Almilton

Hey Moms,
Well, this week was a great week full of work and stress. The zone isn't doing too well right now. Just got some missionaries that just don't want to work and are fine with that. So then the weight comes on my shoulders and I have to try and find out what I can do to help. haha You can't help a missionary that just doesn't want to work. It's like and investigator that won't read the Book of Mormon to know if it's true. You just cut them. But I can't do that, so I gotta put up with them. haha

As for me and Elder Francisco, things are going great. I love this guy he is so amazing and funny. It's the best. We had 3 baptisms this week. Lucas, Caroline and Almilton. Lucas is 15 and he was a great investigator. He accepted everything. But Caroline is a little bit of another story. First off, she is deaf. So we basicaly had to pull of some mad spiritual lessons so that the Spirit could tell her that the Church is true and well, she accepted. And then and Almilton...
Almilton is the most memorable baptism that I will ever have on my mission. He was a man that took his wife and kids to Church but rarely entered. He said that; "Church is for women and kids, it's not for me." He had a hard heart, let's just say that. But when I got here in Campos, we ate lunch at his house the first day and I could see our family in his family. So I said to myself; "I'm gonna treat this guy like my Dad and I'm going to teach him as if he was my Dad." He was a little hard and hessitant at first, but when it came to marking the date and bearing my testimony, it was over. He was going to be baptised. As we were leaving, his son hugged me crying and thanking me. Well, he was baptised this week. To see him leaving the water with tears in his eyes and hugging his son gave me hope that one day I can share that happiness with my Dad.
When he left me as well with some watery eyes, I hugged him and got all wet too. haha But the feelings and the Spirit that were there are things that I can't describe. I know that I came on my mission to teach him and to help him have an eternal family. Without a doubt, I know that this church is true and only through the Church of Jesus Christ we can live with our families together forever.
I don't have much time because I wanna send some pictures. I'm sorry, but things are going great and it's good to hear that everything is going well. It's crazy to hear that everyone is FICANDO GRAVIDA (getting pregnant) haha
I love you guys,
Elder Manis

Dad

Dad,
Things are going great here. In fact this week was an amazing week a lot of amazing things happened that I'll never forget.
I'm gonna e-mail you this week instead of Mom, so foward this to her.

We are teaching this man named Almilton. He is 52 years old and his family is just like ours. Being that he is not [a member]of the Church. Well, we found that he wasn't a member when we where eating lunch at his house. We started to teach him and I just flat out asked him, "Why haven't you been baptised?" He said, "I don't know?" So we got to teaching him and the time came to mark a date of baptism with him. We did at first, and he didnt accept and went a little soft on us. So I went in strong and told him that he was more than prepared, he has been going to the church for 10 years now and until now no one has gotten firm about baptism with him.
Dad, that is why I am saying this.
Because, in his family I saw my family, our family. I know that I would fight until the end to get an eternal family so I looked him in the eyes and I said, "I'm not going to lose you. And he accepted, and this Sunday he will be baptised.

Dad, I love you and I just want to ask, why haven't you been baptised?. What are your thoughts on baptism, the Church and stuff. I just wanna know. Because, Dad I'm going to fight for you, because I love you. Don't beat around the bush, just talk to me, I wanna know.
I tell you, if Almilton can be baptised you can too.

I love you Dad
Zack

Leaving Andre Carloni

Well, things are going swell,
Yup, I got transferred and yup, I'm back in Rio. It's funny to be basically back in the same city but I'm in a different area. This time I'm a Zone Leader with Elder Brito. It's funny because we both have juniors, so we, as the Zone Leaders don't even work together. But it's all good. My companion is Elder Francisco. He is the funniest and craziest comp' I have ever had. It's funny because he is 26 years old and only has 3 years in the Church so everything is new to him still. I love the Elders that have been baptized recently. Their testimony is stronger than anything. He is from Rondonia. It's a tiny tiny state by Amazonas but he lived in Spain for the past 5 years and that's where he learned about the Church. He said whenever I want to go to Barcelona I've got a house to stay at. :) He is really cool and I love this kid. Being a ZL isn't much different that being a Senior Companion you just have to be an example for the whole zone. So that's a little nerve racking, but it's amazing because you work without fear. It's like you have received an injection of love for the missionary work. So ya, all is good. The zone is suffering a little bit. There hasn't been much success here for a while, so it's our job to straighten up the zone.

Well, leaving my last area was so hard. I'm not going to lie, I cried and cried like a baby. I think it was harder to say goodbye to the members and to the people I have baptised there than saying goodbye to you guys in the airport. It was so hard. You just get to see how grateful the people are for you and the work you did to help them. So ya, it was hard. :( Elder Cabral cried in the bus station. So that was hard. We had a little talk and he said that I helped him out like crazy, and that his mission will never be the same. So that was rough as well. But I let him know that the secret to missionary work is hard work. He agreed. He is a good guy and he is a great missionary, it just took a little shake to wake him up.

As for me in my new area, we are doing great. We had 7 investigators in the chapel and we have 3 baptism dates for the 22nd. We will see how the things play out here in the next few weeks. I'm still a little lost walking around and getting lost sucks. But it's all part of the work.
We live in a house that is the size of an airplane bathroom. We live as 6 missionaries together, so it's super cramped. haha I got the short stick and I have to sleep on the ground. But it's all good. Faz parte
I'm doing great. I love the missionaries that live with me and love my new area. I know I'm going to have a lot of fun here workin' hard. :)
That's so crazy to here that summer is already over and that everyone is going back to school. haha That's way crazy, just make the best of it. :)
Love you guys,
Elder Manis

The Value of a Soul

O valor de uma alma.. [the value of a soul]
This week was ROUGH, it was probably the most stressful week of my mission.
I have never desired so greatly some one's salvation. It just gets to you. But yes, this week we did have 3 baptisms. Tamára, Ingrid, and Jndira entraram nas aguas do batismo.[entered the waters of baptism] It was such a fight to get these people to be baptised. It was not the fact that they didn't know if the Church was true. It was straight fear. So having to deal with these scared people this whole week was rough. I can't even explain it in English, let's just say I'm fighting the good fight. Literally fighting. This week I also saw how angry Satan is and how he works so hard to get in the way.
Let's start:
1) Tamára didn't want to get baptised because her dad would have thrown her out of the house... How do you fight that?
2) Ingrid showed up and hour and a half late to her baptism.. a knife in the heart.
3) Jandira didn't want to get baptised because her husband basically restricted her... How do you fight that? and Raycar her son that baptised her. His bike got stolen while we where at the church.

This week was a fight against Satan. It was seriously a fight. We could see him putting things in the way of these people. Really, he doesn't stop at anything. But the Lord will not let him get in the way of His work.
So then we had the miracle side to our work. We could seriously see miracles happening in front of us. After the 3 baptisms, I just sat in the bathroom and just vented. haha I felt like crying, I was just so stressed out. You have no idea, but it's part of the work. Missionary work isn't easy because salvation isn't free.
I'm seriously burnt out from this week. But there is no resting in missionary work. I got transferred :( I'm not sure where to, but I'll find out tomorrow. And I got another leadership calling so now I have more missionaries to worry about. hahah So it's going to be interesting to see what's going to happen in the next few transfers. Elder Cabral is doing a lot better, he has really learned what it takes to become a dedicated Elder and to finish the work out.
It's crazy to hear that everyone is getting married or is almost getting married at home. I'm not even worried about that for now. haha I got a crazy zone to look after. I'm going to miss this area. Really, I have grown to love the people here and to see the difference that we have made in their lives. Just some things that the heart doesn't forget. I have already seen a lot of crying Irmãs that don't want me to go, but, I gotta go someday. I love the people here really, with all my heart and never will I forget them. :)

Well I'm sorry family if this letter is lame but I gotta go get packin. :(
Love you guys,
Elder Manis

The Atonement

Ola Familia,
Well Mom, about the banking stuff we only get about 45 American bucks per month, so ya, I just would like to eat a little bit more that what I'm taking in.
Just like you guys, my week was a blurr. The days just keep going by faster and faster and don't seem to be slowing down. It's all good. This week was a little slow because Elder Cabral went to the dentist and that took forever. He has bruxismo. That's when you grind your teeth at night. haha It's seriously like he is chewing rocks. haha It's crazy. So he got a nifty mouth piece to sport when he hits the hay. We also had a leadership training meeting so that too took a little while. But this week Elder Cabral and I had a good talk. I told him how he needed to work more, and then he told me that I needed to teach better and stuff. So we both came to the conclusion that we both had some things that we needed to improve on. But it was a good talk, I just hope his eyes are opened because if he stays like this forever his mission is gonna suck.
This week was a great week for our investigators. I learned a lot about the Atonement.
We have an investigator Tamára, she has been an investigator for a little while now, and she always had something holding her back [from baptism]. We taught her about the Atonement and that how God forgets the bad things we have done if we repent. It was really awesome, because that night she called me and told me what was holding her back. It was really awesome to see how the Atonement really opens the minds of people. She told me what it was and she was crying and said that she wants God to forget this, and be accepted to be baptised. I know that sounds like a watered down kids version. But I just felt so honored that she would have trusted me enough to tell me what it was. It was just amazing to see the promises of the Lord working in her life. She and Ingrid our other baptism were interviewed yesterday and they will be baptised on Sunday.
Yesterday I did a baptismal interview, it was a Dad of a part-member family that decided to finally be baptised. (Like when Dad gets baptised) Well, at the end of the interview I asked him what it was that made him decided to be baptised all of a sudden. He said that he was always scared that he wouldn't be able to accomplish his duty as a Priesthood leader. But then he realized that following the example of Jesus Christ and being baptised, that he would be blessed and helped in all things. And that promise was to good to pass up. I just can't wait 'til Dad gets baptised. So we can have an eternal family. :) The man helped me out more than I helped him. haha It was good to talk to him.
Transfers are coming up. I think it's the 3rd, and I think I'm going to be transferred. 4 transfers in one area are a lot. But if I stay I'm fine with that. haha
If there is one thing that I have learned on the mission it's just shut up and do God's will. If He wants me to stay I'll stay and if He wants me to go I'll go. :)
I love this Gospel and know that it is true. I started reading 3rd Nephi this week and its amazing to see how Christ works, and the blessing He promises if we do what is asked of us. :)
Love you guys,
and until now still no package :(
Elder Manis

This Church Makes Sense

ola familia dexe me te-dizer que eu so grato por voces e as coisas voces fazem em minha vida :)
(Hi family, let me just say I'm thankful for you and all you do for me)
Well, this week was an alright week. It wasn't an amazing week, but it was a good week. Elder Cabral is doing great. He and I have had some good talks, and we both have realized that the mission is a little tiring but that's when you gotta work the hardest. Heavenly Father sees everything that we do and Satan as well, so we gotta be extra careful and make sure we are always on His side and never give up.

Well, this week we had another baptism. It was Ian the son of Rosangela. We just completed the family. He was really scared to get baptized, but I left a good message with him. I basically said; "Don't be afraid to do the right things." And he wasn't, and was baptised. It's really amazing to see the Gospel bless this family. To see where they were in the dark all alone and suffering, to seeing them smiling and happy in the church. Knowing and seeing that makes my testimony more strong every day. Just seeing how the Lord works. All I have to say is THIS CHURCH MAKES SENSE. Everything in the Gospel of Jesus Christ makes sense and is here to bless us. The fact that we have a living prophet and 12 apostles is enough to prove that out church is true. And it's amazing to be a servant of the true church :).
Well, about our investigators; they are going good we have Ingrid she will be baptised on the 31st. She is a sister of one of our baptisms, she is really shy and is a little afraid about baptism but she is working a lot with faith and we can see it growing. We also have Tamára she as well will be baptised on the 31 and she too is a little wobbly about baptism but it's nothing that will hold her back. That's about the only people that we have with baptism dates this week. President is doing great, I see him this week. He is such a rad guy, he knows everything that you could ever imagine, and he helps you out a lot. As for the food, nothing too interesting lately. Just rice and beans and sometimes some FARINHA. It's basically saw dust you put on your food. I don't know why I eat it. It's not even tasty but it's one more thing to eat. The weather has been crazy these days, It's always sunny and hot, but when 5 o'clock comes around, the clouds swell and from 5 'till 5 in the morning it's a good hard rain with lots of lightning. So it's always funny because I have to hand wash all my clothes and I'm always afraid to hang them up to dry because of the rain at night.
We live in an apartment about the size of a bathroom. It's seriously the smallest thing ever, and it gets dirty really fast. It's always leaking, so one day I'm a plumber and the next I'm laying tile, and the next a carpenter fixing chairs. haha I guess you could say that I'm learning a butt load about the Gospel, and home skills in this house.
I bought a George Foreman grill this week "HHHHHAAAAALLLLEEEELLLLUUUUAAaAA". So I have been cooking it up to the max. Well, not really, just grilled egg muffins but still it's great I love it.
Well, that's about all for me. Things are just in the works and the results are coming.
Stay good family, know that I love everyone of you and that I pray for you every day,
Elder Manis

Sacrifice + Work = Blessings

HOLA FAMILIA COMO VOS ESTAIS,
Well, things were just in the fight for me this week. Nothing was going right. We didn't teach a lot and lets just say I had a lot of whipping to do this week. Elder Cabral is having a rough time in his mission right now. They just come and go, but I guess this one hit him pretty hard. He didn't make one contact this week and barely taught when I passed the ball to him. Just kinda sat on his rump. I was actually kinda frustrated with him. He just wanted to go back to the house and sleep. And he always complained that we weren't in control of the things that where happening. So I said, "Well, what do we have to do to change, so that we can be in control." I got a little bit of whining as a result and basically I just said; "Be a man. Hey, a mission isn't easy because salvation isn't free." and our little conversation woke him up. He is doing good, I love the kid to death. He just lets the hard times get to him and he thinks the best thing to do would be to quit. But he is great and really cool. He has seen a lot of American films. So it's not like we never have anything to talk about. None of that awkward silence, ya know.

Well, if there has been a hard week in my mission, this week was my hardest. Nothing was working out and it was really frustrating working all alone and pulling the load of another person. But we had 5 people in the chapel on Sunday and if we play our cards right we can have some baptisms this next week. But man, this week was rough. There is a scripture in MATTHEW 11:28-30 "Vinde a mim e eu vos livrerei" Just saying in Christ you'll find rest. Because he was sent here to take on our burdens. This scripture has never meant that much to me until now. This is the first time on my mission that I have felt tired. Just hurting and just fighting to get to the end of the day. I have fallen asleep in almost all of my prayers at night. I have learned the importance of companionship. Yes, you and your companion can be best of friends, but if you're not on the same page then things get complicated. And that's in everything; missions, marriage, school, everything. I just feel tired, not like I'm going to give up. It's just a feeling. haha I don't know if I know how to explain it.
Other than that, things are going great. We had a great Zone Conference this week and I learned a lot. Basically that "sacrifice+work=blessings" so shut your mouth and get to work.
Blessings might not always be baptisms and people in the chapel. So it made me take a step back and look at my mission and see how much it has blessed and effected my life in all aspects.

It's crazy to get pictures and see the family. Everything and everyone is changing and growing up. It's just strange to see.
That girl that Preston had over was a girl I went to school with, so that's crazy. He sent me some pictures too and that was cool.
I still haven't gotten my birthday package so I hope I'll get them soon.

Our last 8 baptisms are firm in the church. I found out that one of those new members that I had baptised is now the Secretary of the stake. So that was cool to see. I I found out that another is getting ready for a mission. It's amazing to see how this Gospel can do great miracles in the lives of others. It's good to know that I am part of it. :)
I love you guys,
Zack