Honey Chicken
This week went pretty well! On Wednesday we had a leadership training at the center of Fortaleza. Only District Leaders, Zone Leaders, and the Assistants were invited to have this meeting with President Batt. It was kind of a cool to be part of the leadership club, you know, and to hear about the mission a little bit more indepth. President Batt gave us a lot of advice on how to help the other missionaries we are responsible for, what we should be focusing on and everything. Specifically, that we need to be using the Area Book more, that we need to work closely with the Ward Leadership, and that we need to do more contacts. That's what we'll focus on until the next leadership meeting. So, I've already been preparing for a good training in District Meeting to help communicate these things to the District.
On Thursday, man, I was so tired for some reason. We came back to the house after lunch and I just collapsed on my bed. Elder Pili tried getting me up to go work but it felt like someone just turned my switch off, I couldn't get up. After a little while though I got back to my senses and I got up to go work for the day. Fortunately I am feeling better but this week was marked by just a wave of exhaustion I started feeling around mid-week... mentally, emotionally, physically tired. In moments like these the only thing that can keep you going is the Savior Jesus Christ. He passed through so many other trials and pains than us... what we are expected to do is so much less than He had to do and that He did.
We spent the whole Saturday contacting all of our investigators to get them excited about Church. I don't think we taught one new investigators (which generally is a bad thing...) But man did it help our Sunday! We more than tripled the number of investigators that went to church, from 5 to 16. That was really a miracle for us and we ended the week very well. We are also very close to baptizing Heverton's parents, both of which have gone to church multiple times. Heverton is being a great help as well, it is so awesome to see him grow spiritually and stay firm to the Gospel without much work from us. He is making the right choices in his life.
Igo and Jenaina didn't go to church. They are having a lot of problems unfortunately. We might not get to baptize them after all this transfer. But our prayers are with them.
Dude, my camera has a virus that completely locked down the whole thing, I can't even take pictures. And I can't go in and fix it because for some reason THE CABLE is missing. I've been looking everywhere for it but no luck. I have no idea what happened to it. If I am going to get pictures to you guys, I've got to get that cable and then get my camera to a computer doctor. Any ideas?
I love you all, thank you for your great support, I miss you immensely. Hope Thanksiving was a blast. We did celebrate Thanksgiving! They don't have turkey here but for Thanksgiving all four of us American Elders at home bought a big thing of fried chicken and had a short feast after proselyting. There was soda and also honey!!! We dipped the chicken in honey it was very good. But, yeah, paled in comparison to the huge feast you guys probably had... *mumbling murmuring* ;)
I love the other guys that I am living with this transfer has been very fun.
Yeah, my e-mails have been lacking as well lately, I think I've gotten lazy in explaining things with detail and all that. After a year and three months here everything feels completely humdrum normal... even spiritual experiences, surprisingly. I need to do better with that.
This week was a lot better. Missionary work is generally stressful and it really is a proof that the Church is True that missionaries aren't always frustrated and depressed, hah. If you paid someone off the street to do all of this they surely would complain of their job and grumble all the time, but for us that happens only occasionally. I guess I am slowly entering that stage of my mission where home seems just around the corner but also far away and where my body is just getting so tired... I need to keep up and keep my energy until the end of the mission you know, I don't want to spend the next eight months walking around like a zombie, so I need to pray a lot for strength.
I love you guys so much! I know you have probably had hard times as well but you never really let on to it, so, well, thanks for always being so supportive. I miss you!!! We're going to talk soon!!!
Super love!!!
- Brendon
Thanks for the pictures. Ah, long car trips in our suburban.... :)
11-22-2010 Letter Home
Hey Family,
The week started out very well. We had Zone Conference which really got me energetic and spiritual and everything. But, it looks like some of the best investigators we found didn't go to Church... except for Mara. We found her two weeks ago and we're having a lot of good spiritual experiences with her, she really wants to right the course of her life. She went to Church and said she liked it. We'll have to pass by soon this week and encourage her to continue learning more and to feel more of the Spirit. Good stuff, the Lord really is blessing us. But, I was kind of hit pretty hard when some people we've been working with for a while decided not to go to Church for some reason... I don't know, just feeling a little down. It also looks like Heverton and Vera, two huge converts we taught and baptized last transfer, are facing various problems. Especially Heverton.
News about Jamie didn't feel too well either. Everyone must be going through some difficult times right now, then, back home, right? I love Jamie so much, I am really going to miss her. The Gospel was very strong in her life though, and when we have the Gospel we need not fear anything, or be sad about anything. Everything happens for a reason.
I love all of you so much, my friends, family and relatives. I know I can't be the biggest source of hope and concilation, I can't say anything to make everything seem a little easier to bear, but I am filled with love for my Savior, and for all of you. I want so badly to see all of you, all of my loved ones, safe and sound at home at my return, but those who the Lord calls... I know that they'll be safe and sound at Our Home in Heaven when we all get there one day.
Thanks for all of your prayers and keep them coming please,
Love love love,
Elder Brendon Carpenter
P.S. Yeah, I did get the Halloween package, thanks a bunch! I loved the hot chocolate, they don't have that here! After this next transfer I might have a new area and a new companion who knows! Give my best to Ryan Schnell that's crazy he's coming home! And Jordan Hamzawi is getting married? Very cool! Good stuff.
The week started out very well. We had Zone Conference which really got me energetic and spiritual and everything. But, it looks like some of the best investigators we found didn't go to Church... except for Mara. We found her two weeks ago and we're having a lot of good spiritual experiences with her, she really wants to right the course of her life. She went to Church and said she liked it. We'll have to pass by soon this week and encourage her to continue learning more and to feel more of the Spirit. Good stuff, the Lord really is blessing us. But, I was kind of hit pretty hard when some people we've been working with for a while decided not to go to Church for some reason... I don't know, just feeling a little down. It also looks like Heverton and Vera, two huge converts we taught and baptized last transfer, are facing various problems. Especially Heverton.
News about Jamie didn't feel too well either. Everyone must be going through some difficult times right now, then, back home, right? I love Jamie so much, I am really going to miss her. The Gospel was very strong in her life though, and when we have the Gospel we need not fear anything, or be sad about anything. Everything happens for a reason.
I love all of you so much, my friends, family and relatives. I know I can't be the biggest source of hope and concilation, I can't say anything to make everything seem a little easier to bear, but I am filled with love for my Savior, and for all of you. I want so badly to see all of you, all of my loved ones, safe and sound at home at my return, but those who the Lord calls... I know that they'll be safe and sound at Our Home in Heaven when we all get there one day.
Thanks for all of your prayers and keep them coming please,
Love love love,
Elder Brendon Carpenter
P.S. Yeah, I did get the Halloween package, thanks a bunch! I loved the hot chocolate, they don't have that here! After this next transfer I might have a new area and a new companion who knows! Give my best to Ryan Schnell that's crazy he's coming home! And Jordan Hamzawi is getting married? Very cool! Good stuff.
11-15-2010 Letter Home
Calma e Cansado
I just figured out today that my freaking camera got a virus which deleted all of my pictures. Darn it!! That's retarded. LANhouses here are always so full of viruses. I hope that they don't piggyback on e-mails as well.
We had a good week, we are working really hard. I really am having a good time with Elder Pili he's way awesome. There are some little challenges with him not knowing the language too well, but for how much time he has in Brasil I think he is doing great. He'll be one of the best American speakers of Portuguese here, I'm certain of it!
We had to cancel the marriage of some of our recent investigators. Two days before the wedding we had planned he told us that he had used drugs recently. We knew he had a problem with that but he had always told us that he was passed it. The good news is that he is still the same man and is super repentant and wants to change and be a better husband and father. She kind of got mad of him and for a day or two she wanted him to leave the house for good but after a lot of talking we got them to give it another chance. We are passing by their house every morning, talking about eternal families and temples, singing hymns and just strengthening them like crazy. It's going to work I know it is... but it will take us a bit longer to see them in fancy clothes and exchanging rings. It's a hard life to escape from, the life of drugs and crime and with so little education, but they are worth it and going to make it I know it.
Raphaella was baptized finally. We had taught her completely last transfer but she faced some challenges with her family. It didn't help that when we scheduled the baptismal interview the last time, she went to a relative's house in another neighborhood and the Zone Leaders suggested sending another District Leader over there to interview her so that she could be baptized that Sunday. We called her up and her aunt as well and talked everything over, but the District Leader passed by their house at 8:00 at night in which time the aunt had left and her Evangelical uncle arrived... You can imagine the reaction and it kind of hurt Raphaella's progress for a bit. But she was happily baptized this Sunday night and is now part of the Castelo Ward! Yay!
I've been feeling kind of down and homesick lately for some reason. Really homesick! I'm just doing the same thing every day and dealing with such difficult people... having spiritual experiences, but at the same time having people disappoint me and to see them not choosing the right... it can be discouraging. Every member in this church is a miracle, they really are, and my family is a miracle of a miracle. It doesn't seem like such things should exist, happy families obedient to the Lord, they are so rare down here and the only place you can really find them is in the Church. In many ways this neighborhood I work in is kinda like the Devil's playground... I discover more and more bad things that are going in the lives of people. Some times I feel very powerless to stop it all or just tired of trying so hard many times without an effect. But I am super happy that I had been able to find the Elect that are seeking truth and that I've been able to guide their lives a little bit. That is a big privilege.
I am so excited to hear where Nick is going!! No one sent me any info about his call! It is so awesome he will go through the temple I hope he has a great experience. I've been feeling really disconnected lately from the extended family... just getting little tid-bits every once and a while, you know, and just through pictures and e-mails. And I'm working so hard every second and worrying so much about people here its just... I feel my mind is so separated from all the people that I love back home. I hope Nick is really happy with his missionary call, really excited and pumped up to serve!! What an awesome time!
*sigh* Well, I'm going to sign off a little sooner than normal. I love you guys so much!
- Your son, brother, friend and relative,
Brendon
We had a good week, we are working really hard. I really am having a good time with Elder Pili he's way awesome. There are some little challenges with him not knowing the language too well, but for how much time he has in Brasil I think he is doing great. He'll be one of the best American speakers of Portuguese here, I'm certain of it!
We had to cancel the marriage of some of our recent investigators. Two days before the wedding we had planned he told us that he had used drugs recently. We knew he had a problem with that but he had always told us that he was passed it. The good news is that he is still the same man and is super repentant and wants to change and be a better husband and father. She kind of got mad of him and for a day or two she wanted him to leave the house for good but after a lot of talking we got them to give it another chance. We are passing by their house every morning, talking about eternal families and temples, singing hymns and just strengthening them like crazy. It's going to work I know it is... but it will take us a bit longer to see them in fancy clothes and exchanging rings. It's a hard life to escape from, the life of drugs and crime and with so little education, but they are worth it and going to make it I know it.
Raphaella was baptized finally. We had taught her completely last transfer but she faced some challenges with her family. It didn't help that when we scheduled the baptismal interview the last time, she went to a relative's house in another neighborhood and the Zone Leaders suggested sending another District Leader over there to interview her so that she could be baptized that Sunday. We called her up and her aunt as well and talked everything over, but the District Leader passed by their house at 8:00 at night in which time the aunt had left and her Evangelical uncle arrived... You can imagine the reaction and it kind of hurt Raphaella's progress for a bit. But she was happily baptized this Sunday night and is now part of the Castelo Ward! Yay!
I've been feeling kind of down and homesick lately for some reason. Really homesick! I'm just doing the same thing every day and dealing with such difficult people... having spiritual experiences, but at the same time having people disappoint me and to see them not choosing the right... it can be discouraging. Every member in this church is a miracle, they really are, and my family is a miracle of a miracle. It doesn't seem like such things should exist, happy families obedient to the Lord, they are so rare down here and the only place you can really find them is in the Church. In many ways this neighborhood I work in is kinda like the Devil's playground... I discover more and more bad things that are going in the lives of people. Some times I feel very powerless to stop it all or just tired of trying so hard many times without an effect. But I am super happy that I had been able to find the Elect that are seeking truth and that I've been able to guide their lives a little bit. That is a big privilege.
I am so excited to hear where Nick is going!! No one sent me any info about his call! It is so awesome he will go through the temple I hope he has a great experience. I've been feeling really disconnected lately from the extended family... just getting little tid-bits every once and a while, you know, and just through pictures and e-mails. And I'm working so hard every second and worrying so much about people here its just... I feel my mind is so separated from all the people that I love back home. I hope Nick is really happy with his missionary call, really excited and pumped up to serve!! What an awesome time!
*sigh* Well, I'm going to sign off a little sooner than normal. I love you guys so much!
- Your son, brother, friend and relative,
Brendon
11-8-2010 Letter Home
Breaking the Sound Barrier
This week was great! One more of those work-a-holic weeks where I can't even remember what we did really because we were just flying around our area teaching like crazy. We upped the ante definitely, taught 27 new investigators and challenged 20 people to be baptized. Infelizmente, we didn't have a baptism this week which is kind of a downer for Elders in the Brazil Fortaleza Mission... next week should be good though. We have a couple of teenagers that went to church for the first time and could be baptized this week if we work hard and we also are going to wed and baptize a couple that we've been working with since the first transfer, Igo and Jenaina. I hope it all works out alright.
My companion is awesome. Elder Pili really knows how to work hard and he's a good, loving, spiritual guy outside of lessons and in them. All he needs to do is learn to speak Portuguese and he's going to be a fantastic Elder in this mission, really gonna tear it up, he's great. And I'm sure we are going to see a lot of miracles this transfer!
 |
| Elder Pili and I |
Ahhh, missing all of you so much! I want to see ya and talk to ya right now! I can hardly wait for our Christmas call... I am also getting really excited for Nick, I can't wait to see where he is going on his mission! Will he be leaving very soon or have to wait four months like we did to leave the country? All of the little kids in all the pictures you guys send me seem to be growing so fast... Everything is going to seem so different when I get back in that and other things.
The whole "I've Been Away From Home For More Than A Year" Syndrome is starting to hit me. I'm still focused on the Lord and reaching more and more people to help them out but I really do think that by the time I get to August 2011 I am going to be absolutely empty, energy-wise, and very emotionally fragile, haha. I want to leave here with absolutely nothing left but my testimony and spiritual knowledge and life experiences, that's it, and just get ready to move on to a completely different phase of my life. I've started thinking a lot as well about what is going to happen after the mission, plans and stuff... the time has come, I think, to at least start thinking about all of that. I can't believe I've got just 9 more months, where'd all my time go?! The majority of my mission has already been written! It's kind of scary and kind of relieving, you know? *sigh*
Well, done pouring out my soul to all of you. I love you all so much and I know that our Savior Jesus Christ lives and loves us all and that this is His Church!!
Well, (to answer the question about the comment I made last week) we had bought a lot of Coca-Cola at the end of the transfer so I kept on guzzling it for a few nights after the interview until we ran out. From now on it's my goal to drink Coke only at lunches and during the day, but to never bring home Coca-Cola or I'll end up drinking after work at night because it's so tempting!! I did stop eating breakfast just to get more time in the morning to do other things, and to save on money, but maybe that wasn't such a wise decision. Now I am eating an egg sandwich every day with juice and it is helping me have more energy... good stuff too! Breakfast is fun!
The weeks are flying by it is crazy!
I did get some new shoes, and some new pants, and new ties. Let's see, what do I want from home... see if you can find some of that anti-fungal cooling spray for feet, Elder Pili brought a can with him and it's awesome, I've never seen it before. That could come in handy here in Ceara especially since I've got a slow but determined case of athlete's foot. Make sure to send candy that is well wrapped because the ants here are really crazy and get in everything. Reeses maybe, Reeses Pieces... more hot chocolate! Hmmm... more peanut butter... I don't know, stuff like that...
Can't wait for the Christmas call its been so loooonnnggggg!!!!
Your friend, brother, son and relative,
Brendon
Your friend, brother, son and relative,
11-1-2010 Letter Home
"Hotel California"
Yeah! Transfer day! No way, what happened, Elder Carpenter?
Well, let us begin.
First of all my last week with Elder Da Hora was kinda slow, you know, we began to take it a little easy and, I don't know, it passed by really quickly without too much happening. I had my interview with President Batt which went very well, he said that I need to stop drinking so much Coca-Cola before bed and I'll have more energy to work every day, and that I need to start eating breakfast again. Alright, that's a can-do.
The rest of the week we found some new people to teach, worked with some older investigators too. Melissa has a ton of friends for us to teach. One night we found her with a bunch of friends from school and we sat down on the pavement with them and shared the first message with the whole group of youth. We got around to teaching seven new people just from that little street lesson. We were also working with Calay, who is fourteen years old and a big drama-theatre buff, funny guy. After he went to church for the first time last Sunday he told us that he had a feeling during sacrament meeting that he was born to be a member in this church that he didn't belong any where else. He made a bunch of friends, read chapters of the Book of Mormon and that was that. Yeah! Great kid.
It's so funny, three months ago we got here and there was only one young man in the Priests/Teachers/Deacon's Quorum (they are all combined here) and Jamerson, a recent-convert, had just been called to be the Young Men's President. He told us that first night we were here "Elders, I don't know what I am going to do. The Lord gave me my first calling and I've got to be the Young Men's President but there isn't anyone to preside over! What am I going to do?" Elder Da Hora promptly said, "Look, just leave that to us we're going to baptize some young men for you." And, three months later, we've got a thriving, fun little group of young men! Renan, Humberto, Diego, and now Calay and Tiago, just enough to make Jamerson happy and give him the opportunity to serve the Lord. Yeah!
I will be staying here in Ala Fortaleza/Ala Castelo for at least one more transfer. I love it here this area is great! My new companion is Elder Pili and he's from Riverside in California. I heard that lately Brazil has been in a "visa war" with the United States (each one denying visas in order to pressure the other to make legal concessions for whatever little thing) and so Elder Pili waited six months in the United States to get his visa!! He was serving in the Marietta Georgia Portuguese/Spanish-speaking mission while he waited. Finally the visa came in for him, and he got to Fortaleza three weeks ago! Looks like a cool guy. He's gone to culinary school for a year and wants to run a restaurant. I hope he can teach me how to make some creative breakfasts! My first American companion! We're going to have a great transfer together!
So, the Elders that were living with us, Elder Ferreira and Elder Padula, were both transferred to other areas and other companions. In their place, Elder Deffense and Elder Johnson will be working in Ala Palmeiras and Ala Sitio Sao Joao. Wait a minute... Elder Deffense is from Los Angeles, and Elder Johnson is from Orem, Utah but was born in California. Does that mean... what I think it means... ?
Yeah it does... CASA CALIFORNIANA!!! Four Californians in one house for one entire transfer... this transfer is going to be insane! Hehehe. But, yeah, that's pretty weird right? Cool...
Oh, one funny story... I got my wet clothes out of the wash and instead of hanging them up to dry I placed them in a sink close to the washing machine and I forgot about them. Turns out that a bat came in and slept in the roof above the sink and... CRAPPED ALL OVER MY CLOTHES!!! Argh noooo!!!! What the heck what is the chance that would happen? Bats have never slept in that room before...
Well, that's all for now. I love all you guys! Hope you like the pictures!
Elder Da Hora is gone!!! Nooo!!! We had a great three months together I love that guy, we had so much fun. I'm going to miss him a lot. He'll have a good companion though, I think, another American named Elder Way. Cool stuff.
Love you all, have a great week!
Tchau tchau!
- Elder Brendon
Yeah! Transfer day! No way, what happened, Elder Carpenter?
Well, let us begin.
The rest of the week we found some new people to teach, worked with some older investigators too. Melissa has a ton of friends for us to teach. One night we found her with a bunch of friends from school and we sat down on the pavement with them and shared the first message with the whole group of youth. We got around to teaching seven new people just from that little street lesson. We were also working with Calay, who is fourteen years old and a big drama-theatre buff, funny guy. After he went to church for the first time last Sunday he told us that he had a feeling during sacrament meeting that he was born to be a member in this church that he didn't belong any where else. He made a bunch of friends, read chapters of the Book of Mormon and that was that. Yeah! Great kid.
I will be staying here in Ala Fortaleza/Ala Castelo for at least one more transfer. I love it here this area is great! My new companion is Elder Pili and he's from Riverside in California. I heard that lately Brazil has been in a "visa war" with the United States (each one denying visas in order to pressure the other to make legal concessions for whatever little thing) and so Elder Pili waited six months in the United States to get his visa!! He was serving in the Marietta Georgia Portuguese/Spanish-speaking mission while he waited. Finally the visa came in for him, and he got to Fortaleza three weeks ago! Looks like a cool guy. He's gone to culinary school for a year and wants to run a restaurant. I hope he can teach me how to make some creative breakfasts! My first American companion! We're going to have a great transfer together!
So, the Elders that were living with us, Elder Ferreira and Elder Padula, were both transferred to other areas and other companions. In their place, Elder Deffense and Elder Johnson will be working in Ala Palmeiras and Ala Sitio Sao Joao. Wait a minute... Elder Deffense is from Los Angeles, and Elder Johnson is from Orem, Utah but was born in California. Does that mean... what I think it means... ?
Yeah it does... CASA CALIFORNIANA!!! Four Californians in one house for one entire transfer... this transfer is going to be insane! Hehehe. But, yeah, that's pretty weird right? Cool...
Oh, one funny story... I got my wet clothes out of the wash and instead of hanging them up to dry I placed them in a sink close to the washing machine and I forgot about them. Turns out that a bat came in and slept in the roof above the sink and... CRAPPED ALL OVER MY CLOTHES!!! Argh noooo!!!! What the heck what is the chance that would happen? Bats have never slept in that room before...
Well, that's all for now. I love all you guys! Hope you like the pictures!
Elder Da Hora is gone!!! Nooo!!! We had a great three months together I love that guy, we had so much fun. I'm going to miss him a lot. He'll have a good companion though, I think, another American named Elder Way. Cool stuff.
Love you all, have a great week!
Tchau tchau!
- Elder Brendon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
