Hello Familia! Yet another week, AHHHHGGG The worst part about writting letters is the introduction, thats how its always been, with papers in school, talks, anything, I have all the ideas in my head to write a good letter, and I get hung up on the dang introduction... so I´ll just jump right in.
Has been a good week. Its amazing, something new happens every day, just think about it, what has happened this day that has never happened before?
Heres the thesis statement, and topics for this week of December 2-9.
Record number of lessons, me and being a phycholigist, making a birthday cake, recievieng "bijos" from two different people, missing the bus and shinning my companion´s shoes, my companion recieving a blessing from a women, and family home evening
So, its deffinantly a challenge to find people in their houses, and its becoming a greater problem every day, winter is finally coming their, and verão is finally coming here. either people are working or at the Prya (beach) to places that are impossible for us to teach. So, we started to do some real planning this week. and decided to start making appointments with people. Before, my companion was worried that people would not follow through, so we would just go around to our investigators until we found someone at home, and who had time. But this week, at leeast for the first half, we made as many compramisos as possible. And it paid off. We taught 7 lessons in one day, which doesnt sound like alot, but we were running to every appointment; My companion is still recovering, and know he says he will never run again (we will see :)) This is how missionary work should be, It felt really good to finally run again. Gravity is starting to have an effect on me, the little muscle I did have is dissipering. I think I will buy a jump rope this week. so anyway, the week started off good, and making appointments worked really good. The problem were however, that we didn´t leave anytime to make any new contacts during these days, and we used up all of our reliable contacts in these days, so the rest of the week was hard. Now, we will always leave room for meeting new people...
Am I a physcoligist or what? Do I look like a Physcoligist? I thought I exscaped all of the drama, and problems in Idaho! I must look like one because this week, 1) Marlí, the mom of Fabio, who is 15 and has the mind of a 6 year old confessed here whole life to us, how her husband cheated on her 15 years ago, and in turn she did the same thing, hence Fabio... whose dad owns the marcado (market) next to our apartment. Anyway, she said that since their little "little escapade" 15 years ago her, and her husband have basically been living together but seperated... and now she is finally going to move out. 2) Rejáne and Zépaulo, the parents of investigators that we love with all our heart, but who are not progressing are thinking about a divorce. 3) Célia, is basically reliving the same thing my family just went through---the whole kit and kaboodle. 4) Generino and Terizinha, have one teenage kid a piece, and have a toddler (blue eyes, blonde hair) together. We have a baptism date marked for December 20th, but the problem is they need to get married. In truth, they were not progressing, every time we came they would say, we want to change our life, we want respect from our kids, etc, etc... They want it but are not willing to work for it. So, we went there sunday night. I was already gaulded, because they were not in church that day, and when they started doing the blame thing, etc, I felt the spirit say, now is the time---so I commenced telling my life story, and problems. It was awesome. The words came pretty good, I said, this happened to my family, I dont want it to happen to yours, here´s what you have to change, do you want it? What are you going to do? My companion was intune as well. Anyway, we had a kneeling prayer, and gave them a written commitment to pray together every night. We will see what happens, we have an appointment with them this week.
So the daugter of Rejáne and Zépaulo (mentioned above) has been teasing us for the past 2 weeks to save money up and buy her a present for her birthday on december 5th. We didnt buy her a present, but we made her a cake!!! it was SOOOO yummy. actually the cake itself wasn´t the challenge (was a box cake) it was the frosting--- we made it with flour, hot chocolate mix, and milk. it was actually REALLY good. then i decorated it with cut up twizlers (they dont have them here, so they really liked the candy) attached are some pictueres of it. The next night she had a party or a churrascaria (brazillion barbaque) that she invited us to. We went (by the way this was her 16 birthday) it felt like a beach party in california, not many cloaths, and alchohal!!!! with their 16 year old daugter! (read on in the next para, to find out funny experiences with alcohal) So needless to say, we didnt stick around for the food. On our way out the door, I was introduced to one of her friends, a particular pretty girl. She tried to give me a kiss. It was WAY awkward. you probablly dont know, this is a custom in almost every other part of the world. I wanted to accept but I had the will power to reject. But satan wanted to tempt me one more time, so the next day, while tracting I made a contact with an english teacher!!! we taught her (in english) and when leaving SHE attempted to give me bijos! brother, (why dont the girls start doing this in the U.S? the only time in my life I have a chance to get kisses I CANT!
So, briefaly, 2 funny experiences with alcohol. this guy was staggering in the street and was hit by a car! and second, three days ago, we watched the whole scene. He staggered out of the bar, got on his bike, and commenced pedlling, right in front of a motorcylce--right into the curb, head over heels. IT was funny, but we managed to remember who we were, and helped him up, and on his bike again. We couldnt save him the second time though about 400 yards down the road :)!
So saturday we had a lunch appointment with some members in São Bras, about an hour bus ride. We bought our tickets 7 reals (3 bucks) and sat and waited. Well, we missed the freakin bus, couldnt get another one until 1 in the afternoon. and they wouldnt refund our money. We were pretty put out, I wasnt to bummed, was only 3 bucks, and I cant understand portugues chewouts from the people that are mad at us, but my companion was, when I made a quirky comment all his anger was focused on me! Yikes! We repented and both shinned each others shoes (pansy ehh?)
By the way, I taught my first lesson in Portugues this week in church about free agency, I was very happy with it. I dont know how much everyone understood, but it flowed well, and they answered most my questions. I had one analogy, 2 cups, one with water, the other with vinegar. two voulenteers, one knew what was in the cups, the other did not. The person who knew was able to tell which was which to the other. then they chose which one to drink. Then applied to us, having the commandments and prophets telling us what to do, the best way, etc--then we have the choice to choose.
Last of all, the blessing my companion recieved yesturday! I made one heck of a contact 3 days ago, with a guy named Caludinae that broke his femur 1 year ago in a motercycle accident and is still hung up. So, we went to visit him yesturday. I started the lesson, and was doing farily good. Just when I was explaining about prophets, and how God gave his apostles authority and power to heal people of their infirmaties (I was litterally reading Luke 9:1) I was stopped by the friend of claudine, who said to Elder Abdo, you look really sick, are you o.k? It was WAY hot yesturdy, and it was obvious he wasnt. SHe hoped up, stood in front of him, put her hands on his head and basically gave him a real blessing! It was really funny, and if it wasn´t for the seriousness of the situation I would have laughed. But, I am bould enough to say it helped, she believed in it, had faith, excersised it... but it was still strange. So, needless to say, at the end of the blessing, and after a drink of water, I made sure to explain REALLY good how prophets had authority to guide christs church, and how we are not prophets.
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: So, I started reading the scriptures in Portugues for the first time from the start. Its WAY slow going. but, I sure understand the first 4 chapters of nephi better now! Its interesting, 1 nephi 3:7, the lord will prepare a way for us if we will but keep his commandments, it is possible to do anything, but we must first excersise our faith-- if God said jump of this building and you will fly, we can do it--he will do it, but we must take the first step of the edge. And sometimes he will wait until we are about to hit the ground to save us, but he ALWAYS will, its a promise. And he did, as the story goes in the scirptures--The Lord let Nephi, Sam, Laman and Lemuel try 2 times to retrieve the brass plates before he prepared away... So, contine keeping the commandments, the blessings will come, in their own due time
Sorry, for the bad spelling and formation, i didnt have my best friend and help with me today...microsoft word.
Attached pictures: Jeep I saw walking to the Lan House to use the internet, Me, this morning, Catrine, the 16 year old daughter and her mom Rejane.
Love you all lots, and until next week,
Jacob
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Fwd: Carta de Elder Thatcher
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Thatcher <elderthatcher@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Subject: Carta de Elder Thatcher
To: suzy summers <suzysumm@gmail.com>, Suzy <suzy@ida.net>, summercofarms@hotmail.com, Micah Thatcher <skiaton@gmail.com>, shansummers@gmail.com, "cliffhucker@gmail.com" <cliffhucker@gmail.com>, dmhansen@ida.net, gordon@beardstclair.com, "Knight, Leanna" <kni07001@byui.edu>, runmts <runmts@ida.net>, wes07006@byui.edu, bethatch@cableone.net, isavethewhales@gmail.com, gramlaree@gmail.com
From: Jacob Thatcher <elderthatcher@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Subject: Carta de Elder Thatcher
To: suzy summers <suzysumm@gmail.com>, Suzy <suzy@ida.net>, summercofarms@hotmail.com, Micah Thatcher <skiaton@gmail.com>, shansummers@gmail.com, "cliffhucker@gmail.com" <cliffhucker@gmail.com>, dmhansen@ida.net, gordon@beardstclair.com, "Knight, Leanna" <kni07001@byui.edu>, runmts <runmts@ida.net>, wes07006@byui.edu, bethatch@cableone.net, isavethewhales@gmail.com, gramlaree@gmail.com
Hello Familia! Yet another week, AHHHHGGG The worst part about writting letters is the introduction, thats how its always been, with papers in school, talks, anything, I have all the ideas in my head to write a good letter, and I get hung up on the dang introduction... so I´ll just jump right in.
Has been a good week. Its amazing, something new happens every day, just think about it, what has happened this day that has never happened before?
Heres the thesis statement, and topics for this week of December 2-9.
Record number of lessons, me and being a phycholigist, making a birthday cake, recievieng "bijos" from two different people, missing the bus and shinning my companion´s shoes, my companion recieving a blessing from a women, and family home evening
So, its deffinantly a challenge to find people in their houses, and its becoming a greater problem every day, winter is finally coming their, and verão is finally coming here. either people are working or at the Prya (beach) to places that are impossible for us to teach. So, we started to do some real planning this week. and decided to start making appointments with people. Before, my companion was worried that people would not follow through, so we would just go around to our investigators until we found someone at home, and who had time. But this week, at leeast for the first half, we made as many compramisos as possible. And it paid off. We taught 7 lessons in one day, which doesnt sound like alot, but we were running to every appointment; My companion is still recovering, and know he says he will never run again (we will see :)) This is how missionary work should be, It felt really good to finally run again. Gravity is starting to have an effect on me, the little muscle I did have is dissipering. I think I will buy a jump rope this week. so anyway, the week started off good, and making appointments worked really good. The problem were however, that we didn´t leave anytime to make any new contacts during these days, and we used up all of our reliable contacts in these days, so the rest of the week was hard. Now, we will always leave room for meeting new people...
Am I a physcoligist or what? Do I look like a Physcoligist? I thought I exscaped all of the drama, and problems in Idaho! I must look like one because this week, 1) Marlí, the mom of Fabio, who is 15 and has the mind of a 6 year old confessed here whole life to us, how her husband cheated on her 15 years ago, and in turn she did the same thing, hence Fabio... whose dad owns the marcado (market) next to our apartment. Anyway, she said that since their little "little escapade" 15 years ago her, and her husband have basically been living together but seperated... and now she is finally going to move out. 2) Rejáne and Zépaulo, the parents of investigators that we love with all our heart, but who are not progressing are thinking about a divorce. 3) Célia, is basically reliving the same thing my family just went through---the whole kit and kaboodle. 4) Generino and Terizinha, have one teenage kid a piece, and have a toddler (blue eyes, blonde hair) together. We have a baptism date marked for December 20th, but the problem is they need to get married. In truth, they were not progressing, every time we came they would say, we want to change our life, we want respect from our kids, etc, etc... They want it but are not willing to work for it. So, we went there sunday night. I was already gaulded, because they were not in church that day, and when they started doing the blame thing, etc, I felt the spirit say, now is the time---so I commenced telling my life story, and problems. It was awesome. The words came pretty good, I said, this happened to my family, I dont want it to happen to yours, here´s what you have to change, do you want it? What are you going to do? My companion was intune as well. Anyway, we had a kneeling prayer, and gave them a written commitment to pray together every night. We will see what happens, we have an appointment with them this week.
So the daugter of Rejáne and Zépaulo (mentioned above) has been teasing us for the past 2 weeks to save money up and buy her a present for her birthday on december 5th. We didnt buy her a present, but we made her a cake!!! it was SOOOO yummy. actually the cake itself wasn´t the challenge (was a box cake) it was the frosting--- we made it with flour, hot chocolate mix, and milk. it was actually REALLY good. then i decorated it with cut up twizlers (they dont have them here, so they really liked the candy) attached are some pictueres of it. The next night she had a party or a churrascaria (brazillion barbaque) that she invited us to. We went (by the way this was her 16 birthday) it felt like a beach party in california, not many cloaths, and alchohal!!!! with their 16 year old daugter! (read on in the next para, to find out funny experiences with alcohal) So needless to say, we didnt stick around for the food. On our way out the door, I was introduced to one of her friends, a particular pretty girl. She tried to give me a kiss. It was WAY awkward. you probablly dont know, this is a custom in almost every other part of the world. I wanted to accept but I had the will power to reject. But satan wanted to tempt me one more time, so the next day, while tracting I made a contact with an english teacher!!! we taught her (in english) and when leaving SHE attempted to give me bijos! brother, (why dont the girls start doing this in the U.S? the only time in my life I have a chance to get kisses I CANT!
So, briefaly, 2 funny experiences with alcohol. this guy was staggering in the street and was hit by a car! and second, three days ago, we watched the whole scene. He staggered out of the bar, got on his bike, and commenced pedlling, right in front of a motorcylce--right into the curb, head over heels. IT was funny, but we managed to remember who we were, and helped him up, and on his bike again. We couldnt save him the second time though about 400 yards down the road :)!
So saturday we had a lunch appointment with some members in São Bras, about an hour bus ride. We bought our tickets 7 reals (3 bucks) and sat and waited. Well, we missed the freakin bus, couldnt get another one until 1 in the afternoon. and they wouldnt refund our money. We were pretty put out, I wasnt to bummed, was only 3 bucks, and I cant understand portugues chewouts from the people that are mad at us, but my companion was, when I made a quirky comment all his anger was focused on me! Yikes! We repented and both shinned each others shoes (pansy ehh?)
By the way, I taught my first lesson in Portugues this week in church about free agency, I was very happy with it. I dont know how much everyone understood, but it flowed well, and they answered most my questions. I had one analogy, 2 cups, one with water, the other with vinegar. two voulenteers, one knew what was in the cups, the other did not. The person who knew was able to tell which was which to the other. then they chose which one to drink. Then applied to us, having the commandments and prophets telling us what to do, the best way, etc--then we have the choice to choose.
Last of all, the blessing my companion recieved yesturday! I made one heck of a contact 3 days ago, with a guy named Caludinae that broke his femur 1 year ago in a motercycle accident and is still hung up. So, we went to visit him yesturday. I started the lesson, and was doing farily good. Just when I was explaining about prophets, and how God gave his apostles authority and power to heal people of their infirmaties (I was litterally reading Luke 9:1) I was stopped by the friend of claudine, who said to Elder Abdo, you look really sick, are you o.k? It was WAY hot yesturdy, and it was obvious he wasnt. SHe hoped up, stood in front of him, put her hands on his head and basically gave him a real blessing! It was really funny, and if it wasn´t for the seriousness of the situation I would have laughed. But, I am bould enough to say it helped, she believed in it, had faith, excersised it... but it was still strange. So, needless to say, at the end of the blessing, and after a drink of water, I made sure to explain REALLY good how prophets had authority to guide christs church, and how we are not prophets.
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: So, I started reading the scriptures in Portugues for the first time from the start. Its WAY slow going. but, I sure understand the first 4 chapters of nephi better now! Its interesting, 1 nephi 3:7, the lord will prepare a way for us if we will but keep his commandments, it is possible to do anything, but we must first excersise our faith-- if God said jump of this building and you will fly, we can do it--he will do it, but we must take the first step of the edge. And sometimes he will wait until we are about to hit the ground to save us, but he ALWAYS will, its a promise. And he did, as the story goes in the scirptures--The Lord let Nephi, Sam, Laman and Lemuel try 2 times to retrieve the brass plates before he prepared away... So, contine keeping the commandments, the blessings will come, in their own due time
Sorry, for the bad spelling and formation, i didnt have my best friend and help with me today...microsoft word.Attached pictures: Jeep I saw walking to the Lan House to use the internet, Me, this morning, Catrine, the 16 year old daughter and her mom Rejane.
Love you all lots, and until next week, Jacob
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