Week 31 Letter

Tuesday, October 3, 2011

Hello everyone, I am now in Cuiaba serving with an elder from rio de janeiro named Elder Aidukaitis (pronounce it like this, I do kites).  I had already known him because he was in my zone in Sorriso.  He is great, and he will be a good senior.  He is excited, outgoing, and likes to baptize, although he also likes to goof around a little and rules have less meaning to him.  He speaks some English and understands well, but I cannot get myself to speak in English.  I guess that I like Portuguese too much.  Anyways, we are living with the zone leaders who are awesome and we are in zone Cuiaba.  It is a big city and it is really weird because I have not seen a decent sized city for 7 months.  It is twice the size of Spokane.  It is super hot, can be 48 degrees C, and it is dirty.  Everybody just throws everything on the road and the city hires sweepers to sweep, but it is always a mess. Anyways, I am really excited to be with my new companion although it is really sad to leave an old companion.  I sure liked Elder Leal.  I also was really sad to leave Lucas.  Thanks for the advice dad.  It is true that there is a temptation to try to not get attached because there really is heartache when you leave, but I know that I am here for a reason and I need to leave everything on the field.  Just like a race.  You can try to run a little slower and you think that you will feel better after, but there is an even better feeling when you leave everything on the track and afterwards you can barely walk but you are satisfied.  I am excited for this new transfer.  Also, I was thinking about everything that I did this last transfer.  We baptized two members who are super firm in the church, we reactivated 2 families and 3 other men, and we helped the branch become really excited about missionary work with both nonmembers and less actives.  President did put another companionship in Lucas and we left the branch with an attendance of over 50 people compared to the 25 that were at church when I arrived.  It was a good transfer.  Also, Elder Leal is now serving as the district leader.  I am really proud of him and his progress.  He is a great missionary.  I did not have the opportunity to watch conference because Lucas does not have the means to watch, so we had a normal sacrament meeting.  I will have to read it in the Liahona.  I am really excited to read it though.  They are incredible teachers.  Well, I think that that about sums everything up for this week.  Everything is fine and I am in the big city.  Hopefully I do not have any of the usual problems of thieves on the street.  Lucky for me, I look like a Brazilian.  Nobody knows or suspects that I am American until I speak, even the American missionaries that do not know me.  So, I think that I might get away lucky.  There was a joke that somebody told me.  I will try to translate for you.  The president of the US, Paraguay, and Brazil were in an airplane.  The pilot wanted to know how well they each knew their country so he asked them to put their hands out the window and speak up when they were above their countries.  Bush was the first to speak.  `Ah, this is my country.  I can feel the power and industry in the air.´   The pilot confirmed.  After, the President of Paraguay spoke `Ah, my country now.  I can feel the farm and crops in the air´  Again, the pilot confirmed.  After a while, the president of Brazil spoke `Yes, my country, I am 100 percent sure, without any doubt.´  Everyone was surprised with the so sure response.  To the pilot´s question of how he knew with so much assurity he said showing his wrist `Somebody stole my wrist watch´  Well, gotta end somehow and a punch line seems appropriate.  we are entering the rain season. give to me.  What a blessing you all are.  I  When it rains it comes down, but it rains hot water.  Seriously, really weird.  As answers to your questions, I have not got my package yet, but I think that it should arrive anytime.  Also, my p day is still Monday, and I did not watch conference because we did not have a way in Lucas so everybody has to read it in the church magazines.  I think that is about all of the questions you had.  I am living with one other companionship but in Cuiaba there are about 6 in my zone, the Cuiaba zone.  There are 2 stakes here, but I do not know how many wards.  We do not have a temple here.  The closest is near sao Paulo about 2 or 3 days by bus depending.  I do not know where the chapel is still, but i think that we live close to it.  The mission office is still a little ways away, but much closer.  This will be my good bye message for the week.  I want to let you know that I am grateful for both you and dad.  I know that my heavenly Father expects a lot      from me because I have been taught by goodly parents who have tasted of the fruit and called         me to come and partake.  I know that much is required because I do not doubt that my parents     know of Christ and his gospel and plan.  I am so thankful for my family and the power that they      love you.  Tchau for now and have a great week.

Shane

Week 30 Letter

Monday September 26, 2011

Hello my family!
Another week has flown by and once again I sat down to write and everything that has happened left my head.  We worked a lot this week and we found a new way to get investigators.  There is an English school called Wizard which has a Mormon owner (Brazilian) but there are also schools in the United States for other languages.  My companion went in last p day for information about English for dummies book prices and we started talking with the school manager.  We ended up teaching about the restoration and book of Mormon right there in her office.  We also marked a date to talk to her class to help them practice their English.  Ironically, I went and was looking to the teacher to confirm that I was speaking English right.  A little sad, I know, but we did pick up another 7 investigators and we went again to a different class Saturday and picked up yet again another 7 people.  So, we had a great contact week but our teaching week was not as good.  We had a hard time finding people home in general and we were forced to stay close to our house because Elder Leal has a wicked case of BOO (ask tony if you do not know what that means).  As a result, we did not have a good turnout at church, although in all honesty, we have 4 investigators who knew that they would not make it yesterday but are firm for the next Sunday, including the English teacher and her legal husband who are awesome people.  We did have a nonnative member return to church who we have been teaching and her husband (sadly not legally) but they are working towards marriage and afterwards his baptism.  We actually ate lunch with them yesterday.  They are great people and will be a great help to the church here in Lucas.  Junior is doing great!  His cell phone was stolen and he was out of town so we did not have a lot of contact with him this week but yesterday he get back into town about 4 in the afternoon so we visited with him and he is doing great.  He will be a branch president in the next year or two.  He is the man.  Also, yesterday we visited an inactive member in his 30s who had served a mission but has left the church.  He promised to be at church Sunday which is good.  He is actually new to Lucas but he already knows a couple members of the church from Cuiaba so everything is set.  What else happened this week... oh, we also found another anaconda skin in the lake, but this one is a little smaller, just less than 2 meters.  Anyways, everything is good and our branch has strengthened a ton, very noticeable, and our mission president is excited to put another companionship here to help with the work because everything has taken fire.  President Oliveira still does not know if he will be able to put another 2 missionaries here this next transfer or if he will have to wait until the next because we will have a shortage of missionaries because we have a big group going home this next week.  But, the branch is doing great.  We are trying to finish the transfer strong.  I have gained a love for Lucas and the people here, so it will be really sad if I have to leave, but if president Oliveira can put another companionship here there is a really good chance that I will stay a 3rd transfer and get a new companion because I already know the people and the area.  Cross your fingers for me.  Thank you all for all of your letters.  I loved reading them.  Sorry that I do not have time to write more than one email, but I do want you all to know that I love you all and I am always praying for you.  No, Halloween is really strange to them.  They think that it is so funny that Americans dress up ugly and go door to door for candy.  Maybe it is because the candy here is cough drops.  Anyways, that is just the people who know about Halloween, aka missionaries who have had American companions. 

On a Spiritual note, I have started reading D&C in Portuguese which has been great.  Everything seems new in a new language.  I have read up to section 48 and it was amazing to me how much about missionary work (directly) all of it was.  A manual for missionaries that has taught me a lot and I am eager to learn more.  The field is white and already to harvest.  The work is great and the laborers are few but I know that with the help of our Heavenly Father, all things we can do.  I love all of you and have a great week!!
Elder Lee

 Anyways, I love you, but I´ve gotta go and get back to work.  We have to buy more rice today.  Our shopping is usually rice, milk, flour, eggs, and juice mix.  Today I think that we just need rice and eggs.  Anyways, have a great week mom, and I will write again soon.

Elder Lee

Hey dad,

I just sent my email to the family, but to let you knew, we had a so so week.  Really, I feel that we had a success considering the circumstances.  Elder Leal was sick all week and had the runs so we had to stay close to the house.  I was sick too, but I did not have the runs which makes being sick much more pleasurable.  Anyways, we stayed close to the house in case of accidents.  He only had one, but we had 4 close calls which consisted of us walking briskly home and then me running a block ahead to open the door to the house and then to the bathroom while ran through the house with his pants down.  The least that I can do since I forced him out of bed and onto the street.  He pretends to be mad, but I can see that he is really proud of himself.  I really will miss him as my companion.  He has a history on the mission that is less than pretty because does not respect anybody, but for some reason he cares about what I think (maybe because I really like him) which has allowed is to grow together a lot.  We did have an investigator to church with his newly active wife whom we have been teaching.  They are not married legally but they are on the path and really excited.  They are great people.  Also, Junior, the guy that we baptized last Sunday is doing great which brings insurmountable joy.  He is the man and has a strong testimony.  That is about our week in a paragraph.  Thanks for the letter dad, and I want you to know that I sure love you.  I think about the lessons that you taught every day.  Sometimes they are lessons from seminary or institute, other times lessons in our everyday conversations that mean so much to me, and sometimes about the lessons that were taught without words.   I want you to know that your work is being carried to Brazil, and I am really hoping and striving to the missionary that I know that you were and are.  Thank you for everything and I am so glad that I have you and mom forever, but in the meantime, I am glad to be away and doing the work.  I do miss you all, but returning home will seem like a back on your heads moment.  The work here is amazing and I am so glad that God calls on the weak things of this world to be an instrument in such a work and glory, his work and his glory.  Have a great week dad!
Elder Lee

Week 29 Letter

Monday September 19, 2011

Hey family!

Another week gone in a blink of an eye.  Wow, time is passing by so fast for me.  So, this week started out great.  After I finished writing to you all last week I read the president´s letters to all of the missionaries and it was a letter really special.   Our mission has been lacking baptisms but he promised that if we all worked hard and were obedient, miracles would happen and that we would find somebody to baptize that week.  I got really excited about this and I promised my companion that we could do it because our president is called of God to lead his work here and he has the key to make such a promise.  This week I really focused and doing all that I could to find and baptize the promised person.  My companion Elder Leal doubted such a promise could be fulfilled in our area but he agreed to try the challenge with me this week and really dig in our heals and push our handcart. As the week went on, it became the most challenging week of my mission.  We had a day were we did not find anybody home even though we were working hard.  We had walked 1 and a half hours to the other side of the city for an appointment that fell through; nobody else was home and walked back for an hour and a half to another appointment that fell through.  Still, we focused on the promise.  The next day I caught a really nasty bug that threw me for a loop.  My head felt full of rocks and I was ready to throw up any moment.  We tried to work, but again, rough finding people in their houses so we visited and did service for a couple members until our night appointment with Junior, the boyfriend of the girl who was at church last Sunday with him.  Then Thursday I really felt nasty so Elder Leal made me call Sister Oliveira to get permission to buy medicine.  She ordered me to bed for the day which I really did not like, but for fear of being disobedient we stayed in the house.  Friday we started by helping a member that morning build a house.  We worked with concrete all day, mixing and hauling.  In Brasil, houses are all brick and so they use a lot of concrete to hold the bricks together.  We then worked super hard to make up for the last few days that were unsatisfying.  Saturday we continued to work hard and Sunday we baptized Junior.  It was amazing. 

 Now I have to tell his story.  Junior is 26 years old and living with another guy here in Lucas away from his family.  He is awesome and has recently turned his life around.  He was a drug attic, both buying and selling, but he stopped over a year ago and is now working as a social worker helping other men and young men give up drugs.  We passed by his house and taught him the first lesson.  What a powerful spirit was there. We always feel the spirit when we teach, but you can also feel when the spirit is being carried to their hearts and when it is entering their hearts.  He opened his heart and he learned by the spirit.  We had both thought that maybe it would be better to mark a date two week ahead for baptism, but in the lesson we both knew that we were to mark a date for baptism with him for the next Sunday.  He eagerly accepted the date to be baptized and firmly said that he wanted to be baptized with this authority and continue his life in the church of Jesus Christ.  The next lesson we invited his member girlfriend who was recently baptized to join us.  We taught the word of wisdom and it was another great lesson.  He told is that he wanted to stop smoking and drinking coffee and so we made a plan with him.  We also read from the missionary pamphlets about some of the steps that may help.  He asked us for a priesthood blessing to help him give up these substances and so we gave him a blessing.  He is so awesome.  We taught him the plan of salvation and law of chastity the next lesson.  He went out of town to see family that night, but was back Saturday night late and called us to let us know that he was back.  Sunday he went to church, had his interview, and was baptized.  He loved it and is really excited for next week to be confirmed and receive the Holy Ghost.  My other baptism Beatriz was there and she loved the baptism because it made her remember her baptism.  She also told me that baptisms were like a party in the church because everybody is so happy to see another soul come to Christ.  It was so cool to hear that from another sweet soul that I was just in the water with.  How cool is this work.  I know that this was a miracle, the miracle that was promised by my inspired mission president.  What a great week this was.  We suffered hard days and sickness, but the Lord blessed us overwhelmingly.  Junior will be a great instrument in the Lord´s hands.  I love all of you and wish you all a great week.  Tchau

Oh yeah, do you remember about the anaconda skin that I found.  So I was talking to an investigator about it and they showed me a video of the news program that was there the same day and showed the anaconda in the water, the same one that gave me the skin.  He ate a capivara that day also.  Awesome, right?  The snake turned out to be about 10 meters long.  Sweet man.  Sadly, I only found about 10 feet of skin.  Look this up in YouTube.  sucuri no cartão postal de Lucas that should find the video of the news report.  Anyways, you probably will not understand but they are saying that you should watch your you walk, keep an eye on your kids, and not be in the park at night.  The video makes it look like there are always people there because Lucas wants a tourist attraction, but in all reality, I pass through the park as a short cut every other day at least and see all of 2 people there at the most.  Hahaha but really, check it out dude, pretty cool. There are so many cool things here.  I will send a pic of a 5 foot lizard I saw this week. 

hey, good work boys on the sheep riding.  It was AWESOME!!! 

Week 28 Letter

I am doing well, how are all of you doing? Already read Dad’s letter.  It was great, as was your letter. I have the best parents in the world, don´t I?  Yeah, almost am ready to send the weekly letter, but what is Shauna doing for school this year?   She will be great!  I hope that Tony keeps a close eye on her for me.  I saw the blog, video and everything.  Dad went to the bottom, could have guessed; although Tony was close with the going to the side maneuver.  What fun.

Monday September 12, 2011

Hello family!

Well, this week was good, although we did not have a baptism.  Euriko is ready to be baptized but he left for out of town because he was offered work so he took off in a hurry to grab work but it will only last for around 20 days and afterwards he will return.  We did have 3 inactive members come to church and 2 investigators that came with them.  A young woman brought her boyfriend and I spent the church meetings with him.  Also had an inactive woman come back to church who we have been teaching with her nonmember husband.  We went to their house again after church.  She shared a powerful testimony about her conversion with the missionaries and promised us, but really it was a promise more to herself, that she is never going to leave the church again and that she has no doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, and that it is the only true church on the Earth.  I asked her why it would be important to her to see her husband baptized and how this would change their lives and she said that it would make all the difference and that she wants nothing else.  This really helped her husband think.  They are not legally married yet, although the both expressed the desire to things right and be married legally.  We later talking with the branch president and he is going to help us help them with the marriage process.  Today we have a scheduled appointment with Julio, the boyfriend of the young woman who has been less active but has been to the last 2 Sundays, one of which she shared a powerful testimony of her conversion with the missionaries that taught her.  He liked church, is at least 18, is living in Lucas alone working and studying, and is catholic and active in his church.  I am really excited to teach him today.  The other inactive member is a father to an active family.  He was baptized with the rest of his family but fell away from the church and was going to a different church closer to his house. He was at the wedding this week, (oh yeah, we had a wedding this week of 2 members and at the wedding we made a bunch of contacts with was good and I also was given the sacred duty of filming the wedding) and we invited him to church and so he came.  His family was really happy that he was there.  He has a great family.  This family was the baptism of my ex companion Elder Melo.  So, what else is going on…, I think that that is a sufficient report, at least all that I think of now.  Are teaching pool has become almost all men, which is ideal and what our mission president wants. The church needs men here in Brazil to continue to grow, but baptizing men is harder, but we are now teaching 8 men which is awesome.   We are working well, but I know that we can work harder.  Elder Leal is a great companion and the zone leaders told me that he is improving dramatically but he likes to stop when he is tired.  I am trying to take on dad´s characteristic and push when I am tired.  Give me this mountain.  I know that in wrestling practice you grow stronger after you are tired.  I think that a mission is the same thing.  I believe that if you work when you are tired God will bless you more for you efforts and demonstration of faith.  But you cannot run faster than you are able, and I am learning this principle in a different setting before, having a full time companion and not being in the leadership position in our companionship.  I will continue to try and left him up.  He really is a great guy.  He has 14 months in the mission and has just a little over 5 years in the church.  He comes from a little city with a little branch.  It is amazing that he is serving a mission and doing what he is doing.  I am so blessed to have come from the home that I came from and the setting that I lived in and the blessings of the Spirit that I am experienced.  I just hope that I am using all of my talents that I have been entrusted with and helping all of the people here that are waiting for a messenger sent from the Lord.  This messenger may have even promised in the pre-motal life, `I know that you will not be born into the gospel as I will be, but do not worry, I will bring the gospel to you in Brazil´  Missionary work is awesome.  It is the work of all work.  Whether it be on am mission, in your ward or school, or most importantly, in your home, there is no other feeling that can substitute for the joy that is felt as you bring your brothers and sisters to the security that can only be felt in the arms of their Savior and Redeemer.  I am trying to make this my work and my glory.  Is this not how you become unified with the Father?  The two great commandments are, love the lord thy god and your neighbor.  Is there a better way to show and put love into action then to help them land their souls on the right hand of God?  I believe that this is charity.  We learn in Moroni that charity is the pure love of Christ.  Charity is more than love.  It is love put into action, and the pure love of Christ was put into the action of the atonement.  He put down his life, but more, did all that possible to save every one of us.  We cannot do what he did, but we can do all that we can, all that is possible of us to help save our brothers and sisters.  In the book of Mormon I read a verse that says, and who knows but ye shall  be the means of bringing them to the savior (I cannot remember what chapter but is the chapter were Alma was praying about what to do with the members of the church that would not repent).  This is charity, and this is the work and glory of the Father, and I am trying to align my will to his as I serve my mission, which will continue long after I leave Brazil.  The gospel is amazing, and I know that it is true.  Nothing has such power and influence to change the hearts of the children of men then the Holy Ghost, who testifies of this gospel and who has testified to me that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that his church has been restored on the Earth, and that he Priesthood power has been brought back by the hands of his servants and apostles Peter, James, and John and his word and his works are continually being given to his modern day prophets.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  Oh, how I know that it is true.  I have learned for myself of its truthfulness.  I have learned for myself of the truthfulness of the powerful verse located in James 1:5.  The verse that led to the restoration of the Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ.  I encourage all to learn of these truths for themselves by offering a humble prayer in faith and with a desire to know.   I share this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Shane B. Lee

My shorts  will be used.  Besides, if one does not fit, I am sure that I could sell it to a Brazilian for the incredible price of R$60 or more because not only are they basketball shorts, but b-ball shorts original from the US sell here for about $150.  It is really weird here because they have false Nike, Adidas, reebok, etc. and so to buy original it is really expensive.  They cannot believe that we really do not have false products like this.

Starter is a name brand here.  You cannot find start shoes for less than $130.  Weird, I know.  I am sure that I will get some good use out of them.  Yeah, the paper work is all for customs because they do not want people to buy iPods and ship them the Brazil.  The iPod that I bought dad with you and the kids runs over $1,000 here and to buy a decent laptop you have to spend over two thousand.  That is why there is paperwork, but for the things that I am buying should not be a lot of money to send.  Even 50 dollars to send in saving a lot of money.  I thought that things would be cheap in Brazil.  Wrong.  But, I think that it is only Brazil because in Paraguay everything is cheap and it is from the US.  They have peanut butter and root beer there. Anyways, thanks a ton.

Love you too mom, and thank you for your confidence.  I am trying to make you proud.  Have a great week!

Week 27 Letter

Monday, September 5, 2011

Hey Ali!  I cannot believe that you are going to be a freshman!  Life is so crazy!  You must be getting old; then again, I guess that I will be 20 this December which feels really weird.  Also, if it makes you feel better, i started high school when I was just over 4 feet 10 inches, so you are off to a better start them I was.  I miss getting wood with you guys.  What fun.  I can picture your finger.  I had about the same experience in the sixth grade, playing soccer during school and getting stung on the finger and it swelled up too.  I think that it is because the finger is more sensitive to bee stings or something like that.  Anyways, thanks for the email and I love you and no worries about high school, you will do great.  You are smart and everybody will like you, although I hope that Cameron and tony keep a good eye and you and the boys while I am gone.  Love you and until next time!

Hey everyone.  What a sad event that happened in Spokane this week, but I know that the spirits in heaven and his family on the other side are rejoicing.  I have already written an email on this topic that you can all read.  Serving a mission and helped me gain a vision and perspective of this life.  Both how to live in this life and what this life really is, a time to prepare to meet God, a very temporary time, but also a critical time.  Tommy did a fine job in this life, and his service will continue in the next life.  My week this week was busy.  Elder Leal and I worked more than either of us has worked on our mission.  My language has improved dramatically and I feel like I am say anything that I want.  Elder Leal is doing really well, which is a change in his mission.  He has 13 or 14 months in the mission and this transfer we have taken fire.  We did not have anyone at church this Sunday which was really a disappointment, because we worked really hard, but there was an episode that took place in between church meetings which made me think that it was a blessing that none of our investigators were there.  Sometimes, I really miss having a strong ward and stake.  Life in a branch in the middle of nowhere can be hard, but we are trying to strengthen the branch here.  We did activate a man here, which was really exciting and good.  We have been teaching his friend and at the same time, re-teaching him all of the lessons and he has changed his perspective and is excited about the gospel again.  Anyways, this week will be another good week.  I am learning and improving every day.  I am always trying to improve on the little things that make a difference and trying to grow into the missionary that God wants me to be.  Thank you for all of your prayers, I can feel them in my mission.  That is really all that I can think to write, but everything is good here and this week will be exciting.  I love all of you and have a great week.
Elder Lee

No, I have not been to Jackson´s blog, although we will email to each other every once in a while.  Alex is awesome and he will be a great missionary.  It will be a while before I go to Cuiaba unless I am transferred there, but our zone leaders are there more often so I will get the package soon after it arrives in Cuiaba so no worries.  Just remember to put a pic of Jesus on it so people do not open it and steal everything.  Thanks for all of your help. 

I hope that I am the kind of missionary that dad was.  He is my hero, but I am sure that you already knew that, huh.  I am glad that he married you too; I have the best parents in the world.  I do not know what I did right in the pre-mortal world, or what I did wrong to prove that I needed the best parents in the world, but either way I am grateful.  Thanks for everything.  Sorry if my email was short, but I really could not think of anything else to write.  It feels like I just wrote to you.  Time is going by so fast!

No, he has not got his mission call.  He did do his interviews, but he needs to wait a little longer to get more financially set because he is living off money from his dad for school and housing, and his dad is not a member of the church.  His dad is okay with him serving a mission some days and other days he does not want him to serve but finish school first, so they are trying to getting everything squared away before he leaves with money and family.  President Oliveira did the interview and Willians told me that he needs to finish another semester of school to please his dad before he can leave because President wants his dad to be happy.  Anyways, he is still really excited to serve and President is helping him.

Yeah, I just looked.  Tony is the man, I miss doing that kind of thing with him.  Well, I gotta go and get back to work, but I love you and I will write to you again soon.  Have a great week mom.  I love you!!!