Week of Fevereiro 22-28, 2016
(22) SEGUNDA
(Monday): Today I did an eye exam and
then bought glasses. I’ve been thinking
about it for months now, but it wasn’t until last week I set it up, and then
today did it. They’ll be ready Friday or
Saturday. They’re pretty cool. We’ll see.
I got 2 letters and one post card today.
My camera should come next week!
WOOT WOOT! This week I’ll be
better about writing about each day.
So, we spent a
majority of today going to different glasses stores, looking at what they have
and comparing prices. I found a pair and
it was my favorite, and the favorite of the other missionaries, and when we
asked the price total of the glasses, lenses, and with a fancy thing that makes
the lenses a little darker in the sun, it was the cheapest of the day! All in all with the exam and final cost of
the glasses, it was 620 reais, about $150.00.
But in the exam, when he was having me look thorough the stuff, HOLY COW
I’m BLIND!!
Then, nobody
answered their door, just slowly hid their body from view. I almost said, “I can still see you!” But
nope, we’ll just find someone else ot teach today. But their day light savings jumped back, so
it gets dark super fast now, so there’s less people in the streets and in front
of their houses sitting like normal. But
we managed a few lessons, with investigators, very soft.
Today was still
great though. I love talking with my
family, and also restocking my bananas.
Today was day 230 of my mission.
(23) TERCA
(Tuesday): So, today I learned that air
freshener is called “bom or”, which literally means ‘good air”, ha-ha, I
thought it was funny.
Today was
good. The other elders called us, saying
a woman had stopped them in the street asking if they could visit her husband
and give him a blessing. We went and
this poor old man was on the bed, couldn’t even move. His sister was there so we explained
ourselves and she let us give him a blessing.
We also had a good
lesson with Stefani. We taught about the
10 commandments. Then she said, “Juliano
found a book and he’s been reading it.”
Juliano works for the garbage truck.
When she brought it, it was “teachings of Jesus and his Apostles.” A book of the church. Inside had the name of the 1st
councilor to bishop, with the date of March 23, 1997. Ha-ha, pretty cool that he found that book
and is reading it. Maybe because of that
he will be converted. I sure hope so!
Something that I’m
working on is being more humble, as much in thoughts as in actions. I’ve already learned many times that here, nothing
is done because of my own ability, but only when I’m trying to use the
spirit. I need to better in this, and
always recognize God’s hand in my life.
Today was day 231 of my mission.
(24) QUARTA
(Wednesday): Today a lesson with Fabiano,
we entered, it was the second lesson. We
talked a little bit at the start about prayer, and asked him if he asked with
real intention. He thought for a second
and said, “Yes, I think so.” Then we
asked if he feels that he received an answer that the message of the
restoration is true. He didn’t’
hesitate, said, “Absolutely.” Then we
taught the gospel, and I was feeling the spirit so strong. At the end, we invited him to say the closing
prayer. He thought, then said, “Ok, I’ll
do it.” Then bowed his head and we did
too. Then we sat and sat and sat. 5 MINUTES! I was praying that Fabiano would feel the
same spirit I was feeling. We sat and
sat and I prayed asking what I should do, and I felt this great peace, and I
knew to just wait. Then he started
praying. It was a very strong, heartfelt
prayer. Very simple, but sincere. We left the lesson to return home for the
day, and I didn’t say anything, I was trying to conserve the spirit that I was
feeling.
Tomorrow I go to Santo
Angelo for a division with the Zone Leaders.
We’ll be in trio, we’ll eat at Subway.
Life will be good. Today was day
232 of my mission.
(25) QUINTA
(Thursday): Today I left the little town
of Sao Luiz Gonzaga to do a division with the zone leaders in Santo
Angela. I got here at about 12:00, and
we went to lunch. AT SUBWAY! AHHH!
I got so excited. I bought 4-foot
longs, and ate 2 of them. There was a sale thing where what ever you buy you
get another the same for free. It was
the first time I’d seen subway in 8 months. And it was exactly the same as
American. Maybe I got carried away, but I don’t regret anything. So that was a great start to the day. Then I went with elder Souza Santos and we
visited people in his area. We had some
great lessons, and one inactive lady who tried to convince us that the bishop
should be paid like we are. We tried to
explain that we aren’t paid, but actually pay to do this, but she refused to
understand. Also we tried to explain
about the attitude of service, and how bispo receives his payment in
blessings. She didn’t want any of that
either.
The teaching style
of Elder Souza Santos was very different from what I am used to. I learned a lot of things that I’m going to
apply in my teaching. We weren’t in a
trio like I thought. Elder Manaheim went
with the other elders to teach them.
But today was a
very good day. It was nice to not walk
and walk and walk to knock doors. Their teaching group is closer and better
established, whereas ours is being built still.
Today was very
good. Subway for lunch. I have more to eat for dinner, and I’ll give
you one guess to what my breakfast will be tomorrow! Today was day 233 of my mission.
(26) SEXTA
(Friday): When I got home today, there
were 5 boxes on my bed. The other elders
needed to mail something, so they grabbed the mail also. MY CAMERA CAME! And without tax! And it’s awesome! I’d
forgotten what its like to have a working camera. Now I can actually take
pictures! I already took a ton of pictures. Everyone opened their box, very excited. They
loved them! Ha-ha Thanks so much!! And
then we opened the M&M’s.
And 8
movies! AHHH! Everyone FLIPPED! Ha-ha, only that 2 of the films I got are the
standard we have to give to people, but meet the Mormons, testaments, and the
others I am very excited to watch. I
seriously, without a doubt, have the best mom and the best family. What other missionary can say he got a YODA
ENVELOPE, handmade, from his sister?
NONE! Ha-ha, I love my family.
Old and new camera. FINALLY!
Also, I’ll have my
glasses here in a few days. When they were making my lenses this last week the
machine broke, which they said is normal. The new one should be here today or
tomorrow, then it’s only a short time and they’ll call me and I’ll be able to
see.
We had a good lesson with Vinivius today. His brother is the president of the young
men. Vinivius is not a member. We talked about the gospel with I'm, and what
we need to do in this life to qualify for eternal life to come. It’s always interesting at his house because
his girlfriend is ‘Espirita’, a religion I don’t know how to say in English. They believe in reincarnation, and not in the
bible. She’s really good about not bible
bashing, or arguing doctrine. She’ll
just say what she believes sometimes, and leave me wondering how the original
truth could become so twisted. They believe
in Jesus Christ, but not that he paid for our sins. Really anyone who believes in reincarnation
rejects the atonement. It’s through the
atonement we are made clean, not another try at life. Crazy, 100% against what I know to be
true. But Vinivius is very firm in his
belief of the bible. He likes to study
and likes the missionaries. With college
starting again, it’s hard to get him to church, but we are trying hard.
Welerson also
called me today to say he’ll still be traveling tomorrow, so our commitment to
pass fell through and that he can’t go to church on Sunday. This all made me happy and sad at the same
time. Sad because our commitment fell though, but he remarked for Monday. Also, that he won’t be at church. But happy because it shows he’s actually
remembering our commitments and he things to alert us when things change. He’s a great young man, and I really, really
want to see him on a mission some day.
Today was day 234 of my mission.
(27)SABADO
(Saturday): Today was AWESOME! We had a great lesson with Rosalino and his
wife, Berenice and their friend about the plan of salvation. Even though it had
been 2 weeks since we last passed, because they’re only home Saturdays, they
remembered everything of the restoration.
They are great! They ask questions
and they read what we left and prayed.
Berenice said that she prays to know if the church they belong to now is
the church of God, or if she needs to keep searching. And they have a lot of kids. But everyone is home only on Saturdays after
5, so that’s when we pass.
We ended the day
with a lesson with Eduardo. It was our
second lesson with him, too. He had a
lot of questions. Since our last visit,
he had watched the film, The Restoration, read what we left, talked to his wife
about it, and when she asked to read it he had accidently unmarked it, so they
read a different part. He said of al the
churches he’s gone to, he can always find something that is wrong according to
the Bible. But ours is the first that
he’s felt a connection with. He said he
related a lot with the film, when Joseph couldn’t find the true church. We answered all of his questions, and then
explained more of the Book of Mormon, reading the first title page and parts of
the introduction to answer questions and explain more. We marked 3 Nephi 11, because he had a lot of
interest with Jesus Cristo visiting the Americas.
I don’t know how
many of our investigators will be at church because everyone is traveling, but
lets pray for a lot! Today was day 235
of my mission.
(28) DOMINGO
(Sunday): So church today, none of our
investigators came. They’re all
traveling. We called for some of them,
but nobody was answering. We finally
went and entered the church. THEN!!, Vinivius walked in! ha-ha, and he really liked it. He’s the brother of Wilker, who is president
of the young men. Man I became so
excited.
Then we found some
good new investigators today and one that would NOT STOP TALKING!! If I were talking she would talk over
me. If we tried to talk she would just
continue. Man, I had been thinking I’ve
come a long way with my patience, but I almost snapped. “Just be quiet and let me teach you how to
receive salvation!!” She said she likes
to listen to the priests and she believes in the bible. So I thought, “She needs to then realize I
have something to offer. Right now she
just things I’m a youth with little knowledge.”
So, I stated quoting the bible.
We taught the first part of the restoration using the bible a lot. Sometimes I didn’t even open it, just told
her the reference and what it said.
Finally she started to pay attention.
But, we had run out of time and so we taught only the first part and
left her and her son with the pamphlet to read and we’ll go back.
This week went
well. We really need to better our
lessons with members, but we’ll do that this week. Today was day 236 of my mission.
I’m getting a ton of post cards! :) I love them. And I like the Jake
head pictures too. They make me laugh. :) Also, we have a rat in our house. The
punk ate my bananas. So I bought a huge nasty mousetrap, but it didn’t kill the
guy! Just left a bunch of blood! We have no idea where he’s living, but we'll
get him.
Now my time is up. :) Love you mom!!! Next week I’ll find a way to
send the pictures. Tell everyone there I love them!! Thanks for all the
support!! I hope all is well with everyone!! And I hope everyone is happy!!! até mais!
Love, Elder McKee
Jake and Elder Martins
Huge, beautiful flower!
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