December 24, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Well I was transfered this last week like I was expecting and now I am in Jaraguá, almost in the middle of the jungle haha and back to the good ol hills. Man that was the real good thing about Itu,  everything was flat and the highest hill was a speed bump haha. But now I'm back to climbing hills all the time and I definately didn't miss it. But so my new companion is Elder Ahmed, an American! But he's got about 30 nationalities.. jk. But he´s from..... (drum roll) NEW YORK! We are the only missionaries in the Sao Paulo North mission from the state of New York and now we are companions, its pretty sweet. I actually knew him from when I was back in Guapira because he was in the same zone for 4 months as me, and now we´re companions here in Jaraguá. I was pretty shocked when I got the phone call last Monday about the transfers. We always joked saying we would be companions since we're the only 2 New Yorkers and now we really are, its pretty sick. So thats the transfers news.

So the area I'm in, like I said, is full of hills but its also a really good area thats starting to get better and has been baptizing a lot recently. And yesterday we baptized a young man named Gabriel who's 12 years old. He's a really awesome kid, some of his family members were baptized recently and he went to church last week and decided he wanted to be baptized. I can't send any pictures though today because the Lan House we're at is really crappy because everywhere is closed since its christmas eve today. But next week I'll send the pictures. We also have baptisms coming up in these next few weeks as well. Were really excited for whats happening here.

So leaving Itu was tough but good at the same time. I really enjoyed the 4 months that I spent there and I met some wonderful people in my time as well. The lady Elder Messias and I baptized with her son a few weeks back is so awesome. When I went by to say goodbye I don't know how many times she said thank you for all you've done. And she said that at the next testimony meeting at church she was going to go up and bear her testimony!

Well tomorrow is Christmas and I'm not sure how its already here, but it is. I can't wait to see the fam tomorrow and especially my dads beard! Yesssss. But Merry Christmas to everybody!

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 11 and Psalms 118:8; 119:71-72, 105

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Elder Gleason!

December 17, 2012

I´m not sure what I like less, the heat or the rain. This week it did a flip flop and went from extreme heat to nonstop rain. I have no idea how the sky has so much water to just keep raining and raining, it's incredible. The worst part about it is our shoes. They get soaked and it takes a while to dry, but then the next day my other shoes get soaked too. But what can ya do.

But so this week had a few great things that happened and at the same time was a difficult one. On Tuesday Elder Messias and I went to Indaiatuba which is another city to do 3 baptismal interviews for some other missionaries. But the bus takes forever to get there so we ended up losing our entire day to be able to work in our area. But the people that were baptized there are super awesome. And the interviews were fantastic. I interviewed just one of the daughters which were identical twins and Elder Messias interviewed the other and their mom. In the interview we were talking about some things and she said something super interesting that I really reflected on a lot. She said "A lot of people hope and dream that someone would die for them if they were in trouble but they forget that Christ already did that for all of us." It was super cool and I learned a lot from it. Christs sacrifice truly is infinite for everyone that has ever lived, is living, or will live. It doesn't have a limit and he died for each and every one of us specifically. Baptismal interviews definately aren't just to help those preparing for baptism but as the interviewer as well we learn a lot in each one.

Then on Wednesday we had divisions with the assistants and I went with Elder Rodrigues and Elder Messias with Elder Santiago. It was really good and we both learned some things that we can get better at that will help the area get better as well. Also Elder Santiago went to Tiago and Daniele´s house, which is the young couple we've been teaching that wanted to wait to get married, and helped them decide to get married. Which now brings us to the best part of the week. On Friday morning we went and marked their wedding in the government building here in Itu. YESSS!!!! They're going to get married on Jan 19, 2013!!!!!! After a lot of struggling its finally going to happen, and we´re going to mark their baptism for the same day. It was so awesome. The only sad part is that tonight we hear about transfers and its really likely that I'll be leaving. But we´ll find out tonight.

So those were the highlights of the week, and next week is already christmas... whatttt. It doesnt feel like christmas at all. But SKYPE. WOOO

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nep 9:13-14, 16-17, 20-22; 10:6 and Psalms 103:13, 18-19; 111:10; 112:1

P.P.S. I found out that the guy that was baptized a few weeks ago in Guapira, that I did a contact with and taught, baptized his wife yesterday. An eternal family!!! All because of a simple contact when he was at his door. Gahhhh. So awesome. The elders in guapira sent me the pictures.

December 10, 2012

And I thought that last week was a hot one... It's just getting worse down here, I don't think I've ever used so much sunscreen in my life combined as I have been these past weeks. And its been even worse because unfortunately we've been spending a lot of time out in the street as well. I think this week was probably one of our most difficult ones that we've had here yet. It felt like nobody was home or wanting to let us in. But we worked hard all the same, doing all that we could to bring the gospel to everybody we could. Also this weekend the 2 people we baptized 2 weeks ago were confirmed members of the church and received the Holy Ghost. Last week they already had other plans to travel so they couldn't make it. But now they're all set and really excited to continue learning and growing in the gospel. It's amazing how much the son, Gabriel, who's 9 years old is already learning and memorizing. He is extremely intelligent.

This morning I had the fantastic oppurtunity to play basketball for the 2nd time on the mission. Me and Elder Messias went down to the chapel after our studies and played for awhile. He played around with the soccer ball of course and me with basketball. Man how is it so good to play basketball. I miss it imensly.

Also this week on Wednesday we had our christmas zone conference in Sorocaba. Its crazy to think this is my 2nd and last christmas already, where has the time gone. But the conference was really good and we learned a lot. Also we got a call last Monday saying that we would be giving a training at the conference. So we also gave a training there on how to evaluate our investigators to see if they're progressing or not. It went really well and we gave the training to roughly 50 missionaries. It was my 2nd time giving a training at a conference as a Zone Leader.

Oh and so one of our investigators who are still waiting on getting married that I've mentioned a couple times are going really well beyond the getting married part unfortunately. But this week the "husband" even went to clean the church. It was so awesome when we heard about it. Also yesterday we taught another really awesome couple thats already married. At the end we asked if the husband wanted to pray and he said he never prayed in his life but that he would try. And so he did and it was great, he was super happy after finishing the prayer. It was a great experience to see how happy he was to talk with his Heavenly Father. It was crazy to hear that he had never prayed in his life, but now he's on the right path. And that was basically the highlight of our week, it was another tough one for us but we keep going hard.

Eu te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. 3 Nephi 1 23; 5 8,13; 7 17-18, 24-25 and Pslams 86 11; 92 15; 97 6,10

 

Elder Messias, J.R., Elder Siddoway, Elder Vincent, and Elder Fox (sitting down). This was at the Christmas zone conference.

December 3, 2012

Wow talk about extreme heat. I'm pretty sure its hotter than it was last year when I was here but I'm not positive about that. I don't know how many times I've heard in this past week, "Wow you're really red". But the thing is I'm using sun block everyday and multiple times each day. So there's nothing more I can do. I'm a white guy in Brasil, I'm gonna be red haha. The worst part is when it rains, I still have hope that one of these times it rains that it cools off too but until now everytime it rains it ends up getting hotter than it already was. It doesn't make any sense at all. I miss having snow and being in the cold when its close to christmas, it doesnt even feel like christmas is just a couple weeks away because I feel like I'm in the middle of summer. The other day I passed the 1 year and 3 month mark, it was a pretty normal day and nothing too special. The time is just flying by and months are going before I know it.

This week we worked a ton like always and had very few results from our work, and even had a few big disappointments. The hardest thing we're finding right now is having people progress and a desire to learn more. The 2 families we´re teaching that need to get married have also slowed up. The young couple has decided that they no longer want to get married for right now, that it's still way early and the other had some other problems with work and other things and are waiting on some papers to get married. But they both want to keep going to church and everything, just that baptism is going to be in the future most likely when I'm not here in Itu.

But this week didn't really have any real high points or real low points so theres not much to talk about. It was just a normal week. I'm trying to remember some other stuff that happened but I'm drawing a huge blank and can't think of anything new and exciting. Oh, it happened a couple weeks ago but I dont think I ever mentioned it, I finished The Book of Mormon for the 3rd time here on the mission. Until that point I had only been studying it in English and now I've started it in Portuguese. My goal is to read the Book Of Mormon 5 times on the mission, 3 in English and 2 in Portuguese. I have no doubt that it is a sacred scripture and that it came from God. Everytime I read it I learn more and more and strengthen my testimony that it's true. I love reading the scriptures and am so grateful for all the knowledge I have gained here on the mission.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Helaman 12:23; 13:11; 14:13, 30-31 and Psalms 56:4, 11; 62:6-8; 64:10; 71:5

November 26, 2012

I´m still a little lost on how my second Thanksgiving has already come and past on the mission, where has the time gone? This thanksgiving was a lot better than last year that is for sure. The family that made me pumpkin pie a couple months ago offered us thanksgiving dinner and it was super good. Unfortunately they didnt have turkey because here in Brasil they said its more of a Christmas thing since they dont celebrate thanksgiving here but all in all it was a great dinner. What a great holiday it is too, a day to just pig out and eat all the good food you want and then sleep. A little different on the mission since we have to keep working but at least everybody back home got to complete it all haha.

Also this week we had our interviews with President. It went pretty well, nothing big just a normal interview to see how things were going. However, during these interviews we can also ask questions about things we dont understand with the scriptures and stuff. So i asked him a couple deep doctrine questions and he answered them, it is amazing how much knowledge he has.

And now for the best news of the week. BAPTISMS!!!! Yesterday after church we had 2 baptisms! Mari and her son Gabriel. Her daughter Geovanna was baptized a couple months ago in a different ward where her dad is a member and we started teaching her mom a little after. She is super awesome and really happy to be a member of the church now. The biggest part for her was the example of her daughter and how her daughter made big changes after her baptism. We wanted to take pictures all in white but unfortunately Mari didnt want to so we just took the pictures afterwards. Elder Messias baptized Mari and i baptized her son Gabriel who´s 9 years old. He said he wants to serve a mission too! So here in 9 years he´ll be out serving as an elder too, who knows where. So awesome! We have been working so hard and we have been blessed by the Lord to be able to baptize these 2 wonderful children of God. Next week they´ll receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and be confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Helaman 7:20; 8:15; 10:4-5, 7 and Psalms 34:15, 18; 37:4-5, 16

 

 pumpkin pie Itu style

 J.R. with Mari, and Gabriel and Geovanna

With Elder Messias too

November 19, 2012

What a crazy week that we have had here in itu. It started off a little tough and in the end ended tough as well. On tuesday and wednesday we literally lost both days of work. Tuesday night we went and slept at the house in Trujilo with elder vincent and elder siddoway again (they stayed together as well). So we slept in their house and then on wednesday we had mission council in Sao Paulo and didnt get back into our area until 9 at night. It was more tiring than working that entire time because it was just bus after bus. And they arent comfortable. But it was a really good meeting with President and we learned a lot about how we can help our zone get better. And also President told us that it is no longer 15 contacts a day but now its 30. 30 new people a day that is our goal to talk with in the street everyday. And we started putting it in practice right away. It was tough but weve been able to do it everyday since. it helps us a lot more focus on the work instead of talking about other things that dont have anything to do with the mission now were always talking with people in the street so we dont even have time to talk about other stuff. Its helped us a lot. What we thought would be super difficult has actually been decently easy.

So since we lost 2 days of our week our teaching schedule was also pretty messed up and we had to move a lot of things around. But we ended up teaching a ton and what we taught in a normal week with our 7 days we taught the same amount with 2 less days in our week the Lord trully blessed us. And it was crazy because we also talked to more people in the street. We trully saw the Lords hand in what we were doing. So we worked really hard and things were going really well with all our investigators and we found 2 more couples, who are already married!!! and interested!!! So we were super happy. We were waiting for 13 people at church who promised that they would be there including all of our baptismal dates. And yesterday came around and... 1 person went. We were happy that she was there but also upset that no one else went. But the lady that went is super awesome and her and her son are going to be baptized next week after church!! So that was the huge bright spot of it all. And we´re super excited for her. We will see some of the fruits of all of our extremely hard and diligent work. Also one of the young couples that we´re teaching that just needs to get married to be baptized is still going super well. We were scared cuz they didnt go to church but we went by at night to see if they were home and they had travelled for the weekend and were trying to call us but it wasnt working. And we had had a family home evening marked with them and they were waiting for us to get there to have it. Theyre so awesome!!!! I just hope and pray that when we go to mark a marraige date in the govt building that it can be while im still here. I want to be here for the marraige and baptism!

Also lastly, our cell phone broke yesterday during church, we have no idea how it happened but it broke and still doesnt want to work. we tried everything to get it back but nothing. And last night was the night to get all the numbers from the whole zone and without cell phone it is super hard. We had to go back like the olden days and use the phone booths. But the first 4 that we went to were broken so we were running all asround trying to find one that worked. It was a battle but we finally found one and we didnt get home until about 10 pm. it stinks not having a cell phone especially when youre a zone leader. And even worse we´ll be without the cell phone until friday. awesome. so eah that was our crazy week. But next week we have 2 baptisms!!!

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Helaman 5:8-9, 12; 6:5 and Psalms 27:1; 29:11; 31:23-24; 32:10-11

 He tried calling home, but it didn't work out too well

 A huge doll type thing that Itu has, he didn't want to accept hearing their messages, J.R. wasn't too happy

 This little guy was a lot easier to talk to and they read the Book of Mormon together

 Coconut water, J.R. said it wasn't too horrible but doesn't plan on drinking it again

Sunday night getting all the "numbers" by phone booth since their cell phone broke



November 12, 2012

Well another transfer has come and past, but this time nothing changed with us here in Itu. And we didn't end up getting another dupla of Elders for our area/house. We had been told that we would receive 2 more elders and that they would be living in our house for an entire week but when the phone call came they ended up going to a different area in our zone. I cant lie I was a little frustrated because I was excited to have 2 more missionaries living with us and even worse Elder Riggin (from back in Jaçana) was the missionary that went to the other area that should have been with us. But the Lord knows what He´s doing so the other dupla was needed in that other area. But now we are the Zone Leaders of 18 missionaries which is a little unnormal here in our mission. In our mission we only have 1 other zone thats as big as ours. But so last week on Tuesday night all the missionaries that were being transferred slept in our house and it was packeddd. We didnt even have enough mattresses for everybody and a couple missionaries ended up sleeping on our 2 couches which are extremely uncomfortable haha. But things in the zone are going really well and the work is really starting to progress well.

Also, this week we started to receive the blessings of all our hard, diligent work. We had a great week this week. 2 families that we´ve been teaching for a couple weeks that arent married have decided that theyre going to get married now. The only bad part is that here in Itu to get married the process takes forever, at the minimum 1 month until you can mark to get married on paper. So theyre going to take a little longer but were super excited for them that theyve decided to get married now. Also we had some other people that we found during this week. One is the brother of a member who went to church for the 2nd time yesterday and is from a different state here in Brasil and will be going back in a couple months but hes super interested and were teaching him now. Also we are teaching the mom of a member from a different ward that is super happy with us teaching her and is seeing how it is blessing her life already. And she has a 9 year old son as well who isnt a member. With both these people that I said weve marked baptismal dates for here in a few weeks. So were going to keep working with them a lot and here in a few weeks they should be baptized. We´re super excited for another transfer here in Itu together and even more for how the work is starting to pick up now a lot more. We´re going to keep working our butts off so that these blessings dont stop coming.

Oh and the other day Elder Messias was bit by a dog in the street haha. I can laugh because it wasnt me. He was super irritated and said he was ready to kick the dog, luckily it didnt cut him or anything it just ripped his pants a tiny bit. It was the first time ive seen someone bit by a dog so far on the mission.

Eu Te Amo

Elder Gleason

P.S. Helaman 3:25-28, 35; 4:15 and Psalms 5:4; 11:5, 7; 15:1-2; 23:3-4

 Their zone last transfer

In Itu everything is bigger and this is one of them, a huge phone booth