Haha, yeah, I´m definitely learning a lot from this companion, I can imagine much worse, but of course there´s much better, easier ways to learn the same things. I for sure don´t have the worst missionary/companion in the history of the church, haha, so I guess I have it easy.
Anapolis may be higher up, but it´s still making me sweat like a madman. I definitely have hope though. And we found out yesterday that we are staying here for this next transfer, so all is good, I get to enjoy the hills some more.
It´s much better/easier to work when I actually get to find the investigators and teach them and get to know them from the beginning, as opposed to just filling in a spot the other Elder left behind with the others. So I actually look forward to teaching the families that we met on the street and contacted. Which we do a lot, by the way. The mission has a standard to do 10 street contacts every day, per missionary. And these are baptism contacts, we invite them to be baptized right there on the street. Usually no more that a few questions like: Hi how are you? what´s your name? ...... Will you be baptized? And they actually say yes pretty often. The president wants to work on finding the elect, and not wasting time. In fact we´re gonna commit 2 families to be baptized today, and if it all works we´re gonna have 6 baptisms this weekend, so here´s hoping.
One thing I've noticed is that there are internet cafe´s and video-game houses all over the place here, it´s kid of like the scrapbook business of Utah.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
In the First Area
I certainly hope this is the hardest week of my mission, I guess it´s always the first week that really blows; it´s not as bad now, but it´s still really hard.
I got transferred last week. I was serving in the suburb of Goiania with Elder Brum (a native) and then we got a call in the morning that me and the other new American were getting transferred. So we went to the office, and I met the other elders from my district in the MTC, which was awesome. A week away felt like forever. But me and two of them took a bus out here to Anapolis, we passed through some pretty legit jungle. But the city looks pretty much the same...except...THE HILLS!!! There are hills everywhere and it feels like I´m climbing Skyline drive every day, no matter where I go.
My new house is better than my last, it´s just me and my companion living there, we have a REAL door, and no cockroaches or geckos in the shower anymore haha.
My new companion is Elder White.... he´s a bit of a fruit-loop, and he´s definitely a trial of my patience, so we´ll see if either of us are still alive after this. He looks like a lemur...except not cute and and I don´t want to pet him.
I don´t really know any of the investigators yet, I´m still working on the names. But a few now have baptismal, and marriage, dates. And one, Mr. Anderson, went from smoking 30 cigarettes a day, and drinking and doing crack, to absolutely nothing in 3 days. Pretty impressive.
I think it´s probably better to mail stuff to the office probably, that way I´m almost guaranteed to get it, haha, and it´s a permanent address, since I never know how long I´m gonna be in an area. It might take a bit longer for the mail to get to me from the office, but after 3 weeks in shipping, it shouldn´t be too bad. I have 2 years to figure it out, so no worries.
No monkeys yet, but I have seen turtles, big lizards, huge ants, and chickens everywhere! And it´s good to hear about the drop in heat coming, it´ll be good to not sweat myself to sleep at night, haha.
Well until next time.
I got transferred last week. I was serving in the suburb of Goiania with Elder Brum (a native) and then we got a call in the morning that me and the other new American were getting transferred. So we went to the office, and I met the other elders from my district in the MTC, which was awesome. A week away felt like forever. But me and two of them took a bus out here to Anapolis, we passed through some pretty legit jungle. But the city looks pretty much the same...except...THE HILLS!!! There are hills everywhere and it feels like I´m climbing Skyline drive every day, no matter where I go.
My new house is better than my last, it´s just me and my companion living there, we have a REAL door, and no cockroaches or geckos in the shower anymore haha.
My new companion is Elder White.... he´s a bit of a fruit-loop, and he´s definitely a trial of my patience, so we´ll see if either of us are still alive after this. He looks like a lemur...except not cute and and I don´t want to pet him.
I don´t really know any of the investigators yet, I´m still working on the names. But a few now have baptismal, and marriage, dates. And one, Mr. Anderson, went from smoking 30 cigarettes a day, and drinking and doing crack, to absolutely nothing in 3 days. Pretty impressive.
I think it´s probably better to mail stuff to the office probably, that way I´m almost guaranteed to get it, haha, and it´s a permanent address, since I never know how long I´m gonna be in an area. It might take a bit longer for the mail to get to me from the office, but after 3 weeks in shipping, it shouldn´t be too bad. I have 2 years to figure it out, so no worries.
No monkeys yet, but I have seen turtles, big lizards, huge ants, and chickens everywhere! And it´s good to hear about the drop in heat coming, it´ll be good to not sweat myself to sleep at night, haha.
Well until next time.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
In Brazil!
Well... esto aqui! (I´m here) haha
Just a couple of things...
1. I´m never going to be dry again
2. If I don´t die from the heat or from working my legs to stumps, I´ll die from guarana poisoning.
3. beans and rice, beans and rice, beans and rice
This is definitely the hardest thing I´ve ever done in my life. It´s hard to even open my eyes in the morning, not just because I´m so tired, but also cuz I know what´s ahead of me.
There´s kind of a language barrier between me and my companion...well...more like a language great wall of china, haha. I´m pretty sure I´m serving in the poor district, or it might be the middle district. Not sure. But these people certainly have hardly anything. It´s pretty dang scary here.
I´m using a Brazilian keyboard (obviously) so if there´s tons of grammar mistakes, that´ll be why, haha.
There´s apparently no law against disturbing the peace here, since everybody blasts their music 24/7. It it´s not blasting in the cars, it´s blasting in the houses. There´s even cars with huge speakers on the roof! sheesh!
I had my first baptism the other day, after three days in the mission. His name is Janio, and he used to drink a lot so he´s really slow, but I like him. So that was a really cool experience.
I am never going to be dry again, haha, curse you Mr. Sun. As soon as I put my shirt on in the morning the collar is already soaked. Good thing that whenever we go to someone's house the first thing they do is give us glasses of water. (and that whole thing about don´t drink what the locals give you just went straight out the window, but don´t worry, I´m not sick yet, haha)
Everytime we cross the street here it´s a game of chess with good ol´Mr. Death. I assume they have laws here, but apparently nobody follows them.
I really like President Tobias Even though he barely speaks any english and will only be my president for 5 months. But oh well.
I´ve never prayed so sincerely and earnestly in my life for so many days in a row. I can handle the walking all day and the heat wont kill me. It´s the feeling of being almost completely alone, or something along those lines. I assume it´ll get better once I learn the language, and once I grow to love the people.
The house we´re living in isn´t as bad as i was expecting, but it´s still pretty creepy. There´s only supposed to be 4 elders in it, but there´s 6 of us right now. and I´m afraid the roof will fall in on us one of these days. haha. I have taken a few pictures, so don´t worry. I´m not sure I trust the mail here enough to send the memory card home though. haha.
Well, I love you all, and miss you all more now than ever. Pray for me, I need it.
God bless America!!!
-Elder Webber
Just a couple of things...
1. I´m never going to be dry again
2. If I don´t die from the heat or from working my legs to stumps, I´ll die from guarana poisoning.
3. beans and rice, beans and rice, beans and rice
This is definitely the hardest thing I´ve ever done in my life. It´s hard to even open my eyes in the morning, not just because I´m so tired, but also cuz I know what´s ahead of me.
There´s kind of a language barrier between me and my companion...well...more like a language great wall of china, haha. I´m pretty sure I´m serving in the poor district, or it might be the middle district. Not sure. But these people certainly have hardly anything. It´s pretty dang scary here.
I´m using a Brazilian keyboard (obviously) so if there´s tons of grammar mistakes, that´ll be why, haha.
There´s apparently no law against disturbing the peace here, since everybody blasts their music 24/7. It it´s not blasting in the cars, it´s blasting in the houses. There´s even cars with huge speakers on the roof! sheesh!
I had my first baptism the other day, after three days in the mission. His name is Janio, and he used to drink a lot so he´s really slow, but I like him. So that was a really cool experience.
I am never going to be dry again, haha, curse you Mr. Sun. As soon as I put my shirt on in the morning the collar is already soaked. Good thing that whenever we go to someone's house the first thing they do is give us glasses of water. (and that whole thing about don´t drink what the locals give you just went straight out the window, but don´t worry, I´m not sick yet, haha)
Everytime we cross the street here it´s a game of chess with good ol´Mr. Death. I assume they have laws here, but apparently nobody follows them.
I really like President Tobias Even though he barely speaks any english and will only be my president for 5 months. But oh well.
I´ve never prayed so sincerely and earnestly in my life for so many days in a row. I can handle the walking all day and the heat wont kill me. It´s the feeling of being almost completely alone, or something along those lines. I assume it´ll get better once I learn the language, and once I grow to love the people.
The house we´re living in isn´t as bad as i was expecting, but it´s still pretty creepy. There´s only supposed to be 4 elders in it, but there´s 6 of us right now. and I´m afraid the roof will fall in on us one of these days. haha. I have taken a few pictures, so don´t worry. I´m not sure I trust the mail here enough to send the memory card home though. haha.
Well, I love you all, and miss you all more now than ever. Pray for me, I need it.
God bless America!!!
-Elder Webber
Monday, February 1, 2010
On His Way to Brazil!
Mom got a call tonight from (Elder) Aaron from the MTC. He got his visa today (the 1st) and flies out tomorrow morning (the 2nd) at 8:00 am on his way to Brazil. Yipeee for him!
We'll post address there and other details once we have them....
Stay tuned...
We'll post address there and other details once we have them....
Stay tuned...
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