5/9/2012

Hello Friends! I am very sorry that I havent written you! Things have been crazy!!! Every day, we are running all over the place! I cant remember what I wrote last, but Im still in Campina Grande do Sul. Its all mountains and this place is incredibly evangelical. Its hard. Lots of people just arent understanding the importance of a living prophet and the book of mormon. We have been told to slow down on baptisms and try to reactivate members. Crazy?! My ward could probably be a stake, but only has 90ish people coming to sacrament meeting. Pretty sad. I was able to give 2 blessings this past week. One to a sick child, and one to a sister missionary. ITs always intimidating, especially in a different language but all is well. Things are slowly getting better with the language. I can understand and talk, but I have to work my way around words that I dont know. But hey, people keep saying Im doing well. A super humbling experience happened. We taught a mentally handicapped person behind a dumpster...he was digging through the garbage to find clothes to give to people in need. He said he was doing it because thats what Jesus did and he wants to be like Jesus. WOW!!! I hate to say this, but there isnt a ton more going on. Work work work! Oh, I went to the temple today. In Portuguese! That was cool. But hey, I just want to let you all know that God is a God of miracles. If you arent seeing Miracles, change! Strengthen your faith. Make your testimony into a conversion. Remember the words of Elder Holland.. ´´Its getting late´´

Remember that..I love you!!

 

Elder Lakey

4/9/2012

Show de bola!
Its me, Elder Lakey! I forgot to write some things in my last letter. Im serving in the Area Timbu. Its awesome! mountains and delicious! Its a pretty tough area because EVERYONE is very extremely evangelical. Its a huge area but all is well! This past week was a little more difficult week. Not a ton of lessons because all of our appointments fell through. But we have been thinking and praying and we are going to focus our effort on a new part of town. It should bring great success. We feel very good about it right now. Sooo,,, HAPPY EASTER!!! My brazillian Easter was alright. Someone bought me a chocolate egg. How sweet, I know. But hey, check it out. Saturday night was sweeeet! We were invited to a barbeque so we pasted by later that night. IT was on the side of a house and there were people everywhere. But meat everywhere! There was a huge tub full of meat. Huge cakes. Oh man, the best! That was the Brazil I was looking for. Good memory! Easter, we ate at bishops house...with almost the rest of the ward. It was really good too and a bunch of desserts..my weakness. We have a few investigators really progressing...slowly. But its great. One of them was a miracle! God is a God of miracles for sure. Elder Hartley is awesome! We´ve had a lot of great times together. MY Portuguese is coming. I know without a doubt that it will be here soon. I love the dog I live with. It isnt the prettiest thing ever (Thats you Molli) but super fun. Tomorrow im building a house. Yeah, not a huge deal, just a normal activity here in Brazil. PLayed volleyball today. Man, it sure is awesome! A few weird things happened this past week. Not appropriate for the whole world to see though. Lets just say someone wants me to stay here and work with him. Enough said. This week was pretty warm. I ate a guiaba with a worm inside... And yeah, all is well! I love you all. Jesus Christ lives. He loves you. And this is His work. Hugs to each one of you. I miss them!!

Fique Feliz,
Elder Lakey

Pictures

Ryken would love pictures from all of you, so if you have any you would like to send, email them to rykenqlakey@gmail.com or bring them to our house.  We will be sending a package by Friday so please get them to us by then.

4/2/2012

Dear Strangers,
Hello my friends! Im still in Brazil and doing wonderfull! I have been TRANSFERED! I know, crazy! One transfer and now in a new place. But chech it out, im in Gods land right now. Its gorgeous! Its in the hills and we have mountains in my area. It is a gigantic area, but we only work a part of it right now. It seriously is goegeous! EVERYONE loves the missionaries! Its fairly poor, but the people are incredible. Im learning a lot from them. I talk with everyone that passes by. I love talking to them! We have tons of investigators! Its so much nicer here! The weather is starting to cool down, in fact, I have to use a blanket to sleep now! My companion is named Elder Hartley. He is...American! I like him, hes a cool guy. My language probably isnt improving, but my missionary work definately is! Hey, does anyone know where rice ends up? Is it in the muscles or the love handles? As far as I can see...its the latter of the two...not good!!!
Last night, one of the bigger miracles happened. The Lord really does bless those that are diligent in work. It was such a testimony builder! God lives. Miracles occur. And prayers are answered. He knows you personally and perfectly. He WANTS to hear from you. And he WANTS to respond. But first, we have to take a step of faith, and just talk to Him. Thats all!! How hard is that? People, I love you. Never forget it!

Hugs to All,
--Elder Lakey

3/26/2012

Ryken did not write but here are some parts from our letter:

Oh, transfers are in 2 days. I will have a new companion!!! Did you google where my area is? We also got a new ward mission leader! Super aweome guy, and speaks english! Skin is well. More freckles. Evenm under the arm. no Acne problems. Some good yummy blisters on the feet, but who cares! Not I! Send anything? I dont think so. Letters. Some candy stuff. peanut butter...you know, the essentials!! haha :) IVe found some yummy food. Fresh bread. And also some guava crumble cake stuff. Super good! And really cheap.  The language slowly gets better. I understand a ton, even outside of the gospel! I can read a bunch! Talking is hard. The other day, i just fell on my bed, and talked to my pillow in English for awhile. You have no clue how comforting it was. Just to get my thoughts out...to a pillow! Its hard. Never thought it would be this hard, but its getting better! 2 more months until mothers day! Cant wait! Hopefully by then, I will be able to speak a little bit. Are you getting my pictures or no? How is the president election? how are people doing? Any awesome new movies? Is salem growing? Hows the ward doing? Hope all is well mom. Love you tons! This week Ive really gained a love for the scriptures. They are marked up everywhere! Cant wait until I finish, the next time I read it through..its going to be awesome! I ordered a SWEET scripture case! I will send a picture next week. One of my favorite scriptures right now...Alma 31:38!! Super cool!
Love you. Keep on keeping on! Cant wait until next monday! We are down to like...80ish weeks or something! Youre the best ever! Never forget it. And never forget that I love you!

3/19/2012

Ryken did not write to the blog today, but here is a part of the letter he wrote to us!

I will share one real quick...we have a goal to make 140 contacts every week. It was sunday and I needed 39 more!!! LONG day but i kept talking and talking. As we were walking back, I needed one more but it was late and nobody was out. I couldnt find anyone. I said a prayer to just get one more contact to make the goal. I could see our house but I knew that God would anser. NOBODY was out. I looked on all side streets and behind me and everything. But a biker!! He was coming right to me but I tried talking but he just flew by. I wasnt happy. I turned around to scold him and guess what? Someone was directly behind me. I have NO clue how that happened! But I made the goal. Wow, huh?!?!

3/12/2012

Dear World,
Another week down already. Its almost transfers again. Ive been here longer than I was in Nebraska. WOAH! Time is starting to fly! I need to apologize for not telling you about whats going on here! Lets begin. Curitiba Brasil is sweet! Its a really nice city and quite rich. It is the model city of the world! It supposedly has the best bus system in the world as well (even though ive been in two bus crashes already!) BUT, Im not in Curitiba! Im in a city called Sao Jose Dos Pinhais. Im in the Jardim Ipe ward. My companion is Elder Nascimento. He is a native from a town up in Northeast Brazil. He has a strong accent but all is well. He doesnt know any English except a few slang words. This makes it incredibly difficult to communicate when I have questions, but people say that this is the best way to learn. I am now comfortable talking to anyone about the gospel. Its hard to understand outside of that, but Im working on it. Its slowly starting to come. The mission president was once asked how missionaries can better learn the language in the first couple months. He responded ´Just survive´. Thats what Im doing right now! The area im in is one of the poorest in the mission. Ive seen some things that are tough to watch and talk about. Its sad but incredibly humbling. Some houses are made with random board planks and about the size of my room. And a FAMILY lives in it. Yet, the people are so happy and grateful for what they have. Lets all learn a lesson from them! The kids love tofly kites. EVERYWHERE! The powerlines are littered with kites. Its pretty cool! Ive seen my fair share of breast feeding...uhh..yeah. My area is also one of the biggest in the mission. LOTS of walking. Some houses it takes over an hour of a very fast paced walking. We have met some awesome people and families. It is hard to baptize for the cause of people not being married. I eat lots of beans, rice, and bread. The other day, we were walking to a house and there were 2 cows in the front yard of a house eating the shrubery. uhhhh...I had to look twice. And then again. And then a few more times. I wish I would have gotten a picture! There are soccer fields everywhere! One of these days, Im going to play! The kids play in the ´streets´ as well as cricket. Its pretty awesome! Chocolate pizza is the best thing so far. I think Im going to a Brazillian meat house thing next week!!!!! Am I excited? No. My clothes are getting super dirty. The washing mashine doesnt really work at all so hand washing it is! My apartment is fairly small but plenty large enough. This week, ants decided to take over. Thousands! Grrr. And a fair amount of mold. But hey, its a ton better than other homes Ive been in. My bed is obnoxiously skweaky but I sleep just wonderfully! Everyone here plays extremely loud music and usually, its in English. Its been very hot this week. One of these days, I think it will cool down. No stories to tell this week. Look forward to next week!!! I love you all!

--Elder Lakey