Hey Mom and Family, 11-12-12
This week was pretty good. I'm
really enjoying these last couple of months; I’ve made a goal to work as hard
and as obediently as I can. I'm developing a huge love for this work, and I do
not want it to end. I did a division with and Elder da Rosa this last week and
he really opened my eyes to my companion saying that I need to do my best to
save my companion. So that he ends his mission well. Transfers are next week,
so I don't even know if I’ll make too big of a difference. I really hope I
stay, I really like this area. However I heard that it's possible that the
President will take us both out. I guess he's still looking it over, I
personally feel that I'll leave, but I guess we'll see. I hope that things aren’t
too crazy over there in the states, I just got done talking with someone that
was happy that he got re-elected, saying that he's going to make a lot of
changes to be more socialistic. Exactly what you were talking about. It was an
annoying conversation. I tried to use the scriptures and the Israelites as an
example of a socialistic environment and how it just doesn’t work it. (They weren’t
socialistic, but I used more the principles of work compared to their ideas and
why God gave them their Mosaic law) Anyways, not a whole lot happened this
week. We found quite a bit of new people in a neighborhood that we opened up,
but no one from that group went to church. That's one of the hardest things to
do is to bring people others to church. We abandoned a good part of them. It's
a good indicator; it shows us who will progress.
Fetch, a gay add just passed on the TV
here at the internet place. It was pretty annoying, just justifying their gay
attitudes. There are a ton of gays and transvestites down here in Campinas.
It's really gay. You have no idea how many times I’ve been checked out by some
gay dude walking by. It's becoming more and more acceptable these days and It's
really just NOT ok. (I miss the old days…) Anyways, I'm pretty excited to read
cassan's book. How is she going to publish it though? How do you go about doing
something like that? Anyways, I hope all gets better there; don't get too
unexcited with the things that are going on in the world. I learned that one of
the definitions of enthusiasm is to be "full of God". We should
always try to enthusiastic so that we can have God more fully in our lives.
Anyways, I love you!
Elder Williams
Yo Pops! 11-9-12
Thanks for the email, I love the
pics. You looked rather sinister with your little cricket gun (Men in Black for Halloween). Just a
question, that picture of you and the kids is at our new renovated house or
Marc's new house? I think that that family reunion would be way fun, I’m totally
down. As far as a trip to plan, just remember I’ll probably want a place to
swim, and an old goal of mine to conquer my fears, I’ve been thinking of a
shark cage. Here's been extremely hot. When it rains it usually just rains for
a couple hours, so it just makes it more humid and a lot hotter. It needs to
rain for a couple days to truly get comfortable. I've been reading a lot of
books these past couple of days, The Old testament, the new, the Book of
Mormon, Jesus the Christ, Teachings of Joseph Smith, there's sooo much stuff, I’ve
really grown to love the scriptures. It's amazing. I really want these books
called The History of the Church; I think there are 6 volumes or so. Maybe it's
the missionary in me saying this, but it'd be a good get home present =). A
friend on the mission said that he talked with some guys from back home that
are at BYU and they said that there are sooo many girls that are sending in
papers and that dating has gotten a lot more difficult. It's going to be some
tough pickings when I get back home. Here there hasn’t been too much increased
activity at all in people preparing for their mission. It's tougher I think due
to required military service and a different schooling system here. There is
one kid though that's preparing for his mission. He's a new convert about 8
months in the church from another really, really religious church (bad like
JW). In 6 months he learned English, and has opened up his own English school.
Recently he is learning guitar and German and already speaks and plays better
than me, and he's only 18. It's amazing to see the blessing of entering into
the church. Because of his example, his parents have recently been baptized,
about 3 weeks. It's cool to see the gospel in the lives of others. Anyways, I
should get going I love you!
Elder Williams
Hey Mom and Fam, 11-7-12
Sorry that it took a while to
respond, Monday we had a zone leader meeting, and yesterday just didn't work
out, but don't worry I’m fine. These past couples of weeks have been really,
really hard. But it's really helping me realize that happiness is a choice and
in spite of whatever goes on, if I want to be happy, just be happy. My
companion's a lot more problematic than I realized, he's a good guy and I can
see his side, he just doesn’t have any friends on his mission, so I’m trying my
best to be his friend, but it's turning into a love-hit relationship. I say
love-hit because he says that I’m his best companion that he's had, but he hits
me while he says it. I've got some bruises on my arms and stuff, and he likes
to yell and tell me to shut up and whatnot, it's pretty hard to feel the
spirit. He doesn't accept correction, so it's tough to ask him to stop, because
he just doesn’t. Plus he's leaving the mission soon and doesn’t seem to be able
to have the energy to work. Let's just say that I’ve spent a lot of time at
home reading the scriptures. But it all goes back to the choice of being happy.
I read these days in John. The last verse in John 16 says more or less that in
the world we well have afflictions but "to be of good cheer" for He
has conquered the world. The way I interpret this is that he's saying that we
need to choose to be of good cheer. When we believe in that one saying
everything changes, I may not talk a lot anymore (because it's hard to without
being burnt), but I am happy. Anyways, I did a division the other day with
another American missionary and while we were getting on the bus which was
packed, an old guy pulled us off and started yelling at the bus driver. He was
saying how all should know, Brazilian, são paulino, or someone from Campinas, that
we are Mormons and we're trash and should be treated as such. It was kind of
cool. I never had something like that happen before. Anyways, the bus driver
let us get on just fine. Anyways, they also just got done with the elections here;
it's all so corrupt here. The Brazilians often say here that everyone loves Brazil,
but that the only way that Brazil will fall is through its own corruption. It's
a lot worse that the states. We're truly in a messed up world, there's so many
ways that Satan get's followers, his church is terrible and 2nd Nephi 27 and 28
is really noticeable here. As far as Obama goes, I was really hoping that the
hurricane would get him.
For Christmas, I have no idea; I’m
bored of those fruity pebbles, if you want to send other cereals feel free
though. I don't need any more salsa, there's a sister in our ward here (the
missionary's mom of the ward) that's asking for some hand lotion from Victoria
Secret, I don’t remember what kind. It's like 15 bucks there in the states but
here it's about 140 reais or 70 dollars. I got my call saying that I’m leaving
the mission and asking me which airport that I’ll be flying into, it was cool,
they sung me "Somewhere over the rainbow" with the lyrics changed to
me flying into Oregon. Anyways, I can't remember a whole more that happened
during the week, it's all going by so quickly. I love you!
Elder Williams
