Mata

Monday, September 16, 2013

Hey,

So this week was our turn out of the two sets in our area to travel.  I was in another area this entire week and did my first 24 hr exchange.  We went to the furthest part of the mission called Juquitiba.  Part of it is mata, jungle. We walked for thirty min to get to a family and encountered a bull and a couple of horses.

Mata (jungle) in Juquitiba

Will send pics.  Also had chá, tea, not actual tea though. Here only black tea is not allowed.  It was kind of minty and lemony, but it wasn’t tea like we think, so don’t worry. This week we had stake conference and got a new stake president.  We also finally had our two baptisms!  They

finally made it to church.  Last week the car was being used by the father for work.  But they came and were baptized.  We have some investigators that are amazing and are preparing for baptism in October I think.  The language is coming great.  I can understand the majority of what people say depending of the person.  Everyone says that my language is really good for the amount of time I have been here. 

As to your question about what is above our house,  it’s three other houses. We are at the bottom of a hill and there are three other houses above us. Ours is the very bottom.  A couple cool/strange things here.  For candy they like to eat Halls cough drops.  For some reason they really like these and sell them at candy stands.  Members will come up and say "you want a Halls?"  It’s actually good after you try a couple.  Another cool thing: here instead of using the nos, (we), form of the verbs, a lot of the time they will use "a gente", (the people).  So the first time I heard it was from my companion and he was doing a street contact and said "Você já conheci missionarios como a gente?" which means literally: do you already know missionaries like the people?  I was really confused and couldn´t figure out what he had said so I asked and he said that it means us.  So what he really said was "do you already know missionaries like us?"  It’s nice because everyone uses it and it means one less conjugation to worry about.

Also if you get the chance look up "The Character of Christ". It is a talk by Elder Bednar at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and it is amazing.  Watch it for family night or something, will change your life.  Thanks for the letters and the pictures.  Happy birthday Meg, have fun at the dance.  Have a good week of school. It was great to hear from ya’ll, have a great week.  Pray that my talk on preaching the gospel will go good!

da mata do brasil (from the jungle of Brazil)

Elder Anderson

Milagres sao real

Monday, September 9, 2013

Milagre desta semana (miracle of this week)

This week the Bishop told us of a family whose father had been in the hospital and he had visited.  They lived out in the jungle pretty much.  To get there is a 20-30 min. bus ride on dirt roads passing ranches and people riding horse drawn carriages, really cool.  But we got there and were thinking that there is no way that this family will come to church because of how far it is.  So we find the house, everyone was home, all 6 of them.  We brought them all into the living room, if you can call it that, and taught the restoration.  It went so well, best lesson here yet. Everyone was feeling the spirit and my companion and I were working so great together.  After the lesson we committed them to go to church and to get baptized.  All said yes to baptism, 2 sons have work on Sunday which is really common here.  So we were really happy, but still worried that the family wouldn't show up to church because the mother is a nurse and works the night shift and wouldn't get done until 9 in the morning and church starts at 8:30 in the morning. So we went back to our house and the next day got to church and were waiting for them, luckily Sacrament is last.  And they all showed up!  They really had a good time, and the father said that he had read the chapter we had left with him and that when he prayed about it he felt really good.  They are so excited.

The bad thing about this week was that we had two baptisms scheduled.  The same ones that didn't make it to church last week.  This week the parents said that they would have a car and that they would be able to make it to church.  Sunday come around and we´re waiting for them and they aren't showing up.  So we try to call them, cell phone's not working, they only have one cell phone and no house phone which is common of the really small flavellas.  So we were really worried and were waiting and waiting, but they never showed up.  We hope that it is just a problem with a car.  Haven´t been able to go over there yet, on the plans for today.  

Went on splits for the first time this week.  Was with a Brasileiro from Rio who has only been here 6 more weeks than me and has only been in the church for almost 2 years.  He is really cool and we had a great time.  We found 3 new families that said we could come and teach them.  Saw a "gypsy" the other day too.  She was dressed in really colorful clothes and had only gold teeth and gold jewelery, and a high school musical backpack.

Went to the federal police on Thursday to get registered.  Was a lot of fun because we were sitting waiting for them to call us to get registered and up the stairs walks a group from the CTM, all people that we know.  They were pretty excited to see us.  They kept asking us questions and were so excited because they leave this week.  They all said we looked so much older after just almost two weeks in the field.  Also got to see some friends from the CTM that are in São Paulo Sul missão.  One of them was in the same stake as my companion and was super excited when he found out who my companion was.

Everything is going great here.  Sounds like a crazy week with cross-country and the sealing and trips and everything.  OH! Another thing-Dave I got your letter finally!!!!! And I got the letter that the young women sent.  Tell Sister Leavitt thanks for the talk.  Speaking of talks, this week my comp. gave a talk.  Afterwards the bishop asked me and the other new elder to give talks the week after next, because it's stake conference next Sunday.  So I have two weeks to find time to get a talk together.  Should be fun.  Would love to see pictures of the first day.  If you already sent them I didn't get them, got the email about them though.  

Love y´all,

Elder Anderson 

First week

Monday, September 2, 2013

Hey everybody!!

This week has been so much fun.  I am in an area called Embu das Artes.  It means Mountain of the Artes, or mountain art, or art mountain, most probably the first. But it lives up to it's name. So many hills and stairs and always going up.

Embu das Artes

 It's not too cold at night and the house has blankets for everybody so I don't need to buy one.  This week we had two meetings at the stake center which is in the suburbs but compared to here it is the city.  We took a bus for an hour and a train for 15-20.  Then we walked another 15.  Our area is the second largest in the mission.  In order to get to another neighborhood we take the bus.  The food here is amazing.  The first meal I had was spaghetti, rice, beans, salad, meat and soda.  Then last night we walked for 40 min to the bishop's house to eat my first Brazilian bbq.  Was amazing.  The bishop cooked three steaks per person, also there was rice, salad, chocolate cake, sausages, coke.  And yes, I ate all three steaks.  So amazing.  We also had a baptism yesterday!  We were going to have two, but they weren't able to get to the chapel because we only have one chapel here. It's two stories with the chapel upstairs, and they have to take the bus because they live in the other neighborhood.  But they don't have a lot of money so its really hard for them to come so we didn't have 3, just 1. But this last week we contacted a husband and wife and came back three days later and they told us that they already stopped drinking.  Then they came to church and asked if they could come back again this next week. We already have a baptism date of the 28th for them, they have to get married first though.  A lot of people don't get married here because you have to give money, dowry, or something like that so a lot of people have to get married first.  Got my haircut today, and it was really scary because I already have no idea what they are saying because I only know gospel words. The guy comes in with a glass of something alcoholic and I thought he was a manager or something, then they motion for me to go over to a chair and he walks up and cuts my hair.  He did a good job though.  They use actual razors for part of it so I was a bit nervous during that.  A dog bit my pants, so now I need to go sew that up, didn't bit me though so don't worry.  We have washing machines, but not dryers so we hang everything up.  It's very rural here.  Will send some pics maybe next week of a house with a farm and huge pigs.  So fun though.  The flavelas have some great people.  Attaching some photos of the house and the outside view from the door.

First mission apartment

 The area that I am in is one of the more touristy areas. Yesterday they had a big market where people brought items to sell.  Apparently it happens every week. Wish it happened on p-day. They have people that dress up like statues and they look so realistic, like made of wood or something.  Then when you put some coins in a cup they move, it's so cool.  The language is coming along great.  I am beginning to understand people really well and am starting to speak better.  So cool here.  Wish y'all were here to see it.  Hope all is well.

-Elder Anderson

In the area

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to let y'all know that I got to the area today.  My companion is really cool.  He is from Houston and knows the Dicksons, the Websters and the Hancocks.  The area that we are in is really cool.  It is not a very rich area, but we already taught a lesson tonight about the gift of the Holy Ghost and it was really cool. I don't understand a lot of what people say, but they seem to understand me more or less so that´s good.  We have a baptism this Sunday and a couple of confirmations.  I will send pictures when I can.  P-day is Monday.  Today we met the president of the mission.  We got dropped off at a apartment building and someone in the group thought that the mission home was on the 11 floor.  So we walk all the way up the stairs that look like Escher´s staircase drawing only to realize that it was really on the first floor.  We got there and they have an entire floor for the mission home.  It's really cool.  We ate, my old companion from Provo arrived and we went to the church.  An embarrassing thing happened though.  When I arrived at the mission home we all went to sit down and I tripped and used a table to catch myself.  The table had a plant on it and because I bumped the table the plant fell.  Luckily the plant was fake and the vase was a wooden box, but Pres. Pinho says that he will always remember that I knocked over his plant.  He is a really cool guy, I sat next to him at  lunch and he is so cool.

 We went to a church by the mission office to get our companions and then we were driven by a member for almost two hours to our area.  It's really cool where we are.  The houses are small, they don't have ac or heat.  It's cold here, could see my breath tonight.  The nicest thing in our apartment is the shower head, not even joking.  We have a meeting tomorrow and the day after that at the mission office. We get to leave here at 6:30 to ride the bus and train to the mission home.  So excited to be here.  Will send you pictures when able.  If you have any letters or packages send them to the mission office, I will get them every week or every 6 weeks, don't know which.  Got to go.  Tell you more on Monday.

Love Elder Anderson

Forgot to tell you some things.  The president said that the next couple of transfers only one missionary is leaving and 35 are coming in.  He said that this means in 12 weeks most of the new people will be trainers. Really excited.  Got to go. Almost 9. Love y'all again.

This week and funny stories

Friday, August 23, 2013

Oi! Tudo Bem?

So I forgot to tell you all last week that the first Sunday that we were here I had to bless the sacrament.  Right after this I sat down and they announced the speakers.  The way that they do this is by randomly taking four peoples names and telling them without any warning.  So since we had just arrived I thought that I was all good and wouldn't have to give one.  Errado.  I was the first one called.  So without anything prepared, no notes, nothing, I get up there and deliver my first sacrament talk in Portuguese.

This week was pretty regular.  Because we came in halfway through we have a strange schedule.  The teachers don't know what to teach us and so we have learned everything twice, somethings three times.  It was nice to review at first, but now that everybody wants to get out to the field it's painful.  After you have been in the ctm for three weeks I think you get to go out and street contact and hand out Books of Mormon.  It's really fun and everyone talks about it. Unfortunately we didn't get to do it because we were late.  No one has any idea what to do with us.  Whenever we try to follow our schedule we realize that we weren't fit  into other's schedules so we don't do a whole lot.  I can't imagine if I would have had to be here for three more weeks.  My companion back in Provo got his visa so I will get to see him on Tuesday, or Wednesday. Only three or four days left, not sure how many.

Went to Campinas temple again and my companion's mission president was there with all the missionaries that were leaving this week. On Monday we have all day, literally, meetings for the orientation.  Unfortunately it is only in Portuguese so we will see how that goes.

That's so cool about Bryce.  When does he report? Churros last week were so good.  It's a little stand by the post office, you could hug the whole thing, but the lady makes them right in front of you and then you can get it filled with chocolate or dulce de leche or a mix.  So amazing.  Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!  Good luck to everyone this week starting school.  Have fun!

This week we got one of our investigators to write his own baptism date.  Our other one is really difficult.  One of the other groups asked her to get baptized, she said yes, just not in this church. That same day we went and we talked about how Joseph Smith was a prophet, she said she believed that he was a prophet and then she said that she also believed we were prophets and that the guy down the street was a prophet and that there were lots of prophets. Then we got told in class that tomorrow we only get ten minutes to teach her.  That usually means that someone is getting dropped.  They do that to everybody just so that you get the experience, but some people say it really is rough.  Our teacher is so cool and funny.  He is a convert of about 5 years who used to be in three rock bands and served in Brasil but somehow knows a little bit of English.  Our investigator's shirt who is getting baptized is a Pokemon shirt and everybody loves it.  But one thing that I noticed last time we were teaching is that the little guy on the shirt has a poke ball with the baptism sign on it, water and a arrow going into it, and he has a name tag.  Pretty funny.  Will send you pictures next time.  Don't have lots of time here.  Not sure when our p-day will be, but don't worry if its a little over a week that you don't hear from me.  Going to try the local dry cleaning today.  Hopefully it works.  How was the business trip dad?  Have fun celebrating and good luck with everything this week.
Love ya'll. Ate mais.

Elder Anderson

P-day: Campinas temple and churros

Friday, August 16, 2013

Hey there!

Brazil, Campinas Temple

So today we got to go the Campinas temple which has a lot of grounds and has a great view of the city of Campinas where my companion will be serving.  Luckily there are enough Americans that they do the session in English.  The ride there was awesome because it is about an hour away and the charter buses' chairs lean back and it's nice to sleep.  What's really cool is that there is a lot of forest area on the way there and today it was all foggy and it looked like the actual rain forest, wish I had had my camera, but it was so cool cause the land rises up too and makes it look awesome.  Got two Brazilian roommates this past week.  We were getting ready to turn off the lights and someone unlocked our door and come in and said he was new.  The natives only stay in the MTC for about a week and a half so he will be leaving with us.  Only 10 days until we head out!  There was a devotional from Provo on Wednesday in which Elder Scott spoke, missed it by that much.  The language is great, understanding a lot, just need to get speaking faster. A couple of times this week we have been sitting in class and we realize how weird English is.  Some words really don't make sense.  It's so much fun though.  Get to go outside today and get churros.  Pretty excited!  The time difference is about 2-3 hrs, I forget which.  Been pretty cold the past couple of days, this morning you could see your breath.  But it gets warm the rest of the day once the sun comes out.  And of course it always get really hot on p-day.  Thanks for your letters, being here no one in our district gets letters, but it's still nice reading them online, which is how it will be in the field.  I can't believe it hasn't been 6 months yet.  Each day feels like a week, but the week goes by fast.  Has Garrett heard anything about his visa? Does anyone else in the ward have their call yet?  Are you doing cross-country Meg?  Have fun at ranger camp Rach.  Dave have fun with the drum pads.  Sarah have fun in first grade and have a great week.  Lots of fun here.  One of the elders from Bolivia is really funny and calls me Elder Japan because of how my eyes squint when I laugh. He is really funny.  Have to go now, only have a couple min to get to the churros and back.  Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Anderson

ps will send pics later, they take up so much space and time.

First p-day in Brazil

Friday, August 9, 2013

Hello again,

I don't have a lot of time, today has been busy.  Woke up at 6 today to go to the Sao Paulo temple, it's so pretty.  The Interlagos missionaries were there and it was a lot of fun talking to them because they have forgotten a lot of English. The temple is about 30 min away and the whole ride there was crazy.  Motorcycles (motos) drive where ever they want and will weave in and out.  One got so close to the car that he was only a couple of inches away.  Everything that I need I can buy here for really cheap. They have amazing prices as long as you don't buy American products.  Got to go out on the street for a couple hours for p-day.  Lots of fun.  They have a guy that engraves pictures of leather for Book of Mormon cases.  Really cool.  Our window has wooden shutters and opens right out into the city.  We are in the suburbs (baixou?) and so there aren't too many tall buildings. Don't have time today to send you the pics.  The city is so huge.  We flew over it and I didn't even see a quarter of it.  Slept forever last night and am still tired but can't do anything about that.  Love the food, real meat and rice and beans and guarana instead of coca-cola, even the signs are guarana instead of coke. The shops around here open straight into the street and you can even drive a car up into some of them.  BTW Meg- "I love you" is "eu te amo", not "emo".  Keep sending the emails.  Post office service is reliable they said so you don't need pictures of Jesus or anything and as long as it isn't over $50 it doesn't need a tariff.  but everything I need they have around here so don't send anything until I know for sure I can't find it here. They have a gate around the ctm (Brazil MTC) and you have to have a card to get in and out and they have personal security standing around the building.  It's so nice here though.  A little warm, but it's only spring.  We are on the 4th floor, but its really the 5th because the ground floor doesn't have a number so we are getting a lot of exercise going up and down.  Our teacher doesn't know a lot of English, but she is cool.  Got to go.  Will write more next week. tchao.

Elder Anderson