7-4-11 Nida's baptism!! [PHOTOS]

7-4-11

YEAH ELDER RÉDUA WILL COME BACK, BUT HE WILL HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR OR SO. BUT HE HAS A STRONG DESIRE TO COME BACK. I STILL AM IN A TRIO WITH JOHNSON AND BRADLEY, AND IT IS GOING GREAT. PRESIDENT EMERICK LEFT AND LANIUS ARRIVED BUT I WILL NOT MEET HIM UNTIL TOMORROW. THE OTHER DUPLA [companionship] WE LIVE WITH ALREADY MET HIM AND HE SOUNDS LIKE A VERY GOOD GUY.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS WEEK WAS DEFINITELY THE BAPTISM OF NIDA, WHICH WAS THE BEST ORGANIZED BAPTISM IVE SEEN ON MY MISSION.
 Elder Bradley, Elder Hooke, Nida, Elder Johnson

SHE HAD A LOT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS THERE TO SUPPORT HER AS WELL (ALL NON MEMBERS) AND WE ARE HOPING TO START TEACHING SOME OF THEM THIS WEEK. THE MEETING WAS GREAT, AND LEFT A VERY GOOD IMPRESSION ABOUT THE CHURCH WITH EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE. NIDA WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND EVEN MADE LITTLE "PARTY BAG" TYPE THINGS TO GIVE TO EVERYONE, AND 2 BIG TORTAS [cakes]. 

 

DURING THE WEEK WE TAUGHT MORE LESSONS THAN I'VE TAUGHT IN A LONG TIME, PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS VERY EASY TO GET ONE MEMBER WITH US AND DO DIVISIONS. NIDA WAS CONFIRMED YESTERDAY TOO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY ALL THE FAMILY FROM HER BAPTISM DIDN'T GO TO CHURCH YESTERDAY. 

JULIANA WENT YESTERDAY AND LOVED IT. SHE SAID SHE FELT VERY GOOD AND WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED. LINDALVA (THE MEMBER LADY WE MET ON THE BUS) IS THE BEST MEMBER MISSIONARY. SHE INVITED JULIANA TO GET BAPTIZED, LIVE THE WORD OF WISDOM, AND TOLD HER ABOUT THE LAW OF CHASTITY BEFORE WE EVEN TAUGHT HER.  ON WEDNESDAY WELL TALK TO HER WITH HER "HUSBAND" AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. IDEALLY HE WOULD ALSO GET BAPTIZED (AND THEY WOULD GET MARRIED RIGHT BEFORE) OBVIOUSLY. 

WE ALSO MET THIS CRACK ADDICT GUY, M, 19, WHO IS ALSO THE FUNNIEST GUY I'VE MET HERE. SINCE THE DAY WE MET HIM AND TAUGHT HIM, HE STOPPED SMOKING CRACK (ALTHOUGH STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH EVERY OTHER COMMANDMENT), AND HE WENT TO CHURCH YESTERDAY AND LOOVED IT. I FEEL LIKE WE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HIS LIFE (EVEN IF HE DOESN'T END UP GETTING BAPTIZED). YESTERDAY WE WENT TO GET HIM IN A COMBE TO GO TO CHURCH, AND WHEN WE GOT THERE HE NEEDED TO SMOKE A CIG BEFORE ENTERING, SO WE WENT IN AND TOLD HIM WE'D COME BACK OUT TO GET HIM IN A FEW MINUTES. WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT, HE WAS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE FENCE SMOKING WITH A STRAY CAT IN HIS LAP. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I FOUND THAT VERY FUNNY.

SOMEHOW I GOT A HOLD OF THE LIST OF THINGS THAT WERE IN THE PACKAGE THAT I DIDN'T GET... YOU GUYS SENT ME A KITE? WHAT A SHAME THAT I DIDN'T GET IT! SO THE TRAINER KITE IS NOT ONE THAT YOU USE ACTUALLY SURFING RIGHT? IT’S JUST TO PRACTICE CONTROLLING ON THE SAND? 

[I told him about Libby's shower and the refreshments were brownies made from Grandma Tuttle's recipe and ice cream] AWESOME, I WANT BROWNIES FROM GMA TUTTLE AND AMERICAN ICE CREAM! SPEAKING OF AMERICA, TODAY ME AND MY 2 COMPS ARE GOING OVER TO A MEMBERS HOUSE TO MAKE HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS TO CELEBRATE 4TH OF JULY! I THINK SHE IS MAKING THEM RIGHT NOW!

[I told him that I flew a kite-surfing trainer kite and paddled a kayak around this week...both atypical things for me to do--and that maybe I'd go sky diving with him when he gets back...of course that was a big joke!]

THAT IS AWESOME MOM! I WANT TO JUMP OUT OF A PLANE WITH YOU. YOU’D LOVE IT.

YEAH I GOT THE MEXICAN CANDY, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I LOVED IT, SEND MORE EVERY TIME! 

I ALSO GOT CATH'S LETTER, ALTHOUGH SOMEONE HAD RIPPED OFF THE OUTSIDE ATTACHMENT AND ALL THAT REMAINED OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE WAS A RIPPED IN HALF STICKER OF JESUS. BUT I LIKED THE TALK AND THE LETTER, THANKS! MY COMPS ARE VERY IMPRESSED AT YOUR ADVENTUROUSNESS, CATH. 

THANKS FOR THE LETTERS, THE EMAILS AND PRAYERS AND THE WHAT NOTS AND WHAT HAVE YOUS AS WELL, IF YOU WILL. HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

LOVE

ELDER HOOKE

6-27-11 Elder Rédua had to leave, many investigators, Maria's baptism [PHOTO]

6-27-11
HELLO FAMILY, WE HAD A GREAT WEEK ALTHOUGH I HAVE BAD NEWS TOO. ELDER RÉDUA HAD TO GO HOME LAST WEEK, TO RESOLVE SOME PROBLEMS BACK HOME. WE REALLY LIKED EACH OTHER AND IT WAS A VERY SAD DAY WHEN HE FOUND OUT HE NEEDED TO LEAVE AND I HAD TO LEAVE HIM ALONE IN THE HOUSE TO GO WORK IN A TRIO WITH ELDER JOHNSON, FROM KAYSVILLE, AND ELDER BRADLEY, FROM LOGAN.  THEY WERE THE OTHER DUPLA THAT SHARED THE CAMARAGIBE WARD WITH US, AND NOW WE WORK TOGETHER WHICH IS AWESOME BECAUSE NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MUCH TIME FINDING NEW PEOPLE, WE ALREADY HAVE SO MANY INVESTIGATORS OUR DAILY SCHEDULES FOR THIS WEEK ALREADY HAVE LOTS OF APPOINTMENTS. PRESIDENT EMERICK GOES HOME TOMORROW AND WE GET OUR NEW ONE, I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME. [I happened to do a little online research, so here is Jon's new mission president (courtesy of Church News)]



Rubens C. Lanius, 62, and Tia P. Lanius, three children, Brazil Recife Mission; Barigui Ward, Curitiba Brazil Igua Stake. Brother Lanius serves as a high priest group leader and as a sealer in the Curitiba Brazil Temple. He is a former counselor in the San Paulo Brazil Temple presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, bishop and counselor in a bishopric. Former law adviser, Senate of Brazil. Born in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, to Luiz Ruben and Maria Silva Lanius.
Sister Lanius serves as a temple ordinance worker in the Curitiba Brazil Temple and is a former assistant temple matron in the San Paulo Brazil Temple, stake Relief Society president, counselor in stake Relief Society and Primary presidencies, ward Relief Society president and counselor and Young Women president. Born in San Paulo, Brazil, to Raul Taques and Irene de Campos Pimentel.


BUT I'M HOPING TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THIS TRIO FOR THE REST OF THE TRANSFER. WE ARE ALSO TEACHING A TON OF LESSONS BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO DO DIVISIONS ALL THE TIME (WE ONLY NEED ONE MEMBER TO BE ABLE TO DIVIDE).

SO THIS LAST WEEKEND WAS GREAT. WE HAD ANOTHER BAPTISM! 

MARIA, AN 89 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN TAUGHT BY SEVERAL DUPLAS OF MISSIONARIES, FINALLY DECIDED TO GET BAPTIZED! HER GRANDSON IS THE BISHOP OF THE OTHER CAMARAGIBE WARD, BUT SHE LIVES IN OURS. SO DURING THE WEEK WE REVIEWED ALL THE IMPORTANT STUFF (THE BISHOP MARKED HER BAPTISM WITH JOHNSON AND BRADLEY BEFORE I WAS PUT IN THE C-SHIP). THEN WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE HER BAPTISM ON SATURDAY MORNING, WHICH WAS ESPECIALLY SPIRITUAL FOR HER GRANDSON, WHO BAPTIZED HER, AND COULDN'T STOP CRYING.

                                             Baptism of Maria, 89 years old!

THEN SUNDAY IN SACRAMENT SHE WAS CONFIRMED, ALONG WITH JOERMESON, WHO IS DOING JUST FINE, AND THE 3 SIBLINGS (DAYANNA, DAVID, AND ISRAEL) THAT WERE BAPTIZED THE SUNDAY BEFORE LAST (BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GO TO CHURCH LAST WEEK). ME AND ELDER JOHNSON DID ALL THE CONFIRMATION PRAYERS. 

BESIDES THESE 5 PEOPLE WHO GOT CONFIRMED, 11 MORE INVESTIGATORS WERE AT CHURCH! I DON'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO TELL YOU ABOUT EACH ONE... BUT NIDA, WHO I'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT IS VERY EXCITED TO BE BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY. YESTERDAY WE REVIEWED THE BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW WITH HER AND SHE IS REALLY A DIFFERENT AND A BETTER PERSON THAT SHE WAS WHEN WE STARTED TEACHING HER. JOHNSON HAD ONLY MET HER AND SEEN HER A FEW TIMES, BUT HE GOT TO KNOW HER YESTERDAY IN THE LESSON AND COMMENTED HOW SHE IS WAY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER TIME HE TAUGHT HER. PRAY FOR HER, AND THAT NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO IMPEDE HER BAPTISM. SHE HAS SOME ACQUAINTANCES THAT DON'T WANT HER TO GET BAPTIZED.. SO YEP.

THERE WAS ALSO A COUPLE THAT WE STARTED TEACHING THIS WEEK, WITH THEIR BABY-- MARIANO, JULIANA, AND VITOR THE BABY. THEY ARE A REFERENCE FROM LINDALVA, THE LESS ACTIVE LADY WHO WE IS RETURNING NOW BECAUSE WE FOUND HER ON THE BUS. SHE WAS ALSO AT CHURCH WITH HER LESS ACTIVE HUSBAND AND 2 KIDS. AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO WE ARE EITHER TEACHING OR WILL START TEACHING THIS WEEK WERE THERE.  

 I DON'T GET [MOSQUITO BITES] HERE ANYMORE. I THINK IT IS CUZ MY BLOOD IS NOW MADE OF RICE AND BEANS LIKE EVERY OTHER BRAZILIAN, SO THE MOSQUITOES DON'T TARGET ME ANYMORE.

 

I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE HOLIDAY SÃO JOÃO! IT WAS LAST THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. It was a really cool holiday... Everyone makes huge bonfires in front of their houses, like really huge. They do lots of fireworks, and eat corn in every form that corn can be eaten. We were invited to a member's São João party which was really fun, and we went because there would be no point in trying to teach anyone in that hour. We roasted raw corn on the cob on the big bonfire, like Americans, and hot dogs. It wasn't that tasty, and I burned mine, but it was a nice little culture experience, right? Way better than Carnaval, that's for sure.

TCHAU!

LOVE
ELDER HOOKE

6-20-11 AWESOME WEEK! Elder Rédua / Baptism of Joermeson, confirmation of Flavio, attack of the children :) [photos]

6-20-11

Jon's transfer meeting June 14, 2011

Trace the two gold stripes on the right side down--that's Jon's head in the back between the stripes!! :)

 THIS WEEK HAS BEEN AWESOME. MY NEW COMP, ELDER RÉDUA, FROM MATO GROSSO DO SUL, IS VERY FULL OF THE MTC EXCITEMENT AND AS TOM PUT IT, DOESN'T HAVE ANY APOSTATE PRECONCEPTS. WE ARE WORKING HARD TOGETHER, HAVING COMP STUDIES EVERY DAY (FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS) AND WE ARE ALSO HAVING SUCCESS.
 

WE WERE ABLE TO BAPTIZE JOERMESON YESTERDAY. HE ASKED ME TO BAPTIZE HIM, AND HIS LESS ACTIVE MOM WENT. IT WAS A NICE, SHORT, SPIRITUAL MEETING, AND MANY LEADERS FROM THE WARD WERE THERE TO SUPPORT HIM. HE'S A GREAT KID, I FEEL BAD FOR HIM THOUGH BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HE IS LIVING WITH SOMEONE WHO MAKES HIM FEEL LIKE HE IS THE DEVIL. EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID TO HIM REMINDS ME OF THAT LESSON YOU GAVE IN RELIEF SOCIETY AND YOU TALKED ABOUT POSITIVE DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILDREN. BUT IT REMINDS ME OF THAT LESSON BECAUSE THE PERSON FAILS. WHEN WE REVIEWED THE BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW WITH HIM, HE AFTERWARD ASKED IF I'D EVER TAUGHT A KID AS TERRIBLE AS HIM. SO WE'RE TRYING TO HELP HIM REALIZE THAT HE'S A GOOD KID, AND HE WAS VERY HAPPY AFTER THE BAPTISM AND SO WAS HIS FAM. I ALSO TALKED TO THE PERSON HE LIVES WITH AND TRIED TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE POSITIVE DISCIPLINE. BUT ANYWAYS,,,, HE GOT BAPTIZED AND EVERYTHING WORKED OUT WELL. MY COMP WAS STOKED TO BE ABLE TO BAPTIZE ON HIS FIRST SUNDAY HERE.

                                 Baptism of Joermeson, w family and Elder Rédua

ALSO IN SACRAMENT MEETING, WE CONFIRMED FLAVIO A MEMBER AND GAVE HIM THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND HE WAS AT CHURCH FULLY DRESSED UP. THE BISHOP GAVE HIM SHOES, I GAVE HIM A TIE, AND HE ALREADY HAD PANTS AND A SHIRT, SO THAT WAS COOL. NEXT WEEK HE'LL PROBABLY PASS THE SACRAMENT.

WE ARE PLANNING ON HAVING NIDA'S BAPTISM EITHER THIS WEEKEND OR THE NEXT, NOT SURE YET.

WE ARE TEACHING 2 OR 3 FAMILIES, UNFORTUNATELY NONE WENT TO CHURCH, BUT WE'LL KEEP WORKING WITH THEM.

MY COMP IS A VERY HUMBLE AND TEACHABLE GUY. HE ALREADY SERVED A TRANSFER IN HIS HOME AREA SORTA LIKE CATH DID, BUT WE ARE BOTH LEARNING A LOT TOGETHER. EVERYONE IN THE WARD IS EXCITED TO MEET HIM AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE TOLD HIM HOW WELCOME IN THE WARD HE IS. [I told him about a crazy mutual night we had, culminating in someone pulling the fire alarm...] HAHA THAT SOUNDS LIKE NORMAL CHURCH MEETINGS IN BRAZIL!! HAHA SERIOUSLY THAT IS HOW I FELT AT OUR DESSERT CONTEST AND THAT IS HOW IT WAS YESTERDAY AFTER THE BAPTISM. LUCKILY JOERMESON AND HIS FAMILY HAD ALREADY LEFT, BUT I GOT ATTACKED BY ABOUT 10 LITTLE KIDS AND THEY LITERALLY TACKLED ME AND I COULD NOT GET UP. MY COMP DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO SO I TOLD HIM TO GRAB MY CAMERA AND TAKE PICTURES...  IT WAS RIDICULOUS. WHEN I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE GROUND AND SPRINT AWAY, MY SHIRT WAS UNTUCKED, MY TIE WAS CROOKED AND STRANGLING ME, AND THE CONTENTS OF MY POCKETS WERE SPREAD ABOUT. OH AND MY MOUTH WAS BLEEDING. IT WAS REALLY FUNNY, SERIOUSLY, AND THE PICTURES ARE GREAT. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I THINK THEY HAD ALL PLANNED THIS ATTACK ON ELDER HOOKE AHEAD OF TIME.

THANKS GOODBYE LOVE ELDER HOOKE

6-13-11 Same area, new greenie companion...Elder ???

THIS LAST WEEK WENT VERY WELL. WE DIDN'T WORK THAT MUCH BECAUSE OF WAGNER'S TRUNKYNESS, BUT WE HAD FUN VISITING MEMBERS AND STUFF, AND WE WERE ABLE TO BAPTIZE. THE OTHER DUPLA IN CAMARAGIBE, ELDER JOHNSON AND ELDER BRADLEY, FOUND A WIDOWED LADY THAT WAS VERY EXCITED TO TALK TO MISSIONARIES. HER STORY IS SIMILAR TO LINDALVA'S, SHE WAS BAPTIZED YEARS AGO AND LOST CONTACT WITH THE CHURCH BUT NOW WANTS TO RETURN. SHE TOLD THE THE OTHER ELDERS THAT HER 3 KIDS HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE BOOK OF MORMON BUT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO CHURCH CUZ THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS. SO LAST SUNDAY DAYANNA, 15, DAVID, 13, AND ISRAEL, 11, WERE AT CHURCH AND LOVED IT. THEY DECIDED ALREADY THAT THEY WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED. SO BRADLEY, WHO IS NEW AND DOESN'T SPEAK MUCH YET, LET ME DO SOME DIVISIONS WITH JOHNSON DURING THE WEEK AND I GOT TO HELP THEM TEACH THE FAMILY. IT WAS REALLY COOL, THEY ARE TRULY ELECT AND WERE ALREADY READY, LIVING ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND STUFF. SO SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH THEY WERE ALL BAPTIZED, AND DAYANA ASKED ME TO BAPTIZE HER, AND BRADLEY AND JOHNSON BAPTIZED THE OTHER TWO GUYS.

     Baptism of Dayanna, Israel, & David (w Elder Johnson, Elder Hooke, Elder Bradley, Elder Wagner)                 

WE ALSO KEPT WORKING WITH FLAVIO, THE 18 YR OLD BOY, AND HE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE SAME MEETING YESTERDAY. HE WAS HAPPY, AND WAGNER BAPTIZED HIM. SO ALL 4 OF THE MISSIONARIES HERE IN CAMARAGIBE BAPTIZED SOMEONE YESTERDAY. WE HAVE SOME SWEET PICTURES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT WITH MY CABLE TO SEND THEM RIGHT NOW. FLAVIO STOPPED SMOKING STARTING 3 WEEKS AGO, THE FIRST DAY HE WENT TO CHURCH.

              Baptism of Flavio--[sorry--couldn't figure out how to turn the pic...]

SATURDAY NIGHT, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO GO TO A VERY SPECIAL BAPTISM IN SETÚBAL. PEDRO AND AERLANE, THE COUPLE WHOSE HOUSE I CALLED HOME FROM ON MOTHERS DAY, HAVE BEEN GOING TO CHURCH FOR A FEW YEARS, AND AERLANE WAS BAPTIZED BY HER SON (WHO IS HOME ON A BREAK RIGHT NOW FROM BYU HAWAII) 2 YEARS AGO, IN WAGNER'S FIRST TRANSFER OF THE MISSION (HE STARTED IN SETÚBAL). WAGNER ALSO TAUGHT PEDRO, BUT IT WAS VERY HARD FOR PEDRO TO MAKE A COMMITMENT WITH THE CHURCH; HE DID SEMINARY FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO BECOME A CATHOLIC PADRE, BUT EVENTUALLY DROPPED OUT TO GET MARRIED. ANYWAYS HE FINALLY HAD SEVERAL SPECIAL EXPERIENCES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WHICH MADE HIM DECIDE TO GET BAPTIZED, WHICH HE TOLD US ALL ABOUT IN HIS TESTIMONY AT HIS BAPTISM. THE FAMILY BOUGHT PIZZA FOR EVERYONE AFTER, WHICH WAS COOL.

SO IT WAS A GOOD WEEK TO END WAGNER'S MISSION.

          Elder Wagner prepares to return home

YEP SO THIS WEEKEND JOEMESEN MIGHT GET BAPTIZED, HE WENT TO CHURCH WHICH SURPRISED US, AND WE WILL TEACH HIM DURING THE WEEK. NIDA, THE 18 YR OLD GIRL (I THINK I TOLD YOU ABOUT HER) IS ALSO MARKED TO BE BAPTIZED, NOT THIS WEEKEND BUT THE NEXT. SHE WAS AT CHURCH AND IS REALLY LIKING EVERYTHING, ALTHOUGH SHE'S VERY SHY AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TELL.

SATURDAY OUR WARD HAD ANOTHER MISSIONARY ACTIVITY, MOVIE NIGHT IN THE CHAPEL, WHICH WAS RUN BY THE OTHER DUPLA (WE WENT TO PEDRO'S BAPTISM) WHICH ALSO HAD A VERY SMALL TURNOUT, HE SAID LIKE 15 PEOPLE. AND BY THE END OF THE MOVIE THERE WERE ABOUT 4 PEOPLE WATCHING, INCLUDING THE MISSIONARIES, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY FUNNY.

 

TODAY IS TRANSFERS, I WAS VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN CAMARAGIBE, AND WE'LL KEEP 2 DUPLAS IN THE AREA. I'M GOING TO TRAIN A NEW ELDER, WHO WILL ARRIVE IN THE FIELD TOMORROW. THERE ARE 19 NEW MISSIONARIES ARRIVING TOMORROW, ALL BRASILIAN. SO THIS TRANSFER WILL BE A GOOD EXPERIENCE (I HOPE). IT'S GONNA BE NICE TO BE WITH SOMEONE FRESH, WITH MOTIVATION...

THAT'S A LOT OF NEWS FOR ONE WEEK.

DONE.

THANKS, HAVE A GOOD WEEK, LOVE YOU, TCHAU TCHAU FOR NOW.

LOVE

ELDER HOOKE 

6-6-11 GREAT WEEK! Baptism of Greice [photo], teaching many more

6-6-11

THIS WEEK WAS A GOOD WEEK, AND I'M FEELING QUITE A BIT HAPPIER. YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS AT CHURCH ON MY MISSION YET. ON THE BUS LAST WEEK WE MET A LADY NAMED LINDALVA AND SHE WAS VERY EXCITED TO TALK TO US AND TOLD US ABOUT HOW SHE HAD BEEN BAPTIZED A FEW YEARS AGO AND THANKS TO THE MISSIONARIES AND THE GOSPEL THEY SHARED, IT SAVED HER MARRIAGE, AND HER FAMILY HAD BEEN SO HAPPY IN THAT PERIOD. THEN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS SHE MOVED AWAY AND HAS NOT BEEN GOING TO CHURCH, BUT SHE FOUND US ON THE BUS (IN A REMOTE AREA THAT WE ARE THE FIRST MISSIONARIES TO GO) AND FELT A VERY STRONG DESIRE TO RETURN TO THE CHURCH. SO WE WENT OVER THERE A FEW TIMES DURING THE WEEK AND TAUGHT HER, AS WELL AS SOME RELATIVES THAT LIVE WITH HER. ON SUNDAY SHE WAS AT CHURCH WITH HER NIECE, YOLANDA, 10 (WHOSE BAPTISM WE WILL TRY TO MARK TOMORROW), HER FRIEND, JOSILEINE, AND HER DAUGHTER MARCELA, WHO WE WILL HOPEFULLY START TEACHING SHORTLY. LINDALVA WAS VERY HAPPY AND SHARED THE STORY OF HER CONVERSION AND HOW SEEING US ON THE BUS WAS THE START OF A NEW BETTER PART OF HER LIFE NOW. 

THE OTHER DUPLA [companionship] IN CAMARAGIBE ALSO FOUND AN AWESOME FAMILY IN ALMOST THE SAME SITUATION, AND THE 3 TEENAGE KIDS WILL BE BAPTIZED THIS SUNDAY.

BESIDES THEM, FLAVIO ALSO WENT TO CHURCH AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE BAPTIZED NEXT SUNDAY, HE HAS STOPPED SMOKING. THE BISHOP WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS TO GO TO PRIMARY OR YOUNG MEN, AND THEN FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN ELDERS QUORUM! AHAHA

A YOUNG WOMAN, ADRIANA, SHOWED UP IN CHURCH TOO FOR THE 2ND TIME, BUT THE LAST TIME THE MISSIONARIES DIDN'T TALK TO HER. SHE LOVED IT AND ALREADY DECIDED SHE WANTS TO BE PART OF THE CHURCH, SO WE ARE GONNA GO THERE AND TEACH HER THIS WEEK AND POSSIBLY BAPTIZE HER ON SUNDAY TOO!

AND TO TOP ALL THIS OFF I GOT TO BAPTIZE AND CONFIRM AN 8-YR-OLD GIRL, GREICE, ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. WE MET WITH HER FAMILY LAST TUESDAY AND HER DAD HADN'T LET HER GET BAPTIZED RIGHT WHEN SHE TURNED 8, BUT AFTER OUR MESSAGE HE DECIDED IT WOULD BE ALRIGHT, SO WE MARKED IT FOR SATURDAY AND EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTHLY. SHE GOES TO CHURCH EVERY WEEK AND HAS BEEN FOR 4 MONTHS, WITH HER AUNT (THE PRIMARY PRESIDENT). SO THAT WAS REALLY COOL, AND ALSO I LOVE THAT LITTLE GIRL. SHE PROBABLY WEIGHS LIKE 15 POUNDS.

      Baptism of Greice, with brothers Ricardo and Eduardo

SO THE ONLY LET DOWN YESTERDAY WAS [ONE GUY] WHO DECIDED NOT TO GO TO CHURCH AND THAT HE DOESN'T WANNA GET BAPTIZED ANYMORE, BECAUSE HIS GRANDMA, A JW, TOLD HIM A BUNCH OF STUFF AGAINST THE CHURCH.

MY COMP IS STILL VERY ACTIVE. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME JUST VISITING PEOPLE, BUT IT IS NICE BECAUSE WE ARE STILL BEING ABLE TO TEACH AND BAPTIZE (HOPEFULLY A FEW THIS WEEKEND). I'M GONNA ASK PRESIDENT TO STAY IN THIS AREA, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE I WON'T BECAUSE HE ALREADY SAID ONLY ONE DUPLA WILL STAY.

[RIGHT NOW] WE'RE IN RECIFE VISITING A FAMILY THAT WAGNER LIKES,  AND I HAVE A FEELING WE WILL BE TEACHING FEW LESSONS THIS WEEK. [Elder Wagner goes home in about a week.] BUT IT'S ALRIGHT. I'LL JUST ENJOY THE RELAXAMENTO.

WE ARE STARTING WEEKLY ACTIVITIES IN THE WARD HERE . THIS WEEK WE HAVE A CINEMA NA ALA ["movie in the ward". WE'LL WATCH A CHURCH MOVIE PROBABLY, AND EAT POPCORN. PRETTY EASY TO PLAN.

WELL I'M GONNA EAT LUNCH, MAYBE I'LL SEND MORE EMAIL AFTER LUNCH. TCHAU

5-30-11 Teaching lots of people (PHOTO: swinging on a vine in the jungle)

                                                     "Swingin' on a vine in the jungle"

5-30-11

HELLO I'M DOING ALRIGHT. THE WORK IS STILL TOUGH BUT WE WILL BE BAPTIZING PRETTY SOON I THINK. WE HAD AN 18 YEAR OLD FLAVIO MARKED TO BE BAPTIZED FOR THIS SATURDAY BUT HE WASN'T AT CHURCH SO WE'LL HAVE TO REMARK WITH HIM. 

WE HAVE THIS 10 YEAR OLD KID WHO IS NOW LIVING WITH A MEMBER LADY AND HE WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED, SO WE MARKED HIM FOR THE WEEKEND THAT WAGNER LEAVES, WHICH IS  NOT THIS WEEKEND BUT THE NEXT. 

AND WE ARE TEACHING LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE BAPTIZED THAT SAME WEEKEND, BECAUSE I THINK I WILL BE TRANSFERRED TOO THAT DAY AND THERE WILL JUST BE ONE DUPLA [companionship?] IN THIS WARD AGAIN. 

I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT IT WAS MY HUMPDAY [May 26!!]. 

ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS TILL WAGNER DIES IN THE MISSION [goes home]. I THINK I'LL SURVIVE.

WELL HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
TCHAU

5-23-11 More investigators (Photos: dessert contest, bedroom window view)

Well this area is much better, we had a lot of investigators at our dessert contest on Saturday and then a few at church on Sunday. I'll send pictures today, because I'm using a member's computer and don't need to worry about viruses. So my email might be shorter, but a picture paints a thousand words.

 (A view from our bedroom window in Camaragibe)

[I'm posting his other pictures according to area, so you might want to re-look through past posts!]

OUR  ACTIVITY WAS SATURDAY TOO, EVERYTHING VERY RUSHED, I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN STRESSED OR ANGRY, BUT MY ATTITUDE TOWARD EVERYTHING IS VERY PASSIVE NOW. IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO GET FRUSTRATED OR MAD OR ANYTHING, SO IT'S JUST WHATEVER. FOR EXAMPLE MY COMP DIDN'T WANT TO WORK YESTERDAY, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS, I WAS ALSO TIRED, SO I JUST TOOK A LONG NAP. MAYBE THAT'S BAD, BUT I PREFER IT OVER GETTING FRUSTRATED AND STILL NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL INVESTIGATORS, ONE, LICA, THAT WE HAD MARKED TO BE BAPTIZED SATURDAY, AND SHE WAS REALLY EXCITED AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. WE HAVE TO TAKE A BUS ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUNTAINS TO TALK TO HER, AND WE UNFORTUNATELY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. HER AUNT, A MEMBER, TOLD US THAT SHE GOT UNEXCITED AND DIDN'T WANT US TO VISIT HER THAT DAY, SO WERE THINKING THAT SOMEONE TOLD HER ANTI-MORMON STUFF OR SOMETHING. ANYWAYS WERE GONNA GIVE HER A SURPRISE VISIT TOMORROW. 

 

TONIGHT THERE IS AN 8YR OLD BOY GUSTAVO GETTING BAPTIZED, SO WE'LL HELP WITH THAT AND MEET SOME FRIENDS THAT HIS MEMBER FAMILY HAS INVITED.