Subject: Traduza... (Translate...)
Oi Todo Mundo!
Hello Everybody!
Parabéns pra você, Ryan! Que pena que você não virá à melhor missão do mundo. Pela menos as pessoas poderão pronunciar o seu nome. Aqui todo mundo tem dificuldade com o nome Allred. Em português, não existe palavras com dois ´l´s seguindos. E também o ´d´ mudo no final sempre palataliza-se. O mais perto torna-se "Owhedge".
Congrats Ryan! What a shame that you´re not going to come to the best mission in the world. At least the people there will be able to say your name. Here, everybody has dificulty with the name Allred. In Portuguese, there doesn´t exist words with double ´l´. Also, the mute ´d´at the end of a word always is palatalized. The closest they get is "Owhedge".
Bem. Enviei meu último email semana passado percebendo que esqueci incluir as missões que ia advinhar para o chamado missionário de Ryan. Advinhei primeiro a Missão Califôrnia Roseville e segundo a Missão Melhor do Mundo (ou seja a Missão São Paulo Sul). Pensei que se advinhasse errado (e nunca advinho errado), ele viria para cá. eu já tava planejando pedir ao Presidente na minha entrevista esta semana se poderia ser o seu trainador. Tudo bem.
Well, I sent my email last week realizing that I forgot to include my guesses for Ryan´s mission call. My two guesses were: the California, Roseville Mission and the Brazil São Paulo South Mission. I figuered that if I guessed wrong (which I never do) and he ended up not going to California, he would come here to the best mission in the world. I was already planning on asking President in my interview this week if I could be his trainer. O well.
Nós também tivemos a conferência da ala. A freqüência foi 180. Há cinco anos atrás, a freqüência foi o mesmo. Mas isso foi antes da ala dividir-se. Então, a igreja tá crescendo muito.
We also had ward conference. There was 180 people there. Five years ago, the attendence was the same, but this was before the ward split. So the church here is growing a lot.
Frabrício e Débora foram batizados no Sábado e confirmados no Domingo. Sexta-feira agora eu faço 1 ano na missão. Então, se eles prepararem-se muito durante este novo ano e forem ao temple exatamente daqui um ano, eu vou poder assistir o seu selamento.
Fabrício and Débora were baptized on Saturday and Confirmed on Sunday. This Friday is my one year mark on the mission. So, if they prepare themsleves a lot during this new year and go to the temple exactly one year from now, I´ll be able to attend the sealing.
Era para ter entrevistas com Presidente a semana passada, mas houve uma emergência e ele teve que sair mais cedo. As entrevistas foram remarcadas para amanhã.
We were suposed to have interviews with President last week, but there was an emergency and he had to leave earlier.
The interviews were rescheduled for tomorrow.
Nós temos uma nova regra em casa. Só podemos falar inglês dentro da casa, e só português fora. Não távamos fazendo isso antes porque eu e Élder Urie não quisemos desenvolver o hábito de falar inglês um com o outro. Mas, agora sou o único Americano em casa, e os outros três Élderes estão aprendendo inglês. Tem sido bem difícil porque fez tempo que não falei em inglês. Élder Magnum sempre tem que me lembrar, porque eu começo falar português sempre.
We have a new rule in the house. We can only speak English inside and only Portugues outside. We didn´t make this rule before because Elder Urie and I didn´t was to fall in the habit of speaking English one with the other. But now I´m the only American in the house, and the other three Elders are learning English. It´s been pretty difficult becuase it´s been a while since I didn´t speak English. Elder Magum has had to remind me, because I always forget and start speaking in Portuguese.
Ontém a noite, realizamos uma noite familiar na casa da Carminha (recém-converso). Teve mais duas famílias na ala que moram nos mesmos apartamentos. Foi muito boa! Desejo que Helenilton (seu marido) tenha mais vontade de ir à igrejo depois isso.
Last night, we held family home evening in home of Maria do Carmo (a recent convert). There were two more member families there that live in the same apartment buildings. It was really good! I hope that Helenilton (her husband) has more desire to go to church after this.
Bem, tenho que atualizar o site de referências.
Well, I have to up date the referral site.
Até logo!
Goodbye for now!
-Elder Jason Morgan Allred.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
8-12-08
Subject: I had never before had to use bug spray to go to bed at night.
Hello Everybody!
This last week it rained quite a bit. I think it´s because people just can´t make up their minds. First, we went a month without rain, so their was a water shortage. We didn´t feel the effects of it too much because we´re never at home during the day when everyone else is using water. We almost had a scare during Junior´s baptism a few weeks ago. The water at the chapel stopped right when we finished filling up the font. The problem is that there is a small leak, so we had to hurry and do the baptism while there was still enough water. Bishop almost had to lay him flat to get him baptized. Anyway, I think because of the water shortage, people must have started praying for rain. So, prayers were answered and the rain came down and the mud came up, the rain came down and the mud came up, the rain came down and the mud came up and the house of the Elders stood still and got muddy. Anyway, I think all the people that live on dirt roads prayed for the rain to stop. Now it´s really hot again. My companion has really dark skin, and even he put on sun screen today.
Last week we started teaching Rodolfo and his family (yes! He´s already married to his wife!). They said they would come to church. So we told him we would have a member pass by his house and walk with them. We assigned the job to Irmão (Brother) André, our ward mission leader. We told him Road Three of the Vila (Neighborhood) Ema. Little did we know that there are two road threes in Vila Ema. He choose the wrong one and never found the house. Later that day, we went to Rodolfo´s house. He said that he waited and waited for Irmão André to come, and he never came. So about 9:30 (the time when church starts), they decided to take off for church alone. They got there at 10:00, and our ward was in sacrament meeting, and the other ward were in the classes. They didn´t know where to go, so they went home! We explained what happened, and they said that they´ll come this week again. Hooray!
Last Saturday, when we were going to go contact a reference, we passed a man outside his home. About 30 steps latter, I felt the need to talk to him, so we did an about face and returned. At first I just offered him a pass along card. Then I decided to go ahead and try to teach him. He let us into his garage, at we taught him a quick first lesson, and invited him to church. He said he would come. We agreed to meet him at his home 9:15 am (He lives close to the chapel). Sunday morning about 8am, we tried calling Wellington (that´s his name) to make sure that he was awake and getting ready, but his cell phone was turned off. We passed there at 9:15 like planned. He was still asleep when we got their, but we woke him up and he said he would hurry and get ready. It only took him about 10 minutes to take a shower, get dressed, and eat something really quick. We showed up a little late for Sacrament meeting, but we had luck, and as ussual, the meeting started late, and we walked in during the first hymn.
Jonathan, who was going to be baptized on Sunday, now will have to wait a couple more years. His mom changed her mind and didn´t want to sign the baptismal form. :(
Fabrício and Débora are all set for their baptism this Saturday. All that´s left is the interview, which will take place on Thursday.
Aurea (who was baptized a few weeks ago with her family) is just craving to learn more. She has already read almost 3 different manuals of the teaching of the presidents of the church. She said that John Taylor is her favorite. She is always asking what she needs to be doing to prepare for the temple a year from now. And Luiz (her grandson of 10 years) is anxious to prepare to receive the priesthood in two years. That reminds me - I need to talk to the Primary President to get him going on the Faith in God program.
Sérgio and Valdira are as firm as ever. Valdira had to stay home on Sunday with Thiago, her three-year-old son who was coughing and couldn´t go out in the rain. (They would have had to walk 30 minutes in the rain). But on Monday, she told us that she felt such a falt of church, that from now on whether it´s raining or burning, she´ll never miss another church meeting ever again.
Elder C. Pereira´s English is coming along pretty good. I taught him how to make mashed potatoes today. I´ll send a picture of us both next week.
Thanks for everything!
-Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Hello Everybody!
This last week it rained quite a bit. I think it´s because people just can´t make up their minds. First, we went a month without rain, so their was a water shortage. We didn´t feel the effects of it too much because we´re never at home during the day when everyone else is using water. We almost had a scare during Junior´s baptism a few weeks ago. The water at the chapel stopped right when we finished filling up the font. The problem is that there is a small leak, so we had to hurry and do the baptism while there was still enough water. Bishop almost had to lay him flat to get him baptized. Anyway, I think because of the water shortage, people must have started praying for rain. So, prayers were answered and the rain came down and the mud came up, the rain came down and the mud came up, the rain came down and the mud came up and the house of the Elders stood still and got muddy. Anyway, I think all the people that live on dirt roads prayed for the rain to stop. Now it´s really hot again. My companion has really dark skin, and even he put on sun screen today.
Last week we started teaching Rodolfo and his family (yes! He´s already married to his wife!). They said they would come to church. So we told him we would have a member pass by his house and walk with them. We assigned the job to Irmão (Brother) André, our ward mission leader. We told him Road Three of the Vila (Neighborhood) Ema. Little did we know that there are two road threes in Vila Ema. He choose the wrong one and never found the house. Later that day, we went to Rodolfo´s house. He said that he waited and waited for Irmão André to come, and he never came. So about 9:30 (the time when church starts), they decided to take off for church alone. They got there at 10:00, and our ward was in sacrament meeting, and the other ward were in the classes. They didn´t know where to go, so they went home! We explained what happened, and they said that they´ll come this week again. Hooray!
Last Saturday, when we were going to go contact a reference, we passed a man outside his home. About 30 steps latter, I felt the need to talk to him, so we did an about face and returned. At first I just offered him a pass along card. Then I decided to go ahead and try to teach him. He let us into his garage, at we taught him a quick first lesson, and invited him to church. He said he would come. We agreed to meet him at his home 9:15 am (He lives close to the chapel). Sunday morning about 8am, we tried calling Wellington (that´s his name) to make sure that he was awake and getting ready, but his cell phone was turned off. We passed there at 9:15 like planned. He was still asleep when we got their, but we woke him up and he said he would hurry and get ready. It only took him about 10 minutes to take a shower, get dressed, and eat something really quick. We showed up a little late for Sacrament meeting, but we had luck, and as ussual, the meeting started late, and we walked in during the first hymn.
Jonathan, who was going to be baptized on Sunday, now will have to wait a couple more years. His mom changed her mind and didn´t want to sign the baptismal form. :(
Fabrício and Débora are all set for their baptism this Saturday. All that´s left is the interview, which will take place on Thursday.
Aurea (who was baptized a few weeks ago with her family) is just craving to learn more. She has already read almost 3 different manuals of the teaching of the presidents of the church. She said that John Taylor is her favorite. She is always asking what she needs to be doing to prepare for the temple a year from now. And Luiz (her grandson of 10 years) is anxious to prepare to receive the priesthood in two years. That reminds me - I need to talk to the Primary President to get him going on the Faith in God program.
Sérgio and Valdira are as firm as ever. Valdira had to stay home on Sunday with Thiago, her three-year-old son who was coughing and couldn´t go out in the rain. (They would have had to walk 30 minutes in the rain). But on Monday, she told us that she felt such a falt of church, that from now on whether it´s raining or burning, she´ll never miss another church meeting ever again.
Elder C. Pereira´s English is coming along pretty good. I taught him how to make mashed potatoes today. I´ll send a picture of us both next week.
Thanks for everything!
-Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
8-05-08
Subject: Transfers!
Hello Everybody!
We had transfers, and I have some very sad news. Elder Urie was transfered. I only got to be with him for one transfer. :(
On Sunday, Carminha and her two granddaughters were baptized. They will be confirmed this coming Sunday. It was a very special ocasion. We started teaching them when a recent convert (Elinilde) from another ward in the neighboring stake moved to our ward to live with her mother. Elinilde got on our foot for her not receiving any visits from the missionaries since she moved in (we didn´t even know she had moved here). Oh, do we use the phrase "to get on someone´s foot" in English? I think it´s the equivilant of to get after someone. I´m not even sure how to word this anymore. Anyway, we went to her house and found out that her mother wanted to start coming to church as well. Next thing you know she stops drinking coffee and stops smoking and also brings her two granddaughters to church. Her husband (Helenilton) is a little slower coming along. But, he said he´s going to come to church on Sunday. It´s a start. He says he doesn´t want us to push him too much to stop smoking. He says he´ll stop little by little, but well get on his foot about that. I see a lot of potential in him. Last night, Elder Urie and I passed by for the last time before he was transfered, and I could picture Helenilton as a worthy holder of the priesthood being sealed with his wife in the temple. I have great hope for him.
The whole ward was really sad to see Elder Urie leave, but I think I was the saddest. Junior (that was baptized a few weeks ago) said that we´re like bread and butter. Jonathan, his friend (who also has been visiting the church, and will, with some miracles, be baptized on Sunday) said that he was going to walk into church with a complaint saying that they couldn´t make Elder Urie leave.
Together, Elder Urie and I were able to do more in one transfer than what was done in the last 5 transfers in this area. I´m really glad that the bar was raised a few years ago. I can see how 2 missionaries that are willing to rely completely on the Lord can be more affective that putting them each with a companion that still doesn´t know why he´s on a mission.
Luckily, I´ve been blessed 7 times in a row with amazing companions. My new companion is a Brazilian! Hurray! I love Brazilians! However, it does mean that I´ll be teaching English class alone again - he´ll be one of the students. His name is Elder C. Pereira. He´s from Recife. He the shortest companion I´ve had so far. We´re quite a contrast physically, but I can see that we´re going to work great together. All we have to do is make the duo a trio and let the Lord be the senior companion. This is his third area as well. He was born in (ie: his first area was) Mauá, in the area right next to mine, so I already know him a little. This will be his 4th transfer.
Well, when we found out about tranfers, and I found out that Elder Urie would leave, I got really sad, worried, and a little stressed out. We did so much good together, and I was worried that I wouldn´t be able to continue at the same level without him. But I was blessed to recognize that we did so well together because we relied on the Lord. And Elder C. Pereira and I will continue. It´ll be a great transfer. I´m excited!
Well, Goodbye for now!
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Hello Everybody!
We had transfers, and I have some very sad news. Elder Urie was transfered. I only got to be with him for one transfer. :(
On Sunday, Carminha and her two granddaughters were baptized. They will be confirmed this coming Sunday. It was a very special ocasion. We started teaching them when a recent convert (Elinilde) from another ward in the neighboring stake moved to our ward to live with her mother. Elinilde got on our foot for her not receiving any visits from the missionaries since she moved in (we didn´t even know she had moved here). Oh, do we use the phrase "to get on someone´s foot" in English? I think it´s the equivilant of to get after someone. I´m not even sure how to word this anymore. Anyway, we went to her house and found out that her mother wanted to start coming to church as well. Next thing you know she stops drinking coffee and stops smoking and also brings her two granddaughters to church. Her husband (Helenilton) is a little slower coming along. But, he said he´s going to come to church on Sunday. It´s a start. He says he doesn´t want us to push him too much to stop smoking. He says he´ll stop little by little, but well get on his foot about that. I see a lot of potential in him. Last night, Elder Urie and I passed by for the last time before he was transfered, and I could picture Helenilton as a worthy holder of the priesthood being sealed with his wife in the temple. I have great hope for him.
The whole ward was really sad to see Elder Urie leave, but I think I was the saddest. Junior (that was baptized a few weeks ago) said that we´re like bread and butter. Jonathan, his friend (who also has been visiting the church, and will, with some miracles, be baptized on Sunday) said that he was going to walk into church with a complaint saying that they couldn´t make Elder Urie leave.
Together, Elder Urie and I were able to do more in one transfer than what was done in the last 5 transfers in this area. I´m really glad that the bar was raised a few years ago. I can see how 2 missionaries that are willing to rely completely on the Lord can be more affective that putting them each with a companion that still doesn´t know why he´s on a mission.
Luckily, I´ve been blessed 7 times in a row with amazing companions. My new companion is a Brazilian! Hurray! I love Brazilians! However, it does mean that I´ll be teaching English class alone again - he´ll be one of the students. His name is Elder C. Pereira. He´s from Recife. He the shortest companion I´ve had so far. We´re quite a contrast physically, but I can see that we´re going to work great together. All we have to do is make the duo a trio and let the Lord be the senior companion. This is his third area as well. He was born in (ie: his first area was) Mauá, in the area right next to mine, so I already know him a little. This will be his 4th transfer.
Well, when we found out about tranfers, and I found out that Elder Urie would leave, I got really sad, worried, and a little stressed out. We did so much good together, and I was worried that I wouldn´t be able to continue at the same level without him. But I was blessed to recognize that we did so well together because we relied on the Lord. And Elder C. Pereira and I will continue. It´ll be a great transfer. I´m excited!
Well, Goodbye for now!
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
7-15-08
Subject: New record of investigators at church! (again)
Hello everybody!
This keyboard is really annoying. The shift key on the right side (the one I´m used to using) isn´t working, so I have to use the one on the left side (the one I´m not used to using). Oh the trials of life! I don´t know how I´m ever going to get through this email! :)
Anyway, we reached our goal! We got 20 investigators to church on Sunday. (It would have been 23 but three of them don´t count because they´re not baptizing age.)
I picked up my suit from the dry cleaners today. We had to take 2 different buses just to get there. Our area is out in the middle of nowhere. We have to take a 40 min bus ride to get to any bank or post office. Our zone is pretty spread out, and we´ve had to spend a lot of money on buses lately. For example last Saturday, in order to do some baptismal interviews, we went on a split with some other Elders, and between us four we paid for 20 bus passages.
Oh! I guess the shift button wasn´t broken afterward. This must be a gaming keyboard because it´s got a TURBO button that was messing me up. Problem solved!
On Sunday night we got to go to a fireside where President Costa (of the Presidency of the Seventy) spoke. We had to leave early to get home on time, but we learned a lot of neat things.
So, let me tell you a little about our investigators!
Sérgio and Vauldira - A couple with whom I did a street contact my second day here three weeks ago. Since then, they´ve been to church three times in a row. They let us take their coffee when we taught them the Word of Wisdom. Their 3-year-old (Thiago) was a handful in church. Our life line was the 12-year-old daugher of the old Bishop that kept him under control so he wouldn´t run up and down the isles. They have a baptismal goal of the 26th of July.
Fabrício and Débora - Friends of Sérgio and Vauldira. After they went to church last week, they found out that their best friends are the Elders´ Quorum President and his wife. They also gave us their coffee. They have already agreed to be baptized and are currently praying about a specific date we set with them. Their 5 year-old (Iago) is very well behaved.
Maria das Dores (Mary of the Pains) - I don´t know why her parents gave her that name. She´s the grandmother of Wellington (who was baptized two weeks before I got here). She attended his baptism, and really felt the spirit. We started teaching her and she came to church for the second time on Sunday. Her only concern about baptism is that she´s afraid of the cold water (the heater doesn´t work). We don´t have a firm baptism date marked with her yet because she needs to divorce her first husband (who she hasn´t seen in 20 years) and get married to the man she is living with now. Because of the spirit she felt at church two weeks ago, she has decided to get married. It´s going to be a complicated process, because we´ll have to talk with some lawyers. But, the goal is to baptize her next transfer.
Aurea, Danielle (her daugher), and Luiz (her grandson, but not Danielle´s son) - A family that I talked to the Saturday before last. That following day, they went to church as well as this last Sunday. When Aurea came home from church on that first Sunday, she had lost all desire to smoke. On Monday, we planned on teaching her the Word of Wisdom. Before we started, she told us that she had decided to stop drinking coffee as well because coffee makes her want to smoke. They also have a baptism goal of the 26th of July.
We also have Luana, Suiane, and Junior who were all interviewed. They passed, but aren´t feeling completely ready. The main problem is that Luana and Suiane don´t have enough courage yet to leave their old church. Suine has been to church these last 3 weeks in a row, and Luana and Junior have been 2 times. We started teaching Emerson, Suiane´s brother, and he came to church last Sunday as well.
Luan came to church for the first time on Sunday with 6 of his brothers and sisters and step brothers. Most of them have already been 2 or three times. But he´s sort of the leader, so it´s really going to help the others progress now that he finally came. Last night we had a Family Home Evening with them in the house of a member.
I don´t have time to talk about all our progressing investigators. But I guess that´s a big blessing because it means we have a lot of people to teach.
Goodbye for now!
-Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Hello everybody!
This keyboard is really annoying. The shift key on the right side (the one I´m used to using) isn´t working, so I have to use the one on the left side (the one I´m not used to using). Oh the trials of life! I don´t know how I´m ever going to get through this email! :)
Anyway, we reached our goal! We got 20 investigators to church on Sunday. (It would have been 23 but three of them don´t count because they´re not baptizing age.)
I picked up my suit from the dry cleaners today. We had to take 2 different buses just to get there. Our area is out in the middle of nowhere. We have to take a 40 min bus ride to get to any bank or post office. Our zone is pretty spread out, and we´ve had to spend a lot of money on buses lately. For example last Saturday, in order to do some baptismal interviews, we went on a split with some other Elders, and between us four we paid for 20 bus passages.
Oh! I guess the shift button wasn´t broken afterward. This must be a gaming keyboard because it´s got a TURBO button that was messing me up. Problem solved!
On Sunday night we got to go to a fireside where President Costa (of the Presidency of the Seventy) spoke. We had to leave early to get home on time, but we learned a lot of neat things.
So, let me tell you a little about our investigators!
Sérgio and Vauldira - A couple with whom I did a street contact my second day here three weeks ago. Since then, they´ve been to church three times in a row. They let us take their coffee when we taught them the Word of Wisdom. Their 3-year-old (Thiago) was a handful in church. Our life line was the 12-year-old daugher of the old Bishop that kept him under control so he wouldn´t run up and down the isles. They have a baptismal goal of the 26th of July.
Fabrício and Débora - Friends of Sérgio and Vauldira. After they went to church last week, they found out that their best friends are the Elders´ Quorum President and his wife. They also gave us their coffee. They have already agreed to be baptized and are currently praying about a specific date we set with them. Their 5 year-old (Iago) is very well behaved.
Maria das Dores (Mary of the Pains) - I don´t know why her parents gave her that name. She´s the grandmother of Wellington (who was baptized two weeks before I got here). She attended his baptism, and really felt the spirit. We started teaching her and she came to church for the second time on Sunday. Her only concern about baptism is that she´s afraid of the cold water (the heater doesn´t work). We don´t have a firm baptism date marked with her yet because she needs to divorce her first husband (who she hasn´t seen in 20 years) and get married to the man she is living with now. Because of the spirit she felt at church two weeks ago, she has decided to get married. It´s going to be a complicated process, because we´ll have to talk with some lawyers. But, the goal is to baptize her next transfer.
Aurea, Danielle (her daugher), and Luiz (her grandson, but not Danielle´s son) - A family that I talked to the Saturday before last. That following day, they went to church as well as this last Sunday. When Aurea came home from church on that first Sunday, she had lost all desire to smoke. On Monday, we planned on teaching her the Word of Wisdom. Before we started, she told us that she had decided to stop drinking coffee as well because coffee makes her want to smoke. They also have a baptism goal of the 26th of July.
We also have Luana, Suiane, and Junior who were all interviewed. They passed, but aren´t feeling completely ready. The main problem is that Luana and Suiane don´t have enough courage yet to leave their old church. Suine has been to church these last 3 weeks in a row, and Luana and Junior have been 2 times. We started teaching Emerson, Suiane´s brother, and he came to church last Sunday as well.
Luan came to church for the first time on Sunday with 6 of his brothers and sisters and step brothers. Most of them have already been 2 or three times. But he´s sort of the leader, so it´s really going to help the others progress now that he finally came. Last night we had a Family Home Evening with them in the house of a member.
I don´t have time to talk about all our progressing investigators. But I guess that´s a big blessing because it means we have a lot of people to teach.
Goodbye for now!
-Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
7-08-08
Elder Jason Allred
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil
Subject: New record of investigators at church!
Hello Everybody!
Elder Urie and I broke our record for number of investigators at church. We hit 18 on Sunday. It was really tough. We´re shooting for 20 this week.
I don´t have too much time to type because we had to spend most of our P-day playing basketball and looking for a dry cleaners in the center.
On Friday, we have zone conference with President and Sister Richardson, who just got here last week. We had to take a bus to get to Santos where we had the conference. It just also happened to be the 4th of July that day. Elder Urie and I live with 2 Brazilians (Elder Magnum and Elder Z. Santana). They both went to English schools (as in schools that teach English) before the mission and know a lot about America. So, they woke up early on Friday and surprised us with a traditional American breakfast with pancakes and french toast. They also put up an American flag. The problem is that they are really good cooks, and I think I ate too much. Then we had the hour long bus ride. We were pretty much the first people on the bus, so we got good seats, but as the ride goes on, we all gave up our seats to some older ladies. So, we were cram packed standing up on a long bumpy bus ride, and I had eaten a little too much. It sufficeth me to say that that is why I needed to dry clean my suit. :) (Don´t worry, I got out of the bus on time, and no one else had to do any dry cleaning).
Well, we have so many miracles happening in our area, but my time is up. Have fun everybody!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred.
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil
Subject: New record of investigators at church!
Hello Everybody!
Elder Urie and I broke our record for number of investigators at church. We hit 18 on Sunday. It was really tough. We´re shooting for 20 this week.
I don´t have too much time to type because we had to spend most of our P-day playing basketball and looking for a dry cleaners in the center.
On Friday, we have zone conference with President and Sister Richardson, who just got here last week. We had to take a bus to get to Santos where we had the conference. It just also happened to be the 4th of July that day. Elder Urie and I live with 2 Brazilians (Elder Magnum and Elder Z. Santana). They both went to English schools (as in schools that teach English) before the mission and know a lot about America. So, they woke up early on Friday and surprised us with a traditional American breakfast with pancakes and french toast. They also put up an American flag. The problem is that they are really good cooks, and I think I ate too much. Then we had the hour long bus ride. We were pretty much the first people on the bus, so we got good seats, but as the ride goes on, we all gave up our seats to some older ladies. So, we were cram packed standing up on a long bumpy bus ride, and I had eaten a little too much. It sufficeth me to say that that is why I needed to dry clean my suit. :) (Don´t worry, I got out of the bus on time, and no one else had to do any dry cleaning).
Well, we have so many miracles happening in our area, but my time is up. Have fun everybody!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
6/24/08
Elder Jason Allred
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil
Subject: The ocean!
Hello Everybody!
Yep! I was transfered. My new area is Parque das Bandeiras in the city São Vicente. It´s in the Baixada. The mission is split into three areas: São Paulo, the ABC Region (where I´ve been up until now), and the Baixada. "Baixada" means "lowered". The Baizada is the area more along the coast, which means I´ve escaped cold weather for during the winter. I saw the ocean for the first time today. The weather is very wet. My new conpanion is Elder Urie. He´s from Arizona. He has the same amount of time on the mission as Elder Risenmay does. He went to BYU before the mission and he already speaks Portuguese very well. We´re going to be a companionship of power.
We live in a house with two other missionaries: Elder Z. Santana and Elder Magnum. They are our zone leaders, but they´re not in our district. Elder Urie says that our area is shaped like a ´U´ and the house is right in the middle even though it isn´t in our area.
Last night, I said goodbye to some of the recent converts. Sergio and his wife were already making sure I would be able to attend their temple sealing a year from now. I´m really looking forward to that.
I had to wake up at 5:00 this morning to finish packing. 5 o´clock isn´t that early - seeing how I would wake up at 3 during the summer to go to work - but it seems earlier when you have a set sleeping schedule that gets interrupted.
So, we took a bus down to the Baixada. It was an amazing trip. Everything is so green. Then we took another bus to our area. This bus trip was different than any I have ever experienced her in Brazil. When I was in the bigger cities, life was always rushed and it was every man for himself in the transit. Here in São Vicente, the bus we took was almost like a large van. I would describe the experience more as car-pooling. The people inside helped us with our bags, had conversations with each other, and presented a more friendly environment. You can even tell the bus driver where to drop you off, almost like a taxi: "I´m going to the pharmacy" -for example.
Last week was really successful. We were able to bring 5 investigators to church: Maria and Luiz (who are married), Giselle (her husband was going to come but got called in to work at the last second), Danielle (who we taught again Sunday afternoon at her brother´s house and now has a firm baptism goal, and Simone (an old investigator that we hadn´t taught in a while, but now has finally decided that she wants to do what´s right and has a firm baptism goal in just over a month to give her time to get married). I won´t be able to work with these people anymore because I´m in a new area, but I know Elder Risenmay and his new companion will do a fantastic job helping these people.
Well, I have a lot to do, so I´ll say goodbye for now.
Goodbye.
--Elder Allred
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil
Subject: The ocean!
Hello Everybody!
Yep! I was transfered. My new area is Parque das Bandeiras in the city São Vicente. It´s in the Baixada. The mission is split into three areas: São Paulo, the ABC Region (where I´ve been up until now), and the Baixada. "Baixada" means "lowered". The Baizada is the area more along the coast, which means I´ve escaped cold weather for during the winter. I saw the ocean for the first time today. The weather is very wet. My new conpanion is Elder Urie. He´s from Arizona. He has the same amount of time on the mission as Elder Risenmay does. He went to BYU before the mission and he already speaks Portuguese very well. We´re going to be a companionship of power.
We live in a house with two other missionaries: Elder Z. Santana and Elder Magnum. They are our zone leaders, but they´re not in our district. Elder Urie says that our area is shaped like a ´U´ and the house is right in the middle even though it isn´t in our area.
Last night, I said goodbye to some of the recent converts. Sergio and his wife were already making sure I would be able to attend their temple sealing a year from now. I´m really looking forward to that.
I had to wake up at 5:00 this morning to finish packing. 5 o´clock isn´t that early - seeing how I would wake up at 3 during the summer to go to work - but it seems earlier when you have a set sleeping schedule that gets interrupted.
So, we took a bus down to the Baixada. It was an amazing trip. Everything is so green. Then we took another bus to our area. This bus trip was different than any I have ever experienced her in Brazil. When I was in the bigger cities, life was always rushed and it was every man for himself in the transit. Here in São Vicente, the bus we took was almost like a large van. I would describe the experience more as car-pooling. The people inside helped us with our bags, had conversations with each other, and presented a more friendly environment. You can even tell the bus driver where to drop you off, almost like a taxi: "I´m going to the pharmacy" -for example.
Last week was really successful. We were able to bring 5 investigators to church: Maria and Luiz (who are married), Giselle (her husband was going to come but got called in to work at the last second), Danielle (who we taught again Sunday afternoon at her brother´s house and now has a firm baptism goal, and Simone (an old investigator that we hadn´t taught in a while, but now has finally decided that she wants to do what´s right and has a firm baptism goal in just over a month to give her time to get married). I won´t be able to work with these people anymore because I´m in a new area, but I know Elder Risenmay and his new companion will do a fantastic job helping these people.
Well, I have a lot to do, so I´ll say goodbye for now.
Goodbye.
--Elder Allred
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
6-17-08
Elder Jason Allred
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil
Subject: Snow, nope!
We´ll, I was older than Elder Risenmay for just over a week before he had his 20th birthday as well. Now we´re both old. We´re halfway up the hill.
We have transfers a week from today, and then the new president will get here the weekend after. A week or so ago when we had our interviews, President gave us each a blessing. President Teixeira gave us all a goodbye hug last week at the end of zone conference. During conference, he let us do a question and answer session, in which he would answer the questions not as President Teixeira, but as Elder Teixeira the General Authority. I didn´t get a question in because of course everyone had a question that they wanted to ask, so it was kind of a rush to get your hand up. Some of the questions were really good, and I learned quite a bit.
Too bad President Teixeira got demoted to "Elder" Teixeira. Maybe to make him feel better, Sister Teixeira will let him be senior companion for a little bit.
Looks like winter is just about to set in here in São Paulo. It´s been getting a little cold - about 15C (59F). I´ve gotten too used to the heat. I don´t think I´ll survive when I have to come back to Rexburg Weather. (If you wanted to send a sweater, I wouldn´t be opposed). Everyone here thinks that my companion and I are crazing walking around without jackets. In Rexburg, 60F is definately still t-shirt weather. The Brazilians act as if it´s the end of the world and bundle up in probably every article of clothing they own.
It´s amazing. People here seem to be magic. We leave the house on a perfectly clear, sunny day. On the street, we pass people who are likewise dressed for a sunny day. Then out of nowhere, it´ll start to rain, and then pour. These same people magically produce an umbrella that they didn´t have earlier. If the rain stops, we walk down the road, and these same people are no longer dragging around any umbrella (I always knew that womens´ purses could hold more than you think). They can also grow more clothing on demand, because if it turns chilly, they´ll always have a sweater or something that they didn´t have before.
Another weird phenomenom is that cold weather helps people prepare for baptism. We tell them that if they pray about the Book of Mormon, they´ll get a "warm" feeling, and they get all excited. And when it´s cold, they suddenly seem to think that modesty is a good idea.
Here in Brazil, we can´t call the members by "Brother" or "Sister" followed by their last name. Half the people have the last name of "da Silva" or "dos Santos". We have to say "Brother" or "Sister" followed by their first name. If we didn´t, it would always be like that one time when Bishop Teucher called on Brother Smith to say the closing prayer, and no one knew which Brother Smith he was talking about. Also,over half the women have the first name of Maria, so we have to use their middle name. And Aparecida takes at least a 30% lead over all other female middle names. My companion said he could just imagine if they had The Price is Right here in Brazil. "Maria Aparecida da Silva come on down!" There would probably be over 20 women in the audience thinking it was their turn.
This Friday, we´re going to take Jersey and Kelly (a couple we´re teaching) down to the marriage office to set up a marriage date. They need to get married before they can get baptized. When we first started teaching them, he told us that he didn´t see the importance of marraige. We then taught him the Law of Chastity. The Spirit was really strong, and now he and his wife are making the first steps toward their opportunity in just over a year to be sealed. If I´m still on the mission when they get that far I can go to the temple and watch! Well, that might be getting a little ahead of myself. They still need to get baptized.
--Elder Allred
Brazil São Paulo South Mission
Rua Dr Luiz da Rocha Miranda, 159
8 Andar, Parque Jabaquara
04344-010 - São Paulo - SP
Brazil
Subject: Snow, nope!
We´ll, I was older than Elder Risenmay for just over a week before he had his 20th birthday as well. Now we´re both old. We´re halfway up the hill.
We have transfers a week from today, and then the new president will get here the weekend after. A week or so ago when we had our interviews, President gave us each a blessing. President Teixeira gave us all a goodbye hug last week at the end of zone conference. During conference, he let us do a question and answer session, in which he would answer the questions not as President Teixeira, but as Elder Teixeira the General Authority. I didn´t get a question in because of course everyone had a question that they wanted to ask, so it was kind of a rush to get your hand up. Some of the questions were really good, and I learned quite a bit.
Too bad President Teixeira got demoted to "Elder" Teixeira. Maybe to make him feel better, Sister Teixeira will let him be senior companion for a little bit.
Looks like winter is just about to set in here in São Paulo. It´s been getting a little cold - about 15C (59F). I´ve gotten too used to the heat. I don´t think I´ll survive when I have to come back to Rexburg Weather. (If you wanted to send a sweater, I wouldn´t be opposed). Everyone here thinks that my companion and I are crazing walking around without jackets. In Rexburg, 60F is definately still t-shirt weather. The Brazilians act as if it´s the end of the world and bundle up in probably every article of clothing they own.
It´s amazing. People here seem to be magic. We leave the house on a perfectly clear, sunny day. On the street, we pass people who are likewise dressed for a sunny day. Then out of nowhere, it´ll start to rain, and then pour. These same people magically produce an umbrella that they didn´t have earlier. If the rain stops, we walk down the road, and these same people are no longer dragging around any umbrella (I always knew that womens´ purses could hold more than you think). They can also grow more clothing on demand, because if it turns chilly, they´ll always have a sweater or something that they didn´t have before.
Another weird phenomenom is that cold weather helps people prepare for baptism. We tell them that if they pray about the Book of Mormon, they´ll get a "warm" feeling, and they get all excited. And when it´s cold, they suddenly seem to think that modesty is a good idea.
Here in Brazil, we can´t call the members by "Brother" or "Sister" followed by their last name. Half the people have the last name of "da Silva" or "dos Santos". We have to say "Brother" or "Sister" followed by their first name. If we didn´t, it would always be like that one time when Bishop Teucher called on Brother Smith to say the closing prayer, and no one knew which Brother Smith he was talking about. Also,over half the women have the first name of Maria, so we have to use their middle name. And Aparecida takes at least a 30% lead over all other female middle names. My companion said he could just imagine if they had The Price is Right here in Brazil. "Maria Aparecida da Silva come on down!" There would probably be over 20 women in the audience thinking it was their turn.
This Friday, we´re going to take Jersey and Kelly (a couple we´re teaching) down to the marriage office to set up a marriage date. They need to get married before they can get baptized. When we first started teaching them, he told us that he didn´t see the importance of marraige. We then taught him the Law of Chastity. The Spirit was really strong, and now he and his wife are making the first steps toward their opportunity in just over a year to be sealed. If I´m still on the mission when they get that far I can go to the temple and watch! Well, that might be getting a little ahead of myself. They still need to get baptized.
--Elder Allred
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