were excited to learn more and progress. but... this week many of them decided that they didn't want anymore to do with anything.
it was really hard because there was this one man named Sr. Antonio. (I think I might have already talked about him.) He received an answer in the moment we were at his house during the lesson at the part of the first vision. the Spirit was so strong, and I felt so happy to know him. it was cool becuase i felt like i had met him before (like in the Pre-Existance or something).
So that was pretty much the coolest thing that happened this week.
then, we went back to check on how things were going and had been praying a lot for him since he already received an answer and had good potential to progress. But, when we met him in the front of his house, he was sitting there smoking (which isn't a HUGE problem), but as we started talking to him, he told us that he wouldn't be able to accept us in his house anymore - with tears in his eyes. he said that he loved the book of mormon, but that his wife wouldn't allow us to teach him anymore. He knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ just as my companion and I know that these things are ture, but, his wife will not even let us in the house. I have never cried so hard for someone outside of my family and Natalie. I feel as if there is no way to help him and it seriously breaks my heart to think that.
okay other than that, we are still in the wig-wom of a house, and this week (surprise, surprise), the light bulb in the bathroom exploded! it was so weird. seriously exploded (i think it is because of the humidity in the bathroom and the fact that it was the cheapest light bulb we could find in the super market). but other than that, things are chuggin along (wow I sound like a hic!)
hope you all enjoy the photos. maybe i'll e-mail a little more a little later.
Love always,
Michael
****okay, here's some pics and a recording and stuff.
hopefully everything goes through this time.
love you all,
Michael
PS - dad, here in Rio Grande is the 2nd largest Brazilian Oceanic Museum... but, i need money to go there. it's about 40 Real with bus fare (aka. $20US) and i was hoping that you could help me out so that we could have some fun on one of our upcoming p-days. Thanks... Let me know.
Posted by: Date: February 13, 2008
Week 39 - Received 2/4/08
Hey Mom and dad (and everyone).
This week has been another nut case week! we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off! This week the Zone Rio Grande started a new "goal" - every week we have to teach 20+ lessons!
Now, 20 lessons in 6-7 days is not normally hard (well at least it wasn't until I arrived here). Out of the 10-15 contacts we do (each missionary) per day, only 2 or 3 actually give heed to what we have to say. Oh... if only i didn't have to wear a tie and name tag! People would be so much more responsive! but, ties and nametags are important because you have to "represent" (the Savior).
anyway, other than that things are going pretty good. I wasn't really depressed when I got into this area, just dissapointed because there in Pelotas (Tres Vendas), we were baptizing at least once a week, and now, we haven't baptized since the emergancy transfer. It was just weird to go from lots to nothing.
thankfully, things are going just fine, and every day i can see and feel the hand of the Lord working miracles among people.
You've got Questions - I've got ANSWERS:
1- DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR BOX????? IF NOT, PLEASE TRY TO RETRIEVE IT BEFORE IT GETS LOST...esp. after paying so much postage for such little content...it's meaningful content..but small in weight!!!
Answer: No, but i will get it don't worry. the secretaries said that it arrived in Porto Alegre, and i will most likely get it on the 15th or 16th of this month.
2- What did you think of Shawn's e-mail?
Answer: WOW. He is in a worse ambiance than i am. here people only smoke marajuana and something called "pedra" (meaning "rock") which according to my companions is marajuana and crack mixed together but weaker than normal. I don't know if i believe them or not.
3- How do you like serving as a Senior Companion?
Answer: Honestly it's cool because i can dictate (not really - more like suggest and then be the final dicission) how we work. But, it's also sucky (i know it's a strong word, but it pretty much describes it) because if any little thing goes wrong, it's your fault.
4- Are all your investigators progressing?
ha! that is a funny question. we have over 16 investigators who are accepting our visits but are not following through with their promises. This is one of the big differences in people here compared to the people in Tres Vendas. But there is one named Yurik who is progressing it's just that this week he didn't go to church because he had to go to another town to visit his dad (parents separated). But I think (and pray) that he will be baptized and comfirmed on the 16th and 17th of this month.
5- Did you view the broadcast of Pres. Hinckley's funeral?
Nope. we were teaching a lesson to an old lady named Inar. She's really cool be doesn't go to church.
6- How are you feeling about everything in general?
Good. I like being a missionary a lot, but at times of calm and quiet, i miss being a normal person. But "vale a pena!" (it's well worth it!)
7- How do you keep your shirts so white and pressed if you are living as if you are camping?
ummm... that's my little seceret. not really. I wash my shirts in buckets (see photos) and then scrub them with coconut soap (helps the shirts stay clean and last longer).
8- Any updates on your living quarters?
No... still camping. But, we made it a little more bear-able by cleaning it up real well.
9- Are you keeping up your end of things in communication with everyone?
I'm trying. it is so hard sometimes and i hope that you all can forgive me. but something cool i'm going to start doing is sending MP3s of me that i can record during the week because i bought a MP3 voice recorder along with some new socks and a new pillow case. (this will also be really valuable because i've been forgetting lots of the songs that i've been writting, and i need to record them.)
Okay other than that, got to go. I love you guys. thanks for everything. Dad, i hope the truck looks cool when it's done - GOOD WORK - it looks like a tough mud slinging, snow plowing, gas guzzeling (excuse me - alcohol guzzeling) machine.
Love always,
Michael
PS - PARA BEMS (WAY TO GO) on the weight loss thing!
PSS - I'll try to send other stuff in another e-mail.
PSSS- the voice thing didn't work. Posted by: Date: February 8, 2008
Week 38 - Received 1/28/08
Hi mom and dad (and everyone else).
Well, we still haven't moved into a new house and found out that it might be a little while (urg) but, it just makes this transfer turn into a six-week-long camping trip. yup... and other than that, there's not much to report. We have 8 investigators, 2 of which are pretty cool and will probably be baptized on the 16th or 23rd of Feb. All and all, this area is much harder than Pelotas.
i can honestly say, i am more stressed now than any other time in my life and that the only thing that helps is getting down on my knees and begging Heavenly Father to help me with my burdens. but, as grandpa says, "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." So i guess the key is patience, and long-suffering.
other than that i'm working on helping Elder Castro with his english. WOW, it's hard to beleive that it was so hard to start out, but i do remember being in more or less in the same boat, not able to understand almost anything.
anyway... Pres. Hinckley's passing strikes many missionaries by surprise (including me) since he seemed so lively at the last conference. We are all really going to miss him.
something cool that happened this past week - we gained a lot more confidence of the members.
anyway, let me know what you all are up to, and know that i love you and wish that i could have been with you there in Brekenridge to see the snowfestival, but i'm still grateful to be here.
With all my love and prayers,
Michael Posted by: for Michael Date: February 1, 2008
WEEK 37 - Received 1/21/08
The weekly update (and what a week it was) [mom i'll answer your questions and stuff at the end]:
So this is the beginning and end of something. this week which was the 4th week of the transfer (normally transfers are 6 weeks) i was transfered because of emergency. don't worry, i didn't do anything wrong, and no one died or was mortally wounded, but i was transfered to a place call Jardim do Sol (which means Garden of the Sun).
anyway, the District Leader knocked on our door at about 8am Thrusday morning and said that something happened and that President Johnson wanted to talk with me. The first things that came to my mind were, "oh no... something happened at home." thought of mom and dad, grandma cousins, natalie and cade-o were running through my head until the president said, "don't worry, everything's okay, i just have to change some things in the mission field."
so, he told me that i was going to be called as a senior companion this transfer, and that me and my new companion (who i later found out was Elder Castro) would be opening an area that was closed because some other Elder was not doing what he should (i don't think i'm really supposed to say what happened).
But anyway, i was really frustrated because i had to pack my bags in a little more than one hour, and i didn't have time to get the addresses of the people I taught or the people i really wanted to write! urrg!
Also, when we arrived here in the new area, we walked into the house and about DIED!!!
The elders that were there before us were complete slobs and because of their neglect, the house is completely uninhabitable!
there is mold on the floors, under the carpets, and on the walls... there is an infestation of bugs and rats... the house only has electricity in one of the three rooms... the toilet is more like a hole in the ground, and when you're done you just pour water into it... all of the furniture other than the beds are completely destroyed...
So with that in mind and all those horrible things pleaging my mind, i called the secretaries of the mission home and said that there is no way were are going to live in that house for more than a week without becoming seriously sick... luckily, they said that they found out about the circumstances because of the emergancy transfer and have already found another house. we just have to wait for the lady to move to her other house.
So, this week has been a roller coaster of good things, bad things, strange things, and all sorts of things. One of the really good things is that Elder Castro is really cool, and he wants to work hard. I was afraid that when i arrived here i would get a companion who is a "fubeca" aka - slacker.
oh, here's what i need to say about the new area location and stuff: it is in Rio Grande and our area has 4 or 5 bairros (neighborhoods) - Cassino, Parque Săo Pedro, Parque Marninha, Jardim do Sol, and the beach. Cassino is the city next to the beach and also the most sinful city i've every seen in my life. we won't be going there in the summer because it is full of naked people, beer parties, beach parties, sex parties, and every other type of crazy worldly thing you can think of (according with Pres. Johnson). So the people in Cassino will just have to wait until winter to be baptized.
anyway, now i'll answer the questions.
The package is sitting in the Porto Alegre Mission office and it was from you that i had to pay 105 Reals for. How did you guys send it that made it different? the thing is, because of the emergancy transfer, i have no idea when i'm actually going to get it. But... i have certainty that i'll get it. so, thanks... :)
Tracting - we are doing nothing BUT looking for new investigators because this area was closed. it is really pretty lame because the people here are really... umm how should i say...straight forward in a rude sort-of-way? more like very sincere. Yes yes, no no if you know what i mean. many times when we have tried to make contacts, the people seriously flee from us or bluntly say, "no, i already have God."
Edit...see email for full message...
Challenges from being away from home. Sincerely, last night was one of the first nights i cried because of frustration. but it was good. i needed a good cry to get my frustration out - especially since we aren't allowed to play instruments anymore (which guitar used to be a big releif when i was stressed or just needed to relax). I really miss Natalie because she has a way of making me smile no matter what. i also miss mom and dad and cade, and my family and also all the friends and "family" (meaning the ward) in Beavercreek.
Sweets (specifically chocolate)... I don't eat sweets anymore. well, at least not during the summer. When you eat chocolate in the summer and work out in the sun all day, you start puking up a nasty mixture of stuff. Chocolate and Summer = BLAH!
okay last question i can answer today...
in this area, because one of the other Elder did "something", and now out of the entire ward there are like 4 people who don't hate the missionaries. No one trusts us. but that is just something that me and my companion will have to change.
anyway, i love you all and i really love the pictures (directed at mom)! Thank you so much for your prayers and your support.
Love always,
Michael
ps- i'm having trouble with pictures... i'll send them next week.
Posted by: Mom for Michael Date: January 21, 2008
WEEK 36 - Received 1/14/08
hey everyone.
This week was very long because we were "correndo atras" (running behind - "following up") on all of our past baptisms. anyway, i finally have a little bit of time to upload and send some pictures of them. There's Tais (daughter), Mairene (mom), and another picture of the baptism of Ingred (YW).
something interesting that i was thinking about this week - how come it seems that women are much more receptive to the message of the Resoration?
anyway, we don't have very many men investigators - only a few: Delair, Edigar, Vagner, and.... i guess that is about it. hum...
anyway, i just thought that was an interesting fact.
okay. other than that, not much is going on, we're just winding down from having so many baptisms and starting to go back to looking hard for more people to teach. This will be the first week this transfer that we don't have one.
umm... i also need to explain a picture. there is this one picture of the Family of Rosanne. They are really cool and that is where we had a spiritual experience where practically the whole room was shedding tears because the spirit was so strong (except for me, because i am super-strong...not, ha). But anyway, it was really cool, so i wanted a picture. the funny thing is that it was really hard to fit everyone in the picture because there are 11 people other than us who were there.
okay,
sorry this is short,
until next week.
Love,
Michael
Ps - mom, the 62 dollars that was taken out on the 8th was for the package. the 30 from today was to buy a new belt and develope some baptismal pictures i wanted to give to our investigators. thanks!
oh, and the package was received in Porto Alegre, i will receive it on Thursday; so... i'll have to let you know about the info on the following mon.
tchau! Posted by: For Michael Date: January 15, 2008
WEEK 35 - Received 1/7/08
Dear mom and family,
things are gonig pretty good. we are working really hard and baptizing on almost a weekly basis. things are going really well honestly.
me and elder anastácio experienced like 5-6 really spiritual experiences this past week. 2 of which ended in one of our investigators desiring to be baptized, and set a goal to serve a mission, (what a cool feeling to hear someone you're teaching say that they want to serve a mission!), and the other, the whole room of one of the less-active people we were teaching seemed to be filled with love so strong that at the end of the closing prayer, everyone had tears in their eyes, and you could feel that the truth we were teaching had been verified.
also, when we were teaching, we brought Preach My Gospel with us. it was the first time that i actually used it in the field. all the other times, i had always just studied it in house during the morning and then left with scriptures and Books of Mormon to give out. I know that it was a God-inspired tool that helps missionaries immensely. it seriously is something special.
okay other than that, i want to answer your questions really fast.
I received a letter and grandma's packages. there's also a package waiting for me in porto alegre, but i will e-mail dad about that a little later (it's either a package from you or Natalie).
I also received a letter from you. thank you very much. i think most of the stuff in the letter (questions) I will respond now or already responded during the phone call.
the language is fine. i'm still at that part where it is kinda hard to speak either language because i'm thinking more in Portuguese so i'm using Portuguese grammar and stuff, but every once in a while i don't know a word, and i think about that one word in English, then everything gets all mixed up when it comes out of my mouth. But for the most part, things are going fine.
Anna Lucia is doing really good, and liked practicing her English that i'm teaching her. i hope you could all understand what she said.
Don't worry about the question about if i thought it was worth leaving everything. and i got quiet because i thought about everything that i left (Natalie, you all, work, school, practically putting a halt on my life), and then, thought about everything i'm gaining here in the mission. By far, the relationship i have with my Heavenly Father and the effect that the Atonement has in my life are the most important things we all need to seek out and hold dear. Honestly, i feel closer than ever to Heavenly Father, and i have never had so many Spiritual experiences in my life.
other than that, things are good. Sergio's sister is going to be baptized 26th of Jan, and another girl named Ingred will be baptized this coming Sat (12 of jan.).
okay, have to go...
I love you all lots,
Michael
PS - Dad look for my other e-mail. Posted by: For Michael Date: January 13, 2008
WEEK 34 Parts 1 & 2 - Received Dec. 31, 2007
Part 1 - Something really cool that happend this week - we taught a lot! SERIOUSLY. We taught like 40 lessons and this week we will have 3 baptisms (Tais, her mom Mairene, and a girl named Ingred). It is really cool to see all of this because you can really feel the Spirit showing things to people and making things clearer. One other special thing that happened this week was that when we were teaching Sergio's family, the Spirit was really strong and his dad (Claudio - who has a really open heart and is REALLY sincere) said that he knew what we were saying was true. Problem: Sergio's mom is really resistant. We've seen her feel the importance of the message and then saw her deny that she thought it was important. But, in time, she will see what her husband, and children see.
anyway, other than that, i've been thinking about what are my regrets that i want to burn this year and forget about.
1 - for everytime it would have been appropriot to say "I Love You", and I didn't, I wish to re-live those moments.
2 - for thinking stupid things - i'm not going to write them in this e-mail.
3 - for not growing closer to the Savior sooner.
Okay well, those are the 3 that I can think of right now.
Alright, I've got to go now. We're going to play some basket ball today! - WOO HOO.
I love you all,
And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Mom - thanks for all the pictures... I really miss snow (uhhh......)
Part 2 - okay, here's the blessings.
1- The love Natalie and I share though we're miles apart
2- A family that supports and loves me even when I screw up and have a rough time e-mailing everyone back.
3- The opportunity I have to grow closer to the Savior and Heavenly Father here on the mission
4- The opportunity I have to be a part of the miracle in the lives of the people we help learn about the gospel.
That's all i can think of really fast. anyway, i miss you all a bunch.
I also wanted to send some pictures.
Love,
Michael
Posted by: Posted for Michael Date: January 4, 2008
Week 33 - Received Dec. 24, 2007
hey, i don't have much time again, but I wanted to send you a quick picture of me and my companion. his name is Elder Anastácio. He's pretty cool from a place called Florianopolis. Anyway, we'll be spending Christmas together and just about every other minute of the next six weeks.
okay,
I have to go. Thank you everyone for the Christmas wishes and everything. I miss you all! and you are in my prayers.
Merry Christmas
Michael
Posted by: Posted for Michael Date: January 4, 2008
Week 32 - Received 12/20/07
A week to remember**
Okay, this week was really really really crazy! We have a whole bunch of baptisms coming up this next transfer and hopefully everything works out well because our goal is to baptize the Bohm Family – Sergio's Family. They are really awesome people and they would make great ward members and honestly, me and Elder Evangelista think that they are some of the elects that we were called to find.
Other than that there's LOTS of news this week:
First off, yes grandma Tully, I've been getting your e-mails, thanks, and also a package arrived for me with some socks and stickers and stuff. THANK YOU! - My feet will feel much better in some new socks.
Also, I found out this morning that Elder Evangelista is going to be transferred tomorrow to Porto Alegre. We passed through a lot of stuff together, and lots of interesting things happened during these past two transfers we worked together. Some of which occurrences are fulfillments of things in my Patriarchal Blessing (many things I cannot disclose other than face to face and on a personal basis). **It has really been interesting.**
Also, yesterday was the ward Christmas Party thing, and everything went really well, and we had 5 investigators that participated. It was pretty cool. I've attached some pictures and stuff so that you all can see how we celebrate Christmas in Brasil.
ALSO THIS WEEK – THE LORD REALLY DOES PROTECT MISSIONARIES!!!
This week I was attacked by a snake, not really big but according to Elder Evangelista it would incapacitate me for a few weeks. But luckily, we pray for protection and safety every day before we leave.
The other crazy things was that we were crossing this big field the other day, and a "cavelinho" or pony wanted to "play". So, he lowered his head and started chasing after us bucking and being totally crazy. It wasn't really to scary because he couldn't catch up with us, but it was really lame to be running from a horse in 105 degree heat. Needless to say we arrived in the house of one of the Sisters in the ward drenched in sweat, begging for water.
All and all, this week was really exciting and a good way to end me and Elder Evangelista to end our transfer together.
Okay here are a few personal messages to people I miss:
Sister Young:
That was one of the shortest e-mails I've ever received. But thank you and have a wonderful Christmas. Tell Jared to let me know about the mission and to send me some of that Utah snow!!!
Aunt Shauna:
Uhhh… if your Merry Christmas e-mail had an attachment, it didn't come through on my myldsmail.net address. But I'm sure whatever you sent was cool. I love you guys and miss you so much. Please let all of my cousins know that, and that I will be thinking about "ya'll"lots.
Grandma e Grandpa Tully:
Hi! That'll be way cool that I'll get to talk to all of you. But, I think it is going to be expensive. I'll have to explain to mom and dad in another e-mail. Other than that, as I said, I got your package with the socks and stickers and card, thanks… it really brightened my day. Also, I think there is something strange with dearelder, because when I check my yahoo mail, there's always things saying that my dearelder account is "empty" and people are trying to send stuff. Oh well. Love you guys… me.
Mom and Dad:
Well, being the first Christmas I that I will be celebrating without being in your physical presence, I wanted to tell you that I love you and that I miss you all so much. I sent a special Christmas package to you, and also one to Natalie, on Dec. 13. They should arrive about Dec 23rd or 24th (?) if not, sometime soon after. This will probably be a Christmas I won't be doing a whole lot, and being honest, I'm kind of bummed that I have to get used to a new companion just before Christmas.
Oh well, it's all apart of the experience. Love you guys TONS! Love, Michael
Natalie:
I'll be sending you a e-mail… I love you sweetheart, Merry Christmas.
<3 me…
NOTE FOR ALL:
I don't think i've been getting everyone's e-mails. Please e-mail to the following address from now on because I know that it works. Also, things are much easier to keep organized:
eldermscousins@gmail.com
FELIZ SHOPPING PARA TODOS!!!!
I'll be sending a merry christmas e-mail on the 24th.
ps - Mom and Dad, i'll be sending you another e-mail concerning the call. :)
Posted by: Ma for Michael Date: December 23, 2007
Week 31 - Received 12/10/07
hey. i just got done writing this huge e-mail to you and now, the
stupid computer timed out so i'm going to sum everything up quick and
simple.
this week was cool, and we worked really hard with our recent converts
trying to teach them all the required lessons after baptism. and it
was crazy. we had two more baptisms - sergio and gizele (photos
attached). they are really awesome and excited to be members and begin to
learn all the things that lead to true joy.
Noeti is recovering from her surgury, but she is still her spunky self
and giving elder evangelista a bad time about marrying her
grand-daughter. its pretty funny.
Zinaide is having troubles because her husband is crazy and is
persecuting everything she does - church, cooking, cleaning, everything, and
she is falling into depression or something. so we are exercising the
priesthood a lot at her house giving blessings, etc...
every one else is doing okay, and it seems like there's not much else
to worry about.
honestly i had lots of cool things happen this week, but don't have a
whole lot of time to tell about them, so i'm sorry if this doesn't do
them justice.
we had a chance to go to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, and
it was really cool. The Spirit was really stong and i really liked
what all three of them had to say, especially President Eyring. In
result, because of the Spirit and also because of feeling a little home-sick
for a real Christmas i ended up crying, and elder evangelista ended up
crying later that night.
also, this past week, elder evangelista and i were going through a few
problems in our companionship......
then one day while we were studying scriptures, we were reading Section
88 of D&C particularly verses 74-80 which describes a few things that
we as members of the church need to do to help one another and stay
living righteously. particularly the part that talks about "teach one
another the doctrince." this part was very strong and when we read it, it
stung in our hearts because we knew that we were not working very
affectively together because of whatever was going on.
I never found out what exactly was bugging him, but we worked things
out, and now, we work better together than we did before, and this coming
week we are expecting really good results because of our improvement.
One thing i wanted to tell you all (and i might have already said this
once, but) i am loosing (more or less) my ability to speak English.
its not hard to speak or anything but i stumble over my words, and
because i have been thinking in Portuguese, i have to translate visa-versa
sometimes and think good and hard about the grammer in order to speak
fluidly. *so, don't expect me to speak super well during the Christmas
phone call.* - it won't be horrible, but if you all correct my grammer and
stuff alot, we won't have a whole lot of time to talk.
okay, other than that, i can't remember what else i wrote in the other
message. so,
tchau!
I love you all
Michael
PS - dad i'm sending you a special merry christmas video through the
other e-mail. it is especially for you, but you can share it with
everyone.
pss - grandma eva - you are in my prayers and my thoughts. i love you
and hope everything goes well with the upcoming challenges. never
forget how much you mean to so many people and that no matter how difficult
things get your family will always be there for you.
*miracles are brought to pass through our faith*
Posted by: for Michael :) Date: December 11, 2007
Week 30 Part 1 - Received 12/2/07
wow! this week was really crazy. our numbers were higher than they've
ever been since I came on my mission, AND for the first time ever, we
had more lessons with members than lessons with just us missionaries.
also during the executive meeting of preisthood in our ward, the ward
mission leader told us something really cool. we've been having some
troubles working with the ward, and it has been a little frustrating at
times. anyway, he said that from personal experience, he found that on
his mission, the areas he baptized the most and felt the Spirit the
strongest was in the areas that he had the most problems and had to RELY
more on Heavenly Father. I think I have a small testimony of this now.
I know this is only the 2nd area that i've passed, but, we've had to
trust in the Lord a lot, and He has been blessing this area with his
Spirit and thus, we have been having batisms!!!
This past week we baptized someone who had been receiving the
missionaries for two years!!! through LOTS of prayers and fasting, we were able
to show him the truthfulness of the Restoration and the Spirit touched
him testifying of what we were saying. It was really cool.
okay have to go, but i will return. I forgot the thing to send fotos.
so you all will get another e-mail and some fotos here in a little
while.
Love always,
Michael
Week 30 Part 2 - okay, i wanted to send you all a video describing a whole bunch of things that happened, but don't know if that is going to work. (i might have to open a google e-mail account to send it.) anyway, i wanted to send you pictures of some things that happened.
first - BAPTISM of Guilherme Coelho Da Silva
which was really special and the largest baptism i've seen according to people in attendance. also, it was the first time i "dirigí" or in english was the person that conducts the proceedings. so that was cool even though i messed up a little and forgot to say a few things at the right time.
second - CHURRASCO - SUL SYTLE BARBAQUE (WITHOUT THE BARBAQUE SAUSE)
we went to a member's house who really likes the missionaries, and he did a churrasco. i have pictures of all the meat we ate. (i've never eaten more meat in my life than here in the sul. i think when i get home i'm going to have to eat vegtables for 9 months straight to compensate.)
third - Sunday we had a conversation with a funny old man named Loizinho in the church. he's been a member for a long time now, but never married, and he really likes to joke around with us about when we're going to baptize a wife for him. so, we're on the look out for a 65 year-old elect daughter of God for Loizinho. Until this moment no success. but, we were talking to him about P-day and we needed a picture of us together to send to our families. He told us that he would only take a picture with us if we sent the picture to our grandmas to search for singles! - he's crazy.
I asked him what he would do if one of my grandma's friends like him... he said, "i'll move to the United States, learn English, marry the beauty, and start a new state called Nova (new) Texas." Needless to say, me and Elder Evangelista were cracking up for several minutes. He is really witty and "snappy" (if that makes sense), and it takes tons of people of gaurd - in a good way... and everyone ends up in a good mood when he's around. when i'm old, that's how i want to be.
okay, anyway,
the other things you need to know, like chrismas phone call. we haven't received any news on how to do that yet. if i was you i would call the mission office or e-mail President Johnson or something and explain the situation because according to Elder Evangelista, what happens is we use a member's land-line to call very quickly to your phone, then, we give you the number of the member's phone, and you call back.
anyway, i don't know if that will work, and we haven't been giving any details on what time, where, how, or anything, i have only heard stuff about how it works from the other Elders. so, don't know! sorry.
Elder Evangelista says thanks for the shorts! he's going to love them!
also, i ended up making something special for Christmas for you and dad and cade, and another something special for Natalie. I hope that shipping won't be a ton, but, i think i'm going to use that 200 dollars for that and then save whatevers left, and when i have time, budget it for the next 5-6 months.
okay,
Love you guys a 'bunch.
Michael
Posted by: for Michael :) Date: December 6, 2007
Missionary Christmas Wish List
okay,
Elder Evangelista is checking our references, so I had the opportunity
to make a quick list of wonderful Christmas "ideas" for your missionary
in-the-field.
1) A Lint Picker Upper (made of cloth - like the red one mom has) - We
don't have dryers so there is always lint on our clothes
2) Shorts to sleep in. - it is really hot here in the night time and
it would be really good to have some more basketball shorts to sleep in.
(Elder Evangelista said that if you all felt like being nice,
basketball shorts would be good for him too! :) )
3)Maple Extract!!!!!! - If there's is anything more wonderful to make
on a hot Brazilian morning than pancakes with maple syrup (which is
not sold here in Brazil), I can't think of it.
4)Instrumental Soft Jazz CDs - would be really nice to sleep to or
listen to while preparing for the day.
MOST IMPORTANT - Honestly all these things would be cool to receive and
make mission life a little bit easier, BUT, I would much rather
receive letters, and pictures and news of how everyone is doing!!!!
SO - if you can send letters and stuff. SERIOUSLY!!! - I would much
rather receive letters and see your handwriting, pictures, hear your
stories than any of the other material things listed above.
I miss you all so much and look forward to hearing from you.
Love,
Michael
PS - MOM and DAD - I withdrew some money this week to buy a couple
Christmas presents and send them on the next P-day that is coming up. So,
I hope that stuff gets to you guys before Christmas.
Okay, out of time, have to go.
Posted by: A Missionary Christmas Wish List - 2007 Date: December 6, 2007
Received Nov. 2007
THANK YOU MICHAEL ... now are you making more (or teaching others to crochet?) I read your letter every week and think of you often... you are looking good even on the pigs ear diet!
lovya..Auntie! B
Posted by: Date: December 6, 2007
Week 29 - Received 11/29/07
Hi everyone,
You’re all probably really busy with the Thanksgiving Break, so O
won’t distract you too much. This week was short. We were out in the
sun and the crazy heat all week, and again, no one really wanted to
listen to two sweaty missionaries. The cool things that happened is that
we have 3 baptisms scheduled for the next two weeks, and I’m pretty
sure that they are going to happen.
Also, tomorrow we have a Missionary-Ward Family Night for the entire
ward, and we worked really had with one of the IrmĂŁos of the church to
help us make a DVD of several families in the ward and how the gospel
has blessed their lives. Then, we’re going to play a cool game of
“signs”. Anyway, it should be pretty good.
Other than that, this week has been hot, slow, and exhausting… but it
was good, and every night after my prayers and planning it was like
“falling up” to lay down in my bed and drift into a dream. Honestly
things couldn’t be better here in Pelotas. On a satisfaction scale
of 1-10 I’m at about an 8 or so. The only thing that could make
things better is if people I loved could be here with me.
As an end to this weeks letter, I speak specifically to Aunt Brenda.
Thank you for showing me how to crochet (spelling?). I worked on a set
of flip-flops and now, have the rad-ist flip-flops in the mission. Not
to mention, I needed something to make my feet look good again. And
these flip-flops do just that even though my feet are still in need of
some good old TLC. *How you’re proud Auntie*
Anyway, this is this and I’m looking forward to another week of
missionary work hopefully filled with much more teaching and less
disappointment.
Love you all more than words…
Michael
Posted by: for Michael Date: December 6, 2007
Week 27 - Received 11/12/07
The week of 6 months...
Okay, 6 months has finally passed. It went both fast and slow. Many
days in the field I find myself totally absorbed in work and we run out
of time, but during each transfer there always exists those days that
for some reason NO one allows you in to teach. And those are the days
that drag on. I’m so grateful to be in this area with a companion who
is really cool, and when we have days like this it doesn’t make it
seem like eternity.
Anyway, as a cool thing to do for 6 months, instead of burning a tie,
me and Elder Evangelista traded ties (grandma, I hope you don’t
mind… I gave him on of the ties you bought for me). Anyway, I attached a
picture of me and Elder Evangelista in our traded ties. We look pretty
rad.
So, this week was the first week we spent coming up with cool ideas to
help contact people. I think we’re going to create a box that we
will put outside of a SuperMarket – if we can get permission – and
have people write their addresses that are really interested in learning
more about the church. Well, at least this is one of the ideas we have
to teach more people.
It has been really hard to get the members in this area to trust us
with references. So lots of work has been knocking doors. But we had a
cool experience with this this past week.
While we were knocking doors, we found a lady who was seriously
searching for God in her life. So, we have a new investigator that is really
reading, pondering, and praying for an answer. I think she is the
first person I’ve met on the mission that without questioning us just
believed and is acting upon that belief. * Reminds me of the scripture in
Alma – “Blessed are those who humble themselves without being
compelled to be humbled.”
Anyway, that is pretty much the experience that I had this week. Other
than that, lots of knocking doors and little success.
Okay, for today, got to go.
Love you guys,
Michael
PS – thanks for all the e-mails from everyone. Sorry I don’t
really have time to e-mail all of you individually.
Little Piece of Advice this week:
If you want to be a righteous person, start by living the principals of
the gospel, and a testimony of its truthfulness will come. I have
seen this work in the lives of many people already, including my own life.
Posted by: Ma for Michael Date: November 14, 2007
Week 26 - Received 11/5/07 THE SIX MONTH MARK IS 11/09/07
Okay,
Another week and the first actual holiday I recognized passed by. Dia dos Mortos was Nov. 2nd and everyone was traveling or visiting grave sites and stuff so, work was really long and we didn’t teach a single person – BUT, we did find an elect family who we’re going to teach Tues. Her name is Luciani, and his name is Osvaldo. They have two kids and they are really looking forward to our visit.
Other than that this week has been really slow and no one seemed to have time to listen to a message about Christ, Families, or any other gospel principal. But, we are not discouraged, and the Lord is blessing this area and baptisms are happening. This week we have two more FIRM baptisms for Saturday: Sergio – a youth who is really quiet but understands and wants to be baptized – and Gisele – another youth who’s parents really like “Mormons” and allow Gisele to participate in all sorts of activities and church meetings.
And now, on to the other things that happened this week. For the first time I ended up eating something I hope to NEVER EVER EAT AGAIN – PIG EARS. They taste like soggy pieces of triangular fat with a small flavoring of pork. BARF!
Also, I have a chance to check my mr_rockgenerations@yahoo.com e-mail today so that it doesn’t delete itself. So I’m e-mailing a video or two if I can and some (hopefully lots) of pics.
Lets see, what else has been going on…? This week me and Elder Evangelista decided that even though the people of Pelotas are really awesome and we love serving them and all, Pelotas itself is the ugliest city we’ve ever seen in our lives. In the pictures it’s hard to tell, but everything is really dusty and brown and get ugly – especially all the standing water!
Anyway, for this week that’s about it.
Love,
Michael
PS - this movie is elder elvangelista pretending he can jump a huge gutter thing.
Posted by: for Michael Date: November 8, 2007
Week 25 - Received 10/29/07
I-ai!
Hi mom. Thanks for e-mailing me and Natalie a really sweet letter. I
really miss you and dad and Cade lots, and EXTREMELY miss Natalie.
But, I know what I’m doing and why I’m here so it’s not horrible
just a little rough. (I’m sure Natalie knows why too.) Anyway, in terms
of this week things are going well, on Saturday we had two baptisms!
(And Grandma Tully – “Donna” is a pre-fix of respect like Mr. or
Ms. here in Brazil :-) So her name is just Zinaide…you make me
laugh.)
Mom, you talked a little about Dia dos Mortos. It is the 2nd of
November and we don’t really do anything special as missionaries –
especially here in Pelotas because people can get pretty crazy. Other than
that, I would really like to know what you all are doing to Celebrate
Halloween (I’m mainly talking to Cade and Natalie, but also everyone
else). Please let me know, and send pics!!!
Okay, now to the resume of the week. This week I had my first division
in the mission field. I actually went BY MYSELF with a member of the
ward to teach people…and… it went really good. Although we
didn’t have any appointments scheduled, we went around teaching all of our
recent converts. There was this one 15 year old girl named Amanda that
got baptized about 1 month before I got into the area, and when we were
going to her house, we found her crying on the front porch. So, we
asked her what was wrong and talked with her for a while. She told us
what had happened and that because her friends that helped her join the
church were being jerks and doing really horrible things to her she was
thinking about becoming inactive and not attending church anymore.
The moment she said this, it reminded me of what happened with me and the kids at seminary. So, feeling the pain that she was
going through and understanding a little about her situation being
prompted to share, I told her what happened with me and how I lost sight of
what was important and fell away from the church. After many tears were
shed – mainly her tears – I bore my testimony that I know it was
wrong of me to choose to go inactive and that if I could re-live that
part of my life, I would and somehow changed the course of action (don’t
know how, but I realize now the importance of knowing the truth and
following the Savior no matter what). I also told her that she needs to
think long and hard about the decision she was about to make and that
no one (not any single person on earth) should help or influence that
decision. It is something between her and the Lord. So, we assigned a
scripture for her to read – 2 Nephi Chapter 9 – and asked her to
pray before reading, and think about a question: “What do Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ hope/expect of me?”. After reading she is to
write her answer on a piece of paper. Then, another day repeat the steps
again – revising or totally re-writing the answer. What you find is
increased faith and a stronger testimony. This is something President
Cardon in the CTM told us missionaries to do one time. And it really
helped me understand the purpose of our lives and how the church helps
us reach our ultimate goal. I encourage each of you that are curious
about how it works or want to know the truth about things to do this
(especially you mom and dad), because I promise you it will edify (if not
your testimony of the church), your faith and testimony of Christ, and
the ability to feel the love that Heavenly Father has for each of us.
I know that this is Christ’s church and that only through His Atoning
Sacrifice we can become truly happy and free of the guilt and clutches
of sin and Satan’s traps. I’m so glad to be serving a mission and
to have such a wonderful opportunity to feel Heavenly Father’s love
so strong. And I hope to share it with everyone I come in contact
with. I love you guys more than I can express and hope you have a happy
and fun-filled Halloween.
Love Always,
Michael
PS – this week I had to “repair” my socks. I made a little
recording while I was studying/repairing my socks and applied a scripture to
myself. Hope you enjoy.
“The Owner of the Sock” – a scripture revised by Michael Cousins
as he was repairing his sock to continue to use throughout his mission.
(Jacob 5:11 [I think]) – see audio clip
Posted by: for Michael Date: November 8, 2007
Week 24 - Received 10/22/07
Hey Everybody,
I don’t have a whole lot of time today so it’s going to have to be
kind of short. This week has really been crazy…
We received 37 REFERENCES from Pass A-Long Cards and Miss. Contacts on
the Street. So, this week we tried to contact everyone, and I think I
sweated more the last 3 days than in my entire life… but, it was
good.
Anyway… Mom – you’ll be glad to know that I got your letter this
week that had the check-list in it. It took forever to get here, and
we were informed at Zone Conference that Pouch Mail to Brazil is NOT
WORKING ANYMORE. If you all mail me, you HAVE to send it to:
You won’t believe what I just found out from my companion. Do you
remember David Sharette? – He was a good friend of Ryan Decker and Josh
Rosa… He was Elder Evangelista’s 2nd companion! I don’t
believe it. Small world…
Okay, other than that, we have another baptism at the end of this
week… her name is Donna Zinaide. It really cool to see how the Lord
blesses those that work hard and do their part. It was really hard for her
to go to church and she made it the last two times in a row so… she
is showing her faith through her actions and she now has the opportunity
to make a covenant with God and receive the blessing that pertain to
baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. WORK IS AWESOME!
But, on the “flip-side” – I really miss you all. :( Everyday
I’m here at one point or another I think about how much I want to show
you all that I love you soo much, and that because you are in my life
(specifically family (including extended and my sweetheart Natalie).
Therefore, here are the words (and brief explainations) to that song that
I promised to send (it’s much better with the music):
(In the morning after I pray, I open the window and think of home for a
brief moment)
“Opening the window, beginning to breath…
The wind brings a familiar scent back to me.”
(I thank the Lord everyday for my wonderful family, girlfriend, and
“amigos”
“And it’s taken some time…
But I recognize the blessings in my life.”
(Remembering about the Narrows and hanging out with “the guys”)
A little river, that runs buy a little town,
Tie a rope around a tree, and jump in to cool down.
(Feeling the impact of all I had now that I’m serving the Lord,
praying that he will bless me as much after my dedicated service)
-Chorus-
And everything I wanted, I couldn’t choose.
But everything I wanted was there before I knew…
(Reading Liahonas (Ensigns) reminds me of spending Sundays at the
Sperry’s)
Flipping through the pages of another magazine…
Reminds me of the Sundays spent reading comics and just relaxing.
(Already explained)
And it’s taken some time…
But I recognize the blessings in my life.
(A small glimpse of the wonderful memories I have with Natalie)
The smell of grass… The one I love (Natalie),
Lying on our backs… Looking at the stars above…
(Feeling the impact of all I had now that I’m serving the Lord,
praying that he will bless me as much after my dedicated service)
-Chorus-
And everything I wanted, I couldn’t choose.
But everything I wanted was there before I knew…
(This time is the time for me to serve, and I do it knowing that these
things I fight for are true and that in many ways, I “owe” the Lord
for things without price and serve Him out of love and gratitude)
Now I’m on my own, thousands of miles from home,
I just wanted y’all to know that I love you and miss you so!
And I’m thankful for all that I have…
But now is my time to give back.
Okay, I’ve really got to go. Just about out of time.
Love Always,
Michael
PS – Mom – Elder Evangelista’s birthday was yesterday so today I
spent some of my own money and took him to McDonalds.
Posted by: For Michael Date: October 23, 2007
Michael, I\'m so very proud of you!!! We all are. The kids love to brag about you to all their friends, classmates, church people, strangers, etc. You get the point. I sure enjoy reading your letters. Sorry I haven\'t been writing very much. I\'m now settled in down here in NC. It\'s warm, but can\'t come close to 42C!!!! WOW. Sister Foster and Raetchel are coming to see me next week. Sure am excited. Laurra was here last week. We went to the beach for a day - It was beautiful. Glad to hear that you got conference. It was wonderful. I think that my favorite talk was also bro Bednar\'s. I liked it when he said that becoming holy \"was not the result of sporadic spiritual endeavors.\" I can learn from that and your example is wonderful! Keep up the good work Elder. I love you! Aunt Shauna Posted by: Auntie Shauna Date: October 14, 2007
WK 22 - Received 10/8/07
The week in a nutshell...
This past week I got transferred to an area called Tres Vendas. It is
a suburb or the city Pelotas. Anyway, my new companion is Elder
Evangelista. He is really neat and from the North part of Brazil where all
the beaches and heat is.
It’s starting to get hot here to but there isn’t anything anyone
can do about that. This coming month it will get up to 42 degrees
Celcius! I’m probably going to die…(j/k)
Anyway, I haven’t gotten the letter from you guys (mom and dad) yet.
And it is going to take a little longer for letters to reach me here
in Pelotas because it is further south than Porto Alegre. BUT –
Please don’t let that discourage you all from writing. I love receiving
letters, and it is a nice break to read about what’s going on and
your thoughts after running around the streets of Brazil all day.
Speaking of the streets of Brazil, let me tell you a little about our
new area. We work in an area that looks like a square from the bird’s
eye view, and there are 4 distinct bairros (neighborhoods), all of
different social class.
In the center of our area, there are rich people, and the houses all
have electric fences around the gates. Then, as you go out a little
further from the center there is a “middle class” who’s houses look
normal and is a decent place to work. Then there’s these two bairros
that are located on the north-eastern and south-eastern end of our
area. These bairros are full of ladrões (thieves) and are very dangerous
in the night time. So, in this area I rarely carry any of my personal
belongings with me… only my identity card and $10 so that if I get
assaulted they gain something and leave.
Elder Evangelista has already been assaulted several times and he says
it’s not really that big of a deal anymore. So, I’m following his
advice and carrying little with me, and when something happens, I can
give the ladrĂŁo all I have and not be totally screwed.
This past week, (1st week here in Tres Vendas), I had an opportunity to
see the Spirit change the lives of two ladies who have lead lives of
depression. First off, everyone in this city seems to have depression,
and that really sucks, but it makes the work even sweeter.
One of the ladies is really overweight [like the guy that almost killed
me on the bus overweight] (and it will probably be hard to baptize
her), but she received an answer that the Book of Mormon is true and that
the Church is the only church on the earth that leads to the place God
has prepared for us after this life. She is also one of the nicest
ladies I have ever met. Every visit is like going to the house of your
grandma. She pulls out a nice icey drink for each of us, talks about her
life and how at one time she was a wild teenager who did crazy things
(reminds me of grandma hairy), and then, we pray, share a message, pray
again and end our visit. Every time, it is apparent that she feels
the truthfulness of what we teach. Thus, next week, we will wait for her
at the church, and then the following week baptize her.
The other lady is a lady who has smoked since she was 17. she is now
60ish and has neck cancer with severe blood clotting. She also has
received a conformation of the gospel and just needs to completely free
herself of cigarettes.
The cool thing about both these ladies is that when they knew (KNEW)
that the Book of Mormon is true, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is the Kingdom of God here on the earth, they had/have
a desire to change their lives to be in concordance with it’s
precepts.
Tears streamed down my face the other night as I laid in bed pondering
what I have done in terms of changing my life and what I still need to
do. I found myself pondering about the Atonement and the impact it has
on my life. Without its healing power, I feel that I too would be in
the same state of depression that seems to have engulfed many of the
people here.
I am so thankful for the Plan of Salvation that was prepared for us
before the world was and for our Savior who gave himself as a sacrifice so
that we all might have a chance (should we use that opportunity) to
return to the presence of God and enjoy the happiness that he promises
us.
Also this week, I had the opportunity to see General Conference. My
favorite speaker at conference is as of yet, undecided, but I’m leaning
toward Elder Bednar. I don’t have my little notebook of notes with
me right now, so I’ll have to let you all know what I learned next
time, but it was honestly one – if no
