Hey Family,
It's good to hear that everything is going great back at home. To answer your questions; yes, I did get your package. I got it pretty quick. Thanks for the shirts, my comp' loves his. Ummm I'm not sure what I want for Christmas. I'll come up with a list and pass it to you next week. I will have a new companion by Christmas for sure, but honestly if it's a Brazilian, what I get will be his anyway. They think everything is theirs. Ha Ha Its funny.
Well, this week we really really worked hard. I'm about dead. We started working in a neighborhood that has never been worked in. We taught some killer lessons and had some people promise God that they would come to church. But what do you know, when Sunday comes around, nadda nõs temos 0 pesquisadores na capela. Frustraiting! You work your face off trying to help people and they can't even keep a promise they made with the Lord. It's hard because my companion likes to chastise people. Kinda makes them feel like dirt, so we burn through investigators like crazy. I'm not sure if they aren't progressing because it's just not there time or they don't like Elder Adriano. But he's my companion... gotta love him.
One of the lessons we taught was with a family who loved our message. I pulled out a picture of us that you sent me. (The one that Tiffany took) I showed them my family, just to let them know that I'm human, and I talked about each and every one of you and how the Gospel had blessed our lives as a family. Ha Ha, yes even you Dad. That was the first lesson that I felt like a instrument in the Lord's hand and it felt great.
That's all the stories I've got. Just working hard and looking for results. AZ is still hot? Dang. Its starting to get pretty got here about 104 with 100% humidity. So ya, ha ha, its pretty muggy but I'm pretty used to it, so it doesn't bother me to much.
:) I love you guys,
Elder Manis
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Bernadette
Hey Guys,
This week has been getting better... not too much better, but things are progressing. Elder Adriano hasn't taught me how to make [cook] anything cool yet, ha ha. I still do most of the cooking, which isn't that hard, just throw the noodles in some boiling water. Ha Ha My leg is doing fine. It wasn't that bad in the first place, just some scratches.
Well this week we really hit the ground running. We started working in a neighborhood that we had never been to before. It was good. We got into a lot of houses, and taught a lot of good people. We had 15 people promise God in prayer that they would go to church with us on Sunday, but when it came around, none of them showed up. It was kind of depressing to have worked my tail off all week with these new people and see no results. But we did have a good investigator show. Her name is Bernadette. She has been to church 3 times now and is just now getting the hang of singing the hymns. She is progressing well, we have a date marked for baptism on Oct 3. I really think she is an elect. It's awesome to see her progress when I teach her, just kinda see her eyes open and say "Ya... this is true." It's sweet, because she gives us chocolate at almost every lesson. She is a nice lady.
Well, I'm sorry to say that that's about it for missionary work for this week. But this week I have been studying a lot about baptism and covenants. And I have really begun to realize how big a promise to God it is... it's no joke. I also got really temple sick. I'm not sure why, I just miss being able to go to the house of the Lord and feel His Spirit and just relax. I guess after seeing all the iniquity in the small town I'm in, and all of the churches, just took a tole on me. I want to go to my temple.
On other news, next month is going on 6 month for me... that's crazy.. I just left.
I gots to go guys.
I love you and pray for you every day,
Elder Manis
This week has been getting better... not too much better, but things are progressing. Elder Adriano hasn't taught me how to make [cook] anything cool yet, ha ha. I still do most of the cooking, which isn't that hard, just throw the noodles in some boiling water. Ha Ha My leg is doing fine. It wasn't that bad in the first place, just some scratches.
Well this week we really hit the ground running. We started working in a neighborhood that we had never been to before. It was good. We got into a lot of houses, and taught a lot of good people. We had 15 people promise God in prayer that they would go to church with us on Sunday, but when it came around, none of them showed up. It was kind of depressing to have worked my tail off all week with these new people and see no results. But we did have a good investigator show. Her name is Bernadette. She has been to church 3 times now and is just now getting the hang of singing the hymns. She is progressing well, we have a date marked for baptism on Oct 3. I really think she is an elect. It's awesome to see her progress when I teach her, just kinda see her eyes open and say "Ya... this is true." It's sweet, because she gives us chocolate at almost every lesson. She is a nice lady.
Well, I'm sorry to say that that's about it for missionary work for this week. But this week I have been studying a lot about baptism and covenants. And I have really begun to realize how big a promise to God it is... it's no joke. I also got really temple sick. I'm not sure why, I just miss being able to go to the house of the Lord and feel His Spirit and just relax. I guess after seeing all the iniquity in the small town I'm in, and all of the churches, just took a tole on me. I want to go to my temple.
On other news, next month is going on 6 month for me... that's crazy.. I just left.
I gots to go guys.
I love you and pray for you every day,
Elder Manis
Monday, September 14, 2009
RUN!
Hi :)
Well, to answer your questions - First: my new companion is Elder Adriano. He is from Sao Paulo, he is 22 and he only has 2 transfers left in his mission. It was a little shock to my system at first. The first few days where hard...I mean hard. Just being with a new companion and having to remember where everyone lives and stuff like that, it was just a little stressful I guess you could say.
But I figured out how much Portuguese I know. I surprised myself. But at the same time, I am like....dang, I've got so much more to learn. But it's OK, I am at the point where I can understand just about everything. However, when I try to talk I get mixed up, but at the same time just this week I have learned how to speak without thinking. I don't know if that makes sense, but I just stop thinking and talk.. Sabe?
Well, along with being shocked because of transfers myself, so were our investigators. Some of them didn't really like the change. Some of the members of the church/ward as well. But it will all be better in time I guess.
We have a good investigator, her name is Bernadette. She is about 50ish years old. She is progressing well and we have a baptism date set for next week, so we will see what happens. We aren't sure if she is progressing because she really knows the church is true, or if its just because she like the missionaries. It's kind of hard to tell at times but I think she is progressing because she sees that she needs the Gospel in her life. Also, this week we had to cut one of our best investigators... because we found out he has 2 wives! Ya, I know, crazy huh? But I guess its common it this state of Brazil :(.
The funny story for this week is I was bitten by a dog haha. There is a dog that lives on this street by our house and every time we pass him he chases us. But the other night there was construction on that street so I figured he wouldn't be there. We were walking all quiet when we passed one of the huge work trucks and heard a growl. I just yelled RUN! Well, I guess you can say I didn't run fast enough and the pit bull got me on the calf. Its not that bad, Mom don't worry, I don't have rabies. We got it checked out and stuff.
Other than that things are going great. It's good to hear about Wyatt's team kickin' butt. That's how that Red Mountain rolls haha. My language skills are improving everyday. I started studying the Book of Mormon it Portuguese. I study in Portuguese only, and Portuguese is now in my dreams. But I'm not speaking Portuguese - its everyone else. Ha Ha
The work is progressing.
I love you guys,
Elder Manis
Well, to answer your questions - First: my new companion is Elder Adriano. He is from Sao Paulo, he is 22 and he only has 2 transfers left in his mission. It was a little shock to my system at first. The first few days where hard...I mean hard. Just being with a new companion and having to remember where everyone lives and stuff like that, it was just a little stressful I guess you could say.
But I figured out how much Portuguese I know. I surprised myself. But at the same time, I am like....dang, I've got so much more to learn. But it's OK, I am at the point where I can understand just about everything. However, when I try to talk I get mixed up, but at the same time just this week I have learned how to speak without thinking. I don't know if that makes sense, but I just stop thinking and talk.. Sabe?
Well, along with being shocked because of transfers myself, so were our investigators. Some of them didn't really like the change. Some of the members of the church/ward as well. But it will all be better in time I guess.
We have a good investigator, her name is Bernadette. She is about 50ish years old. She is progressing well and we have a baptism date set for next week, so we will see what happens. We aren't sure if she is progressing because she really knows the church is true, or if its just because she like the missionaries. It's kind of hard to tell at times but I think she is progressing because she sees that she needs the Gospel in her life. Also, this week we had to cut one of our best investigators... because we found out he has 2 wives! Ya, I know, crazy huh? But I guess its common it this state of Brazil :(.
The funny story for this week is I was bitten by a dog haha. There is a dog that lives on this street by our house and every time we pass him he chases us. But the other night there was construction on that street so I figured he wouldn't be there. We were walking all quiet when we passed one of the huge work trucks and heard a growl. I just yelled RUN! Well, I guess you can say I didn't run fast enough and the pit bull got me on the calf. Its not that bad, Mom don't worry, I don't have rabies. We got it checked out and stuff.
Other than that things are going great. It's good to hear about Wyatt's team kickin' butt. That's how that Red Mountain rolls haha. My language skills are improving everyday. I started studying the Book of Mormon it Portuguese. I study in Portuguese only, and Portuguese is now in my dreams. But I'm not speaking Portuguese - its everyone else. Ha Ha
The work is progressing.
I love you guys,
Elder Manis
Monday, September 7, 2009
E. Hale is getting transferred
Oi!
Hey guys,
Mom, good thing you wrote something about money because I need it. Ha Ha I'm starving out here. Raman noodles for every meal isn't working anymore. I know I can take money out of my savings so if you can move some money to my savings that would be great. I'm going to the bank tomorrow so if you can do it soon that would be great.
Well, as for everything else, its getting better. The language is still choppy. Elder Hale says I need to stop thinking so much. He says when I just talk, I speak it good, but when I try to think about it I mess up. He says, "Just be a Brazilian in your mind. You're just chillin' on the beach in flip flops and flying a kite. When you think like that, you can talk." So it has been getting better but it's hard.
Hey guys,
Mom, good thing you wrote something about money because I need it. Ha Ha I'm starving out here. Raman noodles for every meal isn't working anymore. I know I can take money out of my savings so if you can move some money to my savings that would be great. I'm going to the bank tomorrow so if you can do it soon that would be great.
Well, as for everything else, its getting better. The language is still choppy. Elder Hale says I need to stop thinking so much. He says when I just talk, I speak it good, but when I try to think about it I mess up. He says, "Just be a Brazilian in your mind. You're just chillin' on the beach in flip flops and flying a kite. When you think like that, you can talk." So it has been getting better but it's hard.
Also, I found out that today is my last day with Elder Hale. He is getting transferred. So I'm a little scared about that, but I think I'm ready for it. He was an amazing missionary, and I learned a lot from him. It's going to be hard getting stuck with a Brazzie, but I can do it.
As for Daniel, he doesn't want anything to do with the Church. He is so blind, so we forgot him and really worked hard this week. Just forgot everything and busted our butts. We were so caught up in the work, we didn't see our blessings 'till Sunday. When we had 6 new investigators in the capela. It was a surprise, it was just like... Dang! We worked hard and the Lord did the rest, it was great.
The weather is hot. I'm used to it, so it doesn't bother me any. I'm used to sweating all the time. But I'm so wiped out by the end of the day.
It's good to here that Red Mountaña is kickin' some butt. Today is Brazil's Independence Day, and all the Missionaries in Vitoria got to march in the parade. It was so cool. Ha Ha Brazil loves Americans. But we were right behind a marching band and they were playing the drum line stuff, so it just put me back on the [football] field hearing the band play. I got goose bumps. It was cool, they were so good.
That's all I have for this week. The work is hard but that's what you get for being here in the most religious state of Brazil. Espirito Santo means Holy Ghost. But I'm still working hard, sometimes all I can do is love the people, and that's not hard at all.
Love ya guys,
That's all I have for this week. The work is hard but that's what you get for being here in the most religious state of Brazil. Espirito Santo means Holy Ghost. But I'm still working hard, sometimes all I can do is love the people, and that's not hard at all.
Love ya guys,
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