Sunday, April 25, 2010
Im back Im back
Querido Minha Família,
Well I am glad to report that one more week happened, man time is flying. It's weird to think I get to talk to you guys in just like 3 weeks....weird and exciting. Well, p-day last week was kinda boring. We did not really do a whole lot which was nice. I wrote some letters and coisas assim. =).
Tuesday, after district meeting I did a division with Elder Erick. He is way cool. He is in the other ward in our building. He came to our area, so I had to go senior for a day. I was slightly nervous but the day went so well. We taught like 8 lessons together and found like 10 new which was sweet. Oh yeah, he is a Brazilian so português all day long.
The rest of the week was a little bit of a downer. I got in a weird funk Like i was going through the motions but I was not all there. Very chato (annoying) but I am glad to report that I am back to 100% now.
Saturday, Denise and Taleson were interviewed for baptism. They both passed. Denise had to give up coffee this week and she had some major withdrawals...like seriously...you would think that she was a druggie. But, she has kicked it which is good. They will be baptized on Saturday.
Funny story...so we were at the bus station waiting for a bus and we were speaking english to each other and this girl behind us in perfect english said, "excuse me can I ask you a question? You are from America right, why would you come here?" It caught us off guard. Then we started speaking portugues to her...haha. She lived in Florida for most of her life. We explained how were called by a profeta of god. She really wants to go back to the U.S. She likes but does not love Brazil...really funny.
I ask that you will pray for me this week especially that my teaching will improve. This is one thing I feel is lacking right now...so pray for it please.
Yesterday, we went with Edson's mom to her church. One thing about Brazil is there is at least 20 churches on every corner...no joke. It was a assemblia de deus (assembly of god). It was really loud and weird but a good experience. They focused a lot on the cross at calvary. I gained an apprecation for other christian churches, because even though they do not have a fullness of the truth they are still trying to teach and worship Jesus in the way they know best. It was fun.
I am getting another haircut today. Is smallville on its last season (Mom you can email Mandy this question for me?) We have zone conference this week so we get letters whoa.
One more funny thing for dad. The brazilains that have bikes really dont have brakes so they used there feet (flipflops) to stop. We watched a kid go down big hill and stop with his feet. It was really funny!!
Well all for now.
Give my love to TJ and the rest of the family. I love you all!!!
Elder Athão (Big Athans)
Well I am glad to report that one more week happened, man time is flying. It's weird to think I get to talk to you guys in just like 3 weeks....weird and exciting. Well, p-day last week was kinda boring. We did not really do a whole lot which was nice. I wrote some letters and coisas assim. =).
Tuesday, after district meeting I did a division with Elder Erick. He is way cool. He is in the other ward in our building. He came to our area, so I had to go senior for a day. I was slightly nervous but the day went so well. We taught like 8 lessons together and found like 10 new which was sweet. Oh yeah, he is a Brazilian so português all day long.
The rest of the week was a little bit of a downer. I got in a weird funk Like i was going through the motions but I was not all there. Very chato (annoying) but I am glad to report that I am back to 100% now.
Saturday, Denise and Taleson were interviewed for baptism. They both passed. Denise had to give up coffee this week and she had some major withdrawals...like seriously...you would think that she was a druggie. But, she has kicked it which is good. They will be baptized on Saturday.
Funny story...so we were at the bus station waiting for a bus and we were speaking english to each other and this girl behind us in perfect english said, "excuse me can I ask you a question? You are from America right, why would you come here?" It caught us off guard. Then we started speaking portugues to her...haha. She lived in Florida for most of her life. We explained how were called by a profeta of god. She really wants to go back to the U.S. She likes but does not love Brazil...really funny.
I ask that you will pray for me this week especially that my teaching will improve. This is one thing I feel is lacking right now...so pray for it please.
Yesterday, we went with Edson's mom to her church. One thing about Brazil is there is at least 20 churches on every corner...no joke. It was a assemblia de deus (assembly of god). It was really loud and weird but a good experience. They focused a lot on the cross at calvary. I gained an apprecation for other christian churches, because even though they do not have a fullness of the truth they are still trying to teach and worship Jesus in the way they know best. It was fun.
I am getting another haircut today. Is smallville on its last season (Mom you can email Mandy this question for me?) We have zone conference this week so we get letters whoa.
One more funny thing for dad. The brazilains that have bikes really dont have brakes so they used there feet (flipflops) to stop. We watched a kid go down big hill and stop with his feet. It was really funny!!
Well all for now.
Give my love to TJ and the rest of the family. I love you all!!!
Elder Athão (Big Athans)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Pizzaria Novo Horizonte
Wow this week in all reality flew by really fast. So I am sure you all want to know about transfers. So, here is what went down. Elder Ekstrom and I stayed together yet again. Which is good because we work very well together. We know each other very well too well at times but all is well. Elder Johnson that lived in our apartment, he had been there 4 transfers still his greenie area and Elder Croshaw in our district was transferred too. We got Elder Bastos from São Paulo in our apartment. He is pretty cool, so our district is now equal 3 Americans and 3 Brasileiros. This is a short transfer only 5 weeks instead of the normal 6 weeks this is because of Americans and visas or something. Only 1 5 week transfer a year here.
The weather has been amazing this week. Like usually I sweat jemais (too much) but I have rarely sweated this week. It’s really pretty nice. Ekstrom has been freezing its kinda funny. I heard Duke won the tournament. Is that correct? Send me a copy of the brackets. Elder Ekstrom had a major cold this week but he still went on awesome great example to me.
We have 2 investigators that we are working with this week on baptism to be baptized on the 24th. Whoa. We found an awesome family of 6 yesterday all above age 8. They are really sweet. I will be praying for them a lot this week.
Geovanne, a recent convert, his godfather passed away. So we and another companionship sang at the graveside service and Elder Ekstrom offered a prayer. It was good. I was really glad to be there for him.
Edson got confirmed yesterday. It was neat. I love him so much. I cannot go over to his house without laughing like crazy. He is just a really funny person. I sealed the anointing on 2 blessings this week. One for a little kid and the other for Ekstrom. It’s really weird because in blessings you have to use a different form the Tu form. It was good. The priesthood is real. I know it and it is the only thing that makes our church valid.
Oh yeah I got a package and a letter this week. It was awesome. Mom thank you so much for the package. It was so amazing. I loved it. The letter was from Gillian Voigt. Nice surprise.
Oh yeah a tragedy happened. So, we live four stories up right. I was emptying my hair from my electric razor out the window like always and the head fell off (the white part). It was very sad. I picked up all the pieces but yeah, the body of it is still good just the head is not good. So it’s back to a normal Razor for Elder Athans for the time being.
The gospel is true the work carries on. I love you all. Happy 58,000000 birthday mom (by the way the period and the comma are switched here.)
Elder Athans
The weather has been amazing this week. Like usually I sweat jemais (too much) but I have rarely sweated this week. It’s really pretty nice. Ekstrom has been freezing its kinda funny. I heard Duke won the tournament. Is that correct? Send me a copy of the brackets. Elder Ekstrom had a major cold this week but he still went on awesome great example to me.
We have 2 investigators that we are working with this week on baptism to be baptized on the 24th. Whoa. We found an awesome family of 6 yesterday all above age 8. They are really sweet. I will be praying for them a lot this week.
Geovanne, a recent convert, his godfather passed away. So we and another companionship sang at the graveside service and Elder Ekstrom offered a prayer. It was good. I was really glad to be there for him.
Edson got confirmed yesterday. It was neat. I love him so much. I cannot go over to his house without laughing like crazy. He is just a really funny person. I sealed the anointing on 2 blessings this week. One for a little kid and the other for Ekstrom. It’s really weird because in blessings you have to use a different form the Tu form. It was good. The priesthood is real. I know it and it is the only thing that makes our church valid.
Oh yeah I got a package and a letter this week. It was awesome. Mom thank you so much for the package. It was so amazing. I loved it. The letter was from Gillian Voigt. Nice surprise.
Oh yeah a tragedy happened. So, we live four stories up right. I was emptying my hair from my electric razor out the window like always and the head fell off (the white part). It was very sad. I picked up all the pieces but yeah, the body of it is still good just the head is not good. So it’s back to a normal Razor for Elder Athans for the time being.
The gospel is true the work carries on. I love you all. Happy 58,000000 birthday mom (by the way the period and the comma are switched here.)
Elder Athans
Monday, April 5, 2010
Conferência General
Ola Minha Familia,
Well, this weekend was pretty awesome. I hope one and all soaked up the joy that is and was general conference. I hope you noticed the theme as I did and that was about families. Families are one the most important things in this life. I have a testimony that the family is indeed ordained of God. I am glad for the temple sealing which unites families on both sides of the veil. The hours for the sessions here are 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 and priesthood at 830 Sunday morning. They record priesthood and reshow it. The first session they did not have English set up for us so I had to watch it in Portuguese. It is not the same without the voices. I did not get all that I wanted from the first session probably because I had a bad attitude for listening to it in Portuguese. The second session was my favorite, especially Elder Holland. He is my favorite. Priesthood we had to watch in Portuguese but a truly miraculous thing occurred, I understood without much thinking. It was amazing, one special prompting when all the members of the first presidency spoke I could feel the spirit bear testimony to me that they are called of God. I know they are.
I hope everyone had a good Easter. We really did not do much for Easter. It’s funny here even though people are members of the church they still carry some catholic traditions such as only fish and chicken on Friday and on Friday being quiet from 3 to 6. My testimony is this of the risen lord. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the holy one is real, that he leads this his church the only true church on the earth. This is a bold but true statement, the only true church on the earth. I know without doubt in my mind.
Last p-day me and Elder Ekstrom went and played golf here in Brazil…crazy right? I played golf before I played soccer. We took a bus about an hour away. The owner of the course was not there when we were there so we had to wait. They did not accept credit cards luckily we had enough cash to save us. Green fees were 60 reais each, clubs for rent which we shared 20 and 10 balls another 20, so between us it cost 160…haha. It’s more comforting in you think about it in dollars. It was fun. Ekstrom lost like 4 balls on the first 2 holes. We were running out of ball by like hole 3, but through prayer and miracles we found some balls and got through to play all 9 holes. I will send some pictures. First time I had played in 3 years. I was pretty bad, but it was fun. It was a party for Ekstrom’s birthday.
I did divisions with Elder Johnson this week, him and Elder Carvalho work on the other side of the ward. It was good to be on that side, we did a lot of walking that day. It was good. I will send pictures from the division.
The theme for this transfer was charity Moroni 7:47. Transfers are tomorrow. I think Ekstrom might be going and Johnson. I have a feeling it will be me and 3 Brazilians in the apartment…whoa. The theme for this transfer is D&C 103:36.
I received 5 letters on Monday because an elder in our district went to the mission office and grabbed them..3 from mom on missionties.com,1 from a kid in my district in the MTC, and the other from Michelle. Thanks keep them coming. They really help and I enjoy them lots.
All for now pray for me and I for you
Elder Athans
Shall we not go in so great a cause forward not backward avante avante pra Vitoria.--Joseph Smith
Well, this weekend was pretty awesome. I hope one and all soaked up the joy that is and was general conference. I hope you noticed the theme as I did and that was about families. Families are one the most important things in this life. I have a testimony that the family is indeed ordained of God. I am glad for the temple sealing which unites families on both sides of the veil. The hours for the sessions here are 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 and priesthood at 830 Sunday morning. They record priesthood and reshow it. The first session they did not have English set up for us so I had to watch it in Portuguese. It is not the same without the voices. I did not get all that I wanted from the first session probably because I had a bad attitude for listening to it in Portuguese. The second session was my favorite, especially Elder Holland. He is my favorite. Priesthood we had to watch in Portuguese but a truly miraculous thing occurred, I understood without much thinking. It was amazing, one special prompting when all the members of the first presidency spoke I could feel the spirit bear testimony to me that they are called of God. I know they are.
I hope everyone had a good Easter. We really did not do much for Easter. It’s funny here even though people are members of the church they still carry some catholic traditions such as only fish and chicken on Friday and on Friday being quiet from 3 to 6. My testimony is this of the risen lord. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the holy one is real, that he leads this his church the only true church on the earth. This is a bold but true statement, the only true church on the earth. I know without doubt in my mind.
Last p-day me and Elder Ekstrom went and played golf here in Brazil…crazy right? I played golf before I played soccer. We took a bus about an hour away. The owner of the course was not there when we were there so we had to wait. They did not accept credit cards luckily we had enough cash to save us. Green fees were 60 reais each, clubs for rent which we shared 20 and 10 balls another 20, so between us it cost 160…haha. It’s more comforting in you think about it in dollars. It was fun. Ekstrom lost like 4 balls on the first 2 holes. We were running out of ball by like hole 3, but through prayer and miracles we found some balls and got through to play all 9 holes. I will send some pictures. First time I had played in 3 years. I was pretty bad, but it was fun. It was a party for Ekstrom’s birthday.
I did divisions with Elder Johnson this week, him and Elder Carvalho work on the other side of the ward. It was good to be on that side, we did a lot of walking that day. It was good. I will send pictures from the division.
The theme for this transfer was charity Moroni 7:47. Transfers are tomorrow. I think Ekstrom might be going and Johnson. I have a feeling it will be me and 3 Brazilians in the apartment…whoa. The theme for this transfer is D&C 103:36.
I received 5 letters on Monday because an elder in our district went to the mission office and grabbed them..3 from mom on missionties.com,1 from a kid in my district in the MTC, and the other from Michelle. Thanks keep them coming. They really help and I enjoy them lots.
All for now pray for me and I for you
Elder Athans
Shall we not go in so great a cause forward not backward avante avante pra Vitoria.--Joseph Smith
Muito Legal
Oí e tudo bem todos. This week is very good. I am pleased to report that the mission is still going very well. Well let’s see Tuesday I was sick. I woke up with diarrhea, não bom. Ekstrom had a meeting at Presidents so Elder Carvalho went with him. He brought back my temporary companion and we just stayed in. I did not feel well. You are supposed to get permission from Sister Pickett but I could not get a hold of her till later but she agreed I could stay in. It was kinda lame; I wanted to work and show the area to the other Elder. He is Brazilian, we got along well. For lunch Elders Carvalho and Johnson ate at the Relief Society Presidents and she sent us food. She sent like directions and medicine. It was nice. I love her so much. One thing that she sent was this juice stuff from a bark of a tree, it was so nasty I only could have like an ounce. Gross, but I am better now, just sick that one day.
Well, we have seen some sorrows this week. Our baptism Silvia was really down this week. She did not want to talk about it and yeah, she left yesterday going to the Bahia other part of Brazil, kinda sad, I hope she still stays strong.
Poliana was a baptism we had scheduled for yesterday. She told us on Saturday she did not want to be baptized. That was really sad.
Enough sad...yesterday we had yet another baptism. It was Edson, the seven toed man I found. I found him during a morning while we were doing what is called bhag (big hairy audacious goal). President has us do this to make sure we work in the morning before lunch. He is hilarious. He was late to church, and after the sacrament was passed they opened the door and the entire chapel could hear him say that he was late. Then when he was changing into the jumpsuit, there were bathroom had stalls but he did not use them. Then when was walking down into the font, we was saying oh Gloria oh dues (god). Then he forget to plug his nose…oh my gosh. I am still laughing. He is awesome. I love him so much.
I did another division this week. This time it was with Elder Brito, he is one of the zone leaders. I worked in his area. His area is still in Vitoria, but more towards the city so that was cool. It was a long day though. His area had hills or mountains so it was a lot of up and down. It was good though.
Well Easter is drawing closer...remember the Master this season. During my studies this week I will be studying about those final days of the master. I would encourage all to do the same; any letters to the dear Elder Athans would be appreciated.
Funny story, here in Brazil everyone gets drunk on the weekends. I got my first drunk guy hug on Saturday. He smelled awful. Ekstrom was laughing the entire time. General conference is this weekend whoa. I love it. we are trying to get a room for English we should be able to but pray for it because as much as I love Portuguese and I do....I would rather watch in English. Ekstrom turned 20 this week so that was fun.
Transfers are next week so we will see. Hey mail me a copy of the final bracket.
I am excited today because to celebrate Ekstrom’s birth we are going golfing you will find out more next week.
I love you all pray for me as I do for you.
Elder Athans
Well, we have seen some sorrows this week. Our baptism Silvia was really down this week. She did not want to talk about it and yeah, she left yesterday going to the Bahia other part of Brazil, kinda sad, I hope she still stays strong.
Poliana was a baptism we had scheduled for yesterday. She told us on Saturday she did not want to be baptized. That was really sad.
Enough sad...yesterday we had yet another baptism. It was Edson, the seven toed man I found. I found him during a morning while we were doing what is called bhag (big hairy audacious goal). President has us do this to make sure we work in the morning before lunch. He is hilarious. He was late to church, and after the sacrament was passed they opened the door and the entire chapel could hear him say that he was late. Then when he was changing into the jumpsuit, there were bathroom had stalls but he did not use them. Then when was walking down into the font, we was saying oh Gloria oh dues (god). Then he forget to plug his nose…oh my gosh. I am still laughing. He is awesome. I love him so much.
I did another division this week. This time it was with Elder Brito, he is one of the zone leaders. I worked in his area. His area is still in Vitoria, but more towards the city so that was cool. It was a long day though. His area had hills or mountains so it was a lot of up and down. It was good though.
Well Easter is drawing closer...remember the Master this season. During my studies this week I will be studying about those final days of the master. I would encourage all to do the same; any letters to the dear Elder Athans would be appreciated.
Funny story, here in Brazil everyone gets drunk on the weekends. I got my first drunk guy hug on Saturday. He smelled awful. Ekstrom was laughing the entire time. General conference is this weekend whoa. I love it. we are trying to get a room for English we should be able to but pray for it because as much as I love Portuguese and I do....I would rather watch in English. Ekstrom turned 20 this week so that was fun.
Transfers are next week so we will see. Hey mail me a copy of the final bracket.
I am excited today because to celebrate Ekstrom’s birth we are going golfing you will find out more next week.
I love you all pray for me as I do for you.
Elder Athans
Muito Legal
Oí e tudo bem todos. This week is very good. I am pleased to report that the mission is still going very well. Well let’s see Tuesday I was sick. I woke up with diarrhea, não bom. Ekstrom had a meeting at Presidents so Elder Carvalho went with him. He brought back my temporary companion and we just stayed in. I did not feel well. You are supposed to get permission from Sister Pickett but I could not get a hold of her till later but she agreed I could stay in. It was kinda lame; I wanted to work and show the area to the other Elder. He is Brazilian, we got along well. For lunch Elders Carvalho and Johnson ate at the Relief Society Presidents and she sent us food. She sent like directions and medicine. It was nice. I love her so much. One thing that she sent was this juice stuff from a bark of a tree, it was so nasty I only could have like an ounce. Gross, but I am better now, just sick that one day.
Well, we have seen some sorrows this week. Our baptism Silvia was really down this week. She did not want to talk about it and yeah, she left yesterday going to the Bahia other part of Brazil, kinda sad, I hope she still stays strong.
Poliana was a baptism we had scheduled for yesterday. She told us on Saturday she did not want to be baptized. That was really sad.
Enough sad...yesterday we had yet another baptism. It was Edson, the seven toed man I found. I found him during a morning while we were doing what is called bhag (big hairy audacious goal). President has us do this to make sure we work in the morning before lunch. He is hilarious. He was late to church, and after the sacrament was passed they opened the door and the entire chapel could hear him say that he was late. Then when he was changing into the jumpsuit, there were bathroom had stalls but he did not use them. Then when was walking down into the font, we was saying oh Gloria oh dues (god). Then he forget to plug his nose…oh my gosh. I am still laughing. He is awesome. I love him so much.
I did another division this week. This time it was with Elder Brito, he is one of the zone leaders. I worked in his area. His area is still in Vitoria, but more towards the city so that was cool. It was a long day though. His area had hills or mountains so it was a lot of up and down. It was good though.
Well Easter is drawing closer...remember the Master this season. During my studies this week I will be studying about those final days of the master. I would encourage all to do the same; any letters to the dear Elder Athans would be appreciated.
Funny story, here in Brazil everyone gets drunk on the weekends. I got my first drunk guy hug on Saturday. He smelled awful. Ekstrom was laughing the entire time. General conference is this weekend whoa. I love it. we are trying to get a room for English we should be able to but pray for it because as much as I love Portuguese and I do....I would rather watch in English. Ekstrom turned 20 this week so that was fun.
Transfers are next week so we will see. Hey mail me a copy of the final bracket.
I am excited today because to celebrate Ekstrom’s birth we are going golfing you will find out more next week.
I love you all pray for me as I do for you.
Elder Athans
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Mais uma batisma
Well, hello family how are we all doing? Well I hope.
I am doing well. This week was very good and enjoyable. The time really is starting to go by faster which is nice and sad. Too bad for Kyle, not Brazil, oh well, spanish is almost as good as português.
Well, we had a visit from Elder Godoy this week. He his in the 1st quorem of 70 and in the area presidency here. He taught us during mission tour on tuesday. It was combined with two zones vitoria and villa velia. So, I got to see Elder McQuivey (my mtc companion) and some other Elders we met in the MTC. It was really nice. Elder Godoy was awesome but he spoke really fas.t He is a native brazilian. I had to really concentrate to listen but it was good. It is much easier to listen to Sister Pickett. Her portugues is not the best and so it is way easy to understand. President is easy too.
Last p-day we went to the mall and I bought a card reader. It was like 50 reais. I traded the rest of my American money, 75 dollars for 129 reais, so not too bad but not too good either.
Friday, we had zone conference it was really good. One thing I will share is this. President had us stand for a minute and was like raise your hands if any of your baptisms could be bishops in 5 yrs. I could not raise my hand because all my baptisms were women. His response to that...increase your faith. That is my goal. I want to find bishops. Presidente é muito legal.
Yesterday, we had the baptism of Hionice that was good. Ekstrom and I were witnesses so that was good. We have 2 more baptisms next week. One is Edson who I made the first street contact with so that is pretty cool. He was the one with 7 toes. He is very funny.
Well all for now. I love you all
Elder Athans
I am doing well. This week was very good and enjoyable. The time really is starting to go by faster which is nice and sad. Too bad for Kyle, not Brazil, oh well, spanish is almost as good as português.
Well, we had a visit from Elder Godoy this week. He his in the 1st quorem of 70 and in the area presidency here. He taught us during mission tour on tuesday. It was combined with two zones vitoria and villa velia. So, I got to see Elder McQuivey (my mtc companion) and some other Elders we met in the MTC. It was really nice. Elder Godoy was awesome but he spoke really fas.t He is a native brazilian. I had to really concentrate to listen but it was good. It is much easier to listen to Sister Pickett. Her portugues is not the best and so it is way easy to understand. President is easy too.
Last p-day we went to the mall and I bought a card reader. It was like 50 reais. I traded the rest of my American money, 75 dollars for 129 reais, so not too bad but not too good either.
Friday, we had zone conference it was really good. One thing I will share is this. President had us stand for a minute and was like raise your hands if any of your baptisms could be bishops in 5 yrs. I could not raise my hand because all my baptisms were women. His response to that...increase your faith. That is my goal. I want to find bishops. Presidente é muito legal.
Yesterday, we had the baptism of Hionice that was good. Ekstrom and I were witnesses so that was good. We have 2 more baptisms next week. One is Edson who I made the first street contact with so that is pretty cool. He was the one with 7 toes. He is very funny.
Well all for now. I love you all
Elder Athans
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Mais uma batisma
Well, I am glad to report we had another great week. This definitely is the work of the Lord. I have a testimony of that. A lot of crazy things happened this week. I did another division, so Elder Ekstrom could work with one of the Elders in our district. It was supposed to end about 8 but Ekstrom and them ran out of money so I had to stay overnight in the other area, which would have been fine already if i had my contacts. The other Elder, Croshaw, wore contacts so I used his case but when I put them in it totally burned my eye for like an hour. oh well, so I had to walk blind to undo the division. Its all good.
Last night we were walking to an appointment and it takes a good 45 minutes to an hour to walk there and we saw a bus accident. It was crazy. This car plowed into the back of a bus going like 70 kmh. It was literally pancaked underneath the bus. I was a little shellshocked. One member we took with us said I got red in the face. When we came back everyone and their mother was there looking at the accident. The news was there too. It was a little hard to handle.
So, my português is getting better thank goodness. I understand and can communicate better now. Renata the first girl we baptized said my portugues is 100 percent better but i still did not understand that. Hahaha funny. I showed her a family picture the one right beforeIi left and she was like you look younger, which Ekstrom told me was a polite way of saying you have gotten fatter, hahaha!!!!
So, Silvia got the holy ghost this week it was awesome. I am a witness of how a person can speak with a new tongue after recieving the holy ghost. She talked a lot before but she would open her mouth and pure testimony would come out. It was awesome
We had a baptism yesterday. A little girl who was 8 years old whose parents are not members because they are not married. It was good. The spirit was strong and I think it sparked in interest in her mom to get baptized.
Honice is a someone else we are teaching. She got interviewed and will be baptized next Sunday. Yahoo. Last night she was having doubts. I felt inspired to ask her if she would like a priesthood blessing and she accepted. Ekstrom gave the blessing and it had some great promises in it. I am happy for her.
So I had a goal to save 2 white shirts for my 1 year mark but yeah I cracked them open this week. If you ever send me something....send me some more shirts, they come in handy (not oxford style the other kind).
This week we have mission tour with Elder Godoy from the area 70 and presidency and zone conference.
One thing I have learned is that everything in our faith hangs on authority. It is the answer to everyones question and the deciding factor if people get baptiazed or not.
Dad my companion and I at night when walking home sing the song, "American Pie" and I think about you. It is kinda fun .
Well all is well. Continue to pray for me and send me letters.
I love you all
Elder Athans
Esta semana foi muito rapido
Oí e tudo bem
First of all, everyone totally freaked out about the peeing thing. I do drink a lot before I go to bed and its only like once a night, maybe twice. Thanks for the concern; but, all is well. I still dont sleep well but that is nothing new. I am totally fine.
Wow, I think week was pretty freaking amazing. Wow, this week went by crazy fast. I really dont believe it. The e-mail I sent you mom was one from President congratulating us on our baptism we had this week. Put it into a translator and read it.
Silvia, that awesome investigator I told you about last week got baptized yesterday. She is awesome. Ekstrom got to bapize her. President likes members to do it usually, but she really wanted Ekstorm and he got permission so yeah. The spirit was really strong. We have another baptism this week. A little girl whose parents are not members yet. They will take a little time. We taught her everything and she will get baptized next Sunday after church. We have another baptism of the mother of a young women the week after. The field is white, no matter where you are. Everyone needs the gospel even in Vass.
It rained like crazy this week, yeah, I dont like rain. Our apartment is not sealed the best, so yeah we got a little wet. All is well however. The investigators we taught live like 50 mins from us walking so yeah. A lot of walking this past week and the weeks to come.
Church was really good yesterday. My patriarchial blessing tells me to keep a journal while I am on my mission. I am really faithful about it too. I write like 3 pages a day. I got the distinct impression yesterday morning that I needed to write and bear my testimony in it. I did not know why but I did it. Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting and president likes for us to bear our testimony every fast Sunday. I got up there and wow português came out. I got complimented on it too. It was amazing. I can feel the Lord making up for my weaknesses.
One funny quote dad will probably like from Ekstrom about my work ethic: "Your not the chillest of people." It made me laugh very hard. I love him so much.
Well, all for this week. Keep praying for me as I pray for you.
Love
Elder Athans
First of all, everyone totally freaked out about the peeing thing. I do drink a lot before I go to bed and its only like once a night, maybe twice. Thanks for the concern; but, all is well. I still dont sleep well but that is nothing new. I am totally fine.
Wow, I think week was pretty freaking amazing. Wow, this week went by crazy fast. I really dont believe it. The e-mail I sent you mom was one from President congratulating us on our baptism we had this week. Put it into a translator and read it.
Silvia, that awesome investigator I told you about last week got baptized yesterday. She is awesome. Ekstrom got to bapize her. President likes members to do it usually, but she really wanted Ekstorm and he got permission so yeah. The spirit was really strong. We have another baptism this week. A little girl whose parents are not members yet. They will take a little time. We taught her everything and she will get baptized next Sunday after church. We have another baptism of the mother of a young women the week after. The field is white, no matter where you are. Everyone needs the gospel even in Vass.
It rained like crazy this week, yeah, I dont like rain. Our apartment is not sealed the best, so yeah we got a little wet. All is well however. The investigators we taught live like 50 mins from us walking so yeah. A lot of walking this past week and the weeks to come.
Church was really good yesterday. My patriarchial blessing tells me to keep a journal while I am on my mission. I am really faithful about it too. I write like 3 pages a day. I got the distinct impression yesterday morning that I needed to write and bear my testimony in it. I did not know why but I did it. Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting and president likes for us to bear our testimony every fast Sunday. I got up there and wow português came out. I got complimented on it too. It was amazing. I can feel the Lord making up for my weaknesses.
One funny quote dad will probably like from Ekstrom about my work ethic: "Your not the chillest of people." It made me laugh very hard. I love him so much.
Well, all for this week. Keep praying for me as I pray for you.
Love
Elder Athans
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Mais Uma Semana
Well, the church changed its e-mail service, so this is my my new email but, also it is g-mail, so it is faster and better. This week was still hard but I am still going. Well, last p-day was fine. I just cleaned and chilled...very realxing. Tuesday we went to Presidents house because our district is one of 3 most baptizing districts in the mission. We ate rice and beans chilled in ac and watched movies...National Treasure and Prince Caspian. It was good...very enjoyable. Presidents house is sweet. It sits up on the 12th floor and it has granite floors overlooking the beach in Vitoria. It's very cool. Then, Wednesday morning we had to go back because we had a trainer trainee meeting. It was good long but good. I love president. He is so inspired. We ate again. I could get used to that. I saw McQuivey (my mtc comp). Its weird, I miss him a bit. I love Ekstrom we get a long very well. He is very easy to live with. I am doing well. Its still hard but I will make it. Keep praying for me, I need them. Its only hard the hours from11-3 hahaha!!!
So, during comp study I was practicing teaching and I was like we come from far away to share our beliefs. The word in port for belief is crença and I said crinça which is a child . Ekstrom laughed so hard and did not stop laaughing and then told like 20 people. It was funny. So, yesterday was good. Daylight savings time ended, so we got an extra hour of sleep. I woke up an hour early. I have a hard time sleeping. I get up and pee like 5 times a night. I thought that was supposed to happen when I was older, oh well. Church was good, Renata got confirmed and the spirit was really strong. I am understanding more.
Josie and Newton, the less actives that love us are moving out of our area, but still in our ward. Sad, I love them so much. Yesterday, for lunch after church the food was really gross. The rice and beans were fine, but I looked in the pot with chicken and there was a chicken leg...very gross. Then we had dessert which were some fruit things; it was a cross between a fig and a brussel sprout. nasty, I ate four to be nice and had to drink water to swallow them.
Transfers are this week. I could be transferred, but it is doubtful. I think Eksrom will become district leader. Johnson we think will be transferred.
Ekstrom made me do a connection, first visit with a contact we made. This family was kinda crazy. The guy had body odor and 7 toes. This mom was crazy too. She kept asking if I was german and i did not know what she was saying so i just said yes. Ekstrom was laughing like crazy. At Newton and Josie's yesterday they wanted to see a pic of the family. I keeep a pic in my portuguese scriptures. After she saw them, I was like I have one more sister and then I showed them a picture of Tazie. They loved her......lol. I hope your happy Dad!!!
Brandi, if you read this tell Cheeks I said happy belated birthday.
I love you all...... take care!!!!!
Elder Athans
One more blessing!
I tried Cevata for the first time this week. Cevata is like Postum; it tastes like coffee but doesn't have any coffee in it. I love it 10 times better than Postum. I will buy some today . I am excited. It's like drinking the south. Ekstrom was like I didnt realize how southern you were until then. I am way proud of it!
Mais uma semana
Tudo bem everyone
Well, last week after e-mailing, our district traveled across Vitoria to some catholic place. It was up top a small mountain. I wanted to die walking up it but some how I made it. It was worth it. It was a building dediated to some cathloic saint....Maria da Penha I think. After that we went to the mall. It is called "shopping." We ate Burger King lol...It only cost 13.90 Reais. It was good though.
We had a district meeting. I love our district. It is our companionships here in the Jardim Limieiro and the other ward. Our district leader Elder Bessa is very short. He reminds ,me of Yoda, but he is hilarious. After district meeting, I went on divisons/splits with Elder Croshaw (Elder Bessas comp). It was cool; he is pretty cool. We walked a lot that day.
Wednesday, we took the bus into the Vitoria because we had interviews with president. We had mail and stuff. I got a letter from Mike Deal. I think he sent it a long time ago. It was nice though. I will talk about my interview with President later. That night we went on divisions with the ward. I went with the Elders quorem presdient Jose Carlos. It was good. I was nervous, but it went well.
Saturday, we had Renata's baptism. I got to perform it. I was so nervous. It went well and only one try hahaha. I was gonna ´play paino during the service but, yeah did not happen...too many flats. She did not show up to church yesterday, so she did not get confirmed kinda sad.....oh well. Kaique did not show up either so we will see.
This week is carnivel and because our district baptized some of the most we get to go to President's house and have a party thing. I am excited. Then on Wednesday we get to go again for a trainer trainee meeting.
So, about my interview with President, he told me to share my feelings with you guys so here they are. I am struggling a little being here. It is not easy. It's a fight every day to be honest. But, I am enduring and doing the best that I can to endure it well. I got a little emotional during our interview. He said, "Elder Athans I feel inspired to ask you if you want a priesthood blessing," and I was like of course. Some highlights that I remember from the blessing that I want to share are these. I was foreordained to this calling and prepared. I met those that I would baptize in pr-earth life. At the moments when I dont think Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there at that moment they are boaring me up. Tribulations are blessings. I will learn more portuguese everyday.
That blessing was a tender mercy from Father. It helped. Pray for me this week for comfort and support. I need all that I can get.
All for this week, when I get a cord for my camera I will send pics.
I love you all!
Elder Athans
Well, last week after e-mailing, our district traveled across Vitoria to some catholic place. It was up top a small mountain. I wanted to die walking up it but some how I made it. It was worth it. It was a building dediated to some cathloic saint....Maria da Penha I think. After that we went to the mall. It is called "shopping." We ate Burger King lol...It only cost 13.90 Reais. It was good though.
We had a district meeting. I love our district. It is our companionships here in the Jardim Limieiro and the other ward. Our district leader Elder Bessa is very short. He reminds ,me of Yoda, but he is hilarious. After district meeting, I went on divisons/splits with Elder Croshaw (Elder Bessas comp). It was cool; he is pretty cool. We walked a lot that day.
Wednesday, we took the bus into the Vitoria because we had interviews with president. We had mail and stuff. I got a letter from Mike Deal. I think he sent it a long time ago. It was nice though. I will talk about my interview with President later. That night we went on divisions with the ward. I went with the Elders quorem presdient Jose Carlos. It was good. I was nervous, but it went well.
Saturday, we had Renata's baptism. I got to perform it. I was so nervous. It went well and only one try hahaha. I was gonna ´play paino during the service but, yeah did not happen...too many flats. She did not show up to church yesterday, so she did not get confirmed kinda sad.....oh well. Kaique did not show up either so we will see.
This week is carnivel and because our district baptized some of the most we get to go to President's house and have a party thing. I am excited. Then on Wednesday we get to go again for a trainer trainee meeting.
So, about my interview with President, he told me to share my feelings with you guys so here they are. I am struggling a little being here. It is not easy. It's a fight every day to be honest. But, I am enduring and doing the best that I can to endure it well. I got a little emotional during our interview. He said, "Elder Athans I feel inspired to ask you if you want a priesthood blessing," and I was like of course. Some highlights that I remember from the blessing that I want to share are these. I was foreordained to this calling and prepared. I met those that I would baptize in pr-earth life. At the moments when I dont think Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there at that moment they are boaring me up. Tribulations are blessings. I will learn more portuguese everyday.
That blessing was a tender mercy from Father. It helped. Pray for me this week for comfort and support. I need all that I can get.
All for this week, when I get a cord for my camera I will send pics.
I love you all!
Elder Athans
Friday, February 12, 2010
"Todo, Eu não acho que nós estamos na Kanas mais"
The opening message said, "Todo, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore. Lol, and we definitely are not. Well I am here in a LAN house e-mailing it cost me 1.5 r$ REAIS for an hour. Not terrible.
The plane ride was pretty long and way crazy but I am here. Brazil is way different. I tried a few time to talk to some natives on the plane and the airport. They were very kind to me. I was happy about that. Elder McQuivey did fine. We were separated on the plane so that was interesting. I sat on the window next to a semi- attractive female. Very intresting experience. It took me all night to get the courage to talk to her in português. President and Sister Pickett picked us up. I had all my luggage, so that was nice. We then went to the mission home. It is right in vitória on the beach about 12 stories up. It was so legit. The floors are all granite. You will hear more about that later. Our companions came a little later. My campanion is a kid name Elder Ekstrom from Holladay, Utah. What are the odds. He has about 8 months. We know like 3 people in common, 2 of his best friends I met on heritage tours, and the other was serving in Pinehurst and I played ball with him. He is really cool and he was way excited to see me. I was very happy.
So, we got really special treatment. President took us out for pizza and gave us money for a taxi to our apartments. It was way late. I was so scared riding the taxis. They have the same trafffic laws but no one follows them. You seriously go from 100 km/min to 0....no joke. We went to the apartment. It was a lot different them I imaginged. Every house here has tile and no carpet. We do have a machine so we can have hot water which is nice and we do have a washing machine but no dryer. We serving in the Jardim Limoeiro, which translates Lemontree Garden. It is split into two areas and we share the area with 2 other Elders that live with us. Elder Johnson from Idaho Falls and Elder Caravalho from Belém Brasil. First day we did a lot of walking, craziness. I have eaten a lot of rice and beans so far. Hahaha and every day have had soda. It is like the netaor of life. Guananá. I dont talk a lot hahaha I understand about half. The members are nice to me and take pity on me. We met thing kid named Giovanne. He is a recent convert teenager and his mom Cleo not a member. She is a good cook. They were both really nice. We were supposed to have 2 baptisms on friday but one of them will have to pushed back because he did not go to church. His name is Kaique and he is 15. The other who hopefully will get baptized is a 17 year old girl named Renata. She is good. I will probably be the one that baptizes her. President only lets us baptize at first. Then he wants the members to do it after that. But, I am happy for her. Missionary work is harder then I imagined in the MTC. I am glad to be here though.
I met some less actives that Elder Ekstrom reactivated, Newton and Josee and their daughter Julia. I love them so much and they were very kind to me.
So, Church yesterday was very interesting. I introduced myself to everybody a lot of Bom Dia good morning and Tudo Bems. President likes us to bear our testimonies every fast Sunday. I was a little emotional as I did it. It is hard not speaking a languague. But, the spirit was there helping me and speaking comfort to my soul. The ward is really cool and has a little bit of AC. I was falling asleep during Elders Quorem. All I know about what we studied was it was about repentance, and we have to wear our suits to church. Very hot. Hahahah. We walk a ton. I am really tired when i get in bed at night. The houses our funny. You look at them from the outside and you are like ok then you walk inside you are like they are nice. For example, most houses are made out of this red brick stuff that they do themselves but when you go inside they have a TV bigger then ours.
I am not gonna lie at times this is hard. When I am dead tired and have no energy. There are three things I have found as strengths thus far. First, My temple covenants....in a way this mission is part of the covenant, second prayer and third, the lord, he doesnt make it immediate but he will find a way to get me pumped thus helping me make it when I need it most. I truely am weak but I take comfort in the fact that the Lord calls us in our weakness but he qualifies us. He is the author of this great work. Pray for me as I pray for you. Prayers are answered and I am example and testimony of this. Jesus is the Christ
Peace
I love you all
Elder Athans
The plane ride was pretty long and way crazy but I am here. Brazil is way different. I tried a few time to talk to some natives on the plane and the airport. They were very kind to me. I was happy about that. Elder McQuivey did fine. We were separated on the plane so that was interesting. I sat on the window next to a semi- attractive female. Very intresting experience. It took me all night to get the courage to talk to her in português. President and Sister Pickett picked us up. I had all my luggage, so that was nice. We then went to the mission home. It is right in vitória on the beach about 12 stories up. It was so legit. The floors are all granite. You will hear more about that later. Our companions came a little later. My campanion is a kid name Elder Ekstrom from Holladay, Utah. What are the odds. He has about 8 months. We know like 3 people in common, 2 of his best friends I met on heritage tours, and the other was serving in Pinehurst and I played ball with him. He is really cool and he was way excited to see me. I was very happy.
So, we got really special treatment. President took us out for pizza and gave us money for a taxi to our apartments. It was way late. I was so scared riding the taxis. They have the same trafffic laws but no one follows them. You seriously go from 100 km/min to 0....no joke. We went to the apartment. It was a lot different them I imaginged. Every house here has tile and no carpet. We do have a machine so we can have hot water which is nice and we do have a washing machine but no dryer. We serving in the Jardim Limoeiro, which translates Lemontree Garden. It is split into two areas and we share the area with 2 other Elders that live with us. Elder Johnson from Idaho Falls and Elder Caravalho from Belém Brasil. First day we did a lot of walking, craziness. I have eaten a lot of rice and beans so far. Hahaha and every day have had soda. It is like the netaor of life. Guananá. I dont talk a lot hahaha I understand about half. The members are nice to me and take pity on me. We met thing kid named Giovanne. He is a recent convert teenager and his mom Cleo not a member. She is a good cook. They were both really nice. We were supposed to have 2 baptisms on friday but one of them will have to pushed back because he did not go to church. His name is Kaique and he is 15. The other who hopefully will get baptized is a 17 year old girl named Renata. She is good. I will probably be the one that baptizes her. President only lets us baptize at first. Then he wants the members to do it after that. But, I am happy for her. Missionary work is harder then I imagined in the MTC. I am glad to be here though.
I met some less actives that Elder Ekstrom reactivated, Newton and Josee and their daughter Julia. I love them so much and they were very kind to me.
So, Church yesterday was very interesting. I introduced myself to everybody a lot of Bom Dia good morning and Tudo Bems. President likes us to bear our testimonies every fast Sunday. I was a little emotional as I did it. It is hard not speaking a languague. But, the spirit was there helping me and speaking comfort to my soul. The ward is really cool and has a little bit of AC. I was falling asleep during Elders Quorem. All I know about what we studied was it was about repentance, and we have to wear our suits to church. Very hot. Hahahah. We walk a ton. I am really tired when i get in bed at night. The houses our funny. You look at them from the outside and you are like ok then you walk inside you are like they are nice. For example, most houses are made out of this red brick stuff that they do themselves but when you go inside they have a TV bigger then ours.
I am not gonna lie at times this is hard. When I am dead tired and have no energy. There are three things I have found as strengths thus far. First, My temple covenants....in a way this mission is part of the covenant, second prayer and third, the lord, he doesnt make it immediate but he will find a way to get me pumped thus helping me make it when I need it most. I truely am weak but I take comfort in the fact that the Lord calls us in our weakness but he qualifies us. He is the author of this great work. Pray for me as I pray for you. Prayers are answered and I am example and testimony of this. Jesus is the Christ
Peace
I love you all
Elder Athans
He has finally arrived!!!
Brother and Sister Athans,
I just wanted to drop you a quick note and tell you that Elder Athans arrived here in Vitória at about 5:30 p.m. and he is doing great. He seems very happy to be here and was very excited to meet up with his new companion Elder Ekstrom. Elder Ekstrom is a wonderful, hard-working, obedient elder. He will be a great trainer for Elder Athans.
We picked Elder Athans and Elder McQuivey up at the airport and brought them to the mission home for a brief meeting after which we went out for pizza – brazilian style (including one pizza with muzzarela cheese (and lots of it), bananas and cinnamon!!). It’s surprisingly good. Following dinner, he and Elder Ekstrom went to their area of Jardim Limoeiro which is centrally located here in the greater Vitória area. It is a great area with a very strong ward. I know they will have much success there.
I want you to know of our love for your son. We haven’t known him for long but know that he has a great spirit and will be a wonderful, diligent missionary! I will stay close to him over the next few weeks as he adjusts to life in Brazil and life as a missionary. We appreciate you “loaning” him for these two years! We love him.
If there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to email or call me at any time. Ok?
Um fortissimo abraço,
President Pickett
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tudo Bem Tudo
Well, another week here in the Provo MTC has bit the dust, hahaha. It really is going by fast now. I'm ready to be in Brazil, pray for me to have patience as I endure. This week 7 missionaries got reassigned, to AR, GA and DC. They all were starting their 15th week...so only 3 weeks left.
One interesting experience is that I saw President Uchtdorf this week. It was during gym, I was upstairs running on the track and the entire gym got silent which is kinda not like gym...so I ran over to where everyone was looking and I saw President Smith, MTC prez and another guy...it took me a while to recognize him; but, it was him...he just waved hahaha.
Not a lot has happened this week. A lot of the same. We teach as much as we can. We taught like 15 lessons this week. Yeah being here for so long at times can be a little overwhelming. So, please pray for me.
I have really been trying to work on my portuguese. Last Saturday a teacher committed us to go 72 hrs on port. I accepted. It was hard, but I did it. It really helped me out. I have a love for portuguse.
I got a letter from Mike Deal this week...he told me that Blake Cyrier got honorably released.
Well, Mom it is good to hear that your crusie went well. I am happy for you.
Letters from the family have been pretty dry this week...its all good though. I know that you are busy. Thats good for Brittney Pincock getting married.
As I have been working on my portuguese, I have found a great secret that has helped me out. I read a loud from the Book of Mormon. It is an amazing book. There really is not better book. I have really started to study it in english as well. I love the Book of Mormon with all my heart. It really is a true book I know it.
We still do skype with the teachers in Brazil. That is pretty fun. We have one teacher that loves us. His name is Irmão Zamboni (brother). He is really cool. All of the skype teachers are pretty cool.
I really am trying to be patient with Lord right now. I am trying to realize that He knows how precious my time is and he knows the end from the beginning. He knows how to best use me. For now it is in Provo Utah. Tomorrow it might be time for Brazil...it might be 3 months but he has a purpose for me being where I am. If i do get reassigned, I hope for somewhere in California because it would be cool to serve in the same place where dad served. How is Dad? He never did respond to the thing I asked him to send me.
I am trying to keep my head up and have esperença (hope) about the future. Keeping praying for me as I keep praying for you. Give the rest of the family my email. Tell them to write me or dearelder me. I need their support as well. Let them know of my love for them. I know that this gospel is true and that it is the only thing that can give hope to a world that despertately needs it. The Atonement is what the world needs. I know Jesus is the Christ our Saviour. I am lead by him daily.
Te Amo todo
Elder Athans
One interesting experience is that I saw President Uchtdorf this week. It was during gym, I was upstairs running on the track and the entire gym got silent which is kinda not like gym...so I ran over to where everyone was looking and I saw President Smith, MTC prez and another guy...it took me a while to recognize him; but, it was him...he just waved hahaha.
Not a lot has happened this week. A lot of the same. We teach as much as we can. We taught like 15 lessons this week. Yeah being here for so long at times can be a little overwhelming. So, please pray for me.
I have really been trying to work on my portuguese. Last Saturday a teacher committed us to go 72 hrs on port. I accepted. It was hard, but I did it. It really helped me out. I have a love for portuguse.
I got a letter from Mike Deal this week...he told me that Blake Cyrier got honorably released.
Well, Mom it is good to hear that your crusie went well. I am happy for you.
Letters from the family have been pretty dry this week...its all good though. I know that you are busy. Thats good for Brittney Pincock getting married.
As I have been working on my portuguese, I have found a great secret that has helped me out. I read a loud from the Book of Mormon. It is an amazing book. There really is not better book. I have really started to study it in english as well. I love the Book of Mormon with all my heart. It really is a true book I know it.
We still do skype with the teachers in Brazil. That is pretty fun. We have one teacher that loves us. His name is Irmão Zamboni (brother). He is really cool. All of the skype teachers are pretty cool.
I really am trying to be patient with Lord right now. I am trying to realize that He knows how precious my time is and he knows the end from the beginning. He knows how to best use me. For now it is in Provo Utah. Tomorrow it might be time for Brazil...it might be 3 months but he has a purpose for me being where I am. If i do get reassigned, I hope for somewhere in California because it would be cool to serve in the same place where dad served. How is Dad? He never did respond to the thing I asked him to send me.
I am trying to keep my head up and have esperença (hope) about the future. Keeping praying for me as I keep praying for you. Give the rest of the family my email. Tell them to write me or dearelder me. I need their support as well. Let them know of my love for them. I know that this gospel is true and that it is the only thing that can give hope to a world that despertately needs it. The Atonement is what the world needs. I know Jesus is the Christ our Saviour. I am lead by him daily.
Te Amo todo
Elder Athans
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tudo bem todo
Well, I have been here another week...10 full weeks...too fast.
Let's see what has happened...on Sunday for fireside, we had some professor at BYU who was an expert on Joseph Smith, so that was pretty awesome. I was like a fat kid in a candy store during that.
Well, because we have so much time on our hands...Elder McQuivey and I are taking this opputinity to teach as much as we can. It really is paying off. We try to teach 4-5 lessons a day...that is pretty good for the MTC.
One experience that is cool, that I will share is this: We were teaching a teacher in Brazil on skype...her name was Sister Gasper...she was playing a person named Aline who she taught on her mission. We wanted to committ her baptism that day we taught. She got really concerned because her family was really against it. The spirit was really strong. After a while I just stopped and asked..(this was not me talking it was the spirit)...Do you believe in the Book of Mormon?...I believe..Do you believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet?...I believe...Do you believe that this church is true?..I believe...Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized?...I will...It was so amazing...and we also promised blessings and everything. We found out after the fact...sister gasper told us she did almost the exact same way that we did. It was amazing.
I have learned this week that as an authorized represtative of Jesus Christ...I have the authority to promise blessings to people. That had not clicked with me before. That was pretty cool.
Tuesday we had Elder David F. Evans from the 70...that was pretty cool. He spoke about the Book of Mormon...he spoke for like an hour and a half...but it was a blast. His talk prompted me to start reading the Book of Mormon...so I have started over once again. But I really am taking my time with it...like it has taken me 2 days to get through one chapter. I love it. To all that read this letter...read the book of Mormon, you will feel spirit...I know that because I have felt this joy in my life.
There is not a lot to report... the mtc is a lot of the same everyday.
Oh yeah remember Abby Goode from Advance Eye Care...She is on a mission now she got here this week...she is going to Pocatello, Idaho...that's 2 from charlotte now. The other is Blake...I have seen like 20 people that I have known here at the MTC. I love it.
Still no visas...oh well...perhaps I have more to learn here in Provo...I just need to keep doing my best. The mission really takes a lot of energy out of a person. Pray for visas...so that this great blessing of the gospel can be taken to those people that are ready for the message.
Muito Amor
Elder Athans
Let's see what has happened...on Sunday for fireside, we had some professor at BYU who was an expert on Joseph Smith, so that was pretty awesome. I was like a fat kid in a candy store during that.
Well, because we have so much time on our hands...Elder McQuivey and I are taking this opputinity to teach as much as we can. It really is paying off. We try to teach 4-5 lessons a day...that is pretty good for the MTC.
One experience that is cool, that I will share is this: We were teaching a teacher in Brazil on skype...her name was Sister Gasper...she was playing a person named Aline who she taught on her mission. We wanted to committ her baptism that day we taught. She got really concerned because her family was really against it. The spirit was really strong. After a while I just stopped and asked..(this was not me talking it was the spirit)...Do you believe in the Book of Mormon?...I believe..Do you believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet?...I believe...Do you believe that this church is true?..I believe...Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized?...I will...It was so amazing...and we also promised blessings and everything. We found out after the fact...sister gasper told us she did almost the exact same way that we did. It was amazing.
I have learned this week that as an authorized represtative of Jesus Christ...I have the authority to promise blessings to people. That had not clicked with me before. That was pretty cool.
Tuesday we had Elder David F. Evans from the 70...that was pretty cool. He spoke about the Book of Mormon...he spoke for like an hour and a half...but it was a blast. His talk prompted me to start reading the Book of Mormon...so I have started over once again. But I really am taking my time with it...like it has taken me 2 days to get through one chapter. I love it. To all that read this letter...read the book of Mormon, you will feel spirit...I know that because I have felt this joy in my life.
There is not a lot to report... the mtc is a lot of the same everyday.
Oh yeah remember Abby Goode from Advance Eye Care...She is on a mission now she got here this week...she is going to Pocatello, Idaho...that's 2 from charlotte now. The other is Blake...I have seen like 20 people that I have known here at the MTC. I love it.
Still no visas...oh well...perhaps I have more to learn here in Provo...I just need to keep doing my best. The mission really takes a lot of energy out of a person. Pray for visas...so that this great blessing of the gospel can be taken to those people that are ready for the message.
Muito Amor
Elder Athans
Tudo Bem minha familia e meus amigos
Wow, I love being on a mission. There is nothing better, and the best part about it is that I am still in the MTC...the field is gonna be amazing. Well, we got 8 visas this week.....all to the younger kids.
We became a mega distict this week. What this means is that we don't have a teacher and we decide what we do with our time here in the MTC. Some of the older mega districters gave us the advice to treat it as if you actually were in the field. To be honest, I have done just that and it has made all the difference. Elder McQuivey and I set our goals on what number of lessons we want to teach, how many referalls and etc. We teach our investigators on skype or other companionships. We treat them as real investigators by...praying for them, studying for them, filling out the area book. It is one of the coolest feelings ever.
So I had the scariest experience of my entire mission this week. So, the branch that I am in here at the MTC is all portuguese, and each week they have all the missionaries prepare a talk on a christ-like attribute from chapter 6 of PMG. Then they call 2 elders at random during sacrament to give the talk. One of the counslers who I know pretty well...and I guess knows me conducted. The first person called was a kid named Elder Swanson...he is a few weeks younger than me and is also going to Vitoria, and then I was called up. I was so nervous, and you know me, I never get nervous about talking...but in portuguese...wow talk about scary. I am gratefrul for that opportunity; it was a chance to grow and learn.
This week they had a training for new MTC presidents and director of vistor centers...so we had a lot of general authoirites here. We had L. Tom Perry speak to us again. It was good. He taught the first lesson very simply for us so that was pretty legit.
Well I am still here in Provo and still learning a lot. One of my teachers, Brother Smith brought in mission pics and shared stories from his mission in Brazil. That made me very excited. He is the one that grew up in Holladay.
Well, Sister Swope will leave before me.....haha.
So thats about it. The gospel is still true...I will get to Brazil but until then the Lord has a purpose for me here in Provo.
The church is true
Te Amo
Elder Athans
We became a mega distict this week. What this means is that we don't have a teacher and we decide what we do with our time here in the MTC. Some of the older mega districters gave us the advice to treat it as if you actually were in the field. To be honest, I have done just that and it has made all the difference. Elder McQuivey and I set our goals on what number of lessons we want to teach, how many referalls and etc. We teach our investigators on skype or other companionships. We treat them as real investigators by...praying for them, studying for them, filling out the area book. It is one of the coolest feelings ever.
So I had the scariest experience of my entire mission this week. So, the branch that I am in here at the MTC is all portuguese, and each week they have all the missionaries prepare a talk on a christ-like attribute from chapter 6 of PMG. Then they call 2 elders at random during sacrament to give the talk. One of the counslers who I know pretty well...and I guess knows me conducted. The first person called was a kid named Elder Swanson...he is a few weeks younger than me and is also going to Vitoria, and then I was called up. I was so nervous, and you know me, I never get nervous about talking...but in portuguese...wow talk about scary. I am gratefrul for that opportunity; it was a chance to grow and learn.
This week they had a training for new MTC presidents and director of vistor centers...so we had a lot of general authoirites here. We had L. Tom Perry speak to us again. It was good. He taught the first lesson very simply for us so that was pretty legit.
Well I am still here in Provo and still learning a lot. One of my teachers, Brother Smith brought in mission pics and shared stories from his mission in Brazil. That made me very excited. He is the one that grew up in Holladay.
Well, Sister Swope will leave before me.....haha.
So thats about it. The gospel is still true...I will get to Brazil but until then the Lord has a purpose for me here in Provo.
The church is true
Te Amo
Elder Athans
Monday, January 11, 2010
Tudo Bem Toda Pessoas
Tudo bem in portuguese for "How are you?" but it literally means all is well...It is used in the hymn, Come, Come Ye Saints...I use that as my subject because that is my feelings...tudo bem.
This week truely has been extraordinary and ordinary all at the same time if that is possible. Hahaha...
Monday, I went to the doctor again...He said my foot looked good...but to discourage anymore growth he put some acid stuff on it. But, because of the acid I could not shower till tomorrow (Saturday). So, I had to take a bath in the MTC....yeah pretty gross hahaha. The day I did take a bath some thing happened and I was in a lot of pain. I wanted to die, but, the foot feels good now. I have been able to walk on it just fine, so much better than last time.
Tuesday, Elder Ringwood from the 70 spoke to us. He was awesome because he talked about enduring to the end and it was very inspiring. Lets see, I did cancel that life insurance policy thing or catusportific (good one Zach).... whatever.
The visa situation....still not here because I am still in provo. None this week that I know of. This is our last week of regular class before we become a megadistrict. What that means is that we have the entire day to decide what we do because our teachers have to move on to teach other districts. Its okay though because I have realized something...I am on the Lord's time...He is calling the shots...If he needs me to be here in Provo, I will stay.
One really cool and spiritual experience I have had this week is this. Our teacher talked to us a bit about prayer and read from the Joseph Smith story. He then let us spread out and just pray for like an hour. It was amazing. When you just stop and take time to really pray...you run out of the superfical prayer stuff and really get down to some good prayers and holy communication with father. He really does answer...at times it was like he was literally talking to me. I really can't describe it...I got some very poignant information. One of the revealtions i will share. I was praying about the visas and the answer came in time. Amazing and then to top it off I got a letter from dad that same day and it was also like a second testimony of what my father in heaven told me. Prayer is so real. I remember the overwelming feeling of love I got from it. Indescribable.
Correction: Nehiamah was techinically on a mountain because he was in Jerusalem. Mark Hall taught me that, so sorry for last week.
Mark Hall sent me another package...so amazing. He sent me a muscial card and it was tommy boy themed. what more could you ask for and then it gets better. He sent pics of the fam...and cards his girls drew for me and a few letters from him.....and the best part he sent me a University of Utah Tie. Amazing right hahaha... he said it was the only one he had and he gave it to me. I love it...and I am wearing it. Sorry mom, dad, Aunt Cindy, Grandpa and everyone else.
The mission is a very hard and demanding thing, but I am a living breathing example and god does qualify those him he calls.
The gospel is true even in portuguese....I mean especially in portuguese. The Lord has a great work for me and all of us to do...we just need to do it.
All for now, Thanks every one for the love and support.
Te Amo
Elder Athans
This week truely has been extraordinary and ordinary all at the same time if that is possible. Hahaha...
Monday, I went to the doctor again...He said my foot looked good...but to discourage anymore growth he put some acid stuff on it. But, because of the acid I could not shower till tomorrow (Saturday). So, I had to take a bath in the MTC....yeah pretty gross hahaha. The day I did take a bath some thing happened and I was in a lot of pain. I wanted to die, but, the foot feels good now. I have been able to walk on it just fine, so much better than last time.
Tuesday, Elder Ringwood from the 70 spoke to us. He was awesome because he talked about enduring to the end and it was very inspiring. Lets see, I did cancel that life insurance policy thing or catusportific (good one Zach).... whatever.
The visa situation....still not here because I am still in provo. None this week that I know of. This is our last week of regular class before we become a megadistrict. What that means is that we have the entire day to decide what we do because our teachers have to move on to teach other districts. Its okay though because I have realized something...I am on the Lord's time...He is calling the shots...If he needs me to be here in Provo, I will stay.
One really cool and spiritual experience I have had this week is this. Our teacher talked to us a bit about prayer and read from the Joseph Smith story. He then let us spread out and just pray for like an hour. It was amazing. When you just stop and take time to really pray...you run out of the superfical prayer stuff and really get down to some good prayers and holy communication with father. He really does answer...at times it was like he was literally talking to me. I really can't describe it...I got some very poignant information. One of the revealtions i will share. I was praying about the visas and the answer came in time. Amazing and then to top it off I got a letter from dad that same day and it was also like a second testimony of what my father in heaven told me. Prayer is so real. I remember the overwelming feeling of love I got from it. Indescribable.
Correction: Nehiamah was techinically on a mountain because he was in Jerusalem. Mark Hall taught me that, so sorry for last week.
Mark Hall sent me another package...so amazing. He sent me a muscial card and it was tommy boy themed. what more could you ask for and then it gets better. He sent pics of the fam...and cards his girls drew for me and a few letters from him.....and the best part he sent me a University of Utah Tie. Amazing right hahaha... he said it was the only one he had and he gave it to me. I love it...and I am wearing it. Sorry mom, dad, Aunt Cindy, Grandpa and everyone else.
The mission is a very hard and demanding thing, but I am a living breathing example and god does qualify those him he calls.
The gospel is true even in portuguese....I mean especially in portuguese. The Lord has a great work for me and all of us to do...we just need to do it.
All for now, Thanks every one for the love and support.
Te Amo
Elder Athans
Monday, January 4, 2010
Tudo bem!
Well, this week has been exciting as always. I will start with visa news. We got 50 visas this week. Mine was not in it, but our district leaders was.... hahaha. So yeah...that's where we are. I hope we get another batch on monday...if I do get that I will call you for like 5 minutes...yeah pretty exciting I know.
Lets see....well Monday I had to go to the podiatrist...no insurance..but the doctor helps missionaries for free...so it was good...I went because of my wart....it came back with a vengence...he cut it out again just like last time. I think that he went deeper this time. it bleed a lot more which actually had me concerned. I even got a blessing because i was concerned about the bleeding. I went to the nurse the next day and she told me to stay off my feet. That was Wednesday when the new missionaries come in...I was supposed to host...which means you just walk all the newbies around and help them. I couldn't do that because of the nurse...so while I did that got to work on português with my teacher, Irmão Smith, for like 2 hours just us. So that was pretty much my week. I go back to the doctor on monday. I can actually walk on it without it hurting too bad. That is a blessing from serving.
I got a package from Aunt Cindy with goodies in it.
Last Saturday I placed a set of missionaries for a girl who called in at the Referral center.
New Years was kinda of dead....not a whole lot of excitement.
I have learned today from my study about repentence. I like the talk by Elder Andersen ...repent that I may hear you....I like it because our families are blessed when we repent.
So tomorrow I am gonna fast for the visas. I have a big hope for Monday that it will come...but if not...the church is still true and I am where I need to be.
Hows the house? Mail me pics if you can.
How's Tazie?
We taught in the teaching resource center again yesterday. We taught the 2nd lesson for the first time. It wasn't too bad. Its weird to think I have been out almost 2 months...craziness!!!!
Thanks for all the support you guys give me.
How did my Christmas letters turn out...anyone cry? Hahahaha!!!
Well, that's all for now.
Te Amo,
Elder Athans
Lets see....well Monday I had to go to the podiatrist...no insurance..but the doctor helps missionaries for free...so it was good...I went because of my wart....it came back with a vengence...he cut it out again just like last time. I think that he went deeper this time. it bleed a lot more which actually had me concerned. I even got a blessing because i was concerned about the bleeding. I went to the nurse the next day and she told me to stay off my feet. That was Wednesday when the new missionaries come in...I was supposed to host...which means you just walk all the newbies around and help them. I couldn't do that because of the nurse...so while I did that got to work on português with my teacher, Irmão Smith, for like 2 hours just us. So that was pretty much my week. I go back to the doctor on monday. I can actually walk on it without it hurting too bad. That is a blessing from serving.
I got a package from Aunt Cindy with goodies in it.
Last Saturday I placed a set of missionaries for a girl who called in at the Referral center.
New Years was kinda of dead....not a whole lot of excitement.
I have learned today from my study about repentence. I like the talk by Elder Andersen ...repent that I may hear you....I like it because our families are blessed when we repent.
So tomorrow I am gonna fast for the visas. I have a big hope for Monday that it will come...but if not...the church is still true and I am where I need to be.
Hows the house? Mail me pics if you can.
How's Tazie?
We taught in the teaching resource center again yesterday. We taught the 2nd lesson for the first time. It wasn't too bad. Its weird to think I have been out almost 2 months...craziness!!!!
Thanks for all the support you guys give me.
How did my Christmas letters turn out...anyone cry? Hahahaha!!!
Well, that's all for now.
Te Amo,
Elder Athans
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
