Hello world, its me, that one red-headed kid in Brazil!
So, how is everyone? I havent heard from any of you. This makes my mouth muscles go downward. But hey, life is awesome here in Brazil! Theres been ups and downs, but isnt that life? This past week has been absolutely freezing! Yes, its colder in my neck of the woods in good old Oregon, but, there are heaters there! This place doesnt have heaters! On sunday, outside was about 2 degrees farenheit..inside the house..7. That was at the warmest part of the day. Needless to say, I sleep with lots of clothes on and blankets. Story time for you all! So, we arent allowed to give hugs, and especially kisses but its super common here in Brazil. In sacrament meeting, the kids usually take up the tithing to Bishop. Well, before sacrament, I gave my pen to a family to use. During sacrament meeting, a little girl with like 5 years took up the tithing slip, received a kiss from bishop, and then came to me. She gave me my pen, and went in for the kiss. Me, being an awkward missionary, grabbed the pen and turned my face, my shoulder, and my back to the little girl. Yeah, everyone was watching. And then she starts crying. I felt horrible, but learned that Im really good at denying girls.
Im really starting to see the importance of this gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the greatest feeling in the world is helping someone come closer to Jesus Christ. Helping families. Helping people come back to the truth. Watching blessing be poured over them. God watches us. He is happy when we do the right, and sad when we do the wrong. I know that the church OF Jesus Christ exists today. Its not a church of people, nor pastors and teachers. Its not a church of the prophet...its Jesus Christs church and He directs it. Tonight, get on your little knees and give God thanks. Watch the blessings that will come in your life. I love you all! Keep on keeping on! And try not to make little girls cry!
Loves from me,
Elder Lakey
P.S. I still accept letters... ;)
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
6/18/2012
A part from our letter:
But this week we had transfers and Im still here, but Elder Hartley left. I now am with Elder Costa. A brazillian. He is way cool. He isnt the most obidient missionary in the world, but what can i do? Hopefully my portuese gets better now. I get discouraged because Im lacking a lot. I want to be more effective. Man, nobody told me the mission would be easy, but nobody said it would be this hard! I think we will have a baptism on Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed. I think I will have the honors of getting in the water. I sure hope so. Its been 3.5 months since I had a baptism!! Things are coming along though. I just keep getting fatter and fatter...But whatever.. We saw a lot of miracles this past week. I had a ton of fun with some members. The members like me, which is cool I guess!! Its been rainy, then hot, then rainy, then hot. Ta ficando louco!! Not sure if I have anything else to say...Except....I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!! Man, that Book is one heck of a book and contains power!!
But this week we had transfers and Im still here, but Elder Hartley left. I now am with Elder Costa. A brazillian. He is way cool. He isnt the most obidient missionary in the world, but what can i do? Hopefully my portuese gets better now. I get discouraged because Im lacking a lot. I want to be more effective. Man, nobody told me the mission would be easy, but nobody said it would be this hard! I think we will have a baptism on Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed. I think I will have the honors of getting in the water. I sure hope so. Its been 3.5 months since I had a baptism!! Things are coming along though. I just keep getting fatter and fatter...But whatever.. We saw a lot of miracles this past week. I had a ton of fun with some members. The members like me, which is cool I guess!! Its been rainy, then hot, then rainy, then hot. Ta ficando louco!! Not sure if I have anything else to say...Except....I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!! Man, that Book is one heck of a book and contains power!!
Monday, June 11, 2012
6/11/2012
Hello world!
This week was pretty good. I have stories and we are finding success. Right now, we have a lot of good FAMILIES we are teaching. Im loving it more than ever! Just to help someone on the street bring SO much joy! In fact, let me tell you a little story. A true story, that happened to me this past week. We saw a man, VERY drunk, he could barely stand. This man probably had 70+ years of age. We wanted to help him, so we asked is we could carry him home. So we did of course! Jesus Christ would have. When we got there, we knocked and a man came to the door. We made a contact and told him who we are. Then a lady came to the door. She was out of her mind. SCREAMING her guts out. She pushed the old man down and he cut him self up pretty good. So blood was involved. And then...she grabbed a knife. And a HUGE knife. I think I was peeing my pants at about this time, but then she started coming toward us...and STABBING things in the house. The wall. The couch. The table. She was going nuts. So we grabbed the old man and fled. Moral of the story...I have know clue. I was too scared to think of a moral.
One more quick story: Today we went to some gardens. We wanted pictures, but not just any ol pictures, but jumping pictures. I jumped up, and tried to do a meditation look....it didnt work. I ripped my pants right directly in the bum. And a HUGE hole. Good thing we were there with the sisters as well. And tons of people around. Yeah, Im a representative of Jesus Christ!!
Well, its super cold. Not really, but just the house. They dont have heaters so everything is FREEZING! In fact, Im sleeping with two sweatpants, sweatshirt, and two blankets.
The work is coming along. I love it here! The Lord lives. And this is His work. I love you all! And may God be with you till we meet again!
Love,
Elder Lakey
This week was pretty good. I have stories and we are finding success. Right now, we have a lot of good FAMILIES we are teaching. Im loving it more than ever! Just to help someone on the street bring SO much joy! In fact, let me tell you a little story. A true story, that happened to me this past week. We saw a man, VERY drunk, he could barely stand. This man probably had 70+ years of age. We wanted to help him, so we asked is we could carry him home. So we did of course! Jesus Christ would have. When we got there, we knocked and a man came to the door. We made a contact and told him who we are. Then a lady came to the door. She was out of her mind. SCREAMING her guts out. She pushed the old man down and he cut him self up pretty good. So blood was involved. And then...she grabbed a knife. And a HUGE knife. I think I was peeing my pants at about this time, but then she started coming toward us...and STABBING things in the house. The wall. The couch. The table. She was going nuts. So we grabbed the old man and fled. Moral of the story...I have know clue. I was too scared to think of a moral.
One more quick story: Today we went to some gardens. We wanted pictures, but not just any ol pictures, but jumping pictures. I jumped up, and tried to do a meditation look....it didnt work. I ripped my pants right directly in the bum. And a HUGE hole. Good thing we were there with the sisters as well. And tons of people around. Yeah, Im a representative of Jesus Christ!!
Well, its super cold. Not really, but just the house. They dont have heaters so everything is FREEZING! In fact, Im sleeping with two sweatpants, sweatshirt, and two blankets.
The work is coming along. I love it here! The Lord lives. And this is His work. I love you all! And may God be with you till we meet again!
Love,
Elder Lakey
Monday, June 4, 2012
6/4/2012
Its me, that one kid in Brazil!!
How is everyone doing?! I know I havent written in a while and I apologize. This area is awesome! Its hard, just like any area, but we are finding some really awesome people! This past week, we found a really humble family of 5. They came to church 45 minutes early!!! Good thing we made it there 30 minutes late! I really wish you all could eat this nut here. No, its not a brazillian nut, but its SO good! This week we marked 4 baptism dates! This next week, we have plans to mark a few more (and any others that come along) Its getting cold. Its been raining for a few days now. SUPER muddy, but hey, thats an essential to missionary work! We talked to this one guy on the street the other day..it was at a fork in the road. He asked if we were men of God and we said ´´Claro que sim!´´ and then he told us to follow him one way, but we were going the other way. He told us if we wanted to see God, then to follow him, but if we wanted to see Satan, continue down the path we were going. Crazy people! What else..? Oh, I taught a few lessons on my own this week. We went on divisions so I went with a youth. We taught a sweet family of 4! Im hoping they will accept the invitation to be baptized!! This past week, I built a table out of bamboo and scrap wood. I was told I was going to be a bad husband (crazy people again...) And today... I ATE CEREAL!!! I was tired of beans and rice, so I bought a box of cereal. It was an itty bitty box..and it was 8 reais (money) Hey, Im running low on time. But I just wanted to let you know that this past week passed my 7th month mark. HOLY SMOKES! Its going waaaay to fast! I love you all! I cant wait to hug you all. And you are more than welcome to write me...
Love,
Elder Lakey
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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
Monday, April 9, 2012
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
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
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