Well...this week was...lame...
Um, well...
Not much to say here. My companion got sick with a virus (he's better now), so we had to stay at home almost all week. It was the slowest week of my mission so far. And when you're not working, the trunkyness creeps in. To distract myself from that, I read 29 chapters of Jesus the Christ. I really hope no one gets sick now...
In other news, I found Rachel's twin. Her name is Joelma and in so many points they are similar. The biggest difference is that she's black and she loves to dance.
Here are some of the things I've found interesting:
She only gets up early in the morning because of work.
Her sarcastic sense of humor in famous in her family.
She loves olives (here they're almost always green, but we can stretch on a small point as this).
She is the favorite aunt.
She thinks that she can't cook, but her family says that she's too hard on herself (she's just not the best cook of the family).
She knows the history of several actors (mostly Brazilian, but still...).
She has a strong testimony, but never thinks that she's ready for any calling.
She is nervous speaking in public.
And so many more things that I've seen and forgotten. It's actually a little scary how similar the two are!
By the way (John), Elizabeth got the divorce papers through!
I love you all and I hope to have more news next week!
Elder Page
Monday, April 23, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
9 April 2012
Elder Page isn't sick!
But his companion is! That's right, my comp has a fever and a headache, but he's doing OK. Any prayers for him would be welcome (we lost so much time when I was sick, that we can't afford it). Anyway, my birthday was low key. No brownie soup. My B[irthday]P[reparation]-day was chill. It helped that I didn't have to spend half of the day in the bus (thank goodness we both stayed!)
We should be having a baptism next week because the "husband's" divorce papers [from his former wife] are going through today. Then they can get married and all will be ready for the baptism. One of the coolest experiences of people getting answers from God happened on Saturday. So on Thursday we went with a member to one of his neighbor's houses and left the message of the restoration. We asked the father to read (only he can) and each individual to pray about the truthfulness of the message and the Book of Mormon. When we went back on Saturday none of them had done it. We did as Elder Holland asks in Preach My Gospel and we were "devastated". Before we could say much, the wife, who was the most against our visit, asked if she could speak. She then said that on Friday night she was lying on a mattress on the living room floor (because it was really hot that night) and she turned off the lights. She looked at the door (one of those that the bottom can close but leave the top open) and she saw me and Elder Bittencourt sanding in "a beautiful, peaceful, light". Suddenly she heard a voice that was not one of ours, nor of anyone in the family, say, "Why haven't you prayed?" She pulled the sheet over her head and told us to go away, but the light grew brighter and she looked again. Me and Elder Bittencourt were closer and we looked sad. The voice repeated, "Why haven't you prayed?" She got up, turned on the light, and then went to sleep. She said that she was already planning on praying because God was watching and she didn't want to feel so guilty again. She thought that in order to pray you had to read (or hear) the scripture first. We explained that even if her husband didn't remember to read to her, that she can always pray to God. We left a message about the humility and importance of prayer. She gave the closing prayer and it was beautiful. Even if things don't work out here, at least my testimony of the power of prayer has grown.
I love you all!
Elder Page
But his companion is! That's right, my comp has a fever and a headache, but he's doing OK. Any prayers for him would be welcome (we lost so much time when I was sick, that we can't afford it). Anyway, my birthday was low key. No brownie soup. My B[irthday]P[reparation]-day was chill. It helped that I didn't have to spend half of the day in the bus (thank goodness we both stayed!)
We should be having a baptism next week because the "husband's" divorce papers [from his former wife] are going through today. Then they can get married and all will be ready for the baptism. One of the coolest experiences of people getting answers from God happened on Saturday. So on Thursday we went with a member to one of his neighbor's houses and left the message of the restoration. We asked the father to read (only he can) and each individual to pray about the truthfulness of the message and the Book of Mormon. When we went back on Saturday none of them had done it. We did as Elder Holland asks in Preach My Gospel and we were "devastated". Before we could say much, the wife, who was the most against our visit, asked if she could speak. She then said that on Friday night she was lying on a mattress on the living room floor (because it was really hot that night) and she turned off the lights. She looked at the door (one of those that the bottom can close but leave the top open) and she saw me and Elder Bittencourt sanding in "a beautiful, peaceful, light". Suddenly she heard a voice that was not one of ours, nor of anyone in the family, say, "Why haven't you prayed?" She pulled the sheet over her head and told us to go away, but the light grew brighter and she looked again. Me and Elder Bittencourt were closer and we looked sad. The voice repeated, "Why haven't you prayed?" She got up, turned on the light, and then went to sleep. She said that she was already planning on praying because God was watching and she didn't want to feel so guilty again. She thought that in order to pray you had to read (or hear) the scripture first. We explained that even if her husband didn't remember to read to her, that she can always pray to God. We left a message about the humility and importance of prayer. She gave the closing prayer and it was beautiful. Even if things don't work out here, at least my testimony of the power of prayer has grown.
I love you all!
Elder Page
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
2 April 2012
So good news: I was not transferred nor was my comp! We are not going to spend my whole birthday in a bus! I might end my mission in this area, but I doubt it.
I just got other good news too. The bishop in my second-to-last area was released and a new bishop was called. He's the most helpful member of the ward and I can see the growth happening there already!
I didn't miss a second of conference this time (not even a song!) and it was amazing! I loved Elder Holland's talk and Elder Eyring's talk (the Saturday Afternoon one) especially. No one got any of the jokes so I was the only one laughing.
But anyway life is going really well here and I feel God's love (almost) every day. (C'mon, not even missionaries are perfect. We have our down days.) I do see His hand in our work every day. He guides us and His mercy is shown by the patience he gives us with the people that we meet. I know that He loves each and every one of the people I meet and I find it harder to get angry at people (they really have to try now).
I am so excited to see you all again, but at the same time...it's hard to say exactly how I feel. This time is special and I love being a missionary. I joke about not liking the name tag because I can't be as rude as I would like, but the truth is I can't imagine walking around without it.
I love you all!
Elder Page
I just got other good news too. The bishop in my second-to-last area was released and a new bishop was called. He's the most helpful member of the ward and I can see the growth happening there already!
I didn't miss a second of conference this time (not even a song!) and it was amazing! I loved Elder Holland's talk and Elder Eyring's talk (the Saturday Afternoon one) especially. No one got any of the jokes so I was the only one laughing.
But anyway life is going really well here and I feel God's love (almost) every day. (C'mon, not even missionaries are perfect. We have our down days.) I do see His hand in our work every day. He guides us and His mercy is shown by the patience he gives us with the people that we meet. I know that He loves each and every one of the people I meet and I find it harder to get angry at people (they really have to try now).
I am so excited to see you all again, but at the same time...it's hard to say exactly how I feel. This time is special and I love being a missionary. I joke about not liking the name tag because I can't be as rude as I would like, but the truth is I can't imagine walking around without it.
I love you all!
Elder Page