Week of August 8-14th, 2016
(8) SEGUNDA (Monday): Today we watched the restoration film with
Junaina and Stefani. They really liked
it, and are excited to be baptized.
Today was day 399 of my mission.
(9) TERCA (Tuesday): District meeting. I felt like my training went well, because I
learned a lot as well. Then we did a
division, because I had to do an interview for a baptism. I really like divisions, because for a long
time now I’ve only been training new missionaries with little or no
experience. Which I love, because
they’re so ready to learn more, and they teach me a lot. But it’s nice to have a day every now and
then to be with someone who actually knows how to teach.
The
interview went very well. Remember the 10 year old girl who asked me if God
existed? This interview was with her
older sister, who was the assistant to the priest in her church, Adventista do
7 dia. When the priest wasn’t there, she
preached. She’s 17 year’s old.
I just
realized that today is day 400 of my mission, and with everything that’s been
going on I forgot to make the list of 100 things I’ve learned. Today was day 400 of my mission.
(10) QUARTA
(Wednesday): Today was a very good
day. There wan a activity with the young
men and young women. With churrusco and
a lot of investigators, which is 2 of my favorite things.
We need to
find more new investigators, because we have very few. Today was day 401 of my mission.
(11) QUINTA
(Thursday): The baptism for Stefani
and her mom fell through. They still
want to be baptized, it’s just that there’s going to be a big festival with a
bunch of famous singers and Janaina, Stefani’s mom, works in the hotel and
won’t get any days off for a while. It’s
a bummer, but I’m still happy that they will be baptized.
Today was
day 402 of my mission.
(12) SEXTA (Friday): Today we did nothing in our area because we
had to go on a 2 and half hour bus ride to another area so I could interview a
woman who wants to be baptized. She’s 27
and she had stopped her career as a model and broken up with her boyfriend
after 3 years together so she could be baptized. Then we returned at 11:30 at night for home.
While in
that area, we split with the elders from there.
I went with Elder Da Silva. We
were walking, and an old fat man stopped us.
We talked with him for a little, and then entered his house to share a
scripture. He started talking about all
his sicknesses and scars. He was a little crazy as well. His body was covered in burns. He said, “My body is very messed up. I bet if I took off my clothes right now, it
would scare you and gross you out at the same time.” I said, “I believe you are correct,
sir.” He said, “just to see my butt
would do it. One time I bent over to
pick up a cup that fell, and I fell backwards into the fireplace. Burned all of my butt. You guys don’t want to see my butt.” I said, “That is also true.” Ha-ha, he was pretty crazy. Today was day 403 of my mission.
(13) SABADO
(Saturday): So, I don’t know why,
but Simara didn’t want to participate in the lesson today. S he isn’t smoking,
which is good. Marcos got laid off at
work, and is now searching for a new job.
We’re passing there less and less as we are finding more and more people
who are more ready. Simara and Marcos went to do the marriage papers, and
learned her photo ID is expired. It’s
one more thing they’ll have to wait for.
It’s hard not to wonder if they are really trying. Then I wonder if we could be doing more. I don’t know.
But I think I’ve come to really know why people say being a missionary
is so hard.
We helped
Luciano paint his front fence and gate today.
It took about 3 hours, but it was super cool to hang out with him and
his family.
After, we
stopped by a members house, because I buy bread from her. They’re way cool and they’re very helpful to
the missionaries. It’s in their house
that we will talk to our family tomorrow.
We were talking, and when we went to leave she said, “No, sit back down,
if you guys don’t have any commitments I already put dinner in the oven, and
another 30 minutes it’ll be ready.”
Ha-ha, so we stayed to talk more and eat.
Also! I woke up today with my voice TOTALLY
horse. It sounds like my throat is full
of sand when I talk. Of course this
happens the day before I talk to my family.
Today was day 404 of my mission.
(14) DOMINGO
(Sunday): Today was AWESOME! My voice worsened and then they called me on
the spot to give a talk, and the mic wasn’t working, so I just spoke louder. It
went well, but then after my voice was FRIED.
We had a lot of investigators, but Luciano and his family didn’t
go. We aren’t sure why.
And I got
to talk to my family!! Woot Woot! But we got notice that this is the last time
that it will happen.
Those were
my day’s highlights. Also, Cristofer
said he wants to be baptized! And he
wants me to baptize him. Just that we
had to schedule his baptism for the 27th after transfers. So, I probably won’t be here. We still don’t know if I will go, but there’s
a good chance. Today was day 405 of my
mission.
Elder Jesus Santos and Jake at the Koepp's home.
Jake and Elder Jesus Santos goofing around
Jake, Cristofer, Giovanna, mom
Week of August 15-21, 2016
(15) SEGUNDA
(Monday): All the missionaries in
Cruz Alta got together and we made 2 huge burgers. They came out good, but the
elder was trying to save money so he bought cheaper bacon. It was moldy and
hard in some spots and gushy in others. So,
we washed it good and didn’t tell the sisters.
Ha-ha, but we gave it a very strong blessing.
Janaina
told us something very cool today. She
said she was praying very hard, asking if the Book of Mormon and the church
were true. S he felt impressed, she said, to open the Book of Mormon and
read. She opened to Alma 37:7-8, and she
said she had this strong feeling of peace and understanding. She said she knows that it’s true. She, and
Stefani, want to be baptized, it’s just a matter of work and her days off now.
I thought
it was so cool to see the effects of when we actually do our part. She asked, and received. She knocked, and it was opened unto her. She did her part, and God did His. Man, we got super happy. Today was day 406 of my mission.
(16) TERCA (Tuesday): Today was one of the hardest days of my
mission. We went to Simara’s house. We
talked for a bit, and then we asked how she was doing with the cigarettes. She said she’d gone a week without smoking,
then Friday, when Marcos got laid off, she went back to smoking one box per
day. Then, yesterday they cut the water, which, coincidently is the Elders
quorum president who works as the one who cuts the water. They are eating very little. She had to ask her ex-husband for money to
pay the bills. Tomorrow they’ll get the
water back. But she said she refuses to
believe God loves her. She’s lost all
desire to pray or read the Book of Mormon, and she doesn’t want to go to
church. I wasn’t mad that they were in a
spot so rough, but that everything I had taught her in the last 4ish months and
she’s learned nothing. I told her she’d
lost her faith. She agreed and said she
hates God. She has no hope. She fears that her son, Thiago, will have to
go live with his dad. She said that if
she looses her son she would never again enter into ANY church. She couldn’t understand why, when she was
making so much progress, God would throw this at them. Honestly, I don’t either, but I trust in His
hand. I don’t understand why Simara,
angry at God, would return to smoking and refuse everything good that she knows
the church has. So many things.
On the
other hand, Marcos is calm, reading the Book of Mormon, going to church,
praying and he knows things will get better.
Just as I had never felt so mad and upset when I heard Simara talking, I
had never felt so happy or content to see Marcos’ rock strong faith.
Today was
day 407 of my mission.
(17) QUARTA
(Wednsday): Today Simara called,
asking forgiveness. She said she
regretted everything she said yesterday and that she knows God is doing what’s
best for them. She wants to be baptized;
she wants to go to church. I got very,
very happy. Especially because now I
know I’ll be transferred. President
Louza called me today, asking if I accept the calling to be a zone leader. I didn’t want to leave the area with her so
bad.
We also
marked the 17 of September with Junaina and Stefani for their baptism. Now I’ll leave and the new missionary will
get 4 baptisms we already have marked.
And we have another 4 that are set, its just waiting on marriage. But, that’s part of it. I’m not mad.
I'm just happy I won’t have to prepare a new training every week
now. Today was day 408 of my mission.
(18) QUINTA
(Thursday): ONE YEAR IN
BRAZIL!! WOOT! WOOT! Also, I will be transferred to…..Cruz Alta
4. I’m just going to switch wards. I’ll live in the other house. Now all the baptisms that happen here in this
area, I’ll do the interviews, so I’m not going too far. It will be good. I’m excited.
Today,
there was an activity the young men were doing to earn money for summer
camp. I bought 16 pieces of
Churrasco. Elder Jesus Santos ate 4, I
ate 3, and we gave the rest to the hobos who are always sitting on our front
steps. They were very grateful.
Andrew, a young
man here, asked me to cut his hair for him.
He wanted it all shaved. So, I
shaved his head. It didn’t come out as
good as he thought it would, I think.
Ha-ha.
I’m
actually pretty sad that I’ll be leaving this area. I love the ward and we still have a lot of
people to teach. It’s always hard for me
to start the work for some one else to finish.
But it’s all-good. I’m
happy. Today was day 409 of my mission.
(19) SEXTA (Friday): Today went very well. I’m starting to say good-bye to everyone,
even though I’m only going to the other side of the city. Simara wrote me a note that was very
sweet. And we planned lunch on Monday in
her house. It was so humbling to see
them in a state so low and they want us to come eat lunch with them. It will be rice, with cheese, and a red
sauce. Today was day 410 of my mission.
(20) SABADO
(Saturday): Rain, and everything
fell though. Then it rained some
more. We passed by Giovanna’s house to
plan the baptism of Cristofer, and review a few things with him.
Then we had a Family home evening with a few
families, but I forgot my camera. This
last week has been going pretty slow, but that’s ok. Today was day 411 of my mission.
(21) DOMINGO
(Sunday): Today was great! Simara and Marcos went to church. Luciano and all his family went as well. Today really was a good day. Took pictures. When I went to bare my testimony I forgot
Portuguese. Ha-ha, not really, but I
kept stumbling and everyone was laughing.
We may have found a very good job for Marcos. We had a good lesson with Janaina and
Stefani, then dinner with the family of Giovanna. They talked about heir temple goal. I love that family. Today was 412 of my mission.
Love you all, Elder McKee