Week 85 - 30 April 2012 Stay in Icoaraci

Boa Tarde! So yesterday we found out about the transfer, and my companion is getting transferred, but I’m going to stay here in Agulha. Also, I will be the District Leader, again, and my new companion will be Elder C. AGAIN! Haha Yes, the same Elder that was my trainer when we were in Oriximiná. This will be his last transfer on his mission, and he’s pretty worn out by now. Haha  He has worked a lot. I was with him for 6 months in Oriximiná when I was just starting out, and now I will be with him for his last month and a half on his mission. Kinda ironic, isn’t it? haha.  

But as for the week, it was a good week full of a lot of hard work. We practically cut off all of our investigators and found all new ones. AND we found a married family that lives right next door to the other married family I told you about last week! AND they actually went to church! That sure made me happy. They are a family really sensitive to spiritual things now because of some hard things they’re going through, and they are progressing really well. Besides them, we also have some other referrals from members that turned out great and have a baptismal date too. 

I forgot my notes for the email this week again cuz of all the stuff with the transfer, so I don’t really remember what else I had to say. Oh, but this last week I did the count to see just how much weight I’ve lost on the mission. When I was in the MTC I was at about 160, and now I’m at 140...which means I've lost a good 20 pounds since I’ve been here. I’m sure gonna need some help to get back into baseball shape haha.

Love you guys! Can’t wait to talk to you on Mother’s Day!

Elder Andrus

Week 84 - 23 April 2012

What’s up people back home! So my interview with President Campos was pretty good. He just opened up the time for us to ask and talk about anything we wanted basically. I have to admit, it was pretty trunky hahaha. I also confirmed my date to return home on the 15th of August. President told me I have to be a leader here who helps the greenies get used to the new president when he arrives so the work can keep up it’s pace and not slow down. I think that’s one of President’s biggest concerns. I still haven’t seen a picture of the new mission president yet.

As for this week, it was tough again. I went on a division with an elder in my district. They are having a tough time in a tough area, so I went over to see how I could help. It was a super good division, and we both learned a lot. It was also fun getting to speak English again with him haha. 

This week was pretty tough for us. On Sunday morning, we left way early to get more lessons in cuz we were super low. We went to contact some referrals that some people gave us, and instead of finding the people we were looking for, we talked to their neighbors and found out that the husband was taught by the Elders about 5 years ago. They are legally married (which is so rare here), and they have a little girl. He has some disbeliefs about the religion, but he also hasn’t really searched to know the truth. We taught him quickly, but we’ll go back. They were a really good family, and I know that the Lord will help them with their lack of faith. 

This week is the last week of the transfer, and I have a feeling I might be transferred. Haha I don’t know why. But we’ll see. In these next few transfers there are gonna be tons of missionaries going home, which means there are gonna be a lot of changes in the mission. I’m excited to see how the changes turn out.

Love you guys.

Elder Andrus

Jello cake from Elder C.

Elder D. and Collin Jack the CJ

Week 83 - 16 April 2012 Keep on pushin on

Hey there pessoal! This week was a pretty tough week for us. The boy we are working with for baptism had a date for last week, but he’s really struggling with a desire to follow the church. He loves soccer and everything, but the desire to get baptized to stay firm in the church is really week. We have some other people we’re teaching too, but literally no one went to church with us this week. So many people said they would and no one went. So sad. That’s probably one of the toughest and hardest things with investigators here in this region.

Besides that, the sisters in our area had a baptism this week too (the sisters are on fire in this area haha). Their baptism was a girl who didn’t have a firm answer that it was all true, but then on Thursday she told the sisters of how she received a really strong answer that night and she didn’t want to delay her baptism! Really cool story.

Also, we have interviews with President Campos on Thursday this week. It’ll be my last one with him as president! He’ll be ending his mission on the 30th of June, which is in like 2 months. Wow how time flies.

I don’t have much more to say other than this, just gotta keep pushin on and not give up.

Love you guys!

Elder Andrus

Elder P. um ano 

Week 82 - 9 April 2012

Olá gente! So, this week was a pretty tough week. With the fact that the area is huge and we don’t  have a division in the area with the sisters yet, the work seems a little messy. I have a goal to leave here with everything organized and to make it easy for the future missionaries cuz I know it’s hard when it’s not. I’m finally getting a hang of the area a little bit, so that’s a good thing! This transfer will only be 5 weeks long instead of 6 like normal, so that means the transfer will already get over in 3 weeks (maybe that’s a good thing or maybe it’s a bad thing haha).

So this week we fixed the problem we had with the other missionaries who were living in our house. It was literally like having 4 elders in a house that is comfortable for just 2. So, they moved out and went to a super big house in their own area and some other sisters moved in with the sisters of my district. It’s so much better. We cleaned out the house and organized everything, and now it’s a pretty nice place to live. We got an oven and gas this morning in Belém, so now I don’t think we’re lacking anything. Ainda bem!

This Easter weekend was full of Catholic parties and festivals (since the Catholic culture is really strong here). So starting on Friday until Sunday it was just full of parties and drunk people on the street. Not many actually celebrating the true reason for Easter. 

 
For this week now we have a young man who has a baptismal date for this Saturday, along with a lady and another girl from the sister missionaries. Our investigator went to church on Sunday, and he’s good friends with the Elders Quorum President. So this week we just need to prepare him a little more, and he’ll hopefully be ready for baptism!

Well that was a little catch up on the things happening in my life. Love you guys! I can’t wait to be able to talk to you next month!

Elder Andrus

Week 81 - 2 April 2012 Icoaraci

Hey! So...yeah, I am still District Leader here for the sixth straight transfer and with Elder P. I don’t think this transfer will be too bad cuz we live with two other missionaries. I love being able to speak a little English again haha. The area of Agulha is actually shared with a companionship of sisters. It’s weird cuz there isn’t a division of the area for us; it’s just like whoever gets there first gets the baptism hahaha. The members also like the sisters a lot more than the Elders (naturally) haha so it’s a little tough on that aspect. It sure is different than any other area I've been in, but it’s okay.

Our house is actually really small for four people, and there isn't enough room for us to do anything. We’re trying to get another bigger house cuz this isn’t working very well. We have to sit on the floor or the bed to study cuz we don’t have enough tables, and we only have one bunk bed...oh and we don’t have an oven and stove. It’s pretty tough circumstances, but don’t worry. The mission says that they will take care of things. 

This week the ward had three baptisms, 2 were of the sisters, and 1 was ours. We baptized a girl who is 10 years old.  We found her cuz she has been going to church for about two years straight but never was baptized. She lives right behind the church practically, and she goes there just about every day. Everyone thought she was already a member even though she wasn’t haha. It was tough to get her mom to sign the form, but she supports her and let her get baptized on Friday! We don’t have too many other people to teach here yet, so this week we’re gonna have to work quite a bit. The area is super, super big, and it’s tough to walk to all the parts haha. We seem to need to walk way more here, and it’s super tiring. But the good thing is that the ward already sent in the papers to divide the ward and are just waiting for a response. Soon the ward will get divided and that’s gonna be great in the growing of the church here.

I need to go already and I’m a little bit rushed, but I love you guys! Although the temple wasn’t announced this conference, we will never give up!

Love,

Elder Andrus

Week 80 - 26 March 2012 Last week in Cabanagem

Bom dia! So last night we found out about the transfer, and I’ll be transferred tomorrow to a place called Icoaraci. I’ll be in the Agulha Ward. I've never been over to that part of the area so I have no clue what it’s gonna be like. Elder R. will stay in Cabanagem, and we actually don’t know who will be his companion...we think he’ll be called to be a trainer. My new companion (as crazy as this sounds) will be Elder P. Yes, the same Elder P. that was my companion in Capanema about six months ago. Weird huh? I’m still waiting to get my first American companion, but the Lord just keeps blessing me with Brazilians! Elder P. and I get along well. It won’t be too tough. We’ll see how this next transfer goes.

This week we had two baptisms here in Cabanagem! One was of a boy who is the brother of some members and is a real fireball hahah. He’s way cool. He chose me to baptize him, but out of nowhere we had to go to Ananindeua to do two baptism interviews, and we got back super late for the baptism. We were running to the church and when we got there, the bishop was all ready to baptize him cuz he thought we weren't able to make it. He saw us and said, “I thought you weren't gonna come!" Haha  That day was stressful, but it all turned out wonderfully in the end. 

The other baptism was a girl that almost got baptized when I was here with Elder R. But Elder R. and I felt like we should go back last week cuz she lives the commandments and everything. We put a date on her for this past Saturday but then she said that she didn't want to anymore. We were pretty sad.  On Friday night, we decided to go back over there to her uncle and aunt’s house (who are members), and we talked to her. She decided to get baptized this past weekend! It was for sure a miracle cuz out of no where, it seemed like all her fear and doubts were just washed away! Her baptism was Sunday morning because she wanted her uncle to baptize her, and he couldn't on Saturday night. He’s the second counselor of the stake so he had lots of meetings. There were tons of young women at her baptism and tons of people to support and help her. I haven’t seen her as happy as she was on Sunday since the first day I started teaching her. It was great to see the girls helping her.

The family that we have been teaching here went to church yesterday and they loved it. They were surely a couple chosen by the Lord to hear the gospel. They will be baptized this week, but unfortunately I will be transferred tomorrow and won’t be able to see it. It stinks, but it’s nice to know the Lord wants me in a different place at this time.

Love you guys tons, and don’t forget to pray for the BELÉM TEMPLE to be announced this Saturday at General Conference! This week the mission baptized 70 people (having only 55 companionships in the mission), and until now 178 for this month. The mission is seeing miracles like crazy, and I’m excited to see the temple be announced!

Até próxima!

Elder Andrus

This is an amazing family ... so humble

I ate my last lunch in Cabanagem with this family 3-26-12

Week 79 - 19 March 2012

Hey there aí! I went on splits with one of my Zone Leaders this week. He came into my area, and Elder R. went over to his. He stayed here for Wednesday and Thursday, and I guess it was good. We have a lot of really good investigators, but we definitely need to find lots of new ones this week. This week we have a goal for three baptisms. Unfortunately, the family we are teaching, only the wife was able to go to church cuz the husband was working :(  So we’re gonna have to set their date for next week. But she said she adored the church, and she even took a friend with her. We’re working a lot with them, and they are both progressing really well, as well as our other candidates for baptism this month. The transfer will be on the 27th of this month, and there is a big possibility that I might be transferred, which means I won’t be here for their baptism... but we’ll see how everything works out.

Sorry this email is so short but since we ran to the mission home today, we lost a lot of our p-day and don’t have too much time to write now. (I feel like I say this in every email haha). I love you guys, and I’m grateful for the support and the blessings.

Elder Andrus

We found Guarana Jesus Zero ... so funny!

Ver-O-Peso Market in Belém 3-19-12

Vero-O-Peso Market in Belém  3-19-12

Belém  3-19-12