Almost forgot to send an email home for everybody about the week today. I got caught up with the MIAMI HEAT email from my Dad.. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Obviously I already knew they would win the championship but it has made the week a little more stressfull thinking about how they were playing and I wasnt watching with my heat jerseys and visor. Pretty stressful stuff to be added on to the missionary work. But the Lord has blessed me with them winning (a little bit of a apostasy here). But now they'll win next year when I'm still here and then keep winning. For all the doubters. Yeah, strengthen your faith haha.
Anywho this week was a decent one, it rained about half the week and I can't stress how much I can't stand the rain here. The only good thing about it all is that it is a lot cooler out and I am no longer sweating for just standing in the street. We were supposed to have 2 baptisms on Saturday but both of them unfortunately fell and we didnt even get to talk to the guys. They werent home during the entire week and we only saw them for about 5 minutes for the week. And they're still smoking.... But things will get better, we´ll remark they're baptisms for a couple weeks from now and keep working with them. They're some amazing guys and will be great members of the church as well. The young woman we're teaching is continuing to progress and we finally talked to her mom last week and she said she wants to see more changes in her daughter before she lets her be baptized. She made a list of 10 things that she needs to change and then she´ll let her be baptized, so thats what were working towards right now.
Transfers are next week and its kind of weird, I've now been in this area for almost 4 months and I feel so at home, its weird to think about having to leave this area whether it be now or in the future. The members here are so awesome and are a part of my family now. I love these guys. But we´ll see what happens, it´s all up to the Lord and what he needs from me and where he needs me. Oh and things with my companion have gotten a lot better and hopefully we´ll get some real good work done to finish off the transfer and these 2 transfers together.
Well I´m not positive what else there is to talk about, emails will probably continue to get shorter and shorter throughout the mission. Theres not tons of new things that happen weekly to talk about.
Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason
P.S. 2 Samuel 7:22 and Mosiah 14:4-7; 15:19, 28
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
June 18, 2012
Well it finally stopped raining this week so I'm finally dry again which is nice, I like taking my showers inside the house instead of outside. This week went by pretty fast with what feels like almost nothing happening. But unfortunately a young woman we were supposed to baptize this week didnt go through because we still havent been able to talk to her mom and get the baptism autorized. Which stinks because this girl is super awesome and really wants to be baptized. But hopefully if things go right tonight we´ll be able to talk to her mom (finally) and get her authroization about it all. SO pray for that to be able to happen. I have no dount that this girl is going to be a leader in the church in the future, and all thats waiting on it is a signature from her mom.
Well I know a few weeks ago I said im not sure if I had ever talked to so many people in my life in a 1 week span, well this week I definately beat that out. I talked with sooo many people in the street there was one day we were going to lunch and it took like 20 minutes to walk 2 blocks because I just kept stopping everybody. I find it pretty exciting to stop the people and see what they´ll say or even what I'll say to them haha. Every conversation is different and I have met all walks of life and all types of situations that people are passing through. And I think that though the mission can be tough at times, I have no doubt that there are millions of people and families passing through much tougher times than I am . The mission is tough but its just like they say all the time in General Conference its preparing me for the rest of my life. Everyday things happen that make me think how I would face the same situation and debate what would happen with the choices I would make.
Also, yesterday I got another shirt from one of the members here in the ward, actually its my first that I've gotten from this ward. But one of the guys here gave me one of his soccer jerseys and signed it, next week I'll have a picture of him and me with it. I keep telling everybody that the team I will root for for the rest of my life will be the team I have the most shirts of. As of now i root for Palmeiras because I have 3 shirts from them.
Oh and of course gotta talk about the Miami Heat. I'm definately being blessed for being here on a mission with them winning the championship. Just a couple more games and my dad will be buying me a championship shirt and then doing the same thing next year as well. D Wade <3
Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason
P.S. Mosiah 5:7,13,15 and 1 Samuel 12:24;16:7; 17:45-47
Well I know a few weeks ago I said im not sure if I had ever talked to so many people in my life in a 1 week span, well this week I definately beat that out. I talked with sooo many people in the street there was one day we were going to lunch and it took like 20 minutes to walk 2 blocks because I just kept stopping everybody. I find it pretty exciting to stop the people and see what they´ll say or even what I'll say to them haha. Every conversation is different and I have met all walks of life and all types of situations that people are passing through. And I think that though the mission can be tough at times, I have no doubt that there are millions of people and families passing through much tougher times than I am . The mission is tough but its just like they say all the time in General Conference its preparing me for the rest of my life. Everyday things happen that make me think how I would face the same situation and debate what would happen with the choices I would make.
Also, yesterday I got another shirt from one of the members here in the ward, actually its my first that I've gotten from this ward. But one of the guys here gave me one of his soccer jerseys and signed it, next week I'll have a picture of him and me with it. I keep telling everybody that the team I will root for for the rest of my life will be the team I have the most shirts of. As of now i root for Palmeiras because I have 3 shirts from them.
Oh and of course gotta talk about the Miami Heat. I'm definately being blessed for being here on a mission with them winning the championship. Just a couple more games and my dad will be buying me a championship shirt and then doing the same thing next year as well. D Wade <3
Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason
P.S. Mosiah 5:7,13,15 and 1 Samuel 12:24;16:7; 17:45-47
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Zone Jacana before the transfers
Miami Heat symbol J.R. made from a soap bar
The Bible scripture case that Elder Alexandre finished for him
Getting warm by the fire
On Monday they burned old couches and a bunch of other stuff from Fagners house, this is the tower
Awesome older woman in their ward who made them little hand towels with their names on them
Close up of the hand towel
Anderson, whos 8 from their ward and is basically already a missionary. He hands out pass along cards when hes taking the bus and talks abnout the church to people
June 11, 2012
I don't know how it is possible to have so much rain. It doesn'tmake sense how the clouds stay in the same plae for an entire week without any change. It literally rained the entire week without stopping and is still raining today. I can't lie I actually got pretty cold a few imes but of course I didn't tell any of the Brasilians that, can't let New York down like that. Rain makes everything harder in the missionary work though, people really don't want to talk to you even more then usual. But I still kept stopping people in the street anyways, rain doesn't make the gospel no bless lives.Anywho this week was a decent one, not the greatest but definitley not the worst either. This weekend though the Temple in Manuas Brasil was dedicaed and the whole country of Brasl got to watchthe dedication. So on Saturday night we were able to watch the cultural event and then on Sunday all of the Dedicaton sessions. It was super awesome and of course spiritual. The members in Manaus sacrificed so much to be able to go to the temple for such a long time. They would travel more than a week just to be able to come here in Sao Paulo to go to the temple. And then pretty recently there was a temple built in Venuezuelu, no idea how to spell that, and it was "only" a 4 day trip to get there. But now after many many years they have their own temple there in the amazons. The dedication was super great and Pres Uchtdorf, Elder Cook and some 70´s were there. The chapel here became an extentio n of the temple and so everybody h to have a temple recommend to get in, and i was able to grab one fo the extras as well so i have a little memory of it. But my testimony was strengthened again about the blessings of the temple and how we trully can be sealed as a family for time and all eternity not just here on earth until death. The power has been restored to the earth through Joseph Smith and has been passed down until our day with a living prophet in Thomas S Monson. What a blessing we have tle to realize these ordenances and covenants with God to be able to live with out families for ever.
Well thts about it for this week, sometimes i feel dumb because i bear the same testimony about 10-15 times a day but i realized the other day its because the gospel will never change. It is the same since the beginning of time and it wont ever change just because some man wants to change things around. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason
P.S. Mosiah 2:20-21. 41 and 1 Sam 2:1-2
Well thts about it for this week, sometimes i feel dumb because i bear the same testimony about 10-15 times a day but i realized the other day its because the gospel will never change. It is the same since the beginning of time and it wont ever change just because some man wants to change things around. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason
P.S. Mosiah 2:20-21. 41 and 1 Sam 2:1-2
Friday, June 8, 2012
June 4, 2012
Yessss finally some things have went right this past week! It was actually a really good week. Also on Tuesday, I did a division with Elder Lopez from Argentina. I don't know if anyone has picked up on it but we have been in the same zone for 5 of my 6 transfers on the mission. He was in Trujillo with me for 2 transfers and now is here in Jacana with me for another 3 transfers and he's now my district leader here. So we did a division and Tuesday and it was super awesome. He is hilarious and super spiritual and knows how to mix the 2 together perfectly. He had me laughing the whole day but we also worked our butts off and taught a bunch of people, mainly in the street. We also had a appointment marked to have like a little church meeting with a family and their priests. I was pretty excited to finally teach some priests but they didn't get there at the right time and we had to go home. The worst part about it all though was that the family made us sit outside waiting on the sidewalk for like 20 minutes. They told us they couldn't let us in without their priests, like we were some kind of monsters or something. What the heck did their priests even tell them to have them be so scared of us.
Also, on Saturday we went to a house that we had done a contact with the person but he didn't live there and we ended up teaching 2 brothers that did actually live there and it was great. They were like harder rockers with tons of tattoos and piercings and long hair but super humble. When we showed them the Book of Mormon the older brother who's about 30ish asked how much it costs and we told him it was free and he was like can I have it? We said definitely but can we explain it first. So we taught him about the restoration and when we finished with Joseph Smith he stopped us and asked us if this was all really true. And so I testified that it was and that God has responded to my prayers and that he could have the same response as well. As we were leaving and had given him a Book of Mormon he let out a WOOHOO, it was awesome. But so we had some really good success this week and finally have some people to work with now instead of just contacts after contacts. We can finally teach lessons again!
Oh yeah and we had another experience that left me kind of angry, we had done a contact with a guy in the street and he said we could go to his house on Friday and we got his address. So we get to the street and we look down, it was probably a good 45 degree angle of a street if not steeper and of course his house number was at the very bottom. So we climbed down this huge road and he didn't even let us in his house. He told us we could talk to him on his doorstep. So we started and then it started raining and he told us we had to leave. I was ready to flip out, but I kept my calm. However, I don't think I'll be going back there anytime soon.
Well thats just a few of the stories from this week. I just hope and pray that I'll have more next week and will be even happier about the week than I am about this past one. I love the gospel. And I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ and was called and prepared to be a Prophet in our days.
Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason
P.S. The whole chapter of Enos in the Book of Mormon, pretty sure its become my favorit part of the BOM, and Joshua 24:15
Also, on Saturday we went to a house that we had done a contact with the person but he didn't live there and we ended up teaching 2 brothers that did actually live there and it was great. They were like harder rockers with tons of tattoos and piercings and long hair but super humble. When we showed them the Book of Mormon the older brother who's about 30ish asked how much it costs and we told him it was free and he was like can I have it? We said definitely but can we explain it first. So we taught him about the restoration and when we finished with Joseph Smith he stopped us and asked us if this was all really true. And so I testified that it was and that God has responded to my prayers and that he could have the same response as well. As we were leaving and had given him a Book of Mormon he let out a WOOHOO, it was awesome. But so we had some really good success this week and finally have some people to work with now instead of just contacts after contacts. We can finally teach lessons again!
Oh yeah and we had another experience that left me kind of angry, we had done a contact with a guy in the street and he said we could go to his house on Friday and we got his address. So we get to the street and we look down, it was probably a good 45 degree angle of a street if not steeper and of course his house number was at the very bottom. So we climbed down this huge road and he didn't even let us in his house. He told us we could talk to him on his doorstep. So we started and then it started raining and he told us we had to leave. I was ready to flip out, but I kept my calm. However, I don't think I'll be going back there anytime soon.
Well thats just a few of the stories from this week. I just hope and pray that I'll have more next week and will be even happier about the week than I am about this past one. I love the gospel. And I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ and was called and prepared to be a Prophet in our days.
Eu Te Amo
Elder Gleason
P.S. The whole chapter of Enos in the Book of Mormon, pretty sure its become my favorit part of the BOM, and Joshua 24:15
Thursday, June 7, 2012
May 28, 2012
This week has probably been thee slowest week on the mission so far. I'm not sure why, but it just went by super slowly. When I was thinking about emailing today it slipped my mind that I need to talk about transfers. Well me and Elder Alexandre are still here in Guapira together, no changes what so ever. Our zone only changed a little bit with an Elder finishing his mission and some other small changes. But so thats how it was, nothing new. And the week went by pretty slow probably because I was hoping for some kind of change and it didn't happen. BUT I know that the Lord has a reason for this all, so I'm going into this transfer trying to be the most positive that I can learn as much as I can from this experience.
Unfortunately nothing new has happened with new investigators as well, I have been doing sooo many contacts with people on the street and nothing is going through. We go to their house and they don't live there or they just tell us to come back a different day. It has been a little rough but I'm fighting my way through it the best I cant. Also, its been a little bit of a bummer because all the best contacts that we do are like really interested in the church and a living prophet, but live in other areas so I just keeping passing tons of references to other areas for them to teach these people. But its better than nothing at least. I just hope and pray that they accept the gospel wherever they may be from the missionaires that are there.
Not really sure what else to even talk about, there haven't been too many neat experiences or great spiritual experiences these last few weeks because just nothing is happening. Its getting harder and harder to not be teaching as I love the gospel more and more, I just want to teach people and families about this truth that God has for us on the earth. Its frustrating when people don't want to listen, and sometimes I get pretty upset haha. But its a part of the mission and I just keep going and stop another person in the street hoping and praying that he'll accept it.
Oh and letters have really hit a huge slump from everybody, or they are somewhere in this crappy Brasilian mail system. Hopefully its the second and not the first.
Eu Te Amo!
Elder Gleason
P.S. Jacob 2:18; 6:11-12 and Joshua 1:9
Unfortunately nothing new has happened with new investigators as well, I have been doing sooo many contacts with people on the street and nothing is going through. We go to their house and they don't live there or they just tell us to come back a different day. It has been a little rough but I'm fighting my way through it the best I cant. Also, its been a little bit of a bummer because all the best contacts that we do are like really interested in the church and a living prophet, but live in other areas so I just keeping passing tons of references to other areas for them to teach these people. But its better than nothing at least. I just hope and pray that they accept the gospel wherever they may be from the missionaires that are there.
Not really sure what else to even talk about, there haven't been too many neat experiences or great spiritual experiences these last few weeks because just nothing is happening. Its getting harder and harder to not be teaching as I love the gospel more and more, I just want to teach people and families about this truth that God has for us on the earth. Its frustrating when people don't want to listen, and sometimes I get pretty upset haha. But its a part of the mission and I just keep going and stop another person in the street hoping and praying that he'll accept it.
Oh and letters have really hit a huge slump from everybody, or they are somewhere in this crappy Brasilian mail system. Hopefully its the second and not the first.
Eu Te Amo!
Elder Gleason
P.S. Jacob 2:18; 6:11-12 and Joshua 1:9
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)