In the Field - Vol. 5 of 95(ish?)

"Feeetch." - E. Biddulph, meu treinador

Yeah. This gets said a lot because I tend to do some dumb things as I'm learning how to be a real missionary. I felt like this last week, when I realized that according to my communication priorities on P-day I couldn't afford to write another blog post. The question is...what am I gonna do about it?

The answer's simple. I've gone three weeks without posting something legit (notwithstanding my mother's publication of context in family correspondence...o_0), and thus I've got to write the boatload of things that I want to say. Know what that means?

EPIC TRIPLE POOOOOOST

I can't really put into words just how much STUFF has gone on these last few weeks. I have to read my journal just to remember everything that happened yesterday, there's so much going on. Every night. I come home and I just want to sleep...but hey. I don't have a servant like some of the rich people have here. Somebody's gotta keep record of what's going on!

SO. I'm going to discuss many things, and I'll try to present the most exciting stuff first. This is, of course, about everybody that isn't me - the investigators of the Church! Last week, Elder Biddulph and I baptized for the first time this transfer. I carried out the ordinance myself for our oldest one. On 3/17/2012, roughly 7:14 PM, in my timezone, in Siqueira Campos, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil, I baptized Bruno Piedade de Souza. He's 15 years old, likes video games, and is a really intelligent guy. Bruno, if you're reading this right now, I just want to let  you know that you've made a great leap in a great journey - one I'm still going on. It starts with your decision to listen to your heart, and it ends...well, never, if you're always listening for His guidance.

It reminds me of when I was in the CTM. When I first arrived on this mission, I had doubts - in reality, I had a weak understanding of the gospel, though now I pretend no mastery. However, when you understand enough of it to be able to help others feel it's true, to help them understand well enough that they can explain it to their friends...that's when I feel I've hit a milestone. I'm real proud of our investigators' decisions to seek the answer they will surely find, and to have the courage to follow through with the things they can only understand in their hearts.

Also, I'm reminded of the scrutiny that non-intellectual matters receive back at home. In the US, everything seems up for questioning - we are constantly reminded that the existence of God is an assumption. We're also reminded that religion of any kind is a certain set of assumptions that physical observation does not support directly, and as such is an antiquated, arbitrary tradition that serves little purpose in a modern, industrious world.

It's such a contrast with here. The only person I've met here in my month (WOOT. FIRST MONTH.) of serving in the field that's actually expressed

any doubt in God or in Jesus Christ was a super-depressed kid who we're still teaching. I don't know what's got him down yet, but the fact that he was willing to be taught how to pray and to at least try to communicate with the only being who loves him more than his mother indicates to me that he really is just starved for a little hope.

This thought leads me to two others. First is hope. The people that we find are the most teachable are the ones who are hoping - for something better, that it's not worth giving up and settling for the level they're at. The people that will humor us in the hopes they might gain something new are usually the ones that end up getting taught everything we've got - and let me tell you that I can see a difference. I can see a difference in the faces of the converts in this church, who remember the before and the after. The basic sentiment never varies: they're glad to be in a church that offers what none other has. What that actually is tends to differ. Some people are excited to know how to finally receive guidance that comes from without and is received within. Others are happy to know that they have found a spiritual family, people who are doing what they know to be right, and that they can be surrounded by good influences. Others still are grateful for the continual flow of knowledge in the scriptures and the words of modern prophets.

Myself, I'm just glad I'm at the point that I can assist others in finding this gift. This mission here is one of the most important parts of my life, and I'm determined to make it worthwhile.

1st care package:

Amidst the sweets and myriad personal noms my mom included, the only thing I really can say is this: it's been three months since I've had a mommy, although Sister Gonzaga (President's wife) tries hard to take care of us. I love them both, but nobody knows me like my dear mum. I love you, Mom! Thanks for the care package!

Aw, man. I've barely scratched the surface of what's been going on here. But time's a-tickin'!

So. This is my trainer, Elder Biddulph. He's actually not anywhere near this lazy when it's not P-day. I hadn't really had that much of an appreciation for his work ethic until I went on splits in a trio in my area the other day. Usually it's hard to teach well in a trio, simply because it's harder to stay in sync between the three of you...but that ended up not mattering, because one of the missionaries actually took a nap while we and the other tag-teamed the lesson. I was a wee bit nervous about this, as the other Elder didn't speak any English because he's from Bolivia. BUT. It all turned out okay in the end.

My trainer:

He's pretty adept at surviving on a missionary diet. Whenever we don't feel like living off varied combinations of bananas, yogurt, cereal, oats, leite em pó, chocolate em pó, and/or water.

So! Yeah. Life be good here in the Siquera Campos castle. My legs are beefing up now that I walk for roughly 4 hours of the day (if we're having an okayish day). Health is good, though I'm hoping my heels won't turn into callused lumps. I can't write about every little thing like I know I want to, but to finish off this monster of a post I'll give a condensed list of quotes intermixed with happenstance (maybe):

- "Northwest Brazil. Where you leave the cookies

out, and they get softer." -Me

- "That's great, Elder. Now let's plan so we can

discuss [what would happen if we married] our cousins." -E. Biddulph

- "Team Poptarts for the WIN." -Me, playing basketball with an investigator and the other three missionaries. And yes, our half won. :3

- "I'm so glad the gift of tongues is choosy." -E. Biddulph, commentary on a "hottie" in our area.

- "If your mother died and you went on a double date with your dad, would that be a bad thing?" "Depends. Is he paying?" -E.'s Biddulph and Chandler, no idea how this came up.

Bahaha. The Elders are always saying hilarious stuff. But time's starting to run out...and I'll leave you with another plea for updates! There are some of you whom have yet to contact me at all on this mission, and I speak to those of you in particular. Are you alive?

Oh. Yeah. And I saved the best quote for last, of course.

"Victory is not when your circumstances changes, victory is when your heart changes." -Nick Vujicic, motivational video shown at the last Zone Conference.