Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Genesis is Back!

Me and Elder Neves.


Our district watching a Disney movie at the church.

Dear people,

This week was pretty swell. It started out with a miracle after our internet session last week. In the middle of the city square, we found Genesis! Just as I had accepted that he would not be getting baptized, he appears. WHAT? He wants to continue the discussions. So we went to his house, and his mom was still insane, but we cleared up some doubts. She chilled a little. But it’s still gonna be hard to get her to sign the baptismal form. We’re praying and fasting. He wants to get baptized sooo bad. And while talking to his mom, he was crying and it was heart wrenching. Anyway, it’s looking better. We’ve taught him up to lesson 3.

Wilson´s little girl is set for baptism this Saturday, too.

So last p-day was tight. We watched Disney’s “Flushed Away,” and “Open Season” (in Portuguese, of course, so it's "allowed") at the church as a district. Disney movies are fun to watch in Portuguese, because they do better with the dubbing of the lips. Afterwards we played soccer in the back, because we found a ball, and there’s a court out back (concrete). Me and Elder Hair weren’t too bad actually. Neves is nuts, and Pinheiro is good, too. Elder Campelo just kinda stands there, but he makes a good goalie. Everyone’s getting stoked for the World Cup that starts in a couple weeks. I hear it’s worse than Carnival, but less sin. Everything closes down; Schools, businesses (missionary work). Everyone is glued to the TV. Last week Elder Moraes was transferred, and Elder Hodges arrived to join the district. He’s good at soccer…so today it’s Americans vs. Brazilians at the church. Pictures will come next week.

Also, I got a sweet, awesomely amazing package from my mom. I forgot how good American Easter candy is. Ohhhhh Cadbury creme eggs.... Peeepssss!! Ohhh, so good! I also got a Frisbee, some instant butterscotch pudding, and other stuff. Funny thing was that my mom had Brother Lofgran (who flew to Brazil on business) mail the box from Sao Paulo, cutting off a month of shipping time. My mom is cooler than yours!

Check out the tree pictured below -- good luck trying to climb that one!

Any "tree huggers" wanna give this guy a try?


So next week is the “emergency transfer.” We’ll see what happens....any guesses???

Zones: Foz de Iguaçu, Cascavel, Maringá, Apucarana, Londrina, Tiradentes (Londrina Stake #2), Presidente Prudente, Marilia, Tupã, and Bauru.

I’ll throw it out there, and go for Maringá (one of the tree-iest cities in the world).

Peace,
ET

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

I'm Still in Bauru...

Drinking coconut milk with Elder Campêlo

Aí, beleza?

In the photo above I am drinking what is called água de côco (coconut water), it’s different than milk, but still takes being a man to drink it. It is actually pretty good.

Surprise! I’m still here in Bauru. So, since April was the worst month in the history of the Londrina Mission, President Leal wants to have May be the best month, so we all had to set goals. The total for the mission, based on the goals, was 386 baptisms. That’s pretty lofty. He wants everyone to stay put and be responsible for your own goals. So basically, no one got transferred in the mission, only the ones leaving and arriving. My first companion, Elder da Silva went home. There will be another normal transfer in two weeks on the 1st of June (or something like that), then also the 1st of July because the new mission president will arrive. So it will only be 4 weeks before it is time for transfers again. Hallelujah! (Especially if I get a bad companion in June!)

So the mom of the young girl I talked about last week, is mean. She didn’t let her get baptized, but we’re praying for this week.

On Sunday, one of the young men in our ward brought a friend, who was absolutely golden. His name is Genesis. We went to visit him Sunday night, and marked a baptism for the 29th. We returned Monday, and taught about the Book of Mormon, with great success, and he was super amazing. He said that he loved every bit of church, and that he wants to get baptized. He prayed to start and to close Monday’s lesson. And the way this kid prayed (14 years old) was something that I’ve never seen before. He talked to Heavenly Father like we weren’t even there, and like He was standing right there in front of him. As a matter of fact, I’m not too sure that He wasn’t standing right there with us. It was a completely selfless prayer, and I was holding back the tears. Anyway, so we left there certain that he would get baptized. We returned Tuesday night, and clapped to get in the house, and the mom came storming out to talk to us, and to inform us that he would no longer be participating in our lesson or the church, because it is a bad church. I asked her what she knew about the church, and if she’d ever been there, and other things, of which she didn’t respond. I’ve never been so mad in my life, and I had some very un-Christ-like feelings and thoughts toward her. After my huge breakdown, I finally got it back together, and got on with life. I don’t understand why this happens. Right when we find someone golden, Satan lets all %#@ loose to keep them from progressing. Nonetheless, he didn’t win, this kid isn’t condemned. I personally think that Heavenly Father let this happen because if this kid would have gotten baptized, in another 5 years he would have served a mission and converted the world –then what would all of the other missionaries do? Back to reality. Life goes on.

And here is a picture of one of the best Brazilian creations ever! Forget those hollow Mexican churros, these are caramel filled. OOOOOOOOH SOOOO GOOOOD!!!!

A Brazilian caramel churro: Excellence!


A churro kiosk. This would be a very bad job for me...

Tchau!
ET

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Transfers are Next Week!

Butterfly dance. Isn't she pretty?

óla!

This week was pretty hard. Sunday especially. Mateus and Leia didn’t go to church again! So it’s looking a little bad. Their step dad is being a toad. Now we have to look at the possibility of cutting them, and that’s a hard decision, because they already received an answer and stuff. But we can’t even teach them!

Natalia brought a friend to church, so we´re gonna teach her and her family here soon, so that should be cool. On Thursday we challenged her to bring a friend to church, and she came through! Also, we had 5 less-active members at church, so that’s good, too.

Sunday night was way awesome, as I got to talk to my mom. It’s sooo good to hear her voice after not hearing it for 5 months.

Our friend Wilson didn’t come to church on Friday with his girlfriend, so she won’t be getting baptized this week. BUT, he has a little 8 year old daughter who will be getting baptized this Saturday. She counts as a convert baptism, because he’s excommunciated. So, I don’t think we´ll go through this transfer without baptizing anyone.

On Wednesday we had a short zone conference, and I got a surprise delivered to me from Elder Villela (my previous companion). It’s what I’ve always wanted. A piranha! I named him João (John). I was sooo stoked!

Meet João! How would you like those teeth nibbling on your legs?

I was asked how I’m doing physically.... well, life has been good here. I got sick a few times in Ibipora, because it was a little more humble location. But since Bauru Centro is one of the wealthiest areas in the mission, I have yet to get sick. Blessings! Hard to teach here? Yes. Diarrhea? No. It’s worth it then.

Transfers are this coming Wednesday!! Ahhhh, what’s gonna happen???!?!?! Will I stay? Will I be sent somewhere new? Will I get a new companion? Only President Leal knows. Stay tuned. . .
Tchau,

Elder Titus

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Mother's Day is Almost Here!

There's a little grove that has some awesomely weird stuff in it, like this dinosaur...


...and a train...


...and finally, a sleeping homeless man. I wonder if he saw the anthill nearby?

Yo,

Solid week this week! Getting excited to talk to the old momster. I miss that lady. But, that’s life, who doesn’t miss their mom when they're so far away and for so long?

We returned to Mateus´ house, and he had prayed and received a strong answer from Heavenly Father, and was excited about how he could feel the warmth in his heart. MAN! If only everyone could just do that. a) few people even pray; b) rarely do they want to know; 6) rarely will they recognize an answer if it comes and d) they won’t follow it even if they do recognize it. He passed all of them, and wants to get baptized on the 15th. That’s how its supposed to work!!!! BUT, his step dad didn’t let him go to church on Sunday because they were going to a barbeque. DANG! So, we’ll try for the 16th after church.

There’s also a man in our ward that is dating a lady who will most likely get baptized the 15th, and his daughter also. I really hope he can come through for us, because we’re on a serious dry streak. Speaking of dry streaks, it’s not just us, the whole mission is horrible. April was the worst month for baptisms in the history of the Londrina Mission. Only 41 baptisms!!! That’s pretty bad. Presidente Leal is not happy. In his last letter he talked about laziness and pride. He totally burned us. But, in reality, everyone is trying their best. ( I think.)

Other news, there’s a guy in our ward that traced his genealogy to Adam and Eve. He found a book about his ancestors, and once you get to the kings, then to the bible, its all down hill. So that is cool.

Transfers are quickly approaching . . . May 19th! Although I have no idea if they will transfer me, I’ve been secretly hoping to be sent to a little town called Jacarézinho, or loosely translated to mean “Little Alligator.” Not sure why, it just sounds cool . . . and I want to see if they really have little alligators out in the boonies.

Well, gotta go. Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, (especially mine, but I get to tell her personally!!!!!)

Tchau,
ET