Olá! Today i am, in fact, writing a bit later than usual because we’re up in Torres Vedras today to do some things with the other Elders. This last week seemed really long for some reason, probably because it was substantially different from the past 6 months, but yeah. Working with Elder Carter is an adventure and a half. He’s a good guy, and a hard worker. He’s still pretty new (I’m still pretty new!) he’s been in the country for 3 months, so his Portuguese is not quite good enough for him to teach a whole lesson while I hang out, sadly enough. So it’s been a lot of growing, a lot of praying, and humility this week.
Thanks for sending Ben’s thoughts, it was nice to read. Sad week in terms of news from home. Those pictures of the chapel were intense. They reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events. It’s weird how history is so fragile.
In Mafra news, things keep going, despite the lack of Elder Oram. Last p-day night we didn’t end up getting home until very late, because of a series of unfortunate events relating to getting rides, so I didn’t get enough sleep the night before transfers, then we had to run to catch the bus (we ended up missing it anyway) Those who know me will know that sleep deprivation and over exertion are not kind to me, so I ended up throwing up in a café bathroom, but I felt a bit better after that.
In people news, Rogério, who got baptized back in January, has been really sick lately, so he hasn’t been able to get to church. He’s always been pretty sick, but usually he managed to get to church, but with it being so far away it’s been rough for him, but he’s doing well, all things considered. He finished the Book of Mormon this week for the second time, which was impressive. Ezequiel is doing well, he was interviewed and he’s all ready for getting baptized. Francisco, who I’m sure I’ve mentioned before as being awesome, will be doing the baptism. Maiery is also doing well, and she asked that I baptize her, so that’s exciting. We had a ward activity barbeque on Saturday, which was great. Maiery’s brothers and cousin came, as well as Maura’s son and his friend. It was great to see them create some friendships with the church. I had to give up playing soccer for the first time on account of my epic acl, mcl, bone breakage last year. It was sad. Add that to the list of things I regret happening, but oh well. I’ll ask the new mission president his thoughts about playing futebol.
Sunday was good, we didn’t have too many investigators in church, which was sad. We’re sort of running out of progressing investigators, which is tough. Most of our progressing investigators have turned into members, which is great, but it makes it difficult to get new investigators to church because of the ride situation, but I’m sure it will all work out. We just need to buy a bus.
One thing I’ve had to do that I wasn’t used to doing is talk on the phone. I don’t like talking on the phone in English, and talking on the phone in Portuguese is a whole different adventure, but I’m getting used to it, although I don’t expect it’ll be something I look forward to anytime soon.
We’ve been getting a lot of support from the members over here, like always, but it’s sort of a different sort of support now that Elder Oram is gone. Elder Oram was good at working with members and setting up lessons with them and such. I’m not that great at it, and I think people recognize that, so they’ve been going a bit out of their way to talk to me and ask how they can help. I think they may also recognize that I’m in way over my head here. Missions are cool like that.
As far as copied CD’s, I’ve never heard any rules against it, so do what you like. I think if you buy it online it’s legal to burn things to CD’s, at least it is with I-Tunes. I dunno about echinacea, I still say it’s more of a placebo type thing, but the people here swear by lemon tea. It cures anything. It is actually pretty good though.
It’s good to hear isaac’s forays into science are going well. It’d be nice to have one of us actually become a scientist. Just watch out for worn out middle school science teachers.
So that’s about all from here. We’ve been pretty busy with teaching and such. We has an investigator pray about the Book of Mormon and described his response as feeling good. In zone conference the Area Authority encouraged us to ask people to be more specific, so we did, and he described it as a ‘free’ feeling, and joy. So that was cool. We went past there the other day and he’d been reading the book of mormon and praying. I’m starting to gain much more respect for the slow and steady investigators than those whose progress is an intense roller coaster. Wanderlay was one of those, steady I mean. He read the Book of Mormon and prayed and went to church and started keeping the commandments and then got baptized. I think those are the real ‘elect’ people. A lot of times as missionaries we like finding the people that have miraculous stories and talked about how they’ve been searching for truth and how we were answers to their prayers and who immediately want to know what they have to do. They’re nice to. But I’ve decided I like the ones more than let you in, listen, and accept return appointments, and keep commitments. You don’t need impressive miraculous stories to be a golden investigator. You just need humility and a desire to learn.
We taught Maiery’s uncle for the first time this week. Maiery has several uncles, with varying degrees of acceptance to the church. I liked this uncle a lot. He was, based on his understanding of the bible, not in favor of her being baptized, but he respected her ability to choose. When we talked to him he listened and didn’t argue. He showed why he believed she shouldn’t be baptized (It wasn’t that she shouldn’t be baptized, it’s that she shouldn’t be baptized again. “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”) I explained why she would need to be baptized again in our church, and he listened politely and Said, “ok” basically. I’m not doing a very good job explaining why he was so awesome, but I just liked him a lot. He’s one of those people you just want to see in the church because you know they would be so happy there.
Anyway, I kind lost track, but I think my hour is about up. Everyone have a great week, abraços, beixinhos, até próxima.
~Elder Ammon
