6-20-2016

This week was actually pretty great. Things here have been pretty difficult. We were struggling a lot with the work but my new companion has helped a lot. I think I am going to learn a lot from him this transfer. We have also been joking around a lot which has been really great to relive the stress.

This week was also full of crazy moments, like on Wednesday we decided to take a different route on our way to a neighborhood where we work. But we found ourselves in a place where a giant corn field kept us from the neighborhood. So we decided to go through the corn field. We crossed barbed wire fences streams and dirt piles until we emerged in someone’s backyard. We got a few weird looks but it sure was fast!

This Sunday was great because we were able to take a lot of our investigators to church. We had to find a way to give everyone a lift to church. We ended up renting a van! 

We also got the chance to give service to lady on Sunday when her boyfriend decided to cut the break line on her motor-scooter.

So we saw this lady almost get hit by a car then crashed her scooter into the curb on the sidewalk right in front of us as we were coming home from a family home evening. It was just us in the street at the time. She was crying and said "He cut the brakes! Watch my bike as I call the police". Then she left us there for like 5 minutes. We weren't really sure what to do but soon the police showed up. It turns out the they had been fighting and it got heated but before she left he boyfriend un-screwed the brakes. They caught him and took him and her to the police station. But they needed a place to keep the scooter so they asked if we could keep it at our apartment for the night. And we said yes. So we pushed her scooter all the way to our apartment building looking like robbers in the process. She's going to come by to pick it up today.

But anyway it was a great week here in Lajeado, Brazil.

I love you guys and hope you guys have a great week!

-Derek


Part (2)

So this first week of the transfer has been pretty crazy. A lot of things have happened. 

So first things first I will talk about some the miracles that happened. So this Sunday was ward conference and we were able to take almost all of our investigators to church! Which was 11 people! It was pretty hard because they all live in a neighborhood far from the chapel and we had to do some creative thinking to get them all there to church on Sunday morning. There are no buses. So we talked with an old pal. He is a van driver that we hired to take people to church. I was worried that it wouldn´t work but everything went smoothly. 

We also have a planned baptism for this Sunday! If it all goes as planned, we will help 3 people be baptized this Sunday! 

I am really happy with my new companion because he is funny and a great missionary. He was a zone leader but since he is ending his mission with me he's just a regular missionary. But he knows a lot and has a lot of experience. He is teaching me a lot about teaching by the spirit and planning. He also jokes around with me which has been fun. He has been out for 1 year and 11 months. 

I was able to clean the apartment on p-day last week but this week has been tough since we went to Porto Alegre today to make what is called a CPF for my companion. It´s kind of like a Social Security Number but it's different. I already made mine months ago but he didn't think he was going to need to because he is leaving but as it turns out he needs it or he has to pay a big ticket to the government. 

I hope things are going good there. I do love you guys and can't wait to see you guys again!

-Derek

6-13-2016

So today is transfer day and I stayed in my area (Lajeado) But my companion Elder Augusto was transferred. My new companion will be an American Elder Christensen. I've met and talked with him before, and he’s pretty cool. 

This week was pretty crazy because we traveled a lot. We had a Zone meeting with President Campos and his wife. It was a pretty cool meeting. There were a few changes made to the mission to help move things forward. For example, we are to hold the Book of Mormon in our hand wherever we go. It's been cool because more people ask about the book and it makes it easier to talk about the church. 

This Sunday a miracle occurred. An investigator that we've been teaching came to church. We've been trying to find a member to take her to church, last minute a member from another city came to visit her and took her to church. Church was pretty spiritual and awesome. I was glad to see that our investigator made some new friends and seemed to like the experience. I've also had some pretty great personal study experiences that really helped me to know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. As I read the scriptures I felt like he was talking to me directly. He also answered my prayers when we had to take a bus to Santa Cruz for the Zone Meeting. We were waiting for our District leader to arrive before we got onto the bus at the bus station. They were trying to arrive at the bus station but their bus arrived late and we missed the last bus to Santa Cruz. I was praying that we could make it there on time but I thought all was lost when we missed our bus. But then all of a sudden another bus came from nowhere that was going to Santa Cruz. And we hopped on as fast as possible and made it there on time. 

So anyway a lot of small but really sweet experiences. 

I love you and hope you guys have a great week!

-Derek

6-6-2016

Hey, 

Oh yeah Bryan and his son visited this Sunday at church because he served here a few years ago. He said a lot has changed I guess when he was here it wasn´t even a ward yet. But it was fun to talk with them. I felt a bit bad for his son because he doesn't speak any Portuguese. But I just joked around with him a bit. 

That sounds really fun. Ruth's cafe is awesome that is definitely a place I want to stop by once I get back. 

So this week was pretty complicated as well. We have pretty much run out of ideas to apply in our area. We are taking a last chance at asking for referrals from the members. So will see what happens with that. 

Oh on the 13th we have transfers so we’ll see if I am transferred or not this time. 

But other than that nothing new really. Oh today I will buy new shoes because everyone keeps commenting on them and pointing out how destroyed they are. 

As for the food nothing is really different here. Just a few things. Here there are a lot more Germans than a few of my other areas so there is some more German culture here. German breads and pastries and stuff like that. 

Oh yeah I just remembered I was invited by the bishop’s wife to help her in an English lesson. She teaches English in a place called Wizard, so I went there to help them practice. I will be going there again this week which will be fun. It is a great way to get referrals. 

I love you and hope that everything works out with the move. Have a good week!

-Derek

5-30-2016

Hey,

Well this week was pretty tough. We weren´t able to baptize Sofia because her dad wants to baptize her. Her parents are separated and her dad lives in another state. He always comes to visit her on her birthday so he wanted to delay the baptism until then. Unfortunately, her birthday is in August. Yeah. So we'll see what happens. We are trying to work more with the members to get referrals and to meet more people to teach. The Bishop is really animated about Missionary work so that will help a lot. His son leaves for his mission next week. He'll be going to Quiabá in Brazil. 

So it turns out that our Mission President didn´t come to visit last week so luckily we didn´t have to clean everything, but we are still preparing for any surprise visits. 

That is weird to hear that they are already coming back from their missions. Time seems to go fast here. Before you know it I'll be back enjoying movies and food with you guys. 

Have you guys been searching for a new place? If so where? Because I've heard that Hawaii is a pretty nice place this time of the year. 

I love you and hope things get better for you guys. 

-Derek

5-23-2016

Hey,

Sorry about that last email. It was pretty sucky. Anyway things here are going better than they were last week. We are teaching a lot of people but it´s been a bit difficult to help them progress and well do the stuff we ask them to do! There is this lady that we were teaching who is creating her own church. The last time that we were there she tried to prove to us that the Book of Mormon is false which was awkward because well it´s not. Sooo we left her house and taught her neighbors. The lesson was actually really great with the family but every time we go back to teach them they don´t let us in. It appears like the lady that lives next door said something to them but we don´t know what. Their son went to church and liked it but he now runs away from us so it´s a bit complicated. There are a lot of others who gave up on receiving the lessons. 

But this week we might have a baptism! We are teaching the daughter of a member that is less-active. Which has been going really well. We´ve also been teaching her step dad but he doesn´t seem very interested. 

Oh my old companion, my District leader has kidney stones! On Saturday he called me from the hospital and wasn´t doing so well. I guess there were a lot of people waiting to be attended too which is kind of funny because every time that we've been there, there never was anyone there. Anyway so he´s taking medication to try and break up the stones. If that doesn´t work, he will have to have surgery to take them out. 

As for me my health is good. I don´t have any problems. Well I guess the old thing is sometimes I have pain in my foot but nothing major. Makes sense since we walk for hours every day. 

Well, sounds like an adventure, moving again. I wish you guys luck if I am not there to help.

How are things going there?

Have a good week, I love you. 

-Derek

5-16-2016

Hey,

So this week was a lot better than last week. We went to another city that is called Muçum which is also a part of our area. It was really cool because there was a member there who took us from house to house in his Love Bug. We were able to teach a lot of people there. The only problem is that it is really far from the chapel. 

I´ve been working on some letters for you guys. I will send them next week. 

I love you have a good week!

-Derek

5-9-2016

Hey,

Yeah sorry I haven´t been writing as much as I should. I will make a greater effort to write to you guys about my investigators and what experiences I’ve had. 

It was really fun to be able to talk to you guys yesterday. I am missing you guys a lot but just 6 more months left until we get to see each other in person again. I hope that things are going well there. That is a bit sad about Remi but that´s still good that we can see him any day we want too. 

Well I am not sure what more to say I think I said a lot yesterday what I wanted to say.

Know that I love you, thanks for all of the support you are giving me. 

-derek