December 20, 2010 Happy Birthday Jake!!

Dear Family,

Man another week has flown by. It's just crazy! Man, I miss ya'll so much! But I'm having a good time up here in Goose Creek. Spanish and Portuguese are slightly the same what an awesome oppurtinity to be learning two languages! I still have a lot of work to do that is for sure. I have been able to understand spanish and portuguese more often. I still can't speak it very well, but it will come. I love the elders in our appartment they are all really cool. We mesh together very well. It's kinda funny because we are living in a one bedroom one bath between the four of us all of our beds are lined up with each other- haha. The work is slow for us right now since we are opening a new area. Elder Pineda and his companion before this transfer had met a gal that's American. We have had been able to go with them to teach her. She's awesome! She's getting baptized this Thursday. It's suprising how many people live here that are from Brazil. This email maybe a shorter one sorry, but I will be calling you at about 9 maybe 10 they didnt really explain to us at what times we were allowed to call. I will get to you so no worries.  Yes! I got your packages haha members have given us so much candy and cookies.. thanks we will eat it well. I'm not going to lie I peeped a little on the package where it starts  "Do Not Open Before Christmas"...sorry there was a small hole I was tempted. Jake, Happy Birthday kid! I'm sending you a letter. Love you man! Your date's cute. im sending you all something so be expecting a package.

Have a merry christmas- can't wait to talk too you.

Tell Flint I said" Hey"

 

December 13, 2010

Dear Family,

Well, it's another Monday again! Days seem to fly by so fast here out in the mission field. Mom I know you'all love me! It shouldn't be a worry. I can see myself growing that's for sure a neat thing! That was very nice of Sister McConkie. I am sending some more pictures through this email. Were you able to get the ones I sent last week?

Transfers were awesome! They decided to open up a portuguese/spanish area! I'm in an area called Goose Creek. There are a lot of Brazilians in this area, so hopefully my portuguese can continue to improve. There will be some challenges ahead that is for sure. Something that I have learned is how you react to these challenges. Some may seem impossible, but your attitude towards them truly means everything. Everybody has a choice to choose how you feel. Every morning I wake up and I  say TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY!  (That is something that Elder Law had taught me) It really does help. I was suprised. Anyway my point in saying this is that we have a lot of work to do, but I'm going to do it with joy!!

It makes sense in what you were trying to teach us mom I was just to darn stuburn- but that's why we have a loving Heavenly Father who can help me soften my heart. He is looking out for me and he is answering your prayers it may not be the way we would like it to be, but he knows what is best for me.

My Companion is a native. He was born in Mexico raised in Georgia. He speaks spanish and english both very well. We have been mostly teaching hispanic people we have found a couple of portuguese as well... but I can say a few select phrases and my comp can't understand what they are saying. It's an adventure that is for sure. Luckly we have a couple of members who had served in Brazil. I'm going to be learning both spanish and portuguese haha spanish is a lot harder for me to understand, but I'm learning it will come. It just takes time.  

Well this isn't much but I love you all. The church is true. Members are really sweet out here.

love ya! 

December 6, 2010

HELLO!!

Ha Ha Ha. Jane, you make me laugh! I'm glad you got my letter's! Here's some more photo's. I figured out that i can just send them over email. Jake, it's good to hear that your thumb is doing better and that you have a job. Jake, I know i always say this, but keep pushing through football and school it will be so much better at the end when you have graduated. Iz thanks for wrinting me back! I'm not sure if I will have enough time today, but I love you too and miss you! Hope all is well. 

Mom, this last sunday we talked about... I can't really remember what we talked about... hmmm I let you know if I remember. Last night we watched the christmas devo at the ward. I really liked the prophet's talk! Did you guys have a chance to hear him speak? It was awesome. Oh and Mom whether I'm in Brazil or not I will still be able to talk to you on Christmas... so keep praying for those Visas! We have heard that most of the elders who are waiting for their visas in the Southern States have gotten them already, so mine hopefully should be on it's way! It is a little frustrating because transfer calls were this week and we were hoping they had already had our visas and would just wait until transfers to give them out. Sadly that's not the case. I just have to keep being patient! I'm getting transfered to a different area this Wednesday. A new area and new companion. There has been some talk of a colony of Brazilians being in one of the areas, so I'm crossing my fingers.

Man I want to apologize for my letters being so short. You all probably look forward to my letters as much as I look forward towards yours. The three ladies that we are teaching are progressing well.  They just need to have faith that they can do it with the Lord's help.

We have been teaching this guy.  His name is Brother ...  that's what we call people when we forget their first names. He is really shy and little slower, but it was really cool he started reading the Book of Mormon and we can see a change in him.  He smiles a lot more he'll talk a lot more and he wants to get baptized he has strengthened my testimony and I'm sure Elder Law's. It just makes me so happy when you see an investigator change. Freaking awesome! I'm kinda bummed that I'm leaving this area, but I guess it's time for a change. 

PS tell Grandma and Grandpa O that I love them. I would have wrote them, but I didn't have their address. They have crossed my mind a couple of times this week because we met a guy who reminded me of Grandpa. We gave him a Book of Mormon too!

Love you all so much  

Thanksgiving Week-November 29,2010

Hello Family,

Hey, haha I loved that last email mom! That was funny! Yes I got the package! Thank You! 

This week has been good. I have seen some progress. Baby steps at a time. (that's what I keep telling myself)  We have 3 Progressing investigators this week! They have all came to church two times and are progressing very well! These three are all alike which is very touching. It is very sweet to see them change and progress. At first they would never smile just kinda had a straight face all the time. They just seemed very depressed. They need this gospel.  They are just alone.  Darn it! I never have enough time to explain things! I will send letters home explaining more! But things are going good. We care about our investigators dearly and they feel the same way. And you can make a difference from when we first met them. Its awesome! I will let you know more in my letters that I'm going to send home. I've been getting your Dear Elders. 

Love you all!     

Monday, November 22, 2010

Dear Family,

Wowieee! Jake! Congrats on being a State Champion! This is where all the hard work pays off... Keep working hard and remember to have fun while your doing it. That is something that I'm trying to work on while working out here in the field. It is tough work, but I'm trying to have fun. Can't wait to hear about your senior season!

Mom, Izz, and Janie- I got your letter's and I loved them! Mom I liked the Nacho sticker (it's in my binder with the rest of them) and Mom I gave Debra the letter and she loved it! She called us on the phone (we have a cell phone) and read it out loud to me.

So you had made a blog for me? That's cool a couple of my friend's have made some comment's on it. Oh and FYI- I found out that the Rams took state yesterday. Sister McConkie called gave me the heads up. You can ask her I was pretty darn excited.

This week has been a good week we have found three new investigators. One of which who is living in our appartment complex a woman and her daughter. She seems to be progressing very well. This gospel makes sense if people would just soften there hearts and listen to what we have to teach them. She attended church and loved it. This church is one big family and thats what she loves about this church. We are going to teach her the word of wisdom tonight. We found another lady. She is going through treatment for lung cancer right now and she is still a sweetheart. We taught her a powerful first lesson! The spirit was so strong when we taught her she was bawling and we were bawling. It was an awesome experience! She came to church and loved it. She is still thinking about baptism. I'm pretty sure she'll get baptized.

Ok I'm running out of time. People behind me are waiting behind me so I'm going to finish up here. Dad Happy Birfday! Again sorry sometimes i don't have enough time to write back. Everyone hope you had a good one. Could I get the recipe for sticky buns and that yummy egg casserole... yeah I'm going to see what I can do. Oh and could I get alex and hayden and ethans address by chance? That would be sweet! and maybe you could email me some pictures? That would be cool!

I'm going to write you all a letter on Thanksgiving members got us covered don't worry.

Love you all!

November 15, 2010

I'm doing ok. I'm getting kind of sick. It's same old same old. I got an email from my companion and president in Brazil. It was nice to hear from them. They said they are praying hard for my visa to come. It was really nice to hear from them. I'll prob buy some blankets today. Maybe some thin gloves? How is jake jane and iz? and you'all. Me and Elder Law have been knocking and talking a lot and teaching... the life of a missionary. The weather is crazy over here sometimes its really hot and humid and sometimes it gets super cold. Lately it's been cold. I'm afraid that it might stay that way. I'm getting pretty fat. I've gained like fifteen pounds! Southern cookin makes you good lookin. I love you as well as everyone else. Tell dad that i got his email and im going to print it out. The memories that i miss the most were when i was with you guys. see you next monday.

November 8, 2010

Fam

Hey, whats up? Man I love reading your emails. Haha thanks for emails. I really do love them! I'm going to be honest with you'all missionary work is tough! Through out the weeks I feel like Im riding a roller coaster, but our Heavenly Father has blessed me with a great companion. Elder Law is a hard worker he loves and cares about me. He's a very good example.

We met a man named Sterlin about two weeks ago me and Elder Law saw him smoking it was funny because we both said aww here we go again another person that smokes and doesn't want anything to do with us, supriseingly he agreed for us to teach him. We taught him. He seemed interested and these past two weeks we've been working with him. Well, we committed them to come to church. They showed up! Yesterday was Fast and Testimony meeting. Man, he got up there and bore his testimony and said that the Lord had sent me and Elder Law to help him out and he said that he loved us and other members that we visited with him. What a tender mercy. Neat experience. I wish I could tell more about Sterlin, but I have to write pres. He still has word of wisdom problems that we need to help him with and thats what we are going to do today. I'll update you next week.

I may have to use the credit card for some blankets and maybe gloves. I don't want to ask the members for stuff anymore. They honestly help us out a ton they make sure we are fed and have bikes and helmets they will give us rides to places etc. So if you see the missionaries out walking maybe stop and see if they need a ride or have food and are just well taking care of:)

Janie i've been thinking about you. I'm sorry that I couldn't talk to you on the phone. It made me really sad:( I will be able to talk to you on christmas okay? good:)

IZ Jane Jake did you guys bear your testimony's? how was it?

Well I got to get going, I love and miss you all.

Hope things are going well. I love hearin from everyone!

October 25, 2010

Hello Family,

How's everyone doing? Well, I made it ok to South Carolina. First I remembered something cool while I was on the plane that I would like to share with you guys. As we were on the plane I saw a group of kids that were around the same age as us. They were in the National Guard. I was thinking that they are lot like us (missionaries) they put up their lives to go serve our country. They are fighting between good and evil. It may be a bit more physical what they do, but we have something kinda in common. It reminded me when Elder Holland came and talked to us, he said. "You are fighting a battle of good and evil instead of bullets you are giving out bandages. Your healing people." Anyway I thought that was cool.

So Wednesday night we got in at about ten. Sister McConkie had fixed us some dinner and we went to bed. The next day President McConkie and the APs took us over to the temple. Then we headed over to the church to practice how to teach and do contacts throughout the whole day they wouldn't ever tell us what we were going to do for the day. They took us to another room (thats where I met my companion Elder Law). Elder Law is a great guy. Man, he has helped me out a lot. So what had happened is that they split up tweleve companionships who were already serving and put them with a Brazilian like myself. Some of us have either four elders to a appartment or if your with the zone leaders six to an appartment. Haha what an adventure.

These past couple of day's haven't been the best. This is tough work and I think its because I haven't been having a lot of trust in the Lord. It just gets to you I guess hearing- "I'm already saved." over and over and judging people by the way they look- just gets to me. I worry about myself way to much that's what I have figured out. So I have been studing on patience and the Atonement.

Thanks I love you all!

November 1, 2010

Ola Familia,

Man-what a week! Missions are tough that is for sure. I don't know where to start. So...we have 6 people living in our apartment. Me and Elder Law share the or the air mattress. What happened is they split up two companionships that have been here together and stuck them with two "visa waiters". Me and Elder Devitry can practice our Portuguese(I knew him from the MTC) anyway, before we came Elder Law and his companion were teaching this family of six.( A grandmother and 5 grandkids) There are 3 girls ages 14,12,10 and two boys ages 17 and 10. We came in and had the opportunity to meet and fall in love with them. They loved it when me and Elder Devitry would come because we would teach them Portuguese. This last Monday me and Elder Law had the opportunity to give them all priesthood blessings. After we then played the "flour" game. It was a great day! It felt like home. Saturday was the big day. They were all baptized and I had the opportunity to baptize and confirm the 10 year old boy. His name is Stafford. I have definitely seen the Lord work and bless this family. Debra, the grandma, has the strongest testimony. Man, I really do love this family. It reminds me so much like you all and yes we aren't the only family that fights. Oh, one of the girls reminds me of Izzy. She acts exactly like her, ha, ha. It's great.

I'm sorta getting used to things getting rejected repeatedly. It reallyget to me. Its hard for me to bear my testimony to every stranger we see. I sometimes freeze and Elder Law has to take over, but things are getting better which is cool. Elder Law is a good trainer and a good example. He is really happy and positive kid. We are becoming good friends.

Love and miss you all,

Tyler